Jim Thompson's 1952 pitch noir pulp classic is truly as dark as it can get. Lou Ford, a deputy sheriff, leads a life in which he makes a half-hearted effort to prevent himself from murdering anyone. And as the story begins, he is on the verge of losing that battle.

It is an entirely successful book. Thompson is an efficient writer, and even when he indulges in the loopy noir purpleness like "I kissed her, a long hard kiss. Because baby didn't know it, but baby was dead." I mean, that kind of stuff is always entertaining, and he manages to pull it off masterfully.

Stephen King makes an argument in his forward that this is a Great American Novel. And yes, indeed, why not? This is America too, with all its dark and seedy underbelly explored in the pages of this remarkable book. It delves deep into the psyche of a complex and troubled character, painting a vivid and disturbing picture of a world gone awry.

The Killer Inside Me by Jim Thompson is an extraordinary novel that offers a captivating and chilling reading experience. This is my initial encounter with Thompson's work, and if this book is representative of his style, it will undoubtedly not be my last.

I first became acquainted with Thompson while reading an introduction in one of Richard Stark's novels. Stark cites Thompson as one of his influences, and if you have read any of the 'Parker' novels, you will notice a resemblance in their writing styles. Thompson himself held a great admiration for Fyodor Dostoyevsky, and critic/author Geoffrey O'Bren even referred to Thompson as the 'Dime-store Dostoyevsky'. Although comparing Thompson to Dostoyevsky may seem like a stretch, there is no denying that they share certain commonalities. Both authors are masters at creating vivid and vibrant characters, and they authentically depict their respective eras through their use of language, social conditions, and cultural attitudes and prejudices.

What I truly love about Thompson's writing is the fact that his stories were written during the era in which they are set. This gives his work an unparalleled touch of authenticity that, in my opinion, modern writers cannot replicate. 'The Killer Inside Me' is narrated in the first person by Sheriff's Deputy Lou Ford, who appears to be a likable, amiable, yet somewhat dimwitted individual to his fellow townspeople. However, this carefully crafted facade conceals a monster who is completely devoid of empathy for his fellow man and any of the 'normal' emotions that we associate with being human.

As a teenager, Ford assaults a young girl and is caught by his older stepbrother. For some inexplicable reason, his stepbrother takes the blame and is sent to prison. Upon his release, the brother gets a job in construction but is killed on the job under mysterious circumstances. Ford blames the company's owner, Chester Conway, for his brother's death and seeks revenge by killing Conway's son. Throughout the story, Ford justifies his actions by convincing himself that the deaths of his victims were unavoidable and somehow a form of self-defense. At one point, during one of his many internal dialogues, he even admits that he kills because he enjoys it. There is no doubt that Deputy Lou Ford is a psychopath. You would expect him to have a mind filled with chaos and turmoil, but contrary to what his fellow townspeople believe, he is actually extremely intelligent. Every act he commits is carefully thought out and executed with ruthless precision.

Things start to fall apart for Ford when he realizes that there may be a witness who could bring his carefully constructed 'house of cards' crashing down. However, even when faced with defeat, he manages to continue manipulating the situation. If you are a fan of psychological thrillers in the tradition of Pulp Fiction and Hard Case Crime, I highly recommend reading this book. I give it a perfect 5 out of 5 stars. Happy reading!

A Novel Narrated from the Perspective of a Psychopath Deserving All My Contempt.

He is a disgusting misogynistic, racist, murderer, truly a gem of nature.

It is a very quick read, that's for sure.

This novel takes us into the mind of a truly despicable character. The psychopath at the center of the story is a repulsive specimen, filled with hatred and violence towards women and people of other races. His actions are those of a cold-blooded killer, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.

Despite the abhorrent nature of the protagonist, the novel is engaging and keeps the reader hooked from start to finish. The writing is fast-paced and easy to follow, making it a quick and enjoyable read.

However, it is important to remember that this is just a work of fiction and not a reflection of reality. We should not glorify or romanticize the actions of such a character, but rather use it as a reminder of the darkness that can exist within some people.

Overall, this novel is a thought-provoking and entertaining read that will leave you with a sense of disgust and a deeper understanding of the human psyche.

A second read. It still seems awfully artificial to me.

Count me as the oddball on this one.

This is boring me. It takes empathy to write, even if you are writing about a sociopath. I guess I'm just out of sync on this one...or fed up with the type (sociopaths).

Perhaps it's because I expected more depth and authenticity in the portrayal.

The characters and their actions don't feel genuine, as if they were created solely to fit a certain narrative rather than being fully developed individuals.

Writing about a sociopath is no easy task, but it should still be possible to make the story engaging and thought-provoking.

Maybe the author could have delved deeper into the sociopath's psyche, explored their motives and desires more thoroughly.

As it stands, this piece just doesn't do it for me.

