Never mess with a patient man enjoying his slice of pie.

What begins as a small nuisance quickly spirals into absurdity in this beautifully illustrated book for grown-ups. Written like a nursery rhyme with a dark, cautionary edge, it takes “overreacting” to a whole new level.

The Fruit Fly Must Die, by Mikey Arnott, is a darkly humorous, loosely inspired tale drawn from a real-life moment (though thankfully, the house is still intact).

This is very much a book for adults—using playful rhyme and childlike rhythm to tell a very un-childlike story. It follows an ordinary evening that unravels when a tiny intruder disrupts a man’s carefully earned peace, leading to increasingly dramatic and ill-advised attempts to restore order.

Featuring bold, comic, pop-culture-inspired illustrations, the visual style contrasts sharply with the innocence of the rhyme, reinforcing the book’s dark humour and escalating absurdity.

A cautionary, comedic take on everyday absurdity, written for readers who enjoy humour that is both playful and knowingly exaggerated.

What begins as a simple evening quickly becomes something far less ordinary… and far more chaotic.