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3.0 

The Two Faces of January

By Patricia Highsmith
The Two Faces of January by Patricia Highsmith digital book - Fable

Publisher Description

The award-winning “classic psychological thriller” by the author of Strangers on a Train and The Talented Mr. Ripley (USA Today).
 
In a grubby Athens hotel, Rydal Keener is bored and killing time with petty scams. But when he runs into another American, Chester MacFarland, dragging a man’s body down the hotel hall, Rydal impulsively agrees to help, perhaps because Chester looks like his father.
 
Then Rydal meets Collete, Chester’s younger wife, and captivated, becomes entangled in their sordid lives, as the drama marches to a shocking climax at the ruins of the labyrinth at Knossos.
 
A winner of a Crime Writers of America award, The Two Faces of January was the basis of a film starring Viggo Mortensen, Kirsten Dunst, and Oscar Isaac.
 
“An offbeat, provocative and absorbing suspense novel.” —The New York Times
 
“Patricia Highsmith is one of the few suspense writers whose work transcends genre.” —The Austin American-Statesman

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48 Reviews

3.0
Surprised Face with Open Mouth“so... this was a good read, patricia Highsmith has a way of writing that MAKES you turn the page without even realising it. i think the premise and characters of this were good, but it maybe got stuck going in circles for a while. tho with that in mind, I still really enjoyed this and would recommend as a good holiday book i really want to read some of her other novels - looking through the reviews for this one, people seem to be of a similar mind to me with the story and writing tho most mention how impressive her other work is in comparison jack bought me this xxx JANUARY BOOK FOR JANUARY”
Expressionless Face“This was not a book I had intended to read - I thought I had put a hold on the movie, not the book, but decided to give it a go. It's my first time reading a Patricia Highsmith novel - although I've watched some of her film/TV adaptations, including, "The Talented Mr Ripley," the new Netflix "Ripley" series, and, my personal favourite, Hitchcock's "Strangers on a Train." The book itself is really slow for a thriller. I'm not sure if all her books are like this, but this one took forever to resolve itself. The story takes place in Greece, and having traveled there myself I really felt like I was revisiting my memories of that trip as I read about Athens, Piraeus, Crete, etc. Ultimately, what I didn't like about the book was the obsession the two men had for each other. Chester and Rydal's obsession with each led to tragedy and death and yet, we never learn why. Rydal felt Chester reminded him of his father. Ok? But what was Rydal to Chester? They were both willing to kill AND save one another. It was BIZARRE. Still, I think I will watch the movie. Maybe Highsmith's books make better film/tv. The movie stars Viggo Mortensen, Oscar Isaac and Kirsten Dunst. Sign me up!”

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