CANR
WORK TITLE: Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave
WORK NOTES:
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BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://ellecosimano.com/
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COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY:
LAST VOLUME: CA 362
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Daughter of a warden at a maximum security prison and an elementary schoolteacher; married; children: two sons.
EDUCATION:Attended St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Has a BA in psychology.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer; formerly worked in marketing and sales; pursued a career in real estate until 2010. Affiliate of writing groups for debut authors, including Lucky 13s, and (as founding member) OneFour KidLit.
MEMBER:International Thriller Writers, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime.
AWARDS:Best Young Adult Novel, International Thriller Award, and Best Young Adult Novel, Mathical Book Awards, and Edgar nominee, all 2015, all for Nearly Gone; Best Young Adult Novel nominee, International Thriller Award, 2017, for Holding Smoke; New York Public Library’s Best Books selection, 2021, for Finlay Donovan Is Killing It.
WRITINGS
Contributor to numerous publications, including HuffPost and Time.
SIDELIGHTS
Elle Cosimano wrote stories and poems throughout childhood, as many children do, then traded her imagination for a job in real estate, where she worked for nearly fifteen years. When the need for creativity could no longer be quelled, Cosimano returned to writing, “and I re-discovered my heart,” she wrote on her home page. Along the way, she also discovered how much she enjoyed research.
Cosimano told interviewer Meredith Maresco on the YA Interrobang Web site: “I annually attend the Writers’ Police Academy. … I’ve toured a forensic laboratory, interviewed a director of forensic science, and done a ride-along with a deputy sheriff.” In an interview with Natalie Aguirre on the Literary Rambles Web site, she said: “Research is FUN! … It’s the difference between having to write what we know, and being able to truly know what we write.” Cosimano’s advice to aspiring writers emerged from her own experiences, she told Aguirre: “Take a tour, make an appointment, ask permission to audit that class you wish you’d taken.”
The advice worked for Cosimano. Three years after leaving real estate behind, she published her first novel, Nearly Gone.
“I write stories about creepy, dark (and sometimes sexy) things that go bump in the night,” Cosimano told visitors to her home page. Nearly Gone is a young adult suspense novel about a teenage girl whose pastime gets her into the kind of trouble that could ultimately end her life. Nearly Boswell keeps to herself most of the time. She prefers that her schoolmates don’t learn too much about her background: the father that abandoned the family years ago, the single mother who works as an exotic dancer to pay the bills, her own paranormal ability to “taste” the feelings of others from merely touching their skin. She wants to appear as normal as possible, so much so that she goes by the nickname “Leigh,” rather than her birth name, “Nearly.” All she wants is to graduate with high grades, earn a college chemistry scholarship, escape from the trailer park where she lives—and find her missing father.
To that end, Nearly reads the classified ads every week, scanning the “Missing Connections” section for the slightest hint that her father might be looking for her. What she finds there is a series of odd messages that pique her curiosity: riddles, math and science puzzles, a preoccupation with numbers. Nearly begins to connect these mysterious clues to a growing number of murdered classmates, apparently victims of a serial killer. When it dawns on her that all of the victims were schoolmates she had tutored, Nearly wonders if the classified ads are actually intended for her. Could her life be in danger, too? The police have a different concern. The clues seem to incriminate Nearly as the murderer. She now has at least two reasons to solve the mystery and find the real killer.
Nearly wonders if she can count on her closest friends to help her. Jeremy Fowler has been her best friend for some time and could be a potential love interest. He has problems, though, as a child of parental abuse and a victim of depression. He is also the son of Nearly’s rich landlord. Anh Bui is the daughter of immigrants to America. She and Nearly are both ranked near the top of their class, but while they are friends, Anh is also a competitor for the same chemistry scholarship that Nearly desperately needs. She also seems to have a romantic interest in Jeremy. Nearly’s first choice of allies in the serial killer mystery might be Reece Whelan, the alluring and supportive bad-boy-turned-boyfriend, who has experience with the criminal justice system. Can he be trusted, or is he a confidential informant for the local police?
Nearly follows one clue after another—right into danger. The suspense mounts as she finds herself in multiple predicaments, and she learns that each of the people around her could be a suspect in the murders. “Once Cosimano begins building momentum … and the bodies start piling up,” explained Paula Willey in her Booklist review, “it’s a race to the finish.”
Reviews of Nearly Gone tended to be animated but mixed. A Kirkus Reviews contributor acknowledged an issue with “believability,” but emphasized that “the point here isn’t realism—it’s puzzles” and judged the story to be “tense and engaging—well worth the effort of suspending one’s disbelief.” Several other readers also appreciated the suspense. A reviewer on the Mad but Magic YA Web site reported: “I was actually creeped out to the point where I couldn’t read the book while home alone!” Ashleigh Paige commented on the YA Kitten Web site: “About half the cast made my list of suspects before one I didn’t have on my list” was revealed “as the culprit.”
Some critics expressed reservations about the description of Nearly as a brilliant student, when her actions reflect the opposite. Paige observed: “Every time someone who knows better tells her to do something, she does the opposite.” On the Thoughts and Afterthoughts Web site, a contributor noted that Nearly is not as intelligent as she is persistent: “She’s the only one who cares enough to attempt to solve everything.” Others suggested that the paranormal element is unnecessary, since it fails to contribute to the plot or the resolution of the mystery. Paige concluded: “The novel is so troubled,” yet “ Nearly Gone was all I could think about while I was reading it.”
“Things unraveled a little at the end,” noted the reviewer on the Mad but Magic YA Web site, but the reviewer still added: “I look forward to reading more from Elle Cosimano.” In Horn Book, Rachel L. Smith noted especially the pace, the romance, and “the killer’s riddles,” calling the novel “an addictive and multilayered debut” and the author “a thriller writer to watch.” Erin Segreto cautioned in Voice of Youth Advocates that the story mentions “mature themes” from murder to drugs and more, but “action and mystery readers will enjoy this whodunit until the very end.”
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Nearly Found, the sequel to Nearly Gone, finds Nearly starting to work as an intern at a crime lab. She is thrilled about that, but then she receives a threatening letter, a girl from her trailer park disappears, a long-dead body is uncovered, and then another corpse is discovered with a message for Nearly. She assumes that it has something to do with her father’s disappearance, and she and four of her classmates start to learn about their fathers and what their pasts reveal. Meanwhile, Nearly’s potential romance with Reece is unresolved.
In Voice of Youth Advocates, Erin Segreto wrote, “Cosimano delivers another shocking, dark, and brilliant tale.” She appreciated the “complex” characters and predicted that the “gritty” and “gruesome” investigation would “draw readers in and keep the pages turning.” She also recommended it to fans of crime television. A contributor in Kirkus Reviews argued that the sequel was “every bit as nail-biting as its predecessor.” They called Nearly a “compellingly flawed character” and wrote that the “tension runs high.” Rachel L. Smith, in Horn Book, wished the romance angle had been better developed, but she agreed about the suspense, writing, “the sequel packs the same degree of chills as its predecessor.” She expected that readers would “keep turning pages until the should-have-seen-it-coming end.”
Cosimano shifted to YA fantasy with Seasons of the Storm, the first in a duology. Jack was given a choice to die or live forever as Winter, a kind of deity who must hunt the season of Fall so that Winter can come. This also means that Spring will hunt him, but then he and Fleur, his Spring counterpart, fall in love. This creates chaos in the world, and the overseer Cronus does everything he can to stop it, while Jack and Fleur must stay two steps ahead of him. The story is based on ancient mythological tales, but Cosimano puts this one in a modern setting.
Writing in Booklist, Cindy Welch enjoyed this duology opener. She liked how the story combines “lots of action” with “characters who still claim our affections.” The result is a “nifty tale” that is also an “exploration of when and how much to trust those in authority.” A writer in Kirkus Reviews called it “a solid urban fantasy with a novel premise.” They especially appreciated how the themes of friendship and self-sacrifice “shine through.”
Cosimano wrapped up that story with Seasons of Chaos and then moved on to her most successful series to date: the “Finlay Donovan” series. Finlay Donovan Is Killing It introduced the character of Finlay Donovan, a single mom with two kids who is struggling to finish the mystery novel she is writing. In a misunderstanding, a woman eavesdropping on Donovan’s conversation thinks Finlay is a hit woman and offers her $50,000 to kill her husband, an offer Donovan unintentionally accepts. Soon, Finlay realizes that murder is a lot harder to commit than describe.
Critics were thrilled about Cosimano’s adult debut and series starter. Maggie Reagan, in Booklist, called the story “part comedy of errors, part genuine thriller.” She praised Cosimano for “deftly balancing genre conventions” with “sly, tongue-in-cheek comments.” The result is a “deliciously twisted tale.” A writer in Publishers Weekly called the book an “amusing series launch” with a “pleasingly absurd premise.” A contributor in Kirkus Reviews was even more enthusiastic, praising the book as “suspenseful, funny, and even a tad mysterious.” They called out for more Finlay Donovan novels.
