The Talented Mr. RipleyThe Talented Mr. Ripley
Score Classic
What it's about
Tom Ripley is hired by a wealthy businessman to go to Italy and persuade his wayward son to come home. Instead, Ripley gradually plots to take over the young man's identity and his bank account.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It's a clever psychological thriller and the first of the Ripley novels.
You'll love it if you liked
Strangers on a Train
The Secret History
The New York TrilogyGood to know
You'll find yourself rooting for a killer, which is the point.
By the numbers
- Readers46 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller29 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #354 of the 623 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #643 of the 924 classics we rank
- #2028 of the 3,057 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping
More by Patricia Highsmith
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Deliverance
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The Friends of Eddie Coyle
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Any Human HeartExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is The Talented Mr. Ripley worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #2,028 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 64.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Talented Mr. Ripley about?
Tom Ripley is hired by a wealthy businessman to go to Italy and persuade his wayward son to come home. Instead, Ripley gradually plots to take over the young man's identity and his bank account.
How long does it take to read The Talented Mr. Ripley?
About 7 hours (275 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Talented Mr. Ripley?
If you liked it, try Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith, The Secret History by Donna Tartt or The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster.