Wow! Elle Cosinano wrote a good, fun, and easy to read mystery book. She makes you want to keep reading about Finley Donovan’s life where she just can’t catch a break with her life or writing. There were a lot of twists and turns that made you want to keep turning the page. I really was not expecting the ending at all. This was my first book from this author and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

Laugh out loud funny! This fast paced and clever novel was hard to put down. Looking forward to the rest of the series.

Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano. Pub Date: February 2, 2021. Rating: 5 stars. What a breath of fresh air this storyline and character turned out to be. Finlay Donovan is a struggling novelist who is so relatable in the fact she is just trying to survive as a single mother of two. She winds up in a chaotic situation when she is overheard talking about the plot of her suspense novel she is trying to write. Following this, she is commissioned as a contract killer and that's where the story takes some interesting and funny turns. With wittiness and grit, Finlay Donovan ends up in a whirlwind situation that kept me turning the pages. I found this storyline fresh, new and absolutely fun! I plan to read the rest of the series. Thanks to #netgalley and #stmartinspress for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

The first of the hit series on Finlay Donovan - would recommend it to anyone that enjoys light mysteries with hilarious characters!

I have had this book on my TBR pile for a while and I am so glad I finally read it. It was really, really good! It certainly had twists that I did not see coming. The overall plot is unlike any other story I have read and was a fun twist on its broad stroke story type. I am excited to read the rest of the series!

Real life on steroids! Nothing is going smoothly for Finlay and now she has to kill someone?? The story pulls you in for a fun filled ride. Enjoy.

I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book when I first started it. The MC seemed a little insufferable, however I quickly fell in love with her. The precarious situation she got herself it was very entertaining. On top of that there is action and a love triangle, what is not to like. Quick and fun read, looking forward to the rest of the series.

This was a wild ride, and I loved every minute of it! I couldn’t believe the situation that Finlay got herself into! This kept my attention, and I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. This was a fun read!

lloved it SO MUCH. This is a fun murder mystery comedy about a writer named Finlay Donovan who is discussing the plot of her next murder mystery novel in a Panera Bread with her agent when a woman overhears her conversation and thinks she's actually a contract killer and offers her a huge amount of money to kill her husband.

I recently received an email about the newest book in the Finlay Donovan series and was surprised I had never heard of this series before! It sounded like the type of book I would read, so of course, I had to start at the beginning with Finlay Donovan Is Killing It.

The story introduces Finlay Donovan, a newly divorced mother of two young kids and a mystery novelist. When Patricia overhears Finlay discussing the plot of her latest book (and notices a bloody knife in her diaper bag), she mistakes her for a contract killer and tries to hire her to kill her husband. From there, things spiral out of control, and Finlay, with the unexpected help of her babysitter Vero, ends up in some unexpected situations and maybe even become contract killers.
It was a fun, lighthearted read, with a few clichés here and there. However, I didn’t mind them since the book doesn’t take itself too seriously. I’ will definitely be reading the rest of the series.

Finlay Donovan is Killing It is the first book in the Finlay Donovan mystery series. A stressed out struggling writer and single mom with too much on her plate, Finlay Donovan isn’t sure where to go from here. The bills are piling up and her book is no closer to being finished than a month ago when a case of mistaken identity has a job as a hit woman falling into her lap. A job she inadvertently accepts. Now what is she to do? This money will solve all of her problems but she isn’t a hit woman and could never be. As Finlay accidentally becomes tangled in a real web of murder, lies and deceit it’s all she can do to keep herself out of trouble. Will she be able to untangle the web before it’s too late or will she be the one ending up behind bars?

After seeing this book multiple times and reading the description I knew I had to read it. I am a mystery fan and love a good comedy tied in with the mystery. This book delivers both! It was so easy to get pulled into this story and I couldn’t help from laughing along as Finlay got up to her crazy antics. The humor was fun and really helped drive this story. Everywhere Finlay turns she’s getting in more accidental trouble and it makes for an entertaining read. I’m excited to see what comes in the next book and think this is a great series for mystery lovers who want a good laugh.

This book is just a hoot. Finlay Donovan finds herself in a pickle when someone over hears her talking about her next book plot and someone offers her cash to off her husband. I loved all the characters, and because the book was so fun and funny to read, I finished it up in no time. I can’t wait to five into book 2.

Thanks to NetGalley for supplying this book with my agreement to review. Finlay is an author with a writer’s block and is in financial straights with an exhusband who is threatening to stop financial assistance and wants to gain custody of their two children. Finlay meets with her agent at Panera to try and get an extension on the completion of her book. During which time a note is placed in her bag offering her financial freedom amounting to $75,000 but she has to kill this woman’s husband. From this point on we have a hilarious romp wondering how she’s going to get herself out of the mess she’s gotten herself in to, a case where doing the right thing can go oh so wrong. She does get assistance from her nanny and two gorgeous hunks. Read the book to see if she succeeds. I’m looking forward to the authors next book

What can I say? I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. Elle Cosimano crafted a main character--Finlay Donvan--who is incredibly likable, funny, and utterly self-aware. It is so refreshing. Finlay, a newly divorced after her husband cheated on her mother of two, is cash strapped and finds herself in a situation based upon a misunderstanding. Yet, she goes with it and makes hilarious choices along the way. It was so fun to see a mystery unravel in this way, with a self-deprecating narrator, who you can't help but root for. Can't wait to see what happens in the next book! Many thanks to NetGalley and Elle Cosimano for making this title available.

I'm not immune to a book where the main character is a writer - they're just always very fun to me! Really engaging, well-paced, and the humor really lands, which is rare for me. I'm not too big of a fan of the romance, and I think the plot is a bit contrived in parts (like the author has gone out of their way to make Finlay a Good Person instead of allowing her to exist in shades of grey), but nonetheless a very fun story. Love the dynamic between Finlay and Vero; Vero has potential to be the best character in the series, in my opinion.

Finlay is that train wreck you just can't look away from. This was really enjoyable from the opening scene all the way through. Great characters and just enough mystery to keep you guessing. Looking forward to the rest of the series.

Darkly funny and not too serious. It’s like a cozy mystery but a bit more over the top. I actually really enjoyed this book and love this series.

Finlay Donovan is Killing it and Knocks ‘em Dead (Books 1 and 2) by Elle Cosimano
Writing: A-
Story: A-
Characters: A
Setting: A-
Best Aspect: Well done story that is farfetched but totally believable.
Worst Aspect: Could you a little more emotion from each character.
Recommend: Yes.

The first in this wildly popular series is a laugh-out-loud funny. While being a hell of a thriller. Single mom and author Finlay Donovan is mistaken as a hit-woman by a woman who overhears her talking about the plot of her next novel. This leads to the accidental death of the supposed target—the woman’s husband—in the back on Finlay’s vehicle. Then the story gets crazy. The characters are engaging, the plot all over the place—in a good way—and the writing is excellent. Jump on the Finlay train., You’ll be glad you did.

DP Lyle, award-winning author, lecturer, story consultant

This was such a funny murder mystery. It gave me Stephanie Plum vibes and I can't wait to read the next one in the series.