This was my first time reading Grady Hendrix's work and I was completely hooked. I am a sucker for great horror novels that have a touch of nostalgia and this book had the perfect balance. I found myself being glued to the action going on throughout the novel, and found myself making audible gasps and gags as I read certain parts. Deliciously horrific, not for the light of heart (I may have had to skim THAT attic scene due to the fact that it was so descriptively GROSS-bravo), and reminiscent of Salem's Lot, I highly recommend this book. The one critique I have would be regarding the last third of the book, where character development got flipped on its head a little bit and the plot got rushed to tie up things with a neat little bow. Otherwise, I loved it!!

Fun vampire book! I interviewed Grady on my podcast, GHOULISH, to discuss it: http://www.ghoulishpod.com/2020/05/11/33-vampires-with-grady-hendrix/

Wow. This is one of the most original books I have read in a while. The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires has got a bit of everything in it - humor, gore, and fighting those you love. I devoured every page. I want to say more, but I'm not sure I can without spoiling anything, which I don't want to do. So if you want to know what happens, read this dark tell for yourself! I promise you won't be disappointed.

This is a sequel of sorts to My Best Friend’s Exorcism, my favourite of Hendrix’s novels. The setting is a wealthy suburb where housewives binge on true crime novels and anti-depressants. When the gates that protect WASPs from the monster stalking the neighbouring Black community are thrown open by their unsuspecting husbands, the women have to overcome their fears- ostracism, separation, or *gasp!* divorce- to keep their children safe. Hendrix doesn’t let his protagonists off the hook- they were all happy to turn a blind eye to the horrific goings-on outside their neighbourhood, safely cushioned by their wealth and the colour of their skin. But he also acknowledges how powerless the women are against the old boy’s network comprised of their husbands and doctors, and how much they risk by ignoring the warnings to leave well alone. It’s not until their daughters are threatened that the women find their real inner strength- they are determined to set the next generation of women free from the monsters that have held them comfortably captive since the day they got married.
I’m not sure who this book was written for- it might capture the same Stranger Things crowd who loved My Best Friend’s Exorcism, although the references skew a little older to match the protagonists. Hendrix’ cover art is usually exceptional, but the bitten-peach motif is cheesy in the extreme. Original fans of The Lost Boys, Fright Night and every “final girl” movie should give this a try, especially if they haven’t read a “historical” horror before.

This is a hard one to review because it is incredibly well written, frightening and awful (in a good way) but it just wasn't for me. I encounter this kind of book every now and then. The writer is truly gifted and the story is top drawer but its just too much for my heart to take. I had a similar experience with "Gone Girl." Grady Hendrix is real, real good at writing real, real darkness. So good that I felt totally sick to my stomach reading her work. Its just not what I want to feel when I'm reading vampire fiction. I have a tough time with a unlikable protagonist. Someone who sort of deserves what happens to them because of their own selfish, careless decision making. It makes it hard to want to get to the end of the story because I'm battling between wanting the true bad guy (who for the record is utterly disgusting, also in a good way) to get his and kind of not wanting things to work out for the heroine because she's just as awful even if she isn't sucking peoples blood. It makes it hard to be stuck with someone like that.

All that said this is, I think, a weirdly important book, especially now. Hendrix has some harsh, necessary truths to share and maybe part of my discomfort is seeing my own selfishness and self interest in her heroine. We never do like what we see in the mirror.

The idea of a cadre of upper middle class white women who are oh so dissatisfied with their humdrum lives decorating their homes and supporting their super successful husbands becoming bad ass vampire slayers sounds like it should be hilarious and its definitely what I figured I was getting into. Instead it becomes a not so subtle dig at the complacent ignorance so many in my country happily live in and an even less subtle punch in the stomach to the lengths some are willing to go to to maintain that blind existence.

So, so, so many of us, myself included, have been perfectly content for so long to let monsters rule the world as long we can keep enjoying our quiet, secure, safe little lives in blissful ignorance to the genuine suffering the next block over.

This is worth reading.

What a fantastic and funny book!

I’d been meaning to read some of Hendrix’s books for so long, but never quite got to it.
Ironically, I finally did with a book that wouldn’t be one I’d usually choose – vampires aren’t really my cup of tea anymore (probably a leftover from my traumatizing and very short Twilight period).

