This contradiction caused me to ask myself: does a woman writer have responsibility towards other women? Through this character, unhelpful misogynistic stereotypes are also perpetuated, of women as unhinged, manipulative and impossible to satisfy.Īs mentioned above, although Deep Water is written by a woman, it also contains harmful misogynistic stereotypes. Something about their decaying marriage is just so morbidly compelling.ĭeep Water does feature an independent and passionate woman as a main character, but since readers are never given her perspective we are forced to see her through the narrator’s male gaze. While both characters are deeply unlikeable, Highsmith rendered them so skillfully that I did feel a twinge of sympathy for each side in this tense and loveless relationship. It is not a series of shocking twists that kept Deep Water holding onto my attention, but the complex and dark relationships between characters, particularly Vic and his wife Melinda. Some may find this character-driven approach sets too slow a pace for a crime novel, but I came to appreciate the thick atmosphere of suspicion and repression Highsmith infuses into her seemingly innocuous small-town setting. The source of the novel’s uniqueness is the detached and eccentric first-person narrator, Vic, whose perspective sets readers off-balance from the start. Like most people, crime fiction makes me think ‘plot’, so I was initially surprised at how character-centric Deep Water is. Yet a new arrival in the sleepy town of Little Wesley means Vic may not be able to look the other way for much longer…

Their relationship is tenuously held together by Vic sleeping in a separate room and pretending to ignore her involvements with other men. The only taint to this perfect facade is his wife, Melinda. He runs a sought-after printing press, holds a respected position in the town, and is the father of a precocious little girl.

Victor Van Allen is proud of the ordered life he has created for himself. Purchases made through these links will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you – plus I only link to books I’ve read, reviewed and am sure you’ll enjoy!įormat: Paperback – from local independent bookshop Please note that this post contains affiliate links. I am a proud member of the Better World Books affiliate network – the ethical online bookshop.

Deep water highsmith novel book review