Ripley Under Ground

Ripley Under Ground is the second installment in Patricia Highsmith's Ripliad series, following the cunning protagonist Tom Ripley in his new life in France. The tale centers on an elaborate art forgery operation that Ripley helps orchestrate, involving counterfeit paintings of a deceased artist named Derwatt. The plot follows Ripley as he attempts to maintain his comfortable existence with his wealthy wife while managing various criminal enterprises. When an American art collector threatens to expose the forgery scheme, Ripley must take increasingly bold steps to protect his interests and those of his conspirators. The narrative moves between France and London as Ripley navigates a complex web of deception involving art dealers, forgers, and suspicious collectors. His attempts to maintain control of the situation become progressively more challenging as scrutiny of the fake Derwatt paintings intensifies. The novel explores themes of identity, authenticity, and moral compromise, examining how far someone will go to preserve a carefully constructed life. Through Ripley's schemes and machinations, Highsmith creates a study of the intersection between art, commerce, and criminal enterprise.

Most readers rank this as the weakest entry in the Ripley series, though still compelling. The consensus from reviews indicates it maintains Highsmith's psychological tension but lacks the freshness of The Talented Mr. Ripley. Readers appreciated: - The exploration of art forgery and fraud - Ripley's evolution as a character - Dark humor throughout - Fast-paced middle section - Details about life in rural France Common criticisms: - Plot relies too heavily on coincidence - Less psychological depth than other Ripley books - Secondary characters feel underdeveloped - Slower opening chapters Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (8,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (280+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (1,200+ ratings) One frequent reader comment notes that "it reads more like a crime caper than a psychological thriller." Multiple reviews mention it works better as part of the series than as a standalone novel.

The Talented Mr. Ripley - The first book in Highsmith's series introduces the character of Tom Ripley and his methods of deception, setting the foundation for the art fraud explored in Ripley Under Ground.

The Kill Artist by Daniel Silva A story of an art restorer who lives a double life as an intelligence operative, mixing the world of fine art with international intrigue and carefully orchestrated deceptions.

A Perfect Spy by John le Carré The tale of a British intelligence officer living multiple identities connects with themes of duplicity and self-reinvention present in Ripley Under Ground.

The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro This novel about a painter who becomes entangled in an art forgery scheme mirrors the complex relationship between authenticity and deception in Ripley Under Ground.

Headhunters by Jo Nesbø The story follows an art thief who maintains a respectable corporate career while orchestrating criminal schemes, reflecting Ripley's dual existence in high society and the criminal underworld.

🎨 The novel's art forgery plot was partly inspired by Highsmith's own experience collecting art in Europe and her fascination with the underground art market. 📚 Published in 1970, this was the second of five books in what became known as "The Ripliad" - Highsmith's series featuring Tom Ripley. 🎬 The book was adapted into a 2005 film starring Barry Pepper as Tom Ripley, though it received less attention than the more famous adaptation of "The Talented Mr. Ripley." ✍️ Patricia Highsmith wrote most of the novel while living in Suffolk, England, where she had moved to escape the attention garnered by her previous works. 🌟 The character of Tom Ripley has influenced numerous other literary antiheroes and is often cited as one of the most compelling sociopathic characters in modern fiction.