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Pet Sematary: A Novel Mass Market Paperback – January 31, 2017

by Stephen King (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 18,631 ratings
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Now a major motion picture from Paramount Pictures starring John Lithgow, Jason Clarke, and Amy Seimetz!

Stephen King’s #1 New York Times bestseller Pet Sematary, a “wild, powerful, disturbing” (The Washington Post Book World) classic about evil that exists far beyond the grave—among King’s most iconic and beloved novels.

When Dr. Louis Creed takes a new job and moves his family to the idyllic rural town of Ludlow, Maine, this new beginning seems too good to be true. Despite Ludlow’s tranquility, an undercurrent of danger exists here. Those trucks on the road outside the Creed’s beautiful old home travel by just a little too quickly, for one thing…as is evidenced by the makeshift graveyard in the nearby woods where generations of children have buried their beloved pets. Then there are the warnings to Louis both real and from the depths of his nightmares that he should not venture beyond the borders of this little graveyard where another burial ground lures with seductive promises and ungodly temptations. A blood-chilling truth is hidden there—one more terrifying than death itself, and hideously more powerful. As Louis is about to discover for himself sometimes, dead is better…
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  1. Print length
    560 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Pocket Books
  4. Publication date
    January 31, 2017
  5. Dimensions
    4.13 x 1.1 x 7.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1501156705
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1501156700
  8. See all details
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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
18,631 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book to be a good, definite read that doesn't disappoint. They also describe the scariness level as timeless, creepy, and impressive. Readers praise the writing quality as incredible, excellent, and descriptive. They find the themes captivating, profound, and relatable. They appreciate the well-developed characters and dark content. Opinions are mixed on the ending, with some finding it suspenseful and endearing, while others say it's endearing.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

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ReadabilityScariness levelWriting qualityThought provokingCharacter developmentDark contentEndingPacing
308 customers mention "Readability"308 positive0 negative

Customers find the book really good, worth watching, and a definite read. They say it's better than the movie and doesn't disappoint at all. Readers also mention the beginning half is pure King.

"Great book to read this time of year 🎃..." Read more

"...It’s real, honest, and raw- making it a brilliant read...." Read more

"...It's one of those books that's really really really really really GOOD. It's not something God himself would want to read...." Read more

"...Excellent read! I enjoyed the slow build up and the thrilling ending. Highly recommend to all...." Read more

240 customers mention "Scariness level"197 positive43 negative

Customers find the book frightening, disturbing, and impressive. They say it makes the mundane seem extremely creepy. Readers also mention the emotional resonance of the story is timeless.

"...It makes you wrestle with resurrection. For the disciple of Christ, we know that Christ has won the victory over death (1 Corinthians 15:54-57)...." Read more

"...darkest parts of the novel are written beautifully, with a masterful use of emotion. It’s real, honest, and raw- making it a brilliant read...." Read more

"...Excellent read! I enjoyed the slow build up and the thrilling ending. Highly recommend to all...." Read more

"...I love this book, it's so spooky and scary its the stuff that keeps you up at night. It's a King classic right up there with The Stand and It...." Read more

71 customers mention "Writing quality"58 positive13 negative

Customers find the writing quality of the book eloquent, excellent, and literary. They appreciate the descriptive language and the narrator's wonderful respect for the English language. Readers also mention the dialogue between the characters is great.

"...It feels very believable that they have the relationship of a husband and a wife, and the scenes between them were not as cheesy as I expected them..." Read more

"...The imagery is wonderful and spooky. Not a hard read either. I was easily able to keep up with any flashbacks, and jumps from character to character...." Read more

"...Highly recommend to all. I loved SK’s writing—the references to literature and lyrics, the bits of humor, the descriptions of feelings and..." Read more

"...So it helps to create a believable back story there. He actually gets away with using a well-worn device...." Read more

42 customers mention "Thought provoking"42 positive0 negative

Customers find the book captivating, with wonderful depth to the themes. They describe it as an intense walk through an interesting concept. Readers also mention that the book is profound and imaginative.

"...Pet Sematary is a very human novel, at its core...." Read more

"...Ultimately, this one not only holds up but is richer with more experience, something I can't say for many books I loved as a teen...." Read more

"...And I can't fault him for that! This book is QUALITY. It's chilling, original, and builds a terrifying world...." Read more

"...The grave digging and night scenes are pretty brilliant, as his wife and Jud's futile efforts to stop a morbid escapade...." Read more

41 customers mention "Character development"39 positive2 negative

Customers find the characters very developed and complex. They say the book brings the family of characters to life. Readers are pleasantly surprised with how well the author writes characters.

