📖 Overview
Patricia Highsmith was an American novelist and short story writer who became one of the most influential authors of psychological thrillers in the 20th century. Working from 1942 to 1995, she wrote 22 novels and numerous short stories, with her works frequently exploring themes of identity, morality, and psychological tension.
Her debut novel "Strangers on a Train" (1950) established her reputation and was famously adapted by Alfred Hitchcock. The five-book series featuring the character Tom Ripley, beginning with "The Talented Mr. Ripley" (1955), demonstrated her skill at crafting complex, amoral protagonists and became a cornerstone of psychological crime fiction.
Under the pseudonym Claire Morgan, Highsmith published "The Price of Salt" (1952), later retitled "Carol," which broke new ground as the first lesbian novel to depart from tragic endings common to gay fiction of the era. Her work regularly challenged social conventions and explored psychological complexity, earning her the nickname "the poet of apprehension" from Graham Greene.
Many of Highsmith's works have been adapted for film and television, with more than two dozen screen adaptations spanning multiple decades. Her distinctive writing style combined elements of existentialist literature with suspense and psychological thriller genres, creating a unique narrative approach that influenced generations of writers.
👀 Reviews
Readers note Highsmith's skill at creating psychological tension and complex, morally ambiguous characters. Her prose style receives praise for being lean and unsentimental. Fans frequently mention her ability to make readers empathize with criminals and sociopaths, particularly in the Ripley series.
Common praise:
- Deep insight into disturbed minds
- Builds suspense through everyday situations
- Creates memorable, complicated characters
Common criticism:
- Characters can be unlikeable
- Plots move slowly
- Writing style too cold and detached
- Anti-Semitic and racist passages in personal diaries upset many readers
Ratings across platforms:
Goodreads:
- Strangers on a Train: 3.9/5 (89,000+ ratings)
- The Talented Mr. Ripley: 4.0/5 (146,000+ ratings)
- The Price of Salt: 4.0/5 (52,000+ ratings)
Amazon averages 4.2-4.4 stars across her major works.
Many reader reviews note experiencing discomfort while reading but being unable to put the books down, with one Goodreads reviewer calling it "deliciously unsettling."
📚 Books by Patricia Highsmith
Strangers on a Train (1950)
Two men meet on a train and discuss exchanging murders, leading to a psychological game of cat and mouse when one takes the proposal seriously.
The Price of Salt (1952) A young woman working in a department store falls in love with an elegant female customer, leading to a complex romance in 1950s America.
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1955) A young con artist assumes the identity of a wealthy acquaintance in Italy, beginning a series of deceptions and murders.
Deep Water (1957) A husband tolerates his wife's affairs until jealousy leads to murder in small-town New England.
The Blunderer (1954) A man's attempt to leave his wife results in her death, drawing parallels with another murder case.
A Game for the Living (1958) Two men, one religious and one atheist, investigate the murder of the woman they both loved in Mexico.
This Sweet Sickness (1960) An obsessed man creates an alternate life centered around a woman who rejected him.
The Two Faces of January (1964) Three Americans become entangled in a web of deception and crime in Greece.
The Glass Cell (1964) A man wrongly imprisoned emerges from jail transformed by the experience and seeking revenge.
A Suspension of Mercy (1965) A writer's fictional plot about killing his wife begins to blur with reality.
Those Who Walk Away (1967) A cat-and-mouse pursuit between two men plays out against the backdrop of Venice.
The Tremor of Forgery (1969) An American writer in Tunisia becomes involved in a possible murder while questioning his own moral compass.
Ripley Under Ground (1970) Tom Ripley engages in art forgery and murder to maintain his luxurious lifestyle.
Ripley's Game (1974) Ripley manipulates an innocent man into becoming a murderer for hire.
The Black House (1981) A seemingly peaceful house in a village becomes the focal point of inexplicable violence.
People Who Knock on the Door (1983) Religious fundamentalism tears apart a suburban American family.
Found in the Street (1986) Lives intersect dangerously when a young woman attracts attention in Greenwich Village.
The Boy Who Followed Ripley (1980) Ripley takes a troubled teenager under his wing, leading to complications.
Ripley Under Water (1991) Ripley's past comes back to haunt him when new neighbors begin investigating his history.
Small g: a Summer Idyll (1995) The lives of various characters intersect at a bar in Zurich, exploring sexuality and relationships.
