A review by _nika_
Southern Gothic - Das Grauen wohnt nebenan by Grady Hendrix

challenging dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This isn’t a book for the faint hearted. It’s very gruesome and gets graphic at points. There is also themes of spousal abouse/gaslighting/misogyny and racism, so read at your own discretion.
However it was also great fun to read. The setting with the stay at home southern moms works so well and makes it a very unique take on a vampire story. The most scary part of this story is not even the vampire but how the women get constantly gaslight and mistreated by their men because it is just painfully realistic. And it makes the book club sticking together even more satisfying. Hendrix is so good at creating tension and frustration while you read, it was super entertaining. The ending was everything that I’ve been rooting as the story unfolded. It’s also one of the few horror books that I’ve read this year that were properly scary. Would definitely read again! 

it would’ve been a five star read if not for the attic bug scene (reading that almost made me vomit) and Slick’s rape (felt like it was a little unnecessary to drive home the point that was being made)
Expand filter menu Content Warnings