Synopsis
Finlay Donovan is killing it . . . except, she’s really not. She’s 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 . . . Soon, Finlay 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 moment, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It is the first in a brilliant new series from YA Edgar Award nominee Elle Cosimano.
Audiobook Review
5 wonderful stars
You know a book is really good when you can’t stop listening to it. That’s what happened with Finley Donovan is Killing It.
I as torn between listening non stop because I adored it and trying to savor because I just knew when this ended I would already miss it!
First I’d like to praise the narrator : Angela Dawe was …killing it! Pun intended of course but she really was the perfect choice to impersonate Finley!
That book is equal part fun and intriguing.
Fun because I think every mother, even if her kids are now young adults like me, will absolutely relate to Finley in her struggle to raise alone two little kids: one in diapers and her daughter of four years.
The constant battle to be the best mom you can while your daughter just tried to give herself a new haircut, your agent is threatening to ditch you and your ex-husband’s fiancée is parading like a super model with not a single hair out of place rang…absolutely authentic.
Add to it that your cheater of an ex is vying for court to keep the kids while Finley is crumpling under unpaid bills all while living her life in stained yoga pants and OF COURSE I rooted for Finley from page 1!
It also helps that Finley has an amazing sense of humor, with plenty of sarcasm and witty retorts!
““It’s a widely known fact that most moms are ready to kill someone by eight thirty A.M. on any given morning. On the particular morning of Tuesday, October eighth, I was ready by seven forty-five. (…) I was ready to kill someone. I didn’t really care who.”
When Finley, after a misunderstanding, will be mistaken for a contract killer and when the despicable husband of the wife who hired her truly dies under her watch, things get messy! Who will believe that she didn’t kill him???
It was really comical to see that every time Finley tried to rectify the mistake and take the high road something happened to drag her deeper into a web of suspicion. Finley’s only hope to evade jail and keep her kids was to discover “who did it”.
“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.”
Helped in her endeavor with her nanny Veronica, she will put all the details she remembers on paper, like she would write a novel. And of course, you can guess what happens when a writer thinks on paper right?
Finley turned detective will also meet a very hot and very young bartender/aspiring public defendor; a smart and sexy detective and will try to get the help of her very old vigilante neighbor.
Filled with humor, suspense, mystery and utterly relatable moments, that book was a total success for me and I can’t recommend it enough!
Thanks for reading!
Sophie
I’m planning to listen to the audiobook for this one soon so I’m glad to hear it was such a winner for you. 🙂
This is such a great review! Your pleasure with it really shine through and it made me want to grab this book!!
Glad to see how wonderful this one turned out to be! Sounds like a complete winner for you, Sophie! 😀
I think you’d love it too Lashaan :))) Even if this is not your usual genre!
Its always the best when a book is relatable in such this way. I love that you got such a kick out of this one here.
Great Review
I think you’d love it too Renee. Honestly it’s impossible not to love it 🙂
I’ve heard such great things about this, thanks for just confirming that I need to read it! Gonna probably put it on my dec tbr!
As I know you love audiobooks Mogsy I think you are in for a treat!
Based on those quotes, I think I would love this too!
If you love audiobook, go for it Tammy. I had such a blast!
The narrator was excellent for this book. She captured the humor so well, and I really got a good feel for Finlay and the rest of the cast. The nanny was one of my favorite characters. She was stupendous
Stupendous si the best word for her Sam!