Elle Cosimano

Holly Virginia

Elle Cosimano is a New York Times bestselling author, an International Thriller Award winner, and an Edgar Award nominee. Elle’s debut novel for adults, "Finlay Donovan Is Killing It," kicked off a witty, fast-paced contemporary mystery series which was one of the 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.

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Awards: International Thriller Writer Award, Edgar Award Nominee, Bram Stoker Award Nominee, Winner of the Mathical Book Award for Mathematics in Children's Literature

Friends and Sponsors Only: Hot Off the Press

Sponsors and Friends of the Festival are invited to a books launch party with authors in attendance.

Campus Store - Hot Off the Press (Seats 250, Wheelchair accessible)  
Sat, Mar 14, 8:00 am - 9:00 am

Panelists: David Blumenthal, C.J. Box, Elle Cosimano, Elon Green, Adib Khorram, T Kira Madden, Loubna Mrie, Megan Kate Nelson, Keith O'Brien, Caroline Paul

Familiar Faces, Familiar Places

J.A. Jance, Elle Cosimano and Linda Castillo have created central characters who are now as well-known as they are. Today we will meet Joanna Brady, Finlay Donovan and Kate Burkholder, and learn how their creators were able make them so memorable.

Koffler Room 204 (Seats 300, Wheelchair accessible)  
Sat, Mar 14, 11:30 am - 12:25 pm
Mystery / Thrillers
Signing area: Sales & Signing Koffler/Commons (following presentation)

Panelists: Linda Castillo, Elle Cosimano, J.A. Jance
Moderator: Christina Estes
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of Judith Wood, Long Realty, Katherine Stone

Thrills, Chills and Laughs

Finlay Donovan creator Elle Cosimano, Reed Farrel Coleman and Alissa Lee will compare notes about writing page-turning suspense, building tension and tension breaking humor.

Integrated Learning Center Room 150 (Seats 155, Wheelchair accessible)  
Sun, Mar 15, 11:30 am - 12:25 pm
Mystery / Thrillers
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - Integrated Learning Center (following presentation)  

Panelists: Elle Cosimano, Reed Farrel Coleman, Alissa Lee
Moderator: Lisa Millerd
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of Hughes Federal Credit Union, Kimberly Peters and Bruce Peters

Familiar Faces

Festival regulars J.A. Jance, C.J. Box and Elle Cosimano are three of the biggest names in modern mystery. In this session they will discuss the strategies they use to keep their stories fresh … and their readers coming back for more.

Student Union North Ballroom (Seats 670)  
Sun, Mar 15, 2:30 pm - 3:25 pm
Mystery / Thrillers
Signing area: Sales & Signing South Ballroom (following presentation)  

Panelists: C.J. Box, Elle Cosimano, J.A. Jance
Moderator: Shannon Baker
Sponsor: Session made possible courtesy of TMC Health

Books:

Finlay Donovan Crosses the Line

A Novel
Mystery / Thrillers
St. Martin's Publishing Group
March 2026
ISBN 9781250337597
304 pages
Buy now

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave

#5
Mystery / Thrillers
St. Martin's Publishing Group
February 2026
ISBN 9781250337368
336 pages
Buy now