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. Now in paperback, Steel Magnolias meets Dracula in this New York Times best-selling horror novel about a women's book club that must do battle with a mysterious newcomer to their small Southern town. Bonus features: Reading group guide for book clubs Hand-drawn map of Mt. Pleasant Annotated true-crime reading list by Grady Hendrix And more! Patricia Campbell s life has never felt smaller. Her husband is a workaholic, her teenage kids have their own lives, her senile mother-in-law needs constant care, and she s always a step behind on her endless to-do list. The only thing keeping her sane is her book club, a close-knit group of Charleston women united by their love of true crime. At these meetings they re as likely to talk about the Manson family as they are about their own families. One evening after book club, Patricia is viciously attacked by an elderly neighbor, bringing the neighbor's handsome nephew, James Harris, into her life. James is well traveled and well read, and he makes Patricia feel things she hasn t felt in years. But when children on the other side of town go missing, their deaths written off by local police, Patricia has reason to believe James Harris is more of a Bundy than a Brad Pitt. The real problem? James is a monster of a different kind and Patricia has already invited him in. Little by little, James will insinuate himself into Patricia s life and try to take everything she took for granted including the book club but she won t surrender without a fight in this blood-soaked tale of neighborly kindness gone wrong.
I saw a lot of positive reviews on GR on this novel that got my interest peaked, so I took a chance and read it as well. Overall I really enjoyed it. It was a bit too scary / gore for my normal taste, which made my decision to read this before bed not a smart choice XD But it was worth it. I found it very compelling and had trouble putting it down to go to sleep on multiple evenings. I cared for the characters, and needed them to be well. I loved how things went plotwise and can't name much downsides. Even though it was no 5 star for me, it felt a bit slow sometimes and wanted things to move along.. I can easy imagine how it is a 5 stars for others.
