Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead

Apart from the previous title in this series, Finlay Donovan is Killing It, Cosimano’s writes for young adults, and the fun-packed absurdity she brings to that table works just as well for grownups. Honestly, the plot here is kind of ridiculous, but it doesn’t matter at all, because readers will be swept up in this wacky heroine’s attempts to just make it through her mishap-filled life and have a little romance along the way (dishy law student! Dishy cop!). In the previous book, Finlay was mistaken for a contract killer (it could happen!) and was forced to kill a man (O.K., that happened twice…bear with me here). The shenanigans continue in this title when she stumbles across a plot to kill her ex-husband, and she fears being the first suspect if he’s killed. Finlay’s puzzling out of who’s behind the plan involves help from her equally bizarre-scenario-prone nanny and, sometimes, trips to dispose of body parts (not her husband’s body and not the bodies from the first book…look, it’s complicated). A fun romp for bookclubs and for anyone who enjoys slapstick mysteries. Finlay is coming soon to the big screen, according to Cosimano’s author’s note, but read the book first!