McCammon truly hit his stride with his fourth novel, They Thirst.

This is a large and sprawling novel, featuring more points of view than one can count. The plot lines are fairly complicated, weaving and flowing, and all the action takes place within about a week.

As the story is told from multiple perspectives, several characters come to the forefront. There's Andy, a Hungarian-born cop in LA who had a brush with vampires in his youth in Hungary. Gayle is a reporter for a trashy daily in LA. 'Roach' is a serial killer who becomes the human servant of the king vampire. The King Vampire himself, also known as the 'Prince', is set to take over LA, and there's Tommy, an 11-year-old kid.

The week begins like any other in LA, with Andy fruitlessly attempting to track down and apprehend the Roach. However, strange things start to occur, such as graveyards being ransacked for coffins, leaving the dead scattered haphazardly. Who would want a bunch of used coffins?

McCammon offers a unique twist to the rather tired vampire genre, similar to Fevre Dream by George R.R. Martin or The Light at the End by John Skipp, two other 80s classics. Unlike most vampire novels, which feature only a few vampires lurking around a small town, They Thirst builds an army of vampires, perhaps a million strong! First, they take over LA, then they plan to conquer the entire West Coast and eventually the world. Can a motley crew consisting of Andy, a dying priest, Tommy, and an injured stand-up comic stop the King Vampire in his own lair?

It's a real pleasure to read! 4.5 stars.

Let me start out by saying that this book is truly FUN.

You will thoroughly enjoy it for what it is - a captivating vampire tale narrated by a highly talented author.

It is one of the two remarkable old school vampire takeover novels, with the other being Salem's Lot by Stephen King.

Although they both deal with the same concept, they are extremely different.

While King's masterpiece sets the action in a small town, making the threat more confined, intimate, and scarier, McCammon's vampires attempt to take over Los Angeles, harboring dreams of turning the whole world into the undead.

I believe the smaller-scale version of the tale is more effective.

That being said, whenever you have the opportunity to read a book by McCammon, you are guaranteed a great time.

They Thirst is exceptionally well-written, the characters are fascinating, and the plot progresses at a pleasant pace, devouring the 600-plus pages before you even realize it.

The vampires are disgustingly nasty, possessing a Hammer Horror Film/Universal Pictures quality that I found deeply satisfying.

Moreover, there are several very chilling scenes, particularly one set in a vampire-infested tenement house.

He even plays around with the standard vampire legend to some extent, which is quite interesting.

This is an early work by McCammon, in contrast to the more mature and masterful The Wolf's Hour.

Definitely not to be missed as it is a great vampire tale, but I also enjoyed it because I could perceive the seeds of the greatness that flourished in his later works.

4 Stars.

I spent an inordinate amount of time reading that. It was truly a captivating experience.

Robert McCammon has once again delivered another outstanding piece of work. In this story, there are vampires and those who aspire to be like Van Helsings, engaged in a fierce battle for conquest. The plot is so intricately woven that throughout the entire reading, I had no inkling of who would emerge victorious in this war. Even now, after finishing the book, I still can't say for sure. You'll have to read it for yourself to find out.

The ending was quite good. It tied up the loose ends in a satisfying way, leaving me with a sense of fulfillment. Overall, it's a must-read for fans of the vampire genre and those who enjoy a thrilling and engaging story.

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This is likely one of the greatest vampire books ever written.

Although not widely known among many readers, Robert McCammon has elevated fear to an entirely new plane in this novel.

The vampires are the most outstanding aspect of the story. They are no longer the noble and majestic vampires we were familiar with during our childhood. Instead, they are terrifying and malevolent, which makes for a refreshing reading experience.

McCammon's vivid descriptions and masterful storytelling bring these vampires to life, making the readers feel as if they are right there in the midst of the horror.

The book takes the traditional vampire lore and twists it in a way that keeps the readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end.

It is a must-read for all fans of the vampire genre and those who enjoy a good scare.

This book began quite promisingly. I had truly relished two previous works by this author, so I was certain that I would adore this one as well!

Sadly, that was not the situation. The initial 200 pages or so were decent, but after that, I encountered difficulties. It became rather sluggish at times, and there appeared to be chapters here and there that did not seem to be essential to the story at all.

I will definitely explore more of McCammon's works because, as I mentioned, I enjoyed the two previous ones that I read (Boys Life and Swan Song), so it is highly probable that I will enjoy others. Just not this particular one.

All reviews can be found at lennonslair.blogspot.co.uk.

I read this book quite a long time ago and, frankly speaking, had completely forgotten about it. It's a "not bad" read that at times comes close to being "really good". In today's literary landscape, every vampire book seems to have its own unique version of the vampire myth, and this one, although not the most recent, does so as well, albeit slightly. It adheres relatively closely to the traditional vampire persona. However, similar to some other books, it owes more to the movie tradition than to the actual folklore or the "Stoker-esk" or "Dracula-esk" vampire.

Here, the author, by using the motif of "everyone who gets bitten becomes a vampire", explores the ultimate outcome of such a plot point. I mean, haven't you ever wondered why some place didn't end up knee-deep in bloodsuckers? Well, in this story, they do. With the assistance of some black magic to prevent the populace from fleeing, the vampire in question sets out to bring about the most significant change in LA since 1910 and the inception of the California/U.S.-based movie industry.