But no charming and ridiculously sparkly vampire in here. Oh no, ladies, gents and folks. Instead, we get the creepy, weirdly sexual – still charming – type of vampire. The one that kills innocent little children.

Sometimes with horror books (or movies), it’s too easy for the author to forget about the setting, or even the plot, and to just stomp ahead with all the gory and scary bits. But this is definitely not the case here. Instead, the setting is very well thought out, and will probably be really familiar to many readers. The characters form an attaching and diverse cast reminiscent of many book clubs.

And the final result is just explosive: a mix of gore, fun, fear and laughter!

This is one of the grossest and most irresponsible things I’ve ever read.

But it’s satire, the angry mob will surely say when they come for me. Lighten up! It’s a joke!

Sure, sure, except that a male author satirizing rape, especially in the case of an underage girl, is never, ever going to be funny.

Generally speaking, I don’t care for books that include sexual violence, particularly those that glorify it, but this was next level horrible.

The publishers summary for this book leads one to believe it will be funny (it’s not) and populated by cartoonish violence (god help us if anyone ever decides to animate this). The only truth told in previews of this one is that it’s a novel about female friendship, which was perhaps the book’s lone redeeming quality.

But mostly, it’s grotesque and misogynistic. The “feeding” done by the vampire in the story mimics sex (in the form of rape, in most cases), and worse still, it’s always followed by the implication that the woman is deriving great sexual pleasure from it.

That being fed on by a vampire brings pleasure to the human meal is nothing new, but it’s generally not presented in this form. To satirize rape at all is bad enough, but to add in this component that is reminiscent of common counter accusations made in rape cases (But she *liked* it, at least a little bit) is disgusting and irresponsible.

And a male author doing this is doubly bad. And in case you thought It couldn’t get any worse, at one point we get the feeding/rape of a teenage girl, complete with a graphic description of her developing body and again, the implication that she’s deriving sexual pleasure from it.

On top of that, we have animal violence, elder abuse, suicide, and torture.

Satire, huh? I’m not laughing, Mr. Hendrix.

This was my first time reading a book by Grady Hendrix. I had heard so much about this book and thought I would give it a try. This book was so well-written and was hard to put down. I order books for my branch, which is a bookmobile. After reading this book, I knew I had to get it for the collection! It is now on order!

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires is often fun and campy and reminiscent of Stephen King's classic, 'Salem's Lot. I read Hendrix's novel during a time of a global pandemic and civil rights protest, and I feel there are several parallels to what we're experiencing in present-day represented (and sometimes confronted) in this novel).

Minor spoilers ahead:
Although I'm satisfied with the ending of the novel, I'm still upset with the portrayal of each husband/male figure. All throughout the novel, Patricia, the main protagonist, is being gaslighted by her friends, by the husbands, and by the vampire. This was the point I nearly gave up on the novel, but I'm glad I persevered.

Overall, this is a fun take on a vampire novel set in the late 1980s and the early-to-mid 1990s in the American south.

This fun read was a quick romp through the South tinged with vampires. While being a light hearted fun read also had some serious social commentary on the South. Really recommend for fans of Sookie Sackhouse!

It was a fun read and perfect distraction. If you were a fan of his other books, such as My Best Friend's Exorcism then you won't be disappointed! It definitely made me laugh out loud a few times.

This was great—I liked it even more than I liked Horrorstör. I loved Patricia, even though she drove me crazy. The true crime book club figuring out there was a monster in their midst was a fun idea, and it played out well. With such a lighthearted title, I went in expecting a lot of humor to go along with the scares, but it was mostly just scary.
I’ve only read two books by this author, but now I want to read more!

Although I have pretty eclectic literary taste, the premise of this book is outside of what I usually gravitate towards. I had heard great things from some of my fellow bookies and I had also read about this book in several publications so when Net Galley offered it I jumped at the chance. Boy, am I glad I did—this book was just why I needed right now. It was an easy read which a pleasant writing style. It was entertaining and funny—I laughed aloud getting to the part where one of the women in the book club attempted to resuscitate a vampire because she thought he was dead. Not only did I laugh out loud but I also shared this with several friends and recommended the book. Even if a reader isn’t into vampires, between the way that this book is written as well as the fact that the element of vampires doesn’t completely overwhelm the text, this book is versatile and will be enjoyable for readers of all kinds.

