I came across this as a monthly read from a Horror group on Goodreads. I had read this author before, and I must say, the first 30% of the book was extremely slow-paced. In fact, it almost made me consider it a Did Not Finish (DNF). However, I decided to stick with it, and boy, am I glad I did!

The story unfolds in a rather chilling manner. Person by person, house by house, and apartment by apartment, people start vanishing or showing up under beds wrapped in sheets, leaving the police completely baffled. Little by little, the reader is drawn into the conquest of LA by vampires.

As I progressed through the book, my curiosity grew. I couldn't help but wonder how or if the vampires would be vanquished. Would there be a hero to save the day? The anticipation kept me turning the pages.

In the end, I'm so glad I kept reading all the way to the very last page. This book had its slow moments, but the overall story was engaging and full of surprises. I'll definitely be reading more from this author in the future.

I truly relished this book. It was so engaging that I would place it among the top 5 vampire books I have ever read. The plot, although not entirely novel, was captivating. The characters felt extremely real, the vampires were monstrous, and the overall outlook was rather bleak.

Short Summary: Los Angeles is in a turmoil. Hoodlums are pouring in from all directions. A serial killer known as "The Roach" is on the loose. Someone has been stealing caskets from cemeteries, and people are vanishing left and right. Some are whispering the unmentionable - Vampires. Their numbers are doubling every night, and their king has just arrived in town. Like a plague of locusts, they have descended and pose a threat to bring about the apocalypse of mankind.

As I previously mentioned, this book may not be to everyone's taste. Firstly, there is an extensive cast in this book, and you are introduced to each one individually. It is very easy to lose track of them, and when the author switches back to a particular character later, it takes some time for your brain to recall who that person is. For example, "Oh YEAH, this is that guy who owns the coffin factory from 15 chapters ago!"

Secondly, McCammon employs a great deal of description. I, for one, love this aspect of his writing, but others may consider it unnecessary and dull. It really depends on your personal preference. He is nowhere near as excessive as Anne Rice with her 17 pages dedicated to describing a candle flame or King's recent long-windedness (not his older books, but his newer ones). However, I still can't envision my ADHD husband being able to sit through the entire book.

Thirdly, the ending. I deliberated on this for a while. Don't worry, I won't reveal it. Suffice it to say that some people will find it highly satisfying, while others will feel cheated. After giving it some thought, I decided that I liked it because in an end-of-the-world story, a little "deus ex machina" is sometimes necessary.

Overall, this book could have been a bit more accessible if the author had omitted some of the more superfluous characters. Sure, they added a certain atmosphere, but in the end, they contributed very little to the story. For instance, the "coffin maker" subplot could have been completely eliminated, potentially reducing the book by almost 40 pages.

Still, as I said earlier, I personally really enjoyed it and ranked it alongside "Salem's Lot" and "Children of Night" in my vampire book rankings. It may not be on par with "Dracula," but it is a fun read.

Rated PG-13/R for sex, profanity, and copious amounts of vampire-related violence.

A very strong 3 stars here.

I can honestly say that in my life, I have read only three vampire novels. There's this one, "Salem's Lot" which I can hardly remember now, and "Let the Right One In" which is one of my all-time favourites. The fact that I have read so little about them perhaps made me enjoy this book a lot more than I should have. I was buddy reading this with one of my good friends and numerous times he pointed out how unoriginal this novel is. Even when we finally both thought we had come across something original, it turned out that nope, this had also been done before. However, this didn't stop my enjoyment of it, because when it comes to vamp fiction, I'm practically a newbie. Just a warning though for you vamp aficionados out there.

"They Thirst" is a lot of fun. It has a big cast of characters to sink your teeth into (wink wink) and moves along at a steady pace. Some of the dialogue is cheesy as hell, with one line in particular that the major villain says, making me seriously cringe. "School's out!" You'll know what I mean.

The vampires here though are pretty damn scary. The prologue in particular is a standout and the cocooned people in the bedsheets are creepy. The main vamp also has some pretty cool moments and the final scene in the castle doesn't disappoint, but man, it takes a while to get there. The way that it all comes full circle though after McCammon went epic with his vamp epidemic is a hell of a disappointment and a bit of a fuck you. Much like the ending of "The Stand", I found myself rolling my eyes a little.

Still, this is worth your time overall. It offers an entertaining read with its engaging plot, interesting characters, and spooky vampire elements. While it may not be the most original or ground-breaking vampire novel, it has enough charm and excitement to keep you hooked from start to finish. So, if you're a fan of vampire fiction or just looking for a fun read, give "They Thirst" a try. You might be pleasantly surprised.

I am truly sorry that it took an inordinately long time for me to finally get around to reading this magnificent vampire novel.

These are not the romanticized vampires that one might typically envision. Instead, they are ruthless and bloodthirsty creatures with a diabolical plan to take over the United States, starting with the sprawling city of Los Angeles.