Cosimano was happy to comply, with Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead and Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun in the next two years. Then Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice followed. In this installment, Finlay and her partner-in-crime Vero, who is also the nanny to Finlay’s children, have decided to get away to Atlantic City. They have told themselves it is just a fun girls weekend, but they also plan to save Vero’s crush, find a stolen car, and negotiate with a loan shark (always dangerous). Complicating matters is that Finlay’s mother and ex-husband want to tag along. Also, there will be at least two dead bodies.
“Perfect escapist fare for stay-at-home readers who wonder why nothing ever happens to them,” wrote a contributor in Kirkus Reviews. They described the book as a “rollicking round of high-speed felonies” that are full of “droll payoffs.” In Booklist, Carmen Clark liked it just as much if not more, writing that “Cosimano knocks this one out of the park.” Clark described the story as “brilliantly plotted” and full of both “witty humor” and “thrilling, nail-biting action.”
The series continued with Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave. In this outing, a dead body has turned up in the backyard of Finlay’s neighbor, the irritating Mrs. Haggerty. After she is released from custody due to a lack of evidence, she goes to Finlay’s house and demands to stay there. Neither Finlay nor Vero care to get involved in this murder investigation, but then Finlay’s ex-husband becomes a suspect, and other problems from Finlay’s past keep turning up.
Critics particularly enjoyed this outing. A reviewer in Publishers Weekly enjoyed the chance to see Mrs. Haggerty, who has appeared in earlier installments, become a more fully realized character. They called the story “entertaining.” Stephanie Turza, in Booklist, liked the book’s “razor-sharp dialogue” and described the novel as “compulsively readable, heartwarming, and hilarious.” In Library Journal, Matthew Galloway highlighted the “hilariously crusty” Mrs. Haggerty and described the book as “lots of fun.”
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BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, March 15, 2014, Paula Willey, review of Nearly Gone, p. 75; June, 2017, Julia Smith, review of The Suffering Tree, p. 98; April 1, 2020, Cindy Welch, review of Seasons of the Storm, p. 73; February 1, 2021, Maggie Reagan, review of Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, pp. 21+; December 1, 2023, Carmen Clark, review of Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice, p. 104; March, 2025, Stephanie Turza, review of Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave, p. 57.
Horn Book, March- April, 2014, Rachel L. Smith, review of Nearly Gone, p. 115; July-August, 2015, Rachel L. Smith, review of Nearly Found, pp. 130+.
Kirkus Reviews, January 15, 2014, review of Nearly Gone; March 15, 2015, review of Nearly Found; February 15, 2016, review of Holding Smoke; April 15, 2017, review of The Suffering Tree; April 1, 2020, review of Seasons of the Storm; November 1, 2020, review of Finlay Donovan Is Killing It; November 15, 2021, review of Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead; December 1, 2022, review of Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun; January 1, 2024, review of Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice; January 15, 2025, review of Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave.
Library Journal, June, 2025, Matthew Galloway, review of Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave, p. 46.
Publishers Weekly, January 13, 2014, review of Nearly Gone, p. 71; November 30, 2020, review of Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, p. 36; December 6, 2021, review of Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead, p. 116; November 14, 2022, review of Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun, p. 48; January 6, 2025, review of Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave, p. 52.
School Library Journal, February, 2014, Candyce Pruitt-Goddard, review of Nearly Gone, p. 101.
Voice of Youth Advocates, December, 2013, Erin Segreto, review of Nearly Gone, p. 55; June, 2015, Erin Segreto, review of Nearly Found, p. 56; June, 2016, Ed Goldberg and Shirley Yan, review of Holding Smoke, p. 76; June, 2017, Linsey Milillo, review of The Suffering Tree, pp. 77+.
ONLINE
Delightfully Booked, https://delightfullybookedblog.com/ (May 26, 2022), author interview.
Dru’s Book Musings, https://drusbookmusing.com/ (June 3, 2023), author interview.
Elle Cosimano website, http://ellecosimano.com (August 21, 2025).
Hypable, http:// www.hypable.com/ (April 4, 2014), Jen Lamoureux, author interview.
Literary Rambles, http://www.literaryrambles.com/ (March 24, 2014), Natalie Aguirre, author interview.
Mad but Magic YA, http://madbutmagicya.blogspot.com/ (April 13, 2014), review of Nearly Gone.
Nearly Gone Web site, http://n34rlygone.com/ (July 31, 2014), author profile.
Nerd Daily, https://thenerddaily.com/ (March 17, 2025), Andrea Reid, author interview.
ReadMoreCO, https://www.readmoreco.com/ (February 8, 2021), author interview.
Thoughts and Afterthoughts, http://anotherafterthought.wordpress.com/ (April 28, 2014), review of Nearly Gone.
YA Interrobang, http:/ /www.yainterrobang.com/ (January 12, 2014), Meredith Maresco, author interview.
YA Kitten, http:// www.theyakitten/ (April 7, 2014), Ashleigh Paige, review of Nearly Gone.
Elle Cosimano is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, an International Thriller Award winner, a Bram Stoker Award finalist, and an Edgar® Award nominee. Her acclaimed young adult novels include Nearly Gone, Holding Smoke, The Suffering Tree, and Seasons of the Storm. Elle’s debut novel for adults, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, kicked off a witty, fast-paced contemporary mystery series, which was a PEOPLE Magazine Pick and was named one of New York Public Library’s Best Books of 2021. In addition to writing novels for teens and adults, her essays have appeared in The Huffington Post and Time. Elle lives with her husband and two sons in Virginia.
Q&A
Elle Cosimano
@ellecosimano
ellecosimano.com
Elle Cosimano is a USA Today bestselling author, an International Thriller Award winner, a Bram Stoker Award finalist, and an Edgar® Award nominee. Her acclaimed young adult novels include Nearly Gone, Holding Smoke, The Suffering Tree, and Seasons of the Storm. Elle’s debut novel for adults, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, kicked off a witty, fast-paced contemporary mystery series, which was a PEOPLE Magazine Pick and was named one of New York Public Library’s Best Books of 2021. In addition to writing novels for teens and adults, her essays have appeared in The Huffington Post and Time. Cosimano lives with her husband and two sons in Virginia.
Q. Our reviewers have called your books “screwball comedy mysteries” and Finlay Donovan “Reminiscent of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum.” How would you describe your writing? From where does it draw its power?
Elle: I’ve been a huge fan of Janet Evanovich (and Stephanie Plum) for many years, so anytime I hear Finlay mentioned in comparison it makes me a little giddy. There’s something so refreshing and fun about these “screwball comedy mysteries”, but I think where these books truly draw their power is in the way they resist genre boundaries. The Finlay Donovan books are mysteries at their heart, but they’re so many other things too. They’re nail-biting thrillers, dark comedies, and even romances. They’re inspiring stories of a woman getting back on her feet and the power of unconditional friendship. They glide between category lines without regard for genre expectations or rules, making them something all their own. The series draws its power from that irreverent and honest voice as much as its broad appeal. Somehow, by not worrying if the books would land on one particular shelf, Finlay and I have managed to find a welcoming home on all of them!
Q. Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun has hot cops, mob bosses, spies, and all the hilarity readers have come to expect from this series. How did the story unfold for you?
Elle: I never get bored writing Finlay’s stories! One day, I might be writing an edge-of-your-seat high-speed chase or a tense, obstacle-riddled sleuthing mission. The next, I might be writing sexy, smart banter or a smoldering kiss. But I think the scenes I love most are the ones that reveal to me the heart of the story I’m telling—a brutally blunt argument between Finlay and her ex-husband, a deep conversation between Finlay and her mother, or a moment of clarity between Finlay her love interest, Nick. These are the moments that help me see the full potential of my character arcs as much as the potential in the plot of the story.
Q. Finlay is a singularly relatable character. How did she first appear to you?
Elle: Finlay’s voice first became clear to me during a hectic #momlife morning. I’d been up all night writing, chasing a looming deadline while we were on our family vacation, when my two children woke me up early because they were bickering over the bed they were forced to share in the too-cozy rustic cabin we were renting. My husband was snoring loudly beside me, blissfully unaware of all of it. As I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, Finlay’s first thoughts came to me clearly and suddenly. They also became the opening lines of the series: It’s a widely known fact that most moms are ready to kill someone by eight-thirty AM on any given morning. On the particular morning of Tuesday, October 8th, I was ready by seven forty-five.
Finlay’s voice is very distinct but, as you’ve noted, also deeply relatable. She feels real, both as a mother and a woman struggling to regain her footing after a massive life upheaval. Her character is one we sympathize with, maybe because we see bits and pieces of our own selves and struggles within her. Because of this connection, we feel invested in her growth. Despite her flaws, we root for her. As the series progresses, we see Finlay rediscover herself as a woman, as a mother, as a friend, and as a writer. As her confidence grows, so do the stakes.
Q The friendship between Finlay and Vero has a lot of readers coming back. What does that friendship mean to you?
Elle: I consider Vero and Finlay’s relationship the mast of the series. Their friendship was inspired in part by my own relationship with my two beloved critique partners, Megan Miranda and Ashley Elston. The three of us have been writing side-by-side for a little over a decade. During that time, we’ve supported each other through the publication of nearly thirty books! We all started writing professionally around the same time, each of us struggling to juggle the demands of motherhood with our fragile, budding careers. I couldn’t imagine being where I am without their support, encouragement, and unconditional friendship. I guess I wanted Finlay to have someone like that, too.
