'Pop. 1280' by Jim Thompson is a dark and cynical novel set in a small southern town, focusing on the sociopathic high sheriff, Nick Corey. The book delves into Corey's manipulative and deceptive nature as he navigates through various relationships and schemes, all while maintaining a facade of laziness and incompetence. The writing style is described as straightforward yet engaging, with a touch of dark humor and unexpected plot twists that keep the reader intrigued and surprised till the end.

Characters:

Characters are complex, with Sheriff Nick Corey portraying a lazy yet manipulative personality, and others display duality and dark secrets.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style features an authentic narrator's voice and blends dark themes with humor, often becoming lyrical and poetic.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot is compelling and can be read in one setting. It shares similarities with Thompson's earlier work but offers surprising twists and a darkly humorous narrative.

Setting:

The setting is a small Southern town characterized by moral ambiguity and deception.

Pacing:

The pacing is fast and engaging, keeping readers hooked enough to finish quickly.

Well, sir, I should have been sitting pretty, just about as pretty as a man could sit. Here I was, the high sheriff of Potts County, and I was drawing almost two thousand dollars a year—not to mention...

Notes:

The book is compelling enough to be read in one sitting.

Both the main characters of Pop. 1280 and The Killer Inside Me share similarities in being psychotic protagonists.

Nick Corey, the main character, is portrayed as a lazy sheriff who is actually a high-functioning psychopath.

Thompson's writing often contains heavy themes such as religious existentialism and social critique.

The narrator's voice has been compared to that of Cormac McCarthy.

Despite the grim subject, the book contains moments of dark humor that can make readers laugh.

The story includes twists and surprises that keep readers engaged until the end.

Some readers describe the writing style as lyrical and poetic at times.

There is a tendency for Thompson to over-explain events, which some find detracting.

The novel's setting includes a small town in Texas with a population of 1280, filled with morally ambiguous characters.

The protagonist manipulates others while being perceived as a simpleton, reflecting themes of deceit and duplicity in human nature.

Thompson's unique approach to crime noir often leaves readers feeling disturbed yet fascinated.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of violence, murder, sexual manipulation, and strong language.

From The Publisher:

Nick Corey is a terrible sheriff on purpose. He doesn't solve problems, enforce rules or arrest criminals. He knows that nobody in tiny Potts County actually wants to follow the law and he is perfectly content lazing about, eating five meals a day, and sleeping with all the eligible women. Still, Nick has some very complex problems to deal with. Two local pimps have been sassing him, ruining his already tattered reputation. His girlfriend Rose is being terrorized by her husband. And then, there's his wife and her brother Lenny who won't stop troubling Nick's already stressed mind. Are they a little too close for a brother and a sister?

With an election coming up, Nick needs to fix his problems and fast. Because the one thing Nick does know is that he will do anything to stay sheriff. Because, as it turns out, Sheriff Nick Corey is not nearly as dumb as he seems.

In Pop. 1280, widely regarded as a classic of mid-20th century crime, Thompson offers up one of his best, in a tale of lust, murder, and betrayal in the Deep South that was the basis for the critically acclaimed French film Coup de Torchon.

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Reader Stats (7):

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