Call number
MYST AND
Collection
Genres
Publication
Little, Brown and Company (2021), 336 pages
Description
Florence Darrow is a low-level publishing employee who believes that she's destined to be a famous writer. When she stumbles into a job the assistant to the brilliant, enigmatic novelist known as Maud Dixon -- whose true identity is a secret -- it appears that the universe is finally providing Florence's big chance. The arrangement seems perfect. Maud Dixon (whose real name, Florence discovers, is Helen Wilcox) can be prickly, but she is full of pointed wisdom -- not only on how to write, but also on how to live. Florence quickly falls under Helen's spell and eagerly accompanies her to Morocco, where Helen's new novel is set. Amidst the colorful streets of Marrakesh and the wind-swept beaches of the coast, Florence's life at last feels interesting enough to inspire a novel of her own. But when Florence wakes up in the hospital after a terrible car accident, with no memory of the previous night -- and no sign of Helen -- she's tempted to take a shortcut. Instead of hiding in Helen's shadow, why not upgrade into Helen's life? Not to mention her bestselling pseudonym... Taut, twisty, and viciously entertaining, Who is Maud Dixon is a stylish psychological thriller about how far into the darkness you're willing to go to claim the life you always wanted.… (more)
Media reviews
Kirkus Reviews
An ambitious aspiring writer gets a dream job working for her favorite author. Andrews' devilishly clever debut opens at a publishing-house holiday party in a New York bar where editorial assistant Florence Darrow and her colleagues are debating "the question asked in countless magazine articles,
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online forums, and publishing lunches all over town": Who is the author behind the pseudonym Maud Dixon? Someone says they've heard it's a man! As one of the millions of fans of Dixon's debut novel, Mississippi Foxtrot, Florence dismisses the importance of the author's gender. "She knew that, whoever she was, she was an outsider, like Florence herself." Later that night, Florence ends up in a hotel with her editorial director, who happens to be married to a famous actress. "He must have known," Florence later muses, "that sleeping with a young assistant who worked for him had the potential to destroy both his career and his family." But when Florence tries to parlay their connection into a book deal, it is she who ends up losing her job. Oddly, though, she's not worried about being broke and jobless--she's sure the universe is watching out for her. And she may be right, because two weeks later she's asked to apply for a job as personal assistant to Maud Dixon herself. This delightful publishing satire continues for about half the book, and just when you're thinking "Didn't they say this was a thriller?" the wild suspense plot kicks in. The story leaps from an isolated estate outside Hudson, New York, to the dusty medinas and towering cliffs of Morocco, and here the comparisons to The Talented Mr. Ripley start to make sense. At every diabolical twist and turn, Andrews' impish sense of humor peeks around the corner to jack up the fun. Terrific characters, vivid settings, and a deliciously dastardly, cunningly constructed plot. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member write-review
Clever, Engaging Debut Suspense Novel
Writing a novel is hard enough, but finding an agent for it and selling it to a publisher often proves even harder. So, if this were your ambition, what would you do if a shortcut was laid in your lap, nearly gift wrapped? All you needed was just the right
Florence Darrow is something of a fish out of water in New York, where she works as an assistant at a publishing house. She attended a state college in Florida and now finds herself among a group of Ivy types with ambitions and money. She always envisioned herself a novelist but can’t seem to come up with a good idea, and even if she could, she would find it challenging to get it down on paper. Her frustration builds to overflowing when she learns that one of her privileged coworkers wrote a novel and landed a publisher.
So, when the opportunity to work as the assistant to the famous and mysterious Maud Dixon presents itself, she takes it. Dixon is the pseudonym of the author of a sensational bestseller Florence loves, Mississippi Foxtrot. As Florence soon discovers, her real name is Helen Wilcox and she lives in seclusion in a small hamlet located in upstate New York. She also learns they have two very different personalities, Florence’s quiet and unassertive, Helen’s brash and dominate. Helen’s trying to write a followup to her bestseller but seems stalled. She decides to seek inspiration by visiting the locale for her second novel, Morocco. And she takes Florence along. But, as readers soon learn, Helen truly is a mysterious woman, who appears to be hiding her past.
