Finlay Donovan is Killing It
Ratings227
Average rating4
Only read this if you believe moms have the power to be an assassin writer with multiple boyfriends who still makes it in time to tuck you in at night.
Plot was mostly interesting, though outlandish. The main character, however, is insufferable and stupid and I was done with her about 3/4 of the way through.
Finlay is a mess...and it was a blast to read. This book verges on funny just how much she is going through and struggling with, and while at times it is over the top, it's also relatable because every single human being is struggling with at least something, so reading about characters who aren't perfect and rooted in real time feels like a much needed reassurance to get. Awesome book, and despite all that Finlay struggles with and does at points, she is now one of my favorite fictional characters!
Summary: When a stranger misunderstands an overheard conversation between murder mystery writer Finlay Donovan and her agent, she attempts to hire Finlay, who she mistakes for a hitwoman, to kill her husband. Finlay is of course shocked, but she can’t help being curious, and she soon finds herself more deeply involved in the world of true crime than she ever intended to be.
Murder, Moms, and Mayhem
This was my first time diving into the world of Finlay Donovan, and let me just say—it is such a vibe! I was barely a few chapters in before I knew I needed more, so book two is already sitting on my Kindle, ready to go.
Elle Cosimano’s Finlay Donovan Is Killing It is a delightful blend of humor, suspense, and heart that had me hooked from the very first page. Finlay, a struggling novelist and single mom, stumbles into chaos when she’s mistaken for a contract killer, leading to a wild, laugh-out-loud adventure filled with unexpected twists and ridiculous (yet somehow relatable) moments.
One of the highlights of this book is Finlay’s dynamic with her live-in nanny, Vero. Their witty banter and ride-or-die energy bring so much charm to the story, making them an unforgettable duo. The plot is fast-paced, packed with suspense, and keeps you on your toes while still delivering plenty of humor and heart.
While the premise is wonderfully absurd, Cosimano’s execution makes it work effortlessly. The struggles of motherhood, career pressures, and personal growth all weave seamlessly into the mystery, adding an authentic and relatable layer to the humor.
If you love mysteries with a comedic twist, strong female friendships, and a main character you can’t help but root for, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It is a must-read. I’m officially hooked on this series, and I can’t wait to see what kind of trouble Finlay gets into next!
Went from 4 stars to 2 then back up to 3.
Unfortunately the time between 4 and 3 stars was very long and boring, making me almost DNF the whole thing. I feel like the author made the plot more complicated than it needed to be, added way too many moving parts and topped it all off with unbelievable “luck” that prevented the MC from being either caught or killed.
It's a shame cause I did really like the beginning.
“Finlay Donovan is Killing It” - and I'm not just talking about the bodies piling up around her! I'm giving this book 4 stars because it was a ridiculous, hilarious ride that had me giggling and snorting my way through.
Finlay herself? Not exactly relatable (I mean, who gets caught up in a murder plot and still manages to worry about their hair?). But reading about her misadventures was an absolute blast! As she says, “I was a hot mess, but I was a hot mess in a minivan, so I was still a responsible adult, right?”
I loved how the author leaned into the absurdity of it all, with Finlay's inner monologue providing some of the best laughs. Like when she's trying to sneak around a crime scene and thinks, “I was basically a ninja, if ninjas wore yoga pants and had a perpetual wine headache.”
The writing is witty, the pacing is quick, and the characters are quirky and fun. Even if Finlay's antics drive you crazy (and they will), you can't help but root for her. As she says, “I was a terrible person, but I was a terrible person with a good heart.”
Overall, “Finlay Donovan is Killing It” is a fun, lighthearted read perfect for when you need a laugh and a break from the seriousness of life. Just remember, if you're going to get caught up in a murder plot, make sure you're wearing clean pants. Priorities, people!
Still a fun read; first read it 3 years ago so I'm surprised it still kept my attention. The “let me write something close to what I'm accidentally involved in” storyline is extra silly, I'll have to read more and see if that keeps up.
This is such a silly and fun mystery book. It vaguely reminded me of Only Murders in the Building because the tone was fun, light, and had a focus on an unlikely friendship.
Don't get me wrong, the book was not BAD. It just did not spark any real excitement in me when I read it
If you like shows like “Dead to Me,” “Ginny and Georgia,”and “The Good Girls,” you'll enjoy this book. This reads exactly like a binge-able Netflix series and was easy and quick to get through. Fin and Vero are enjoyable and likeable characters, they're relationship is very precious and something you only hope to have as a suburban single mother.
Although enjoyable and very much a comfort read, this type of story is something I've come across before whether on tv or other murder mystery type stories. The twists and turns were eloquently made though some were predictable. I won't be continuing the series but the ending did make me chuckle.
At first I thought this book was going to be similar to Nora Goes Off Script, at least for the first couple of chapters, but then it went every other direction possible. I loved all of these characters. Vero stressed me tf out, ngl, but I loved her. I loved hating Theresa and Steven. They were awful. I love that Julian won out over Nick. I definitely need to purchase more of this series. I will say that I was let down that it was Aaron who did it. I get that it's fun to make the most unlikely character the one “whodunnit” but it wasn't satisfying at all to find out. Oops. Spoilers. I will say that the most terrifying part of this book is how after thinking she had fully murdered another human, Finn did not have any sort of existential crisis...she didn't even cry. Wild. And once again reading about a mom character has further solidified my absolute desire to never have children. lol
A great story with likeable characters. I didn't realise this was the first book and that there are at least another two to go. Can't wait to read those if I can find them at my library!
4.5* I found Finlay a little whiny and irritating to start off with but she grew on me as the story developed. Plus this ending has me needing to pick up the next one ASAP!!
“Thank you,” I said, genuinely sad for her when I thought of all the heartbreak ahead of her— all the phalluses just waiting to be drawn in the dust on the windshield of her future. I wanted to tell her to run. To save herself while she still could. But I had been about the same age when I'd fallen for Steven, and if anyone had told me he'd turn out to be a philandering creep, I never would have believed them.'
It is hard to sum up how much I love this book. For me, this is the perfect comedy novel. There were moments where I didn't want to turn the page because I knew what was about to happen and it was making me cringe too hard (but in the best possible way).
If the setup doesn't swing you, I don't think we can be friends: Finlay is the author of romantic mystery novels and a newly single mother of two young kids, struggling to keep her house afloat and meet her agent's deadlines. At lunch with her agent, in disguise because she's been banned from the establishment for throwing soup on her ex's new girlfriend - she is mistaken for a hit-woman and accidentally hired to kill this woman's husband. Things get worse when she accidentally fulfills the hit! Now, she has a bag of dirty money, and a dead body, and still needs to finish that novel. What's worse, she finds herself in a love triangle with a hot cop Nick, and a trainee lawyer/sexy bartender Julian. Can Finlay finish her novel, stop her husband from taking custody of the kids, work out her feelings, and - ideally, obviously - not go to jail for murder?
This novel is just full of hijinks, Finlay spends most of the book trying desperately to get out of one tight corner only to box herself into an even tighter one. Each time, you can see the car crash coming and you just want to scream at Finlay to stop! It is delicious and hilarious and the romance is enthralling as well. One of my favorite books of the year.
5 ⭑
Ich liebe Finlay Donovan. Es ist ein tolles Cozy Mystery Buch mit einer Menge Humor. Ich werde ganz bald Band 2 lesen
read for a cozy mystery reading vlog
this was so funny and i had such a good time. one of the best “cozies” i've read even tho it's not a traditional cozy. i'm not obsessed like everybody else but i think that's because it took me a couple weeks to finish this due to outside life circumstances