I hope that future works in this genre will offer a more nuanced and captivating look at the complex world of sociopathy.

Thompson is one of those beautiful cases in literature. As far as I can tell, his work is set in the genre of crime literature, with tendencies pulling it towards the noir. Perhaps it has to do with crime as the basic element of his stories, lawlessness as a pattern, and, surely, his tough heroes. In fact, in his time, it was published together with other contemporaries of his, in series of the "series".

If possible! The guy with his previous book gave me the most enjoyable reading experiences of recent times. Even if he talks about tough situations, about the American backwoods and bloody incidents, he has an excellent pen: his dialogues, his heroes, and the pregnancy with which he approaches, ultimately, social issues with an almost anti-didactic tone, ending up in revitalizing fables. Well, absurdities. If Thompson were alive today, he would be the archbishop of southern gothic/noir literature, with Donald Ray Pollock following in his footsteps.

In this one here, which is considered his masterpiece, he continues to be caustic and humorous. However, it is also challenging because he chooses to bring the reader into contact with something original for the data until then: the side of the criminal mind. And he does it subtly, as the first-person narrator, an ordinary person, gradually unfolds his plans. It is a completely unreliable narrator. Not because he hides his motives, but because he himself does not know them completely, as he gets lost in a maze of blood and crime.

In my eyes, Thompson's work is something unique. It seems that he has written them all on his sleeves when he constructs a story. The patterns are shattered, as well as the expectations of every reader who will wait to enjoy the conventions of his favorite literature. Thompson is unorthodox, he is challenging, intelligent. Perhaps he is sick and addresses slightly damaged minds. Anyway, I would not be happy to see my child with one of his books in his hands.

For me, these writers, along with Celine and Houellebecq, who break the boundaries of ethics, who challenge and incite, while at the same time offering moments of high literary quality, are the reasons why I do not lose my faith in literature.

Lawford, the antagonist in the story "The Killer Inside Me," is a police officer with a seemingly perfect life: a prominent family (his father was the only doctor in town), a prestigious job (local police), and a charming fiancée! So, when Lawford strikes the first blow on the beautiful Joyce - a woman who loves Lawford passionately - those who have never heard of the story before or seen a cinematic adaptation of it are shocked. Lawford's goal is to stage a murder and settle a score with someone else, and Joyce is just the decoration of this scene, nothing more. But things don't go as Lawford plans, and he is forced to take matters into his own hands and commit other murders to set things right...

Among all the psychotic characters I have known so far - both in movies and in stories - Lawford, the schizoid cop-killer in this book, is the most repulsive and disturbing. I had just (through one of the books) had a taste of the darkness of Hobbes' thoughts on human nature, and this book once again confronted me with the human ability to multiply evil and commit crimes. Stanley Kubrick classified this book as one of the scariest works of the psycho genre through his unique perspective (first person: the mind of the killer) (not scary, but disturbing, why? I was horrified!). In some parts of the book, I wished Dexter Morgan would come into the story with a magic cross and settle Lawford's score - just like meat on a butcher's table - in a way that he deserved.

Footnote: First, in 2010, a movie with the same name was released in theaters (with Casey Affleck playing the role of Lawford). I also watched the movie, and it was mediocre compared to the book. Of course, at the end, it was a bit different from the book and was also weaker. Second, considering the sexual deviations of the killer and the multiple flashbacks in this regard, and also the killer's interest in rough sexual relations (especially spanking!), the translator and publishers had a difficult task in obtaining permission and at the same time being faithful to the text, which is understandable. In some places where the translator was obliged, instead of censoring the whole scene or text, the sentence was translated in an ambiguous way and with word censorship to minimize the damage to the body of the story, and to some extent, he was successful in this regard.

The Killer Inside Me (1952) by Jim Thompson is an extremely intense novel. In fact, none of his other works offer much respite either. It's a straightforward tale of revenge, where the one seeking it is a sociopathic killer.

\\tLou Ford, a deputy sheriff in a small west Texas town, is highly regarded by the townsfolk. In the late 40's and early 50's, they are grateful to have him as the law. With him around, they feel protected from any potential threats that might enter the town. However, there is a psycho killer hiding in plain sight. He is cruel, a real murderer, and even worse, he mistreats women and uses them as sex objects. He is simply evil. And Lou Ford has to deal with him.

\\tThis novel is truly a mind-bender, gradually eroding your grey matter. It's difficult to read, yet even harder to stop. It gets under your skin and refuses to let go. As someone once said, after reading this, you might want to bleach your brain. Or, as another deranged individual, the Donald, suggested, inject some other disinfectant into yourself to kill the virus "in a minute." In any case, this is a story that is hard to shake off.

This was my very first encounter with Thompson's work, and I have to say I thought it was rather good.

