Finlay Donovan Is Killing It Review

Author: Elle Cosimano

Genre: Mystery

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Release Date:  Feb. 2, 2021

Purchase Link:  Amazon

My Rating:  4 Hilarious Hearts

Many thanks to Minotaur Books for a paperback arc of this book. #MinotaurInfluencers #FinlayDonovanIsKillingIt

Edgar-Award nominee Elle Cosimano’s adult debut Finlay Donovan Is Killing It is the first in a witty, fast-paced mystery series, following struggling suspense novelist and single mom Finlay Donovan, whose fiction treads dangerously close to the truth as she becomes tangled in real-life murder investigations...

Review:

Author Elle Cosimano's adult mystery debut Finlay Donovan Is Killing It is a breath of fresh air in the genre. The story features Finlay Donovan aka single mother of two, romance suspense writer and suspected contract killer and cohort Vero aka the on again, off again nanny and accomplice. Everything about this story is an exaggeration, larger than life - from the mystery of the murder to the untimely appearance of dead bodies to the hilarious antics and banter of our relatable protagonist and her sidekick. Finlay Donovan Is Killing It has it all – intriguing mystery, wacko characters, brisk plot line, and ludicrous comedy. The only real danger in reading this book is expiring from laughter while you're imprisoned in the pages with no desire to escape.

Finlay, a recently divorced, romance suspense writer nursing a bad case of writer's block and another missed deadline, is staring down another bad day when she meets with her agent at a local restaurant to discuss her progress, or lack thereof, on her next book. After a lady seated nearby who showed blatant interest in their conversation leaves, Finlay discovers a mysterious note left behind – one that will change the course of and secure her future but not without consequences. The next thing she knows, she and Vero are in the middle of a murder investigation while doing their best to skirt the local law and organized crime. The end results are hilarious - a comedy of errors wrapped around a good if barely believable mystery.

Finlay Donovan’s a strong if sometimes foolish protagonist who's easily identifiable. The author’s skill at portraying Finlay as a real life single mother struggling to do it all is golden, making her relatable and likable while drawing readers’ empathy. Single mothers will recognize and commiserate with Finlay and have no issue justifying her actions. Likewise, the dynamics of the relationship between Finlay and Vero and the portrayal of Vero as a witty sidekick rather than the typical scheming nanny is perfection. The growing camaraderie between these two women as they dare each other into making yet another bad decision makes for delightful, laugh out loud, exaggerated scenes filled with witty banter – a perfect portrayal of true friendship. A support cast of maybe, maybe not boyfriends and unreliable suspects with too many motives to count serves to keep the mystery of whodunit alive, and even though I recognized where this was headed, the author's youthful writing style and wry sense of humor kept me thoroughly entertained throughout. Cosimano's skillful utilization of a writer passing what’s essentially a spoof of her own current situation off as a fictional mystery to deliver the plot is brilliant as is the manipulation of larger than life characters and scenes that twist and turn right through the final aha moment. This may not be the best executed mystery ever written, but it wins my vote for most hilarious.

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It is the first in a series featuring these characters. I'll definitely be tuned in to see where the author takes this in the future. Highly recommended to fans of mystery, comedy, and dark satire.

 

Author of NEARLY GONE, HOLDING SMOKE, THE SUFFERING TREE, SEASONS OF THE STORM, and FINLAY DONOVAN IS KILLING IT (Feb 2, 2021 from Minotaur Books). Represented by Sarah Davies of The Greenhouse Literary Agency.