Cujo by Stephen king

It was a move that was supposed to save their family after Vic learns of Donna’s affair. Castle Rock would be the fresh start they needed, a welcome change of pace from New York City. Together with their 4-year-old son, Tad, the family moves into their new home to restart their lives.

On the other side of town, the Cambers run a small auto repair shop from their home, servicing the town they’ve lived in all their lives. Their St Bernard, Cujo, is a well-natured dog, inquisitive and often running through the fields behind the house. But curiosity can be dangerous as this creature is about to learn.

Infected with rabis, Cujo quickly transforms into an out-of-control beast that kills anyone he meets. And Donna is about to take Tad to have their car checked, unaware of the fight for survival that is waiting for her.

It’s a crazy rabi-infested dog that kills people. But this horror novel is so much more, the story weaving in and out of so many differing emotions that you tend to forget your reading a story. The chilling atmosphere King creates as Cujo is stalking his victims, the way the tension builds and builds into not one but several climaxes.

Although on the shorter side of Stephen King novels, Cujo is long enough to build a nice regular hill climb, taking you to the very top before dropping you off a cliff on the other side. Because that’s exactly how the ending felt for me when I read it way back in the early 90’s. I did see the movie first, enjoying it for the thrill fest it was. But when I finally opened the cover for the first time, quickly learnt why the book is always better.