My Five Word TL:DR Review: Perfect Start to New Series

Well, who knew cosy horror was a thing?  This book is a great combination of Southern charm, quirky characters and blood soaked horror. I definitely wouldn’t call this scary, but at the same time nobody is safe from this author’s pen, so be afraid, be very afraid, of becoming too attached. 

The Evan’s women have been burying the dead since way back when. It’s the family business and one which they pay a great deal of attention to. There’s a reason for this, some of the dead go to the grave unhappy and have a way of waking up with a terrible hunger and The Evan’s ladies have a no nonsense way of putting these newly risen Strigoi back to rest again.  

In this first instalment things start to escalate quickly and the number of bodies start to rise with alarming speed. The Evan’s women know they must go on the hunt, they know what to do but family issues are also taking precedence. 

So. What did I enjoy about Bless Your Heart.

Well, as I mentioned, there’s no shortage of victims, who for the most part meet a violent and bloody end to their lives, and yet this is tempered by this almost 50s style charm and grace as presented by the Evan’s women. It’s a really great counterbalance.

I found myself enjoying the mystery of what was taking place as things are gradually revealed. Even when things do get crazy, there’s no need to panic, there’s this ‘slower than molasses in winter’ feel to everything that keeps the panic at bay.  Be calm, the Evan’s ladies know what they’re about.

I really liked the characters. All of them to be honest. The Evan’s funeral parlour has four generations of females  I love the scope, we go from the eldest Evans, reading saucy paperbacks and sucking on sweets, totally no nonsense, to the youngest, in high school with all the teenage angst and crazy crushes. Again a really winning combination that fills the pages with entertainment and prevents the story from losing heart. 

In terms of criticisms. I’m not a fan of family secrets, especially that over used trope of deliberately keeping something from someone, with the best of intentions, that ultimately leads to much bigger problems in the long run. But, on this occasion, although I may have huffed and puffed a little, it certainly wasn’t a deal breaker as I was enjoying the read so much. Also, the undead have more of a zombie feel than that of your traditional vampire. They’re hungry and driven but I would liken them more to the creatures from I Am Legend,say, as opposed to Bram Stoker’s Dracula. They’re kind of messy eaters for sure and not a hint of seduction or glamour. That’s not really a criticism though, simply an observation. 

Overall I had quite a ridiculously good time reading Bless Your Heart and can’t wait for the next instalment. 

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion. 

My rating 4 of 5 blood spattered stars