It leans on the killer cop trope that is so beloved by teenage writers, yet Thompson handles it quite adeptly. Lou Ford, the psychotic copper at the core of this story, is a well-developed protagonist.

I truly relished Thompson's style, which was both accessible and robust, stylized yet also realistic. The tough prose was just the way I prefer it.

The tension in the first half of the book is masterfully managed as Lou navigates through one scrape after another. For a time, as readers, we even have the sense that he's going to get away with it all. Thompson's approach with Ford isn't so much about making him a sympathetic character, but rather making everyone else so unsympathetic that we end up rooting for Lou to some extent. After all, what other option is there?

However, when the end arrives, it comes too swiftly, and I felt it was a bit anti-climactic. Overall, while I thoroughly enjoyed the book, for me it didn't quite possess the emotive or thematic punch that a truly brilliant book requires.

I truly hated this novel from the very core of my heart. Jim Thompson is often regarded as the Stephen King of crime fiction for those who are willing to take a plunge into this murky cesspool of the genre. I had actually liked a couple of other Jim Thompson novels that I had read previously, namely The Grifters and The Getaway. However, this particular one was just bad. There was a complete lack of attention to detail. The violence depicted was banal and uninteresting. It was relentlessly cruel and was told from the perspective of the villain. I seriously felt that even I could have written this novel. It was filled with every single small town cliché one could think of. Maybe this is what a real serial killer is actually like, not the humanized portrayal in books about Bundy or the reflective TV series about Dahmer. There is absolutely nothing to like about this book. But, strangely enough, a lot of my Goodreads friends, whose opinions I truly value, seem to love this book.

It makes me wonder if I'm missing something or if our tastes in literature are just that vastly different. Maybe I'm too critical or maybe they see something in this novel that I'm completely blind to. But as of now, I stand firm in my dislike for this particular work of Jim Thompson.

I really liked the plot of this story. It was engaging and kept me hooked from start to finish.

Also, the writing style was quite unique. It had a certain charm that added to the overall atmosphere of the book.

However, I do think that maybe some of the scenes just hit a little too hard. It was almost as if the author was trying too hard to make an impact.

Despite that, I definitely enjoyed the noir feel of the book. It had that dark and mysterious tone that I love in this genre.

I'm really looking forward to seeing the movie adaptation. But I'm not interested in the Casey Affleck version. I'm hoping for something that will do justice to the book and bring the story to life in a new and exciting way.

I went into this with extremely high expectations. After all, who doesn't have a certain fascination for a good psychopath? Especially one who has a plethora of issues and holds a position of authority and trust. Here enters Lou Ford, the small town sheriff and an all-round good guy... or so his sweet and slightly slow disposition would lead you to believe. But Lou has the sickness. Most of the time, he manages to keep it hidden beneath a cheery and easy-going attitude. Most of the time, you would assume he is just your average Joe. Until every once in a while, his temper rises, and he becomes possessed with an uncontrollable rage... and the killer inside him comes out.

Fabulous. However, except for the part where I was rather disappointed. The Killer Inside Me isn't a bad book per se. It was just nowhere near as good as I had anticipated it to be. Lou Ford did not creep me out in the way he was supposed to. He didn't creep me out in the way Stephen King and Stanley Kubrick claim to have been creeped out by him. In fact, Dolores Umbridge is creepier than Lou. I had expected more from this book, more of that intense psychological horror that would make my skin crawl. But unfortunately, it didn't quite deliver on that front.

Maybe my expectations were set too high, but still, I couldn't help but feel a bit let down. I had heard so many great things about this book and the character of Lou Ford, but it just didn't live up to the hype for me. Nevertheless, it's not a terrible read, and perhaps others will have a different experience with it.

It was an extremely interesting book. I have a particular penchant for books where the main character is a murderer, and this story precisely revolves around such a character. Right from the beginning, we discover that Lou not only has a history of killing but also has plans to do it once again.

I must confess that Lou is a deeply disturbing character. He presents himself as so normal on the surface, yet is profoundly disturbed within. It's a captivating combination. On one hand, you are acutely aware that he is a sadistic murderer who must be stopped. On the other hand, you find yourself, almost against your will, supporting him in his misdeeds and hoping that he can evade justice. Moreover, it's impossible to underestimate his sharp mind and remarkable planning ability.

This is a rather dark and gloomy story. It elicits such complex emotions within the reader. Lou commits heinous and sadistic crimes. However, at times, it's difficult not to feel a twinge of pity for him. Lou himself endeavors to convince us that his murders were somehow justifiable. This is an excellent psychological exploration of the characters. Lou is a character with profound mental issues, yet simultaneously demonstrates the ability to reason with great logic. Additionally, he is brutally cognizant of what has shaped him into the person he is. And he is strangely honest with both himself and the reader.

It was a very interesting experience. Although it's not a long book, the portrayal of Lou on these pages is truly vivid and expressive.