After Dark My Sweet [Paperback]

Jim Thompson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1986

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.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

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 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Creative Arts Book Company (November 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0887390056
• ISBN-13: 978-0887390050
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,294,578 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars not his best, but better than most, February 12, 2000

By 

Johnny Roulette - See all my reviews

This review is from: After Dark, My Sweet (Paperback)

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!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Genius!, December 23, 1999

By 

"leper2000" - See all my reviews

This review is from: After Dark, My Sweet (Paperback)

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.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful and compelling., August 7, 2004

By 

Michael G. "mikefromrochester" (Rochester, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: After Dark, My Sweet (Paperback)

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.