The novel features well-developed characters and a richly detailed storytelling, which are the hallmarks of McCammon's writing. From the very first paragraph, this story has an almost irresistible grip on the reader, drawing them in and refusing to let go.

I found myself completely engrossed in the narrative and simply couldn't put this book down. It was a thrilling and captivating read from start to finish.

McCammon has once again proven himself to be a master of the genre, creating a world that is both terrifying and fascinating. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a good vampire story or simply a well-written and engaging piece of literature.

Another well-written, apocalyptic horror-fest by a true master.

McCammon assembles a huge cast of diverse and mostly interesting characters. He throws them into a gathering hellstorm of vampires. There was nothing terribly original here. However, it made for exciting, pure eighties horror joy for this reader.

It did take a long time for me to get into this one. But after about 40%, it took off and didn't slow down.

The story builds tension gradually, with the characters facing one terrifying situation after another. The descriptions of the vampires and the chaos they cause are vivid and creepy.

McCammon's writing style is engaging, and he manages to keep the reader on the edge of their seat throughout.

Overall, it's a solid horror novel that will satisfy fans of the genre. Four solid stars.

This book begins rather slowly, and initially, one truly has to concentrate hard to fathom what is taking place.

However, as the story progresses, everything starts to converge and the pace quickens.

I truly relished this book. It was a spooky vampire-themed book, yet it was most definitely worthy of being read.

I almost put it aside (even though I did pause to read another book in the interim), but I am extremely glad that I didn't.

The slow start might have been a bit off-putting at first, but the subsequent development and the thrilling plot made it a highly engaging read.

The author managed to create an atmosphere of mystery and horror that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.

Despite the initial hesitation, I am now a firm believer in giving this book a chance, as it turned out to be a great choice.

This is definitely a more 'classic' vampire story, or at least it commences in that fashion.

The elderly country cop who recalls a vampire attack, the enigmatic foreign prince relocating to the castle on the hill, and so many elements that I would classify as a more traditional vampire narrative, with the creepiness factor being gradually built up initially.

However, it swiftly transforms and delivers a powerful blow to your gut as vampires begin to materialize everywhere by the hundreds. The unknown creatures suddenly step into the spotlight, and the story evolves from a more Salem's Lot style of slow-building creepiness to an all-out war against the undead.

Generally, it remains quite somber throughout and maintains a rather bleak tone up until the end, where you often find yourself wondering who will emerge victorious. The conclusion leaves a great deal open for future stories, but this one was a highly entertaining vampire tale with a diverse range of characters. The vampires weren't revolutionary and certainly weren't sparkly and romantic, yet they all blend together seamlessly, and you are right there with them through the highs and lows.

If you're a devotee of vampire fiction, then this will be a thoroughly enjoyable adventure. If you're seeking something a bit distinct, then the sheer magnitude of the vampire 'outbreak' is rather astonishing. It's more like a 60's rendition of The Strain than anything else.

In my opinion, this is one of the best vampire novels. It transports the concept of 'salems Lot to the bustling big city, and it's a gore-filled one. The opening chapter alone presents one of the bloodiest scenes I've ever read, and the intensity doesn't let up from there.

Anyway, we have vampires in Los Angeles! This novel truly deserves to be regarded as a classic of the vampire genre. Unlike so many popular series today that romanticize vampirism, this one shows it as a tool of the purest and blackest evil.

I just completed a re-read of this novel, and I loved it even more the second time around. It's such a great horror novel. I've been recommending it to people for years. So, if you haven't read it before, I highly recommend it.

Give it a try and prepare to be scared!

I decided to give this a go as an audiobook, and I'm truly convinced it was an outstanding choice.

The narrator is simply excellent. He had such great material to work with, which made the experience even more enjoyable. The vampires in this story are delightfully evil, not a single sparkly emo bloodsucker in sight!

There's also a serial killer with mommy issues, plenty of 80's-style partying, leather-clad biker gangs, sassy barrio kids, and a genuine old-world vampire slayer in the form of a Hungarian police detective.

I was instantly drawn into the story, and it never lost its grip on me. I only listen to audiobooks in the car during my commutes, which are relatively short. But I found myself driving slower and lingering in the driveway, reluctant to turn the car off.

The action was intense and frequent, and the tension built steadily. However, I did get a bit annoyed with some of the characters who didn't adapt to their new reality quickly enough.

Several of them would survive a terrifying encounter with the vampires only to rush into the street to wave down an approaching person or group. Hello! Shouldn't you make sure they're actually people before you start yelling and waving your arms? I have the same gripe with characters in zombie books.

When your town is overrun with zombies or vampires, you have to be a little more cautious, people!

