Book Review: Finlay Donovan is Killing It (Finlay Donovan, #1) by Elle Cosimano

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It (Finlay Donovan #1) by Elle Cosimano opens with a stressed-out single mother of two, Finlay Donovan, whose babysitter suddenly doesn’t show up. Already overwhelmed, Finlay heads to a meeting with her book editor, where their discussion of a fictional plot is overheard. Due to a misunderstanding, Finlay is mistaken for a contract killer and inadvertently accepts an offer to kill someone’s husband.

This novel was chosen as the August pick for the book club I belong to. I knew it was a popular book, but it’s not one I would have picked up on my own, even though it falls within my favorite genre. I struggled through the first 125–150 pages because the premise felt so far-fetched. It almost became a “Did Not Finish” for me, but I didn’t want to show up to book club without finishing the book.

That said, I was glad I stuck with it. There were parts I genuinely enjoyed, though I’m still not sure why so many readers found this book funny. To me, it felt extremely dark, and it reminded me a bit of the TV show Good Girls. Despite the dark subject matter, it’s a fast-paced novel that I finished quickly over a weekend, and I would still consider it a beach read.

One aspect I found particularly interesting was the contrast between Finlay and her babysitter, Vero. At twenty-two, Vero seemed far more put together than Finlay, who is thirty-one. I also found it strange that Finlay’s wardrobe consisted almost entirely of t-shirts, jeans, and sweats. How do you reach your thirties without owning any business-casual outfits or dresses?

There were several elements I really liked about Finlay Donovan Is Killing It. The relationship between Finlay and Vero stood out the most. I loved that Finlay had someone she could implicitly trust. The romantic subplot added an entertaining layer to the mystery, especially as I tried to figure out whether Finlay would end up with one of the men she was “dating.” I also appreciated the underlying theme of women supporting other women, although not in the context of murder.

Despite the far-fetched storyline and the main character’s questionable decisions, I ultimately gave Finlay Donovan Is Killing It (Finlay Donovan #1) by Elle Cosimano four out of five stars.

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