Introduction

"Getting the job done" for one single mom takes on a whole new meaning in Finlay Donovan is Killing It.

One of Suspense Magazine's "Best Thrillers of 2021"
One of New York Public Library's Best Books of 2021
Nominated for the Left Coast Crime 2022 Lefty Award for the Best Humorous Mystery

“Funny and smart, twisty and surprising.”--Megan Miranda

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.

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Discussion Questions

From the publisher:

• Finlay Donovan Is Killing It takes a slightly different tone than many crime
and thriller novels. How does Finlay’s character contribute to this tone?
Did you appreciate this twist on the genre?

• Were you surprised that Finlay is so intrigued by the note that she actually
decides to scope out Harris Mickler? Why or why not?

• The lines between fiction and life are slightly blurred in this novel: Finlay is
a character, but she is also a writer herself, and later in the story she uses the
crimes she’s been involved in as inspiration for her new book. What does this
book-within-a-book setup add to Finlay Donovan Is Killing It?

• As early as chapter 5, the Russian mafia is mentioned. When did you put the
pieces together that Finlay’s accidental hit/well-planned murder by others was
connected to organized crime? How does their involvement affect the story?


• Vero and Finlay’s relationship is central to the story—how does it change
throughout the novel?

• How does Finlay’s relationship to her motherhood (and especially single motherhood)
play out throughout the novel?

• Finlay catches the attention of two very different potential romantic partners:
Detective Nick Anthony and bartender/law student Julian Baker. In what ways
are these men different or similar to each other? What unique heroic traits,
character flaws, or potential challenges does each man present? Do you agree
with the romantic decisions Finlay made through the course of the book?

• In chapter 32, Julian recites a quote inspired by the principles of Hanlon’s
razor: “Let us not attribute to malice and cruelty what may be referred to less
criminal motives.” He tells Finlay that he “makes it a point never to assume
the worst about people.” How does this idea reflect what we know of his
character? How does Finlay’s response reveal more about hers?

• Consider the theme of women supporting women. What examples of this did
you see in the story? Did any of these instances surprise you? Why?

During several scenes, Finlay wears a wig-scarf and sunglasses to hide her
identity, or while she’s masquerading as her ex’s fiancée, Theresa. She wears
the same wig-scarf and glasses in her author photo, which appears in the books
she’s written. What do you think the wig-scarf represents to Finn, and how does
her attitude toward it change throughout the book?

• Finlay’s view of her career is often self-deprecating, reflecting the various
attitudes of her agent, her family, the market, and her ex toward her work. How
do these attitudes change after Finn is awarded a lucrative book deal? How did
Finlay’s attitude change toward herself? What role do you think money plays in
how society values women’s contributions at home and in the workplace?

• Finlay toes the line between right and wrong throughout the book, yet she
somehow manages to stay on the right side of it. Though she’s tempted by the
money—and curious about the potential victims—she never actually commits any
of the murders herself. How would your feelings about Finlay have changed if
she had killed Harris Mickler or Andrei Borovkov? Does her identity as a
woman and a mother influence your answer?

• Were you surprised by the note Finlay received from Patricia Mickler at the end
of the book? Do you have any predictions about who the guilty party might be?

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