Jim Thompson "Texas By The Tail" (1965) ***1/2

On the surface, Texas By The Tail (1965) isn't as pulpy, hard-boiled or as deeply rooted in crime as the bulk of Jim Thompson's novels, but it nonetheless involves grifting, a femme fatale of sorts, extortion, and tough guys. Tail is an entertaining yarn with that Thompson touch and yet somehow more "lighthearted" than his usual fare.