Horror and comedy work hand in hand. Both take risks and are genres that heavily rely on audience reactions to gauge their success, and comedy can lessen the blow of horror, defending us against the Monster and terror we see on screen. However, they can be difficult to balance; many films or novels will rely on one and not the other, perhaps adding too many bits that feel as though they lessen the stakes in horror. To make horror funny but still scary is a feat, and Grady Hendrix has done it again. I recently wrote about another one of his novels, “Horrorstör” a zombie narrative set in an Ikea-like store, which then pushed me to read his other novels, where I discovered the lovely “The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires”.

         The book is about just what the title states. A nice group of Southern mothers participate in a book club, which soon turns into a monthly discussion of true crime novels they find exciting and out of the ordinary Christian nurturing mother persona they’re supposed to put on. We follow Patricia Campbell, a woman who just moved into the neighborhood, who is only identified as being a wife and mother despite having led a life as a nurse prior to having kids. As she tries to navigate fitting into her roles and befriending the other women in the neighborhood, another new person on her street stirs up much suspicion. Maybe it’s the true crime books getting to them, maybe it’s the fact that the new man on the street doesn’t come out in daylight, but the group of homebodies must soon decide how they will slay a vampire and save their perfect neighborhood.

         The circumstances themselves immediately make any and all actions in the novel hilarious even when bloody and gross. How will they hide their endeavors from their husbands who believe they meet as a Bible group? Will people take them seriously in their concern if their role, as per their husbands and society, is to cook for the family and clean their houses? It truly makes for a great story in and of itself just premise-wise. On top of it, Hendrix drops random plot points that will completely subvert your expectations and divert the path you thought the novel might take. A gross encounter will happen on one page, then Patricia’s biggest concern will be calling the prim and proper queen bee of the neighborhood to put on the front of normalcy the next page. Not only does it make the work an engaging page-turner, but it explicitly showcases that relationship between horror comedy and how balance can successfully be found.

         Working up towards what I think is one of the most exciting final showdowns I’ve read in a while, it’s very easy to get completely immersed in this book and fly through it. As the women find them in moments of unease, worry, and empowerment, we’re able to watch them move from housewife to full fledged (and very methodical) vampire hunters. With constantly heightening stakes, extreme suspense, and plot twists, “The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampire” is an easy read for anyone who wants some fun or lighthearted horror in their lives. Whether you’re an avid reader or trying to get back into it, this one is great to pick up if you have the time!

Rating: 4 rats out of 5