The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-04-11 14:56:41
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Grady Hendrix
- ISBN：1683691458
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Summary
Fried Green Tomatoes and "Steel Magnolias" meet Dracula in this Southern-flavored supernatural thriller set in the '90s about a women's book club that must protect its suburban community from a mysterious and handsome stranger who turns out to be a blood-sucking fiend。
Patricia Campbell had always planned for a big life， but after giving up her career as a nurse to marry an ambitious doctor and become a mother， Patricia's life has never felt smaller。 The days are long， her kids are ungrateful， her husband is distant， and her to-do list is never really done。 The one thing she has to look forward to is her book club， a group of Charleston mothers united only by their love for true-crime and suspenseful fiction。 In these meetings， they're more likely to discuss the FBI's recent siege of Waco as much as the ups and downs of marriage and motherhood。
But when an artistic and sensitive stranger moves into the neighborhood， the book club's meetings turn into speculation about the newcomer。 Patricia is initially attracted to him， but when some local children go missing， she starts to suspect the newcomer is involved。 She begins her own investigation， assuming that he's a Jeffrey Dahmer or Ted Bundy。 What she uncovers is far more terrifying， and soon she—and her book club—are the only people standing between the monster they've invited into their homes and their unsuspecting community。
Patricia Campbell had always planned for a big life， but after giving up her career as a nurse to marry an ambitious doctor and become a mother， Patricia's life has never felt smaller。 The days are long， her kids are ungrateful， her husband is distant， and her to-do list is never really done。 The one thing she has to look forward to is her book club， a group of Charleston mothers united only by their love for true-crime and suspenseful fiction。 In these meetings， they're more likely to discuss the FBI's recent siege of Waco as much as the ups and downs of marriage and motherhood。
But when an artistic and sensitive stranger moves into the neighborhood， the book club's meetings turn into speculation about the newcomer。 Patricia is initially attracted to him， but when some local children go missing， she starts to suspect the newcomer is involved。 She begins her own investigation， assuming that he's a Jeffrey Dahmer or Ted Bundy。 What she uncovers is far more terrifying， and soon she—and her book club—are the only people standing between the monster they've invited into their homes and their unsuspecting community。
Reviews
Angie Abernathy
，
This is a funny sort of story about some suburban housewives that begin to suspect one of their neighbors is a vampire， however their husbands befriend the "vampire" and think their wives are crazy and they stage an intervention with them so now the jig is up。 The women decide to take it upon themselves to rid the town of this evil man while the husbands sit stupidly by and believe everything they are told by the charismatic vampire。 This is a funny sort of story about some suburban housewives that begin to suspect one of their neighbors is a vampire， however their husbands befriend the "vampire" and think their wives are crazy and they stage an intervention with them so now the jig is up。 The women decide to take it upon themselves to rid the town of this evil man while the husbands sit stupidly by and believe everything they are told by the charismatic vampire。 。。。more
Sophie Gotshal
，
This is probably closer to a 3。5 because I truly had fun reading it， but with so many problems I have to round down。 The good - I couldn’t put it down， well paced， funny， and at times very scary。 With a title and cover like this one you expect to be shocked， but I still had many WTF moments and enjoyed how strange and dark this got。 The bad - totally one dimensional stereotypical characters （every adult male character is a chauvinistic pig， every black character is poor。） There were a ton of una This is probably closer to a 3。5 because I truly had fun reading it， but with so many problems I have to round down。 The good - I couldn’t put it down， well paced， funny， and at times very scary。 With a title and cover like this one you expect to be shocked， but I still had many WTF moments and enjoyed how strange and dark this got。 The bad - totally one dimensional stereotypical characters （every adult male character is a chauvinistic pig， every black character is poor。） There were a ton of unanswered questions about Francine， Ann Savage， Slick， the “black thing”， I could go on。 Sloppy editing。 。。。more
Jordan
，
I don't have the words to describe how much I loved this book， & how it brought out in me every emotion while reading it。 What a perfect concoction of southern gothic vibes， badass moms， book clubs， and edge of your seat/gory moments。 I don't have the words to describe how much I loved this book， & how it brought out in me every emotion while reading it。 What a perfect concoction of southern gothic vibes， badass moms， book clubs， and edge of your seat/gory moments。 。。。more
