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A review by browneyesblue84
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I’m familiar with author Grady Hendrix because I read his novels The Final Girl’s Support Group and How to Sell A Haunted House. I truly enjoy reading his novels.
The Southern Book Club’s Guide To Slaying Vampire is not the story that I expected it to be. It is a more complicated story than I imagine. It starts as the story of a housewife named Patricia Campbell who is annoyed that her husband Carter volunteered one summer to take care of his ailing elderly mom. He knew good and well that he was not going to do it. She would. One evening while taking out the trash she’s bitten and attacked by a neighbor. Through that experience she meets a man named James Harris who claims that he is the neighbor’s nephew. Patricia has a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach that he is not who he seems to be.
I’ve read quite a few tales about vampires. I think this one is unique. Initially, I assumed that this story would be similar to a Buffy the vampire scenario with Patricia joining her fellow book club members. They would take on vampires and such. Well, that situation happens but the circumstances are much different than I imagined and more sinister.
I give this book four stars out of five . The writing was familar to me because I’m a fan of the author. The pacing was medium. There are a few unsettling scenes of gore , drug references and sexual assault. I was satisfied with the ending and didn’t want to say good bye to Patricia or the rest of the main characters. Even the antagonist was interesting.
The Southern Book Club’s Guide To Slaying Vampire is not the story that I expected it to be. It is a more complicated story than I imagine. It starts as the story of a housewife named Patricia Campbell who is annoyed that her husband Carter volunteered one summer to take care of his ailing elderly mom. He knew good and well that he was not going to do it. She would. One evening while taking out the trash she’s bitten and attacked by a neighbor. Through that experience she meets a man named James Harris who claims that he is the neighbor’s nephew. Patricia has a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach that he is not who he seems to be.
I’ve read quite a few tales about vampires. I think this one is unique. Initially, I assumed that this story would be similar to a Buffy the vampire scenario with Patricia joining her fellow book club members. They would take on vampires and such. Well, that situation happens but the circumstances are much different than I imagined and more sinister.
I give this book four stars out of five . The writing was familar to me because I’m a fan of the author. The pacing was medium. There are a few unsettling scenes of gore , drug references and sexual assault. I was satisfied with the ending and didn’t want to say good bye to Patricia or the rest of the main characters. Even the antagonist was interesting.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dementia, Death, and Body horror
Minor: Gaslighting and Self harm