Tom Ripley, a man of limited means and shifting identity, becomes obsessed with the lifestyle of a wealthy acquaintance, leading to a calculated descent into deception and violence. Ripley is dispatched to Italy to retrieve Dickie Greenleaf, a wealthy expatriate, for his father. Upon arrival, Ripley develops a fixation on Greenleaf's affluent existence, which fuels a desire to usurp his identity. The narrative follows Ripley's internal rationalizations and external maneuvers as he navigates the social circles of the Italian Riviera. The story is told through a third-person limited perspective that focuses heavily on the protagonist's psychological state and his reactions to the obstacles he creates for himself.

Readers frequently highlight the unsettling nature of the protagonist, noting that Highsmith forces the audience to inhabit the mind of a man devoid of traditional morality. Discussion often centers on the effectiveness of the pacing, which prioritizes psychological tension over conventional action sequences. Critics often point to the atmospheric setting as a crucial element that contrasts sharply with the dark, calculated actions of the lead character. The book is widely recognized for its influence on the psychological thriller genre, particularly in its portrayal of a criminal who manages to evade capture through sheer audacity. Many readers find the lack of a clear moral compass in the narrative to be the most defining and memorable aspect of the work.