SK's early books have a "solid" feel to them that I can't describe better than that (sorry). This and The Shining exemplify that feel best. I love vampires and stories about them. Please bear in mind that when I say "vampire," I'm referring to real vampires like Dracula and Barlow (the vamp in this story); not the silly, pathetic things that pass for vampires in pop culture nowadays. This book has a kickass vampire, a sadistic assistant, the introduction of a drunk priest who has a small part but important role in the Dark Tower series, and a haunted house. Therefore, it's a great read. The only thing that knocks it back down to three stars instead of four is that parts of it are a bit slow, especially towards the beginning. All things considered, this book does the job of merging the vampire lore from Dracula with modern times that Buffy, Twilight, and friends completely FAIL to do.