Grady Hendrix's The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires is going to be an easy sell to readers of horror who enjoy a slow-burn of common place / mundane horror with a little mix of body horror.
Reader's who don't typically pick up horror will also find this title an easy way into the genre.

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires, was a great read. Imagine a Southern version of Twilight dripping in sweet tea. It had all the feels of the 90's .
A fast read, that had me on the edge of my seat most of the time.

Compelling, sharp-as-a-knife evisceration of the systemic structures of the white patriarchal supremacy and the way it plays out again and again in different communities. This book does not miss a beat - abuse, gentrification, sexism, white saviors, racism. it's all there, and it's all wrapped up in a story about a small community and its book club. The story itself unfolds here naturally and easily - just like it does in the real world. my only complaint? occasionally one-dimensional characters that behave in ways to make a point or further the narrative. Overall, damn.

I couldn't wait to read this book, by the same author as Horrorstor- Grady Hendrix. It is not just a horror story. Yes, there is a vampire, but that's just part of what this book is about. Racism, forms of abuse, failure of many sorts, and feminism all play a part in the story. The heroines will make you laugh, cuss and cry. I don't want to give away too much, this is one of those books you just let take you for a ride. It's hard to put down and you will think about this story after you have finished. Read this book, root for the women and hate the bad guys (who are almost worse than the vampire).

Super fun story, featuring powerful women working together against the big bad. The book club ladies are not always united, but they work together when the going is rough.

Grady Hendrix for the win! I will always read anything he does because he just comes up with such great stories. This one is no different. A suburban book club mom goes up against the new guy in town who may or may not be a vampire. This book had its fun moments, but also had some creepy horror and just plain gross moments as well. This gave me major Fright Night vibes and I loved every second of it!

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires is one of those books I heard about in passing, and yet immediately knew that I had to take the time to read it. Ideally, right away. Written by Grady Hendrix, this is arguably one of the most unique reading experiences you can find. Have you ever wanted to see a bunch of Southern mothers go out and hunt vampires? Well, good news!

Patricia Campbell once had a great life planned out for herself, but she gave all of that up for marriage and children. Her life has steadily become smaller, with the highlight quickly becoming the neighborhood book club she attends regularly.

That is until a strange new neighbor makes an appearance. From that moment on, nothing in the neighborhood seems to be the same. Before you know it, Patricia, alongside the rest of her book club, are opening their own investigation into what is going on. Though it seems highly unlikely that they could ever have prepared for what they actually found...

“You'd rather get stabbed forty-one times than ruin the curb appeal of your home?”

Warnings: The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires is a novel unafraid to dive into the more graphic elements of life. There are depictions of the elderly with dementia, which comes up several times. Additionally, there is a scene depicting animal death early on in the book. It hits hard, just to warn you.

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires was such a unique and fascinating reading experience. I went into this novel expecting something spectacular and different – and it provided. This book was everything that I hoped it would be, and I don't get to say that every day.

What I really enjoyed about this novel is that there was plenty of time to get to know Patricia and her shrinking world – well before the new guy walked into her life and flipped everything on its head. It did more than set the stage, it explained how all of this could have happened in the first place.

Despite the vampire hunting element (which in itself was fun), The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires surprised me by just how human it felt. Patricia's struggles are not uncommon, and they were portrayed in a way that really rang true. Likewise, her allies in the book club all felt like real people – albeit quirky ones.

Part of me almost wishes I had gone into this book having no idea that vampires lay ahead (though obviously the title gives that away). It would have been fun to see how long it took me to put the pieces together. You can tell Hendrix had a lot of fun merging multiple elements and genres together, as a good part of this book felt like the beginning of a true-crime novel. That is one of the many reasons I loved reading it.

This is the first book I've read by Grady Hendrix, but I have to say; I'm impressed. At some point, I'm clearly going to have to go through his backlog! In the meantime, I highly recommend The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires for anybody looking for something fun and totally different.