Who knew a book club full of 1990's housewives could be so entertaining. I owe #bookstagram for bringing The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix to my attention. I had seen a few rave reviews, so I added it to my library hold list. Bored housewives who form a morbid book club and read things like The Stranger Beside Me and Helter Skelter, then suspect one of their new neighbors is a vampire? Sounds weird, so sign me up!
Synopsis:
Patricia Campbell is your average Charleston housewife. She minds her home when her husband is away at work, she cares for her two teenage children and mother-in-law, and she keeps an eye on her neighborhood. She doesn't have much for excitement in her life, so she decides to form a book club with fellow moms and housewives. What starts as a fun way for the women to read and discuss true crime books, turns into a tight-knit group of women who will do anything to help each other out. When the strange and mysterious James Harris moves into their neighborhood, a serious of bizarre events unfold, leaving Patricia questioning who this man truly is.
Mel's Thoughts:
This book was gory and darker than I anticipated, but I was ok with that! When it comes to vampire books, I am over the common troupes where vampires are sexy and desired by humans, rather than feared. If you are in the same boat, then The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires just might be for you.
What I loved about it is that Patricia and her friends are your standard, suburban housewives, therefore they are underestimated and overlooked. The men in their lives run the show and barely give the women credit. When James Harris moves in, the men are quick to warm to him, while the women are skeptical. Rightfully so. And the true crime books they had been reading add to their suspicions. But when the real action happens, these women completely stand up and kick ass to protect their families and neighborhood. Who doesn't love an underdog story?
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires was a nice change of pace from my recent heavy, literary fiction reads. This book is deliciously dark, quirky and fun, with twists and turns that keep you turning the page. If you are looking for something off the beaten path, with elements of fantasy horror, look no further.
Rating:
4 stars
Favorite Quotes:
"He thinks we're what we look like on the outside: nice Southern ladies. Let me tell you something...there's nothing nice about Southern ladies."
"Sometimes she craved a little danger. And that was why she had a book club."
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