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This Sweet Sickness

A Virago Modern Classic

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This Sweet Sickness

By: Patricia Highsmith
Narrated by: William Hope
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About this listen

 BY THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY, CAROL AND STRANGERS ON A TRAIN

'The No.1 Greatest Crime Writer' THE TIMES

' I love Highsmith so much . . . What a revelation her writing is' GILLIAN FLYNN

'Highsmith was every bit as deviant and quirky as her mischievous heroes' J. G. BALLARD, DAILY TELEGRAPH

David Kelsey has an invincible conviction that life is going to work out just as he has planned it - if he can just fix 'the situation'. His one true love, the brilliant, beautiful Annabelle, has married another man. But that doesn't mean they can't still be friends. And even though she is pregnant with her husband Gerald's baby, that surely doesn't mean she won't one day get back together with David. She still loves him, of that he is certain. David is sure she'll take him back, and, under an alias, is setting up a wonderful home for the two of them in a town close by. And everything is just about going to plan until things take a murderous turn, leaving David a desperate man on the run.©1960 Patricia Highsmith (P)1960 Little Brown Book Group Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Thought-Provoking

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All stars
Most relevant
I have read the novel many times but this is a fine performance. It's a tale of obsessive love which goes disastrously wrong for David Kelsey and the people around him. I love the narrator's differet parts, he really brings characters like Wes and Effie alive and it greatly supplements the written work.

Great narration of a classic tale

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Again another brilliant book. Great story, Great narration and performance. You have to accept this is based in the 50's and there are some parts to it that some might find offensive but it's a book of it's time and should be enjoyed in that fashion.

She does it again!

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I have listened to most of Patricia Highsmiths books, and find them all an enjoyable listen, this one - one of my favourites. She has similar characters in her novels - double life’s, hidden identities, hidden crimes, but they take shape well and are defined from each novel making them enjoyable listens. Highly recommend

One of my favourite of Patricia Highsmiths to date

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Firstly I must say that this book narrated by William Hope was genius. His voice is evocative of that 1950’s era which entices you into David Kelsey’s strange fantasy world.
Ok as others have said- the story now has vast holes - but it was written in and for a different time and I don’t think that this same story would have the charm if it had been written in recent times. David would now be treated for his condition and lived a very different lifestyle I would assume ?
All in all I loved this book and I loved William Hopes narration. I have read many Patricia Highsmiths books and this one - along with it’s more famous -The Talented Mr Ripley - would be a toss up if I ever were to be stranded on a desert island with only one to choose between!!


Brilliantly moving

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Like all of her books, enthralling. One roots for the anti-hero. Excellent performance. I might start stalking William Hope’s readings.

The Talented Miss Highsmith

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