Product Description

William Collins is very handsome, very polite, and very friendly. His is also dangerous when aroused. Now Collins, a one-time boxer with a lethal "accident" in his past, has broken out of his fourth mental institution and met up with an affable con man and a highly arousing woman, whose plans for him include kidnapping, murder, and much, much worse.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #257966 in Books
• Published on: 1990-08-11
• Released on: 1990-08-11
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 133 pages

Review
'Published as part of the Crime Masterworks series, this reissue showcases one of Thompson's greatest criminal treasues.' GOOD BOOK GUIDE One of a series of crime masterworks, past classics that have clearly stood the test of time and are being re-issued... Thompson's work is often categorised as hard- boiled and violent but there's a depth to it that takes it beyond pulp fiction. After Dark, My Sweet is well worth seeking out. MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 'This celebrated pulp thriller, brought to a new audience courtesy of Orion's splendid Crime Masterworks series, features three of his most memorable creations... Thompson portrays his people with light and shade and the ending is one that will linger in many readers' memories.' -- Martin Edwards TANGLED WEB 'This is a classic 1950s pulp fiction from a master of the genre...Call him hard-boiled or noir as you will, Thompson is at heart simply a fine writer, and a master of the art of exposing the frailty of the human psyche.' -- Ian Morson TANGLED WEB

From the Inside Flap
William Collins is very handsome, very polite, and very friendly. His is also dangerous when aroused. Now Collins, a one-time boxer with a lethal "accident" in his past, has broken out of his fourth mental institution and met up with an affable con man and a highly arousing woman, whose plans for him include kidnapping, murder, and much, much worse.

About the Author
(1906 - 1977) James Meyers Thompson was born in Anadarko, Oklahoma. He began writing fiction at a very young age, selling his first story to True Detective when he was only fourteen. Thompson eventually wrote twenty-nine novels, all but three of which were published as paperback originals. Thompson also wrote two screenplays (for the Stanley Kubrick films “The Killing” and “Paths of Glory”). An outstanding crime writer, the world of his fiction is rife with violence and corruption. In examining the underbelly of human experience and American society in particular, Thompson’s work at its best is both philosophical and experimental. Several of his novels have been filmed by American and French directors, resulting in classic noir including The Killer Inside Me (1952), After Dark My Sweet (1955), and The Grifters (1963).

Customer Reviews

not his best, but better than most
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!

Pure Genius!
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.

Powerful and compelling.
The narration in this fascinating gem of a novel is provided by the main character, Collie. Collie is an escaped mental patient and as such he is homeless, friendless and directionless. Quite by chance, he makes the acquaintance of Fay Anderson, a young widow who drinks too much. Fay introduces him to an associate of hers, an ex-cop and two-bit swindler known only as Uncle Bud.
Uncle Bud has plans for a crime which will make all three of them rich. Now Collie may be certifiably insane but he is not stupid. He sees Uncle Bud for what he is and initially steers clear. But because he is attracted to Fay and because he has no place else to go, he changes his mind and, against his better judgement, agrees to become part of their hopelessly doomed scheme.
Reading After Dark, My Sweet is much like watching a train wreck as it unfolds. You want to cover your eyes but you can't. Thompson's writing is just too compelling. He masterfully takes the reader on a relentlessly downward spiral into complete and utter chaos while simultaneously introducing unforseen surprises every step of the way.
This is a great novel. Imbued with a palpable aura of impending, inevitable disaster, it grabs you by the lapels and doesn't let go. Jim Thompson was in top form when he wrote this one. Do yourself a favor and read it.