She insists that these men accompany her and Vic when they are invited to friends’ houses, where she dances with them, not her husband. Vic, happily stays up to thwart Melinda’s plans.

Melinda entertains her series of male conquests at their house, evening drinks, turn into very, very late nights. Vic now finds himself in a rather embarrassing position. The Van Allens live in the quiet, affluent, town of Little Wesley, where Vic is highly regarded by his friends and neighbours.Īlthough Melinda has no interest in her husband, she does have quite a lot of interest in other men. He is an affable, likeable man, intelligent and studious, a good friend, neighbour and father. He has his own interests outside his small printing press business, including the breeding of snails. Vic now sleeps in another wing of the house on the other side of the garage. They have one young daughter Trixie, who is six, and since her birth Melinda has had no interest in her husband. Neither of them seem to wish to end the marriage, each completely caught up in their peculiar brand of domestic misery. She made dancing embarrassing.”Īt the centre of this novel are married couple Melinda and Vic Van Allen, a couple whose marriage has descended to one of mutual destruction. His rationalization of his attitude was a flimsy one and didn’t fool him for a minute, though it crossed his mind every time he saw Melinda dancing: she was insufferably silly when she danced. He didn’t dance simply because his wife liked to dance.

“Vic didn’t dance, but not for the reason that most men who don’t dance give to themselves. Somehow, we see their faults before his, feel his frustration, wanting him to succeed, against our reason.

Highsmith forces us to side with a murderer, against all his potential victims. Based solely upon the evidence of reading this, I will be reading a lot more novels by Patricia Highsmith.ĭeep Water isn’t a typical mystery/thriller, it is deeply psychological, suspenseful and subtle. Patricia Highsmith is probably best known for the Ripley novels and Strangers on a Train, this novel perhaps one that is less well known. I had wanted to join in with the book club at least once – so was delighted they picked a book I hadn’t read and one by an author I have wanted to read for a long time. Deep Water was Virago Press’ pick for their February book club.

Deep water highsmith novel book review