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Messy as Hell
Not yet published
Expected 12 Jan 27CAUTION! All employees must correctly dispose of otherworldly biohazards found on Dark Enterprises property. Failure to comply may result in one hell of a mess...
"If a door is closed, you leave it alone."
That's the one rule janitor, Sam, is given when he starts cleaning the infamous thirteenth floor of the Denver branch of Hell-like multinational corporation Dark Enterprises.
Sam is thrilled to be that much closer to his idol, Constantine Galanos, Denver’s ruthless and charming CEO, but he's even more excited to uncover the tantalizing secrets lurking up on the executive level. Maybe he’ll find something juicier than tawdry workplace affairs and petty office gossip, something he can share with his closest friends, daredevil Mia and secret crush Calvin.
When Sam comes across a closed door his first day on the job, he thinks one little peek can't hurt. But he’s dead wrong. Behind that door is a Type A biohazard—infernal materials from Hell on company property—and a deal that could spell doom for Dark Enterprises and Earth...signed by the CEO himself.
Sam is in deep trouble now, and the problems keep piling up. The CEO's homicidal assistant wants him fired (read: killed), Calvin is literally losing his mind over a secret project, and there’s something very unusual about Mia’s emotional-support rabbit, Mr. Bun-Bun…
It’s a mess like no other, but Sam is a janitor at Dark Enterprises. If he can’t save humanity and the man of his dreams, no one can.
"If a door is closed, you leave it alone."
That's the one rule janitor, Sam, is given when he starts cleaning the infamous thirteenth floor of the Denver branch of Hell-like multinational corporation Dark Enterprises.
Sam is thrilled to be that much closer to his idol, Constantine Galanos, Denver’s ruthless and charming CEO, but he's even more excited to uncover the tantalizing secrets lurking up on the executive level. Maybe he’ll find something juicier than tawdry workplace affairs and petty office gossip, something he can share with his closest friends, daredevil Mia and secret crush Calvin.
When Sam comes across a closed door his first day on the job, he thinks one little peek can't hurt. But he’s dead wrong. Behind that door is a Type A biohazard—infernal materials from Hell on company property—and a deal that could spell doom for Dark Enterprises and Earth...signed by the CEO himself.
Sam is in deep trouble now, and the problems keep piling up. The CEO's homicidal assistant wants him fired (read: killed), Calvin is literally losing his mind over a secret project, and there’s something very unusual about Mia’s emotional-support rabbit, Mr. Bun-Bun…
It’s a mess like no other, but Sam is a janitor at Dark Enterprises. If he can’t save humanity and the man of his dreams, no one can.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication January 12, 2027
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
So first things first: Is Messy as Hell as good as Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World? No. But this isn't exactly surprising, because Colin is a literary masterpiece (not in a Shakespeare or Hemingway sort of way, mind you, but it's still super fun). But is this book entertaining? Sure. The story starts off a little slow and I wasn't really vibing with Sam and his janitorial obsessions in the beginning, but eventually things pick up and I read the last third in a single sitting. And it does have a similar feel to Waddell's previous novel, so if you enjoyed the black humor and Dark Enterprises setting of Colin, there's probably a decent chance that you'll enjoy this one too.
And this book does have one thing that its predecessor doesn't: Mr. Bun-Bun. Mr. Bun-Bun is adorable and ferocious and the real star of the story … a rabbit ex machina of sorts, if you will. No spoilers here, but let's just say that Mr. Bun-Bun is definitely not your typical emotional support rabbit.
Also, this book has an RFK Jr. reference in it and I will never pass up the chance to joke about RFK Jr. because *gesticulates wildly in his direction*
But beyond all of the humor and absurdity, Messy as Hell also has some seriousness to it too. At its heart, this is basically a story about class struggle: we have the lowly janitor facing off against the evil CEO who considers his employees expendable. This novel also addresses war-related PTSD and the conflict in Afghanistan (which I honestly didn't feel really fit in with the rest of it, but it is what it is). And of course there's romance and found family and all of the things that make you go “awwww” in a book like this.
