Book Review - Salem's Lot by Stephen King

Title: Salem’s Lot
Series: -
Author: Stephen King
 
Description: Writer Ben Mears has returned to his hometown of Jerusalem’s Lot with the hope that moving into a dilapidated mansion, long the subject of town lore, might help him get a handle on his life and provide inspiration for a new book. But when two young boys venture into the woods and only one comes out alive, Mears begins to realize that there may be something sinister at work.
In time, he comes to understand that his hometown is under siege from forces of darkness far beyond his wildest imagination. And only he, with a small group of allies, can hope to contain the evil that is tearing the town apart.
 
Review: “Salem’s Lot” is undoubtedly one of the works that has put Stephen King on the map, and rightly so. It contains all the ingredients that set King apart from the masses. King really is a master in setting up a story, by telling you in detail about the town it’s set in and the people that live there. This way the town and the inhabitants really come to life.
 
King was inspired by Bram Stoker’s “Dracula”, and he gives it a nice, modern twist without losing its power. And it’s a horror book, with some real creepy moments. But it’s not King at his scariest.
 
Because the first 40 percent of the book was basically the story’s set-up, “Salem’s Lot” is a slow burn and not a lot happens at that point. But ones strange things start to happen, this book is un-put-downable. I wouldn’t call it a page-turned, it’s too slow for that, but you do want to keep reading and you’re sucked into the story. “Salem’s Lot” is one of my favorite King books I have read so far, although you have to be patient before it really gets going. Worth the wait though.
 
Rating: 4/ 5