Even if Black Friday isn't Goodis best, it is surely a good introduction to his dark and rich universe. Almost unknown in America before the 60's or 70's, Goodis is one of the best author of what French critics have call "roman noir", and possibly the missing link between Dash Hammett and Ray Chandler, and today's authors like Block and Ellroy. In Black Friday, Goodis write about his own great obsession: bad things happens to good poeple. It's the same story he tells over and over again, in Cassidy's Girl, or in Shoot The Pianist. The heroes is caught in a situation where there is almost no chance to escape. You'll read in two or three hours, praying for the poor guy (even if you'll know from the first page that he will fail). The book is also speaking of euthanasia, in a discreet but sensible way.