Book Review: "Finlay Donovan is Killing It" by Elle Cosimano
“Finlay Donovan is Killing It” by Elle Cosimano
Synopsis: 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.
Rating: 4
Review: I never thought that I would find myself describing a book as an “enjoyable murder farce,” but well, 2021 is taking us strange places. And if you’ve read “Finlay Donovan is Killing It,” I think you’d say that description is 100% spot-on. It’s clever, it’s over-the-top, and it’s just fun —despite the very dark subject matter.
Finlay Donovan is a young divorcee with two kids, an empty bank account, and a looming book deadline, when she’s accidentally mistaken for a hitman in a northern Virginia Panera. The $50,000 she’s offered to kill someone’s scumbag husband is certainly tempting enough for her to explore that option — enough that she accidentally ends up with a dead body in her car. I’m serious, it was an accident, but it sets us off an adventure that includes sod, hunky policemen, the Russian mob, cute bartenders, a completed book draft, and even more.
Needless to say, I’d be tempted, just like Finlay was — huge paycheck that would end all of my problems and let me lord that I had my shit together over my scumbag ex for eliminating one absolutely terrible human from the face of the planet? Doesn’t sound too terrible, but I don’t think I could actually go through with it. So, honestly, I loved bumbling through this novel alongside her. I never felt like she really had a plan, and I loved that - she’s smart and she’s funny, but she’s also a huge mess. It’s relatable.
Beyond that, every character in this book was just a hoot; her ex-husband and his new wife; Vero, the nanny turned accomplice/sidekick; Patricia; the Russian mobsters. I believe this is the start of a series — it better be with the way that it ended!! — and I can’t wait to go along with Finlay’s next adventures.
Fair warning: this isn’t the most realistic of books — I know, I know, you’re shocked. I recommended this to my good friend, Paige, and she kept texting me how annoyed she was that Finlay wasn’t good at…being a hitwoman? If you, like the two of us, think you could commit a crime and get away with it because of too much SVU at a young age, you may be annoyed at some of the obvious errors that Finlay makes. However, I think the story is still well worth reading, just take off your forensic detective hat.
TL;DR: The funniest book about murder-for-hire that I can remember reading, and the kind of mystery that ultimately leaves you with a smile on your face.
If You Liked This, Try These:
“One for the Money” by Janet Evanovich (Bookshop | Kindle) - I know the series gets ridiculous, but the first one is incredibly clever — and a bizarre trip back into the 1990s.
If you click on one of the links in this article and make a purchase, She’s Full of Lit may receive a small commission. It doesn’t add anything to your price — we promise! Thanks so much for your support.