Edith's Diary (1977) A woman's diary entries increasingly diverge from reality as her life falls apart.
The Cry of the Owl (1962) A man's habit of watching a woman through her window leads to obsession and violence.
A Dog's Ransom (1972) A couple's life unravels after their dog is kidnapped in New York City.
The Price of Salt (1952) A young woman working in a department store falls in love with an elegant female customer, leading to a complex romance in 1950s America.
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1955) A young con artist assumes the identity of a wealthy acquaintance in Italy, beginning a series of deceptions and murders.
Deep Water (1957) A husband tolerates his wife's affairs until jealousy leads to murder in small-town New England.
The Blunderer (1954) A man's attempt to leave his wife results in her death, drawing parallels with another murder case.
A Game for the Living (1958) Two men, one religious and one atheist, investigate the murder of the woman they both loved in Mexico.
This Sweet Sickness (1960) An obsessed man creates an alternate life centered around a woman who rejected him.
The Two Faces of January (1964) Three Americans become entangled in a web of deception and crime in Greece.
The Glass Cell (1964) A man wrongly imprisoned emerges from jail transformed by the experience and seeking revenge.
A Suspension of Mercy (1965) A writer's fictional plot about killing his wife begins to blur with reality.
Those Who Walk Away (1967) A cat-and-mouse pursuit between two men plays out against the backdrop of Venice.
The Tremor of Forgery (1969) An American writer in Tunisia becomes involved in a possible murder while questioning his own moral compass.
Ripley Under Ground (1970) Tom Ripley engages in art forgery and murder to maintain his luxurious lifestyle.
Ripley's Game (1974) Ripley manipulates an innocent man into becoming a murderer for hire.
The Black House (1981) A seemingly peaceful house in a village becomes the focal point of inexplicable violence.
People Who Knock on the Door (1983) Religious fundamentalism tears apart a suburban American family.
Found in the Street (1986) Lives intersect dangerously when a young woman attracts attention in Greenwich Village.
The Boy Who Followed Ripley (1980) Ripley takes a troubled teenager under his wing, leading to complications.
Ripley Under Water (1991) Ripley's past comes back to haunt him when new neighbors begin investigating his history.
Small g: a Summer Idyll (1995) The lives of various characters intersect at a bar in Zurich, exploring sexuality and relationships.
Edith's Diary (1977) A woman's diary entries increasingly diverge from reality as her life falls apart.
The Cry of the Owl (1962) A man's habit of watching a woman through her window leads to obsession and violence.
A Dog's Ransom (1972) A couple's life unravels after their dog is kidnapped in New York City.
👥 Similar authors
Jim Thompson wrote crime novels featuring morally compromised protagonists who spiral into psychological darkness. His works like "The Killer Inside Me" and "Pop. 1280" share Highsmith's exploration of criminal minds and social facades.
Graham Greene created complex character studies within political and psychological thriller frameworks. His works deal with moral ambiguity and psychological torment in ways that parallel Highsmith's examination of the human psyche.
Ruth Rendell crafted psychological crime novels that delve into the minds of both perpetrators and victims. Her Barbara Vine books particularly echo Highsmith's focus on psychological suspense and complex character motivations.
Georges Simenon wrote psychological novels that examine criminal minds and social dysfunction beyond his Maigret series. His standalone novels share Highsmith's interest in exploring the psychological underpinnings of criminal behavior and moral corruption.
Dorothy B. Hughes wrote noir fiction that subverted genre expectations and explored criminal psychology. Her work "In a Lonely Place" demonstrates the same deep psychological insight and exploration of deviant behavior found in Highsmith's novels.
Graham Greene created complex character studies within political and psychological thriller frameworks. His works deal with moral ambiguity and psychological torment in ways that parallel Highsmith's examination of the human psyche.
Ruth Rendell crafted psychological crime novels that delve into the minds of both perpetrators and victims. Her Barbara Vine books particularly echo Highsmith's focus on psychological suspense and complex character motivations.
Georges Simenon wrote psychological novels that examine criminal minds and social dysfunction beyond his Maigret series. His standalone novels share Highsmith's interest in exploring the psychological underpinnings of criminal behavior and moral corruption.
Dorothy B. Hughes wrote noir fiction that subverted genre expectations and explored criminal psychology. Her work "In a Lonely Place" demonstrates the same deep psychological insight and exploration of deviant behavior found in Highsmith's novels.