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In a small town in Texas there is a sheriff's deputy named Lou Ford, a man so dull that he lives in cliches, so good-natured that he doesn't even lay a finger on the drunks who come into his custody. But then, that would be too easy, for Lou's sickness requires other victims. . . . A nightmarish book of psychopathic evil.
Anonymous
Posted February 25, 2010
All is not as it seems in this is chilling account told by Lou Ford, a sheriff's deputy in a small town in Texas. This easy-going, well-liked man is a respected citizen of the town and is well known for his quiet, gentle nature. But it's all an act and as Lou tells us a little about his past, the demons in his head that are behind his secret, violent nature.
This is a serial killer book with a couple of very interesting features. The first is, it was written back when stories about serial killers weren't very common and so, was pretty groundbreaking stuff. The second is that it is written entirely in the first person from the point of view of the killer. We get the total range of emotions from before, during and after each murder. The thought processes that prompt every action and the way he goes about covering up his tracks satisfies the stream of consciousness style writing that makes this book so chilling. We get a terrific example of the grim style of Jim Thompson's storytelling that is captivating and slightly horrifying. The book is a great example of the excellent usage of stream of consciousness to better understand the intricate inner workings of a psychotic man.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 1, 2012
* a long haired snow white she cat with light grey on her muzzle ( im not old!)paws and chest and icy blue eyes. Pads in. Im Dawwnstorm. And I really want kits! Im Birchclans deupty, join at branches fourth result. Also contact me there! Or contact me here! Hope to see you there!~ Dawnstorm
1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 5, 2012
Sdsn
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Posted April 3, 2012
Maaayyybbeee she gigles of course i would be bigguy lol
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Posted April 3, 2012
Go to stronger results and bring clans friends and others plus you get to PICK YOUR MATE
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 1, 2012
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I struggled to read this title because the narration was boring. I sense that this title would have been better if it was a movie because reading the internal musing of the main character turned out to be uninteresting and tedious.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 11, 2012
Out of the ordinary storytelling. Kept my interest throughout.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I don't understand the controversy with this book. I read it because it was a list of the 25 most disturbing books of all time. I thought it was not very disturbing at all... I compare it to Albert Camus' The Stranger, only not even close to as good. Obviously the main character and narrator is a psycho, and he obviously thinks he is just fine and reasonable for the most part. I don't understand what is odd about that for a crazy person. Anyways, I give this book 2/5 because it held my attention but I was expecting SO much more!
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Posted February 9, 2009
I bought this book and the Talented Mr. Ripley at the same time. 80 pages into this one I put it down. The book was hard to follow. You couldnt see in your head what was going on. If your looking for what I was looking for in this book, go for The Talented Mr. Ripley.
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Posted November 22, 2007
The first part of this book scared me so much that it took me two years to finish. After the the main character talks to the call girl,I nearly threw up. Why did I keep reading? Jim Thompson's prose is so terse, and I loved his book, Pop. 1280. By the end you just feel like Thompson understands the perverted mind so much that one feels he could not have been sane himself. And then you realize that it's the writing. It's just brilliant!
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Posted January 3, 2004
The tale of an average joe - who is sick ... very sick. Thompson takes you deeply into his world. It made me recognize how little separates us from the disturbed. KT
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Posted April 16, 2003
A very honest portrayal of a demented mind. A good read.
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Posted February 8, 2000
I am new to Thompson. I think I picked the perfect book to introduce myself to one of the masters of the genre. Witty, dry, intriguing and horrific, Thompson's 'protagonist' Lou Ford is a brilliant piece of work. A quick read that stays with you. I am moving on to the next Thompson with great eagerness...
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Posted June 26, 2010
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Anonymous
Posted August 16, 2010
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Anonymous
Posted April 5, 2012
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Posted April 26, 2012
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Posted October 30, 2008
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Anonymous
Posted October 30, 2011
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Overview
Everyone in the small town of Central City, Texas loves Lou Ford. A deputy sheriff, Lou's known to the small-time criminals, the real-estate entrepreneurs, and all of his coworkers--the low-lifes, the big-timers, and everyone in-between--as the nicest guy around. He may not be the brightest or the most interesting man in town, but nevertheless, he's the kind of officer you're happy to have keeping your streets safe. The sort of man you might even wish your daughter would end up with someday.But behind the platitudes and glad-handing lurks a monster the likes of which few have seen. An urge that has already claimed multiple lives, and cost Lou his ...