Q. What are you working on now?
Elle: I’m hard at work on Finlay Donovan #4. I may not know the title yet, but I can promise readers it will be another hilarious, smart, and mysterious adventure!
Q&A: Elle Cosimano, Author of ‘Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave’
Andrea Reid·Writers Corner·March 17, 2025·4 min read
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We chat with author Elle Cosimano about Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave, the newest installment in the Finlay Donovan series! Finlay and Vero are shocked to find out that a dead body has been uncovered in Mrs. Haggerty’s backyard and although she is quickly absolved, she decides that she needs to stay at Finlay’s house until the killer is caught. Things get dire when the police start looking at Finlay’s ex-husband for the crime… Read on to find Elle discussing inspiration, future releases, and all things Finlay Donovan!
Hi Elle, thank you so much for chatting with us! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Hi Andrea and TND! Thanks for having me. I’ve been writing books for adults and young adults—mostly mysteries and thrillers—for more than a decade. Prior to that, I worked in real estate for many years. I have two grown sons, two adorable dogs, and my husband and I currently reside in Virginia.
If you could describe Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave in five words, what would they be?
WOW! That’s a tall order. Let’s go with a hilarious, romantic, and thrilling murder-y mash-up.
What sets Finlay Donovan series apart from other mystery novels?
As you might have guessed from my five word description, the Finlay Donovan novels are true genre-benders. They don’t fit cleanly in just one category; instead, they successfully combine elements of many. The Finlay books balance dark humor, physical comedy, amateur sleuth mystery, and edge of your seat thrills with a dash of romance. They really do have something for everyone. These are the kinds of books you can recommend to just about reader (and even self-proclaimed non-readers!) and feel confident they’ll find something to love within the pages.
I love reading about all the wild adventures that Finlay and Vero get up to! Where or who does your inspiration for the Finlay Donovan books come from?
I find inspiration everywhere, and especially in my own life. While the adventures may be wild, Finlay Donovan herself is a deeply relatable and realistic character. She’s a struggling author and a mother of two young children, and I have a lot of personal experience to draw from when it comes to juggling a creative career alongside the stresses of motherhood. It’s easy for me to slide into her head and imagine, what would Finlay do?
Did you have a favourite scene or chapter in Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave that you really enjoyed working on?
As with all the Finlay books, the stories balance a rompy murder mystery with humor and heart, so it should come as no surprise that I’m torn when considering my answer to this. So I’m going to cheat and say I especially loved two particular scenes in this book: one involving a chaotic bit of amateur sleuthing in which Finlay infiltrates a book club meeting to recover a stolen plate of brownies, and another in which we see Finlay and her detective boyfriend, Nick, take a significant emotional risk in their relationship with an unforgettable payoff. What makes these books work so beautifully is that balance between comedy and heart.
Were there any challenges you faced whilst writing?
The biggest challenge I face with each new book is the pressure I put on myself to make it better than the last, to fulfill the expectations and wishes of every reader, which is (of course) and impossible, Herculean task. As our fan base grows, so does the internal need to satisfy them. That internal pressure can be paralyzing. When I was writing Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave, I had to turn off all those external voices—the readers, librarians, booksellers, editors, trade reviewers, influencers—and remember to tell the story I wanted to tell. I had to remember to trust myself. And go figure . . . once I did that, the story turned out better than I could ever imagine.
See also
Q&A: Valerie Valdes, Author of ‘Where Peace Is Lost’
I think that it would be amazing to see Finlay and Vero on the big or small screen! Do you have any dream castings or a vision for it if the Finlay Donovan books were to be adapted?
There are so many talented actors who could bring their own unique voices to these roles. It’s easy for me to imagine quite a few of them! It’s actually more fun for me to hear who my readers would love to see on the small screen. As for me, I try to leave myself open to all the possibilities when it comes to casting the show. The TV rights have been optioned by a phenomenal studio and an incredible producer, and I trust that they will turn it into something extraordinarily special. I can’t wait until we can share more news about that. Hopefully Finlay fans won’t have to wait too much longer before we can share some news.
Readers get a little sneak peak at what Finlay and Vero will be dealing with in book six at the end of Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave…Can you tease anything else about Finlay Donovan or another upcoming release?
I am a spoiler-free zone! I don’t want to ruin my readers’ experiences, and they all know that I’m going to drop that bomb on them on the very last page, to keep them on the hook for the next one. That said, I can tell you that we are under contract for at least two more books in the Finlay Donovan universe, so readers have a lot more adventures in store!
Lastly, what are some new releases that you are looking forward to?
I’m excited for Colleen Oakley’s Jane and Dan at the End of the World, Hannah Morrissey’s The Unlucky Ones (next in her Black Harbor series), and Jesse Q. Sutanto’s next installment in her Vera Wong mystery series, Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man)!
Will you be picking up Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave? Tell us in the comments below!
"Q&A With Elle Cosimano"
February 8, 2021
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Book: Finlay Donovan Is Killing It
(Photo courtesy of Powell Woulfe Photography)
Author: Elle Cosimano
Author Bio:
“Elle’s debut, Nearly Gone, was a 2015 Edgar Award Finalist, winner of the International Thriller Award, and has been nominated for multiple state book awards. Her more recent young adult thriller, Holding Smoke, was an International Thriller Award nominee and a Bram Stoker Award finalist. In addition to writing novels for teens and adults, her essays have appeared in The Huffington Post and TIME. Elle lives with her husband and two sons in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Central Virginia."
1. What are you excited for readers to experience in “Finlay Donovan Is Killing It”?
2020 was a horrible year for many of us, and 2021 isn’t shaping up to look much better. I’m excited to carry my readers away into an engaging, hilarious escape. I’ve received so many messages from readers who’ve said that this story pulled them out of a rut or brightened their day or made them forget about the pandemic for a while. I think a story like this might be exactly what a lot of us need right now, and it makes me so happy to know that my book has brought people a little laughter and light.
2. What is the secret to holding and maintaining suspense throughout your novels?
For me, it’s about trusting the reader. I think part of what makes a book suspenseful is the slow peeling away of layers, allowing the reader to make their own discoveries along the way. I don’t want to spoon feed my reader every detail or bit of backstory; I want them to take an active role and make their own guesses and discoveries. I want to surprise them. I want them to dissect subtext and nuance and feel the reward of solving a hard-won mystery or being shocked by a well-drawn out twist. These are the things that make me sit on the edge of my seat and stay up past my bedtime as a reader.
3. What scares you?
Like many mothers, I think my deepest fears center around my kids. Will they be happy? Will they grow up to be healthy, kind, responsible humans? Will my heart survive when they eventually move out and start their own lives? Funny, how motherhood puts fear in perspective. The things I used to worry about all seem less significant by comparison.
I think that’s what makes Finlay Donovan’s character so relatable; there are so many stressful, scary things happening in her life, not the least of which is a being embroiled in a murder investigation, but all her worries are grounded in one single powerful driving fear—will I lose my children? And this is a fear many of us can relate to.
4. Can we please talk about Panera Bread? A) why this specific fast-casual restaurant and B) Are you banned from anywhere in particular?
Haha! No, I’ve never personally been banned from a dining establishment. Finlay’s a tad more impulsive than I am, though I can’t say I blame her for those choices—she was a woman who’d been pushed to her limits. But why this restaurant in particular? The idea for the story of Finlay Donovan actually came to me three years ago in a crowded Panera Bread! I was away on a writing retreat with two of my beloved critique partners, Ashley Elston and Megan Miranda.
We were brainstorming over lunch, troubleshooting through a tricky plot for a thriller I was writing, discussing a particular violent scene, when it occurred to me that the woman seated at the table beside us looked very uncomfortable. With good reason! She couldn’t have known we were only plotting fictional murders. We all got quite a laugh out of it later on that night, as we were recounting the story to Ashley’s family over dinner, when one of her cousins asked us, “Wouldn’t it have been funny if she thought you were contract killers?” Lightning struck, and the idea for Finlay Donovan was born.
5. Has anyone ever mistaken your identity for someone else’s? Also, if put into the same predicament as Finlay, would you make any of the same choices?
I can’t say I’ve ever been mistaken for someone else. And I certainly hope I never find myself in Finlay’s predicament! But if the worst were to happen, I honestly couldn’t say what I would do. I don’t know that any of us could until we’ve walked in that person’s shoes. If I thought I was going to lose the people or things I cared most deeply for? Maybe I would. All I know is that I would want a friend beside me who I could trust—someone who would push me to be the best version of myself, who I could rely on unconditionally—like Finlay has in Vero.
6. Is Finlay Donovan a character that readers should root for?
I think, as readers, we root for characters we relate to. When we can see our own vulnerabilities, fears, and flaws reflected back at us in believable ways, we want that character to succeed and find happiness, because deep inside, we want the same for ourselves. Finlay’s situation may be far-fetched, but her character is very human.
She’s a woman who’s been stretched too thin, who’s desperately trying to hold onto her kids. She’s doing all the wrong things, but for all the right reasons, and in those mistakes, we also see moments of heroism, love, wits, and courage. There’s a lot to admire—and root for—in Finlay.
