My sister's book club pick was Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, by Elle Cosimano. It's a murder mystery, so I was into it from go. That said, it's a little grittier than my usual cat-lady-slash-vigilante whodunit fare. Allow me to explain.
Finlay Donovan is a writer and single mother who's losing at life. Her ex-husband is a nickel-and-diming Lothario, her kids cause constant chaos, and her romantic suspense novels barely pay for pizza. To top it all off, now some rando at Panera thinks that Finlay's a hitwoman and wants to hire her to kill her husband. And she won't take no for an answer.
I don't know about you, but this makes my worst day look like lunch at The Plaza.
Cosimano's style is sharp, irreverent, and dare I say sassy. She takes us on a raucous ride involving mob bosses, sexy cops, and one fast-talking babysitter. By having Finlay fight writer's block and crime, Cosimano elevates the starving artist trope to survival.
Also, there's a sod farm.
I'd be lying if I said I was more comfortable with Finlay than her small-town sleuthing sisters. But I enjoyed the faster, flashier pace in Finlay Donovan Is Killing It.
Because sometimes even country mice need to take a side trip to the city.
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