Trigger warnings include, well … lots of stuff. You probably shouldn't read this one if you can't handle (humorous) death and (humorous) gore or, um, rabbit-related maulings. There's also talk of war and the not-so-humorous deaths that inevitably come along with it.
So, yeah. While I did enjoy Waddell's previous novel more, this is still my second favorite Dark Enterprises book. And, sure, I mean, there might only be two Dark Enterprises books at present moment, but that's beside the point. And I definitely hope that there will be more to come in the future, because I'm a big fan.
3.85 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Ace for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is January 12, 2027.
And this book does have one thing that its predecessor doesn't: Mr. Bun-Bun. Mr. Bun-Bun is adorable and ferocious and the real star of the story … a rabbit ex machina of sorts, if you will. No spoilers here, but let's just say that Mr. Bun-Bun is definitely not your typical emotional support rabbit.
Also, this book has an RFK Jr. reference in it and I will never pass up the chance to joke about RFK Jr. because *gesticulates wildly in his direction*
But beyond all of the humor and absurdity, Messy as Hell also has some seriousness to it too. At its heart, this is basically a story about class struggle: we have the lowly janitor facing off against the evil CEO who considers his employees expendable. This novel also addresses war-related PTSD and the conflict in Afghanistan (which I honestly didn't feel really fit in with the rest of it, but it is what it is). And of course there's romance and found family and all of the things that make you go “awwww” in a book like this.
Trigger warnings include, well … lots of stuff. You probably shouldn't read this one if you can't handle (humorous) death and (humorous) gore or, um, rabbit-related maulings. There's also talk of war and the not-so-humorous deaths that inevitably come along with it.
So, yeah. While I did enjoy Waddell's previous novel more, this is still my second favorite Dark Enterprises book. And, sure, I mean, there might only be two Dark Enterprises books at present moment, but that's beside the point. And I definitely hope that there will be more to come in the future, because I'm a big fan.
3.85 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Ace for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is January 12, 2027.
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June 26, 2026Second in the Dark Enterprises books, which are basically "Tom Holt but gay and American and with even more broken morals".
It's the morality thing that I find fascinating. On the one hand it's a story about mutual respect and support and saving the world, with a heroic janitor who believes absolutely in the value of his profession and demands acknowledgement of his skills, even if he feels on the back foot in a romance with a professor. On the other, he cleans up body parts for a bunch of evil murderers. There is no messing about with quibbles like "this evil corporation is actually evil and I should not work for them": a job's a job, a promotion may be on the cards, Amazon and DuPont are openly namechecked as equivalent to Dark Enterprises Ltd, and let's face it, we're all in the system.
It makes for a fascinatingly disturbing underlay to what is, basically, highly entertaining comedy that offers sincerity in the romance and friendships directly paired with this affectless approach the daily evil, some great corporate satire in the work parts, and an impressive amount of gore, agony and eschatological doom in the fantasy. Author is enviably happy just to leave you sitting amid the contradictions instead of flailing for moral justification, also not afraid to kill characters you've become fond of.
Queer comic fantasy for our capitalist hellscape. Be Gay: Do Grime.
I had an ARC from the publisher
It's the morality thing that I find fascinating. On the one hand it's a story about mutual respect and support and saving the world, with a heroic janitor who believes absolutely in the value of his profession and demands acknowledgement of his skills, even if he feels on the back foot in a romance with a professor. On the other, he cleans up body parts for a bunch of evil murderers. There is no messing about with quibbles like "this evil corporation is actually evil and I should not work for them": a job's a job, a promotion may be on the cards, Amazon and DuPont are openly namechecked as equivalent to Dark Enterprises Ltd, and let's face it, we're all in the system.
It makes for a fascinatingly disturbing underlay to what is, basically, highly entertaining comedy that offers sincerity in the romance and friendships directly paired with this affectless approach the daily evil, some great corporate satire in the work parts, and an impressive amount of gore, agony and eschatological doom in the fantasy. Author is enviably happy just to leave you sitting amid the contradictions instead of flailing for moral justification, also not afraid to kill characters you've become fond of.
