Reviews

The Kill-Off by Jim Thompson

hthacher's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

rocketiza's review against another edition

5.0

Classic Thompson inner conversations justifying ones awfulness but from many different perspectives of everyone involved, all frightening in their own way. My favorite next to only pop 1280 of what I've read by him.

jajajanea's review against another edition

4.0

Interesting multiple viewpoint novel by Jim Thompson. Deals with taboo subjects in a small town setting in the mid-50s. I actually really enjoyed reading and discussing in my lit & film class, comparing/contrasting with the movie Pulp Fiction.

llb's review against another edition

mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.0

The jacket of the novella collection named him "the author of the great American groin-kick novel" but this was just a boring story about a small town where everyone lies.

jakewritesbooks's review against another edition

4.0

I'm a positive, uplifting, glass-half-full kinda guy so I don't know why I enjoy Jim Thompson's nihilistic crime novels so much…but I devour them. This is one of his weaker ones and it still is compelling with how evil and hopeless it is. The ending is darkly comic.