Most helpful customer reviews
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4.0 out of 5 stars
a fine slice of Jim Thompson's world..., May 27 2003
It seems that Jim Thompson's world of 1950s down-and-outs, alcoholics, criminals, and the mentally disturbed all come together rather nicely in this short novel, 'After Dark, My Sweet'. The story can be encapsulated as: deranged ex-fighter meets alcoholic woman and her criminally minded ex-cop friend, with whom they all embark foolish on a big crime (no spoilers here). As usual Jim Thompson captures perfectly the bleak ambiance, and the characterizations are spot on.While the book is perfectly fine it is not in the league of the author's best works: 'The Killer Inside Me', 'The Getaway', and 'The Grifters'. All these books are somehow special in terms of pathos, horror or surprise. They are deserved to be called classics. 'After Dark, My Sweet' is not a classic, and I have no idea what the title means (..it has nothing to do with the story). Bottom line: a worthy read, especially suited for Thompson fans.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
not his best, but better than most, Feb 12 2000
After Dark, My Sweet is one of the most coherent Thompson novels I've read. Filled with paranoia, booze, hard women, crime & treachery, ADMS is a compact punch that's set on stun. It differs from most Thompson tales in that there are no real throw away chapters. His mental aberrations don't hinder the storytelling, rather they enhance it. It's a short, exciting read that doesn't wander. Thompson didn't always color in the lines, but he sure did with this one. All of the characters are desperate, yet believable. There's Collie, an ex-pugilist & mental patient, Faye, a widowed alcoholic, and Uncle Bud, an ex-cop with no redeeming qualities. The only flaw in their well-planned crime is that they, themselves, are involved. This book reads like a super lightweight fight, you know...the little skinny guys that come out swinging for their lives at the bell and never stop until someone goes down. I've read many Jim Thompson books and I must say that only A Hell Of A Woman, The Killer Inside Me, & Now And On Earth surpass After Dark, My Sweet. A fast read with few flaws is hard to find, but this is certainly one such book. Thompson imitators always fail for one simple reason...they lack the ability to bring an element of genuine insanity to the noir landscape. There are no substitutes & this is one of the master's best efforts. There is also a decent movie adaptation starring Rachel Ward & Jason Patric, as well as Bruce Dern. Read the book first for, while the movie is good, the book is far superior. I am sorry that Jim had to suffer the demons that he did, but I am most thankful for the literary results!
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Pure Genius!, Dec 24 1999
Trademark Jim Thompson characters and twists. But in this incarnation the formula is twisted and blended into perfection. If you only could read on Jim Thompson novel (which would be a crying shame) I would recommend After Dark my Sweet. Every character is well developed and seems real. The subject matter is still very relevant,not as dated as other Thompson fare like Pop 1280 and South of Heavan.
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