Julie Moyers Adkins
，
I feel like I shouldn't have loved this as much as I did but damn！！！ It's what you would get if you combined Fried Green Tomatoes and Salem's Lot but it strangely works。 I feel like I shouldn't have loved this as much as I did but damn！！！ It's what you would get if you combined Fried Green Tomatoes and Salem's Lot but it strangely works。 。。。more
Kyra Paquet
，
men are insufferable: the novel
Derek Dupuis
，
A little on the long side but this was a delightful listen。 Filled with dry humor and literary references， I wanted to know what happened。 Patricia was annoying at first but her character growth was 💯。
Jaylynny
，
Why？ I don’t fuckin’ know why。
Erin Powell
，
I didn’t have high expectations going into this reading experience but I am so glad I picked this book up。 I love the new take on vampires。 I love the realistic protagonist。 Our main character is a woman who isn’t super strong， skillful， or clever who has to take down the supernatural bad guy in the face of real world obstacles。 Namely， getting someone to believe her who can actually do something about it。 I cringed both in horror and frustration time and again throughout this book。 I highly rec I didn’t have high expectations going into this reading experience but I am so glad I picked this book up。 I love the new take on vampires。 I love the realistic protagonist。 Our main character is a woman who isn’t super strong， skillful， or clever who has to take down the supernatural bad guy in the face of real world obstacles。 Namely， getting someone to believe her who can actually do something about it。 I cringed both in horror and frustration time and again throughout this book。 I highly recommend it。 。。。more
Olivia
，
I really enjoyed this one， it was playful and dark， cynical and hopeful， and kept me engaged and wanting to know what happened。
Melynda Sanchez-Roland
，
I liked it， for me， it was a little long and it went on for a bit in the beginning。
Kirsten
，
This could have easily been a 5 for me but the last section was too intense me。
Christa
，
The idea of this story had a lot of potential and based on the reviews I took a chance on it。。。 My mistake！ There are scenes in the story that just don't fit or make sense。 The way the characters react to these scenes is ridiculous。 At one point there is a "three years later" jump。 There are a few insignificant references to what happened in those years， but the jump really makes no sense。 Based on the poor writing， I thought maybe this was the second or third book the writer had published， but The idea of this story had a lot of potential and based on the reviews I took a chance on it。。。 My mistake！ There are scenes in the story that just don't fit or make sense。 The way the characters react to these scenes is ridiculous。 At one point there is a "three years later" jump。 There are a few insignificant references to what happened in those years， but the jump really makes no sense。 Based on the poor writing， I thought maybe this was the second or third book the writer had published， but that's not the case！ There is not really any "vampire slaying" and the story will only make you angry。 。。。more
Olga Taratuta
，
It wasn't bad， but it wasn't amazing， either。 Some parts were unnecessarily。。。pornographic， in a way that almost glorified abuse against women。 Other parts were interesting and well-written， like about the vampire hunt itself and the mystery of the missing children; however， the mystery is revealed not even a quarter way through the novel， and the last chapters of the novel seem to drag on and on。 It wasn't bad， but it wasn't amazing， either。 Some parts were unnecessarily。。。pornographic， in a way that almost glorified abuse against women。 Other parts were interesting and well-written， like about the vampire hunt itself and the mystery of the missing children; however， the mystery is revealed not even a quarter way through the novel， and the last chapters of the novel seem to drag on and on。 。。。more
Michelle S
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Wow， I absolutely loved this book！！ Fans of Charlaine Harris and her Sookie Stackhouse novels should devour it。 The tale of Patricia and her female book club taking on a charmingly sleazy vampire who has their husbands eating out of his hands， is scary， but filled with dark， tongue in cheek humor。 The steamy Southern setting and the bored housewives against evil plot works a charm。 The author has a captivating style that had me hooked from the very start。 I can’t wait to read more of Grady Hendr Wow， I absolutely loved this book！！ Fans of Charlaine Harris and her Sookie Stackhouse novels should devour it。 The tale of Patricia and her female book club taking on a charmingly sleazy vampire who has their husbands eating out of his hands， is scary， but filled with dark， tongue in cheek humor。 The steamy Southern setting and the bored housewives against evil plot works a charm。 The author has a captivating style that had me hooked from the very start。 I can’t wait to read more of Grady Hendrix！ 。。。more
Malayna Dahlhoff