Then, one evening, after dinner and too many drinks, she and Florence drive off a notoriously dangerous road and plunge into the ocean. A fisherman rescues Florence but Helen’s nowhere to be found. Florence presumes she drowned and was swept out to sea. And since everybody has assumed she is Helen Wilcox, as she was carrying all of Helen’s papers, she slips into Helen’s identity. All the time she has spent with Helen has prepared her for the role. But nothing has prepared her for what comes next, when Helen’s past catches her unawares.
In the end, all the truths about Helen and Florence reveal themselves, and readers are in for a terrific ride to those revelations.
Writing a novel is hard enough, but finding an agent for it and selling it to a publisher often proves even harder. So, if this were your ambition, what would you do if a shortcut was laid in your lap, nearly gift wrapped? All you needed was just the right
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amount of larceny in your heart to run with the gift. That’s the clever idea Alexandra Andrews gives to her character Florence Darrow in her fast-paced psychological suspense debut. The only flaw in execution here is that Andrews spends a bit too much time on the build up to the main event, so please exercise patience; it’s worth it.Florence Darrow is something of a fish out of water in New York, where she works as an assistant at a publishing house. She attended a state college in Florida and now finds herself among a group of Ivy types with ambitions and money. She always envisioned herself a novelist but can’t seem to come up with a good idea, and even if she could, she would find it challenging to get it down on paper. Her frustration builds to overflowing when she learns that one of her privileged coworkers wrote a novel and landed a publisher.
So, when the opportunity to work as the assistant to the famous and mysterious Maud Dixon presents itself, she takes it. Dixon is the pseudonym of the author of a sensational bestseller Florence loves, Mississippi Foxtrot. As Florence soon discovers, her real name is Helen Wilcox and she lives in seclusion in a small hamlet located in upstate New York. She also learns they have two very different personalities, Florence’s quiet and unassertive, Helen’s brash and dominate. Helen’s trying to write a followup to her bestseller but seems stalled. She decides to seek inspiration by visiting the locale for her second novel, Morocco. And she takes Florence along. But, as readers soon learn, Helen truly is a mysterious woman, who appears to be hiding her past.
Then, one evening, after dinner and too many drinks, she and Florence drive off a notoriously dangerous road and plunge into the ocean. A fisherman rescues Florence but Helen’s nowhere to be found. Florence presumes she drowned and was swept out to sea. And since everybody has assumed she is Helen Wilcox, as she was carrying all of Helen’s papers, she slips into Helen’s identity. All the time she has spent with Helen has prepared her for the role. But nothing has prepared her for what comes next, when Helen’s past catches her unawares.
In the end, all the truths about Helen and Florence reveal themselves, and readers are in for a terrific ride to those revelations.
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LibraryThing member Twink
Who is Alexandra Andrews? She's the author of Who Is Maud Dixon?
I love looking at a cover before turning to the first page. Do you see the two profiles made from that one line? It's a perfect representation of what you'll find inside.
From Little Brown and Company: "Florence Darrow is a low-level
For me, Florence was an unlikable lead - and was perfect for Andrews' tale. Florence seems to have something missing, an emptiness in her that she can never seem to fill. The book is told from her perspective, her thoughts and her actions. Which were more than a little disturbing.
"When she looked into the future, she saw herself at a beautiful next to a window, typing her next great book. She could never quite see the words on the screen, but she knew they were brilliant and would prove once and for all that she was special. Everyone would know the name Florence Darrow."
But, she's not the only unlikeable character - the author known as Maud Dixon is mercurial, eccentric and manipulative. She decides that the two of them need to travel to Morocco for research purposes. I loved the setting - Andrews does a great job of bringing it to life - the heat, the noise, the markets and more. Here we do meet some supporting players - and a few of them I did like, including Officer Idrissi. Oh yes, there is a police officer involved - but is there a crime? Andrews keeps the reader guessing as the story takes a different direction more than once, with some great twists. I appreciate not being able to predict a story.
