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14th out of 306 books
—
218 voters
The Talented Mr. Ripley, Ripley Under Ground, Ripley's Game (Ripley #1-3)
(Book Jacket Status: Jacketed)
Three classic crime novels by a master of the macabre appear here together in hardcover for the first time.
Suave, agreeable, and completely amoral, Patricia Highsmith's hero, the inimitable Tom Ripley, stops at nothing--not even murder-- to accomplish his goals. In achieving for himself the opulent life that he was denied as a child, Ripley sh...more
Three classic crime novels by a master of the macabre appear here together in hardcover for the first time.
Suave, agreeable, and completely amoral, Patricia Highsmith's hero, the inimitable Tom Ripley, stops at nothing--not even murder-- to accomplish his goals. In achieving for himself the opulent life that he was denied as a child, Ripley sh...more
Hardcover, 904 pages
Published
October 12th 1999
by Everyman's Library
(first published 1985)
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Sep 01, 2007
Tracey Gagne
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
fans of the movies and fans of murder/ intrigue novels
Okay, so my interest was piqued by the movies, as I'd seen both The Talented Mr. Ripley and Ripley's Game (with John Malkovich). I loved the first novel in the book-- The Talented Mr. Ripley lived up to my expectations.
I found that I was dragging through Ripley Underground, as it just kept going on and on and on, and I kept asking myself, "Why? Why did he decide to do that? Why am I still reading this??" I wanted to get to Ripley's Game, which I thought would be better, as I remember liking the...more
I found that I was dragging through Ripley Underground, as it just kept going on and on and on, and I kept asking myself, "Why? Why did he decide to do that? Why am I still reading this??" I wanted to get to Ripley's Game, which I thought would be better, as I remember liking the...more
Feb 25, 2008
Jason Pettus
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Those interested in the history of crime thrillers
(Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com]. I am the original author of this essay, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being illegally reposted here.)
The CCLaP 100: In which I attempt over the next two years to read a hundred so-called "classic" novels for the first time, then write reports on whether or not I think they deserve the label
This week: "The Ripley Trilogy," by Patricia Highsmith (1955-1972)
Review #5 of this essay series
The story in a nu...more
The CCLaP 100: In which I attempt over the next two years to read a hundred so-called "classic" novels for the first time, then write reports on whether or not I think they deserve the label
This week: "The Ripley Trilogy," by Patricia Highsmith (1955-1972)
Review #5 of this essay series
The story in a nu...more
This book amazing. I stayed awake late at night and couldn't put it down. Tom Ripley is one of the best villians I've ever run across.( For some reason kept picturing actor James Woods in my mind.) The prose is so crisp in that English style. And the suspense is unbearable at times. The murders are gruesome and morbidly fascinating. I felt like a voyeur into these characters lives.
Ah Ripley, what to make of someone who says they hate killing but feels compelled to do it in order to enjoy the good life. An amoral man, who just loves to help out his friends with their problems. Desperate to manipulate other people, but only because he so wants to be liked, even if it's just by the reader!
It seems that he has no idea who he is, maybe Tom Ripley to Tom Ripley doesn't even exist, which is why the idea of him taking on other peoples personalities so convincingly (which he does...more
It seems that he has no idea who he is, maybe Tom Ripley to Tom Ripley doesn't even exist, which is why the idea of him taking on other peoples personalities so convincingly (which he does...more
I read this book in four obsessive days. Now finished, I miss Ripley.
His psychological portrait in the gripping Talented Mr. Ripley is very finely made. This story is worth to be read even by those who don't like crime novels. Ripley Underground dragged on for too long, and often Ripley's actions made little sense to me. I believe Highsmith had said that she wrote Ripley's books very fast, as if he had written them, and this shows here. Ripley's Game is rewarding though, equipped with an unders...more
His psychological portrait in the gripping Talented Mr. Ripley is very finely made. This story is worth to be read even by those who don't like crime novels. Ripley Underground dragged on for too long, and often Ripley's actions made little sense to me. I believe Highsmith had said that she wrote Ripley's books very fast, as if he had written them, and this shows here. Ripley's Game is rewarding though, equipped with an unders...more
The Talented Mr. Ripley is the best of the three, Ripley Under Ground is the most brutal, and Ripley's Game is the most disturbing. These books are not the most well-written of the genre, and I'm not even a particular fan of the genre, but for some reason I was hell-bent on reading all three in a row. I don't know if it is because I enjoyed exploring a bygone and unobtainable Europe, or because I was intrigued to examine the inner monologue of a sociopath, or if I was just curious to see how Tom...more
Sep 21, 2012
Elise Shedd
added it
I was inspired to read the books after enjoying the movie version of Talented Mr.Ripley.This is when the amoral protagonist Mr.Ripley enjoys his newfound riches by illgotten means and the good life that he will continually and literally kill for to maintain.I actually didnt want him to get caught in the next book series and was just fascinated by how he would get away with lying, cheating and stealing without ever getting caught.In Ripleys Game, you actually began to see he does have a conscienc...more
I don't exactly know what constitutes a good summer read, but to me this year it's Patricia Highsmith. Juicy twisting nefarious plots set amongst vivid descriptions of Europe that speak to grand childhood fantasies. Tom Ripley teeters on the brink of discovery at every turn but somehow pulls it off. Fancy sweaters, fake passports, international art forgery, a French estate that has its own name and a maid who cooks amazing 1960's French food.....Tom Ripley's kind of an evil James Bond. No wonder...more
One and two/thirds of the way through, and I'm a fan so far. The Talented is a clever book mostly because we like the dark character, kind of hope he escapes, lament over his errors, but still think Tom Ripley is despicable. The book is somewhat more interesting than the Talented film (which is a great film, too) and has a few plot differences. Light, engaging reading, well plotted.
