A review by lonestarreader
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

Did not finish book.

1.0

Who puts vampire slaying in a book title, and has no vampire slaying? If there was any slaying after the halfway point I have no idea because that’s where I parted ways with this story. There wasn’t even a confirmed vampire yet.

I was really enjoying the setting, and the writing was decent, and I was even able to push through all things Carter. I like Patricia, but good grief, girl, I hope your husband gets eaten by whatever vampires (James Harris?) are in this book.


The author lost me at the “intervention” the husbands gave to obviously put their wives back in their place just to save face. I understand that many people care about what neighbors and colleagues think of them; my own mother suffered from this form of manipulation. I get it, but it was one the of the most cringiest scenes I’ve read in a long time.

I half expected Carter to diagnose Patricia with women’s hysteria. I’m not sure if the author views women as feeble and silly, with no ability to have a coherent thought beyond housework, children, or catering to their husbands, but these women felt watered-down and flat. Maybe that was the point, but even in the south, in the 90s, this behavior was outdated. It felt like the time period was in 40s or 50s instead.

I’m highly disappointed, and I’m going to put this one away.