Andrews herself has worked in the publishing industry and that insider knowledge adds to the atmosphere of the book. Her writing grabs you and hangs on tight. An excellent cat and mouse, mouse and cat plot, one I thoroughly enjoyed.
This was a fantastic debut novel for Andrews. And I can see this one on the big screen as well.
I love looking at a cover before turning to the first page. Do you see the two profiles made from that one line? It's a perfect representation of what you'll find inside.
From Little Brown and Company: "Florence Darrow is a low-level
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publishing employee who believes that she's destined to be a famous writer. When she stumbles into a job the assistant to the brilliant, enigmatic novelist known as Maud Dixon — whose true identity is a secret — it appears that the universe is finally providing Florence’s big chance." Uh huh, lots of ways this story could unfurl.....For me, Florence was an unlikable lead - and was perfect for Andrews' tale. Florence seems to have something missing, an emptiness in her that she can never seem to fill. The book is told from her perspective, her thoughts and her actions. Which were more than a little disturbing.
"When she looked into the future, she saw herself at a beautiful next to a window, typing her next great book. She could never quite see the words on the screen, but she knew they were brilliant and would prove once and for all that she was special. Everyone would know the name Florence Darrow."
But, she's not the only unlikeable character - the author known as Maud Dixon is mercurial, eccentric and manipulative. She decides that the two of them need to travel to Morocco for research purposes. I loved the setting - Andrews does a great job of bringing it to life - the heat, the noise, the markets and more. Here we do meet some supporting players - and a few of them I did like, including Officer Idrissi. Oh yes, there is a police officer involved - but is there a crime? Andrews keeps the reader guessing as the story takes a different direction more than once, with some great twists. I appreciate not being able to predict a story.
Andrews herself has worked in the publishing industry and that insider knowledge adds to the atmosphere of the book. Her writing grabs you and hangs on tight. An excellent cat and mouse, mouse and cat plot, one I thoroughly enjoyed.
This was a fantastic debut novel for Andrews. And I can see this one on the big screen as well.
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LibraryThing member nancyadair
3.5I was lucky to be able to still grab a galley of the much talked about thriller/mystery Who is Maud Dixon? I needed a plot-driven, page turner to get my reading mojo back. And this clever, twisted debut novel did the trick. I stayed up reading past my bedtime!
Florence had been raised to believe
After sleeping with her boss's boss, she becomes obsessed with the man's family, stalking his wife and studying her, imitating her. It lands her in hot water, and without a job.
Then an opportunity arises for her to be the assistant to the best-selling author whose book was a major influence in her life. Maud Dixon was a pen name, and only one person knew who the real person behind the novel was...until Florence is hired to become her personal assistant.
Maud is really Helen Wilcox, only six years older than Florence. Helen is not a nice person. She is blunt, self-centered, cold-hearted, and sarcastic. Florence manages Helen's finances, correspondence, and types her work in progress which arrives in indecipherable handwriting so Florence has to insert her own words. It is also damn poor writing; Florence could do as well.
Helen makes the sudden decision for them to go to Morocco for research. When Florence wakes up in the hospital, a policeman calling her Ms Wilcox, she learns there was a car accident she can't recall--and Helen has disappeared. Florence does not correct the assumption of her identity, and hatches a plan to take over Helen's life for herself.
Florence becomes embroiled in far more than she expected, and with several more plot twists, instead of gliding on Maud's fame and riches, she must escape prison and death.
The success of the novel rests on plot. Helen and Florence feel like 'types' and even the idea of assuming another's identity is not original. It took me more than half the novel to be hooked into that late night reading to finish the story. Still, it is a fun read. And, truly, there are few of us who never fantasized about the life we believe we are owed, or were jealous of another's success.
I was given a free egalley by the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.
Florence had been raised to believe
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she was special and would accomplish big things. She did leave Florida and her single mom for New York City and the world of publishing. But, instead of being a big name writer, she works for an editor who has just sold her first book. Florence is frustrated and imagines another life, the life she *should* have, the success she deserved.After sleeping with her boss's boss, she becomes obsessed with the man's family, stalking his wife and studying her, imitating her. It lands her in hot water, and without a job.
