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The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires: A Novel
“This funny and fresh take on a classic tale manages to comment on gender roles, racial disparities, and white privilege all while creeping me all the way out. So good.”—Zakiya Dalila Harris, author of The Other Black Girl
Steel Magnolias meets Dracula in this New York Times best-selling horror novel about a women's book club that must do battle with a mysterious newcomer to their small Southern town.
Patricia Campbell’s life has never felt smaller. Her husband is a workaholic, her teenage kids have their own lives, her senile mother-in-law needs constant care, and she’s always a step behind on her endless to-do list. The only thing keeping her sane is her book club, a close-knit group of Charleston women united by their love of true crime. At these meetings they’re as likely to talk about the Manson family as they are about their own families.
One evening after book club, Patricia is viciously attacked by an elderly neighbor, bringing the neighbor's handsome nephew, James Harris, into her life. James is well traveled and well read, and he makes Patricia feel things she hasn’t felt in years. But when children on the other side of town go missing, their deaths written off by local police, Patricia has reason to believe James Harris is more of a Bundy than a Brad Pitt. The real problem? James is a monster of a different kind—and Patricia has already invited him in.
Little by little, James will insinuate himself into Patricia’s life and try to take everything she took for granted—including the book club—but she won’t surrender without a fight in this blood-soaked tale of neighborly kindness gone wrong.
Steel Magnolias meets Dracula in this New York Times best-selling horror novel about a women's book club that must do battle with a mysterious newcomer to their small Southern town.
Patricia Campbell’s life has never felt smaller. Her husband is a workaholic, her teenage kids have their own lives, her senile mother-in-law needs constant care, and she’s always a step behind on her endless to-do list. The only thing keeping her sane is her book club, a close-knit group of Charleston women united by their love of true crime. At these meetings they’re as likely to talk about the Manson family as they are about their own families.
One evening after book club, Patricia is viciously attacked by an elderly neighbor, bringing the neighbor's handsome nephew, James Harris, into her life. James is well traveled and well read, and he makes Patricia feel things she hasn’t felt in years. But when children on the other side of town go missing, their deaths written off by local police, Patricia has reason to believe James Harris is more of a Bundy than a Brad Pitt. The real problem? James is a monster of a different kind—and Patricia has already invited him in.
Little by little, James will insinuate himself into Patricia’s life and try to take everything she took for granted—including the book club—but she won’t surrender without a fight in this blood-soaked tale of neighborly kindness gone wrong.
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Community Reviews
The Boozy Book Club wanted something different - spooky - for October's selection, so I recommended a book and author I have been interested in trying - the Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix.
The book started with a bored housewife, Patricia Campbell, who is feeling overwhelmed by her life - workaholic husband, senile mother in law, teenage kids who to be blunt had their own issues. At the beginning of the book she is in a "serious" book club reading classics and unappealing titles, and she didn't have time to read her book to lead the discussion so she wings it. Poorly. After, a few of the women in the group form their own club reading their true passion - true crime. This beginning was so light, and slightly humorous, giving a false sense of lightness to the book that very quickly took a dark and sometimes graphicly violent turn.
A new neighbor, James Harris, moves into the neighborhood and things start happening - a mysterious attach on Patricia at night by a neighbor, children in the poor side of town going missing, her mother in laws mysterious death, and serious red flags about James' that Patricia ignores until she starts putting together the pieces and concludes he is a monster.
There is a lot to discuss in this book. We have racism and sexism. All of the men are horrible and have no respect or concern for the "only housewives" women. Grating attitudes by the men, and how they dismiss and gaslight the women, make one think about how much has stuff changed- or not changed- since the 1980s and 90s. With their husbands and men in town all under James's spell, the women take matters into their own hands in a rather gory account with some bizarre humorous touches. I loved the setting, and it made me think of the early horror from the greats like King, Saul, Farris and Koontz. Throw in some Stranger Things, and horror movies from the 80s and 90s, and some very very uncomfortable downright scary scenes (not sure i will think of attics the same way ever again), and you have a very compelling Halloween read.
I read this in a single sitting (foolishly, late at night!!!) because I was so unsettled and gripped that I needed to finish it if I was going to have any hope of sleeping. This solidly reminded me why I cannot/do not read anything remotely horror or horror-adjacent because I am a BABY and this FREAKED ME OUT, but I blitzed through it and it certainly held my attention THANK GOODNESS IM DONE
DNF at 38%
I don't think this is a bad book at all I just didn't click with it. I've been trying to finish it since March and I just don't find it gripping. I do find the plot interesting but the main character didn't mesh with me.
I don't think this is a bad book at all I just didn't click with it. I've been trying to finish it since March and I just don't find it gripping. I do find the plot interesting but the main character didn't mesh with me.
I am a sucker for a good story! A group of housewives from the 90’s battles a charismatic “vampire” who’s infiltrated their families. I had it on my “to read” list for awhile because I am NOT drawn to that plot typically but I’m so happy I picked this up.
Just loved this book. Itâs like Little Fires Everywhere procreated with True Blood. Campy & gruesome while brushing against serious topics of class, gender, race and culturalism. Can we get a Netflix series, please?!
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