Queer comic fantasy for our capitalist hellscape. Be Gay: Do Grime.
I had an ARC from the publisher
September 20, 2026
Advance Review Copy
Sam Richardson is a janitor at the Denver offices of Dark Enterprises. What does DE produce? Hard to say, but…everything of your worst nightmares: curses and evil deeds and related services. Like Dow, Enron, and Arby’s. But Sam’s happy there: the job kinda saved his life. And he’s good at it. Best of all, he gets to hang with his two best buddies: Calvin, a scientist; and Mia, some kind of “hunter.” One day, Sam stumbles upon a sinister document, wherein the regional CEO plans to take over and send everyone he doesn’t like to hell. And Calvin might have the key to stop him. So it’s up to Sam and his buddies to clean up the mess.
Gotta love the author who creates his own genre! Emily Jane did it with her impossible-to-categorize horror and weirdness and humor. Mark Waddell does it with the Dark Enterprises series. I like how the characters don’t think twice about what the company does, exactly. The inner workings are like any other corporate structure. There’s just the teeny occasional problem of maybe being flayed alive by a demon or possessed by a creepy doll. Waddell’s world-building is second to none, richly described and fascinating, if also horrifying.
The storyline matches the setting in that same clever way: the worst evil but presented in corporate bureaucratic form. Sam isn’t fighting your traditional “slay the dragon” battle, though there’s plenty of action and demons. They’re trying to stop a hostile takeover, Wall Street style. With, of course, the danger of sending Denver and all its citizens to hell. Yikes!
Plenty of action right up to the last chapter. Not as many laughs or swoons as the first DE novel, but still quite an adventure. Wondering what the next story in the series will be?
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a free advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Messy as Hell is scheduled to be published January 12, 2027.
Sam Richardson is a janitor at the Denver offices of Dark Enterprises. What does DE produce? Hard to say, but…everything of your worst nightmares: curses and evil deeds and related services. Like Dow, Enron, and Arby’s. But Sam’s happy there: the job kinda saved his life. And he’s good at it. Best of all, he gets to hang with his two best buddies: Calvin, a scientist; and Mia, some kind of “hunter.” One day, Sam stumbles upon a sinister document, wherein the regional CEO plans to take over and send everyone he doesn’t like to hell. And Calvin might have the key to stop him. So it’s up to Sam and his buddies to clean up the mess.
Gotta love the author who creates his own genre! Emily Jane did it with her impossible-to-categorize horror and weirdness and humor. Mark Waddell does it with the Dark Enterprises series. I like how the characters don’t think twice about what the company does, exactly. The inner workings are like any other corporate structure. There’s just the teeny occasional problem of maybe being flayed alive by a demon or possessed by a creepy doll. Waddell’s world-building is second to none, richly described and fascinating, if also horrifying.
The storyline matches the setting in that same clever way: the worst evil but presented in corporate bureaucratic form. Sam isn’t fighting your traditional “slay the dragon” battle, though there’s plenty of action and demons. They’re trying to stop a hostile takeover, Wall Street style. With, of course, the danger of sending Denver and all its citizens to hell. Yikes!
Plenty of action right up to the last chapter. Not as many laughs or swoons as the first DE novel, but still quite an adventure. Wondering what the next story in the series will be?
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a free advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Messy as Hell is scheduled to be published January 12, 2027.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Fun, silly, breezy read. The pacing worked well, and there are some genuinely bonkers, funny scenes throughout the book. I truly never knew where this was headed.
We follow Sam and his best friends, Mia and Calvin, who all work in different departments at the malevolent and aptly named Dark Enterprises. Sam, a model employee and janitor, takes great pride in both his work and the company he works for. Unfortunately, the three of them—along with Mia’s emotional support bunny—find themselves in the middle of a scandal involving Hell, some very shady business plans, and ultimately the fate of the world.
It was a cute book, and although the characters were likable, the writing felt a little YA or sitcom-like for me. I found the dialogue lacking, and its cadence became very formulaic. A lot of the time, it genuinely felt like there could have been a laugh track playing in the background.
