{"id":2661,"date":"2025-04-26T12:00:06","date_gmt":"2025-04-26T12:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=2661"},"modified":"2025-04-26T12:00:06","modified_gmt":"2025-04-26T12:00:06","slug":"another-fine-mess-by-lindy-ryan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=2661","title":{"rendered":"Another Fine Mess by Lindy Ryan"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lindy Ryan\u2019s \u201cAnother Fine Mess\u201d delivers exactly what the title promises \u2013 a gloriously messy, complex continuation of the Evans women saga that began in \u201cBless Your Heart<\/a>.\u201d 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 \u2013 both literally and metaphorically.<\/p>\n

Set in the same fictional southeast Texas town that feels painfully real (drawing from Ryan\u2019s own Southeast Texas upbringing), this novel picks up in the aftermath of what the Evans women refer to as \u201cthat Godawful Mess\u201d from the first book. Four generations of Evans women had been reduced to two \u2013 matriarch Lenore and her granddaughter Luna \u2013 after a wave of restless dead claimed Lenore\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

But in true Evans women fashion, things are about to get a whole lot more complicated.<\/p>\n

Expanding the Evans Mythology<\/h2>\n

Where \u201cBless Your Heart<\/a>\u201d introduced readers to the Evans family\u2019s peculiar responsibility, \u201cAnother Fine Mess\u201d 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\u2019s connection to the restless dead.<\/p>\n

The novel\u2019s greatest strength lies in how it weaves together three compelling narrative threads:<\/p>\n

The immediate threat of \u201cghost wolves\u201d terrorizing the town (a convenient cover story for something far worse)
\nThe mystery of what really happened during the Spindletop oil fire of 1901 that first cursed the Evans family
\nThe personal journeys of multiple generations of Evans women grappling with secrets, grief, and their complicated family legacy<\/p>\n

Ryan\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

A Multi-Viewpoint Masterclass<\/h2>\n

One of the novel\u2019s most impressive technical achievements is Ryan\u2019s handling of multiple viewpoint characters. The narrative rotates through eleven different perspectives \u2013 from the Evans women to the new sheriff to the town coroner to Luna\u2019s 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\u2019s unique fears and motivations.<\/p>\n

The Evans women remain the undisputed stars of the show:<\/p>\n

Ducey Evans<\/strong> \u2013 Ethel \u201cDucey\u201d 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.
\nLenore Evans<\/strong> \u2013 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.
\nLuna Evans<\/strong> \u2013 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Strengths and Weaknesses<\/h2>\n

What Works Brilliantly:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The seamless blending of horror and humor, particularly through Ducey\u2019s delightfully blunt perspective
\nThe multi-layered mystery that keeps readers guessing until the final chapters
\nThe exploration of family secrets and how they ripple through generations
\nThe creative monster mythology that draws from lesser-known folklore
\nThe emotional heart of the story, centered on maternal love and sacrifice<\/p>\n

Where It Occasionally Stumbles:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The large cast sometimes means certain compelling characters (like Roger Taylor) don\u2019t get quite enough development
\nA few plot threads, particularly around Luna\u2019s father Samael, feel somewhat rushed in their resolution
\nThe middle section occasionally loses momentum during the investigation portions
\nSome readers might find the Southern dialect occasionally distracting<\/p>\n

Horror with Heart<\/h2>\n

What elevates \u201cAnother Fine Mess\u201d 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\u2019t shy away from the emotional devastation of loss, particularly through Lenore\u2019s perspective as she mourns her daughter while trying to protect her granddaughter.<\/p>\n

The novel\u2019s 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<\/a> than any of the novel\u2019s (admittedly excellent) monster attacks.<\/p>\n

Technical Proficiency<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The novel\u2019s structure \u2013 rotating through multiple viewpoints while advancing a single timeline \u2013 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.<\/p>\n

The Evans Family Legacy<\/h2>\n

What makes the \u201cBless Your Heart<\/a>\u201d series special is its exploration of a supernatural legacy passed down exclusively through women. The Evans family business \u2013 operating a funeral parlor while secretly preventing the dead from rising \u2013 serves as both literal profession and metaphor for the burdens women inherit across generations.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnother Fine Mess\u201d deepens this theme by exploring how secrets kept \u201cfor protection\u201d can ultimately cause more harm than good. The revelations about Pie Evans (Ducey\u2019s mother and the family matriarch from a century ago) and her connections to Samael offer a fascinating glimpse into how the Evans women\u2019s responsibility began.<\/p>\n

Final Verdict<\/h2>\n

\u201cAnother Fine Mess\u201d is a worthy successor to \u201cBless Your Heart<\/a>\u201d 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\u2019s strengths far outweigh its weaknesses.<\/p>\n

Lindy Ryan has created something special in the Evans women \u2013 a family of complex, capable, flawed women who face supernatural horrors with the same determination they bring to everyday life. The novel\u2019s final line promises \u201cWe get back to business,\u201d and readers will eagerly await the next mess the Evans women find themselves in.<\/p>\n

Recommended for fans of:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Grady Hendrix\u2019s blend of horror and humor
\nSouthern Gothic literature with a contemporary edge
\nMonster stories with emotional depth
\nMulti-generational family sagas with supernatural elements
\nStrong female characters navigating extraordinary circumstances<\/p>\n

After finishing \u201cAnother Fine Mess,\u201d you\u2019ll find yourself checking under your bed for monsters while simultaneously wishing you had an Evans woman on speed dial to help handle them.<\/p>\n

The Evans Women Series<\/h2>\n

For those new to Lindy Ryan\u2019s work, the Evans women series currently consists of:<\/p>\n

Bless Your Heart<\/strong><\/a> (2023) \u2013 Introduces the Evans family funeral parlor and their century-old responsibility of keeping the dead from rising in their small Texas town.
\nAnother Fine Mess<\/strong> (2025) \u2013 Continues the saga with unexpected resurrections, expanded monster mythology, and deeper exploration of the Evans family history.<\/p>\n

Each book works as a standalone horror novel while building on the family\u2019s evolving story. Together, they form a compelling saga that breathes fresh life into the small-town horror genre through their uniquely Southern feminine perspective.<\/p>\n

Ryan\u2019s 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\u2019t just monster hunters; they\u2019re 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.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Lindy Ryan\u2019s \u201cAnother Fine Mess\u201d delivers exactly what the title promises \u2013 a gloriously messy, complex continuation of the Evans women saga that began in \u201cBless Your Heart.\u201d 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2661","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bookreviews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2661"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2661"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2661\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2661"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2661"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2661"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}