- Date Published:
2020 - Length:
424 pages—Listening Time: 13 hrs 49 minutes - Genre:
Horror, Contemporary Fiction, Fantasy - Setting:
1990s—Charleston, South Carolina - Awards:
RUSA CODES Reading List Shortlist Horror 2021; Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee Horror 2020; Los Angeles Public Library Best of the Year Fiction 2020; Lariat Adult Fiction Reading List Selection 2022; New York Public Library Best Books For Adults Top Ten 2020; Bitter Southerner Summer Reading Roundup 2021; Mid-Continent Public Library Best Books Pre-2022 Adult Titles 2022 - Language:
English, translated into 5 other languages: German, Italian, Polish, Spanish, Turkish - Sensitive Aspects:
Rape and sexual assault, child abuse, miscarriage, animal cruelty, violence and gore, suicide, domestic abuse and infidelity, gaslighting and forced institutionalization, racism - Movie:
The movie rights were initially acquired by PKM Productions for Amazon Studios. However, the project didn't proceed at Amazon and is now in development at HBO, with Rough House Pictures handling the series adaptation. - Recommend for Book Club:
Yes, if the group is not averse to a little gore while being a fun read
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Vampire Slaying by Grady Hendrix, oh my, talk about genre bending! This book defies convention for what you believe it should or might be. It's funny and entertaining, and yet I had a few pretty graphic nightmares while reading it. In fact, I couldn't quit reading (listening to) this book. I listened all night one night. It's that good.
Frankly, the title was enough of a hook to make me want to read this book. I was intrigued and curious about the potential fusion of book clubs and vampires, doubting that the two could meld. I harbored a nagging suspicion that this book could be a cheesy, fluffy, pumpkin-pie-latte type of read.
Regardless, I plunged in, not expecting much from this book.
Cutesy? Ha! Hendrix had something entirely different in mind. Obviously, I had never read any of his other books.
As I read, my emotions were all over the place. I giggled out loud, sobbed, and became totally engrossed as well as totally grossed out. Reading this book made me want to scream out loud. A lot. First, Southern bigotry was pervasive throughout the novel, which made me want to shriek with anger. Then, the book's treatment of the women characters and its disrespect for their book club, for heaven's sake, infuriated me. Grrr! And, of course, a vampire was roaming in town...or was he? The thought of a vampire lurking in the neighborhood is enough to make anybody scream, right?
I thoroughly enjoyed this roller coaster of a book.
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix is a Southern gothic horror novel set in the 1990s in a suburban Charleston neighborhood. The story follows Patricia Campbell, a bored and underappreciated housewife whose main solace is her true-crime book club, comprised of other local women seeking escape from their domestic routines.
Patricia’s life takes a dark turn when she is attacked by her elderly neighbor, Ann Savage. After the attack, Patricia meets Ann’s charming nephew, James Harris, who quickly ingratiates himself with the neighborhood, especially Patricia’s family. However, Patricia grows suspicious of James, especially as children from a nearby Black community, Six Mile, begin to go missing or die under mysterious circumstances. Mrs. Greene, who works for Patricia’s family, warns her that James’s presence coincides with these tragedies.
Despite the mounting evidence, Patricia's husband, the local authorities, and even her book club friends initially dismiss her concerns. The women are gaslit by their husbands and pressured to apologize to James, who continues to manipulate the community and prey on its most vulnerable members.
Over time, the supernatural threat becomes undeniable. Patricia and the other women, now united by horror and outrage, realize that James is a vampire and that he is responsible for the deaths and disappearances. The book club members confront not only the vampire but also the entrenched racism and misogyny of their community, which allows such evil to go unchecked.
The climax sees the women banding together to fight James. They lure him into a trap, physically overpower him, and ultimately kill and dispose of his body, using their collective resourcefulness and strength. In the aftermath, the women are left to clean up the mess-both literal and figurative-left by the vampire’s reign, and Patricia finds the courage to make changes in her own life.
The novel blends horror with dark humor and social commentary, exploring themes of female friendship, the invisibility of women’s labor, the failures of authority, and the intersection of race and class in the American South. It is both a supernatural thriller and a critique of how communities can ignore evil when it is inconvenient or uncomfortable to confront.