Ultimately, I think I went in expecting something with a bit more substance than what I found. This is definitely humor-forward, and while there are horror elements, I kept wishing it had a darker edge. It’s much more cutesy and whimsical than horrifying.
If that’s your thing, you’ll probably have a great time with this book. The stakes are constantly being raised, as is the absurdity, and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It just didn’t quite work for me alongside the dialogue and character development. Despite everything happening on the page, I felt emotionally detached from the characters throughout most of the book.
Solid marks for Mr. Bun Bun, though. He was the star of the book, and I genuinely wish we’d gotten more time with him.
Also, did we really need to put down psychology as “not a real science”? Psychology catching random strays for absolutely no reason. At that point, I was annoyed.
We follow Sam and his best friends, Mia and Calvin, who all work in different departments at the malevolent and aptly named Dark Enterprises. Sam, a model employee and janitor, takes great pride in both his work and the company he works for. Unfortunately, the three of them—along with Mia’s emotional support bunny—find themselves in the middle of a scandal involving Hell, some very shady business plans, and ultimately the fate of the world.
It was a cute book, and although the characters were likable, the writing felt a little YA or sitcom-like for me. I found the dialogue lacking, and its cadence became very formulaic. A lot of the time, it genuinely felt like there could have been a laugh track playing in the background.
Ultimately, I think I went in expecting something with a bit more substance than what I found. This is definitely humor-forward, and while there are horror elements, I kept wishing it had a darker edge. It’s much more cutesy and whimsical than horrifying.
If that’s your thing, you’ll probably have a great time with this book. The stakes are constantly being raised, as is the absurdity, and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It just didn’t quite work for me alongside the dialogue and character development. Despite everything happening on the page, I felt emotionally detached from the characters throughout most of the book.
Solid marks for Mr. Bun Bun, though. He was the star of the book, and I genuinely wish we’d gotten more time with him.
Also, did we really need to put down psychology as “not a real science”? Psychology catching random strays for absolutely no reason. At that point, I was annoyed.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Honestly, this book wasn't my personal favorite. The worldbuilding was great, but I felt like this book wasn't sure what it was trying to be. It tottered between graphic horror and comedy without ever truly feeling like a mix. The characters were occasionally annoying and I felt slightly unsatisfied with the ending. This is not meant to say this was a bad book, though! Some scenes (especially the doll scene) hit every single mark that I was hoping for. Also, despite it occasionally landing flat, this book handled many important causes, especially trauma, anxiety, and the value of friendship. I'm sure that a lot of people would love this, and unfortunately I'm just not one of them! 2.4/5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and the author for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and the author for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Netgalley for an ARC!
I was incredibly excited for this as the premise sounds absolutely dark and fun - Sam, a janitor at the Denvor Branch of Dark Enterprises - a corporation that deals with Hell - gets a chance to show his skills and clean the 13th floor, the executive level. When there, he can't resist the temptation to open the board room and take a peak inside. In doing so, he finds a deal with hell signed by the CEO himself, Sam's very same Idol. While he is caught, he fortunately escapes the floor with his job (and life) but for how long will that luck keep?
The dark humor was really fun to read, it felt part of the story, kept with the theme perfectly! It could have been more polished with what Dark Enterprises does - yes, they cut deals and deal with nefarious creatures from hell - but I think I expected to see a bit more earlier on? Especially since Sam was so enthralled with the company to the point where it felt like they drink Koolaide each morning. I liked his devotion but there were so many signs early on that he is not thinking for himself, and DE didn't deserve his loyalty! In retrospect though, that's what made it funny as well that everyone at DE just accepts that if you work there, you could find yourself flayed for just being in the wrong spot, but a part of me just wanted someone to jump up and say how crazy this is! Sam was somewhat whiny but the pining he had for Calvin was so sweet!
Overall it was really fun and a great massup of different genres!
