I read this book laughing and cringing. In this first person narrative, Nick Corey, a small town southern sheriff, gives us an intimate portrait of his environment in the humorous tone of Twain which keeps the reader off balance in relations to his actions. The sense of impending doom mixture with the humor is masterful. Thompson's world is dark. The characters are real and the violence is quick and chilling. I loved it. Well this was just a pulpy, cynical, hilarious, southern gothic noirfest of awesome. This is my first Jim Thompson experience, and, considering how I was consistently either laughing out loud or picking my jaw off the floor, I expect it won't be my last.Nick Corey is the Columbo of sociopathic, murder-sherriffs. A devious, mysanthropic mastermind who wears the near seamless facade of a non-confrontational dimwit. In a town full of criminals, biggots, and assholes, everyone is all too happy to re-elect the lazy do-nothing sheriff who goes out of his way not to arrest anybody, and Corey will do just about anything to make sure it stays that way. Meanwhile he must contend with the wife and mistress who stand in the way of his being with the woman he'd like us to think he actually loves. All of this requires a great deal of cunning and even more violence.Corey is a terrifyingly unreliable narrator. He plays the part so well that, for the first 30 pages or so, even the unsuspecting reader is lulled into thinking we're in some sort of comic farce about a bumbling lawman. Even after his less savory nature is revealed, he rarely breaks character as he continues to play both us and the townspeople, but, like Columbo, there's always "one more thing". Unlike Columbo, that thing usually involves a double barrel shotgun or, if you're lucky, the sharp point of a knife poking against your spine.The only thing that doesn't sit with me here is the end. It's quite sudden, especially after the revelation of yet another bizarre and horrific development in Corey's already demented character. Not a terrible ending. Maybe even a perfect ending. But it's something that one needs to come to terms with as it deliberately leaves a few things unresolved.
What do You think about Pop. 1280 (1964)?
I would be thrilled to read anything written by Jim Thompson--even a grocery list.
—cynth
A lazy, stupid, ignoramus man...but don't judge a book by its cover.
—Jet
Mayberry RFD meets American Psycho. Outstanding.
—amalouska
the filthiest, most vile... ew. but great
—Virush2602