7. At what point in your life did you realize that you wanted to be an author?
I’ve always enjoyed creative writing, but growing up, I never saw creative writing as a potential career. I spent nearly fourteen years in real estate sales and marketing. In that time, I don’t think I wrote more than a few paragraphs of anything that wasn’t related to a real estate listing or a sales ad. I was miserable, stuck in a grind raising two small children, working too many hours per week and missing time with my husband.
My mother, in her infinite mom-wisdom, recognized that I was teetering on the edge of a crisis, and she suggested I take a sabbatical from work to write a novel. I told her she was out of her mind—that it was certain to be a wasted, foolish endeavor. But the longer I sat with that idea, the more it took root in my mind. That summer, I took two months off and drafted my first novel. It felt like I was finally doing something that made me happy. That year, I took the leap and made the major changes to my life that would allow me to pursue writing as a career. I’ve never looked back.
8. Where does the inspiration for your stories come from?
Mostly little things . . . a song lyric, a photograph, an image, or a snippet of conversation that gets my wheels turning.
9. How important is pacing to your writing style and when did you get comfortable with your pacing?
Pacing is critical to my writing because all of my books are thrillers of one flavor or another. Maintaining the tension in a thriller is a function of stakes and pacing as much as it is about plot, but I struggled with this early on. I lacked confidence in my prose, so I compensated by trying to embellish it, and the overwriting was bogging down the flow.
In our first year working together, my agent taught me the greatest writing lesson I would ever learn. She said, “You don’t need a lot of words. You only need the right ones.” I spent that year putting my red pen to work, sharpening my prose, tightening my writing, and building my confidence. Spare prose is powerful. Once I figured that out, everything else fell into place.
10. What’s your best advice for getting over writer’s block?
For me, the best cure has always been to get out from behind the computer and stop staring at a blank screen. Sometimes, a long drive with the perfect playlist in the background can shake something loose.
Other times, a research field trip can get the cogs moving. My favorite cure is a retreat somewhere quiet and lovely with my writing peers—a simple change of scenery, good company, some brainstorming between friends . . . that always manages to rekindle my creative fire.
11. What’s the best book you have read this year so far?
I have to pick one? Oh, no. That’s really tough, so I’m going to cheat and pick one from each genre. In suspense, Samantha Downing’s My Lovely Wife grabbed me by the throat; I couldn’t put it down. In mystery, I absolutely devoured The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. For my fantasy pick, I fell in love with Fable by Adrienne Young. And in rom-com, I’d have to go with The Hating Game by Sally Thorne.
12. Do you plan on writing more books in the future?
Yes! Finlay Donovan is a planned mystery series (and has been optioned for TV, with the amazing Marlene King set to adapt for 20th Television Studios), so book two is already drafted and in the works. If all goes well, we’ll see plenty more of Finlay and Vero.
Places To Find More From This Author:
Instagram: @ellecosimano
Twitter: @ellecosimano
Facebook: Elle Cosimano
Website: www.ellecosimano.com
A Word With Elle Cosimano
Jun 3, 2023 | A Word With The Author
Why do you write the genre that you write?
I don’t really write in one genre—I tend to bend and blend them. Probably because I read across so many. I enjoy a wide variety of books, and I write what I enjoy reading.
What’s the quirkiest quirk one of your characters has?
Finlay and Vero have a knack for finding (and disposing of) bodies.
How did you come up with your pseudonym?
The first letter of my first name is L. I didn’t want to use an initial as a pseudonym, so I spelled it out. Elle is actually a nickname I answered to while I was in college—I always signed personal notes and letters with the letter L and my friends latched onto that, calling me Elle—so it felt like a natural choice.
Tell us how you got into writing?
I had a midlife crisis after a long career in real estate, and my mom convinced me to take a sabbatical from work and try writing a novel. That was in 2010. I never looked back.
What jobs have you held before, during and/or after you became a writer?
In high school, I was first mate on a charter fishing boat. In college, I worked as a tour guide, a biology lab assistant, and as a server at a pizza place. After college, I was a receptionist at a doctor’s office and a telephone customer service rep before I fell into a career in real estate. I sold homes, taught sales and marketing, and managed sales teams for about fourteen years before I wrote my first novel.
Where do you write?
Usually at home, in my office or on the couch.
What is your favorite deadline snack?
I have a terrible sweet tooth but I’m trying to take better care of myself, so lately it’s been popcorn.
Who is an author you admire?
I had the immense privilege of meeting Holly Black at a mentorship program years ago. I know they say never meet your heroes, but I’m so glad I did. She’s not only a phenomenal storyteller, but also incredibly generous and wise. I’m still starstruck by her.
What’s your favorite genre to read?
See question 1. I read everything from mystery to thriller to romcom to fantasy, both YA and adult, and everything in between.
What are you reading now?
I just finished The Good Ones by Polly Stewart (stunning!), just started Love, Naturally by Sophie Sullivan (so fun!), and next up is Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews (can’t wait!).
What is your favorite beverage to end the day?
Coffee, all day every day.
What is next for you?
I’m hard at work on book #4 of the Finlay Donovan series with three more on the way after that!
Where can we find you?
Check out my website for FAQs, book club extras, links to my socials, and all my contact information: ellecosimano.com.
Now to have some fun . . .
Chocolate or vanilla
Chocolate!
Cake or ice cream
Yes, please!
Fruits or vegetables
All of the above!
Breakfast, lunch, or dinner
Breakfast for dinner
Dining in or dining out
In
City life or country living
Country living
Beach or mountain
Beach in the spring/summer, mountains in the fall/winter
Summer or winter
Autumn
Short story or full-length novel
Full length novel
Extrovert or introvert
Introvert
Early bird or night owl
Night owl
And even more fun . . .
What’s your favorite movie?
The Goonies
You are stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves?
A boat, a fishing rod, and a notebook.
My bio:
Elle Cosimano is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, an International Thriller Award winner, a Bram Stoker Award finalist, and an Edgar® Award nominee. Her debut novel for adults, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, kicked off a witty, fast-paced contemporary mystery series, which was a PEOPLE Magazine Pick and was named one of New York Public Library’s Best Books of 2021. In addition to writing novels for teens and adults, her essays have appeared in The Huffington Post and TIME. Elle lives with her husband and two sons in Virginia.
Q&A With Author Elle Cosimano
May 26, 2022
As an Amazon Associate I earn a small portion from qualifying purchases.
Happy Thursday friends! Hope you’ve had a great week! I’m so excited to have Elle Cosimano with us on the blog today. I’m a huge fan! Check out our chat below 🤩.
Elle! I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to have you on my blog! Tell us a little bit about your background and how you got into writing.
Thank you! I guess you could say I took a circuitous route into writing. After earning a BA in psychology, somehow I ended up in selling real estate in Northern Virginia. I had a long, successful run at it but I also had two young children, and I was struggling to find balance between motherhood and my career. I was also miserable. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life, only that I wasn’t doing it. As I was approaching my fortieth birthday (and likely a midlife crisis), my mother suggested I take some time off work and try writing a novel. That suggestion took me down a path I never would have envisioned for myself.
The Finlay Donovan series is one of my absolute favorites! I’m a huge Janet Evanovich fan, so when I first read Finlay Donovan is Killing It, I knew it would be a hit! What was your inspiration for this series?
I’m also a huge fan of Janet Evanovich—I adore Stephanie Plum! I never imagined I’d write a series in a similar vein (everything I’d written previously had been YA). The idea for Finlay struck me by surprise. About four years ago, I was having a working lunch with two of my beloved critique partners (Ashley Elston and Megan Miranda), brainstorming the plot of a thriller over lunch in a crowded Panera Bread, when a woman at the table beside us appeared to have misunderstood the context of our conversation. It was clear that she thought we were discussing actual murder instead of a fictional one. Someone posed the question, “wouldn’t it have been funny if she assumed you were contract killers?” That question became the inspiration for the story of a struggling romantic suspense novelist who accidentally becomes mistaken for a killer for hire.
Speaking of your YA books, tell us more about those and what made you make the jump from YA to adult fiction.
I never actually managed to get a YA series off the ground. I wrote two amateur sleuth mysteries, two paranormal mystery standalones, and a fantasy duology, but though I received plenty of acclaim and was nominated for several awards, the sales for those books were lackluster. Sales are critical to the lifeblood of a series (and an author’s career). I was at a crossroads when I came up with the idea for Finlay Donovan, uncertain if I could afford to continue writing. My critique partners encouraged me to take a chance, experimenting with something new, and I’m thrilled that the Finlay books have found such a passionate audience.
What does your day look like when you are in the middle of writing a book?
I’m homeschooling my youngest son who’s wrapping up his sophomore year of high school. (My oldest is away at college—Go Hokies!) I wear my teacher hat in the morning. My afternoons are split between making dinner, household chores, running errands, and managing the administrative side of my work as an author (coordinating events, marketing and publicity, engaging with readers, communicating with my agent and publishers, etc…) I typically write (and read) at night, generally between 7pm to 3am if I’m under deadline. I’m a silent writer (I can’t concentrate through interruptions), so I prefer writing at night when my inbox, phone, and house are quiet.
What type of research is involved when crafting a character like Finlay’s?
