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  • The Boy Who Followed Ripley

  • A Virago Modern Classic
  • By: Patricia Highsmith
  • Narrated by: Peter Brooke
  • Length: 10 hrs and 8 mins
  • 3.9 out of 5 stars (41 ratings)
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The Boy Who Followed Ripley cover art

The Boy Who Followed Ripley

By: Patricia Highsmith
Narrated by: Peter Brooke
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Summary

When a troubled young runaway arrives on Tom Ripley's French estate, he is drawn into a world he thought he'd left behind: the seedy underworld of Berlin, involving kidnapping plots, lies and deception.

Ripley becomes the boy's protector as friendship develops between the young man with a guilty conscience and the older one with no conscience at all.

The Boy Who Followed Ripley is followed by Ripley Under Water.

©2016 Patricia Highsmith (P)2016 Hachette Audio UK

What listeners say about The Boy Who Followed Ripley

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Not a classic but a steady read

If you’re after the thrill and wonder of book 1 of the series then you won’t find it here however it has far more to it than the previous two. It’s less complex and is easier to understand. I still don’t quite understand why Tom would get as involved with Frank as he does but there it is. It’s worth the time as it speeds along and keeps your interest pricked. It’s certainly more ‘modern’ than the two preceding it but you can’t escape the fact book one is in its own class and everything else a good deal wanting. Pat is still a master, if not of suspense in this case but of the human condition.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Disappointing story, badly read.

I'm not going to finish this one, maybe things pick up drastically towards the end. This is my last attempt at Ripley's adventures anyway, he'll have to continue them without me.

This is my impression so far: 'They went there and ate this and talked pointlessly and then they went to the other place and saw this and talked some more and then they met a person and then they went to another place and did more talking and and then they left and went...'

It's rambling and disjointed and completely surreal but not at all interesting.

Nobody does anything that makes any sense, their motivations are a mystery. It's not intriguing though, just annoying.

The dialogue has a ChatGPT feel to it, like two robots pretending to be people. That might be the fault of the narrator, who seems to go out of his way to misplace the emphasis in very simple sentences, making them nonsensical. Maybe he was dying of boredom and was trying to make it interesting for himself.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Engaging

As always with Highsmith, a very engaging tale. This is my second listen. Loved it both times. Good narration, though as has become customary several strange pronunciations. Enjoyed narration overall, though the strange, deep voice of Madame Annette was a little weird! Sounded like a drag act on a cigarette break!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Masterpiece

Despite its age, the quality of the writing leaves it sounding modern. Well read too.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Compelling

Dark, elaborate and brilliantly constructed novel. Bleak but often weirdly funny. Well read, good pitch

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

not good

tired and we'll,not a good listen!
won't listen each Ripley book has got worse now I don't care what happens to him

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Well written and performed but very slow

I like P Highsmith's style and the performance but not a lot happens in this Ripley. I only completed the listen to complete the Ripley series and for more insight into Ripley.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story, shame about the narrator

Seriously, could you not find a narrator who can pronounce the German word for ‘the’ - and basic Italian place names like Perugia? There’s a lot of German in this and the narrator hasn’t a clue and it’s very very irritating and cringey. He also has a bizarre baritone voice he puts on for the women characters.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars
  • RA
  • 12-03-21

Ripley sinks to new lows

Probably the most boring kidnap story every told. Nothing happens.... and it happens very slowly. I thought Ripley was a sociopath? Apparently not. Confusing and out of step with the previous books. The more I listen to the Ripley series, the more I think the author forgot who this character was and what drove him. Just dissapointingly dull.

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