The Finlay Donovan Series: Start Here
For most readers, Elle Cosimano's standout starting point is the Finlay Donovan series. This breakout adult mystery-comedy series follows Finlay, a stressed-out single mother and struggling romance/suspense novelist who is accidentally mistaken for a contract killer. Alongside her nanny and partner-in-crime Vero, Finlay gets dragged into actual criminal investigations, cover-ups, and romantic triangles.
Because the books feature a continuous overarching narrative—where each entry picks up shortly after the chaotic events of the previous one—you must read this series in order of publication. Reading them out of order will spoil the major cliffhangers and character developments that define the series.
Finlay Donovan Recommended Reading Order
- Finlay Donovan Is Killing It (2021) — The essential starting point where Finlay is mistaken for a hitwoman.
- Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead (2022) — Finlay and Vero try to figure out who has placed a hit on Finlay's ex-husband.
- Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun (2023) — The duo joins a citizen police academy to learn how to avoid getting caught by the cops.
- Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank (2023) — A prequel short story centering on Vero. While published after book three, it is best read anytime after you've met Vero in the first book.
- Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice (2024) — Finlay and Vero head to Atlantic City to rescue Vero's ex-boyfriend and find a missing body.
- Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave (2025) — The high-stakes fifth novel where the stakes increase and the fallout of Atlantic City catches up.
- Finlay Donovan Crosses the Line (2026) — The sixth book where Finlay and Vero head to Maryland to clear Vero's name.
- Finlay Donovan Plays with Fire (Expected 2027) — The upcoming seventh main installment.
The Seasons Duology
For fans of mythological fantasy and young adult romance, Cosimano's Seasons of the Storm duology offers a complete shift in tone. The story is a contemporary fantasy centering on the physical embodiments of the seasons—Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn—who must hunt and kill their predecessor each year in a cycle controlled by handlers. When two seasons fall in love, they decide to break the cycle.
Seasons Duology Reading Order
- Seasons of the Storm (2020)
- Seasons of Chaos (2021)
Young Adult Mystery and Suspense
Before launching her hit adult series, Cosimano was well-known for her dark, atmospheric young adult thrillers. These can be categorized into her Nearly Boswell duology and standalone novels.
Nearly Boswell Duology
This duology follows a brilliant high school student and math whiz who has to solve a series of complex clues left by a killer targeting her classmates.
- Nearly Gone (2014)
- Nearly Found (2015)
Standalone YA Novels
- Holding Smoke (2016) — A paranormal thriller about a teenager falsely accused of murder who must navigate life (and death) in a detention facility.
- The Suffering Tree (2017) — A dark, historical-leaning supernatural mystery focusing on a centuries-old curse in a small town.
Co-Authored and Short Works
Cosimano has also branched out into collaboration and short-form mystery fiction:
- Staged (2024) — A standalone mystery novella published as part of Amazon's Busybodies Collection.
- Home for the Homicides (Scheduled for October 13, 2026) — A holiday-themed co-authored mystery written with Hannah Morrissey, launching the Holly & Mark Mystery series.