This is classic Stephen King, written long before he was a brand name, When He Was STILL writing to mostly entertain himself. And doing that, he entertains the reader. "Salem's Lot" begins mystery but soon Becomes a straightforward chiller, with plenty of comfortable characters, believable suspense, tragedy, horror and awesome. The main characters - Ben Mears, Sue Norton, Mark Petrie, Matt Burke - are very well-drawn. Other townspeople, like the Glick family, the town constable, Father Flanagan, that are drawn with simple skill and strength, making them as known to us as our own neighbors. We enjoy reading about Their everyday pursuits - and are horrified by the horrible deaths THUS theywill come to .... Mr. King here, as in many of his other works later, has a great many insights into childhood - and adult - fears, Whether rational or not. King can write about adultery and its repurcussions as well as vampire attacks, and make them both fascinating and convincing. He understands the writer's mind, the lives of the working class, and the pace of small-town life. Some of the best writing here is in the chapters Entitled "The Lot," in Which He explores Both The Secret Lives of many of the characters as well as the town itself ... Secrets thatwill Eventually materialize into the forms of Straker and Barlow ... and the innocent will suffer alongwith the guilty. This book is one of the few That made me feel a physical fear, a dread crept over me as the I read. The writing is plain and this Contributes to the general sense of unease and fear mounting. King really knows what he's doing! I can not imagine any horror or Steve King fan did hasnt read this book, but if you have not, read it now, for it is a milestone in horror / vampire fiction.
