SlowRain reviewed Ripley Under Water by Patricia Highsmith
Review of 'Ripley Under Water' on Goodreads
2 stars
A sequel of sorts to "Ripley Under Ground," which should be read first to avoid spoilers (but I didn't). In fact, this should be the last Ripley novel you read, not only because of spoilers, but because it's not very good.
The novel, rather ironically, centers around a man who is trying to harass snobbish, upper middle-class Tom Ripley. It's difficult for readers to sympathize with Ripley because of his character and his past, yet we can't really cheer the new guy on because we know so little about him. We never get to understand the antagonist's motivations, sources of information, or personality very well. It's all quite boring, to use a phrase Ripley would use.
Highsmith does have an interesting theme going on regarding the master vs. the "apprentice." Part of the plot centers around an old art forgery scam Ripley is involved with, and if the forger may …
A sequel of sorts to "Ripley Under Ground," which should be read first to avoid spoilers (but I didn't). In fact, this should be the last Ripley novel you read, not only because of spoilers, but because it's not very good.
The novel, rather ironically, centers around a man who is trying to harass snobbish, upper middle-class Tom Ripley. It's difficult for readers to sympathize with Ripley because of his character and his past, yet we can't really cheer the new guy on because we know so little about him. We never get to understand the antagonist's motivations, sources of information, or personality very well. It's all quite boring, to use a phrase Ripley would use.
Highsmith does have an interesting theme going on regarding the master vs. the "apprentice." Part of the plot centers around an old art forgery scam Ripley is involved with, and if the forger may not be just as talented--perhaps more so--than the artist being forged. Might this newcomer be better than Ripley, the master murderer?
Other than that interesting little theme and Highsmith's clear and wonderful narrative style, there really isn't much for me to recommend.
