Finlay Donovan Is Killing It

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Finn finds herself juggling multiple roles and responsibilities: mother, writer, ex-wife, and reluctant criminal. Which aspects of her struggle to balance these competing demands of her life resonated with you most strongly? Have you experienced similar conflicts between different parts of your identity?

2. The unlikely partnership between Finn and Vero evolves from a transaction into a genuine friendship and support system. Reflect on a time when an unexpected alliance in your life emerged from difficult circumstances. How did that relationship change your situation?

3. Throughout the novel, Finn makes morally questionable choices that she justifies based on her financial situation and responsibilities as a mother. Has there been a time when financial pressure influenced your decision-making or made you consider options you normally wouldn’t?

4. The novel portrays power dynamics in relationships, particularly how financial inequality affects Finn’s life choices and her relationship with Steven. How have you observed or experienced similar power imbalances in relationships? How did you address them?

5. Both Patricia and Irina seek vengeance against husbands who have wronged them. Have you ever fantasized about getting justice against someone who wronged you? How did you ultimately handle the situation?

6. Finn’s parenting is driven by deep love for her children. Do you relate to the way she navigates motherhood while dealing with personal and professional challenges? What aspects of her parenting did you find most authentic?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The novel portrays a justice system that often fails women who are survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault, leading some characters to seek their own form of justice. How does this reflect real-world challenges for survivors seeking legal recourse? 

2. Finlay Donovan Is Killing It was published amid a growing discourse about the “antiheroine” in literature and media. How does Finn fit into this trend of complex female protagonists who defy conventional morality? What social factors have contributed to the popularity of such characters?

3. The book depicts the unique challenges single mothers face in contemporary society, from financial pressures to custody battles that favor financially stable partners regardless of parenting commitment. How accurately does the novel portray these systemic inequities, and what social changes might address them?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Cosimano employs narrative techniques that allow readers to sympathize with Finn despite her morally ambiguous actions. What specific storytelling methods make Finn relatable and even likable as she becomes increasingly entangled in criminal activities?

2. The blonde wig-scarf serves as a powerful symbol throughout the novel. How does this disguise represent Finn’s dual identity and transformation? How does its appearance at key moments signal changes in Finn’s character development?

3. The novel features several instances of dramatic irony, where readers know information before the characters do. How did these moments create tension and comedy in the narrative?

4. Finlay Donovan Is Killing It deliberately subverts traditional crime fiction tropes by featuring a struggling romance writer as an accidental criminal. How does this reversal of expectations challenge genre conventions? What does Cosimano’s choice of protagonist say about stereotypical gender roles in thriller fiction?

5. Examine the parallel between Finn’s evolving novel and her real-life criminal activities. How does the meta-narrative of Finn writing about events similar to those she’s experiencing add depth to the story?

6. The novel concludes with a cliffhanger suggesting Finn’s criminal activities will continue. How does this ending work as a resolution of the current story and a setup for the series? How does it reflect Finn’s character development throughout the book?