8447300137

8447300137

Patricia Highsmith's "The Talented Mr. Ripley" is a modern masterpiece, and widely deemed the very best of her many novels. There have been four sequels, none of which is anywhere near as good as that first work of the series. "Ripley Underwater" is the fifth and last in the Ripley series, and I would rank it marginally better than #s 2 and 3 ("Ripley Underground", and "Ripley's Game"). Yet the plot is implausible, and only a credulous reader will find the ending very believable.

Tom and his French wife Heloise, live quietly near a small French village, where he enjoys his fortunes, and spends his days gardening, playing the harpsichord, and doting on his wife. He becomes targeted by new neighbors, the Pritchards, a couple from the US who learn about his unsavory past and seek to torment and expose him. Early in the story, he gets a chilling phone call from a supposed "Dicky Greenleaf", among the first of his murder victims from the first novel. The phone calls give way to stalking and menacing confrontations, culminating in David Pritchard's search for, and discovery of the underwater corpse of one of Tom's victims in "Ripley Underground" -- a choice package that Pritchard deposits on Tom's doorstep.. Tom, of course, is able to respond in kind by dumping the body in the Pritchard's backyard pond and the Pritchards' attempts to see their involuntary acquisition results in their own deaths -- they drown in the 8 feet of water, supposedly being unable to get out of the pond.

The story's strengths come from the suspense and the imaginative plot, but some may consider it to be spoiled by the implausible ending, despite the "just desserts" it entails. Likewise, on reflection, the literal minded reader may wonder how the Pritchards have managed to learn so much about Tom's early exploits (outlined in novels #1 and 2) while knowing nothing about those of #s 3 and 4 of the series.

The prospective reader would do well to have read the second work in the Ripliad -- "Ripley Underground" -- since "Ripley Under Water" assumes a familiarity with its plot and characters. Best of all, start with "The Talented Mr. Ripley", since that's the best way to become acquainted with the charming, likeable and evil protagonist of the series. ( )

I'm going to miss Tom Ripley. ( )

Dredging up the past
Tom's new neighbors cause a splash
persistence pays off. ( )