In the village of Blackheath, someone is sending cryptic malicious text messages, hinting at wrongdoing. When the target of one of the texts turns up dead everyone begins to wonder who the sender is and who could be the next target.

Back in September, I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to review the audiobook A Most Unusual Demise, the first in The Most Unusual Mysteries series by Katherine Black. I thoroughly enjoyed the book as it offered a slightly darker take on the cosy crime genre and was filled with wonderfully eccentric characters.

A Most Malicious Messenger is the second book in the series. The paperback and ebook were published at the start of 2024 and the audiobook has now been made available. Once again Jonathan Keeble does an incredible job as narrator.

You do not need to have read/listened to the first book in the series to enjoy A Most Malicious Messenger, however doing so will give you a greater understanding of the characters, particularly the main characters May and Fletcher. Both characters have secrets to hide, ones which we find out early in the first book, and they are desperate to keep those secrets hidden. Since the plot revolves around the uncovering of secrets the pair have a lot to contend with.

The wonderful characters from the first book put in an appearance. Bastian, who manages the bookshop for May, is the centre of gossip when a young woman appears in his life. Barb, May's novelist friend is as flamboyant and delicious as ever. To add to the mix is Minty, May's nonagenarian mother. Minty is a law unto herself with her behaviour frequently scandalous. Minty has turned up wanting May to bump her off, something May is adamant she won't do, however, her behaviour frequently gives May pause for thought.

There is a lot of very dark humour, something which raises the book above many other cosy crime novels. Minty and Barb are the stand-out characters, particularly as Minty seems to delight in taunting Barb. May refuses to see that she has the same trait as her mother as she delights in tormenting her neighbour.

Our characters contend with the usual red herrings and a race against time to uncover the person responsible for the despicable crimes. There is a particularly grisly scene towards the end and a conclusion that will elicit a little gasp, followed by a giggle and a wry smile.

A funny, cosy, twisty turning mystery. Wonderful characters and stands up on its own if you haven't read the first. I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narration.

4.3⭐️ May and Fletcher team up to catch
the murderer who’s sending malicious texts

✨ Read if you enjoy: hilarious seniors, saucy shenanigans, book 1 in the series
✨ Don’t read if you loathe: cozy mysteries, smut

I fell in love with May, Fletcher and the other Londoners in book 1 - if you haven’t read it, I encourage doing so before reading this. It’s easy to follow, but probably more enjoyable with the book 1 backstory

This time, someone is sending nasty texts about the Blackheath villagers and people are getting hurt

As May and Fletcher investigate, they also find themselves involved with their own dramas - May’s 94 y/o mother has returned in the hope May will kill her and Fletcher is about to be outed

I found it took a little while to get going, but once it did it was non stop lols… the emoji conversation was hilarious, though I died when Minty woke May up without her teeth in - I implore you to listen to the audiobook - the narrator is superb and I nearly wet myself a couple of times!

These seniors may appear Agatha Christie-esque, but their saucy, smutty shenanigans are a modern delight

Thanks to Netgalley and Bloodhound Books Audio for access to this audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review