In Elle Cosimano’s hit adult mystery series, a single mother and struggling writer is thrust into a world of crime. The novels are full of shocking twists and turns and laced with moments of comedy and romance. And it all takes place right in Northern Virginia.
The Finlay Donovan Mysteries have become a hit in NoVA and around the world. And the newest book is out March 4. Ahead of the release date, we talked with Cosimano about her popular series and the upcoming book.
The Series
The series starts off when Finlay Donovan, a struggling writer in the middle of a messy divorce, is overheard discussing the plot of her new thriller in a crowded restaurant. Someone overhears the conversation and, not knowing it was a fictional discussion, attempts to hire Donovan as a killer for hire.
“It confronts, namely, ‘How far would you go to hold on to your family and protect the people that you love?’ And it’s a rompy, fun, lighthearted, heartfelt series of mysteries that Finlay has to solve along the way,” Cosimano says.
The first book was published in 2022, and the series has taken off. There are four books and a short story available today. And another is on the way. The books have landed on several bestseller lists and have been translated into 24 languages around the world. Plus, the series has been optioned for a TV series to a “major Hollywood studio,” Cosimano says.
Part of what makes it stand out is its genre-blending mix of comedy, drama, and romance. Even as Finlay and her “nanny/partner-in-crime” Vero solve murders and deal with run-ins with the mob, the series keeps a lighthearted tone. It never loses touch with the day-to-day dramas of single motherhood.
“I knew, when I first conceptualized it, that this was not going to be the dark, angsty thriller,” Cosimano says. She also creates humor and romance, and utilizes tension and pacing to give the story a big impact.
The Setting
The series is a standout among Northern Virginia audiences for its familiar setting: South Riding. It’s where Finlay calls home. That setting pops up throughout the series, with sites that NoVA residents will recognize.
Cosimano herself grew up in the DMV area. She spent years living in NoVA, working as a real estate agent, before relocating to Central Virginia. She says she took inspiration from some of that experience and knowledge while writing.
“[South Riding] so closely straddles the county line between Loudoun and Fairfax. And from a writer’s standpoint, that gives me a lot to play with in terms of crime and jurisdiction and mysteries and law enforcement — all of the different elements that sort of come into play in these books,” Cosimano says.
The Newest Installment
The newest book, Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave, comes out on March 4 in both print and audio formats. In this book, a nosy neighbor discovers a body in her back yard, and Finlay has to take her in during the investigation.
“The really fun thing about this particular installment is we are bringing it back to the neighborhood. We’re bringing it back to South Riding,” Cosimano says, after the characters took a detour to Atlantic City in the last book.
Cosimano will unveil the new book alongside audiobook narrator Angela Dawe with an event on March 4.
“[Dawe] has her own massive fan base. The audiobooks are by far our most popular format for these books. She is super talented, she does all of the voices,” Cosimano says.
The release-day event will be held at the Lyceum in Alexandria and hosted by Old Town Books. Tickets are $35 and include a physical copy of Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave to be signed.
You can listen to a preview of the new book in audiobook form here:
Feature image by Holly Virginia Photography (headshot), courtesy Minotaur Books (cover)
