Here are the 10 must-read books by Patricia Highsmith, the master of psychological suspense, that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last page.

Here are ten works that illustrate Patricia Highsmith’s mastery of creating oppressive atmospheres and dark characters, such as Tom Ripley. Her novels, often adapted for film, explore the depths of the human soul and the moral complexity of her characters.

The story follows the meeting of two men on a train. One of them proposes a twisted plan: they will exchange their murders to eliminate their respective enemies. This chilling thriller, adapted by Alfred Hitchcock in his film of the same name, is a masterpiece of psychological tension, where each interaction between the characters reinforces the growing anxiety.

Tom Ripley, a penniless young man, is sent to Europe to bring back a rich heir. Fascinated by the latter’s luxurious life, he decides to usurp him. This psychological thriller explores the gradual transformation of a man into a cold and calculating criminal, whose ambition exceeds all moral limits. This book has been the subject of two film adaptations: Plein Soleil by René Clément with Alain Delon and Maurice Ronet and The Talented Mr Ripley by Anthony Minghella with Matt Damon and Jude Law.

Vic Van Allen openly tolerates his wife’s infidelities, but one day he lets slip that he killed one of her lovers. This thriller explores the gradual erosion of human relationships and how unspoken words can transform a man into a potential murderer. The tension is palpable from beginning to end.

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