Then an opportunity arises for her to be the assistant to the best-selling author whose book was a major influence in her life. Maud Dixon was a pen name, and only one person knew who the real person behind the novel was...until Florence is hired to become her personal assistant.
Maud is really Helen Wilcox, only six years older than Florence. Helen is not a nice person. She is blunt, self-centered, cold-hearted, and sarcastic. Florence manages Helen's finances, correspondence, and types her work in progress which arrives in indecipherable handwriting so Florence has to insert her own words. It is also damn poor writing; Florence could do as well.
Helen makes the sudden decision for them to go to Morocco for research. When Florence wakes up in the hospital, a policeman calling her Ms Wilcox, she learns there was a car accident she can't recall--and Helen has disappeared. Florence does not correct the assumption of her identity, and hatches a plan to take over Helen's life for herself.
Florence becomes embroiled in far more than she expected, and with several more plot twists, instead of gliding on Maud's fame and riches, she must escape prison and death.
The success of the novel rests on plot. Helen and Florence feel like 'types' and even the idea of assuming another's identity is not original. It took me more than half the novel to be hooked into that late night reading to finish the story. Still, it is a fun read. And, truly, there are few of us who never fantasized about the life we believe we are owed, or were jealous of another's success.
I was given a free egalley by the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.
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LibraryThing member jfe16
Florence Darrow, an assistant at Forrester Books publishing company, harbors a dream of becoming a celebrated writer, one recognized as being special. But opportunity eludes her until she's offered a position as an assistant to “Maud Dixon,” the celebrated novelist who chooses to remain
Certain that working with Maud Dixon [otherwise known as Helen Wilcox] is her big chance, Florence moves from the city to Cairo in upstate New York and settles into working with the novelist. Helen can be cantankerous, but Florence thrives on her bits of wisdom. And Helen wants Florence to accompany her on her research trip to Morocco.
But when Florence wakes up in the hospital, the victim of a horrific automobile accident, it seems that Helen is dead. Can Florence pull off becoming Helen Wilcox . . . and Maud Dixon?
The opening section of the four-part story is a bit of a slog, but it isn’t until the final section of the story that the plot begins to twist and take the story in unexpected directions. However, some readers may find that this final section relies far too much on coincidence and the reader’s willing suspension of disbelief.
Although reasonably well-drawn, the characters in this suspenseful tale are not particularly likable. Florence, a mixture of naiveté and cunning ambition, lacks confidence in herself and seems to be forever looking for a way to reach the apex of the writing world, but she doesn’t seem willing to put in the work that attaining her desired position demands. The accident she cannot remember opens the gateway to Florence taking over Helen’s life . . . and becoming Maud Dixon.
Astute readers will figure out the twists and turns in the plot long before the big revelations and the denouement of this twisty tale will not come as a complete surprise. Nevertheless, there’s something quite enjoyable in the telling of this dark and snarky tale.
Recommended.
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anonymous. Certain that working with Maud Dixon [otherwise known as Helen Wilcox] is her big chance, Florence moves from the city to Cairo in upstate New York and settles into working with the novelist. Helen can be cantankerous, but Florence thrives on her bits of wisdom. And Helen wants Florence to accompany her on her research trip to Morocco.
But when Florence wakes up in the hospital, the victim of a horrific automobile accident, it seems that Helen is dead. Can Florence pull off becoming Helen Wilcox . . . and Maud Dixon?
The opening section of the four-part story is a bit of a slog, but it isn’t until the final section of the story that the plot begins to twist and take the story in unexpected directions. However, some readers may find that this final section relies far too much on coincidence and the reader’s willing suspension of disbelief.
Although reasonably well-drawn, the characters in this suspenseful tale are not particularly likable. Florence, a mixture of naiveté and cunning ambition, lacks confidence in herself and seems to be forever looking for a way to reach the apex of the writing world, but she doesn’t seem willing to put in the work that attaining her desired position demands. The accident she cannot remember opens the gateway to Florence taking over Helen’s life . . . and becoming Maud Dixon.
