45 pages • 1 hour read
400
Novel • Fiction
Maine • 1980s
1981
Adult
18+ years
830L
In Cujo by Stephen King, the small town of Castle Rock, Maine, faces terror during the summer of 1980 when a friendly St. Bernard named Cujo contracts rabies and becomes a menacing threat. As Vic Trenton leaves town for a business trip and a marital crisis looms, his wife, Donna, and their son, Tad, find themselves trapped in their broken-down car at Cujo’s owner’s yard, fighting for survival against the rabid dog. The novel contains explicit acts of violence and refers to death by suicide.
Dark
Unnerving
Suspenseful
Emotional
Gritty
Reviews for Stephen King's Cujo are mixed. Readers praise its intense suspense and deep character development, particularly the realistic portrayal of fear. However, criticisms include a slow start and occasionally meandering narrative. Overall, it's recognized for its ability to evoke terror but may not appeal to those seeking a more consistently fast-paced thriller.
Readers who revel in suspenseful horror novels with psychological depth will enjoy Stephen King's Cujo. Fans of Pet Sematary or William Peter Blatty’s The Exorcist will appreciate the intense atmosphere and character-driven tension. Ideal for those intrigued by how ordinary settings become arenas for extraordinary fear.
400
Novel • Fiction
Maine • 1980s
1981
Adult
18+ years
830L
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.