Whether or not you know her name, you almost certainly know Patricia Highsmith’s work and characters. Having written a prolific number of books and short stories in her lifetime, Highsmith left a deep mark on our culture and society that continues to be felt today. From the recent thrilling, addictive Ripley series on Netflix, to the emotionally raw film Carol which was adapted from one of her novels, Patricia Highsmith continues to shape the world around us, long after her death.
One of my favorite writers, Highsmith was a master of twisted psychology and thrilling, on-the-edge-of-your-seat suspense. She was also a complicated individual in her private life, one who held seemingly-contradictory viewpoints on social issues like race and sexuality.
It’s difficult for me to reconcile Highsmith’s prejudices and outright hatred of certain social groups with her deftness and talent as a writer. Although she wrote some of the most influential novels of our time, she was also a deeply problematic person, and that cannot be brushed under the rug.
So who exactly was the enigmatic writer of so many psychological thrillers? What happened to her? And where should curious readers like us start with her work?
Trigger warnings: racism, eating disorders, mental illness
What Makes Patricia Highsmith The Greatest Suspence Writer Of The Last 100 Years?
Let’s dive into her writing, and why in spite of her sometimes-questionable philosophies and beliefs, Highsmith remains one of the greatest suspense novelists of the last century.
She has written 22 novels, including The Blunderer, The Glass Cell, People Who Knock on the Door, Ripley Under Ground, Ripley’s Game, and many more on top of a numerous amount of short stories.
However, despite her “low” number of novels written by today’s standards, her work has been adapted into 22 movies (some novels more than once), 8 TV shows, 2 theatre pieces, and 4 radio broadcasts. Additionally, there have been novels, graphic novels, films, and plays created about herself.
Finally, not only she was the president of the jury at the 28th Berlin International Film Festival, Highsmith also received several honors such as the Greatest Crime Writer by The Times in 2008, the Edgar Allan Poe Scroll in 1956, the Silver Dagger Award and many more prestigious awards and nominations. If this does not make Patricia Highsmith one of the greatest suspense writers, I don’t know what does…
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Here’s a rundown of five of my favorite Patricia Highsmith novels for first-time readers.
- The Price Of Salt: This moving novel follows women Therese and Carol as they pursue a same-sex relationship against the backdrop of conservative, 1950s America. Fearing backlash, Highsmith first published this novel under a pseudonym in 1952. It is widely cited as one of the first mainstream lesbian novels with a happy ending and is a perfect starting point for readers interested in queer literature, love stories, or those simply less inclined toward suspense.
- Strangers on a Train: This creepy suspense story explores the question: what would happen if you and a stranger committed murder for one another?
- Deep Water: This book follows a married couple, Vic and Melinda, as they pursue outside affairs. The cost of jealousy is high, however, and eventually, one of them could snap. A great read for those interested in relationship dynamics and thrillers. Gillian Flynn, author of Gone Girl, has cited this as one of her favorite books.
- The Cry Of The Owl: One of Highsmith’s less famous novels, it follows a man named Robert as he begins to stalk a young woman named Jenny in his rural community. After Jenny discovers Robert one night, however, the two begin a strange romance, but not everyone in town is happy about it… A solid choice for fans of psychological suspense and crime novels.
- The Talented Mr. Ripley: This novel is everything! It follows young con artist Tom Ripley as he attempts to integrate himself into the life of wealthy, handsome Dickie Greenleaf. A great choice for fans of crime, suspense, and European glamor. (And be sure to check out the various adaptations when you’re done, including the latest series with Andrew Scott.)
Who Was Patricia Highsmith?
Born in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1921, Patricia Highsmith was originally named Mary Patricia Plangman. She was the only child of an artist couple who divorced a mere ten days after her birth. Needless to say, she came into a more complicated set of circumstances than most.
Her childhood was marked by frequent upheavals and moves between Texas and New York and was heavily influenced by a love-hate relationship with her mother. Nonetheless, young Highsmith sought solace in literature, taking advantage of her grandmother’s massive personal book library.
As a young adult, Highsmith enrolled in and eventually graduated from the prestigious Barnard College, where she studied writing and English composition. After being rejected from writing jobs at publications like Time, Mademoiselle, and The New Yorker, Highsmith finally won a competitive place at the Yaddo writer’s retreat in 1948. It was here that she began to work on her debut novel, Strangers on a Train, which would later be adapted into a hit film by Alfred Hitchcock.
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What Happened To Her?
Highsmith was a complicated figure, no doubt, and it’s clear that she endured a more difficult life than most. She suffered a series of mental and physical health issues, including depression, alcoholism, anorexia, chronic anemia, and lung cancer.
Despite her reputation as a private person, Highsmith was open about her sexuality and her attraction to women. While many of her views were progressive by modern standards, she was also a noted racist and antisemite, adding to her notoriety as a complex and frequently disliked individual.
These viewpoints are commonly acknowledged in scholarship about her and certainly complicate my own appreciation for her work as a reader. Although her writing is brilliant, in my opinion, it is impossible to overlook the views she held and the prejudices she harbored.
She preferred solitude and cultivated a reputation as a recluse, particularly in her later years. In 1995 Highsmith died from a combination of lung cancer and anemia at a hospital in Switzerland. She was only 74 years old.
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I love Highsmith’s novels for how readable they are. Although they’re twisted, challenging, and often wildly uncomfortable, her books never feel like work. In fact, she’s one of my favorite authors to take to the beach in the summertime, so if you’re a fan of thrillers and suspense, be sure to pick up one of her books for your next summer read. They’re total beach thrillers.
While you might be uncomfortable, skeeved out, or downright scared, you’ll be so glad you did.