I was incredibly excited for this as the premise sounds absolutely dark and fun - Sam, a janitor at the Denvor Branch of Dark Enterprises - a corporation that deals with Hell - gets a chance to show his skills and clean the 13th floor, the executive level. When there, he can't resist the temptation to open the board room and take a peak inside. In doing so, he finds a deal with hell signed by the CEO himself, Sam's very same Idol. While he is caught, he fortunately escapes the floor with his job (and life) but for how long will that luck keep?
The dark humor was really fun to read, it felt part of the story, kept with the theme perfectly! It could have been more polished with what Dark Enterprises does - yes, they cut deals and deal with nefarious creatures from hell - but I think I expected to see a bit more earlier on? Especially since Sam was so enthralled with the company to the point where it felt like they drink Koolaide each morning. I liked his devotion but there were so many signs early on that he is not thinking for himself, and DE didn't deserve his loyalty! In retrospect though, that's what made it funny as well that everyone at DE just accepts that if you work there, you could find yourself flayed for just being in the wrong spot, but a part of me just wanted someone to jump up and say how crazy this is! Sam was somewhat whiny but the pining he had for Calvin was so sweet!
Overall it was really fun and a great massup of different genres!
September 23, 2026
After reading a lot of books with dark themes, no pun intended, Messy as Hell is a great palate cleanser. It has all the horror without the leftover trauma causing you to stare into an abyss questioning your life choices.
We are back at Dark Entreprises at their branch in Denver. Their best janitor, Sam, is promoted to cleaning the executive level. Though he’s told leave a closed door alone, he immediately opens a closed door and finds something he shouldn’t. A bio-hazard from Hell and a deal signed by the CEO.
Now, Sam, with the help of his friends, Mia, Calvin and the rabbit, Mr. Bun-Bun, has a hell of a mess to clean up.
A trip to the Dark Entreprises world, as absurd as that world may be, is always a fun one. Even with the gore and death, it’s a ride worth taking. Suspend whatever belief to what is normal and enjoy it.
The writing is impeccable and the story flows perfectly. The humour and corporate satire littered throughout is on point and there were many laugh out loud moments. I loved the Easter Egg relating to the first story. The characters are charming and developed quite well as you learn bits and pieces of each of them as you progress.
This is a story with lots of heart and positive LGBTQIAP+ themes. There’s a place for everyone at Dark Enterprises. Now, we only need a branch in Canada.
Thank you NetGalley, ACE, and Berkley Publishing Group for the Advanced Reader’s Copy of Messy as Hell by Mark Waddell. This novel will be published on January 12, 2027.
We are back at Dark Entreprises at their branch in Denver. Their best janitor, Sam, is promoted to cleaning the executive level. Though he’s told leave a closed door alone, he immediately opens a closed door and finds something he shouldn’t. A bio-hazard from Hell and a deal signed by the CEO.
Now, Sam, with the help of his friends, Mia, Calvin and the rabbit, Mr. Bun-Bun, has a hell of a mess to clean up.
A trip to the Dark Entreprises world, as absurd as that world may be, is always a fun one. Even with the gore and death, it’s a ride worth taking. Suspend whatever belief to what is normal and enjoy it.
The writing is impeccable and the story flows perfectly. The humour and corporate satire littered throughout is on point and there were many laugh out loud moments. I loved the Easter Egg relating to the first story. The characters are charming and developed quite well as you learn bits and pieces of each of them as you progress.
This is a story with lots of heart and positive LGBTQIAP+ themes. There’s a place for everyone at Dark Enterprises. Now, we only need a branch in Canada.
Thank you NetGalley, ACE, and Berkley Publishing Group for the Advanced Reader’s Copy of Messy as Hell by Mark Waddell. This novel will be published on January 12, 2027.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is the sequel to Waddell's first book Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World, and I actually liked this one a little better. The premise of this world is that a secret corporation exists that processes human suffering and souls (Human Resources, natch) for Management, which seems to be kind of Cthulhu-like Old Ones. Colin, the protagonist of the first book, was kind of a corporate suckup who was happy to do unspeakable things to rise up the corporate ladder. I find this disgusting both in real life and in my genre fiction.
