Pet SemataryPet Sematary
Score Classic
What it's about
Louis Creed, a young doctor, moves his family to a house in rural Maine beside a highway where trucks barrel past. Up the path behind the house is a cemetery where local children bury their pets, and beyond it lies an older burial ground. When the family cat is killed, a kindly neighbor shows Louis what that place can do, and Louis learns that sometimes dead is better.
Why it's worth reading
It was a #1 New York Times bestseller, and Stephen King has said it's the book that frightens him most. It's a horror novel about grief and how far a parent might go.
You'll love it if you liked
Good to know
It's among King's darkest books, with the death of a young child at its center. Many parents find it very hard to read.
By the numbers
- Readers61 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller76 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #13 of the 86 horror books we rank
- #236 of the 762 classics we rank
- #745 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Dark, Gripping
More by Stephen King
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Watchers
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Quick answers
Is Pet Sematary worth reading?
Yes. It was a #1 New York Times bestseller, and Stephen King has said it's the book that frightens him most. It ranks #745 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 75.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Pet Sematary about?
Louis Creed, a young doctor, moves his family to a house in rural Maine beside a highway where trucks barrel past. Up the path behind the house is a cemetery where local children bury their pets, and beyond it lies an older burial ground. When the family cat is killed, a kindly neighbor shows Louis what that place can do, and Louis learns that sometimes dead is better.
How long does it take to read Pet Sematary?
About 12 hours (480 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Pet Sematary?
If you liked it, try It by Stephen King, The Stand by Stephen King or The Institute by Stephen King.