Learn all about the Finlay Donovan Is Killing It series of books in this guide to the fast-paced and funny romantic comedy/murder mystery books by Elle Cosimano, a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, International Thriller Award winner, Bram Stoker Award finalist, and Edgar Award nominee.
@theliterarylifestyle Finlay Donovan is Killing It Aesthetic 🔪 #finlaydonovaniskillingit #finlaydonovan #ellecosimano #bookaesthetic #bookaesthetics #booktok ♬ Kill Bill – SZA
Yes, romantic comedy/murder mystery is now a trope! And no one does it better than the single mom/writer/contract killer Finlay Donovan.
So, let’s discuss the Finlay Donovan Is Killing It series: the order, a quick review and summaries, books like it, and answers to frequently asked questions.
Guide to the Finlay Donovan is Killing It Series
Finlay Donovan Series in Order
Below is the order of books in the Finlay Donovan series. These books should definitely be read in the order in which they were published. They follow a storyline in which each book picks up where the last one left off, and the first chapters of the second and third books recap the preceding book. So, you will definitely have storylines spoiled if you don’t start at the beginning.
- Finlay Donovan Is Killing It (2021)
- Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead (2022)
- Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun (2023)
- Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank (a short story; November 7, 2023)
- Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice (2024)
According to the author Elle Cosimano, novel #4 in the Finlay Donovan series will be released on March 5, 2024, and novels #5-7 will be released one per year beginning in 2025.
Quick Review of the Finlay Donovan Is Killing It Series
I don’t know why I waited so long to read the Finlay Donovan Is Killing It series of books! Because once I started… I couldn’t stop. I devoured all books currently in the series in a span of about one week.
While you have to suspend some logical belief when reading these books (Finlay seems to just always happen to find herself in the middle of the action, find the right clue at the right time, be told top secrets, etc.), that’s also what makes the series so entertaining.
The Finlay Donovan books are light, escapist, funny, smart, intriguing, suspenseful, and even romantic! They would also make for indulgent beach reads.
The author also does a great job of making Finlay really likable in a situation that potentially could have made her an unlikeable protagonist. It’s hard not to root for Finlay, her friendship with her nanny and partner-in-crime Vero, and the men who vie for her heart.
Any book that can do so much so well is definitely worth the read if you ask me.
Of note, I read a print copy of the first book and listened to the audiobooks for the remainder of the series, and I honestly enjoyed both formats. I think you can easily choose either and have a great reading experience.
This is one book series I expect to find myself recommending time and time again.
Finlay Donovan Book Summaries
Below are quick summaries of the Finlay Donovan books. I have tried my best to keep them simple and not include any spoilers, but since this book series follows a chronological storyline, there are necessarily some spoilers, even in the general plot.
If you don’t want any spoilers, skip to the next section about books like Finlay Donovan.
Book 1 of 4: 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
- An American Booksellers Association bestseller
- One of “26 Murder Mystery Books You Won’t Be Able to Put Down”—Country Living
- One of “The Most Anticipated Books of Winter 2021” —Parade
- One of “The Most Anticipated Debuts of 2021” —Bustle
- One of “The Most Anticipated Mysteries and Thrillers of 2021” —Goodreads
- One of “The Most Anticipated Crime Books of 2021” —Crimereads
- One of “The Highly Recommended Books of 2021” —Brit + Co
- One of “The Best Books to Read in 2021” —Betches
- One of “The Must-Read Mysteries and Thrillers of 2021” —Frolic
- One of “The 18 Best Beach Reads of Summer 2021” –PureWow
- One of “Our Picks for the Best Mysteries and Thrillers of 2021”–Bookbub
- A “Favorite Suspenseful Beach Read”—SheReads
- One of “15 Best Murder Mystery Books that are Total Page Turners”–Redbook
Finlay Donovan Is Killing It begins in a Panera Bread, where a tired and frantic, recently divorced single mother of two and down-on-her-luck writer (Finlay), is discussing the plot of her next murder mystery with her agent. (This is something that actually happened in the author’s life and inspired the novel!)
A woman who overhears the conversation mistakes her for a contract killer and offers her payment in exchange for murdering her evil husband.
Struggling to make ends meet on her own, Finlay becomes intrigued by the offer. But, when she meets the woman’s husband in real life, she becomes entangled in a murder mystery that’s bigger than she ever expected.