"...to literature and lyrics, the bits of humor, the descriptions of feelings and characters. Looking forward to reading another of his books!" Read more

"...The main character is pretty well-realized, although King stated that his idea for the book came from living in a very similar setting with his wife..." Read more

"...does such a great job of describing the scenery, and the characters are very developed...." Read more

"...early parts of the novel did not have merit; I thoroughly enjoyed the massive character developement that was employed through the early stages of..." Read more

19 customers mention "Dark content"15 positive4 negative

Customers find the content dark, rich, and reflective. They describe the book as a suspenseful thriller with a very dark twist.

"...As others have written before me, this book is dark. King leads you into the mind of Dr. Louis Creed who is the main character in the book...." Read more

"Easily King's darkest and most reflective piece of literature he has put out...." Read more

"...consider a horror novel, but it is a suspenseful thriller with a very dark twist...." Read more

"...once again used his literary magic to transport me into this beautifully dark world...." Read more

40 customers mention "Ending"16 positive24 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the ending of the book. Some mention it has suspenseful moments and endearing ones. Others say the ending feels underwhelming at times, rushed, and predictable.

"...There was very little surprise in the novel- it all was rather linear, and while the writing was great, that lack of intrigue took it down a notch..." Read more

"...am after finishing a Stephen King story, amazed, impressed, and thoroughly unsettled...." Read more

"...After some thoughtful introspection, I came to realize that the story felt predictable because EVERYONE copies the tropes of this book!..." Read more

"...This book is exciting, creepy, and relatable." Read more

40 customers mention "Pacing"15 positive25 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book. Some mention it's perfect, masterful, and immediate, while others say it's slow to build and in parts seems rushed.

"...Though the writing is slow, the darkest parts of the novel are written beautifully, with a masterful use of emotion...." Read more

"...Excellent read! I enjoyed the slow build up and the thrilling ending. Highly recommend to all...." Read more

"...Like others, I found the beginning of the book a bit too slow of a buildup; it could've been tightened up quite a bit...." Read more

"...Church comes back, but more clumsy and slow than he was before. He smells horrible too, no matter how many times he gets a bath...." Read more

Pet Cemetery - Stephen King
5 out of 5 stars
Pet Cemetery - Stephen King
Great book to read this time of year 🎃
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Top reviews from the United States

Pristael
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent ending!
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2024
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First time reading a Stephen King book, and I’m so glad it was Pet Sematary. Excellent read! I enjoyed the slow build up and the thrilling ending. Highly recommend to all.
I loved SK’s writing—the references to literature and lyrics, the bits of humor, the descriptions of feelings and characters. Looking forward to reading another of his books!
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MacMc1126
5.0 out of 5 stars Pet Cemetery - Stephen King
Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2024
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Great book to read this time of year 🎃
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MacMc1126
5.0 out of 5 stars Pet Cemetery - Stephen King
Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2024
Great book to read this time of year 🎃
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Summer Rain
4.0 out of 5 stars 4 Stars
Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2023
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Stephen King once said that Pet Sematary is the scariest book he’s ever written. Here’s why I agree. Beware of spoilers for the following review.
As a horror fan, I can tell you that horror isn’t typically scary. Grotesque, sure- but scary? Besides jump scares, horror has very little horror in it, because most horror fans have the recognition of the horror not being real. Vampires, aliens, monsters? Not real, so in the back of your head you know it’s not scary. Instead, you enjoy it because of how unbelievable it is. But then there’s real horror- the kind that reflects very real situations, that makes your stomach churn and your heart race because as you read it, you can imagine it happening to yourself.
Stephen King is a master of this. The scariest part of IT wasn’t the clown alien- it was the domestic abuse, the horrors of an ugly, violent reality. Pet Sematary, on the other hand, tackles the very raw and real fear of death. Stephen King himself had a close call with his son and a truck- and he also went through having to explain death, especially pet death, to his children. It’s a relatable situation, and one that I believe you can feel the turmoil of in King’s writing. The horror, the struggle, the fear was real. Louis Creed’s thoughts, his imagining of everything being okay, was well written and crucial to the story. King’s personal stake made these moments all the more thought provoking. Though the writing is slow, the darkest parts of the novel are written beautifully, with a masterful use of emotion. It’s real, honest, and raw- making it a brilliant read.
Pet Sematary is a very human novel, at its core. One of the most well written parts of the novel was the descriptions of Gage’s death and the scenes that follow; the heartbroken reactions of the characters reacting to a tragic event. The grief in this novel is a very real depiction of how it is in real life. I also loved the truth of Rachel’s family- what they had been through, how they reacted, the strained relationships of her parents and her husband and the way her father tried to make things right in the end. There’s an honest discussion about death being natural versus death being unnatural, and I respected King showing both sides, showcasing Louis’ view of death and tragedy versus Rachel’s extremely opposite view.
Another thing to mention is the depiction of love in this book. King is known for his sex scenes often being written with an inappropriate or crude edge, but the romance between Louis and his wife Rachel was one of my favorite parts of the book. It feels very believable that they have the relationship of a husband and a wife, and the scenes between them were not as cheesy as I expected them to be. Moreso, the love that Louis had for his children was extremely apparent in this book. The other works I’ve read from Mr. King have not had healthy love in it, and Louis is a different kind of character- one who cares deeply for his family. Emotionally, this was a very strong read.
Now, all this sounds good, so you might wonder why I chose to give it a four and not a five star review. There is one main reason for this.
I believe that King gave away too much of the plot. It’s a great writing device, but I am not sure it worked well here. I knew the plot of the novel already, because I’ve seen the movies many times. But I found it jarring when King alluded to Norma Crandall’s death before it happened, and then again with his own son. It was clever, in many ways, but I just struggled with it having been revealed in that way. There was very little surprise in the novel- it all was rather linear, and while the writing was great, that lack of intrigue took it down a notch for me. I still believe this to be one of King’s better novels, though.
18 people found this helpful
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Seeking Disciple
5.0 out of 5 stars A Dark Look Into Death and Resurrection
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2014
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Stephen King said that this work was by far his darkest. He admitted that the book was sort of based on his own experiences living with his family near a busy highway. His daughter's cat was struck and killed by a car on that highway and King begin to ponder what if the cat could come back to life. What would the cat be like? How would he react if he buried the cat only to see the cat back in his yard the next day? This led to his writing of this book.

