"The Talented Mr. Ripley" is a psychological thriller novel written by Patricia Highsmith, first published in 1955. The story follows Tom Ripley, a young man with a talent for impersonation and forgery, who becomes obsessed with the wealthy lifestyle of Dickie Greenleaf, an American living in Italy. Tom's desire to adopt Dickie's identity leads him down a dark path of deception and crime. As Tom ingratiates himself into Dickie's life, he resorts to increasingly dangerous measures to maintain his facade. The novel explores themes of identity, morality, and the consequences of ambition, ultimately revealing the lengths to which one might go to achieve their desires.