This was a great read. Perfect combination of funny, suspense with a bit of romance. And the cliffhanger? yes, I will definitely read the next one.

Honestly, who HASN'T thought of killing their significant other at some point in time? The insane setup of an author being overheard at a working lunch at a Panera and being mistaken for a contract killer doesn't seem that crazy at all. This book pulls you right in,

3/18/2025-This was a re-read which obviously means that I like this book. It is delightfully ridiculous and I mean that in the best way. The hijinks of Finlay and Vero and their dynamic is entertaining. I appreciate where the plot goes and even though the premise is bizarre (suburban mom hired to kill someone) it seems plausible in this particular world. It gives cozy mystery energy and as a lover of cozy mysteries, this is totally the book for me.

I don't think everyone will enjoy this, but if you want a fun time and need to just be entertained by a story then I recommend this.

I may age myself but Finlay Donovan is the answer to every girl in the aughts who read Aly Carter. I was extremely grateful to recieve the full series and couldn't finish them all fast enough.

I thought I would like this book a bit more than I did, but by the end of it I was way more into it than I was at the beginning.
Finlay was infuriating and kept making the wrong decision everytime! Good thing this is fiction and not real life because she would have been caught in the first 20 pages of the book :D

However, I ended up having fun so I will keep reading this series! Three stars!

Love this series. I think this first in the series really sets us up for what’s to come. Really cozy read

This book was an absolute blast! Finlay Donovan, a struggling writer and single mom, accidentally gets mistaken for a contract killer—and before she knows it, she’s tangled in a real-life murder mystery. With sharp humor, fast-paced twists, and a dynamic duo in Finlay and her nanny-turned-partner-in-crime, Vero, this book kept me hooked from start to finish.

The audiobook made it even better, bringing out the humor and suspense perfectly. Elle Cosimano delivers a fun, clever, and wildly entertaining ride. I couldn’t get enough and couldn’t wait to dive into the sequel!

I read this when it first came out and had issues with it. The main character Finlay Donovan was grating and emotionally immature. I still feel that way but this time around I guess I was more in the mood for it and was also prepared for Finlay's shenanigans. It was a much better read the second time around and I look forward with only slight trepidation to the rest of the series.

I could not fall in love with this book. The premise was basically horrifying, and not at all believable, so that spoiled it for me. And I couldn’t feel a lot of sympathy for someone who created so many of her own problems. I enjoy dark humor, but an ordinary housewife and mother carrying out some of these maneuvers was not realistic or funny. The characters would probably have been fun in a different setting, so I may try another in the series. I am sure many will enjoy this book, but it just fell short for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh, my goodness! What an amusing comedy of errors. This book had me in stitches throughout the entire read.

Finlay Donovan is a recently divorced single mom and struggling suspenseful romance writer. She meets up with her agent at the local Panera to discuss her book's progress. A woman at a nearby table eavesdrops on the conversation and assumes that Finlay is a contract killer. She slips a note into Finlay's diaper bag cum purse offering a sizable sum to carry out a kill. Of course Finlay is no killer but she is curious about the person targeted and starts a bit of an investigation on her own. Perhaps it will provide inspiration for her book and get her writing juices flowing. What she hadn't planned on was an accidental death and need for body disposal. Oh what a mess she's gotten herself into.

I had been looking for a palate cleanser after some heavy history reading and this book (along with its entire series) really hit it out of the park. Author Elle Cosimano is brilliant in her writing of this series. The characters are hilarious in their dialogue and cutting remarks. The women are strong and clever while many of the men are rather morally challenged. Finlay Donavan and her nanny, Vero, make for a dubious duo in this series and their antics keep the reader chuckling. It's a wild ride for sure and nowhere near believable, yet oh so fun!

I am grateful to Minotaur Books for having provided a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.

Publisher: Minotaur Books; First Edition
Publication Date: February 2, 2021
Number of pages: 368
ISBN: 978-1250241702

This book was just OK for me. I absolutely love the cover art. I thought the premise sounded interesting. However, I had a hard time spending my disbelief over Finlay’s outrageous choices. I just couldn’t seem to buy into her motivations or logic. Vero, on the other hand, was my favorite part of this book. The interaction and friendship between her and Finlay was so funny, and that’s what kept me reading.

