The Radleys are just like every other family in a small village outside London - a friendly mom and dad, a boy and girl in school, a lovely home and an SUV in the driveway. But the Radleys are hiding a big, bad secret - they are vampires.
This is not your "Twilight" type of vampire story. Matt Haig's The Radleys is a slightly campy and very funny book about the consequences of trying to be "abstainers"- vampires who choose to live their lives as normal humans, without drinking blood. And they do try, very hard, to fit in. Peter Radley is the village doctor and Helen is a typical stay-at-home mom. Their children, 15-year-old Clara and 17-year-old Rowan, are blissfully unaware of what makes them so different until a terrible incident causes Clara's blood lust to appear.
On the surface, the Radleys are just a little quirky. Except for Clara, they eat meat, (lots of it, and rare, please) and can't go out in the sun without wearing 60 SPF sunscreen at all times. They have a terrible time sleeping at night and parents Peter and Helen struggle every day to follow the rules of "The Abstainer's Handbook" so that they can live their lives with humans. But the night Clara is attacked and retaliates by devouring her classmate changes everything. Peter calls in his brother Will, a legendary (and very active) vampire, to help them through the crisis. Peter and Helen must reveal the truth to their children, and Will's appearance triggers a series of events that will change the Radleys forever.
Haig's sly turn of phrase and insight into the lives of a suburban family make this book all the more enjoyable. This is a vampire story the likes of which we haven't seen - Haig focuses not just on the drama of living to drink blood, but about how this can affect a typical dysfunctional family who already has more than enough on their plates.
The Radleys is a fun and fast read, perfect for adults and teens alike. Even if you are not a fan of vampire fiction, take a trip to the dark side with Peter and his family. You might find you like it.