，
I enjoyed reading this book。 I couldn't put it down because I wanted to know what happened next， but there were some wonky moments where I had to reread to make sure I was following the path the author wanted。 While I enjoy reading novels by Grady Hendrix and my book club rather enjoyed this one， there were times it was just too choppy。 overall， the story was interesting and it read fast。 I enjoyed reading this book。 I couldn't put it down because I wanted to know what happened next， but there were some wonky moments where I had to reread to make sure I was following the path the author wanted。 While I enjoy reading novels by Grady Hendrix and my book club rather enjoyed this one， there were times it was just too choppy。 overall， the story was interesting and it read fast。 。。。more
An Redman
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 I adored the first two hundred pages。 I loathed the closing two hundred pages。 Incredibly frustrating and disappointing to have a humourous， engaging book turn into men being dicks and women being sexually assaulted。
Doreen Heimbach
，
This book had me so riveted that I stayed up all night listening on my library’s app。 There was no sleeping for me that night！ 😳😳😳
Sarah
，
I liked parts of this book， but overall it disappointed me。 The little flairs to remind you the book is set in the 90s are pretty cute。 Some of the scares really worked for me （there is a scene where the main character is trying to escape a location without being seen that is both so tense and SO gross， and I'm not usually squeamish）， and the idea of a vampire that is hunger personified （he just always wants more no matter what） was interesting。 When the book club finally gets together for the p I liked parts of this book， but overall it disappointed me。 The little flairs to remind you the book is set in the 90s are pretty cute。 Some of the scares really worked for me （there is a scene where the main character is trying to escape a location without being seen that is both so tense and SO gross， and I'm not usually squeamish）， and the idea of a vampire that is hunger personified （he just always wants more no matter what） was interesting。 When the book club finally gets together for the plan I had been waiting for the entire book， it's great。 The intro mentioned that the book is kind of a tribute to the author’s mom and I could really feel it in those moments。I appreciate what the author was trying to do with the Mrs。 Greene character and the vampire going after children he thinks won't be missed but the execution didn't really work for me。 Mrs。 Greene had to take charge of everything all the time and it basically circled around from her being part of the team to her having to coddle and take care of all the white characters。 The women in the book club were thinly drawn and not very interesting。 I only finished the book a couple of hours ago and I can only remember that Slick is religious， one is named Kitty， one wears whimsical sweaters and Grace is the biggest jerk。 Patricia is a huge doormat and the husbands are universally terrible。 It was weird to me that the parents weren't more concerned with their son’s nazi obsession， aside from it being mildly embarrassing in public。My biggest negative though is the use of rape in this book。 It really feels like it's just there for the shock scenes， and the way the women's （and girls’） bodies are described during those scenes is really voyeuristic and weird。 The worst of the rape scenes takes place off-screen and the author STILL manages to describe the victim’s breasts and the state of her pubic hair。 What happens to the character afterward is also weird and felt pointless。 。。。more
Becky
，
Ehhhh I just really wanted more？ Didn’t live up to my post-My-Best~Friend’s-Exorcism hype。 I’ll still absolutely read whatever Grady Hendrix does next。
Grace
，
Ok here’s the thing it was a pretty good book overall but it was way too long and the ending was too happy for the overall tone of the book。 It’s too many pages to be a light read but it’s not deep enough to be overly time consuming。 If you want to read it go for it but don’t feel obligated to finish it because it probably ends the exact way you think it will。
Sadi Rahman
，
Great！！！
Marley Wetton
，
Just wasn't for me Just wasn't for me 。。。more
Becky Morris
，
There were parts of this book that genuinely creeped me out！ I almost wish I had saved it for Halloween time for proper horror。 All that said - the representation of Black women in this book is /bad/ and I couldn’t justify giving this book stars rewarding， so I docked two。And since I strongly believe that TW on books should be more common， there is a rape scene and it is treated just as poorly as you’d imagine a scene set in the 1990s and written by a man would be。
Elu Racca
，
