Which crime novelist created the character Tom Ripley?

Patricia Highsmith created the character Tom Ripley. He first appears in her 1955 novel The Talented Mr. Ripley, a psychological crime story about identity, deception, and social ambition.

Ripley is not a conventional detective or police investigator. He is an intelligent, adaptable antihero whose crimes are driven by envy, fear, and a desire to enter a wealthier world. Highsmith’s narrative often places readers close to Ripley’s thoughts, creating tension between his charm and his moral emptiness.

Highsmith wrote five novels about Ripley. The later books include Ripley Under Ground, Ripley’s Game, The Boy Who Followed Ripley, and Ripley Under Water. The character has also appeared in several screen adaptations, including a 1999 film starring Matt Damon and a television series released in 2024.

Ripley is sometimes mistakenly credited to the filmmakers who adapted him, but the character originated in Highsmith’s novel and belongs to her literary universe.