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
Now in paperback, 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.
Bonus features:
• Reading group guide for book clubs
• Hand-drawn map of Mt. Pleasant
• Annotated true-crime reading list by Grady Hendrix
• And more!
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.
Now in paperback, 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.
Bonus features:
• Reading group guide for book clubs
• Hand-drawn map of Mt. Pleasant
• Annotated true-crime reading list by Grady Hendrix
• And more!
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
When I initially saw this book I was super pumped to read it. I was thinking Desperate Housewives meets True Blood - sounds amazing.
I felt it had potential at the beginning but I kept waiting for it to get âgoodâ, this never happen for me. I was bored and annoyed majority of this long...long book
I felt it had potential at the beginning but I kept waiting for it to get âgoodâ, this never happen for me. I was bored and annoyed majority of this long...long book
This book needs the following trigger warnings: Abuse (spousal), child sexual assault, child molestation, rape and forced consent.
That being said, the book was good. A few inconsistencies or things that didn't make sense (getting a broom from the kitchen where Lora is sitting when you don't want her to know what your doing). I liked the accurate portrayal of life in a small southern town in the early 90s (where I grew up.) I could have done without the cockroach in her ear *barf*. Not your typical vampire so that aspect was cool.
Overall, I probably wouldn't read it again but it's a good choice for Spooky season.
I picked this up as a read for horror book club. Horror isn't really my genre, but I do try it once in a while.
I enjoyed this book, but there were a few minor things that bugged me, and it is possible that I missed the explanation or it is possible that the author and editor missed explaining it. I can't mention it without spoilers, but they dropped my review from 5 stars to 4 stars.
I would recommend this book if someone was into horror. There are a few gross things in it, but it just made me happier that I was reading it instead of watching it. It's worth reading.
I enjoyed this book, but there were a few minor things that bugged me, and it is possible that I missed the explanation or it is possible that the author and editor missed explaining it. I can't mention it without spoilers, but they dropped my review from 5 stars to 4 stars.
I would recommend this book if someone was into horror. There are a few gross things in it, but it just made me happier that I was reading it instead of watching it. It's worth reading.
This book was a super fun read with amazing but gruesome descriptions. Really loved reading from the perspective of these characters.
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