Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book!!!!! Oh. My. Days!!!! This is my first Patricia Highsmith and it won’t be the last. It’s brooding, it’s tense, it’s suffocatingly suspenseful. The way she slowly builds up the tension is perfect, yet when I put the book down I was on a high, I was buzzing!! She makes you really analyse the characters and how she creates a psychopath that you sympathise with is masterful. I wouldn’t normally re read a psychological thriller but I will this one as there’s so many layers to the characters and so much to think about. Just blinkin loved it.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 OUT OF 5 STARS
When I found out this was a thriller, I immediately started reading this. I was surprised to learn that this was actually published in 1957 and not a contemporary novel because to me, the premise seemed so progressive or maybe I'm just naive. The story-telling was rich and like that of a mother's arms open and reaching for her child—it was very inviting. I followed the protagonist Vic's descent into jealousy then madness. Frankly, there were times I was rooting for him or perhaps because the readers were leaning towards Vic's point of view and I somewhat understood where he was coming from.
In the end, I realized this book may not be that great for me because it's not my cup of tea and my preference of being only two in a relationship was getting in the way of the Van Allen's marriage dynamics.
Still, this book was nail-biting at times especially after the high of the climax and skin-crawling until the end.
When I found out this was a thriller, I immediately started reading this. I was surprised to learn that this was actually published in 1957 and not a contemporary novel because to me, the premise seemed so progressive or maybe I'm just naive. The story-telling was rich and like that of a mother's arms open and reaching for her child—it was very inviting. I followed the protagonist Vic's descent into jealousy then madness. Frankly, there were times I was rooting for him or perhaps because the readers were leaning towards Vic's point of view and I somewhat understood where he was coming from.
In the end, I realized this book may not be that great for me because it's not my cup of tea and my preference of being only two in a relationship was getting in the way of the Van Allen's marriage dynamics.
Still, this book was nail-biting at times especially after the high of the climax and skin-crawling until the end.
Never trust a man who's hobby is watching snails have sex
WAS SHOOK BY THE EVENT THAT HAPPENED LIKE 1/3 IN THAT WAS STRONGLY FORETOLD BY THE TITLE AND COVER AND REMAINED IN A STATE OF TENSION TIL THE VERY END
This is one of those books where there’s no “good guy” to root for, and those are always my favorites. I liked Vic’s weird little hobbies, like how he raised snails, and I found that very endearing. But also felt weird about finding anything about him endearing since he was also gaslighting the hell out of his wife (who’s also not a good person, but still). I look forward to the movie adaptation of this book.
With a Patricia Highsmith book you can help but sympathise with the sociopath, I don't know how she does it. It was a good psychological thriller.