I still can't figure out how she does it, but I think
Highsmith is able to heighten tension instead of diminish it
through the bland and inconsequential habits of Ripley. (and
her other protagonists) Maybe it's the waiting, knowing the
ax is going to fall. And although I find it maddening at
times, I think it works superbly well.
Like all her books, not hard-boiled, but definately
noir. And very macabre. For a taste, try her short story
collection "Eleven". Excellent.
Brad
> I'm not sure if she actually wrote any detective
stories but Patricia
> Highsmith seems like a candidate. Didn't she write
the story "Strangers
on
> a Train" was based on? I've only read one Highsmith
("Talented Mr.
Ripley")
> and I despised it (not because Ripley was bad but
because I found him
> insanely dull), but she obviously has many
devotees.
>
> Carrie
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