I would rate it a solid 4.5 stars. The concept of vampires in Los Angeles is simply captivating.

It's like a dream come true for fans of the supernatural. Just imagine those sleek and mysterious vampires lurking around the glamorous city, with its bright lights and bustling nightlife.

However, the only thing that could potentially make it even better is if they were to pay a visit to the Kardashian's house. The drama and chaos that would ensue would be nothing short of epic.

Can you picture the vampires interacting with the Kardashian clan? It would be a clash of two worlds, and I can't wait to see how it would all play out.

Overall, "Vampires in LA" is a must-read or watch for anyone who loves a good supernatural story with a touch of glamour and excitement.

A mediocre book about vicious vampires and the struggling souls bent on defending themselves and loved ones against the onslaught of the dead.

There were several issues with this novel. Firstly, it takes a whopping 200 + pages to actually become interesting. The initial part drags on, making it a bit of a chore to get through. Secondly, there is an excessive amount of detail given towards the setting. Easily, 100 pages or more could have been edited out without sacrificing the essence of the story.

Perhaps the largest problem, though, is that every character is completely forgettable. I simply didn't care about any of them as they all seemed very cliche and dull. I always look for a character that I can connect with and cheer for, but unfortunately, this book didn't have a single one. I was completely indifferent to who lived and who died.

Moreover, the head vampire, or the Master, was truly pathetic and lacking in the scares department. He failed to instill any real sense of fear or dread.

If you're looking for a book that crafts vampires in the traditional, menacing way, you might give this one a try. After all, there are no sparkling, vegetarian vampires here. However, this book was only an adequate read at best and nothing more. It simply can't hold a candle to the likes of Salem's Lot.

Once again, McCammon has truly delivered an outstanding performance with this latest thriller.

From the very beginning, I was a bit hesitant as to whether I would be able to finish reading it due to the way it started. However, I'm extremely glad that I persevered.

It doesn't take long for the captivating mystery to draw you in and completely engage you. Before you know it, you're hooked and can't put the book down.

As a writer myself, I find myself completely envious of McCammon's ability to neatly tie up all the loose ends in the end. His skill in crafting a story that is both thrilling and has a satisfying conclusion is truly remarkable.

This book is a must-read for any fan of the thriller genre. McCammon has once again proven himself to be a master of his craft.

Ah, this was such a delightfully fun read for me.

The vampires have relocated to the City of Angels, and they have plans to take over, and do so quickly.

I feel a bit reluctant to compare McCammon to King because I witness this happening all the time. However, it's true. We compare the two authors perhaps because they were both highly popular during the same era. Although they are distinct and individual authors, they both pen character-focused horror, and thus, inevitably, they get compared. It's just that King is widely regarded as a literary great, and McCammon, somewhat unfairly, sometimes gets overshadowed by King. Also, I don't observe people "hating" on McCammon; most people truly love his works too. They just happen to be compared frequently. McCammon is an outstanding horror author. This is the second book I have read by him, and I am determined to read many more in the future.

Anyway, as I mentioned earlier, this is a really excellent character-focused horror book. Approximately the first quarter of the book is dedicated to setting the stage with all of our main points of view. I absolutely love it when authors do this because it enables us, the character-driven readers, to become deeply attached to the characters before the main action of the book commences, and consequently, have a greater emotional investment in the story as a whole. I have also read Swan Song by McCammon, and he employed the same approach in that one. We got to truly understand our characters before all the chaos ensued.

I adored how this book read like an amazing 80's movie. The vivid imagery that McCammon was able to construct in my mind while I was reading was truly remarkable. The scenes transitioned so seamlessly, and the story advanced so smoothly that it felt as if I was watching a movie playing out in my head. Not all authors possess the ability to achieve this for me. With many authors (even those I greatly enjoy), there can be certain elements here and there that draw me out of the story. McCammon, however, never disappoints me in that regard.

I think I am going to give Boy's Life a try next, and soon!

This is copy 123 of 500 editions signed by Robert McCammon.

Robert McCammon is a highly regarded author, and his signatures add significant value to these copies. Each copy is a unique piece, carefully numbered and autographed by the author himself.

Collectors and fans alike will surely appreciate the rarity and authenticity of these editions. The fact that there are only 500 copies in total makes them even more desirable.

Owning a copy of this signed edition is not just about having a book; it's about possessing a piece of literary history. It's a tangible connection to the author and his work.

Whether you're a die-hard McCammon fan or a collector of rare books, this copy 123 is a must-have addition to your collection.

‘They Thirst’ is an enthralling tale that delves into the already marred city of Los Angeles, which is now being further marked and sullied by the forces of darkness. Life in LA is brutally harsh as it is, but now, the situation is about to take a turn for the worse. McCammon masterfully builds up tension and expectations through a series of ‘otherworldly incidents’. There is the ransacking of a cemetery and mass disappearances, among others. It becomes anyone's guess as to whether something momentous will occur or if the anticipation will be agonizingly drawn out just a little bit more.

