Reviews

The Boy Who Followed Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

lauraborkpower's review

3.0

I love the Ripley books, but this is my least favorite of the four I've read. Now, that's not to say it's not good, but it lacked the high-tension ending--a denouement equal to the rest of the book--that the others had. The middle of the book was super-stressful, and I thought I'd rightly pegged Eric Lenz as a double-crosser, which he never turned out to be (and I have a feeling that I haven't seen the last of him...). But there was major action and kidnapping and murder that never really panned out; it just sort of fizzled away. Highsmith does a great job of maturing Ripley, especially in these last two novels (this and Ripley's Game). He hasn't exactly grown a conscience (actually, far from it), but he's not the hot headed sociopath we love so much from the first two novels. He's still adventurous, courageous, calculating, and a bit brash, but he's more emotional and, actually, a bit melancholy. That might have to do with the ending of this particular book (not a happily ever after...), but now, thinking more about it, the tone and action fit quite well. And maybe that's what I wasn't expecting, but am warming to as I finish this review. Regardless, I'm now even more curious to read the final Ripley.

lairn's review

adventurous dark funny slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

harrymclellan's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

bb9159's review

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

3.5

linw21's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Ohh I really enjoyed this book! Is it the best Ripley? No, not at all, but it was very entertaining. As someone who has been to Berlin quite a few times, the descriptions of the city were immensely interesting. I feel like some of the things are still as described and others are a simply a reflection of the political situation in Berlin at the time. That was honestly amazing. I also adored the insight into Tom’s sexuality. Contrary to what most people think I have to agree with Patricia Highsmith when she says “I don’t think Tom is gay”. He is not. In my eyes he is asexual but not quite aromantic. He obviously likes men and is envious of their relationships (see Frank and Teresa). Still he never actively tries to make out with one even when given the chance. In my books Heloïse’s and Tom’s relationship is the definition of a lavender marriage: Heloïse and her “girlfriend” meet up ever so often and go on weeklong trips together but mostly without their husbands. She and Tom rarely have sex as is stated in the book and she doesn’t expect it from him. They are both not physically attracted to each other (when we hear about Heloïse’s looks it’s mostly about her eyes and her clothes) but they get each other on an emotional level, because they are in a similar situation and that’s why they love each other - on a platonic level. 
Thank you for coming to my ted talk.

alexgreenough's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

harry_lemon's review

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

2.5⭐
UGH! I'm so glad I'm done with this book...

Where do I even begin? I don't know what happened with Highsmith at the time, but this book just fell so far from where I could see the story going. There was so much potential for an amazing plot, it just never went anywhere that you WANTED it to go.

I personally found the addition of Frank Pierson absolutely bothersome! I will say, I did grow to like his character a little bit, but I just kept getting a lot of Bernard Tufts vibes from Ripley Under Ground. I don't feel like this character did literally anything for the story of Ripley, very disappointing.

Also, so much many of the plot points were absolutely nonsensical. I understand that this world has a lot of stretching of the imagination as to what is possible with Ripley, but I mean some of the scenes had me wondering, "Am I reading the same author who wrote The Talented Mr. Ripley?" 

I'm probably being a bit harsh on this book because it was the longest of all of the books, but I also believe that this could have been edited down so much. Completely useless pieces of dialogue or scenes could have been removed to keep the reader engaged. By the third act, I was skimming pages. 

I feel like I'm now obligated to finish the series, I've come so far. I'm hoping and praying that the final book doesn't let me down...

carol8's review

dark slow-paced

3.0

ufobabie's review

adventurous dark funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

emmavraagteken's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0