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.
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)!
