Book Review: ‘The Final Girl Support Group’ By Grady Hendrix

Review by Lauryn Angel

One thing I have always loved about Grady Hendrix novels is how well he plays with horror tropes from the 80’s and 90’s. The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires took on the vampire trope from classics like Salem’s Lot and The Lost Boys, while We Sold Our Souls takes on the Satanic Panic tied to heavy metal bands in the 80’s. With The Final Girl Support Group, Hendrix introduces us to a collection of final girls – the girls left alive at the end of a slasher film – who have come together to, as the title says, share their experiences in a therapy group.

The novel’s protagonist is Lynette Tarkington, one of the final girls in the group, and the one that the other women view as perhaps the most unbalanced, bordering on delusional, as she has built up a number of daily defenses that seem paranoid – even for the survivor of a serial killer. But Lynette’s defenses start to make more sense when someone starts killing off the other survivors, beginning with the very first Final Girl, Adrienne. It’s not long before Lynette is on the run from the killer AND the police, trying to save herself and the rest of the support group.

The book is filled with references to slasher films, from the names and backstories of each of the “girls” to the chapter titles. However, the book is less of a slasher story and more of a mystery, as Lynette tries to figure out who is after her and her friends. While the story itself if solid, the fun really comes from the homages and Easter eggs planted along the way. Readers who aren’t familiar with the Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Halloween, and Scream franchises, among others, may not enjoy this novel as much as those who are.

The novel isn’t all fun and games, though, as these women are dealing with the trauma of their experiences – hence, the titular support group. This is a topic that most horror franchises don’t really deal with, as the Final Girl is often dispatched in the opening of the next flick in the series. Halloween’s Laurie Strode in the 2018 continuation of the story is an exception, and Laurie and Lynette would have a lot to talk about when it comes to the topic of home security.

The Final Girl Support Group is a page turner that kept me up way past my bedtime. It’s a fast-paced, fun ride, but also thought-provoking and character-driven. The twists and turns kept me guessing until the end, and I was almost disappointed it was over. Another great read from Grady Hendrix!