Happily, the protagonist of this book is a much more likable guy. Sam is a janitor in the Denver branch (which I especially enjoyed, having lived in Denver for several years). He's clueless about the ultimate goal of the company, having been brainwashed into believing that everything the company does is for the good of its employees. But as he works with his two best friends, a badass Buffy-like slayer and a research scientist on whom Sam has a secret crush, he learns that the company doesn't have its employees' best interests in mind at all - and he'll have to fight the forces of Hell to save his friends and the planet as well.
Evil companies are evil - and Sam learns this lesson well and still gets his guy at the end. Vastly preferable to the slimeball that was Colin. This wasn't a marvelously insightful book, but it was a fun easy breezy read, and the casual description of the horrors of the workplace are amusingly referenced. Read it on the beach or a rainy Saturday at home. (Not too late, though, or Management might show up...)
Happily, the protagonist of this book is a much more likable guy. Sam is a janitor in the Denver branch (which I especially enjoyed, having lived in Denver for several years). He's clueless about the ultimate goal of the company, having been brainwashed into believing that everything the company does is for the good of its employees. But as he works with his two best friends, a badass Buffy-like slayer and a research scientist on whom Sam has a secret crush, he learns that the company doesn't have its employees' best interests in mind at all - and he'll have to fight the forces of Hell to save his friends and the planet as well.
Evil companies are evil - and Sam learns this lesson well and still gets his guy at the end. Vastly preferable to the slimeball that was Colin. This wasn't a marvelously insightful book, but it was a fun easy breezy read, and the casual description of the horrors of the workplace are amusingly referenced. Read it on the beach or a rainy Saturday at home. (Not too late, though, or Management might show up...)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley
Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World was one of my favorite reads this year, and with this follow up, Waddell cements himself as a strong new voice in horror comedy. Just like the first Dark Enterprises book, Messy as Hell is ridicuous, hilarious, and a little grotesque. I loved the various ridiculous characters, especially the caricatures of office archetypes that make the protagonist Sam's life a living hell.
This was not necessarily as strong as Colin Gets Promoted. There are some elements of the story that feel more than a little contrived (beyond even what is naturally contrived for an office building that can teleport into hell). There were a few times I was not sure exactly why something was happening in the context of the story, seeming only to be added to elicit laughs or up the stakes without explaining what had happened. That being said, I was gripped from start to finish. I look forward to the eventual next book in the series
Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World was one of my favorite reads this year, and with this follow up, Waddell cements himself as a strong new voice in horror comedy. Just like the first Dark Enterprises book, Messy as Hell is ridicuous, hilarious, and a little grotesque. I loved the various ridiculous characters, especially the caricatures of office archetypes that make the protagonist Sam's life a living hell.
This was not necessarily as strong as Colin Gets Promoted. There are some elements of the story that feel more than a little contrived (beyond even what is naturally contrived for an office building that can teleport into hell). There were a few times I was not sure exactly why something was happening in the context of the story, seeming only to be added to elicit laughs or up the stakes without explaining what had happened. That being said, I was gripped from start to finish. I look forward to the eventual next book in the series
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was really excited to get this book as I'd enjoyed first Dark Enterprises novel. There are several things I think this did well: a consistent, unique main narrator with surprising depths; a cast of plucky but also rather amoral characters, who are easy to imagine as part of Dark Enterprises; and substantive world-building as to Dark Enterprises as a company, how it functions on many different planes, and tongue in cheek social and political commentary. While I was not as compelled as I was with the first novel, I did like the overarching plot of a hostile yet facilitated from within takeover, and the action keeps the plot moving, even when I felt myself becoming bored. I don't think this will leave a lasting impression on me, but I would recommend this for a "meaty" light read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Another great read from Mark Waddell!
I loved “Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World”, and this latest book is set in a similar universe. Our hero is a janitor, Sam, who I think is a nicer person than the star of the first book in this series, Colin. As in that book, absurd, horrific and cruel things happen to Sam, his friends Mia and her remarkably potent emotional support rabbit My Bun-Bun, and Sam’s love interest Calvin. Everyone works for Dark Enterprises, Inc. which is despicably evil and openly compared to Amazon. The action tears along at quite a pace, and I found it hard to stop reading during the second half of the book.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.