Astute readers will figure out the twists and turns in the plot long before the big revelations and the denouement of this twisty tale will not come as a complete surprise. Nevertheless, there’s something quite enjoyable in the telling of this dark and snarky tale.
Recommended.
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LibraryThing member grandpahobo
The first half of the book is fairly slow, but the ending makes it worthwhile. The writing itself is a bit flat. I always felt like the main character was an observer in her own life, watching things happen to and around her. There is no real sense of being invested in what happens.
LibraryThing member breic
A predictable and silly Tom Ripley rip-off.
LibraryThing member maneekuhi
Maud Dixon is very boring for te first 50% then it gets interesting for several pages. Yes, pages. Then boring again but only for a bit, and then it gets very twisty, very, very twisty. And the problem with twisty is that things start to get more and more improbable. Especially, if you have
So, at this point in the book, we're all in Morroco, or someplace in New York state not far from the City, but if that's the case we'll be in Morroco soon. And the big question the reader is toying with is which one will go to jail? Or will it be neither, or both? At this point you're not thinking murder. At this point. And here's another dilemma for the reader. You probably don't care, but now you're a bit curious to see how this is going to end, you've invested a fair amount of time even though the story is only 266 pages, and money, and that's why it's a "2" and not something lower.
What's it about? An assistant at a small book publisher, who gets fired, then hired as assistant to an author, in the middle of a new novel. Florence is in her mid 20s, Helen is in her early 30's. Helen decides she needs to get away to clear her mind, see some new things to help her storyline and whoosh they're off to Morroco. I'm annoyed at the Washington Post critic for her rather enthusiastic review of this....
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characters that must come up with a supposedly plausible explanation for everything.So, at this point in the book, we're all in Morroco, or someplace in New York state not far from the City, but if that's the case we'll be in Morroco soon. And the big question the reader is toying with is which one will go to jail? Or will it be neither, or both? At this point you're not thinking murder. At this point. And here's another dilemma for the reader. You probably don't care, but now you're a bit curious to see how this is going to end, you've invested a fair amount of time even though the story is only 266 pages, and money, and that's why it's a "2" and not something lower.
What's it about? An assistant at a small book publisher, who gets fired, then hired as assistant to an author, in the middle of a new novel. Florence is in her mid 20s, Helen is in her early 30's. Helen decides she needs to get away to clear her mind, see some new things to help her storyline and whoosh they're off to Morroco. I'm annoyed at the Washington Post critic for her rather enthusiastic review of this....
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LibraryThing member bookworm12
A psychological thriller that’s a slow burn. The whole first part could have been cut with a short introduction to the character instead. It was a slog, but the second we meet Helen it picks up. There are some serious Talented Mr. Ripley vibes, but it works. There are enough twists and turns that
“If you spend your life looking for fairness you’ll be disappointed. Fairness doesn’t exist. And if it did, it would be boring. It would leave no room for the unexpected. But if you search for greatness—for beauty, for art, for transcendence—those are where the rewards are. That is what makes life worth living.”
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the suspense keeps building. “If you spend your life looking for fairness you’ll be disappointed. Fairness doesn’t exist. And if it did, it would be boring. It would leave no room for the unexpected. But if you search for greatness—for beauty, for art, for transcendence—those are where the rewards are. That is what makes life worth living.”
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LibraryThing member bibliovermis
The characters at odds in this suspense thriller were almost equally terrible, and thus it was hard to know who to root for, or how to feel about any kind of success or setbacks they had. But it was in fact suspenseful, and absorbing to watch, in a clear ode to the Talented Mr. Ripley.
LibraryThing member eas7788
So very white and straight. Hard to figure out tone and how intelligent protagonist is. Not quite as clever as it thinks it is but kept me listening. The lack of awareness of race was distracting, though.
LibraryThing member write-review
Clever, Engaging Debut Suspense Novel
Writing a novel is hard enough, but finding an agent for it and selling it to a publisher often proves even harder. So, if this were your ambition, what would you do if a shortcut was laid in your lap, nearly gift wrapped? All you needed was just the right
Florence Darrow is something of a fish out of water in New York, where she works as an assistant at a publishing house. She attended a state college in Florida and now finds herself among a group of Ivy types with ambitions and money. She always envisioned herself a novelist but can’t seem to come up with a good idea, and even if she could, she would find it challenging to get it down on paper. Her frustration builds to overflowing when she learns that one of her privileged coworkers wrote a novel and landed a publisher.
So, when the opportunity to work as the assistant to the famous and mysterious Maud Dixon presents itself, she takes it. Dixon is the pseudonym of the author of a sensational bestseller Florence loves, Mississippi Foxtrot. As Florence soon discovers, her real name is Helen Wilcox and she lives in seclusion in a small hamlet located in upstate New York. She also learns they have two very different personalities, Florence’s quiet and unassertive, Helen’s brash and dominate. Helen’s trying to write a followup to her bestseller but seems stalled. She decides to seek inspiration by visiting the locale for her second novel, Morocco. And she takes Florence along. But, as readers soon learn, Helen truly is a mysterious woman, who appears to be hiding her past.
Then, one evening, after dinner and too many drinks, she and Florence drive off a notoriously dangerous road and plunge into the ocean. A fisherman rescues Florence but Helen’s nowhere to be found. Florence presumes she drowned and was swept out to sea. And since everybody has assumed she is Helen Wilcox, as she was carrying all of Helen’s papers, she slips into Helen’s identity. All the time she has spent with Helen has prepared her for the role. But nothing has prepared her for what comes next, when Helen’s past catches her unawares.
In the end, all the truths about Helen and Florence reveal themselves, and readers are in for a terrific ride to those revelations.
Writing a novel is hard enough, but finding an agent for it and selling it to a publisher often proves even harder. So, if this were your ambition, what would you do if a shortcut was laid in your lap, nearly gift wrapped? All you needed was just the right
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amount of larceny in your heart to run with the gift. That’s the clever idea Alexandra Andrews gives to her character Florence Darrow in her fast-paced psychological suspense debut. The only flaw in execution here is that Andrews spends a bit too much time on the build up to the main event, so please exercise patience; it’s worth it.Florence Darrow is something of a fish out of water in New York, where she works as an assistant at a publishing house. She attended a state college in Florida and now finds herself among a group of Ivy types with ambitions and money. She always envisioned herself a novelist but can’t seem to come up with a good idea, and even if she could, she would find it challenging to get it down on paper. Her frustration builds to overflowing when she learns that one of her privileged coworkers wrote a novel and landed a publisher.
So, when the opportunity to work as the assistant to the famous and mysterious Maud Dixon presents itself, she takes it. Dixon is the pseudonym of the author of a sensational bestseller Florence loves, Mississippi Foxtrot. As Florence soon discovers, her real name is Helen Wilcox and she lives in seclusion in a small hamlet located in upstate New York. She also learns they have two very different personalities, Florence’s quiet and unassertive, Helen’s brash and dominate. Helen’s trying to write a followup to her bestseller but seems stalled. She decides to seek inspiration by visiting the locale for her second novel, Morocco. And she takes Florence along. But, as readers soon learn, Helen truly is a mysterious woman, who appears to be hiding her past.
Then, one evening, after dinner and too many drinks, she and Florence drive off a notoriously dangerous road and plunge into the ocean. A fisherman rescues Florence but Helen’s nowhere to be found. Florence presumes she drowned and was swept out to sea. And since everybody has assumed she is Helen Wilcox, as she was carrying all of Helen’s papers, she slips into Helen’s identity. All the time she has spent with Helen has prepared her for the role. But nothing has prepared her for what comes next, when Helen’s past catches her unawares.
In the end, all the truths about Helen and Florence reveal themselves, and readers are in for a terrific ride to those revelations.
