I got this slightly-battered softcover from the last-chance-bargain rack at Barnes and Noble. I've enjoyed several of Thompson's better-known works including The Killer Inside Me, and was intrigued to find the same character in this book - or at least a character with the same name. It appears that this version of Lou Ford is not a psychopath about to crack, but a skillfull manipulator who's doing his best to keep order in his town.

While this isn't my favorite Thompson book, it has its enjoyable points, and features many of the noir elements for which the author is known.

I plan to leave this book on the book-swap shelf in the Tyngsboro post office lobby at around noon or so; hope the finder enjoys it!

*** Released for the 2014 E-less Challenge, for books with no "E" in the title. ***