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The Talented Mr Ripley

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The Talented Mr Ripley

By: Patricia Highsmith
Narrated by: David Menkin
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About this listen

A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING MATT DAMON, JUDE LAW AND GWYNETH PALTROW

One of the BBC's 100 Novels that shaped our world.

'An outstanding thriller which has deservedly become a classic' THE TIMES

'Ripley - amoral, hedonistic and charming - is a genuinely original creation' DAILY TELEGRAPH

'I'm a huge Highsmith fan. If there's one book I wish I'd written, it's The Talented Mr Ripley' SARAH WATERS

ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL CRIME NOVELS EVER WRITTEN

Tom Ripley travels to Italy with a commission to coax a prodigal young American back to his wealthy father. But Ripley finds himself very fond of Dickie Greenleaf. He wants to be like him - exactly like him. Suave, agreeable and utterly amoral, Ripley will stop at nothing to accomplish his goal.

The Talented Mr. Ripley serves as an unforgettable introduction to this smooth confident man, whose talent for murder and self-invention is chronicled in four subsequent Ripley novels.

©1983 Patricia Highsmith; (P)2007 Hachette Audio Classics Crime Fiction Mystery Suspense Thriller & Suspense Fiction Exciting Scary Crime

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Critic reviews

"Precisely plotted, stylishly written, and kept alert by an icy wit. Streets ahead of the conventional thriller: a cool little classic of its kind." (Evening Standard)
All stars
Most relevant
Very entertaining, the time just flew by.
It was very interesting seeing the world through the eyes of Tom Ripley. I disposed on one level but also quite liked him on another.
It was such a good listen I may now check out the next Ripley book.

A real page turner

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Enjoyed the story but do have some mixed feelings as I struggled to empathise with Mr Ripley most of the time, but I suppose that's the whole point of the book.
The narration is excellent and really made the story come alive.

Interesting

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I enjoyed the complexity of the characters and the suspense. First fiction I have listened to for a number of years

Captivating story

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This was written in 1955, so a time before mobile phones, the internet and everything else that we now take for granted. Meeting up with friends involved letters by post, turning up unannounced at your friends’ houses etc. You had to buy a physical newspaper if you wanted to keep up with a news story. Being off the grid was easier then

The characters in this book inhabit a world where most of them have money, can travel the world without any kind of real employment, spend their time drinking cocktails, going to lunch and dinner and parties, sunbathing on the beach and having afternoon naps. Enter our anti hero who does not have that lifestyle - but wants it

I would love to know more of the back story of Tom Ripley. I found myself rooting for him even though he was clearly selfish and amoral. I hadn’t actually realised that this was book one of four so it ended somewhat abruptly. This was a short book for its credit at 4 hours or so. A shame audible could not offer books one and two for one credit combined but the quality of the writing mean that I do not resent the credit spend, it was well worth it and I will look out for the others. Not sure why the title is “The Talented” Mr Ripley. Maybe that becomes clear later. I thought a couple of times that the author was foreshadowing some kind of success as a painter for Tom Ripley - but maybe I got that wrong

Excellent book and many writers could learn from her writing style. Sparse and broad brush, believable characters and dialogue. I loved it

The Talented Ms Highsmith

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What did you like most about The Talented Mr Ripley?

Once it gets going, it stays going.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Edge of my seat.

Any additional comments?

In addition to a good thriller, its a compelling set up of Ripley as a character. Also, its a really evocative snapshot of 1950s wealthy/expat/lost-youth/Italian-riviera life. Beautiful like the Sun Also Rises or Great Gatsby.

Intense

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