Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

48 reviews

kimveach's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I've had this on my TBR list since the movie came out in 1999, and now I've finally read it.  I doubt that I would have liked this book twenty-some years ago.  It's a character study of Tom Ripley rather than a plot-heavy mystery, which I prefer.  Having seen the movie, I was willing to give the book the time needed to appreciate the inner workings of Tom's mind.  

I'm also looking forward to reading more Ripley books and some of her others.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Classism, Terminal illness, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Violence, Chronic illness, Death, Gaslighting, Blood, and Toxic friendship

nunchikoi's review against another edition

dark funny tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Super compelling page-turner! This was the first novel in my Modern Novels class, and what a great start: Highsmith does waste a word, truly. Her writing drips in excess, but it's appropriate for a story about class and wealth. We are treated with lavish descriptions of Europe and its culture, art, and architecture, while a dark, quick-footed darkness stalks its streets.

Ripley was not super likeable to me, but I like watching reading as he waxed and waned from pathetic to a predator. This is a really well-crafted story that is bittersweet for both readers who cheer him on, or pray for his downfall.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Homophobia

The movie adaptation of this book has a queerer lens and focus. This book is more focused on classism and materialism.

stateofhailey's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Classism, Toxic friendship, Homophobia, and Misogyny

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Homophobia

Minor: Cancer and Ableism

_zrtx_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, Murder, and Suicide

poirot's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, and Alcohol

bookishbeccahale's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Murder

rheagoveas's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder

sapphicspices's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

katherineflitsch_'s review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

All well and good but I think I’m at a point where I want to love and root for characters.

Also I wish Tom Ripley was more complicated. And I was always so sure he’d get away with everything, so it wasn’t as tense as I’d hoped.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Minor: Suicide

atalea's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Murder

Moderate: Grief, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Minor: Alcohol