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  • The Boy Who Followed Ripley

  • A Virago Modern Classic
  • By: Patricia Highsmith
  • Narrated by: Peter Brooke
  • Length: 10 hrs and 8 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (38 ratings)

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The Boy Who Followed Ripley cover art

The Boy Who Followed Ripley

By: Patricia Highsmith
Narrated by: Peter Brooke
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Summary

When a troubled young runaway arrives on Tom Ripley's French estate, he is drawn into a world he thought he'd left behind: the seedy underworld of Berlin, involving kidnapping plots, lies and deception.

Ripley becomes the boy's protector as friendship develops between the young man with a guilty conscience and the older one with no conscience at all.

The Boy Who Followed Ripley is followed by Ripley Under Water.

©2016 Patricia Highsmith (P)2016 Hachette Audio UK

What listeners say about The Boy Who Followed Ripley

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Not a classic but a steady read

If you’re after the thrill and wonder of book 1 of the series then you won’t find it here however it has far more to it than the previous two. It’s less complex and is easier to understand. I still don’t quite understand why Tom would get as involved with Frank as he does but there it is. It’s worth the time as it speeds along and keeps your interest pricked. It’s certainly more ‘modern’ than the two preceding it but you can’t escape the fact book one is in its own class and everything else a good deal wanting. Pat is still a master, if not of suspense in this case but of the human condition.

1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Masterpiece

Despite its age, the quality of the writing leaves it sounding modern. Well read too.

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Compelling

Dark, elaborate and brilliantly constructed novel. Bleak but often weirdly funny. Well read, good pitch

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not good

tired and we'll,not a good listen!
won't listen each Ripley book has got worse now I don't care what happens to him

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Well written and performed but very slow

I like P Highsmith's style and the performance but not a lot happens in this Ripley. I only completed the listen to complete the Ripley series and for more insight into Ripley.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Great story, shame about the narrator

Seriously, could you not find a narrator who can pronounce the German word for ‘the’ - and basic Italian place names like Perugia? There’s a lot of German in this and the narrator hasn’t a clue and it’s very very irritating and cringey. He also has a bizarre baritone voice he puts on for the women characters.

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  • RA
  • 12-03-21

Ripley sinks to new lows

Probably the most boring kidnap story every told. Nothing happens.... and it happens very slowly. I thought Ripley was a sociopath? Apparently not. Confusing and out of step with the previous books. The more I listen to the Ripley series, the more I think the author forgot who this character was and what drove him. Just dissapointingly dull.