*Finlay Donovan Is Killing It* by Elle Cosimano was my first introduction to the series, and I absolutely loved it. This fast-paced, laugh-out-loud mystery brilliantly blends crime, chaos, and comedy. Struggling novelist and single mom Finlay accidentally gets mistaken for a contract killer, launching her into a whirlwind of absurd yet suspenseful misadventures. With sharp wit, unexpected twists, and a charmingly messy protagonist, this book had me hooked from the start. It was the perfect mix of humor and suspense, and I can't wait to read more in the series!

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC. I cannot wait to read the other books in this series.

Disaster, disappointment, and desperate.

I want to thank NetGalley for offering me THE WHOLE SERIES, including the new one!! 🤩
This is the first , and I have to tell you that I laughed out loud several times during the book. Finlay is a hot mess, trying to navigate raising toddlers, and desperately needing money (because of her no good cheating husband). I will not quote from the book because I don’t want to take a minute of your laughter from this story. The phrases that the author uses are absolutely hilarious. I downloaded it from NetGalley and then listened to it while driving (with a huge smile on my face trying not to forget to turn on my signals).
If you are needing a disastrous murder mystery, this one is for you. I can’t wait to continue this series!! This character is one I didn’t realize I needed in my life.

Think thriller/mystery but one satirical and relatable? This was such a fun read! Newly divorced, Finlay is struggling with juggling it all…bills and money, solo parenting, stymied author career. A cryptic note leads to potential wealth and a solution to all her issues. The shenanigans that ensue are hilarious, the plot well done and kept my interest, and the satire of the absurdity of the situation not lost with me. Looking forward to continuing this series.

This is the first book in the series. Finlay Donovan is a struggling author and mother of two busy children. When her ex-husband fires her nanny, she is beside herself on what to do. When she is mistakenly taken as a hitman, she decides to see who the mark is. One thing leads to another and all of a sudden she is dealing with a true crime unlike the ones she writes about. Luckily Vero, her nanny comes to the rescue to help her, but Vero has secrets of her own.

This is a great introduction to this fun series!

this was exactly the sort of silly murder mayhem i had been hoping it would be, and i'm so excited to keep reading this series, especially after that ending! i do think it might be even more entertaining for readers who can relate more to Finlay's life than i did, but even her two bratty kids weren't enough to stop me from enjoying this, and i think that says a lot since i am Not a Fan of kids. also, Vero was such a fun character, and i'm really looking forward to her book/novella now.

I didn't know what to expect going into this, but knew it had rave reviews so I was excited for it.

More than halfway through the book I still didn't know how to categorize it but I knew I was completely entertained. If you look at this book from a purely entertaining wild, unrealistic murder-mystery comedy then you will find it just as enjoyable!

Absolutely love Finlay Donovan is Killing It. There's adventure, mystery, slapstick comedy, sassy sidekick, and adorable kids. Without a doubt I could see this being a Netflix show. Thankful to receive the entire series from Netgalley. The audiobooks are on Libby and I just want to say I loved the narrator selection for the audiobook as well. This book was great fun.

Very cute. I did not see the ending happening. I didn't like the detective character, but I was happy with the romantic storylines.

Finlay Donovan is a stressed-out single-mom of two adorable children. She is struggling to write a novel and struggling financially to keep up with bills. One day, Finlay meets with her literary agent for lunch to discuss the plot of her new suspense novel. After her agent leaves, she finds out that someone was listening to her conversation and she ends up being mistaken for a contract killer. Finlay inadvertently accepts an offer to dispose of a “problem husband” in order to make ends meet and takes her nanny, Vero, along the way!

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It is the start of a fantastic mystery/thriller series that I can’t get enough of! This book is so fun and humorous that you’ll fly through the pages and wish you had the next book already. Elle Cosimano does a wonderful job writing such relatable characters and doesn’t forget to include how Finlay is feeling toward her ex-husband, about being a single mom, and accidentally accepting a job as a hitwoman. If you haven’t read this, what are you waiting for?!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader’s Copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest opinion. Please note that I have read this book twice before receiving an ARC and have loved it just as much the second time around.