Jim Thompson had a rather unique and challenging youth as he worked on oil rigs. The work there was not only filthy but also extremely dangerous and deeply hair-raising. All this was done in the pursuit of something that was both precious yet polluted. Interestingly, reading his novels has a surprisingly similar feel. His whiskey-soaked misogyny can make one's skin crawl. However, his remarkable ability to explore the darkest recesses of the human soul, with great skill and a touch of sympathy, is unrivaled in the world of literature.

This particular book by Thompson is, without a doubt, the best one I've read by him so far. In fact, it is also one of the best books I've ever read in terms of sheer narrative skill. The protagonist in this book is one of the great unreliable narrators in fiction. He is a charming and brilliant psychopath who is fully aware of how sick he is. He makes no excuses for his actions and only has a faint wish that he could stop. That fatalistic sense of resignation, combined with the narrator's undeniable charm despite his truly hideous deeds, makes this book an absolute masterpiece and a tour de force.

Jim Thompson

Maybe Thompson's masterwork is truly a remarkable piece.

Lou, the deputy sheriff of a small Texas town, seems to have a rather ordinary exterior. He appears easy-going, with a bluff and slightly boring demeanor. However, beneath this surface lies a dangerous side that he has carefully hidden.

One day, he is sent by a rich landowner to get his son out of a messy situation involving a prostitute that Lou himself has been seeing. This incident triggers the eruption of Lou's long-suppressed demon. Suddenly, the corpses start piling up, and the peaceful town is plunged into chaos.

This book is well ahead of its time. While some may think that "American Psycho" shocks with its first-person report from a killer's mind, Thompson's work is equally captivating. The dialogue is razor sharp, the characters are fully realized, and the prose varies from being economically sparse to philosophical and beautiful. All of these elements demonstrate that Thompson has not only a psychologist's depth of understanding when it comes to human nature but also a first-rate writing talent.

It is truly a masterpiece that leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

I once worked the late shift at a beverage drive-thru in Florida during 1979 - 1980.

Occasionally, some lone driver would cruise into the open bay to purchase beer and cigarettes. He'd hand me a wad of greasy cash and begin shooting the bull while I rang him up.

The stories would initially start out quite innocent, like some boss riding his butt or his ex-wife giving him grief. Then, just when you thought it was time for him to put the car in gear and move on, he'd let slip some twisted stuff that provided a nasty peek into his warped soul before driving off into the night.

Years later, I read this book told in the first person by a psychotic sheriff in Texas. It was the same kind of thing; he'd give you his version of life, all folksy until things started to slip and you wished you'd taken another detour, but by then it was too late.

I've read it twice now. It's not my favorite Jim Thompson novel, but it's close. And it's one that everyone should read. It's American literature that most professors skipped.

This experience at the drive-thru and the subsequent reading of the book both left a lasting impression on me. They showed me the hidden darkness that can lurk within people and the importance of being aware of it.

The book, in particular, offers a unique perspective on the human psyche and the consequences of our actions. It's a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complex nature of humanity.

Overall, these two events have shaped my view of the world and made me more cautious and observant. I believe that by reading such works and reflecting on our own experiences, we can become more enlightened and better able to navigate the challenges of life.

HOWDY FOLKS…MY NAME IS LOU FORD AND I’M A MILD-MANNERED, DEPUTY SHERIFF IN A SMALL TEXAS TOWN. Oh BTW...I’M ALSO A SADISTIC, DEEPLY DISTURBED, PSYCHOPATHIC KILLER....NICE TO MEET YOU!!

5.0 stars. This is a “one of a kind” reading experience that I wholeheartedly recommend to fans of noir crime fiction or psychological thrillers. Told from the first-person perspective of Lou Ford, he appears to be a thoughtful and considerate (albeit somewhat slow) Deputy Sheriff of Capital City, Texas, with a population of 50,000. Lou never gets angry, doesn't even carry a gun, and seems to be the ideal law enforcement officer due to his even temper and ability to handle almost any situation.

However, don't be too comfortable because there has never been a better example of the old saying, “looks can be deceiving.” Inside Lou is a cold and calculating killer with absolutely no empathy for the people around him, whom he views as simpletons and worthless. In fact, Lou's practiced “down home” manner and slow way of speaking are part of the “GAME” he plays with people so that they will never know his true nature. This man will make your skin crawl right off your body.

I don't want to reveal plot details, so I'll just mention a few things about Jim Thompson's writing, which I thought was PERFECT PERSONIFIED. Through his disturbed protagonist, the author takes us on the killer's journey, showing us everything through the lens of his warped worldview. So, we don't see his actions as wrong but as he sees them (i.e., the completely justified actions of a deranged mind). It's a unique experience, to say the least.

The deftness and nuance of the writing were amazing. Throughout the story, we are given subtle clues and snippets of information that explain to the reader that Lou has had “the sickness” as he calls it since he was 15 years old, when he brutally attacked and killed a little girl. The two things I found most chilling about the story were (1) the complete lack of emotion on Lou's part as he describes truly despicable acts as if they simply had to be done and (2) his outwardly pleasant demeanor and interaction with the residents in the town while we are aware of how he despises the world around him.

It reminded me a little of Michael Rooker's excellent performance in the truly disturbing movie, “Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer,” although Jim Thompson's writing is much more subtle and nuanced. However, both the film and the book did a great job of creating a constant and ever-present sense of “dread” in which the audience is aware that even though everything seems normal, it really isn't, and they are left waiting for something to go horribly, horribly wrong.

This book will crawl inside you and make you feel like........

Brilliantly written and deftly plotted, this is certainly worthy of the praise Stanley Kubrick gave it when he said, “Probably the most chilling and believable first-person story of a criminally warped mind I have ever encountered.”