I loved “Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World”, and this latest book is set in a similar universe. Our hero is a janitor, Sam, who I think is a nicer person than the star of the first book in this series, Colin. As in that book, absurd, horrific and cruel things happen to Sam, his friends Mia and her remarkably potent emotional support rabbit My Bun-Bun, and Sam’s love interest Calvin. Everyone works for Dark Enterprises, Inc. which is despicably evil and openly compared to Amazon. The action tears along at quite a pace, and I found it hard to stop reading during the second half of the book.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
received as a NetGalley arc
3.5 stars
Messy as Hell is a cute office comedy. I like that the characters range from morally grey to dripping in the infernal gore of infinite victims. However, I found that their earnestness would make me want to keep them in the colleague zone without opportunities for advancement towards friendship. I didn't realize this was the 2nd book in this universe when I requested it and think this story is still great as a standalone. I was expecting something similar to "There Is No Antimemetics Division" and I do think there are similar elements between the books but "Messy as Hell" leans into the desperate humour I find myself swirling within as the world burns.
3.5 stars
Messy as Hell is a cute office comedy. I like that the characters range from morally grey to dripping in the infernal gore of infinite victims. However, I found that their earnestness would make me want to keep them in the colleague zone without opportunities for advancement towards friendship. I didn't realize this was the 2nd book in this universe when I requested it and think this story is still great as a standalone. I was expecting something similar to "There Is No Antimemetics Division" and I do think there are similar elements between the books but "Messy as Hell" leans into the desperate humour I find myself swirling within as the world burns.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I read this book through NetGalley as an Advanced Reader copy.
Messy as Hell was a lot of fun, and very tenderly sweet, much like the first book of Dark Enterprises from Mark Waddell. Following Sam Richardson, a janitor of DE in Denver, we get to see another side of the corporation. With another set of fun supporting characters, Waddell again has made the idea of a "soulless corporate hellscape" into a funny, warm story. I'd be thrilled to keep hearing stories about Dark Enterprises other locations.
Messy as Hell was a lot of fun, and very tenderly sweet, much like the first book of Dark Enterprises from Mark Waddell. Following Sam Richardson, a janitor of DE in Denver, we get to see another side of the corporation. With another set of fun supporting characters, Waddell again has made the idea of a "soulless corporate hellscape" into a funny, warm story. I'd be thrilled to keep hearing stories about Dark Enterprises other locations.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Netgalley. Honest Review. You know the drill.
I DNFed the previous Dark Enterprises book, so I hope I'm not missing important lore with this one.
The book was fine. In my opinion, I don't think the humor and absurdity were evenly balanced with the more "grounded" aspects of the characters/plot, but I still had a good enough time reading. If you were a fan of Welcome to Night Vale, you'll probably enjoy this - Sam had a very early-episodes vibe to him. This just didn't hit the spot.
I DNFed the previous Dark Enterprises book, so I hope I'm not missing important lore with this one.
The book was fine. In my opinion, I don't think the humor and absurdity were evenly balanced with the more "grounded" aspects of the characters/plot, but I still had a good enough time reading. If you were a fan of Welcome to Night Vale, you'll probably enjoy this - Sam had a very early-episodes vibe to him. This just didn't hit the spot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A very fun read! A (surprisingly romantic) janitor for an evil corporation has to save himself, his crush, his friends, and maybe the world from an even more evil executive.
I was totally unaware that this was the second book set in Dark Enterprises (it didn’t feel like anything was missing by skipping straight to this) but I’ll be adding the first to my TBR.
(ARC from NetGalley)
I was totally unaware that this was the second book set in Dark Enterprises (it didn’t feel like anything was missing by skipping straight to this) but I’ll be adding the first to my TBR.
(ARC from NetGalley)
September 30, 2026
Fun and kooky but went a little too off the rails for me. I did appreciate the dark humor and the satirical take on corporate America.
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