Reviews: The Killer Inside Me (4)

I'll admit I did see the movie before reading this but it was a while ago and as usual it doesn't really do justice to the book. The book manages to keep the two sides to Lou's character far better than any film and Thompson's simple straight forward style of writing adds to the disturbing nature of Lou's character and the way that his friends and neighbours deal with it (or not...). The story is paced well and builds gradually at first, picking up speed as things begin to spiral out of control and Lou's grip on himself begins to slip. An excellent read that offers a real insight into a very warped mind.

Thompson has written this book in such a way that it seems completely believable. The writing is simplistic and less descriptive which allows you to believe it is written by the killer rather than a writer.
The book is a first person narrative that describes how Sheriff Lou Ford begins to succumb to his hidden psychotic nature after meeting prostitute Joyce Lakeland.
An interesting factor of this novel is the split in the character of Lou Ford. From his narrative the reader is able to experience his violent urges and what he calls his "sickness" and yet at the same time you can also understand how the other characters believe he couldn't be capable of murder. Lou is polite, quiet and well-liked by his community, which adds to the disturbing nature of the book.
It is a fascinating read of a brutally warped mind!

I managed to read this book in a day - I just couldn’t put it down. It is my favourite book I’ve ever read and created spine chilling scenes - that each made me feel like I’m actually there viewing it for myself. Absolutely recommend it!!

If you are a fan of noir crime books you absolutely need to read this book, it is an essential of the genre. I’m not going to say much about the plot as I would say the less you know about this book the better your experience will be when reading it. I was given this by a colleague who knew I loved Raymond Chandler/Dashiell Hammett stories and didn’t mind a bit of darkness and complexity with characters. I was told just to read it, and honestly, I couldn’t put it down, I needed to know what happened next. One of those books that gets completely under your skin.

I would also highly recommend to general crime fans too but it’s very dependent on if you can enjoy a book with dark characters, moral ambiguity and disturbing settings – if not, you will be unlikely to stomach this book. A must read of the noir genre and a book you won’t forget.

Don’t watch the movie first, it tries it’s best, but it can’t convey the complexities of the book. Read this first.