The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires

Patricia is paranoid about the intruder on the roof, so James starts coming more often to help her feel safe again. Blue is obsessed with Nazis and reads and consumes videos almost solely about this topic. Luckily, James can talk to Blue about this interest, which puts Patricia at ease. Now that James is practically a member of the family, “Patricia felt truly happy” (125), even though Carter is working longer hours at the office.

The Campbells leave Miss Mary with Mrs. Greene home while they attend a party at Grace and Bennet Cavanaugh’s house. Miss Mary finally finds the photograph she’s been searching for, insisting she must show it to Patricia before letting Mrs. Greene look. Without warning, a swarm of large rats attacks the two women. Mrs. Greene attempts to ward them off, to no avail. The chapter cuts between the grotesque scene happening at the Campbell household and the beautiful dinner party hosted by the Cavanaughs; the juxtaposition heightens the horror.

Patricia and Carter return home to find a disgusting mess of urine and droppings. Mrs. Greene administers CPR to a blood-soaked Miss Mary.