The Maidens: A Novel
**THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER**
"Alex Michaelides’s long-awaited next novel, 'The Maidens,' is finally here...the premise is enticing and the elements irresistible."
—The New York Times
"A deliciously dark, elegant, utterly compulsive read—with a twist that blew my mind. I loved this even more than I loved The Silent Patient and that's saying something!"
—Lucy Foley, New York Times bestselling author of The Guest List
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Patient comes a spellbinding tale of psychological suspense, weaving together Greek mythology, murder, and obsession, that further cements “Michaelides as a major player in the field” (Publishers Weekly).
Edward Fosca is a murderer. Of this Mariana is certain. But Fosca is untouchable. A handsome and charismatic Greek tragedy professor at Cambridge University, Fosca is adored by staff and students alike—particularly by the members of a secret society of female students known as The Maidens.
Mariana Andros is a brilliant but troubled group therapist who becomes fixated on The Maidens when one member, a friend of Mariana’s niece Zoe, is found murdered in Cambridge.
Mariana, who was once herself a student at the university, quickly suspects that behind the idyllic beauty of the spires and turrets, and beneath the ancient traditions, lies something sinister. And she becomes convinced that, despite his alibi, Edward Fosca is guilty of the murder. But why would the professor target one of his students? And why does he keep returning to the rites of Persephone, the maiden, and her journey to the underworld?
When another body is found, Mariana’s obsession with proving Fosca’s guilt spirals out of control, threatening to destroy her credibility as well as her closest relationships. But Mariana is determined to stop this killer, even if it costs her everything—including her own life.
BUY THE BOOK
These clubs recently read this book...
Community Reviews
What’s it about?
When Mariana’s niece Zoe calls her from Cambridge to tell her that her friend has been murdered, Mariana leaves London to be at her side. Mariana becomes convinced that Zoe’s brilliant professor, Edward Fosca, is the murderer. Now how does she prove it?
What did it make me think about?
What a beautiful place Cambridge must be- and so steeped in history.
Should I read it?
I thoroughly enjoyed this one- so many suspects thrown in along the way that it was hard to choose who did it. Not always the most plausible of characters- but who cares when the plot keeps moving forward. Cambridge as the setting was just a plus.
Quote-
“Edward Fosca was a murderer.
This was a fact. This wasn’t something Mariana knew just on an intellectual level, as an idea. Her body knew it. She felt it in her bones, along her blood, and deep within every cell.”
update: after discussion with my friend, she agreed that this author does not write women well and in fact we got icky misogynistic vibes from the writing :)
That title might be a touch too long and lacking in commercial appeal, but, all that say...it's my jam.
"The Maidens" is set on the Cambridge campus, and centers around Greek mythology, Mariana (our fearless and broken protagonist), her niece, Zoe (student at said troubled university), and the overly charming & sketchy professor, Edward Fosca. Particular students are being brutally stabbed to death in the woods and they are all in the *cough* Girl Only *cough* secret society led by the handsome and mysteries Fosca.
I am usually quick to solve a mystery story. I can pick out the "bad guy" and even give his reasons for murder most of the time. And I did again... ... ...but I did NOT see the twist coming. Just...not even a little. Thinking back on some key passages, I feel like Michaelides was dropping a few light clues to mislead his audience - that I totally bought hook, line, & sinker!
Fantastic Read! Only way I could have loved it more was if I could have read it for the first time on a rainy October day. But, I mean, you can only ask so much of a book. *wink*
A HUGE Thank You to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read and review this amazing audiobook. 5 Stars!
The Maidens is the dark, twisty novel rooted in mythology that I wanted from The Secret History.
First, let me say that I have not read Alex Michaelides previous novel, The Silent Patient, so I have nothing to compare this book to except other novels. And the one that gave me similar vibes is The Secret History. Unlike most other readers, I didn’t love The Secret History. I wasn’t fond of all the unreliable characters. Oddly, The Maidens is full of unreliable characters, as well, but this time it worked for me.
Michaelides has created characters I didn’t mind not trusting. With the exception of the notes woven throughout the novel from the killer’s mind, the reader experiences the events through Mariana’s point of view. Like the Greek tragedies that heavily influence this story, Mariana’s life has been full of tragic experiences. Most recently the death of her husband. It was fascinating to experience the events from someone who specializes in group therapy as a psychoanalyst, but who is also suffering through unimaginable grief herself. And as a former student at the school where the murders have occurred, her past memories are intertwined with her present experiences. She’s a complex, but informative character.
I also found myself googling many of the places the author mentions in the book, which made the story even more atmospheric. The setting of Cambridge lended itself perfectly to the mysterious deaths, and I could feel Mariana’s fear among the shadows and beside the murky river.
The chapters are short and blunt, and I was a big fan of the style. It allowed me to stop if I needed and absorb what I’d read, the tension building as the past and present slowly meet.
I didn’t try very hard to solve the mystery as I was reading. There were several directions the plot could have gone, so I didn’t even try to guess. When the twist was revealed, I was shocked, but not so shocked that it didn’t make sense. But I did immediately go back to the beginning of the book when I finished to reread many passages—which is always a sign that I enjoyed a book.
I was nervous about picking this one up when I started seeing mixed reviews from my fellow readers, but I was happy to find this one lived up to my expectations. I’m excited to read The Silent Patient soon, as well. While The Maidens wasn’t perfect—and I still have a few unanswered questions—I thoroughly enjoyed the setting and characters in this spine-tingling thriller.
Thank you to Celadon Books for an advanced reader’s copy.
Check out my review at A Book Wanderer
#popsugarreadingchallenge2021 (prompt #5 - A dark academia book)
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.