Reviews

The Two Faces of January by Patricia Highsmith

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toru_okada's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No

3.25

monicamjw's review against another edition

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3.0

Fairly unlikable characters playing mind games with themselves and each other.

heritage's review against another edition

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2.0

Greece, 1962. A young man helps a con-man conceal an accidental murder. However, things start to get unpleasant when the con-man's young wife takes an interest in their newfound friend.

There isn't much to say about this novel. The suspense is good. Highsmith definitely knows how to dish out the unexpected. Unfortunately, it doesn't always make sense, particularly the motive for the young man to initially help the con-man. Despite all Highsmith's efforts, mere repetition does not equal conviction.

The location is fine, and we learn about Greece at that time period, but very little of this novel rings true. Read it for the suspense or because you're a Highsmith completist. Otherwise, give it a pass.

tamzy6's review against another edition

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2.0

The Two Faces of January (TFJ) marks my first foray into Highsmith's writing. TFJ has a quality that draws you in immediately. It might be the exotic setting (Greece) or the various levels of crime involved (no spoilers here), or the constant rivalry between Rydal and Chester to one-up each other. Beneath all these layers lies the classic love triangle, which in nature should be compelling enough. The execution of all factors combined however, was not horrible, not shabby, but it was just... okay.

studiouspoppy's review

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adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

it got boring and confusing at times, but the characters were interesting and the a feeling ot anticipation was really well done, i enjoyed the characters arc

benjfleck's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious 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

3.0

The Two Faces of January: Or, Three's Company in Greece!

Chester MacFarland and his younger wife, Colette, have arrived in Athens, Greece for a vacation. Or so it seems on the surface. Rydal Keener, a young American with nothing better to do, decides to get involved in their lives. Unfortunately for both sides, Chester and Rydal are both con men, looking for money, power, and emotional validation and what follows is a very odd and very uncomfortable game of cat and mouse that at times I struggled to make sense of.

Without saying too much to spoil the novel, I never could wrap my head around why Rydal continued to travel with Chester and his wife and why Chester and his wife allowed Rydal to travel with them?!? All the mess that follows could have very easily been avoided. Do people really trust strangers this much? Especially on vacation??!

Besides the very hard logic bump that I tried to get over, Patricia Highsmith once again writes a novel with descriptive prose and compelling (yet irrational) characters who are complex, deep, and troubled. It was interesting enough, but definitely not her best novel. It almost just felt like, oh get it over with already cause this game is getting tiresome. I did enjoy the Grecian setting though.