Most of my research for the Finlay books involves topics related to crime and law enforcement. Since I have loads of experience with parenting and publishing, I don’t have to research Finlay’s character as much as the mysteries she’s forced to solve. I’ve attended police academies for writers, done a ride-along with a deputy sheriff, toured a forensics lab, attended seminars taught by retired undercover cops, taken basic handgun classes, and interviewed attorneys . . . the list goes on. Hands on research inspires great story ideas and it breaks up the monotony of being behind a keyboard for hours.
What do you enjoy doing when you aren’t writing and on a deadline?
My hobbies are pretty quiet. I enjoy reading, cooking, and spending time with my family. I would go fishing every day if I could, and I daydream about one day having a home on the water. My husband and I love doing home improvement projects and traveling together. My life isn’t nearly as exciting as Finlay’s.
Do you have a favorite moment that stands out since becoming a well-known author?
I was in the grocery store a few months ago when an email popped up on my phone. It was from a young woman I had heard from about eight years ago, shortly after my first YA novels were published. She had been in high school back then, and my Nearly Boswell mysteries had piqued her interest in forensics. Fast forward to that letter I received while I was in the grocery store. She had written to tell me that she’s working as a scientist in a DC forensics lab, after my books had inspired the trajectory of her college studies and her career. It was a powerful moment, to realize my characters and stories had made that kind of impact.
Who is your biggest cheerleader?
My husband is my best friend and my biggest cheerleader. I couldn’t imagine doing this job without his support and encouragement. But professionally, I’d say my critique partners, Ashley and Megan, are my biggest support system. We’ve been brainstorming and sharing the ups and downs of our careers since the very beginning, before any of us had any books in print. Collectively, we now have 29 books published over a period of ten years. I’m so damn proud of us for that.
What are you currently reading/watching?
On TV, I’m loving All The Murders In the Building. As far as books, I just finished a fantastic historical thriller called The Half-Life of Ruby Fielding by Lydia Kang. I had the privilege of reading an early copy of Malice House, a delicious upcoming horror by Megan Shepherd. (And if you love atmospheric scary reads as much as I do, be sure to check out Lute by Jennifer Marie Thorne, which has been one of my favorite reads of 2022!) And I’m getting ready to dive into the upcoming dark thriller The Widowmaker by Hannah Morrissey, which I have been itching to get my hands on! SO many wonderful books coming out this year.
Your a wife, mom, and author, as well as many other things I’m sure. How do you balance it all?
Do any of us, really? I’m just like most moms, struggling, trying to keep too many balls in the air. I think that’s the spirit of Finlay Donovan, acknowledging the truth that is the messiness of motherhood. We’re all just doing the best we can.
Okay, last one! Please give us ALL THE SCOOP on the next book in the series, Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun! I cannot wait!👏🏻
The third book in the series picks up right where book 2 left off, with Finlay and Vero’s latest entanglements with a hot cop, a fast car, and the Russian mob. Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun will release on January 31, 2023, and I can’t wait! The research for this book was so much fun, drawing on all those hands-on research experiences I just finished telling you about. The cover and summary are now available online, and preorder links are live everywhere books are sold.
Thank you so much for your time Elle, and for giving us a glimpse into your world! I know you have so many fans looking forward to your new release and we can’t wait to celebrate with you!
Cosimano, Elle FINLAY DONOVAN DIGS HER OWN GRAVE Minotaur (Fiction None) $28.00 3, 4 ISBN: 9781250337344
A body discovered beneath a Virginia neighbor's yard plunges the irrepressible title character into another reprise of murder.
Five years after he vanished, Ashburn mortgage broker Gilford Dupree has finally turned up, buried in the garden of 81-year-old neighborhood watch president Margaret Haggerty. By the time Maggie's released from police custody for lack of evidence, the power and water in her house have been shut off, so her politically minded grandson, Brendan, brings her over to Finlay's place, where she announces that she plans to stay until everything's set straight at her home. That may take a lot longer than the weekend Finlay originally envisions, because there's no sign of any contractors at Maggie's house, and because Brendan's taken a powder. Loudoun County Detective Mike Tran's arrest of Finlay's ex, developer Steven Donovan, for the murder throws Finlay's dream of having even one more peaceful night with her adorably self-assertive children and her latest beau, Fairfax County Detective Nicholas Anthony, into the trash can. As Finlay struggles to figure out how to deal with the lucrative offer Hollywood producer Randall Wolfe has made to turn the story of her earlier adventures (read: earlier crimes she's secretly been complicit in) into a TV series, ghosts from her past seem to confront her at every turn, eventually leading her to the truth.
Less rollicking and more businesslike than the earlier installments, whose comedy of crime seems ever harder to sustain.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2025 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Cosimano, Elle: FINLAY DONOVAN DIGS HER OWN GRAVE." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Jan. 2025. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A823102477/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=9d54e047. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.
Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave
Elle Cosimano. Minotaur, $28 (320p)
ISBN 978-1-250-33734-4
Bestseller Cosimano provides an entertaining fifth investigation for mystery writer and divorced mom Finlay Donovan (after Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice). At the outset, the citizens of South Riding, Va., are eagerly gossiping about the discovery of a body in the rose garden of Finlay's nosy 81-year-old neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty. The dead man is Gilford Dupree, who went missing five years earlier, and South Riding's rumor mill quickly settles on Finlay's philandering ex-husband, Steven--who may have been having an affair with Mrs. Dupree--as the culprit. Unfortunately for Steven, detective Mike Tran latches onto the idea, forcing Finlay, as much as she resents it, to help keep the father of her children out of prison. To add to Finlay's problems, Mrs. Haggerty's son has dropped his abrasive mother off at Finlay's home while he skedaddles to Florida, because her house has been declared an active crime scene. Finlay and her nanny, Vero, handle the case alongside handsome detective Nicholas Anthony, untangling the amusing if easy to solve mystery with panache. Series fans will enjoy the opportunity to get to know recurring character Mrs. Haggerty in greater detail. This is good fun. (Mar.)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2025 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
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"Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave." Publishers Weekly, vol. 272, no. 2, 6 Jan. 2025, p. 52. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A828300368/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=c7564092. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.
Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave. By Elle Cosimano. Mar. 2025. 320p. Minotaur, $28 (9781250337344); e-book (9781250337351).
Single mom, detective novelist, and accidental criminal Finlay Donovan is used to being the talk of the town. But when her elderly neighbor moves in with her after being released from prison, Finlay hopes the neighborhood gossip mill will quiet down a bit. Only Mrs. Haggerty isn't making anything easier for herself--or for Finlay. Once mysterious notes start appearing in mailboxes, a suspected affair involving Finlay's ex-husband is uncovered, and the neighborhood book club gets involved, all hell breaks loose. Cosimano (Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice, 2024) brings several recurring characters back in the fifth installment of the Finlay Donovan series, mixing domestic drudgery, the pull of parental responsibilities, and hardboiled detective hijinks into Finlay's sleepy suburban town's latest predicament. Fans of Janet Evanovich and Deanna Raybourn will be charmed by Finlay's unorthodox investigative methods amid familial chaos and unexpected adventures. With razor-sharp dialogue and a little romance, Cosimano's compulsively readable, heartwarming, and hilarious series title is a treat for all fans of the genre.--Stephanie Turza
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2025 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
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Turza, Stephanie. "Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave." Booklist, vol. 121, no. 13-14, Mar. 2025, p. 57. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A847202017/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=23761bc6. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.
Cosimano, Elle. Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave. Macmillan Audio. (Finlay Donovan, Bk. 5). Mar. 2025. 9:11 hrs. ISBN 9781250384898. $26.99. M
Cosimano's fifth installment in the Finlay Donovan series (following Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice) is narrated with aplomb by Angela Dawe. This entry shines a light on Finlay's neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty. When Mrs. Haggerty's own home becomes a crime scene, the hilariously crusty neighbor forces her way into Finlay's home. Since Finlay isn't one to throw an older woman out on the street, the only solution is to figure out who buried a man's body in Haggerty's yard. The action kicks up when the police turn their eyes to Finlay's philandering ex. While part of her would love to have Steven out of her life, she knows her kids couldn't bear it. Also, Mrs. Haggerty is acting extremely suspicious. Could Finlay be harboring a murderer? While Dawe's earnest Finlay is often the punchline for gravelly voiced Haggerty, Dawe also offers many layers to the suspicious neighbor, who audibly sneaks fondness into her snark as she reveals a grandmotherly side. Listeners will definitely hope to hear her voice in the next audiobook alongside impulsive, bloodthirsty Vero and goodhearted Finlay. Though some characters only make brief appearances, Cam, Nick, and even Sylvia are welcome returns. VERDICT Lots of fun. The series' audiobooks continue to delight.--Matthew Galloway
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2025 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.libraryjournal.com/
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Galloway, Matthew. "Cosimano, Elle. Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave." Library Journal, vol. 150, no. 6, June 2025, p. 46. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A847199076/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=b32bd3b5. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.
Nearly Found
by Elle Cosimano
High School Dawson/Penguin 373 pp.