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LibraryThing member Loried
I'm so glad I took a chance on this debut novel. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher. I flew through the book in one day; it completely captivated me. I liked the pace of the book. I was able to understand the characters before all the excitement began. There were many twists and turns in
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the action, and I thought it was very cleverly done. It was great escapist reading, and I highly recommend it. Show Less
LibraryThing member gpangel
Who Killed Maud Dixon by
Alexandra Andrews is a 2021 Little, Brown and Company publication.
Ha! What a fun thriller!
Maud Dixon is the most talked about author in the world of publishing…
But Maud Dixon is a pseudonym and the author’s identity is top secret, and everyone is dying to find out who
Florence overplays her hand with a married editorial director and finds herself out of a job. Fortunately, she doesn’t stay unemployed for long. In fact, she lands on her feet quite nicely- landing the most sought-after job in all of publishing- as the personal assistant to the one and only Maud Dixon!!
I breezed through this one in record time. A fantastic, smart, entertaining thriller with some very nice twists and turns. The setting, the premise, and the shrewd plotting tips this up the scale to 4.5 stars.
Alexandra Andrews is a 2021 Little, Brown and Company publication.
Ha! What a fun thriller!
Maud Dixon is the most talked about author in the world of publishing…
But Maud Dixon is a pseudonym and the author’s identity is top secret, and everyone is dying to find out who
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she is, including Florence Darrow- an aspiring author. Florence overplays her hand with a married editorial director and finds herself out of a job. Fortunately, she doesn’t stay unemployed for long. In fact, she lands on her feet quite nicely- landing the most sought-after job in all of publishing- as the personal assistant to the one and only Maud Dixon!!
I breezed through this one in record time. A fantastic, smart, entertaining thriller with some very nice twists and turns. The setting, the premise, and the shrewd plotting tips this up the scale to 4.5 stars.
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LibraryThing member Hccpsk
Who Is Maud Dixon? Is an entertaining if somewhat cliched page-turner about a young woman trying to escape her upbringing and become a writer. Florence Darrow moved to New York to become someone else, but her dead-end assistant job at a publishing house is getting her nowhere. When strange
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circumstances allow her to become famous writer Maud Dixon’s assistant, she jumps at the chance, and the mystery ensues. Show Less
LibraryThing member RidgewayGirl
Recently, I was in the mood for a fast-paced thriller that was well-written and unpredictable and was sorely disappointed by the book I chose -- one that had been on more than a few "most anticipated" lists and which was marketed as a "literary thriller." And since I don't learn from experience, I
The novel starts with Florence, small town Florida girl who went to the state university and then got a job with a New York publishing house, only to find herself well out of her comfort zone. Her fellow co-workers come from well-heeled, private school backgrounds, giving them a facility negotiating the New York social world that Florence feels she will never have. After a drunken encounter with an older man much higher up in the company, Florence makes some very bad decisions, which lead her to grabbing at a job offer to be the assistant of a reclusive best-selling author. The story begins with a set up that could easily sustain an entire novel, and uses it as an opener. From there, things become much wilder as Florence becomes more and more fascinated and curious about her secretive employer. When they both travel to Morocco to do some research for the next novel, things veer out of control.
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picked up another fitting exactly the same bill. And this one was everything the other thriller was not. It sped along at a relentless pace, contained an unlikely quantity of twists and turns, featured two utter unlikeable and also fascinating characters and it was well-written and fun to read. I suspect that a few of the plot lines do not hold together under close examination, but I was so taken with this book, and I raced through it so quickly, that that didn't matter in the slightest. The novel starts with Florence, small town Florida girl who went to the state university and then got a job with a New York publishing house, only to find herself well out of her comfort zone. Her fellow co-workers come from well-heeled, private school backgrounds, giving them a facility negotiating the New York social world that Florence feels she will never have. After a drunken encounter with an older man much higher up in the company, Florence makes some very bad decisions, which lead her to grabbing at a job offer to be the assistant of a reclusive best-selling author. The story begins with a set up that could easily sustain an entire novel, and uses it as an opener. From there, things become much wilder as Florence becomes more and more fascinated and curious about her secretive employer. When they both travel to Morocco to do some research for the next novel, things veer out of control.
