Thompson wrote, among other things, The Grifters and The Getaway. In this novel, Lou Ford is a deputy sheriff who seems like a good old boy to everyone in town. He's something of a lady killer, literally. While everyone thinks he's a swell guy, he is in fact a violent sociopath, beating women to death. He has a lot of the people fooled a lot of the time, but things don't exactly go his way. The writing is very sharp, and Thompson must have influenced Elmore Leonard as the styles are similar. However, this book has a decidedly creepy feeling to it, and you might be more repulsed than fascinated. I think Thompson is worth reading, but maybe try The Grifters. ( )

Real Cool Killers 143 pages. Part of the Library of America, Crime Noir 50's volume. Cotton Ed Johnson and Gravedigger Jones are detectives in Harlem. It is a good mystery with lots of violence and some good plot twists. It also is an up close tale of race relations on the street in Harlem in the 50's. I recommend it on both counts. ( )

Many of these stories have at least one movie made from them. I highly suggest watching the movies between reading the stories. It's even more fun with a friend! ( )