*** SPOILERS AHEAD ***

The ending was a bit too convenient, although I anticipated its epic nature. McCammon had raised the stakes for the vampires to such a high level that only a natural disaster or act of God could wipe them out - they were too firmly entrenched to be defeated by a handful of brave souls.

I think the ending would have been more fitting if McCammon had spent some time developing the good vs. bad theme. Stephen King did this well in some of his stories, like The Stand.

If there had been just a touch here and there of divine intervention on the side of our protagonists, it would have felt more natural. He developed the supernatural evil superbly, the timeless forces of evil gathered on the side of the vampires.

It wouldn't have been out of place to suggest that some of our protagonists were also being guided and supported by the forces of good, and it would have made the ending seem less contrived.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook and highly recommend it to anyone who loves a great horror story or has a soft spot for vampires. You won't be disappointed!

This is my very first encounter with a Robert McCammon book. It's a rather lengthy read, with a slow and steady buildup. There are numerous chapters and a plethora of different characters.

There are some truly terrific personality studies. The plot is constructed gradually, but by the end, there's also some bombastic unrealism. It's rather over the top, filled with clichés, and dare I say it, even a bit corny. You won't gain any new insights into vampires from this book either.

Although the slow buildup and the constant switches between characters might seem like weaknesses at first, they actually turn out to be the overall strength of the book. The police investigations are just a small part of it. The character known as the Roach, a mass murderer who abducts prostitutes for his own nefarious purposes, is important but is just one character and a single subplot arc. There's an unspoken competition between the police force and the local gutter press to get to the bottom of this murder-mystery, which is more about character development than the essential plot.

The book transitions from an initial murder investigation to a widespread vampire threat that aims to rule the whole planet. While this is an exciting shift, it also makes the book a bit outlandish.

Gradually, we come to accept that vampires are indeed out there and need to be eradicated, which is the real driving force at the heart of They Thirst. It takes amazing storytelling skill to hold all of this together. This isn't just a crime thriller; it's a story about a city, its people, their loves and lives, and how the vampire menace gradually grows stronger and takes center stage.

What I didn't anticipate was how gloriously silly it would become by the end, transforming into a stupendously far-fetched story about discovery, survival, and hitting back against the vampire hordes.

There are parallels to other works of vampire fiction, such as 'I Am Legend' and how the vampire scourge becomes an impossibly difficult challenge, as well as obvious references to 'Dracula' and the hunt to eliminate evil and put it out of commission.

There are many interesting references to what vampires can and can't do and the precautions needed against them. In They Thirst, they can drink the blood of the dead, whereas in other vampire literature, that's not an option and human victims must be alive or the blood drained from them first. Crucifixes and holy water work against vampires in They Thirst, while in other established literature, these artefacts have no effect as vampires are not necessarily linked to Christianity. There's also the typical use of wooden stakes, garlic smeared across window sills, holy water thrown in faces, and so on.

Considering it was first published in 1980, this is a terrific book, but it offers nothing new in terms of how to deal with vampires. Expose them to light, cut off their heads, and pierce their hearts. They come out at night and wreak havoc on humanity, but during the day, they have to sleep in coffins partially filled with special soil.

When daylight arrives, the tables turn and humans can hunt back, but the plot devises a giant vampire-controlled sandstorm to prevent humans from retaliating during waking hours, making the vampire menace even stronger and harder to eradicate.

They Thirst feels a bit old-fashioned in places, with references to actors and personalities from the 1970s, which could be irrelevant and meaningless to younger readers and gives it a dowdy and archaic feel in a pre-technology era, with typewriters, fax machines, and analog physicality.

They Thirst justifies its far-fetched, silly, and outlandish nature as necessary and meaningful to play with the boundaries of improbability. The drawback, however, is how overly the top it gets by the end.

This is still a really good effort, though, and is full of interestingly warm characters wrapped around a menace that becomes impossibly strong over time. It's a classic battle of Good vs Evil 100%.

This is the kind of vampire novel that I truly love.

The vampires in it are bad, extremely bad. And they are also nasty. There is absolutely nothing romantic about these undead creatures.

They are depicted in all their horror and malevolence, which makes this novel stand out from the rest.

It's probably one of my favorite vampire novels of all time.

The author has done an excellent job of creating a dark and menacing world where the vampires rule with an iron fist.

The story is filled with thrilling action and heart-pounding moments that keep you on the edge of your seat.

Overall, this is a must-read for any fan of vampire fiction.

Wow!!!!!!!!!

This book was truly amazing!!!!!! I really don't know the reason why the author has decided not to have this book published anymore. It is an extraordinary piece of work.

The story in this book is about those tough and creepy vampires who awaken at night and suck your blood. Needless to say, it gave me nightmares! But you know what? I still loved it!

It is a great book all around. The characters are well-developed, the plot is engaging, and the writing style is captivating. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves horror or vampire stories.

It's a shame that it's not being published anymore, but I'm glad I had the chance to read it.