::AMAZON REVIEWS::

The Killer Inside Me
For a book written in 1952 for The Killer Inside Me to have lasted so long in peoples minds speaks to the writing of Jim Thompson. Thompson, a writer I began reading after discovering James Ellroy wrote mainly in the hard boiled noir type novels and thats one of the main things of Killer's plot. On the surface the curious antihero of the tale Lou Ford hiding his monstrous proclivities behind a carefully composed persona, kills a bevy of people and in the tradition of a good noir spends his time trying cover his crimes. But coming from the first person perspective of Ford things are a bit different. From one angle He admits to wanting to kill one main person because of a slight to his family, believing the father of a victim had his brother killed. Could it be true? It doesn't really matter as Fords psyche begins to concot more and more different reasons as to why He has to kill more people hoping We his audience will understand. Whats great though is the ending of the book where a lot more is unsaid than said and the authorities slowly close in on Ford until the ending which is excellent.
Like I said the writing is excellent and for fans of killer fiction, or noir its a definite recommendation from me for the just terrific writing in general. Thompson gets in the mind of his character perfectly and its one you won't forget.

Gripping, but slightly incoherent
The story and the atmosphere keep this piece above water, but the style is flat and feeble. After all, the ending is rewarding in its unexpectedness.

A intricate tale of corruption, revenge, and love lost.
A Killer Inside Me is just as relevant today as any crime fiction being written by those that are currently at the top including some of my favorites: Ken Bruen, George Pelecanos, Dennis Lehane, Michael Connelly, etc.

This book follows a deputy sheriff by the name of Lou Ford. Little does anyone in a small texas town suspect him of murder. But what unfolds will shock some and leave others just shaking there heads. A lot of the novel is bleak, dark, and very intricate. Some of the lines written in this book are brilliant.

If you like this, read Once were Cops by Ken Bruen, very similar story in that it follows a deranged psychopath around NYC, who just happens to be a cop. A very excellent read.

Not worth the time
What a disappointment. This book is being filmed in my community and I was anxious to read it. Boring! Predictable until the last chapter and then just a let down. If you enjoy reading about a perverted, sick man who kills people just to kill them - well have at it! The author does not make much of a subplot and the story line is muddled throughout. I don't even think I will waste my time at the movie - even if it was filmed in one of my favorite restaurants. Nothing redeemable here.

A Killer Book
After seeing the movie American Psycho (see this movie for Christian Bale's performance alone) I was interested in the fact that it was based on a novel. There really doesn't seem to be to many writers that are willing to put there story in the first person perspective of a serial killer so I checked it out. After reading that novel the only word that I could think of to describe it was tedious. I honestly could not have finished it fast enough and it is one of the few instances where the movie is much better than the book. However when looking at that book on Amazon I came across this novel and was surprised to see that it was written in the early 50's by a writer who became known as one of the best in the hard boiled thriller novelas. Intrigued I was so I bought this book and have to say that this was everything I hoped for and then some.

The stories protagonist is Lou Ford who is a Sheriffs Deputy in a small oil town in the early 1950's Texas. He is the son of a late and respected doctor of that town and everybody seems to like him. In fact really the only bad thing you can say about him is that he is boring as hell and a little slow. But nothing is what it seems and Lou is actually a cold, calculating sociopath who has been dealing with his "sickness" for fifteen years and just can't fight against it anymore. And after a behind the scenes meeting with a Union manager and a confrontation with the town whore the dominos begin to tumble as Lou plans to give into his sickness for the last time. Or is it? Where the story goes from here is quite disturbing and yet quite fun to read. It's like a horrible car accident. It's disturbing and scarring to view but for some reason you just can't look away.

This was my first Jim Thompson book and I can assure you it will not be the last. His writing is loose and readible and just seems to flow. He knows his character Lou so well you will begin to doubt his sanity. What's even more interesting is the fact that there are so many funny moments (or at least I thought they were funny) throughout this book. One minute I would be laughing my head off and the next I would be squirming from what Lou was doing next. Truly the sign of a great writer. To bad many contemporary readers have no I idea who he is.

All in all this gets my highest recommendation for any mystery / thriller fan or for anybody who loves to get a little scare before the lights go out (Stephen King fans will love Jim Thomposn).