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A Dog's Ransom

A Virago Modern Classic
By Patricia Highsmith
Series: Virago Modern Classics
0.0 (0 reviews)
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Check link for latest rating. ( 1,111 ratings, 169 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
A Dog's Ransom by Patricia Highsmith is a suspenseful tale that dives into the dark side of human nature and society. It follows the distressing saga of a New York couple whose beloved dog is kidnapped, leading them into a tangled web of extortion and moral ambiguity. The story explores themes of desperation, psychological games, and the chilling impact of a seemingly trivial crime.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're drawn to psychological thrillers with intricate plots and complex characters. This novel delves into the themes of crime and morality, offering a suspenseful journey that keeps you on edge as it explores the darker sides of human nature.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

The great revival of interest in Patricia Highsmith continues with this novel that will give dog owners nightmares for years to come. Highsmith blends savage humour with brilliant social satire in this dark tale.

Highsmith blends savage humour with brilliant social satire in this dark tale.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
The bestselling author of The Talented Mr Ripley, Carol and Strangers on a Train 'The No.1 Greatest Crime Writer' The Times 'The original, the best, the gloriously twisted Queen of Suspense' Mark Billingham 'No one has created psychological suspense more densely and deliciously satisfying' Vogue 'Dear Sir, I suppose you are pretty pleased with yourself? Superior to everyone, you think. A fancy apartment and a snob dog. You are a disgusting little machine, nothing else. Your days are numbered.' Ed Reynolds, an editor at a prestigious publishing house, has received a number of anonymous poison pen letters. He has no idea who could bear such a grudge. Returning home one night, he finds a ransom note for his wife's beloved French poodle: 'I have your dog Lisa. She is well and happy... I gather the dog is important to you? We'll see!' The criminal has hit the Manhattan couple where it hurts most. And so, with this bizarre event, their nightmare begins. With an eerie simplicity of style, Highsmith turns our next-door neighbours into sadistic psychopaths, lying in wait among white picket fences and manicured lawns. A Dog's Ransom captures the fragility of middle-class life in this riveting and scathing tale.

Series: Virago Modern Classics

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Patricia Highsmith is celebrated for her skill in crafting psychological suspense, with many considering her a standout in the genre. Her work in A Dog's Ransom is praised for its intense and unsettling atmosphere that often draws readers into her characters' eerie world. Critics highlight her ability to evoke a sense of menace and unease, marking her as a master of suspense.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780349004891

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 21 January 2016

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Virago Press Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 21.0mm

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 203.0mm

Weight: 211g

Pages: 304

Collections

Classic Fiction Classic General Fiction Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Patricia Highsmith Series: Virago Modern Classics

About the Author

Patricia Highsmith (1921-1995) was born in Fort Worth, Texas, and moved to New York when she was six. In her senior year, she edited the college magazine, having decided at the age of sixteen to become a writer. Her first novel, Strangers on a Train (1950), was made into a classic film by Alfred Hitchcock in 1951. The Talented Mr Ripley (1955), introduced the fascinating anti-hero Tom Ripley, and was made into an Oscar-winning film in 1999 by Anthony Minghella. Highsmith died in Locarno, Switzerland, in February 1995. Her last novel, Small g: A Summer Idyll, was published posthumously, the same year.

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