Book Review: THE GRIFTERS By Jim Thompson *** out *****

Known for his noirs, Jim Thompson offers something a bit different with The Grifters, a pitch-black psychological drama first published in 1963. Centering on the disturbing mother-son relationship between 25 year old Roy and his mother Lori, both players in the world of the "grift" (meaning flim-flamming and short con-games), this virtually plotless novel is basically a journey through their troubled, often exciting, and ultimately tragic lives.

What Thompson skimps on in plot, he somewhat makes up for in alluring cynicism, delivered in hypnotic, if not always subtle, prose, and fascinating details about the life of the career grifter. Considered by many to be among Thompson's best works, this novel isn't really that special, but it is short, highly readable, and has an ending so nihilistic and twisted, it has to be read to be believed.

Note: The audiobook version, released by Hachette, and read by Barbra Rosenblatt, is highly recommended.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2021.

Ahmed Khalifa is a filmmaker and novelist. He is the writer/director of the feature film Wingrave, released on Netflix, and the author of a number of novels and short stories, including the YA horror novel, Beware The Stranger, available on Amazon. Find him on Twitter @AFKhalifa and on Facebook @Dark.Fantastic.AK·Writer