I'm Telling Ya, No One Is Safe!

 

TITLE: Another Fine Mess (Bless Your Heart #2)

AUTHOR: Lindy Ryan

PUBLISHER: Minotaur Books

PUBLISHING DATE: April 15, 2025

PAGES: 304    

SOURCE: ARC

FROM GOODREADS: For over a hundred years, the Evans women have kept the undead in their strange southeast Texas town from rising. But sometimes the dead rise too quick–and that’s what left Lenore Evans, and her granddaughter Luna, burying Luna’s mother, Grace, and Lenore’s mother, Ducey. Now the only two women left in the Evans family, Luna and Lenore are left rudderless in the wake of the most Godawful Mess to date. 

But when the full moon finds another victim, it’s clear their trouble is far from over. Now Lenore, Luna, and the new sheriff—their biggest ally—must dig deep down into family lore to uncover what threatens everything they love most. The body count ticks up, the most unexpected dead will rise–forcing Lenore and Luna to face the possibility that the undead aren’t the only monsters preying on their small town. 

MY THOUGHTS: I finished this book late last night and it solidified the Bless Your Heart series as one of my most favorites.  If you read the first one and like me, considered it more on the side of cozy horror, buckle up because this one kicks it up several notches and brings on the all-out horror, gore and all.

The book picks up after the events of book one and I really don't want to spoil too much but be warned, it may happen.  Luna and Lenore are running the town funeral home by themselves and praying that this time around, the dead stay dead.  Those prayers aren't too successful though because before you know it, the bodies start piling up and they have to rely on a reluctant town sheriff to figure out what is going on and who or what is really killing off the townspeople in extremely gruesome fashion.  Hint, it's not the mysterious "ghost-wolf" they are selling it to be.

This story is told from several POVs which consist of the Evans women, Sheriff Taylor, the rookie Deputy and a few others here and there.  It worked well and fully immerses the reading in everything happening with smooth transitions.  The beasts are fun and exciting (well, for a horror lover) and Ryan has done a terrific job of adding some not-so-relied-upon elements to some old supernatural favorites.  I will warn people there is an animal death pretty early on but I think Ryan handled it respectfully and it really did incorporate into the meat of the tale.  Also, there is a wonderful hunting dog named Belle who may or may not be dead but who also works to save the day.

If you loved book one, I'd be shocked if you didn't fall in love with this installment as well.  Ryan crushed my soul at the end but has left me impatiently wanting more.

MY RATING: 5 PAWS