I recently finished reading the debut novel by acclaimed psychological thriller writer Patricia Highsmith. The story beings with architect Guy Haines traveling by train to see his unfaithful and estranged wife, Miriam, to finalise a divorce so that he can marry the woman he loves, Anne Faulkner.
While traveling on the train Guy meets Charles Anthony Bruno, who tells of his idea to exchange murders: Bruno will kill Miriam if Guy kills Bruno’s father. Bruno thinks that this is a prefect plan because neither of them will have a motive, and the police will have no reason to suspect either of them.
Bruno kills Guy’s wife but Guy does not turn him in. He realizes that Bruno could always claim Guy’s complicity in the murder. Guy’s implicit guilt becomes unbearable as Bruno makes unexpected appearances demanding that Guy honour his part of the bargain.
This is strong stuff, especially for 1950. Bruno is a psychopath who feels no remorse for his actions. He just wants to be a part of Guy’s life, fraternally and romantically. He believes the killings are appropriate punishment of the guilty. This chance encounter leads Guy to punish himself with unbearable guilt, fear and remorse.
This is the first Highsmith I have read. She has a very particular style, concentrating on every miniscule detail to paint an intricate imagined environment. Her characters and ambiguous and their internal dialogues are not complimentary or morally enlightened. Recommended.
Also, if possible, check out Hitchcock’s film of the novel made the year after. The film diverts from the plot of the book after Bruno kills Miriam but is still worth watching for Hitchcock’s inimitable style. There are plenty of puns and visual metaphors that demonstrate a running motif of crisscross, double-crossing, and crossing one’s double.
Dashiell Hammett was originally approached to write the screenplay but communications broke down. Then Raymond Chandler was approached but Hitchcock and Chandler did not communicate well. Chandler, viewing Hitchcock exit his car, once famously remarked, “Look at the fat bastard trying to get out of his car!”
Hitchcock, one great director, one fat bastard.
On the Nelson hi-fi today:
Arctic Monkeys – Early Demos