The Criminal is a simple story, one of murder and guilt (or lack there of). It uses the Thompson signature of the unreliable narrator better than anyone else, and undermines/underpins a narrative by changing character at least half a dozen times throughout the course of the tale. What sets The Criminal apart from the majority of Thompson's work is how current it still is. The case is tried in the papers, guilt is attributed and reinforced by the moulding of public opinion. It's incredibly thought provoking, relevant, intelligent and most of all frightening. Frightening to think that the difference between guilt and innocence, freedom and incarceration is perception.
