Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano Published by St. Martin's Publishing Group on February 2, 2021
Genres: Fiction / Mystery & Detective / Women Sleuths
Pages: 336
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
"Getting the job done" for one single mom takes on a whole new meaning in Finlay Donovan is Killing It.
A USA Today bestseller!
One of Suspense Magazine's "Best Thrillers of 2021"
One of New York Public Library's Best Books of 2021
Nominated for the Left Coast Crime 2022 Lefty Award for the Best Humorous Mystery
“Finlay Donovan is irresistible!”—Janet Evanovich
Finlay Donovan is killing it . . . except, she’s really not. She’s a stressed-out single-mom of two and struggling novelist, Finlay’s life is in chaos: the new book she promised her literary agent isn’t written, her ex-husband fired the nanny without telling her, and this morning she had to send her four-year-old to school with hair duct-taped to her head after an incident with scissors.When Finlay is overheard discussing the plot of her new suspense novel with her agent over lunch, she’s mistaken for a contract killer, and inadvertently accepts an offer to dispose of a problem husband in order to make ends meet . . . Soon, Finlay discovers that crime in real life is a lot more difficult than its fictional counterpart, as she becomes tangled in a real-life murder investigation.
Fast-paced, deliciously witty, and wholeheartedly authentic in depicting the frustrations and triumphs of motherhood in all its messiness, hilarity, and heartfelt moments, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It is the first in a brilliant new series from YA Edgar Award nominee Elle Cosimano.
My Review
I will admit I watch a lot of booktube and that is how I came across this book and I am not mad about it. As soon as I heard what the story was about I hopped right onto my library app and requested the audiobook and I must say I was hooked right from the start. This is the story of Finlay a single mother of two, a writer, and a woman down on her luck. She is struggling to write a book that she has already received a chunk of the money for upfront to write but she has a bit of writers block. In the meantime, her no-good cheating ex-husband is threatening to get full custody of their children.
The story starts out with Finlay at home with her children realizing that she is going to be late for a meeting with her literary agent. Her kids are a mess, her house is in disarray and Vero the babysitter is not answering the phone. Finlay is left with no other choice than to call her ex-husband Steven to take the kids so she can get to her meeting. This phone conversation leads to her finding out that Steven has fired the babysitter and has no plans of hiring another one. The whole conversation leads to a bit of a bicker but eventually, he agrees to take the kids so she can get to her meeting.
Finlay makes it to her meeting a bit late wearing a scarf and wig in hopes of being unrecognized by the other customers in the establishment. She immediately apologizes for being late and they get right into a conversation about Finlay’s book. Little does Finlay know that the woman at the next table is eavesdropping on their conversation. This is really rather perfect especially when the editor tells Finlay to make it quick and clean not leaving any mess behind when she kills off her character. The lady at the next table does not however know they are talking about a book and assumes that Finlay is a hitwoman, one that she wants to hire to take out her husband. After the meeting is over the woman at the next table slips Finlay a piece of paper with her name and number on it in hopes that she will receive a call. Once Finaly leaves the establishment she discovers the piece of paper that contains a name and number she does not recognize so she gives it a call wondering who will be on the other line. She is rather surprised when Patricia (the woman) on the line offers her 50,000 dollars to kill her husband. She then follows it up with his name and location for the night. Patricia asks that Finlay is quick and clean about it and that she only contacts her when the job is done. Curiosity gets the best of Finlay and so she decides to check this man out and see why he is so terrible. What she discovers about him shocks and angers her which in turn leads to Finlay having a dead body in her garage.
Finlay is no kind of a killer but that is not what it looks like to the people who want to hire her. Seriously the situations that Finlay and Vero find themselves in throughout this story had me laughing the whole way through. I found that these characters really complimented one another very well and I enjoyed their banter very much. If you are looking for a story about a mom who is trying her best but seems to get herself into rather hilarious predicaments then please pick this book up. There are some trigger warnings to be aware of which I will mention down below but all in all, I found this to be a rather fun and cozy mystery, a series that I am eager to continue.
Trigger Warning:
- Infidelity
- Murder
- Accidental Suicide
- Custody Issues