Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
Publication Date: February 2, 2021
Summary from GoodReads:
Finlay Donovan is killing it…except, she’s really not. 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. She soon 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 award-winning Elle Cosimano.
Confession:
“It’s a widely known fact that most moms are ready to kill someone by eight thirty A.M. on any given morning.”
If you are looking for a witty and fun read then you really must pick this book up! I probably spent the whole time reading this book with a big grin on my face, and there were many times I was chuckling and laughing out loud at Finlay’s and Vera’s antics. I am really looking forward to reading the next book and hopefully many more after that.
I just adored Finlay and could totally relate to many of her dilemas. Of course I never found myself with a dead body in my car, but I could still totally relate and see myself reacting in the same way. Finlay is a marvel, and even though she totally doubts herself, she does eventually find that inner strength to get through it all. She is also funny as hell, especially with many of her life’s observations. Her kids were adorable, especially her five year old daughter.
There are three men in Finlay’s life in this book, her ex husband Steven, Nick the sexy hot cop and Julian the bartender. Steven was quite the piece of work and Finlay was well shot of him. She does eventually set him right with a little help from Vero, her nanny. Nick was a lot of fun and I enjoyed the flirty talk and thoughts that Finlay had about him. There were a few times I thought for sure that he was going to catch her, but he never quite catches up to what is really going on. Julian isn’t as involved in the whole story, but Finlay thinks about him a lot and the few times we do hear from him, he is very supportive.
“She chuckled darkly. “And to think you were worried about a damn shower curtain. Nothing says ‘serial killer’ like a chest freezer in a garage.”
Vero was my favorite character. She is Finaly’s nanny and she is the rock to the hot mess that Finlay is during most of the book. Vero is the one that helps Finlay keep her cool and helps her out in ways that really bonds them together. She is also a no nonsense kind of person and I loved it when she put Steven in his place, which he sorely needed. She was also the comic relief when things got a little dark.
“Nick and Vero glanced up as my heels clicked into the kitchen. Vero looked confused. “I’m sorry. Do I know you? Because I thought I worked for a vampire in yoga pants.”
The story was the best. It was such a comedy of errors from the start to the finish. I loved how things just so quickly spiraled out of control, but with some quick thinking on both Vero’s and Finlay’s part they are able to keep things from going horribly wrong. There was one small part at the end (how the second mob guy dies), that didn’t quite work for me, but I am willing to let that go, because the rest was just so good. There are a few twists in the story, like who really killed Harris (the first mob guy) that caught me by surprise. There are a few slow spots, but the rest of the story does clip along at a fast pace, so it was kind of nice to get a breather every once in a while.
If you are looking for a great beach/vacation read you can’t go wrong with this one. I loved the depiction of motherhood and all of the messy things that involves. I also loved the witty banter and the comedy of errors that just kept on going. Can’t wait to see what happens in the second book!
Confessions of a Serial Reader 