The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires: A Novel
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. "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 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 darkly funny Southern gothic horror novel
- Perfect for fans of horror with social commentary, thriller readers, and book clubs
- Blends true-crime obsession, supernatural mystery, and feminist themes
Join the book club--but don't invite the wrong neighbor inside.
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Readers say Grady Hendrix's novel is a captivating, haunting mix of Southern gothic, true crime, comedy, and social commentary. They praise his authen...
What a fun book!
Now, to be clear: there's plenty in here that is NOT fun (I'd say it's worth checking content warnings if you have triggers to worry about). But I loved the premise, the characters, and the setting, including the '90s time period.
I especially loved Patricia, our lead protagonist. She's smart, determined, and loyal (to a fault). I can't say I agreed with every one of her decisions, but I sure admired her grit.
I would not quite say this is "horror-lite", but I'd say it's "horror-manageable". There are absolutely some intense moments, but the book is not overstuffed with them.
I loved the ways Hendrix played with certain tropes, conventions, and expectations. There were some very cool ideas in here.
I would have liked to spend maybe a little more time with some of our secondary characters - by the end of the book, Patricia was the only character who felt richly developed beyond just broad brushstrokes - and I do think some major plot points are glossed over perhaps a little too tidily. And there is a little bit of pretty hamfisted bow-tying at the end. But this certainly didn't stop me from having a great time!
(Crossposted from my Storygraph review.)
I went into this expecting a fun Southern vampire story, but I ended up being much more invested in the women than the horror.
The first half completely pulled me in. I loved trying to figure out what was really going on and found myself constantly making theories. Patricia's character was the heart of the story for me, and I enjoyed watching her grow throughout the novel.
As the book became more action-driven, I found myself less engaged. I was more interested in the relationships and character development than the horror elements, so the second half didn't grab me quite as much as the first.
That said, I really appreciated the themes of friendship, finding your voice, and questioning the roles we sometimes settle into. Those aspects stayed with me long after I finished the book.
Overall, I'm glad I read it, and I can definitely see why so many people enjoy it. It just wasn't quite the five-star read I hoped it would be.
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.
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