Deep Water cover art

Deep Water

A Virago Modern Classic

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Deep Water

By: Patricia Highsmith
Narrated by: John Chancer
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About this listen

Includes an interview with Gillian Flynn.

To everyone around them, Melinda and Vic Van Allen are the perfect couple - young, wealthy and attractive. But when their love sours, their mind games reach a twisted, dangerous climax.

"If I really don't like somebody, I kill him.... You remember Malcolm McRae, don't you?"

Melinda Van Allen is beautiful, headstrong and sexy. Unfortunately for Vic Van Allen, she is his wife. Their love has soured, and Melinda takes pleasure in flaunting her many affairs to her husband. When one of her lovers is murdered, Vic hints to her latest conquest that he was responsible. As rumours spread about Vic's vicious streak, fiction and reality start to converge. It's only a matter of time before Vic really does have blood on his hands.

©1957, 1993 Patricia Highsmith, Diogenes Verlag AG Zurich (P)2017 Isis Publishing Ltd Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Marriage

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All stars
Most relevant  
Unputdownable!!! Highsmith has a real talent at creating villains who we root for, beginning to end. I really wanted Victor to get away with his crimes, and I thought he would, like The Talented Mr. Ripley. Perhaps he had a tad too much luck, until it ran out, but his wife was such an unmitigated bitch she too had it coming. In hindsight, Victor is an absolute psychopath, but a highly functioning one, rational, talented, a wonderful dad, a gracious host and helpful neighbour. What’s there not to like about him!!!
Superb narration by John Chancer.

Wow

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Such an ace read as always. Brilliantly narrated. It’s a sweet little murderous page turner that quietly chisels away at you.

Nice one Pat

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The characters are very well portrayed. The story intriguing and irresistible. Good to read something so well written, and the narrator is excellent

Very enjoyable

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Great story, I was really rooting for Vic! I really enjoy Patricia Highsmith’s quirky stories and characters and this is now another favourite.

Vic the hero!

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This book is pretty dated, and although the first act is quite interesting, after that it just drags. There is a lot of waffle about mundane daily tasks. Some action again towards the end but it was a bit of a waste of a credit IMO

Dated, drags on

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I'm new to Patricia Highsmith, but already consider myself a fan after reading this fascinating novel. I imagined the setting as being 'Mad Men'/John Cheever-like, i.e. stylish, yet with plenty of conduct going on behind the scenes which is fairly seedy, if not desperate. The book's protagonist plays with people's minds, and the effect is often funny, whilst, in retrospect, being nothing less than chilling. Given that Highsmith's Diaries have recently - November 2021 - been published to a fair amount of acclaim, you may want to see what all the fuss is about. "Deep Water" is as good a way as any to discover the complexities of this dark, but wonderful writer. The Audible version, which is excellent, is also a cheap addendum to what is an inexpensive Kindle version of the novel. Highly recommended.

A Gripping Highsmith Tale of Murder. Or is it?

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I like Mr Ripley, but this story didn’t do it for me as much. It’s memorable and original, but everyone in it is so unlikeable and strange, I hated every person! And everyone’s behaviour is very bizarre. It seems from the reviews that I’m in the minority so perhaps I’ve missed the point somewhere. It hasn’t put me off Highsmith’s books though- I do love the settings of her stories and her writing.

Memorable but unlikeable characters

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The dysfunctional relationship of Vic and Melinda was central to this story. Was Vic a psychopath or was Melinda a narcissist? How did they end up like this? So many questions. The story was so well written and I binged this in 2 days. My only criticism was the narrators female voices, they were a little shrill.

Could not stop listening

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Great storytelling from Patricia Highsmith, as ever. Narration was performed perfectly. I’d recommend this as a very good listen.

Excellent

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Good read, really enjoyed it intriguing read
Gotta love Vick lol
Great narration, but it!

Super, enjoyed it

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