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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.

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424 pages

Average rating: 6.76

1,274 RATINGS

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42 REVIEWS

Community Reviews

TastyTakoyaki
Oct 03, 2024
8/10 stars
This book was an amazingly enjoyable romp through domestic drama with a fun preternatural element.

As indicated by the title, there is indeed a "vampire" of sorts, but a vampire with some traits you may have not heard before.

There is a lot of heavy subject matter in this story, including marital abuse and sexual abuse. The story also takes a look at the differences between poor neighborhoods of color and the wealthier white neighbors and how they are treated by law enforcement and even each other. There are several major gross-out moments and some pretty serious violence depicted.

That being said, this author has an amazing talent at dropping bits of humor and snark throughout that gives the reader a break from the heaviness and the horror.

The characters are quite good, each having their own distinct voice and personality, and each having her own essential skill to bring to the predicament at hand. All of the husbands are indefensible trash. Throw all of the whole men away.

The ending was very brutal, but extremely satisfying in almost all the ways you want it to be.

Overall this was a great read and I'd recommend it for fans of horror, dark humor and domestic thrillers.
A_pab
Aug 20, 2024
8/10 stars
Husband's really need to start listening to their wives in this.
Anonymous
Aug 04, 2024
8/10 stars
Absolutely not my typical read. I found so much of this to be jarring - I’m not a fan of horror - but enjoyed the mystery aspect of this as well as the humor. The entire time I couldn’t help but think, “This would be a fantastic movie.” I was happy with the ending and although this won’t go down as one of my top 10, it was a really enjoyable read that I had a hard time stepping away from.
JDH81
Jul 15, 2024
8/10 stars
absolutely love this book. Could not put it down.
AVandeberg
Jul 09, 2024
10/10 stars
One of the most upsetting and disturbing books I have ever read in my entire life...also one of the best books I have ever read. I could not put it down. Hendrix had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Not for the faint of heart. Keep a bucket next to you during the last half of the book. I will not be sleeping tonight.

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