Patricia Highsmith

I already have one convert: Lou just acquired her first Highsmith novel, on my recommendation the other day, in ‘European Jaunts To Die For.’

So here's a little more guidance in that department:

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/tip-sheet/article/63724-10-best-patricia-highsmith-books.html

Which includes this overview: ‘Her great invention was Highsmith Country, the Alternate Earth where all her detail-saturated fictions are set. There, good intentions corrupt naturally; guilt afflicts the innocent; pursuit is everywhere; identities, genders, and genres are undermined; and life is a suffocating trap from which even her most accomplished escape artists cannot find a graceful exit.’

I mentioned John Malkovich’s Tom Ripley over Matt Damon’s. Though it’s filmed in Europe, Matt's is pure Hollywood. John’s is French. And who does noir better than the French? Personne.

Check him out in ‘Ripley’s Game,’ with the equally unnerving Ray Winstone. It’s not on Netflix, but you can rent it from Amazon Prime Video for $3.99 — less than a bucket of popcorn! #