Finlay Donovan Knocks ’Em Dead

Cosimano’s diverting sequel to 2021’s Finlay Donovan Is Killing It finds Virginia novelist Finlay Donovan still struggling to raise her two small children, manage her ex-husband Steven’s demands, and power through an early draft of a new book. She’s also balancing the attentions of two impossibly handsome suitors, one a law student and the other a police detective. Through postings in an online forum, Finlay suspects that someone using the moniker FedUp has put a hit out on Steven. Her friend Vero soon discovers that another person in the group, EasyClean, may have accepted the offer, and Finlay and Vero set out to discover who might want Steven dead. Tangling with Russian mobsters is just one obstacle they face. Newcomers may be frustrated, especially at the beginning since much of the plot carries over from Finlay Donovan Is Killing It. And much like in that book, Finlay makes decisions that strain credibility and common sense, but that’s part of what makes the series such fun. Fans of wacky, offbeat mysteries will eagerly await Finlay’s further exploits. Agent: Sarah Davies, Greenhouse Literary. (Feb.)