No se por dónde empezar。 El género no es uno de mis predilectos， generalmente no paso de la primera página pero esta me atrapó。 Lo leí por recomendación de Clau de ClauReadsBooks， ella habló tan bien de este libro que me picó la curiosidad。 No es la típica historia de vampiros al estilo Drácula， ni tampoco un policial o novela-negra clásica。 Un grupo de mujeres， amas de casa sureñas， con un club de lectura sobre crímenes reales descubren que podría haber llegado a su pueblo un criminal peligroso No se por dónde empezar。 El género no es uno de mis predilectos， generalmente no paso de la primera página pero esta me atrapó。 Lo leí por recomendación de Clau de ClauReadsBooks， ella habló tan bien de este libro que me picó la curiosidad。 No es la típica historia de vampiros al estilo Drácula， ni tampoco un policial o novela-negra clásica。 Un grupo de mujeres， amas de casa sureñas， con un club de lectura sobre crímenes reales descubren que podría haber llegado a su pueblo un criminal peligroso y deciden investigarlo por su propia cuenta pero cuentan con la oposición de sus maridos y el prejuicio de una época y sociedad muy machistas。 Las hacen parecer locas; una de ellas， nuestra protagonista Patricia， casi se suicida porque su marido le "recomendó" que tomara antidepresivos y eso hizo （al extremo， claramente）; a otra， Grace， su marido la golpea por insultar a un buen ciudadano BLANCO （recalco del color de piel porque vemos como el racismo se hace presente en la obra， cuando mueren los niños de Six Milles nadie se preocupa y la policía no hace ningún caso a las denuncias）。 La obra toca temas muy fuertes: racismo， sexismo， violencia， abuso sexual， suicidio; no es muy fácil de digerir y algunas escenas son abrumadoramente explícitas y， a pesar de todo eso， logra envolverte en su red y no puedes dejar de leerlo。 Está tan perfectamente narrado que hasta llegas a pensar， en ciertos momentos， que realmente esas mujeres cometieron un error。 Las imágenes son muy vívidas， las descripciones hacen que sientas que estas ahí ayudando a Patricia a atrapar a ese monstruo， el vampiro。 Me asombró la originalidad con la que tomaron el tema del vampiro， no usaron todos los recursos clásicos pero mantuvieron algunos que resultaron fundamentales para el desarrollo de la historia。 La obra esta teñida de un realismo que parece imposible al tratarse de una historia de vampiros pero es absolutamente visible en los títulos que el club de lectura lee， los casos de crímenes reales que mencionan hasta la estructura del mismo libro， en la cual las partes están nombradas con nombres de libros mas que conocidos para cualquier lector。 Es una lectura que te atrapa pero que claramente debería tener algún aviso de restricción de edad por la forma tan cruda en la que describe ciertas escenas。 。。。more
Sari
，
from the bottom of my heart: wtf
Bostonlotus
，
Beware when they dismiss you due to your race， … or your gender， … or your age， … or your religious beliefs， … or whether or not you battle mental illness， etc。 Dismissing someone is the first step to eliminating them altogether。
Laura
，
This was the second Hendrix novel I’ve read and while it was very good， I liked My Best Friend’s Exorcism better。However， I liked the characters and how accurately Southern life was depicted。Despite the supernatural events， I felt the actions and reactions of the characters to be very believable。I am definitely looking forward to reading his other novels。
Luisa
，
Una lectura muy grotesca， dónde tuve emociones encontradas por completo de asco y asombro， ilusión， miedo， ansias。 No puedo describir lo bien que pude leer este libro con la narrativa tan exquisita que tiene el libro produciendo el temor extremo en el lector， sin duda mucho que pensar con respecto a ciertos temas pero que se tocaron muy bien por los tiempos en que se desarrolla la historia y el final fue muy esclarecedor pero "realista"， así que me encantó， sin duda 5/5 Una lectura muy grotesca， dónde tuve emociones encontradas por completo de asco y asombro， ilusión， miedo， ansias。 No puedo describir lo bien que pude leer este libro con la narrativa tan exquisita que tiene el libro produciendo el temor extremo en el lector， sin duda mucho que pensar con respecto a ciertos temas pero que se tocaron muy bien por los tiempos en que se desarrolla la historia y el final fue muy esclarecedor pero "realista"， así que me encantó， sin duda 5/5 。。。more
Danielle
，
I wanted to like this book。 Topics including women's issues， the worries of mothers， the bonding of friends and racial inequality made this an inviting book。 I really enjoyed parts of it， but mostly it was all over the place。 It touched on all of these issues， but none of them well。 Several of the scenes belonged on the reddit group "men writing women" the were so bad。 The pacing was also very off， this book could have been several chapters shorter。The saving grace was listening to this as an au I wanted to like this book。 Topics including women's issues， the worries of mothers， the bonding of friends and racial inequality made this an inviting book。 I really enjoyed parts of it， but mostly it was all over the place。 It touched on all of these issues， but none of them well。 Several of the scenes belonged on the reddit group "men writing women" the were so bad。 The pacing was also very off， this book could have been several chapters shorter。The saving grace was listening to this as an audiobook。 The narrator was fabulous and I would listen to books read by her again。 。。。more
Dale
，