By: Avery Jones

“Murder Mystery” sounds insufficient when talking about great novels. And indeed, it doesn’t seem to cover The Talented Mr. Ripley. This novel by Patricia Highsmith is so much more than a murder mystery. It is a mental thriller about a lovable sociopathic murderer. Tom Ripley becomes the protagonist as well as the antagonist of the novel when he murders his friend Dickie and assumes his identity. Ripley lives off of Dickie’s wealth as he travels Europe as Dickie himself. When others begin to become suspicious, Ripley kills them as well to avoid discovery. The police pursue Ripley as he eludes them through identity switches and trickery in a cat-and-mouse chase. Though Ripley is indeed a murderer, throughout the entire novel, you find yourself rooting for the Ripley to get away with his crimes. Highsmith is brilliant in her style choice in The Talented Mr. Ripley because she doesn’t make the murders graphic at all. She conveys no sort of emotion through the kill scenes, so the reader ends up not even feeling sad about them. Just as Tom Ripley has no remorse for his crimes, the reader lacks any contrition as well. As sick and twisted as Ripley is, the reader cannot hate him. Through the entire book, I was attempting to anticipate Ripley’s next move, but try as I could to predict them, I never knew what was coming next. Highsmith surprised me again and again with Ripley’s actions. I’ve never loved a murderer more than I love Tom Ripley. And for that reason, The Talented Mr. Ripley tops my list of favorite books.