Finlay Donovan Is Killing It

The blonde wig-scarf makes multiple appearances throughout the book and is an important symbol. Finn’s author photograph features her wearing it; she is also wearing it when she is mistaken to be a contract killer, and later willingly uses it as a disguise when she impersonates Theresa.

The wig-scarf symbolizes, on one hand, the person Finn aspires to be; she wears it in her author photograph because she wants to appear elegant and mysterious. When she wears it to The Lush, she pairs it with a black dress and heels, otherwise uncharacteristic wardrobe choices for Finn. This is how Julian meets her, and as much as Finn is forced to keep up the disguise in her later interactions with him because of the Mickler case, it also represents her insecurities about showing her true self to the younger, attractive bartender.

Ironically, the wig-scarf also symbolizes the double-life Finn falls into unwittingly, which she is forced to hide from the people around her. She wears it around Patricia to keep her identity hidden but hides it from Nick to ensure he doesn’t learn about that side of her life.

Eventually, all of it collides, beginning with Pete noting Finn’s use of the wig-scarf in her author photograph; especially after the article about her book deal is published, the wig-scarf can no longer create the