Boris Pavlikovsky is a character who injects tension into the novel; he is a dangerous and unpredictable foil to Theo. Their relationship is intriguing. Pippa is strangely allusive as Theo's romantic interest. She too is fascinating, but never really allowed to be centre stage.

From the Waterstones website:

A profound meditation on loss and belonging that doubles as a compelling psychological thriller, Tartt’s monolithic bildungsroman shimmers with insight and incident on every page. From urban metropolis to parched desert and dusty antiques store to Manhattan high society, The Goldfinch is an endlessly enjoyable novel that speaks eloquently to our times.