The Killer Inside Me by Jim Thompson

Lou is a small town sheriff that has the sickness to kill, but his ordinary charm hinders the suspicion of his peers.



Rating: Five Stars*****

Genre: Mystery - Crime

Summary: Lou Reed is a sheriff in a small Texas town, and an undercover sociopath that has been repressing his dark urges to kill. Lou's cliche expressions, average personality, and decent looks have women loathing after him, but these instances are what trigger the sickness , which sends Lou on a killing spree. His repertoire in the police department leads him to cover up and frame others for his murders, but the clues gradually start to unravel his crimes.

Evaluation: This story is noir classic that switches the roles of a typical mystery where the reader can see through the eyes of the killer, rather than the detective. A great read for those who are especially consumed by the Dexter television series, or those who like to read psychological thrillers. A break through novel for its time.

Read-a-likes: Darkly Dreaming Dexter and other books in the series by Jeff Lindsay
Shoot the Piano Player and other books by David Goodis
The Big Nowhere by James Ellroy

Interesting facts about the novel: Adapted to a film in 1976, then once again in 2010 starring Casey Affleck and Jessica Alba.