Patricia Highsmith

Patricia Highsmith

Patricia Highsmith (1921–1995) was an American novelist and  “one of the greatest psychological thriller writers of all time,” according to David Baldacci. Her first book, Strangers on a Train, was published in 1950 and turned into a movie by Alfred Hitchcock. Most frequently recommended on Five Books is The Talented Mr Ripley (1955), the first of five books featuring Tom Ripley, an amoral killer you nonetheless find yourself rooting for. The others are: Ripley Under Ground (1970), Ripley’s Game (1974), The Boy Who Followed Ripley (1980) and Ripley Under Water (1991).

Books by Patricia Highsmith

Interviews where books by Patricia Highsmith were recommended

The Best Classic Crime Fiction, recommended by Sophie Roell

Since the early stories of the 18th and 19th centuries, crime fiction has been an incredibly popular and enduring genre, the investigation of murder somehow capturing the imagination of millions of readers around the globe. Here, Sophie Roell, editor of Five Books, uses strict but simple criteria to pick out the best classic crime fiction, from the Victorian age through to the 1950s.

The Best Mystery Books, recommended by David Baldacci

The best mystery books are completely unputdownable and addictive, the entertainment they provide more portable than watching TV and so much more satisfying than looking at your phone. Bestselling author David Baldacci, one of the masters of the genre and a passionate advocate for literacy and reading, talks us through some of the best mystery books ever written—as well as the contemporary authors he most admires.

© Five Books 2024

Get our newsletter