When the proverbial hammer finally falls, it does so with great force. LA gangs are decimated by their vampire counterparts. A doctor finds herself all alone on a ward filled with the undead. And as if that weren't enough, there is a serial killer prowling the streets, aspiring to become a vampire himself. All of this is merely the precursor to a finale that reeks of evil yet simultaneously serves as a testament to the more virtuous aspects of humanity.

Talking of which, McCammon also does an excellent job of demonstrating that LA is a hotbed of evil even before the vampires make their appearance. I've already mentioned the serial killer, but also keep an eye out for the Hell's Angels. At the same time, McCammon effectively shows how fragile hope can be, yet also how it can flourish in the darkest of hours. This is truly a great read!!!

Ray Porter's narration is truly outstanding.

It brings the story to life in a vivid and engaging way.

The story itself is quite solid, although it may not reach the same level as McCammon's later masterpieces.

Nonetheless, it remains an enjoyable and highly entertaining pulp vampire book from the 1980s.

It is rather violent, which adds to its thrilling atmosphere.

The characters are relatable, making it easy for readers to connect with them on an emotional level.

The plotting is also solid, keeping the story moving forward at a brisk pace.

Overall, this book is definitely worth a shot for fans of vampire literature or those looking for a fun and exciting read.

It offers a unique blend of horror, action, and drama that is sure to satisfy.

Whether you're a die-hard McCammon fan or just someone who enjoys a good vampire story, this book is well worth your time.

So, go ahead and give it a try. You won't be disappointed.

Ok, I have completed my reread of ‘They Thirst’. Sadly, it failed to meet the expectations set by my memory of the first time I read this book. While there is a fair amount of enjoyment to be had during the reading process, at the same time, I couldn't help but constantly check how many pages were left. That's definitely not a positive sign.

Kobra, one of my favorite characters, didn't get nearly enough screen time. As a fellow motorcycle rider, I was excited to immerse myself in the club riding culture depicted through the motorcycle gangs. However, this aspect didn't quite live up to my expectations either.

My main complaint is that the book is simply too long for the average reader. Despite this, the story itself has great potential. Los Angeles, or "lost angels," becomes the breeding ground for vampires with world domination on their minds. It's an absolute *chef's kiss*

I've seen many other reviewers compare this book to ‘Salem's Lot,’ but I have no idea why. They are nowhere near the same or similar, aside from the fact that they both feature vampires. So, I really don't understand the comparison between the two lol.

Many other reviewers also didn't like the ending. Without giving away spoilers, I thought the ending was fine. It brought a sense of closure to the story, although it may not have been the most exciting or unexpected.

I like to view books from the perspective of a Hollywood producer and suggest which ones would make great movies. This book could definitely be tightened up and transformed into an awesome film. Something along the lines of From Dusk Till Dawn meets Blood In, Blood Out. That sounds like a lot of fun to me.

***SPOILERS AHEAD****

Now, for my spoilers... The main reason people didn't like the ending was that God pretty much saves the day by sending an earthquake that collapses L.A. and floods the vampires with waves of salt water that is either blessed or acidic to vampires in general. I was a bit unclear on that aspect.

However, we need to remember that we are suspending our disbelief and accepting that vampires are a real threat. In that context, God coming to the rescue doesn't seem entirely out of the question. Robert McCammon also established in the book that holy water has an effect on the vampires. I'm going to quote From Dusk Till Dawn here:

“And if there is a hell, and those sons of bitches are from it, then there has got to be a heaven... Jacob, there’s gotta be.”

Revelation 16:18 also mentions that a great earthquake will occur that may split the Mount of Olives in two, which could be seen as a parallel to the earthquake in the book.

This story began in a truly remarkable way. There was a palpable sense of mounting intrigue right from the start, which immediately captured my attention. The cast of characters was both colorful and fascinating, each one bringing something unique to the table.

However, as the story progressed and the ideas developed, things took a turn for the worse. The plot became increasingly convoluted, with twists and turns that seemed more outlandish than clever. What was once an engaging narrative started to feel dull and tiresome.

It is truly disappointing that this is my first encounter with a McCammon novel. I had high hopes based on his reputation, but unfortunately, this book has not lived up to my expectations. To make matters worse, I have four more of his books sitting on my shelf, waiting to be read. I'm not sure if I'm looking forward to them anymore, given my experience with this one.

This is yet another book that I have been lugging around from one house to another, from one state to another, for several years. I believe I obtained this book when I was still in college, and I graduated in 1994. So... goodness, it has been at least twenty-one years. I was extremely fond of horror during my high school days, and that interest persisted throughout and even beyond graduate school. As a result, I read most of what McCammon had written up to that point and truly relished it. I vividly remember devouring Swan Song in just one weekend. So when this particular book appeared on my reading list, I was thrilled to finally get around to reading it.

