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Book Review By James Craver
The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

Tom Ripley is a small-time American conman and stone-cold sociopath. As the book opens, Ripley, mistaken for an old friend of erstwhile shipping heir Dickie Greenleaf, is given an offer by Dickie's wealthy parents: go to the Italian village where Dickie is staying with his fiancee and convince him to return. Ripley, who is, in fact, wanted by the law, accepts.

Traveling to Italy, Ripley befriends both Dickie and his novel-writing fiancee, Marge. Although the Italian village and his newfound friends make Ripley feel as though he is in paradise, things quickly begin to deteriorate.

Understanding that he is never going to return with Dickie, the Greenleafs cut Ripley off from his monthly paycheck, while, simultaneously, he is informed that Dickie and Marge will be vacationing elsewhere without him, and they wish him to be gone when they return.

Realizing that his wonderful new life is ending before it even begins, Ripley reacts quickly, with sociopathic skill. Inviting Dickie out for a boat ride, Tom clubs him to death with an oar and sinks his body.

Upon his return to land, the newly rechristened "Dickie Greenleaf" heads for Rome, where he continues to cash Dickie's stipend checks and live the good life.

But, all is not well for "Dickie," for the real Dickie's friends have noticed his disappearance and the banks have grown suspicious of "his" recent signatures.


Plot & Themes
Tone of story - Dry-cynical
Time/era of story:
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
The crook is.... - commit white collar fraud or con
descript. of violence and chases - 10 %
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40 %
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 20 %
Crime Thriller Yes
Is MAIN CHARACTER an EVIL criminal? Yes

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status:
Age: - 20's-30's
Ethnicity/Race

Main Adversary
Identity: - an organization
Profession/status:

Setting
Europe Yes
European country: - Italy
Water? Yes
Water: - sail boat
City? Yes
City: - New York
Small town? Yes
Small town people: - nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee
Misc setting - resort/hotel

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
Unusual forms of death - blunt clubbing (like seals)
Unusual form of death? Yes
Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog
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