Underground is similarly a good pull, a walk into the world of art fraud, and again we both wonder at the mistakes...more
Underground is similarly a good pull, a walk into the world of art fraud, and again we both wonder at the mistakes...more
I'm putting this book under "suspense" although it could easily be considered a mystery in reverse (the suspect trying to avoid solid proof of murder). The first book "The Talented Mr. Ripley" seem rather weak - in fact, any second it seems that Ripley's plan will fall through and he will get caught and in fact, Ripley is a rather incompetent criminal and perhaps Highsmith's point is that most criminals are incompetent and don't have foolproof plans which is why they get caught. But then there a...more
The Talented Mr. Ripley is a quick read, but there is substance there. The scenery is beautiful in every chapter. Anyone who sets their story in Italy or Greece can score some easy, cheap points with me. I wish I could go back in time to an era where people could travel to and fro and conceal their identities so easily. And see, no one got hurt! Okay, a few people got hurt, but really, isn't that kind of the spice of life? A little murder and fraud in exchange for beautiful apartments, lavish su...more
Mar 12, 2008
Warren
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone
Recommended to Warren by:
Denis Malloy
I don't actually have a copy of this particular book, which seems to comprise the original trilogy of "Tom Ripley" stories by Patricia Highsmith, but I have read all three of these short novels, and I found them to be fantastic. "Ripley Underground" did drag a little towards the end, but it did so in a satisfyingly torturous way (almost as if Highsmith were maddeningly teasing the reader while dragging the story to its inevitible conclusion.) Ripley's Game, on the other hand, was taught and susp...more
Nov 24, 2009
Sweetman Sweetman
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
adults
Recommended to Sweetman by:
library find!
Shelves:
great-find,
library-find
"The Talented Mr. Ripley" was one of the greatest unexpected reads of my life--I mean it. It was so tense, unnerving, shocking. The pace and tone of this book were perfect. I have read it twice because it stayed with me so, and the second time, knowing all the secrets was nearly as exciting.
I wish this book stood alone instead of bundled in her other books. The other "Ripley" stories are awful. She was unable to capture that suspense and they just flopped. But read the first one! It's so worth...more
I wish this book stood alone instead of bundled in her other books. The other "Ripley" stories are awful. She was unable to capture that suspense and they just flopped. But read the first one! It's so worth...more
This trio of novels kept me going at bedtime for months. I adored jumping into the 'safe European home' of Tom Ripley and his cast of characters. He's an evil little protagonist, and one I thoroughly enjoyed rooting for. The reason I latched onto these books so much (in addition to the murders and fun!) was the oddly simplistic yet luxurious way the characters are able to jump on an airplane from Paris to Zurich, then to Rome, then London, then Venice, and on and on (of course disposing of bodie...more
Aaaaaand I'm done! I've just finished 'The Talented Mr.Ripley' & I'm a little frustrated. When I started this book I was looking for a light read I guess. But this turned out to be too mediocre even for that. There's nothing wrong with the book. There really isn't. The prose is ok, the story is good, the logic flows nicely. But it doesn't explore enough into any of the characters, No one jumps off the paper to make an impression. I'm especially disappointed with 'Reeply', he's not as talente...more
After The Talented Mr. Ripley, the next two seemed a little weak. Weak meaning I didn't suffer from anxiety attacks because of what I was reading, but not so weak that I could put the book down easily. Perhaps it was the confidence that I had built for Ripley by Ripley Under Ground--I thought of him as invincible by then. Whatever the reason, the characters didn't seem as richly textured and alive as the characters in her other novels.
Very good. Each book runs into the next, so I am glad I picked up this particular edition. I would not say the writing is stylized or extra special, but Highsmith keeps your attention with every thought, move and action of Tom Ripley. I did not really like the movie "The Talented Mr. Ripley" with Matt Damon in the title role when it first came out in the early 1990s. After reading the book, though, I watched the movie again and appreciated it more. The second book in the series, "Ripley Under Gr...more
I've read the first book in this series (The Talented...) before, years ago. Decided to read it again. Most unsettling but interesting to see how the author handles writing from the POV of such a creepy character. Now I am reading novel 2, Ripley Under Ground. I do like her writing, very much, but am not sure how long I can keep company with Mr. Ripley!
