Lindy Ryan’s “Another Fine Mess” delivers exactly what the title promises – a gloriously messy, complex continuation of the Evans women saga that began in “Bless Your Heart.” This Southern Gothic horror sequel amplifies everything that made the first book compelling while digging deeper into the tangled roots of the Evans family tree. What unfolds is a gory, emotional, and surprisingly tender exploration of what happens when the dead refuse to stay buried – both literally and metaphorically.
Set in the same fictional southeast Texas town that feels painfully real (drawing from Ryan’s own Southeast Texas upbringing), this novel picks up in the aftermath of what the Evans women refer to as “that Godawful Mess” from the first book. Four generations of Evans women had been reduced to two – matriarch Lenore and her granddaughter Luna – after a wave of restless dead claimed Lenore’s mother Ducey and daughter Grace. Now they must carry on the century-old Evans family responsibility: keeping the town safe from the undead that inexplicably rise in their small community.
But in true Evans women fashion, things are about to get a whole lot more complicated.
Expanding the Evans Mythology
Where “Bless Your Heart” introduced readers to the Evans family’s peculiar responsibility, “Another Fine Mess” expands the mythology into fascinating new territory. Ryan brilliantly evolves her supernatural worldbuilding by introducing the pricolici (a Romanian shape-shifting monster born of violent men who die with vengeance in their hearts), exploring the concept of dhampirs (half-human, half-vampire offspring), and delving into the mysterious origins of the Evans family’s connection to the restless dead.
The novel’s greatest strength lies in how it weaves together three compelling narrative threads:
The immediate threat of “ghost wolves” terrorizing the town (a convenient cover story for something far worse)
The mystery of what really happened during the Spindletop oil fire of 1901 that first cursed the Evans family
The personal journeys of multiple generations of Evans women grappling with secrets, grief, and their complicated family legacy
Ryan’s prose remains distinctly Southern without falling into caricature. The writing captures the unique cadence and expressions of the region while maintaining a contemporary edge that prevents it from feeling like a period piece.
A Multi-Viewpoint Masterclass
One of the novel’s most impressive technical achievements is Ryan’s handling of multiple viewpoint characters. The narrative rotates through eleven different perspectives – from the Evans women to the new sheriff to the town coroner to Luna’s goth boyfriend Crane. Rather than creating confusion, these shifting perspectives build a comprehensive, three-dimensional view of the unfolding horror while allowing readers intimate access to each character’s unique fears and motivations.
The Evans women remain the undisputed stars of the show:
Ducey Evans – Ethel “Ducey” Evans, who died in the first book, unexpectedly rises from her own grave with her personality and memories intact, becoming one of the most delightful characters in the novel. Her no-nonsense attitude, butterscotch candy obsession, and fierce protectiveness provide both comic relief and emotional weight.
Lenore Evans – The current Evans matriarch, carrying the weight of family responsibility while hiding behind a frost-coated exterior that masks deep grief over her lost husband, mother, and daughter.
Luna Evans – The youngest Evans, now grappling with her half-monster heritage and budding supernatural abilities while navigating typical teenage concerns like school dances and crushing on the goth boy.
The supporting cast is equally compelling, particularly Kim Cole, a new hire at the funeral parlor whose goth aesthetic and quick mind make her a natural ally to the Evans women.
Strengths and Weaknesses
What Works Brilliantly:
The seamless blending of horror and humor, particularly through Ducey’s delightfully blunt perspective
The multi-layered mystery that keeps readers guessing until the final chapters
The exploration of family secrets and how they ripple through generations
The creative monster mythology that draws from lesser-known folklore
The emotional heart of the story, centered on maternal love and sacrifice
Where It Occasionally Stumbles:
The large cast sometimes means certain compelling characters (like Roger Taylor) don’t get quite enough development
A few plot threads, particularly around Luna’s father Samael, feel somewhat rushed in their resolution
The middle section occasionally loses momentum during the investigation portions
Some readers might find the Southern dialect occasionally distracting
Horror with Heart
What elevates “Another Fine Mess” above standard horror fare is its emotional core. Beneath the gore, monsters, and supernatural elements lies a poignant exploration of motherhood, grief, and the complicated bonds between generations of women. Ryan doesn’t shy away from the emotional devastation of loss, particularly through Lenore’s perspective as she mourns her daughter while trying to protect her granddaughter.
The novel’s most affecting moments come not from its horror sequences but from quiet scenes of connection between the Evans women. A conversation between Luna and the newly risen Ducey about family history carries more emotional weight than any of the novel’s (admittedly excellent) monster attacks.
Technical Proficiency
Ryan demonstrates remarkable technical proficiency throughout the novel. The pacing is excellent, with the tension steadily mounting toward a chaotic, multi-perspective climax at the high school Homecoming Dance that brings all the narrative threads together. The horror elements are visceral without becoming gratuitous, and Ryan has a particular talent for gruesome descriptions that make readers simultaneously cringe and turn the page faster.
The novel’s structure – rotating through multiple viewpoints while advancing a single timeline – could easily become confusing in less skilled hands, but Ryan maintains perfect clarity throughout. Each character has a distinct voice and worldview that enriches the overall narrative.
The Evans Family Legacy
What makes the “Bless Your Heart” series special is its exploration of a supernatural legacy passed down exclusively through women. The Evans family business – operating a funeral parlor while secretly preventing the dead from rising – serves as both literal profession and metaphor for the burdens women inherit across generations.
“Another Fine Mess” deepens this theme by exploring how secrets kept “for protection” can ultimately cause more harm than good. The revelations about Pie Evans (Ducey’s mother and the family matriarch from a century ago) and her connections to Samael offer a fascinating glimpse into how the Evans women’s responsibility began.
Final Verdict
“Another Fine Mess” is a worthy successor to “Bless Your Heart” that expands the mythology, deepens the characters, and delivers satisfying horror while setting up intriguing possibilities for future installments. While it occasionally loses focus due to its ambitious scope, the novel’s strengths far outweigh its weaknesses.
Lindy Ryan has created something special in the Evans women – a family of complex, capable, flawed women who face supernatural horrors with the same determination they bring to everyday life. The novel’s final line promises “We get back to business,” and readers will eagerly await the next mess the Evans women find themselves in.
Recommended for fans of:
Grady Hendrix’s blend of horror and humor
Southern Gothic literature with a contemporary edge
Monster stories with emotional depth
Multi-generational family sagas with supernatural elements
Strong female characters navigating extraordinary circumstances
After finishing “Another Fine Mess,” you’ll find yourself checking under your bed for monsters while simultaneously wishing you had an Evans woman on speed dial to help handle them.
The Evans Women Series
For those new to Lindy Ryan’s work, the Evans women series currently consists of:
Bless Your Heart (2023) – Introduces the Evans family funeral parlor and their century-old responsibility of keeping the dead from rising in their small Texas town.
Another Fine Mess (2025) – Continues the saga with unexpected resurrections, expanded monster mythology, and deeper exploration of the Evans family history.
Each book works as a standalone horror novel while building on the family’s evolving story. Together, they form a compelling saga that breathes fresh life into the small-town horror genre through their uniquely Southern feminine perspective.
Ryan’s talent for blending genuine scares with authentic emotion and touches of dark humor makes this series a standout in contemporary horror literature. The Evans women aren’t just monster hunters; they’re fully realized characters with relatable struggles who happen to have extraordinary responsibilities. That human element, more than the monsters themselves, is what makes readers invest in their story and come back for more.