The recently released Netflix series, Ripley, starring Andrew Scott is generating a great deal of buzz. As with the 1999 film starring Matt Damon and Jude Law Ripley is based on the Patricia Highsmith novel The Talented Mr Ripley.

There’s a common belief that the book is always better than the film (or, in this case, series), but based on the comments, Ripley is a formidable adaptation of the novel. Furthermore, it impresses because it remains truer to the novel than the film did. To coincide with the series, Vintage Classics reissued the novel with a new film tie-in cover. Before binge-watching the series, I decided to revisit the original.

Full review: https://westwordsreviews.wordpress.com/2024/05/02/the-talented-mr-ripley-patricia-highsmith/

Had never read this book but have been interested in picking it up since the show came out. It was good and I liked the way the tension was built.

This is a reissue of Highsmith's Classic first novel in the Ripley series ( there are 5 books, which she published in short shrift in the early 1950's) to tie in with renewed public interest due to the launch of The Netflix series, Ripley, starring Andrew Scott.
Tom Ripley is a con man and killer who feels no sense of guilt about his crimes or victims. He often comes periously close to be being caught but somehow manages to evade his persuers. He is a total psycopath but Highsmith manages to make him almost likeable and get her readers to root for him on some level. Fantastic, tense writing that draws you in to Ripley's world.

Tom Ripley is down on his luck when he is engaged by a shipping magnate to locate his son Dickie Greenleaf, who was a very slight acquaintance years before and who has gone missing in Italy. Ripley is tasked with persuading Dickie to come home to the U.S. and start working in the family business. Ripley tracks down Dickie who is living it up on his trust fund and becomes obsessed by both Dickie and his indulgent lifestyle. However, Dickie becomes bored with Ripley who is not a man to be spurned!

I read the Ripley series decades ago so they were just a vague memory so I was delighted to re visit this great novel. I do however, feel a bit conflicted about reading Highsmith's works as she was a vocal and rampant anti semite (whilst also living and having affairs with Jewish women). A strange woman, reported to keep 300 snails as pets, many of which she carried around in her handbag.

Always read the book before you watch the TV adaptation. This is my mantra. The book is a classic, It's not too long. It's a gripping read. Everyone who enjoys crime fiction or thrillers should read this book. This edition has been published to coincide with the new Netflix series. Andrew Scott is far too old to play Tom Ripley, but he's such a good actor its easy to get past this fact. I hope that people who pick this edition up because they have enjoyed the TV series will go on to read more Patricia Highsmith. For this reason I approve of TV tie in covers.

I’ve always struggled with classics, and this is no different. I can see why so many people love it, and Mr Ripley as a character is intriguing and incredibly well nuanced, but the story itself was hard for me to get into, and a little boring in parts. Still, the writing was incredible despite my struggles with the plot.