While, as noted, for the most part I would rate the book as "not bad", there are certain aspects of it that I believed could have pushed it to a 3.5+ rating, which would merit 4 stars. The characters aren't really anything to get overly excited about; you'll have encountered many similar ones before. The "world" presented is a fairly good mock-up of the world during the relevant time period. And although I'm not a native of LA, those who are in the know say that McCammon got it right - a contemporary setting that's, well, okay. The story's pace is acceptable, neither dragging nor hitting a wall. All in all, it's a readable story with some decent characters and action.

What I think he got exceptionally right, however, is his portrayal of "the straights'" reaction when those who have been compelled to "know" attempt to tell them what's happening. I mean, just think about it. You find yourself in a "real life" situation where "Oh crap, vampires are real!" and "they're here!". Now, try calling the local police and convincing them. Chances are, you're the one who would end up behind bars... and if it were me, with my luck... I'd be locked up with one of the vampires in question.

So, it's a good read, a nice, solid vampire story by a reliable writer (so far I've only come across one book by McCammon that I "disliked") that will likely hold your interest. There may be a bit of "over-use" of the gross-out factor here and there, but it is a vampire book, and despite that, it's quite good. Enjoy.

**“They Thirst” by Robert McCammon: A Horror Classic**

In the Middle European countries like Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, and Serbia, the air is filled with the tales of monsters. The darkness, the looming mountains, and the shrieks at night make even the most cynical believe in the existence of evil beings. Andre Palatazin, a Los Angeles Detective born in Hungary, escaped with his mother when his father returned as a vampire. Now, he is searching for a killer nicknamed The Roach, who stuffs cockroaches in the mouths of his victims. But The Roach changes his MO, and the wannabe starlets keep disappearing without a trace. The stress is taking a toll on Palatazin.

Little does he know that his nightmares from Hungary are about to catch up with him. A plague of monsters is about to descend upon Los Angeles, and Palatazin has to find a way to stop Prince Conrad Vulkan and his plan to subjugate the human race. The vampires in this book are not the debonair, charming ones we see in some other vampire stories. They are feral, ferocious animals that thirst for blood. Palatazin knows they are real, but convincing others is not easy. He has to act fast before it's too late.

Published in 1981, “They Thirst” is a perfect example of those epic, somewhat bloated horror books. It's hefty enough to bash in the skull of a vampire or swat the fanny of a werewolf. I really enjoyed the ride that Robert McCammon took me on. The scenes of the entwined, cocooned, hibernating beasts are still haunting my dreams. If you're a fan of horror, this book is definitely worth a read. And if you want to see more of my book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com or check out my Facebook blogger page at https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten.

"They Thirst" is an outstanding and remarkable classic vampire novel. It stands tall among other greats such as "Salem's Lot", "Fevre Dream", and "Children of the Night" (you can name your own personal favorites!). This was before vampires became overly common, well-dressed, eloquent, and sparkly. It's a full-on, intense story where the action escalates to an apocalyptic level rather than remaining hidden in the shadows and only impacting a small group of people. Instead of a single Dracula coming for Lucy, we have a voracious horde attacking Los Angeles. It all unfolds in less than a week. It's a large, sprawling novel with a diverse cast of characters and complex, intertwined plot lines. Just when the reader believes the tension couldn't possibly get any higher, McCammon manages to crank it up yet another notch, again and again. It's truly a hair-raising and spine-tingling read!

Tonight there were demons in the hearth.

Great read!

It is definitely a product of the 80s, carrying the charm and essence of that era. It's old school horror at its finest, featuring apocalyptic vampires that send shivers down your spine. The author, for some reason, didn't want this particular work to be released as he didn't have a favorable opinion of it. However, it's interesting to note that his writing did mature significantly after this. But despite that, there's a certain kind of fun and excitement in this piece that is lacking in his later works. It has a unique flavor and atmosphere that grabs your attention from the very beginning and keeps you hooked until the end. Whether you're a fan of horror or just looking for an engaging read, this book is definitely worth checking out.

I could hardly manage to get through this book. In fact, I found myself skimming vast amounts of text just to reach the conclusion of the thing. I nearly abandoned it countless times, and yet, I still can't fathom why I ultimately finished it. There is no novel twist on the vampire legend presented here, not even for a book from the late 80's. The writing was feeble, with metaphors that were truly cringe-worthy.

The ending, to be quite honest, was rather lackluster. It seemed as if the author simply resorted to a convenient and somewhat clichéd plot device.

Literally, it had the hand of god defeating the vampires. This felt like a cop-out and didn't add any real depth or excitement to the story. Overall, I was quite disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others.

Vampire outbreak hits 1980s L.A, infecting millions and leaving only a handful of humans left to fight the vampire hoard.

This story is truly captivating. It takes place in the vibrant city of Los Angeles during the 1980s, where a terrifying vampire epidemic spreads like wildfire. The scale of the infection is mind-boggling, with millions falling victim to the vampires' thirst for blood.

I loved, loved, loved this. Next to Salem's Lot this is my favorite pre-1990 vampire novel. The author has done an amazing job of creating a world filled with danger and mystery. The vampires are depicted in a unique and terrifying way, making them a force to be reckoned with.

If and I stress if there are any faults with this book, it's that while the character development is awesome, the build up to the actual vampire outbreak is an extremely slow burn. However, this slow build-up also adds to the overall atmosphere and tension of the story. It makes the reader truly invested in the characters and their fates, and when the outbreak finally occurs, it is all the more thrilling. Overall, this is a must-read for any vampire lover.