First off, the audible narration of this was truly incredible.

I firmly believe that I wouldn't have liked this book nearly as much without his outstanding performance.

The story follows several characters, but the primary focus is on a Hungarian-American Cop who is basically like Mel Gibson. He does things his own way, and although his methods work, he often gets into trouble. As a child, he had a terrifying encounter with vampires but managed to escape and move to LA. Now, the vampire lord has decided to take over the world, and his first stop is the bustling metropolis of LA. It is up to the Cop, along with a priest, a Cholo, and several others, to save their city from the clutches of these bloodthirsty creatures.

I particularly enjoyed Robert's vivid imagination when it came to the vampire lore. Instead of simply following the traditional Bram Stoker vampire archetype, he branched off in some interesting directions. However, rest assured, these vampires don't sparkle, and they certainly have no interest in romance. They are dangerous and menacing, and the fate of LA hangs in the balance.

While cleaning the basement of my aunt and uncle's house yesterday, I stumbled upon a box filled with a plethora of older books. There were many well-known authors like Stephen King, Ed McBain, and Tom Clancy. Among them, one book caught my eye.

The cover wasn't particularly outstanding, but as I read the synopsis, it seemed quite interesting. It described bloodthirsty vampires following an evil prince and attempting to take over Los Angeles. Moreover, the majority of the reviews I read had praised this book for having truly scary vampires, which was great. So, despite the old mildew scent, I couldn't wait to begin reading.

However, my initial excitement quickly turned into regret. This book, in itself, wasn't bad, but it was really not to my taste. There were various slurs, some elements of racism and misogyny, and some strangely casual mentions of sexual slavery and rape. These aspects made it extremely uncomfortable for me to read.

And let's not even talk about the characters. There were so many of them, and I'm not even sure who the protagonist was supposed to be. Maybe it was Palatazin? Who knows? Regardless, I read over 190 pages and couldn't establish a connection with any of the characters. This was really unfortunate. I didn't like any of them, and to be honest, I didn't really care when some of them died. My reaction was just a halfhearted internal 'oh, no', and I felt nothing but annoyance, boredom, and disgust.

I'm extremely disappointed in this book. I was hoping to have found a hidden gem, but it turned out to be just some shiny plastic. I DNF (Did Not Finish) it literally in the middle of a chapter/sentence before reaching 200 pages because I simply didn't care enough to keep reading. I don't even bother to look up spoilers to see how it all ends, which is a whole new level of disappointment for me.

I’m not entirely certain how to view McCammon’s vampires. They engage in all the enjoyable activities and abide by the same regulations as classic vampires. There is an abundance of neck biting, fangs flashing, mesmerizing and seducing, eyes glowing, coffin sleeping, and bat transforming. McCammon also presents us with all the finest vampire hunting scenes, complete with crosses, holy water, stakes, and sunlight burning.

However, I’m just not convinced by the Grand Plan. It lacks coherence. I mean, if vampires aim to take over the entire world by converting all humans into vampires, at some stage, there will inevitably be a severe supply and demand imbalance. But this is nowhere addressed, despite all the evil vampiric musings on the Grand Plan that he presents to us. Additionally, the big boss vampire cannot be oblivious to the fact that ordinary seawater will kill them just like holy water – he had to cross the ocean to reach California – yet he selects Los Angeles – a coastal city! – to initiate his first major urban takeover?

Perhaps it’s just me, but these sorts of things bother me.

I also had some difficulty truly connecting with all the characters. I’m not sure if he attempted to cram too many into a single book, resulting in my experiencing character exhaustion, or if he simply hadn’t yet fully honed his character development skills when this book was written.

Nonetheless, I did thoroughly enjoy this one. There was an ample amount of engaging action, satisfying evilness, and unlikely heroics. And the audiobook was narrated by Ray Porter, who delivers an absolutely outstanding performance.

I read this book for the Booklikes Halloween Bingo 2019, for the square Vampires: Vampires, preferably non-sparkly, in all of their glorious fictional permutations.

The story commences in Hungary.

A boy's father embarks on a perilous mission and instructs his son to look after his mother in case something untoward befalls him. However, shortly after his departure, he returns, but he has undergone a transformation.

The mother flees with the boy in search of sanctuary. Years pass, and that boy, Andre Palatazin, is now a police detective in Los Angeles, with his mother having passed away.

One morning, he is roused by what seems to be his mother, seated in her favorite rocking chair. From that day forward, things take a strange turn for him and, indeed, for everyone in LA.

