The Crime Writer - Softcover

Dawson, Jill

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0062669583 ISBN 13: 9780062669582

Publisher: Harper Perennial, 2017

Synopsis

From acclaimed novelist Jill Dawson comes this imaginative psychological thriller--a dark and compelling snapshot into the life of Patricia Highsmith that immerses readers into the intoxicating, nightmarish psyche of this brilliant, complex author.

When novelist Patricia Highsmith moves into a small cottage in Suffolk, England, in the mid-1960s, she's seeking seclusion and time to write. There's another reason for seeking privacy too--Pat is involved in a secret romance with Sam, a married woman living in London.

But even in this quaint village, Pat can't escape the obligations of her success. A young reporter, Virginia "Ginny" Smythson-Balby, sets her sights on Pat for an article she's writing. Ginny is both tenacious and oddly familiar, but Pat can't quite place where she's seen her before. Intent on unearthing details about Pat's fascination with not just the subject of murder but the psychology of a murderer, Ginny constantly intrudes into the sanctuary Pat had hoped to create, much to her dismay.

As Pat observes, love is a kind of madness. And when Sam comes for a visit, tension between Pat and Sam's husband escalates with deadly results. For so long she's wondered what it would feel like to commit the ultimate transgression. Now she's not just a chronicler of murder and violence, but a participant as she becomes a character from her own thrilling, disturbing novels. But just like her books, she discovers crime has consequences...dark, surprising, and inescapable.

Jill Dawson deftly explores the public and private life of one of the most intriguing writers of our time, blending fact and fiction in a novel as thrilling as Patricia Highsmith's own work.

About this title

Review:

"This novel is the real deal. Beautifully written and a must for all Highsmith fans."--Phyllis Nagy, scriptwriter of the film Carol

"Dawson has drawn a witty, creepy plot as well as a convincing character sketch of a woman all too easy to caricature."--Jake Kerridge, The Daily Telegraph

"Dawson skillfully constructs a dark tale that Highsmith fans will love."--Sunday Times

"[An] impeccable portrait . . . a hugely compelling read, jam-packed full of tensions and psychological insight, all beautifully observed."--Sunday Express (London)

"This novel is one wonderful long riff on Patricia Highsmith . . . Unsettling, sexy and gripping."--Tim Pears

"It's brilliant."--Paula Hawkins, Bestselling Author of The Girl on the Train

"Ventriloquy is Dawson's forte . . . this fascinating, skillfully constructed novel builds a convincing picture of Patricia Highsmith "--Andrew Taylor, Spectator

"You do not need to be a passionate Highsmith fan to admire this beautifully written and elegant novel, but I think it will particularly appeal to those who have read her books and know something about her life; they should recognise many of the allusions and ideas."--Jessica Mann Literary Review

"A beautifully crafted and utterly riveting blend of fact and fiction about a fascinating 20th-century figure."--Carla McKay, Daily Mail

"A dark tale of madness and murder, of obsession and delusion, that's worthy of Highsmith herself."--Red Magazine

Book Description:

By the Orange Prize-shortlisted Jill Dawson, a riveting novel that folds a brilliant portrait of Patricia Highsmith into a tale of duplicity, madness and murder.

About this edition

• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 0062669583
• ISBN 13: 9780062669582
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 256