Grady Hendrix’s has quickly become a star in the horror universe. Original written works such as, “My Best Friend’s Exorcism” and “Horrorstor,” along with the screenplay for “Satanic Panic,” have cemented this talented writers place at the top of the horror mountain. Nominated by several literary industry giants for 2020 horror book of the year, “The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires” could be Grady’s ticket to go from indie horror darling to mainstream monster.
James Harris invades an upper-class suburb outside of Charleston, South Carolina in the 1980’s. Cloaked in mystery and allegedly arriving to care for his ailing aunt, James quickly befriends bored housewife Patricia Campbell. Besides helping the handsome mysterious stranger settle into life in his new surroundings, Patricia is part of an all female book club. The club is meant to break up the monotony of the housewives lives of carpooling, rug cleaning, and catering to their ambitious husbands every whims. Wanting to spice up the club, the ladies decide to try reading true crime books and quickly start delving over works featuring Ted Bundy and Charles Manson. Children dying in a nearby lower end neighborhood, her mother in laws sudden mental demise, and a missing woman all occurring shortly after James’s arrival makes Patricia start to question the story behind her new friend’s afflictions and odd lifestyle. Finally convinced that James is something of pure evil, Patricia attempts to rally the club to put a stop to his sinister swager. Harris eventually has an answer for everything and once he embeds himself into the hearts of the men in town there is no one left for the heroic housewife to turn to. Forced into silence, Patricia keeps a keen eye on James, waiting for the moment to strike against the book club bad guy.
For fans of a strange monster setting up shop in a small town, this novel rivals that of classics such as “Needful Things” and “Salem’s Lot.” Hendrix’s descriptive narrative is at its peak as he transforms the reader to 1980’s and early 90’s South Carolina. This read is reviewed in two parts. As stated, the narrative and setting are top shelf storytelling. You can feel the southern heat burst through the pages as the characters suffer in the muggy atmosphere and later bustle through the wicked winds of fall. While written with simplistic eloquence, the actual plot and pace of the piece may leave some horror fans disappointed. While there is plenty of vampire themed chapters, the time frame between describing Patricia’s regular day life and that of dark detective of night are sporadically spread through the four hundred page piece. Hendrix does a good job by taking an old legend and introducing new lore, but most readers will find themselves wanting while reading the final act. “The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires” is as well written a horror novel as any work in the last twenty years, however; fright fans of horror literature may feel a bit let down with the finale. Like sucking on a sweet southern peach only to have the last bite turn bitter.
Scream Score: 7.9/10