It begins on a small scale - people start disappearing, animals exhibit odd behavior, and suddenly vampires begin to emerge in large numbers throughout the city. The goal of their Master is the total domination of the human race.

Recalling his own childhood experience, Andre realizes that he must somehow thwart this plan from being executed.

Admittedly, this may sound cheesy and overly melodramatic, but once you commence reading this book, you will be unable to put it down. It is one of the most thrilling vampire stories I have ever had the pleasure of reading. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who deems themselves a horror enthusiast.

I guess McCammon never expected to win a Pulitzer with this book.

This was just some old school Horror paperback fun that keeps the speed up and never gets boring.

Although - and this might be my only real complaint - it could have been 100 pages shorter!

There were some creepy scenes, but this was most entertaining because of the epic scope, the action, and not least the lively characters which often border on parody with their larger than life 80's movies attitude.

I mean: Kobra, Prince Vulcan...come on! :)

The story was as cheesy as a whole cheese counter, but it shows McCammon's writing genius that he could transform such wild ideas into something this coherent and throughout enjoyable.

And yeah, there is some truth in that the undead took over Hollywood in the 80's...as if McCammon foresaw the mindless trash that flooded the movie theaters during that decade :)

This was only my second book by the author and I'm looking forward to his other novels!

I can't wait to see what other wild and entertaining stories he has in store for us.

His ability to create engaging characters and a thrilling plot is truly remarkable.

I'm sure his other novels will be just as enjoyable as this one.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Horror and 80's movies.

It's a fun and entertaining read that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

3.5 stars

Vampires have begun to take over the city of Los Angeles, and the story unfolds through the eyes of several characters. There's a middle-aged detective determined to catch a serial killer, a journalist working for a gossip newspaper, a millionaire, a drug dealer, a comedian, and a priest, among others.

At the start, this book had a much stronger impact on me than it did overall. Right from the beginning, there's a scene set in Hungary that is highly atmospheric and filled with excellent gruesome details. Then, we shift to present-day Los Angeles and are introduced to a biker character named Kobra, followed by some exciting and action-packed scenes. After that, the other characters are gradually introduced, and I did find them well-written and quite interesting.

However, one of the issues I had with the book, and perhaps the biggest factor that detracted from my enjoyment, was that some events played out in a way that was far too convenient and felt forced. As a result, I had trouble suspending my disbelief. The book comes across as quite serious, but some of the things that occur are rather silly, and the two elements didn't blend well together. There were aspects of this book that I really liked, but unfortunately, it felt like the overall story was not as good as the individual parts combined.

What can I or anyone else say that hasn't been said before?

The book is a classic for a reason. It has endured the test of time and continues to captivate readers with its engaging story, well-developed characters, and thought-provoking themes.

Might be a little bit of deux ex machina ending, but even then he makes it work. The author manages to bring the story to a satisfying conclusion, despite the somewhat contrived nature of the ending.

Perhaps it is the author's skillful use of language and pacing that makes the ending seem less突兀. Or maybe it is the fact that the rest of the book is so good that we are willing to overlook a small flaw.

Regardless of the reason, the book remains a must-read for anyone who loves literature. It is a testament to the power of storytelling and the ability of a great book to transport us to another world and make us feel emotions we never thought possible.

Best Vampire Book Ever!!!

I am utterly sick and tired of those soulful, guilt-ridden vampires. What on earth happened to the truly evil vampires? The ones who have a burning desire to rid the earth of humanity? The ones that have the power to make you wake up in the middle of the night, filled with such intense fear that you might not live to see the sun rise? Don't misunderstand me. I am a huge fan of Anne Rice (Lestat is indeed one of the all-time best characters) and Buffy (even though that is a movie/tv show). However, vampires are supposed to strike fear deep into people's hearts, not make you yearn for them as a boyfriend.

I simply couldn't put this book down. Every single free second that I had, I was engrossed in reading it. McCammon writes with an abundance of detail, to the extent that you can vividly picture everything around you. I was residing in Los Angeles when I read the book, and his description of the area (the street names and roads) was absolutely spot-on.

I thought the plot was truly amazing. The way this enormous fog/dust cloud descended over the city, making it impossible to see more than 10 feet in front of you. I was really scared! There was no place of sanctuary, nowhere to hide from them.

The only drawback of this book is that it is out of print. I had to borrow it from the library. Ever since then, I have been scouring every used bookstore and garage sale in search of it.

For me, this was an absolute delight and far superior to Salem's Lot.

It is an outstanding vampire story that truly captivates the reader. The characters are so well-developed that you simply can't help but cheer for them.