As others have written before me, this book is dark. King leads you into the mind of Dr. Louis Creed who is the main character in the book. Dr. Creed moves his family from Chicago to Ludlow, Maine where he will work at the University. Dr. Creed is a young doctor with a young family. His daughter Ellie has a cat named Churchill (Church for short) and there is his young son Gage. His wife Rachel is the love of his life. The family adjusts to life in Ludlow but sadly Church is killed on the busy highway that the Creed's life next to. Louis' older neighbor, Jud, wants to help Louis after Louis saved his wife's Norma from dying. He takes Dr. Creed and his dead cat to the "Pet Sematary" (well actually past it) to an old Native American burial ground. They bury the cat and the next day, the cat comes back to the Creed home but remains a bit odd the rest of the book.

In the end, the tragic results of Jud taking Louis beyond the pet cemetery works havoc on their lives. Many have written the end but I will not. I will leave that for you.

Overall, this book makes you think about death and life. It makes you wrestle with resurrection. For the disciple of Christ, we know that Christ has won the victory over death (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). Our hope is in Him (1 Thessalonians 4:13). In the end, Christ Himself will cast death into eternal destruction (Revelation 20:14). However, the child of God through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9) will receive eternal life with their Lord (Romans 6:23; Revelation 21:7). While King shows Dr. Creed struggling with death and coming to terms with death (which he never does), the disciple of Christ can rest knowing that death has lost its power (John 5:24-25).
11 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Jorge Eduardo García
5.0 out of 5 stars Gran libro, gran edición!
Reviewed in Mexico on December 12, 2023
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Me encantó la historia. La edición es muy buena también. La letra es quizá un poco más pequeña de lo que me gustaría, pero creo que reste a la calidad del producto. Tiene un acabado que no había visto en otro libro, y creo que eso lo hace especial.
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Samantha
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved
Reviewed in Canada on September 14, 2024
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This book is so freaking good!

It came in perfect condition.
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Ufuk
5.0 out of 5 stars tesekkurler
Reviewed in Turkey on October 21, 2024
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hızlı geldi tesekkurler
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Rasse Charlotte
5.0 out of 5 stars Très bon état
Reviewed in Belgium on September 14, 2024
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J’ai commandé le livre car impossible de le trouver en librairie et vu le prix j’ai opté pour l’option seconde main et franchement je dois dire que je suis surprise du bel état du livre! On dirait un neuf franchement trop trop contente et impatiente de le lire pendant la spooky season 👻
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Rasse Charlotte
5.0 out of 5 stars Très bon état
Reviewed in Belgium on September 14, 2024
J’ai commandé le livre car impossible de le trouver en librairie et vu le prix j’ai opté pour l’option seconde main et franchement je dois dire que je suis surprise du bel état du livre! On dirait un neuf franchement trop trop contente et impatiente de le lire pendant la spooky season 👻
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Kindle-klant
5.0 out of 5 stars Goed!
Reviewed in the Netherlands on March 10, 2023
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Heel spannend en heel goed! Ik vond dit een van de meest meeslepende boeken van Stephen King die ik tot zover heb gelezen.
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