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

dark funny tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This was an interesting social critique of what rich white men can get away with, how women are never believed and are presumed "hysterical", and how Black folks are seen as expendable, and how their white neighbors can't be bothered to help with a community crisis until it affects them personally. I enjoyed the complicated lives of the ladies in the Southern Book Club, and found the vampiric villain to be truly terrifying. 

I was quite unhappy with the turn this book took in the last third or so. There are ways to convey horror without resorting to violation and violence against women. There were plenty of horrific things already happening in the book, and rape just did not need to be one of them. It came out of left field and was deeply upsetting to me.
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