They Shoot Horses, Don't They? by Horace McCoy

They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (Serpent's Tail Classics)

by Horace McCoy

The Great Depression led people to take desperate measures to survive. The marathon dance craze, which flourished at that time, seemed a simple way for people to earn extra money, dancing the hours away for cash, for weeks at a time.
But the underside of that craze was a competition and violence unknown to most ballrooms. A lurid tale of dancing and desperation, Horace McCoy's classic American novel captures the dark side of the 1930s.

Reviewed by Aidan Brack (Mysteries Ahoy) on

4.5 of 5 stars

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McCoy’s story works because it is a blistering, uncomfortable experience that while sometimes a little heavy-handed, ultimately leaves the reader unsure about how they should feel.

Read my full review at Mysteries Ahoy!

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 28 August, 2018: Finished reading
  • 8 September, 2020: Reviewed