And after 800-odd pages, I still like Highsmith's writing very much. It was I think an achievement to write from the POV of a sociopath so convin...more
And after 800-odd pages, I still like Highsmith's writing very much. It was I think an achievement to write from the POV of a sociopath so convin...more
I wanted to read this because I had wanted to see the movie version and chose not to due to its R rating. This volume contained all three of the trilogy. The first one (the talented Mr. Ripley) was good, but halfway through adventures 2 and 3, I was pretty bored with Mr. Ripley.
I only read The Talented Mr. Ripley. It was really good and kept me on the edge of my seat. He always was so close to getting caught and then he would get out of it somehow.
I started Ripley Under Ground, but stopped. It was the same outline, but not as interesting.
I started Ripley Under Ground, but stopped. It was the same outline, but not as interesting.
Jun 09, 2009
Victory Wong
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
fiction,
serial-killers-and-psychopaths-oh-m
I am particularly fond of Patricia's Ripley books I suppose because I loved the beautiful movie. I'm biased by the fact that I visited italy a little after that movie came out, if I recall.
Having said that, what makes the main character, Tom, so interesting is his torment. He's very honest, he'll steal, kill or maim both in the name of his own benefit and later because of a boy that reminds him of himself. He's a remarkably moral charcter-- not meaing that he has what we think of as high morals...more
Having said that, what makes the main character, Tom, so interesting is his torment. He's very honest, he'll steal, kill or maim both in the name of his own benefit and later because of a boy that reminds him of himself. He's a remarkably moral charcter-- not meaing that he has what we think of as high morals...more
The Talented Mr. Ripley Tho I haven't seen the movie, I was vaguely familiar with the story; but it was still absorbing. Tom Ripley is a charming sociopath, apparently asexual as well as amoral (AFAIK, unusual for the time in which the novel was written).
Ripley Under Ground: Tom is involved in an art scam with deadly (to others, of course) results. He's apparently married at this point, but his wife is conveniently out of town. This novel isn't quite measuring up to the previous story.
I liked...more
Ripley Under Ground: Tom is involved in an art scam with deadly (to others, of course) results. He's apparently married at this point, but his wife is conveniently out of town. This novel isn't quite measuring up to the previous story.
I liked...more
I worked on the set for a stage version of The Talented Mr. Ripley in 2007, and I liked the play, so I had to watch the movie and read the book. Tom Ripley is a young man who is psychopathic and can pretend he’s anyone. He pretends he’s a friend of rich young man Dickey Greenleaf, and is sent to Italy by Dickey’s parents to bring their son back to America. It’s mostly suspenseful, but very creepy in a realistic way, because readers are meant to sympathize with Tom. But it’s possibly the only boo...more
Feb 04, 2013
Stephanie LGW
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
adult-fiction,
conspiracy-theory
So, Tom went from conman to murderer to forger to impersonator to murderer to driving someone to help him commit murder to...some sort of an okay person because he was worried about the guy he set up? The turn in Ripley's Game was a bit weird, but I loved Highsmith's writing style.
The Talented Mr. Ripley gets 4 stars; Ripley Under Ground gets 3; Ripley's Game gets 3.5. So I'm marking this as a 3. Highly enjoyable reading, though it grows progressively less enjoyable as the series progresses. Still, I love Patricia Highsmith's books and the depths of depravity she goes to are astounding -- seriously, Ripley playing mindgames with a guy with Leukemia in order to trick him into executing mobsters? Tough stuff.
i discovered PH a few years ago when a writer friend of mine gave me a review copy of her collected short stories. i read it cover to cover, falling deeply in love.
i had already read The Price of Salt, not realizing Clare Morgan and PH were one in the same.
here's one of my favorite reviewer quotes:
Patricia Highsmith is often called a mystery or crime writer, which is a bit like calling Picasso a draftsman.
Cleveland Plain Dealer
i had already read The Price of Salt, not realizing Clare Morgan and PH were one in the same.
here's one of my favorite reviewer quotes:
Patricia Highsmith is often called a mystery or crime writer, which is a bit like calling Picasso a draftsman.
Cleveland Plain Dealer
I read this before watching the movies and really like Highsmith's writing style. The sentences are well constructed, crisp and to the point.
I enjoyed this book a lot. Well crafted psychological thriller, which is turning out to be my favorite kind. Too bad the author didn't seem to be a very fun person (check out her wikipedia page). Not sure whether I'll be reading the others in the series, we will see.
A great page-turner! And the movie with Matt Damon and Jude Law was very faithful.
All 3 - are amazing novels ( as are the remaining 2 in the series)
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Patricia Highsmith was an American novelist who is known mainly for her psychological crime thrillers which have led to more than two dozen film adaptations over the years.
She lived with her grandmother, mother and later step-father (her mother divorced her natural father six months before 'Patsy' was born and married Stanley Highsmith) in Fort Worth before moving with her parents to New York in...more
More about Patricia Highsmith...
She lived with her grandmother, mother and later step-father (her mother divorced her natural father six months before 'Patsy' was born and married Stanley Highsmith) in Fort Worth before moving with her parents to New York in...more
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Mar 12, 2008 11:16am