Rating: 
Summary: This One Creeps Up On You
Review: It would appear at the start of this book that Nick Corey, the sheriff of the town of Pottsville, is to be the hero of the story. He seems like a gentle, somewhat simple man who believes that inaction is always the most prudent course of action. He feels it "just wouldn't seem right" to have to arrest people, so generally, he doesn't. But slowly it began to dawn on me that this is a Jim Thompson book and there simply aren't heroes in his books.It turns out that Nick Corey is quite similar to another Jim Thompson character, Lou Ford from The Killer Inside Me. In fact, it's worthwhile reading both books to compare these two characters. They are so different, yet incredibly similar. The chilling thing about this book lies in how deeply convinced everyone is that Nick is a simpleton who is a harmless, lazy man. But the truth is apparent to the reader how rat-cunning he actually is. The desire to be re-elected to his post as sheriff drives his day-to-day activity and everyone underestimates just how far he'll go to ensure his re-election, myself included. Apart from the sinister actions of Nick Corey, the story is actually quite amusing, told in the first person in a light and witty tone of voice. Nick manages to put an amusing spin on all aspects of his day-to-day life, most especially the parts in which he's doing absolutely nothing at all. This is a typical Jim Thompson story. There are no heroes, as a matter of fact; there are few, if any, likable characters in the book. The main character narrates in a style that feels as though he's saying: here are the facts, make of them what you will. It's a chiller rather than a mystery and events took me by surprise more than once.
Rating: 
Summary: Poorly written and tedious.
Review: Jim Thompson achieved a measure of posthumous fame in the 1990's with the reissue of a number of his books. The best thing I can say about this one is that the publisher did a great job of packaging the book. Thompson's writing style is very awkward. To the extent the book has any interest at all, it is in its attempt to tell a story from the point of view of a sociopath. This is not an easy thing to do, and I don't think Thompson pulls it off. There moments of black humor in the book. However, most of the time I felt that Thompson was simply doing the best he could to shock the reader, without much attempt to put together a believable story. The violence in the book, while probably extreme at the time it was published, is really not that bad given what is being written now or shown in films. Rather, the fault of the book is that, as hard as it tries to be shocking, ultimately it is boring.
Rating:
Summary: One of Thompson's Best
Review: Jim Thompson tried a few different styles of narration in his books, with varying levels of success. But the first-person, interior perspective he uses in Pop. 1280 is totally smooth and effective. It's not for the light-hearted though, as the reader enters the mind of a psychopath, and finds himself (or at least I did) sympathizing with him -- or at least with his feelings and motives, if not his actions. The amazing thing about this book is the way Thompson blends horror with real pathos, plus incredible, laugh-out-loud humor. And the last chapter, with its revelations, is a sad and personal one. I agree with some other reviewers that it's a better read than The Killer in Me, which is saying something. So, if you feel up to the task (if Tom Ripley makes you queasy, don't go here), this is a great Jim Thompson novel. And if you like it, I can recommend The Grifters as another good read.
Rating:
Summary: Dark, Dank, Sick, Great
Review: Just when you think Thompson's characters have scraped absolute bottom, they find a way to go even lower. A splendid book about the very worst in human nature. Fast, funny, disturbing.
Rating:
Summary: "Stranger" in a Familiar Land
Review: Like other reviewers on this site, I beleive that Pop. 1280 is Thompson's best. No novel since Camus's The Stranger has so sucessfully explored the existentialist quandry in a crime novel setting. On the second page, Nick Corey announces that "I didn't know what the heck to do," and thereby launches his brilliant and brilliantly funny quest into the savage heart of America. Stranger in a familiar land.
Rating:
Summary: "Stranger" in a Familiar Land
Review: Like other reviewers on this site, I beleive that Pop. 1280 is Thompson's best. No novel since Camus's The Stranger has so sucessfully explored the existentialist quandry in a crime novel setting. On the second page, Nick Corey announces that "I didn't know what the heck to do," and thereby launches his brilliant and brilliantly funny quest into the savage heart of America. Stranger in a familiar land.
Rating:
Summary: my favorite book by Jim Thomson.
Review: My favorite book by Jim Thomson. It shows the narrowness of human being spirit, the boredown of small town and the danger of being clever. Yet it leaves place for redemption. This book was made into an amazing movies by the French. They transported the action in a french west african colony with great succes. Thomson razor sharp observation can apply everywhere in the world.
Rating: 
Summary: Second coming
Review: Nick Corey is high sheriff of a small county and shouldn't have a worry in the world as long as he doesn't arrest anyone or at least anyone with money. Nick does worry, he has a half wit brother in law and a wife he doesn't get along with and he gets no respect from folks... or even other law enforcement. Nick begins to imagine that he is the second coming of Christ and the killing starts. Thompson uses the first person to tell the story in a folksy down home funny style. This story is built on the frame of his Killer Inside Me but isn't as well written as that earlier novel.
Rating:
Summary: a hoot
Review: Nick Corey, High Sheriff of Potts County, just wants to be left alone. But local pimps, fellow sheriffs, ornery townspeople & a shrieking harridan of a wife & her idiot brother all refuse to leave him be. Everyone feels that they can get away with harassing him because Nick's a little slow & pretty easy going. Or, at least, he seems to be. In reality, he's psychotic, deliciously so and folks are soon reaping the whirlwind. This is a very funny book. As always, Thompson writes a terrific kind of bare knuckle prose & is especially good with dialogue. But the real fun is watching as Corey wreaks his vengeance. A hoot. GRADE: A-
Rating:
Summary: Fast, fun, and funny - Thompson at his best
Review: OK. You want a fast and funny story that's going to keep your interest and entertain: This is it. Thompson at his best. An easy read and one of the best structured stories extant. The ending let me down, because it's a cop out, but after seeing all those wonderful characters, doing such weird things in such a strange town, it didn't matter. When you have finished the book, go see Coup de Torchon to see what the French have done with the story. You will triple your pleasure. Incidentally, Nick Corey is not a psychopath as defined in DSM V. He is just a slow and easy going guy that likes to do things his way.
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