Great first person, guilty, compelled serial-killer quick read.

There are plenty of books that show the glimpse of a disturbed mind such as the Dexter series and American Psycho. However, this book is one of the first few to tackle this subject as we see a sheriff who puts up a good front, but underneath lies the mind of a dangerous killer.
This book was well written as it truly made you feel the mood of each scene and even cringe during the more uncomfortable moments. On the other hand, there were plenty of times that made it seem like it had a lack of focus. It really felt like it was just scenes that ran together instead of a real plot.

In 2024 this isn't as shocking as I'm sure it was in 1952 when it came out, but it is still well paced and Lou's inner monologue is pitch perfect. If you like You by Caroline Kepnes, Lou walked so Joe could run, commercially. I enjoyed Lou's narration more than the relentless self indulgence and congratulation of Joe. And the conclusion? I feel like this kind of ending hadn't been done to death yet, so it was probably especially stunning. It still stands up.

Reading the original made me appreciate the graphic novel even more. They really did a great job with it.

Anyway, this was a good read, and apparently I’m a sucker for Southern accents, or something. Having recently been to Fort Worth myself added to the flavor, too. The ending felt a bit abrupt, and maybe too forced, but it didn’t ruin the whole thing for me. I guess I wouldn’t have preferred it to be too drawn out either.

I recommend this if you like murder mysteries, or Southern accents, or psychology, or twisted people, or entertainment... Near the end of the book, after the story’s done, there’s a blurb which includes the epithet “dimestore Dostoevsky,” which, now that I think about it, seems appropriate.

Meet Lou, a charismatic sheriff who doesn't even carry a gun and maintains an unwavering sense of calm, at least on the surface. However, beneath this composed exterior lies a profoundly disturbed mind. Lou is a psychopath and a merciless murderer who views people as objects rather than sentient beings.

Despite being published in 1952, it hasn't lost its impact over time. It's unquestionably top-notch material, though not recommended for those seeking stories centered around virtuous individuals. It invites you on a dark ride inside a psychopath's mind.

Sharp, clever noir. Totally sucks you in.

This is an interesting read, and it does move quickly. The idea of getting into the head of a psychopathic killer was probably even more unique when the novel was first published in the 1950s. The one issue is that, because the reader is in the head of a killer, as the killer unravels, the story becomes less and less coherent, which left me with some confusion and a little less than fully satisfying ending. It would have been nice if there were some sort of afterword to tie up just a few lose ends.

Terse. Plain. Understated. This was exactly what I expected from this now-lauded noir novel. The prose and plot are lean, and in its last quarter the book becomes increasingly dark. Thompson manages to make the book laden with a feeling of growing desperation and claustrophobia.

Read it if you want to read crime fiction with a bizarre narrator who chooses odd times during the story to share facts with the reader. Though there aren't really any twists, the ending still comes across as unsettling.