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Book Review By James Craver
Ripley's Game by Patricia Highsmith

Tom Ripley, the sociopathic main character of "The Talented Mr. Ripley" and "Ripley Under Ground" returns for a third entry in the series in "Ripley's Game."

Having recently survived an investigation by the police in regards to a death, a disappearance, and allegations of art forgery, Ripley settles back into his relaxing existence at his villa in south France. Attending a party thrown by Jonathan Trevanny, an English picture-framer dying slowly of leukemia, Tom finds himself insulted by his host's demeanor and begins to plot his revenge.

A few months later, Tom is visited by an old business associate, a gangster and smuggler named Reeves Minot, who operates out of Munich. Reeves has need of an assassin to rid himself of two high-ranking members of the Sicilian Mafia who are infringing on his territory and wants Tom to be it. Tom suggests that Reeves hire Trevanny, who will die soon and will want his family taken care of.

Although it is, at first, difficult for Trevanny to be persuaded, he eventually agrees to kill Reeves's targets. The novel now begins to pick up speed, as more and more people fall victim to Trevanny's gun and Tom's implacable improvisation, finally culminating in a sadly inevitable conclusion, as the Mafia turns its vengeful eye upon Tom and Trevanny's quaint hometown.


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

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status:
Age: - 40's-50's
Ethnicity/Race

Main Adversary
Identity: - an organization
Profession/status:
Motive of antagonist - revenge
The antagonists are: - foreign organized crime

Setting
Europe Yes
European country: - France - Germany
Small town? Yes
Small town people: - nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee
Misc setting - moving train

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