The issue with reading something like this is that my tastes have undergone significant changes since then, and I am a different person from who I was back then. I still have an appreciation for a good horror story, but having read numerous ones, what I now consider a good horror story differs from this book. It is about vampires, which is acceptable (I think it is almost a requirement for a horror author to have at least one such work in their body of literature), but ultimately it is a rather ordinary vampire story. It is undoubtedly better than the dark, brooding, emo vampire stories that have dominated the genre, but there is nothing truly extraordinary here to distinguish it from other vampire tales. Considering that this book was published in 1981, that might not be a completely fair criticism, but it is the truth.

The positive aspect is that a writer with sufficient talent can take an ordinary type of story and make it engaging enough to be enjoyable. 'Salem's Lot is a prime example. Little of what King writes could be regarded as ordinary, but when you examine the structure of that story - one person pitted against a vampire invasion, the gradual takeover of a town, the main character losing a loved one to the vampires, and then a hard-fought victory at the end - it adheres to the same basic principles as other vampire stories. However, King's characterization and plot skills elevate the story far above and beyond any ordinary vampire novel, making it something truly extraordinary.

McCammon possesses these same skills, but for some reason, it is not sufficient to elevate the story to the status of a classic like 'Salem's Lot. McCammon has previously stated that he does not think highly of his first four books (They Thirst being the fourth one), as he felt as if he was learning to write in public, and I wonder if that is the reason why the book feels somewhat insubstantial. (Interestingly enough, McCammon references his own Bethany's Sin, one of those four books, in the narrative. One of the characters does not have a high opinion of it.) It is difficult to be overly critical of the story's issues knowing this, but there were still elements that caught my attention. Here, McCammon has a tendency to abruptly change points of view in the middle of a chapter. In some instances, this is handled well, but in others, it is rather jarring. It was not uncommon for him to tell most of a chapter from one character's point of view and then, in the last paragraph, switch to someone else responding to that character. It felt clumsy and even sloppy.

McCammon does not shy away from aiming big, though, with the scope encompassing the entire city of Los Angeles. The events of the novel unfold over the course of approximately a week, with the vampires' goal being to take over the entire city of eight million people. This wide scope means that there are numerous characters, and many of them receive a significant amount of attention in the story. Not all of them end up being long-term characters, and my guess is that McCammon intended to create a connection between the reader and the character before making them a victim, but it did not work for me. They felt too cliched and too two-dimensional to truly elicit sympathy from me.

There was still a great deal to like in the story. Things occur rapidly, and it reminded me a little of a zombie plague. Interestingly enough, I completed watching Fear the Walking Dead while I was reading this, and one of the things I liked about that show was the character who said, in the second episode, "When civilization ends, it ends fast". The same holds true for They Thirst. Additionally, McCammon included a massive sandstorm near the end of the story, which I thought was used to great effect.

I am glad that I read the book, as it brings me one step closer to reading all of McCammon's horror novels (Mine is still sitting on the shelf), but I am not certain if I could recommend it, except perhaps to the most die-hard of vampire fans. Then again, those who have read and enjoyed McCammon's works would likely appreciate it for the curiosity factor, if nothing else. I cannot rank it among his best novels, though.

It is exactly 5 days before Halloween, and the city of Los Angeles, California, is experiencing some truly weird and crazy happenings.

People are mysteriously going missing, and to make matters worse, vampires have invaded the state.

The question on everyone's mind is: Can police detective Andy Palantazin and his friends manage to stop this dark force before it turns every single person in the city into a vampire?

Well, you'll have to read on and discover the answer for yourself.

This was my very first novel by this particular author, and I have to say it was a rather good read.

If you have a penchant for Horror and Vampire stories, I highly recommend that you check this book out at your local library or wherever books and ebooks are sold.

You won't be disappointed!

Lover of all things “evil vampires”? RIGHT HERE!

Is there anything really new in this book? Not really. But if you are a fan of the genre, don't be afraid to pick this one up. It adheres to all the folklore we've come to know and love.

I think the most significant positive aspect of “They Thirst” is that it follows numerous characters, and McCammon wasn't hesitant to kill some of them off to keep you in suspense. However, the fact that there are so many characters can also be a drawback if you struggle to keep track of who's who.

In my opinion, the biggest drawback was probably the ending (not the very last scene, mind you; I found that to be rather good). When I mention the end, I'm referring to the resolution of everything after the climax, which dragged a bit for me.

That's pretty much all I have to say about this one. If you don't shy away from a long read and you appreciate brutally classic bloodthirsty vampires, this might be a suitable read for you.