Author: Elle Cosimano
Genre: Adult Mystery / Romantic Suspense / Humorous Crime
Ideal For: Anyone who’s ever felt they’re doing everything wrong—as a parent, writer, human—and yet still hung on for dear life. Perfect for readers who love mysteries with belly-laughs, messy heroines, and the guarantee that chaos is only the beginning.
Plot Summary (Spoiler-Free)
From page one of Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, you’re thrust into a world of near-collapse: Finlay Donovan is a divorced mother of two, barely paying rent on the house she used to own, mortgaging her future on a novel she hasn’t started, and relying on a nanny who has just been fired without warning. Then she walks into a Panera, sketches out a murder-thriller idea to her agent, and is accidentally hired by a woman who thinks she’s a contract killer. Suddenly Finlay’s fiction and real life collide, and she’s on the hook for death, mob intrigue and survival.
Cosimano wastes no time establishing stakes—or comedic mayhem. The plot rockets forward, but beneath the chase and mis-identification lies something bigger: identity crisis, motherhood under fire, crime that feels absurd and real all at once.
Cosimano’s Craft: Smart, Messy, Terrific Fun
Cosimano writes with wit and pacing that’s hard to stop reading. Finlay’s voice is equal parts frazzled mom, desperate writer, and accidental assassin—and it works. The dual identity setup (writer vs hit-woman) is comedic gold, but the payoff is suspense, not slapstick.
What stands out is how the book gives depth to the chaos. Yes, the moments are absurd (a dead body in the van, mob links, hit-job mix-ups), but Finlay’s emotional core keeps you invested: her desire to write, to survive, to prove herself to her ex-husband and her children. The writing handles crisis with humour but doesn’t squander the heart.
Themes That Land
Chaos as identity. Finlay’s life is a mess—not because she’s failed, but because the world demanded more than she had time for. The book asks: can you salvage success when everything’s falling apart?
Motherhood under fire. Finlay is a mom first—even when she’s forced into a murder plot. The tension between caring for her kids and chasing a deadline vs cleaning up someone’s corpse gives the story real dimension.
Mistaken identity and reinvention. The hitwoman mis-hire is a plot twist, but metaphorically: Finlay wonders who she is. A writer? A mother? A potential killer? The mix becomes powerful.
Survival via friendship. The sidekick, Vero (the fired nanny turned accidental ally), becomes a highlight. Their bond becomes part of the book’s emotional resonance.
What Works Brilliantly
Hook you early. The Panera scene—writing pitch overheard, job offered, panic sets in—is a fantastic opening. Many readers couldn’t put the book down.
Unpredictable momentum. Just when you think you know what’s happening, Cosimano pulls a twist. The Russian-mob involvement, the hit job, the ex-husband’s shenanigans—all escalate.
Relatable protagonist. Finlay is a disaster in so many ways—but she’s also trying, failing, and trying again. Her flaws make her human. Balance of humor and high stakes. While the premise could veer into farce, the emotional weight keeps it grounded. You laugh, you worry, you root.
Series setup done right. This book isn’t just a one-off; it sets up a series (including titles like Finlay Donovan Knocks ’Em Dead). But it works beautifully as a standalone too.
A Tiny Quibble (That Doesn’t Wreck the Ride)
If you’re ultra-tuned to realism in crime fiction, some plot points stray into “could-only-happen-in-fiction” territory. The parenting elements felt sidelined at times.
Also, the love-interest subplot is broader than it needs to be—but if you’re here for quick pacing and humor, you’ll likely forgive it.
Why You’ll Remember It
After you finish Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, you’ll remember the moment: hair duct-taped on your child, a hit job accidentally accepted, a house you used to own you now rent from your ex. You’ll recall late nights, deadlines ticking, kids screaming—and a protagonist who barrels through anyway. You might speak to your friend: “Grab this book—just don’t go into the Panera alone.”
You’ll carry it not just as a mystery read but as a celebration of survival, of chaos, of flipping the script when the world mis-casts you.
Finlay Donovan Is Killing It earns its full five stars because it delivers a mystery that’s hilarious and heartfelt, a heroine you root for, and a storyline that blends motherhood, writing, and murder in a way you didn’t know you needed. Elle Cosimano has crafted a debut that’s equal parts witty caper and emotional rescue mission. If you’re ready for a wild ride—grab it, hold on, and expect the unexpected.