6/15 978-0-8037-3927-7 $17.99
With the killer from Nearly Gone (rev. 3/14) safely behind bars, Nearly Boswell focuses on her future: specifically, on her relationship with Reece and on a coveted internship at a crime lab. But then she receives a threatening email. A girl she knows disappears, and a neighbor is arrested for the girl's presumed murder. A fire burns down the local convenience store. A long-dead body is uncovered, with a cryptic set of numbers scratched into the bones. Nearly knows none of this is coincidence, and she suspects that her father's old poker club is somehow involved. With the help of Reece, as well as her classmates Jeremy, Vince, and Eric (also children of the poker-club members), Nearly begins an investigation that jeopardizes her internship and risks her friends' lives. This suspenseful sequel packs the same degree of chills as its predecessor, as the killer manages to stay one step ahead of the group despite Nearly's efforts to decipher the criminal's many physics- and chemistry-based riddles. While Nearly and Reece's on-again, off-again romance is less absorbing this time, the forensic-science angle, more grisly murders, and determined, quick-thinking Nearly herself give her fans plenty of reasons to keep turning pages until the should-have-seen-it-coming end.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2015 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Sources, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.hbook.com/magazine/default.asp
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Smith, Rachel L. "Nearly Found." The Horn Book Magazine, vol. 91, no. 4, July-Aug. 2015, pp. 130+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A421324167/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=4c95f588. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.
4Q * 4P * S Cosimano, Elle. Nearly Found. Kathy Dawson/Penguin, 2015. 384p. $17.99. 9780-8037-3927-7.
Nearly Boswell still questions the whereabouts of her father but has successfully put the past year behind her. She is closer to her mother and is enjoying the new friendships she has found with the detectives who helped her put a classmate killer behind bars. With an exciting opportunity to intern in the police department crime lab and a romance with former bad boy Reece Whelan heating up, Nearly feels that things are starting to improve. History seems doomed to repeat itself, however, when cryptic e-mails and notes surface and a girl from her trailer park is found murdered. After another body is discovered with a message for Nearly etched into the bones, it becomes clear that someone is still out to hurt her. When the body is proven to be the father of a friend, Nearly wonders if it is connected to her own father's disappearance. Together with her classmates, Nearly embarks on her own treacherous investigation into their fathers' pasts, only to once again risk their lives at the hands of a killer.
Nearly Found, Cosimano's follow-up to her debut novel Nearly Gone (Kathy Dawson, 2014/VOYA December 2013), is gripping, with new twists and insights into the mind of a killer. Where some sequels might falter, Cosimano delivers another shocking, dark, and brilliant tale that will make readers want to lock their doors. Complex characters set against a gritty backdrop, along with gruesome details of investigative work, will draw readers in and keep the pages turning. It is obvious that Cosimano has done her homework, and readers will want to see more of her tenacious heroine. Fans of crime television will flock to this series that is perfect for young adult audiences.--Erin Segreto.
Segreto, Erin
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2015 E L Kurdyla Publishing LLC
http://www.voya.com
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Segreto, Erin. "Cosimano, Elle. Nearly Found." Voice of Youth Advocates, vol. 38, no. 2, June 2015, p. 56. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A418844916/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=1244eca1. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.
Cosimano, Elle NEARLY FOUND Kathy Dawson/Penguin (Children's Fiction) $17.99 6, 2 ISBN: 978-0-8037-3927-7
A mysterious killer once again targets Nearly "Leigh" Boswell for science-themed murders and harassment. In Nearly Gone (2014), TJ Wiles murdered Leigh's tutees to punish her for her father's crimes. Now TJ is in prison, but his father, Reggie, has just been released. When a second series of violent acts begins--a set of threatening, physics-related notes left inside Leigh's and others' homes, a drug dealer's girlfriend murdered, a local business burned to the ground--Leigh is certain they are Reggie's doing. Interning at a forensic-science lab, Leigh gets a chance to learn how evidence is collected...and to give herself unauthorized access to fingerprint databases and more. Leigh's stubbornness, recklessness, and willingness to bend rules to her own ends make her a compellingly flawed character. Tension runs high as Leigh keeps secrets, sneaks around physical and electronic security systems, and enlists allies with their own agendas. Some loose ends aren't entirely tied up (readers never do learn, for instance, whether there are consequences for Leigh's taking liberties at the forensics lab). The dramatic conclusion, however, answers the novel's biggest questions--both plot-related and philosophical--with aplomb. A sequel every bit as nail-biting as its predecessor. (Mystery. 14-18)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2015 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Cosimano, Elle: NEARLY FOUND." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Mar. 2015. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A404948082/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=2983e28e. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.
Cosimano, Elle FINLAY DONOVAN ROLLS THE DICE Minotaur (Fiction None) $28.00 3, 5 ISBN: 9781250846006
Another rollicking round of high-speed felonies for mystery author Finlay Donovan and those unwary enough to get pulled into her orbit.
The opening challenge is terse and to the point. "You have seventy-two hours to pay back what you owe," reads a note stuck under the windshield wiper of a van abandoned by Finn's friend Javi. But nothing ever follows a straight line in Finn's life. Since Javi owes $200,000 to loan shark Marco Toscano, Finn and Vero Ramirez, her resourceful nanny, read the note as a ransom demand and set out to find Javi and somehow raise the funds to repay Toscano. Their journey takes them--together with Finn's two children, her mother, and Steven, her ex-husband (don't ask)--from Virginia to Atlantic City on a trip that carefully avoids Maryland, where there's a warrant out against Vero. They don't find Javi, but the trip isn't a total loss: They stumble upon two dead bodies in a hotel room, one of them Marco's. Even though that discovery renders Javi's debt moot, news of a flash drive containing information about how to access $14 million in cryptocurrency brings Finn up against two of her old antagonists, Russian mobster Feliks Zhirov, who's escaped from prison just in time to join the festivities, and Ekatarina Rybakov, his star attorney, who in some ways is even more dangerous than him. As usual, Finn compensates for her limitations as a sleuth by her unexcelled ability to improvise, turning the most dangerous situations into set-up lines for droll payoffs.
Perfect escapist fare for stay-at-home readers who wonder why nothing ever happens to them.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Cosimano, Elle: FINLAY DONOVAN ROLLS THE DICE." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Jan. 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A777736935/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=44009c3a. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.
* Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice.
By Elle Cosimano.
Mar. 2024. 320p. Minotaur, $28 (9781250846006).
Finlay and her live-in nanny, Vero, are off to Atlantic City Not for the girls' weekend they desperately need, but to rescue Vero's childhood love, Javi, and steal back their Aston Martin, both taken by someone from Vero's past. Finlay is overwhelmed enough when her ex-husband, Steven, and her mother insist on tagging along, but when hot cop Nick shows up with Finlay's detective sister, Georgia, and the FBI, the entire mission becomes ridiculously more complicated. That's not including Finlay's agent calling incessantly and the surprise of two dead bodies in a hotel bathroom. The usual amount of chaos ensues, including but not limited to an explosion, a man in chaps, a weiner dog named Kevin Bacon, and a $14 million flash drive. Finlay will need her trademark suspense-author intuition to solve another crime while staying under the radar. Cosimano's fourth Finlay Donovan novel (Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun, 2022) is brilliantly plotted, bringing the witty humor and thrilling, nail-biting action the series is known for while also tackling emotional family dynamics. Cosimano knocks this one out of the park. Highly recommended for all fans of the series.--Carmen Clark
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
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Clark, Carmen. "Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice." Booklist, vol. 120, no. 7-8, 1 Dec. 2023, p. 104. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A777512472/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=3d311fc4. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.
Cosimano, Elle FINLAY DONOVAN JUMPS THE GUN Minotaur (Fiction None) $26.99 1, 31 ISBN: 978-1-2508-4603-7
Fasten your seat belts. Suspense novelist Finlay Donovan, who wants all the world to know she's not a killer for hire, is headed for a third round of murder most madcap.
Finn is already under a certain amount of pressure. Feliks Zhirov, the Russian mobster arrested because of what she told the police, demands that she identify EasyClean, the online contract killer he's been mistaken for, before Zhirov's trial begins in two weeks. And he isn't kidding, Finn realizes when she sees evidence that one of Zhirov's people is stalking her nanny, Veronica Ruiz, and her two kids. Vero has problems of her own, since she's borrowed $200,000 from Marco, a loan shark with teeth, to pay off her other creditors, and the only way she has to raise that kind of money is to liquidate a slightly bullet-ridden Aston Martin she and Finn acquired less than legally in Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead (2022). How could things possibly get worse? For starters, Finn and Vero could respond to the pressure Marco's enforcer Ike Grindley puts on them by, um, dumping a pile of cars on top of him, eliminating the threat from him personally but accelerating it from every other direction. The rumor that EasyClean is a member of the Fairfax County Police Department leads Finn and Vero to accept an invitation to the citizens' police academy, where they hope to get a closer look at the most likely suspects in the case while exposing themselves to the gaze of the academy's coordinator, Finn's maybe-sweetie Det. Nicholas Anthony. Chaos ensues, and the cliffhanger ending eliminates any point to peeking at the last few pages for enlightenment.
More purely manic than the heroine's first two adventures, which at least held out the hope of resolution.
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"Cosimano, Elle: FINLAY DONOVAN JUMPS THE GUN." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Dec. 2022. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A729072653/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=566f839e. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.
Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun
Elle Cosimano. Minotaur, $26.99 (304p) ISBN 978-1-250-84603-7
Cosimano's zany third Finlay Donovan caper (after 2022's Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead) finds Finlay--budding romantic suspense novelist, harried divorced mother of two young childten, and reluctant criminal--trying valiantly to keep her new year's resolutions: no more junk food, no more men, and no more bodies in her minivan. This won't be easy, as she's being pressured by Russian mob boss Feliks Zhirov to locate and possibly dispose of a mysterious contract killer known as EasyClean, who's been cultivating hit jobs through one of Zhirov's websites, "a popular women's forum that had doubled as a front for the Russian mob." Finlay believes that EasyClean may be a local Virginia police officer, so she jumps at the chance to participate in a citizens' police academy course organized by the Fairfax County PD. It doesn't hurt that the coordinator of the event is chatming Det. Nicholas Anthony. While trying to ferret out a killer, she must contend with a pushy ex-husband and a literary agent who demands a sexier ending for her new novel. Finlay's strong narrative voice carries the reader through the colossal silliness. This is good, fast fun. Agent: Stephanie Rostan. Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary. (Jan.)
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"Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun." Publishers Weekly, vol. 269, no. 47, 14 Nov. 2022, p. 48. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A727946271/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=60e0d62f. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.
Elle Cosimano. Minotaur, $27.99 (368p) ISBN 978-1-250-24218-1
Cosimano's diverting sequel to 202l'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, EasyCIean, 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.)
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"Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead." Publishers Weekly, vol. 268, no. 50, 6 Dec. 2021, p. 116. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A686969315/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=9a276ef0. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.
Cosimano, Elle FINLAY DONOVAN KNOCKS 'EM DEAD Minotaur (Fiction None) $26.99 2, 1 ISBN: 978-1-2502-4218-1
Fresh from a debut in which she kept getting offered money to kill people who then fortuitously died, novelist Finlay Donovan goes another round with murder most absurd.
Somebody besides Finn must be unhappy with her ex, sod farmer Steven Donovan, because a message-board poster identifying herself only as FedUp broadly hints that she'd pay $100,000 to anyone who'd dispose of him. As Finn looks on in virtual horror, another poster, EasyClean, accepts the proposition. Run ragged as she already is by the usual domestic problems--caring for her two small children, juggling hot law student Julian Baker and Nicholas Anthony, the Fairfax County detective who's still interested in her despite what she put him through in Finlay Donovan Is Killing It(2021), struggling to get started on her next suspense novel--Finn tries to rescue Steven, who deserves execration but not execution, by hiring a teenage network expert named Cam to identify EasyClean. When Cam comes up empty, the only other thing Finn can think of is to volunteer to do the hit herself for half the price. Unfortunately, she makes her cut-rate offer using a public Wi-Fi connection, exposing herself and her nanny/sidekick, endlessly resourceful accounting student Veronica Ruiz, to all manner of perils. The discovery that the message board is secretly owned by Feliks Zhirov, the mobster Finn's last adventure ended up sending to prison, just increases the riotous complications. Long after everything has apparently spiraled out of control or even comprehension, the author springs one last revelation that, if it doesn't pull everything together, goes a long way toward justifying the bumpy ride.
Given the challenge of matching her first novel's gorgeous premise, Cosimano does a remarkable job. What next?
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"Cosimano, Elle: FINLAY DONOVAN KNOCKS 'EM DEAD." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Nov. 2021. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A682168444/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=991b5475. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.
Finlay Donovan Is Killing It. By Elle Cosimano. Feb. 2021.368p. Minotaur, $26.99 (9781250241702); e-book, $13.99 (9781250242204).
Finlay Donovan hasn't been having the greatest time. Her husband left her for their real-estate agent (and is now trying to get full custody of their two kids); she keeps missing her book deadlines; and she barely makes enough money to keep the lights on. When she meets up with her agent to discuss that murder mystery she hasn't written, a woman overhears their conversation about the book's gruesome plot and, misunderstanding what exactly Finlay does for a living, offers her $50,000 to take out her abusive husband. Finlay may know how to get away with murder from researching her books, but she's certainly not desperate enough to actually commit one. But surely nothing will go wrong if she just scopes the guy out? An Edgar nominee for best YA novel (Nearly Gone, 2014), Cosimano makes her adult debut with this off-the-wall series starter, which is part comedy of errors, part genuine thriller. Deftly balancing genre conventions with sly, tongue-in-cheek comments on motherhood and femininity, Cosimano crafts a deliciously twisted tale that will earn her a slew of adult fans.--Maggie Reagan
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 American Library Association
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Reagan, Maggie. "Finlay Donovan Is Killing It." Booklist, vol. 117, no. 11, 1 Feb. 2021, pp. 21+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A654000924/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=a270388e. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.
Elle Cosimano. Minotaur, $26.99 (368p) ISBN 978-1-250-24170-2
This amusing series launch from YA author Cosimano (Seasons of the Storm), her adult debut, has a pleasingly absurd premise. Wronged wife Patricia Mickler overhears Finlay Donovan, a down-and-out romantic suspense novelist, talking about her next book with her agent in a suburban Virginia sandwich shop. Mistaking Finlay for a killer for hire, Patricia offers the author $50,000 to kill her no-good husband, Harris. The money is just what Finlay needs to deal with her ex, who's trying to renegotiate their custody agreement. Of course, Finlay has no intention of actually killing Harris, but fate intervenes--and when she witnesses Harris attempting to drug a woman in a bar, Finlay is launched into a screwball mystery involving Russian gangsters, more angry wives, and a disturbingly attractive police detective. Finlay's antics require a suspension of disbelief that some readers may find difficult to sustain, and others may be troubled by seeing issues such as date rape and revenge porn handled with such a light hand. But those willing to enter into the spirit of Finlay's world should enjoy this romp from a skilled comic writer. Agent: Sarah Davies, Greenhouse Literary. (Feb.)
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"Finlay Donovan Is Killing It." Publishers Weekly, vol. 267, no. 48, 30 Nov. 2020, p. 36. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A661377948/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=c10b0988. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.
Cosimano, Elle FINLAY DONOVAN IS KILLING IT Minotaur (Fiction None) $26.99 2, 2 ISBN: 978-1-2502-4170-2
A suburban Virginia divorcee struggles with that classic dilemma: What should she do when she’s offered a fat paycheck to kill a complete stranger?
Struggling romantic suspense novelist Finlay Donovan doesn’t think much of her ex-husband, Steven, who’s been nickel-and-diming her ever since she dumped him over his affair with Theresa Hall, the realtor who’s since become his fiancee. So she’s not entirely surprised when Patricia Mickler, overhearing her chatting with her agent in the local Panera about her latest work in progress, indicates that her own husband is even worse. He’s a blackmailer and serial rapist who’s beaten his wife repeatedly. What stuns Finn is the way Patricia communicates her hatred for her husband: She offers Finn $50,000 to kill him. Of course Finn has no intention of going through with this harebrained scheme, but a series of unlikely miscues ends with Harris Mickler dead in her garage with every indication that she’s murdered him. The only bright spots are that Veronica, the accounting-student nanny Steven just laid off without warning Finn in advance, comes upon the scene ready and eager to help and that Steven owns a sod farm where the conspirators can bury the body without telling him. Everything seems to have worked out improbably well until Finn, who really does need the money, is offered an even bigger purse for killing someone else considerably more savvy and dangerous. YA specialist Cosimano cuts dexterously between Finn’s adventures as a hit woman, her deeply iffy romance with Fairfax County Detective Nicholas Anthony, and the domestic crises that keep on piling up as if nothing had ever happened to disturb them.
Suspenseful, funny, and even a tad mysterious. More, please.
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"Cosimano, Elle: FINLAY DONOVAN IS KILLING IT." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Nov. 2020. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A639818894/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=53cc8a6a. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.
Seasons of the Storm. By Elle Cosimano. June 2020. 480p. HarperTeen, $17.99 (9780062854247). Gr. 7-10.
As teenager Jack is dying, having fallen through ice on a frozen pond, Gaia offers him a job as a Season, an immortal being who shepherds a particular season in a particular part of the world. He becomes a Winter, pursued and killed every year by Fleur, his Spring counterpart. As time goes on, Jack and Fleur start falling for each other, disrupting the order mandated by Chronos and sparking wider resistance to following his commands. This niffy tale is rooted in the Greek mythology of Gaia (Mother Earth) and Cronus/Kronos (Gaia's son and overseer of time), although it departs from the myth in its details. Cosimano's adventure story of the fugitive, star-crossed lovers develops in two parts; In the first, Jack, Fleur, and friends follow the rules. In the rest, they are on the run. With lots of action, fairly flat characters who still claim our affections, and an exploration of when and how much to trust those in authority, the story asks whether you will be the user or the used.--Cindy Welch
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 American Library Association
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Welch, Cindy. "Seasons of the Storm." Booklist, vol. 116, no. 15, 1 Apr. 2020, p. 73. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A621474488/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=5e98a107. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.
Cosimano, Elle SEASONS OF THE STORM HarperTeen (Teen None) $17.99 6, 23 ISBN: 978-0-06-285424-7
Seasons are meant to hunt and destroy each other, but what happens when two Seasons fall in love?