From the moment you start reading, you are drawn into their world and become invested in their fates.

The author has done a remarkable job of creating a thrilling and engaging narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

The vampire lore is unique and fascinating, adding an extra layer of depth to the story.

Overall, this is a must-read for any fan of vampire stories or anyone looking for a great read. It will leave you wanting more and eager to explore other works by this talented author.

Ugh... awful. What a mess.

It truly felt as if the author was attempting to merge The Stand and 'Salem's Lot into one colossal, super dense heap of word salad.

The whole thing was just a jumble of ideas that didn't seem to fit together properly.

Skip it. There are an abundance of far better vampire stories out there that manage to convey their tales with far fewer words.

These other stories are able to engage the reader more effectively, drawing them in with interesting characters and exciting plots.

They don't rely on overcomplicating things and using excessive amounts of verbiage.

So, save your time and look for those other, more satisfying vampire stories instead.

Published in 1988, this novel is set in Los Angeles. It was McCammon's 4th work.

Although not among his best, it's still an entertaining read.

The beginning is slow, and it took some time for me to become invested in the characters. Having visited L.A. before and not being overly fond of it, I had difficulty connecting with them, but others might not face this problem.

Andy and his wife are Hungarian immigrants residing in L.A. Andy, a police captain, had a childhood encounter with vampires in a small Hungarian village.

When Vampire Prince Vulkan begins to build his army, Andy discovers a connection with a serial killer that leads him to the prince. He might be the only one capable of preventing the destruction of all humanity.

The ending was a bit overly dramatic and seemed rather sudden. The book leaves the story open-ended.

The vampire lore in the novel is reasonable and somewhat believable.

I would recommend this book if you can obtain it at a good price.

Content concerns: There is blood, gore, and violence. Cursing, sexual themes, drugs, alcohol, prostitution, and adultery are mentioned. Dogs are killed. Solange and Wes are a couple, and Andy and his wife are married. Both couples are faithful, with no past issues or OW/OM problems.

I'm not entirely certain how this particular book managed to elude my memory. I could have sworn that I had read "They Thirst" numerous years ago. However, for some strange reason, I couldn't recall much about it at all. So, I decided it was high time for a reread. Well, now I understand why my memory of it was so hazy - I had never actually read the darn thing in the first place! And what a delightful discovery this has been. Just imagine uncovering a new book by your favorite author, written precisely during the period when they were at their creative peak. That's exactly what "They Thirst" was like for me!

Now, McCammon himself lists this as one of his early works that he isn't overly proud of. And yes, you can indeed spot a few elements that might not quite pass muster in today's standards. But, it's important to bear in mind that this book was written way back in 1981. Many things that were acceptable or even innovative in '81 simply wouldn't fly nowadays! So, in my humble opinion, McCammon should be very proud of this particular creation.

The story follows Andy Palatazin, the head of homicide in L.A., who is working around the clock to catch The Roach, a serial killer who preys on prostitutes by strangling them. Before long, Andy will have to confront an even more insidious evil that has followed him from his homeland to the United States. This new threat makes The Roach seem almost benign in comparison. Gayle, a reporter for the Los Angeles Tattler, a tabloid rag similar to the National Enquirer that Andy loathes having to deal with, is hot on the trail of The Roach story. She dreams of getting her big break and being able to work for a more respected newspaper. Soon, Gayle will come face to face with a far more terrifying tale of evil.

In East L.A., Father Silvera is working tirelessly to keep drug dealers out of his parish. However, he will soon discover that his parishioners are being overcome by an evil far greater than drug addiction. For Wes, an up-and-coming comedian, his future looks bright with his African girlfriend, Solange, who has a sensitivity towards the spirit world. But Wes will soon realize that Solange's talents are no mere parlor tricks. Meanwhile, at the top of the hill overlooking L.A., an evil has taken up residence in the abandoned castle where the eccentric horror movie actor, Orleen Kronstein, once lived many years ago. And this evil has its sights set on choking the life out of L.A.

"They Thirst" is a thrilling and entertaining vampire story that gets it right. The characters are well-developed and the atmosphere is palpable. If you think about how the movie "The Lost Boys" was made (six years after "They Thirst" was written, mind you), you'll have a good sense of the tone of this book. McCammon's greatest asset is his ability to create wonderful characters that you feel an immediate connection with, and "They Thirst" is no exception. It's top-notch from start to finish. So, don't hesitate - sink your fangs into this one right away!

5 dug up coffins out of 5

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