The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires
A Novel
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Quirk Books
Published:19th May '20
Should be back in stock very soon
In a small Southern town, a women’s book club confronts a charming newcomer who may be hiding dark secrets. As danger looms, they must protect their lives and friendships. The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires explores themes of community and resilience.
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires is a captivating horror novel that blends humor with a fresh perspective on classic themes, including gender roles, racial issues, and societal privilege. Set in a small Southern town, the story revolves around a women's book club that becomes embroiled in a chilling confrontation with a mysterious newcomer. The book's tone is both entertaining and thought-provoking, making it a compelling read.
Patricia Campbell, the protagonist, finds herself in a challenging phase of life, feeling overwhelmed by her responsibilities as a mother and caregiver. Her solace comes from her book club, where the women bond over their shared fascination with true crime. However, the tranquility of their meetings is shattered when Patricia is unexpectedly attacked by a neighbor. This incident introduces James Harris, the neighbor's charming nephew, who rekindles feelings in Patricia that she thought long lost. Yet, as children begin to go missing in the area, Patricia's instincts lead her to suspect that James may not be who he appears to be.
As James becomes more entwined in Patricia's life, he poses a growing threat to her and her book club. The narrative explores the darker side of neighborly relationships and the complexities of trust. Patricia is determined to protect her friends and reclaim her life, setting the stage for a gripping battle against the forces that seek to undermine her world. This novel is a blend of suspense, humor, and social commentary, making it a unique addition to the horror genre.
The New York Times Best Seller
A Barnes & Noble Best Fiction Book of 2020
2021 Locus Award Finalist
A Goodreads Choice Awards Finalist
#1 April 2020 LibraryReads Pick
April 2020 Indie Next Pick
Amazon Best Book of April 2020
A Library Journal Editors' Pick for April 2020
The A.V. Club Best Book of April 2020
A POPSUGAR Best Book for Book Clubs 2020
One of Good Housekeeping's 30 of the Scariest Horror Books Ever Written
One of Town & Country’s 50 Best Horror Books
“This funny and fresh take on a classic tale manages to comment on gender roles, racial disparities, and white privilege all while creeping me all the way out. So good.”—Zakiya Dalila Harris, author of The Other Black Girl
“Ghosts of the past have also inspired one of the most rollicking, addictive novels I’ve read in years: The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix, a tale of housewives battling vampires that is sweetly painful, like hard candy that breaks a tooth.”—Danielle Trussoni for The New York Times Book Review
“A delight...its incisive social commentary and meaningful character development make The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires not just a palatable read for non-horror fans, but a winning one.”—USA Today, 3.5 out of 4 star review
“Funny, gruesome, and wild, this rollicking novel from horror luminary Grady Hendrix is Desperate Housewives meets Dracula.”—Esquire
“Delightful read that reads like Dracula set in the '90s American South....Perfect for fans of horror and real-life crime alike.”—Good Housekeeping
“The novel is a charming testament to friendships and life's imperfections, with dashes of rot and savagery to earn its keep in horror literature....It's a rollercoaster [that] lands as a vampire story concreted in vileness and Southern charm.”—Fangoria
“[Hendrix] remains excellent at staging page-turning sequences of excitement and anxiety...[and] a master of adding little details that fill in the landscape of his Southern-fried world.”—The A.V. Club
“As fun (and as creepy) as the title suggests….This novel will definitely whet your appetite if you’re looking for something a bit eccentric and spooky.”—BuzzFeed
“This book should be required reading for all Southern women....[It] transports you back to all the best parts of the 1990's while throwing more than enough thrill and chill into the mix.”—Country Living
“[A] clever, addictive vampire thriller....This powerful, eclectic novel both pays homage to the literary vampire canon and stands singularly within it.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Hendrix cleverly sprinkles in nods to well-established vampire lore, and the fact that he's a master at conjuring heady 1990s nostalgia is just the icing on what is his best book yet. Fans of smart horror will sink their teeth into this one.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Hendrix has masterfully blended the disaffected housewife trope with a terrifying vampire tale, and the anxiety and tension are palpable...a cheeky, spot-on pick for book clubs.”—Booklist, starred review
ISBN: 9781683692515
Dimensions: 226mm x 152mm x 28mm
Weight: 522g
424 pages