I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Another Fine Mess by Lindy Ryan Series: Bless Your Heart #2
Published by Minotaur Books on April 15 2025
Genres: Adult, Horror
Pages: 299
Format: Finished hardcover
Source: Publisher
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The nitty-gritty: A sequel that expertly builds on its predecessor, Another Fine Mess is another winning book in what’s turning out to be a can’t miss series.
If you had fun with Bless My Heart, the first book in Lindy Ryan’s deep fried Southern horror romp, then I guarantee you’ll have a blast with the sequel. Another Fine Mess was even better, in my opinion, and I do hope the series isn’t over, because I need more of these characters in my life. I do recommend reading the books in order, though, and there will be minor spoilers for book one in this review.
Another Fine Mess picks up about a month after the shocking events at the end of Bless My Heart. Lenore Evans is trying to pick up the pieces after her daughter Grace and her mother Ducey were both killed by a rogue strigoi, and now Lenore has only her granddaughter Luna to help out at the family funeral parlor. The business is actually a front for the real work the Evans women are tasked with: keeping the restless dead from rising. Lenore is hoping to take a breather from the recent carnage and heartache, but once again, dead bodies are starting to pile up around town. This time, the deaths are being blamed on a “ghost wolf,” a rare hybrid that has been spotted in the area.
But Lenore knows all too well that dead bodies in her small Southeast Texas town are usually the work of something supernatural. Her fears are confirmed when she gets an unexpected visit from someone she buried not long ago, someone who has information and can help Lenore solve the murders. With the newly minted Sheriff Roger Taylor on the case, as well as her granddaughter Luna and Luna’s “maybe” boyfriend Crane, Lenore is determined to solve the mystery before the “wolf” can claim its next victim.
This is a series with an ensemble cast of characters, which means we get perspectives from all the main characters at some point during the story. I do love this method of storytelling, since the author is able to really dig into each character’s quirks and motivations. It’s also the reason I desperately want to see this made into a TV series, since it’s the perfect combination of great characters, humor, horror and emotion. Much like HBO did with the Sookie Stackhouse series, I can see a similar treatment being done to Bless Your Heart (but with more humor).
In this sequel, the author continues to tease the ongoing mystery of why the Evans women are able to stop the dead from rising, or at least control them, and even in this book we don’t get all the answers. There are hints that some of those answers are in the past and might revolve around Pie Evans, who died before this series begins. Then there’s Luna, the teenage granddaughter of Lenore who is actually half human and half monster. Her strigoi father Samael, who makes an appearance in Another Fine Mess, may also be the key to understanding the curse. Luna is one of my favorite characters, mostly because she’s both strong and vulnerable—she isn’t afraid to take down the restless dead, but she’s also a girl who lost both parents and doesn’t really understand her purpose yet. I also want to give a shout-out to Belle, Lenore’s old hound dog who is slowing down but still going strong.
I also love that the story takes place in 1999, and Ryan makes lots of fun references to things of that era like pagers, CD players and more. I love any story that doesn’t rely on technology like cell phones, because the author has to work that much harder to make some of the logistics believable.
And if you’re here for the bloody action, you won’t be disappointed. Tucked in among the laugh-out-loud humor is plenty of blood and guts, decaying dead bodies, weird ways of drinking blood and much more. This is horror at its best, the kind that makes you squirm and laugh at the same time. At about the 75% mark, the pace picks up just in time for a thrilling and emotional ending, and I’m thrilled to say I did not guess who the killer was. Lindy Ryan knows how to surprise her audience, which is one reason I had so much fun with this book. I cannot wait until the next book is announced!
Big thanks to Kaye Publicity and the publisher for providing a review copy.
Ahhhh I’m so glad to hear the sequel is as good or even better than Bless Your Heart. I’m looking forward to Another Fine Mess as part of my summer slice of horror this year!
I hope you enjoy it too:-)
Reading that the story takes place in 1999 and the references of pagers, CD players and all that nostalgia made me smile. I’m glad that this sequel was a hit for you. I wanna read the first book and this one too, as if I didn’t have a million books on my wishlist already. Oh well 😀
I know what you mean. Maybe some day!
This sounds even better than the first one! And it really sounds like it will be a great tv show!! *_*
I really want to watch it now, lol.
I’m so glad this was even better than the first!! I’ll have to make time for this one
You should!
I’m so glad you enjoyed this one and you are right. It would make a terrific series. I think I may have seen there is another one planned. At least I hope I did. And yes, Belle is a wonderful addition to the cast.
I can’t wait for an official announcement of the next one!
Glad you are enjoying these.
Anne – Books of My Heart
Thanks Anne.
Southern horror can be lots of fun, and the humor in this one sounds really appealing!
It’s a great combo of humor and horror:-)
Glad you enjoyed this one, I still need to get to Bless Your Heart!
It’s a lot of fun!
I’m glad this was even better than the first and that you enjoyed it so much.
It does sound like it would make a great tv series, and would definitely be on my watchlist.
I like the nostalgia element. I watched a film recently where they had dial up internet which brought back memories 😀
Oh wow, I love that! I remember dial up very well:-)
I still need to read Bless My Heart!
It’s really good, I hope you get the chance to read it:-)
Nice! This really does sound like it’d make for a fun TV series.
I think it’s perfect for TV 🙂
I’d really like to check this out. I forgot where I heard of the first one — probably from your blog, lol — but I’m curious.
Ha ha I think the first book was pretty popular. It’s a fun series.
I think I finally “got” this series with this book, with its bizarre mix of gory horror and moments of humorous charm. I enjoyed this so much more than the first book.
The first book sounded intriguing but I wasn’t 100% convinced it would work for me. Now I really want to try it out though (and it’s not simply for the Sookie Stackhouse comparison in terms of how an adaptation would work). I just think the cast and world sound fascinating. I’ll admit I’m still worried about the gore level but I’m hoping it’ll work for me here. Great review. I hope you don’t have to wait too long for the next one.
I’m so happy to see your glowing review. I have a copy and can’t wait to tuck in.
Lynn 😀
That seems like a very unique but oddly charming series Tammy!
I don’t remember seeing you post about the first book, but this sounds really good! And I love that cover, it’s so cool looking! Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I need to go see if I can find your review of the first one.
https://lisalovesliterature.bookblog.io/2025/05/26/20-books-of-summer-challenge-sign-up-post/