Finlay Donovan is beyond stressed. The recently divorced, single mom of two is struggling to meet the deadline for her latest book. Her bank account is reaching zero and she’s desperate, but not desperate enough to commit murder.
While at a coffee meeting with her agent, a stranger overhears pieces of their conversation and mistakes Finlay for a hitman. After her meeting, the stranger, a woman with a husband issue, contacts Finlay with a proposition for a hit job. Unable to properly disengage herself from the situation, Finlay agrees to go to dinner with the target, planning on assessing the case, perhaps issuing a stern warning, rather than committing a crime. The guy is a jerk after all, and Finlay has had her own husband troubles. A mishap occurs and although she didn’t commit murder, Finlay is left with a dead body that she must handle. Every move makes her appear more guilty and serves to confirm her involvement with a murder. Can Finlay hide the body and complete the job without getting caught? Will she manage to get back on track with her manuscript? Can she prove to her ex-husband that she is capable of life without him?
Finlay Donovan is Killing It is catchy. I was drawn to the clever title and fun cover. Seriously, isn’t this one of the best book covers? I thought it would make an ideal costume if there was a contest to dress like a book cover!
The story itself is entertaining, if not a bit ridiculous. You absolutely must suspend your disbelief. Finlay is a plucky character and I think relatable to many women who might be recently divorced and struggling to get back on their feet. While I found the premise to be engaging, the overarching plot gets silly. It’s just so outrageous. However, if you want an escapist read, this could be a good pick. I took it on vacation, and for a light read, it was enjoyable. It has minor amount of gore, but it falls into the comedy-mystery category, so possibly a good pick for people who like a mystery, but don’t like anything too dark. It’s an easy read. The humor and tone reminded me of the TV series ( also a book, but I have only see the series) The Flight Attendant.
Finlay Donovan is Killing It is the first in a series. If you had asked me while I was still reading, if I was planning on picking up the next one, I think I would have said no. However, there is an enormous cliff-hanger at the end of the first book, leaving me curious to see how it is all going to play out. Although, I would be more inclined to watch a tv series version, rather than continue reading the books.