Ripley Under Ground

Rating:
Summary: The artistic killer and his bourgeois victims
Review: "Ripley Under Ground" is the first book in the Ripley series to follow the talented Mr. Ripley. It establishes Tom Ripley as a married man living on a French estate and explains much of his transition from parasitic murderer to suave psychopath. This novel is possibly the most psychological one in the Ripley series since it endows Ripley with a tremendous artistic sensibility that often validates his homicidal choices.

In this novel, Ripley has evolved from a sponger and a drifter to a country gentleman. In true aristocratic fashion, he shuns professional life and devotes his energy to painting, gardening, language study, and--well--forgery. Ripley plays a pivotal role in setting up a forgery ring in England that produces the work of a dead painter whom the world believes is still alive. Unfortunately, an art aficionado discovers some of the forgeries and begins an investigation that threatens to expose the ring. In an effort to validate the forgeries, Ripley disguises himself as the dead painter and holds a press conference. The investigator attends the conference but remains unconvinced. As a result, Ripley (in his own guise) invites him to his estate and subsequently murders him. This puts Ripley in an ironic predicament since the police approach him not only in search of the missing investigator, but also in search of the dead painter who, thanks to Ripley's impersonation, they believe is still alive. To complicate matters more, the forger himself appears at Ripley's estate in a state of agitation ready to confess his crime to the world. Somehow Ripley must avoid incrimination, subdue the distraught forger, and prevent the police from searching for the dead painter whom he inadvertently brought back to life.

The most fascinating aspect of this novel is the artistic sensibility that seems to govern Ripley's homicidal choices. For example, the investigator whom Ripley murders is more concerned with commercial authenticity than artistic value. He ignores Ripley's argument that the successful forger is as great as the artist he imitates and retorts that building a reputation on forgery is like stealing another person's bank account. When Ripley murders him, one wonders if he does so out of artistic revolt rather than self-preservation. This idea is reinforced by Ripley's refusal to kill the forger even after the forger attempts to murder him. Despite the enormous danger posed by the forger, Ripley is affectionate and nurturing toward him.

Is this thriller really an assault on middle class values? I think so. Ripley the art connoisseur loves his forged paintings and his genuine ones equally. Unlike the investigator, he feels no need to distinguish between them as long as they are of the same aesthetic caliber. While Ripley despises the business concerns of his forgery partners, he admires the forger who paints for passion rather than profit.

Equally as interesting is the attitude of Ripley's wife. Ripley confesses his murder to her and indicates that she knew of his homicidal past even before marrying him. He frequently alludes to her amoral tendencies which, no doubt, are quite compatible with his own.

I recommend "Ripley Under Ground" as a thriller, a psychological study, and a novel of ideas.

Rating:
Summary: Patricia Highsmith continues the Talent
Review: Mr. Ripley is indeed talented and so is Patricia Highsmith. Being in Thomas Ripleys world is a unique and exciting experience. I was actually rooting for him and sympathizing with his predicament. He has worked so hard to attain his life of leisure and does not bother anyone. So, when the meddlesome and uncouth Americans threaten to destroy his charmed lifestyle, death is certainly a convenient solution, even if he didn't have to do it himself. Well fleshed characters, great plot. If you enjoyed the first book, The Talented Mr. Ripley, you will certainly enjoy this continuation. Even if you didn't read any others, give this one a try, it's fun and entertaining.

Rating:
Summary: A great reading
Review: Nigel Lambert reading Patricia Highsmith's "Ripley Under Ground" is a masterpiece. All the humour and suspense is rendered splendidly by Mr Lambert's beautiful reading.

Rating:
Summary: Not as good as the others...
Review: This was a really slow read. Although I love the Tom Ripley character it was hard to enjoy this book as I already knew he was an evil, deceitful character. It wasn't as suspenseful as "The Talented Mr. Ripley" when the reader wasn't quite sure about Ripley's character yet. Still, it is a good mystery novel and worth the time.