If you're considering reading The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix, here are several compelling reasons it stands out and might be a wonderful choice for your next read:
Unique Blend of Genres
The work masterfully combines elements of Southern literature, horror, and true crime, making it appealing even to readers who typically do not gravitate toward vampire or supernatural stories. It offers a fresh, disturbing twist on classic vampire lore, featuring monsters that are both supernatural and all-too-human.
Memorable Characters and Setting
The protagonist, Patricia, and her fellow book club members are richly drawn, relatable, and far from stereotypical "badass heroines." Their struggles with domestic life, societal expectations, and their own sense of self are explored with depth and empathy. The Southern suburban setting, complete with charm and humor, adds a unique flavor to the story.
Psychological and Social Depth
Beyond the scares, the novel shifts into psychological horror, delving into themes such as gaslighting, emotional abuse, and the frequently overlooked strength of homemakers. The story is as much about battling real-world monsters-sexism, isolation, and the societal dismissal of women's intuition-as it is about slaying vampires.
Horror That Delivers
Hendrix doesn't shy away from genuine horror. The book is filled with tense, scary, and even gruesome scenes that are memorable and impactful. The vampire in this story is no romantic antihero but a truly frightening, vicious monster.
Engaging, Suspenseful, and Satisfying
The pacing is moderate but suspenseful, with a plot that hooks you from the start and builds to a wild, satisfying conclusion. The book club's camaraderie and resourcefulness add warmth and humor, balancing the darker elements.
Critical and Reader Acclaim
Many readers, even those not typically fans of vampire fiction, have found this book to be a must-read, praising its originality, immersion, and the believable, grounded way it handles the supernatural. It has received high ratings and is often recommended for fans of horror, true crime, and Southern fiction alike.
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires is more than a horror novel-it's a sharp, witty, and sometimes harrowing exploration of friendship, motherhood, and the hidden dangers lurking in everyday life. If you enjoy stories with strong, complex female leads, a blend of humor and horror, and social commentary wrapped in a suspenseful plot, this book is well worth your time.
Get Grady Hendrix Books
Grady Hendrix is an American author, journalist, and screenwriter best known for his witty, emotionally rich horror novels
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If you enjoyed Grady Hendrix’s blend of Southern charm, domestic suspense, dark humor, and supernatural horror in The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires, here are several books that capture similar vibes through their focus on female friendships, subversive horror, or fresh takes on classic monsters.
- My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix: Set in the same universe and town as Southern Book Club, this novel delivers a nostalgic horror comedy about two best friends fighting demonic possession in the 1980s. It’s lauded for its mix of heart, horror, and dark humor, with a strong focus on female friendship.
- How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix: Another Hendrix horror-comedy, this one features Southern family drama, haunted houses, and creepy puppets, all wrapped in the author’s signature blend of scares and satire.
- Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson: Although it is not classified as horror, this novel features a quirky, darkly comic tone and focuses on a female protagonist who is confronted with bizarre circumstances—specifically, children who spontaneously combust. Readers who enjoyed the humor and emotional depth of Hendrix's work should consider it.
- The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James: This supernatural thriller features a dual timeline, a strong female lead, and a small-town mystery with a chilling atmosphere, appealing to fans of suspense and the supernatural.
- We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer: A haunting, psychological horror novel about a couple whose new home becomes the center of unsettling events, echoing the tension and dread found in Hendrix’s work.
- Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler: For a fresh, socially conscious take on vampire lore, Butler’s novel explores themes of identity, prejudice, and survival through the eyes of a genetically modified vampire.
- My Heart Is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones: This novel subverts horror tropes with a slasher twist and a complex, horror-savvy female protagonist, blending scares with sharp social commentary.
- Fevre Dream by George R.R. Martin: A historical vampire novel set on the Mississippi River, praised for its atmospheric setting and reinvention of vampire mythology.
- The Lesser Dead by Christopher Buehlman: Set in 1970s New York, this gritty vampire tale explores the dark underbelly of the city and the complexities of its undead residents.
- When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole: A suspenseful thriller with social commentary.
- Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado: Dark, feminist short stories with horror elements.
- Home Before Dark by Riley Sager: A haunted house thriller with a twist.
- Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk: A quirky, dark mystery with a strong female voice.
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