Ben Mears has returned to Jerusalem’s Lot in hopes that exploring the history of the Marsten House, an old mansion long the subject of rumor and speculation, will help him cast out his personal devils and provide inspiration for his new book. But when two young boys venture into the woods, and only one returns alive, Mears begins to realize that something sinister is at work—in fact, his hometown … hometown is under siege from forces of darkness far beyond his imagination. And only he, with a small group of allies, can hope to contain the evil that is growing within the borders of this small New England town.
With this, his second novel, Stephen King established himself as an indisputable master of American horror, able to transform the old conceits of the genre into something fresh and all the more frightening for taking place in a familiar, idyllic locale.
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‘Salem’s Lot is an interesting take on the vampire genre in which the town’s residents turn into vampires over the course of an Indian summer in 1975. The story opens with an author, Ben Mears, returning to his hometown to exorcise childhood demons associated with a mansion that overlooks the town of Jerusalem’s Lot.
He plans on facing his fears by renting the place for a while but learns that the house has been sold to a stranger and his mysterious associate. Soon, the town’s residents are affected by their new neighbor–and not in a good way. There are key characters–including Jerusalem’s Lot itself–whose backstories prove interesting as the story plays out.
The Kindle edition version also includes One for the Road, which revisits ‘Salem’s Lot, which at this point has “gone bad” and is known as a place to avoid–especially at night. This story involves a snowbound motorist who makes his way from Jerusalem’s Lot to a nearby town to seek help at a bar in the midst of a blizzard.
The novel also includes Jerusalem’s Lot, a prelude to the main story. It’s an epistolary account about the new owner who inherits the mansion in 1850–long before it becomes the nightmare that haunts Ben Mears. Both, too, are good reads.
So, if you like this particular genre of horror, you won’t be disappointed.
The fresh approach to an old tale was the thing I enjoyed the most about this book.
I am normally not a vampire reader but since it was Stephen King I gave it a chance. It was very character-driven and scary. I finished it in one night. I think it was the last vampire story I’ve ever read.
I love any topic that Steven King writes
I remember exactly where I was when I read Salem’s Lot. I was in graduate school at Auburn University and had my wisdom teeth removed. A rare opportunity for pleasure reading. I was alone in our little trailer and scared to death. Stephen King is the master of instilling dread. I could not turn the page but I had to turn the page. If this is a genre you enjoy, Salem’s Lot is a good one.
Having seen the film I was reluctant to read the book, knowing what happens.
This is, in my opinion, is one of Stephen King’s finest books. And he has written many. The story unravels in a very clever way, with choppy paragraphs and short descriptions of things that appear to be random but are in fact very relevant to the story. King is a master of suspense, and his character descriptions are compelling.
Even if you’re not a Stephen King fan or familiar with his work, I would highly recommend this book as an example of brilliant writing and story telling.
Anything Stephen King writes, I read. His stories never fail to disappoint me.
It is one of the finest vampire tales I have ever read. Stephen King knows how to create a spooky atmosphere. A true master.
Classic King. 4th time I’ve read it
Creepy, somewhat realistic for a vampire novel… still a better love story than Twilight.
The very first Stephen King book that I ever read. It led me into a life-long Stephen King addiction, from which happily, I have never recovered. One of my all time favorite authors.
This was the first story which scared me so badly i barely slept for weeks afterwards. It was so grippingly real, i still think about the book sometimes 50 years later. this was sk at his best.
One of the few books that scared the crap outta me even tho I was an adult. I had to turn all the lights on, and even then, I had to wait to finish it when I was not alone.
Read this when it first came out. Scared the crap out of me and I wore a cross for a week. A great read. One of his classics!
Did not finish
Just finished reading this for the first time. Loved the book, as I do most of King’s novels, but it wasn’t terrifying in any real sense. I did enjoy the expository writing at the end, which deftly points out that this phenomenon is much older than the characters of the current story.
a classic
Just so unexpected!
When I read this book I made my sister sleep with me for days! I couldn’t put it down. Loved the characters.
Loved the creepiness of it!