I’ll start by saying I truly enjoyed this book. Quick read - I got sucked in immediately. My no spoilers synopsis - the way the women in this book are treated and their acceptance of it gave me real stress. In general the men in this book sucked. They all seemed like the “monster” to me. Creative story and plot line.

The start was slow for me, but once I got to the “meat”, I couldn’t put it down. I really loved Patricia, Mrs. Green, and the other ladies. A true depiction of how Southern hospitality can bite you in the butt.

I’m familar 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.

I couldn’t put it down!

This book had a great premise, great story, great plot UP UNTIL AFTER THE CLIMAX. After the climax, this book read like the author’s thinly veiled fetish. Sick, twisted, and disgusting. There really isn’t anything to say good about the end. Pretty sure the main villian is a self insert. My god, very disgusting.

I had a hard time getting into this book at first… but once I was in the meat of it.. captivating. Could not put it down!! You’ll hang on every word. Not for the faint of heart. Definitely descriptive and grotesque, but you feel as if you’re in it with the characters!

I get that this book is horror, and I’ve read Stephen King and Dean Koontz. But this. This set off every single trigger I have. I wanted was a hilarious romp where Towanda finds and kills vampires, like if Buffy went to the country club. What I got was a lot of weak women who acted far too late, in my opinion. TW: kidnapping, assault, rape, murder, gaslighting.

LOVED this book. Purely enjoyed every single minute spent with it.

I loved the humor, the accuracy of 90s housewife life, and the shocking horror that came out of nowhere. Also, if you like true crime- the cases interwoven with the plot will make you love it even more!

Silly & fun horror novel! Read it at the beach and it was a perfect read!