I think this is the best Tom Ripley book after the first. The plot suffice to say is about Ripley's business dealings after he has become reasonably settled after the first book. In this way, he has more to lose when things start to go wrong. I don't particularly want to tell you in detail what happens because as with all the Ripley books the delight is in the detail, and in how Ripley finds his way out of things without any remorse whatsoever.

I suppose people who like a crime with a bit of a difference rather than a plain whodunnit.

As always in spite of myself I was hoping Tom would get away with it and I think that's to do the writing, which is so matter-of-fact that you get sucked into Tom's way of thinking. The character of Bernard Tufts, the suicidal forger who nearly hastens Ripley's downfall, is inspired. The lengths to which Ripley goes to to protect himself are on the right side of plausible which cannot be said for the next two in the series.

Read the next one! I've just finished 'The Boy who Followed Ripley'. The final book 'Ripley Under Water' has yet to be read!

It is excellent!!

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Created Dec 17, 2004 at 9:44am • Submit your own review...