An investigation with ties to the Russian mob follows as Finlay attempts to discover and develop her new self, alongside a cast of characters including her nanny and partner-in-crime, Vero, her ex-husband and his new fiance, and two new men of interest — a law student/bartender and a detective involved in the investigation.
It also ends on a cliffhanger to keep you interested in reading more!
Book 2 of 4: Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead
- USA Today bestseller
- A February 2022 LibraryReads Pick
- One of Bustle’s “Most Anticipated Books of 2022”
- One of Business Insider’s “Most Anticipated Books of 2022”
- One of The Bibliofile’s “Best New Mystery & Thriller Books for 2022”
- One of Bookbub’s “Most Anticipated Books of 2022”
- One of Goodreads “Most Anticipated Mysteries of 2022”
- One of POPSUGAR’s “Must-Read Thrillers and Mystery Books” of 2022
- One of Canadian Living Magazine’s “2022 TBR List”
Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead picks up as Finlay investigates a potential hit on her ex-husband. As she tries to uncover what woman wants him dead and tries to keep him and her children alive, the Russian mob returns.
It’s a suspense-filled story that, once again, involves a bit of romance, as Finlay continues to come into her own.
Book 3 of 4: Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun
Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun sets the bar high for Finlay, as she’s indebted to the Russian mob, and she must find her ex-husband’s contract killer before the cops do.
So, she and Vero spend time with Finlay’s favorite cop, Nick, in a citizen’s police academy, where they learn the tricks of the trade, and act under the perfect cover-up.
Meanwhile, Finlay continues to confront Vero’s past and juggle her love life, work life, and parenting life.
Short Story 1 of 1: Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank
Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank dives deep into the back story of Finlay Donovan’s trusted sidekick.
After Vero was falsely accused of stealing from her sorority, she escaped to her cousin Ramon’s to start a new life. There, she takes a janitorial job at a bank, where she overhears her boss and a security guard discussing a thief. She sees the investigation as the perfect opportunity to score a promotion.
Meanwhile, her childhood crush Javi is distracting her.
Book 4 of 4: Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice
Finlay and Vero head to Atlantic City, where their “getaway” acts as a cover for a deal with a loan shark, a search for a stolen car, and the saving of Vero’s crush Javi. And things become extra complicated when Finlay’s ex and her mother accompany them.
There, the plan falls apart fast, and they unexpectedly find themselves as potential suspects in a murder.
Books Like Finlay Donovan Is Killing It
If you liked Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, check out these contemporary murder mystery books like it next:
- Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto
- Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
- The Maid by Nita Prose
- The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise by Colleen Oakley
- The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
- Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto
Frequently Asked Questions
The plot of the Finlay Donovan book series by Elle Cosimano begins in a Panera Bread, where Finlay, a recently divorced single mother and down-on-her-luck writer, is discussing the plot of her next murder mystery. A woman who overhears the conversation mistakes Finlay for a contract killer and offers her payment in exchange for murdering her husband. But, when Finlay meets the man, she becomes entangled in a series of mysteries that are bigger than she ever expected.
Yes. Finlay Donovan Is Killing It is a series of three published novels by Elle Cosimano: Finlay Donovan Is Killing It (2021), Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead (2022), and Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun (2023). A fourth novel in the series, Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice, will be released on March 5, 2024.
The Finlay Donovan series by Elle Cosimano bends several genres: it is a contemporary women’s fictional murder mystery series with romantic and comedic elements as well.
Yes. The sequel to Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano is Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead.
The second novel in the Finlay Donovan book series by Elle Cosimano is Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead.
Yes, the third book in the Finlay Donovan book series by Elle Cosimano, Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun, was released in 2023.
Yes. Novel #4 in the Finlay Donovan series, Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice, will be released on March 5, 2024, and novels #5-7 will be released one per year beginning in 2025.
Conclusion
Now you know all about the Finlay Donovan Is Killing It series of books.
To recap and help you pick your next read, here are the three published Finlay Donovan books in order:
- Finlay Donovan Is Killing It (2021)
- Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead (2022)
- Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun (2023)
- Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank (a short story; November 7, 2023)
- Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice (March 5, 2024)
You may also want to try some contemporary light murder mystery books like:
- Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
- The Maid by Nita Prose (a popular GMA book club pick)
- The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise by Colleen Oakley