Jack is a Winter. With the help of his Handler, he hunts down the Autumn who comes before him, kills her, and runs from the Spring who comes next—until she kills him in turn. This cycle maintains the seasons and the weather, which is why Seasons are regulated: kept to their own territories when out in the world and to their own sections of the compound they call home. But since the beginning, Jack has sought out gaps in the system, which may be why he finds himself drawn to Fleur, the Spring tasked with killing him. Monitored both by technology and the magical creatures controlled by Chronos and Gaia—the beings responsible for the Seasons—as well as watched over by their own skeptical Handlers, Jack and Fleur nevertheless take a risk that could destroy the delicate balance in their lives and in the world. Melding high-tech bunkers in London and secretive road trips across the U.S. with mythology and magic, Cosimano tells a story of the bonds of friendship and the power of hope for the future. Though the large cast is sometimes cumbersome, the themes of friendship despite differences and self-sacrifice nevertheless shine through. Jack and Fleur seem to be white while a secondary character is cued as Latinx.
A solid urban fantasy with a novel premise. (Fantasy. 14-18)
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"Cosimano, Elle: SEASONS OF THE STORM." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Apr. 2020. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A619127601/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=1bf18654. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.
The Suffering Tree. By Elle Cosimano. June 2017. 368p. Hyperion, $17.99 (9781484726594); e-book, $17.99 (9781368002455). Gr. 9-12.
Cosimano whips up an enticing witch's brew involving a feudlike grudge, a local legend, and teenage resilience in her newest novel. No one knows why Alistair Slaughter bequeathed the Burns family a house on his estate, but Tori's cash-strapped mother had no choice but to accept. Uprooted to Chaptico, Maryland, Tori struggles to settle in and cope with her father's recent death. It's only after she meets the mysterious Nathaniel Bishop that she starts to heal, yet his arrival unlocks a slew of secrets related to the Slaughters and herself. As a series of tragedies strike the town, amplifying the Slaughters' hostility toward the Burnses, Tori links events to the Chaptico Witch. Tori's narrative is intercut with dream sequences and Nathaniel's flashbacks, which all point toward a unifying truth. While this storytelling technique generally builds suspense, it sometimes leads to anticlimactic reveals that beat Tori's deductive skills to the punch. Nevertheless, it is an eerie, often pulse-pounding tale in the vein of Lindsey Barraclough's Long Lankin (2012) that will please supernatural mystery devotees.--Julia Smith
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 American Library Association
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Smith, Julia. "The Suffering Tree." Booklist, vol. 113, no. 19-20, June 2017, p. 98. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A498582840/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=63e1ed70. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.
Cosimano, Elle. The Suffering Tree. Hyperion/Disney, 2017. 368p. $17.99. 9781-4847-2659-4.
After inheriting a house under mysterious circumstances, Tori Burns and her family pack up and head to Chaptico, Maryland. Their arrival and inheritance puts them at odds with virtually the entire town, especially Jesse Slaughter and his family, who claim the Burnses have "stolen" land that is rightfully theirs. This seems trivial after Tori witnesses a young man, Nathaniel Bishop, claw his way out of a grave under an old tree in her backyard. Tori decides to search for the truth in her quest to break a centuries-old curse steeped in dark, guarded secrets.
The Suffering Tree is a haunting thriller with appeal to readers of Cosimano's previous works and will entice those who have read works by Brenna Yovanoff, Michelle Hodkin's Mara Dyer trilogy, or Laura Ruby's Bone Gap (HarperCollins, 2015/VOYA April 2015). Highlights include an intriguing narrative fueled by strong character development, vividly descriptive writing, and good pacing. Mixing historical passages with a contemporary timeline will appeal to many readers. There is balance among flashbacks, dialogue, and descriptive action. The romance between Tori and Nathaniel feels a bit rushed, but this is a common aspect of many similar YA titles. Recommend Cosmiano's novel to readers interested in ghost stories, curses, and romance. --Linsey Milillo.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 E L Kurdyla Publishing LLC
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Milillo, Linsey. "Cosimano, Elle. The Suffering Tree." Voice of Youth Advocates, vol. 40, no. 2, June 2017, pp. 77+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A497860380/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=77605fd4. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.
Cosimano, Elle THE SUFFERING TREE Hyperion (Children's Fiction) $17.99 6, 13 ISBN: 978-1-4847-2659-4
Blood and water prove equally strong for a troubled teen dealing with small-town secrets.In the year since her adoptive father died, high school junior Tori Burns stopped swimming and started cutting. Evicted from their D.C. apartment but unexpectedly gifted an old house, Tori, her brother, Kyle, and their beleaguered mother relocate to rural Chaptico, Maryland. Fulfilling the magical-mental-illness trope, Tori's self-harm triggers a paranormal adventure, resurrecting Nathaniel Bishop, an 18th-century indentured servant, and transferring the memories of alleged witch--and Nathaniel's unrequited love--Emmeline to Tori. United by scars and a grudge against the sinister Slaughter family, Tori and Nathaniel race to solve a modern murder and prove Tori's heritage. While protagonists Tori, Nathaniel, and Emmeline are all white, Emmeline's interracial, same-sex relationship is admirably (if perhaps anachronistically) progressive, yet her black romantic partner receives cursory attention, as do Tori's token fellow outsiders--a Jewish girl and a gay guy friend. Cosimano addresses big issues--self-harm, adoption, grief, racism, rape--but also attempts to meld these matters with a supernatural thriller about the Colonial South, making Tori's genealogical research as riveting as Emmeline's witchcraft. A dark mixture of mystery, history, romance, and fantasy. (Paranormal romance. 14-adult)
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"Cosimano, Elle: THE SUFFERING TREE." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Apr. 2017. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A489268508/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=59ae495d. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.
Cosimano, Elle. Holding Smoke. Hyperion, 2016. 336p. $17.99. 978-1-4847-2597-9.
John Conlan was all but killed by his father. After paramedics revive him, he is able to dissociate himself from his body and invisibly venture outside the prison in which he is incarcerated. Conlan was convicted of killing his teacher, Ms. Cruz, and a young boy in a vacant school building. Conlan, despite evidence to the contrary, steadfastly proclaims his innocence of Ms. Cruz's murder, blaming it on a man in a hooded sweatshirt; however, this mystery man has never been found. Since information is a form of currency in prison, Conlan barters information gained on his forays outside the prison walls for favors. During one outing, however, he is actually seen by Pink, a girl wearing a pink wig, who claims to be a medium. She and Conlan are attracted to each other. When Conlan is invited to Thanksgiving dinner at the warden's house and his daughter, Vivian, believes his innocence, Conlan is surprised. While he refuses her offer to help find the hooded man, this is the impetus he needs to attempt to clear his name ... with Pink's help.
By adding a supernatural element to Holding Smoke, Cosimano has taken what could have been good realistic story about incarcerated youth and added an unbelievable twist. The relationships among inmates and with guards seem accurate; however, Conlan's character is never fleshed out, and certain events, especially Vivian's visit to Conlan in prison, seem contrived and unbelievable. The book's ending is far-fetched.--Ed Goldberg.
This chilling, moving story of a wrongly convicted murderer, John "Smoke" Conlan, depicts the life of an inmate who never sees himself getting set free. He finds unexpected love from the prison officers, a girl who can see him as a ghost, and the daughter of the head of the Y. In finding the true murderer of his English teacher, Smoke finds love and truth in the least expected places. 5Q, 5P. --Shirley Yan, Teen Reviewer.
Goldberg, Ed^Yan, Shirley
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 E L Kurdyla Publishing LLC
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Goldberg, Ed, and Shirley Yan. "Cosimano, Elle. Holding Smoke." Voice of Youth Advocates, vol. 39, no. 2, June 2016, p. 76. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A455183924/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=ded7dcb9. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.
Cosimano, Elle HOLDING SMOKE Hyperion (Children's Fiction) $17.99 5, 3 ISBN: 978-1-4847-2597-9
Leaving his actual body behind in prison, Smoke can move through the world as a ghost in this fantastic yet real portrait of a survivor seeking answers. John "Smoke" Conlan has survived a brutal beating from his father, a murder conviction, and prison life. His uncanny ability evidently triggered by the beating, Smoke exists inside and outside the fictional Greater Denver Youth Offender Rehabilitation Center (unrealistically represented as a maximum security prison). Smoke keeps his physical body protected on the inside thanks to the balance of favors earned outside his body. On one such errand, he discovers that a young waitress at a seedy dive can actually see him. Smoke's vivid present-tense narration is filtered according to his concerns. He insists that he is innocent of killing his favorite teacher but guilty of killing a fellow student in self-defense, keeping readers teetering between a belief that the punishment is justified and cheering Smoke on to fight for freedom. The narrative's romance is chaste, and it tempers the intensity brought to the story by the threats of guards, fellow inmates, and outside criminals. Though the complex plot is based on an impossible premise, readers will be flipping the pages, watching the diverse cast (Smoke is white) race toward the climax. Intertwined spectral and real worlds deliver double the thrills. (Paranormal suspense. 11-16)
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"Cosimano, Elle: HOLDING SMOKE." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Feb. 2016. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A443086612/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=8ce4e7be. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.