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deepakchecks 's review for:
Deep Water
by Patricia Highsmith
The least impressive of Patricia Highsmith book for me as of now. The plot is basically about domestic squabbles - between the husband Mike and the wife Melinda. Melinda is of a flirtatious nature and gets hooked with boyfriends quite frequently and parades them publicly thus earning the disapproval of neighbours and friends. Mike appears cool and does not object to her behaviour in strict terms, but it can be seen that he is seething inside.
During a party, in a sudden burst of emotion, he kills Charles - one of Melinda's boyfriends. Although he is the last to have seen him and Melinda suspects him of murder, the death is considered accidental. Melinda has her doubts and engages private detectives to find the truth with assistance from Don Wilson. In the meanwhile Melinda engages in another relationship with Tony who also is destined to meet a tragic fate. How all this adds up is what fills the rest of the book.
The plot and writing is subtle, unlike the earlier Patricia Highsmith ones that I've read - the plot gives more emphasis on the characterization. There are no big twists or turns, just sudden emotional jolts that result in tragedy. One of the biggest revelations of Highsmith's work is the quick implementation of the crime - there are no long plans or build-ups to it - it just happens. The reader witnesses these events and thus is entered into the space of the criminal mind and thus the core of the thrillers is the anticipation of finding out how the protagonist escapes from this predicament.
During a party, in a sudden burst of emotion, he kills Charles - one of Melinda's boyfriends. Although he is the last to have seen him and Melinda suspects him of murder, the death is considered accidental. Melinda has her doubts and engages private detectives to find the truth with assistance from Don Wilson. In the meanwhile Melinda engages in another relationship with Tony who also is destined to meet a tragic fate. How all this adds up is what fills the rest of the book.
The plot and writing is subtle, unlike the earlier Patricia Highsmith ones that I've read - the plot gives more emphasis on the characterization. There are no big twists or turns, just sudden emotional jolts that result in tragedy. One of the biggest revelations of Highsmith's work is the quick implementation of the crime - there are no long plans or build-ups to it - it just happens. The reader witnesses these events and thus is entered into the space of the criminal mind and thus the core of the thrillers is the anticipation of finding out how the protagonist escapes from this predicament.