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LibraryThing member bookczuk
2022 pandemic read. Learned a lot about the publishing world. Again.
LibraryThing member tuusannuuska
On the one hand, the plot was pretty good for a mystery thriller. On the other, I don't like books where everyone's an insufferable asshole. If you can get past that though, you'll probably like this.
LibraryThing member TomDonaghey
Who Is Maud Dixon (2022) by Alexandra Andrews. A tightly woven suspense/thriller with a dash of mystery tossed in, this is an above average beach read. There are one or two nice twists in the tale but the ending should have been figured out by the second or third chapter, even though you would be
Maud Dixon is the author of a run-away, world-wide bestseller. Her, or his, identity is unknown to the world and is currently discussed non-stop at cocktail parties. Only the agent who works for Dixon knows who the real person is, and is sworn to secrecy through a very binding NDA.
Enter Florence Darrow, a wanna-be writer who has managed to get a job with a major publishing house, and lose the same job due to her poor impulse control. Then a miracle happens, Dixon’s agent is seeking young hopefuls to be an assistant to the anonymous author and Florence is one of the candidates
A quick interview with the writer and Florence is hired. Seems the author lives in upstate New York in a cabin out in the woods. Florence soon settles in to her duties and things appear to be going well. Then the author announces the pair of them are off to Marrakesh for in-depth research. They end up several days later in a small sea side town among the ex-pats who litter the beaches. An ensuing car crash after the two of them had several drinks over dinner leaves Florence in the hospital with no sign of the author.
Then we get into the real meat of the story. There are shades of Tom Ripley in Florence, and her character turns more to the dark side, even to the point of assuming the author’s life. But she soon discovers the author had their own dark secrets which now threaten Florence.
This is not a deep look into the pathology of anyone, but a quick scan of interesting characters doing what appears to be both easy and profitable. Of course things are not what they seem.
This is a fun read but not Earth-shaking by any stretch of the imagination. So get a copy, read, enjoy, and leave it somewhere another reader can find it and enjoy. Etc., etc., etc.
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wrong about it. Or maybe I’m wrong. This book is not meant to have you taking notes and seeking to unravel what it all means. Rather it is just a nice escape from the troubles of the world, a look into an exotic location, and and a view into how evil minds work.Maud Dixon is the author of a run-away, world-wide bestseller. Her, or his, identity is unknown to the world and is currently discussed non-stop at cocktail parties. Only the agent who works for Dixon knows who the real person is, and is sworn to secrecy through a very binding NDA.
Enter Florence Darrow, a wanna-be writer who has managed to get a job with a major publishing house, and lose the same job due to her poor impulse control. Then a miracle happens, Dixon’s agent is seeking young hopefuls to be an assistant to the anonymous author and Florence is one of the candidates
A quick interview with the writer and Florence is hired. Seems the author lives in upstate New York in a cabin out in the woods. Florence soon settles in to her duties and things appear to be going well. Then the author announces the pair of them are off to Marrakesh for in-depth research. They end up several days later in a small sea side town among the ex-pats who litter the beaches. An ensuing car crash after the two of them had several drinks over dinner leaves Florence in the hospital with no sign of the author.
Then we get into the real meat of the story. There are shades of Tom Ripley in Florence, and her character turns more to the dark side, even to the point of assuming the author’s life. But she soon discovers the author had their own dark secrets which now threaten Florence.
This is not a deep look into the pathology of anyone, but a quick scan of interesting characters doing what appears to be both easy and profitable. Of course things are not what they seem.
This is a fun read but not Earth-shaking by any stretch of the imagination. So get a copy, read, enjoy, and leave it somewhere another reader can find it and enjoy. Etc., etc., etc.
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LibraryThing member ccayne
A page turner with many unlikeable characters set in various locations. I figured out most of what was really going on but that did not detract from the pleasure of seeing it unfurl. Be careful what you wish for. Andrews succeeded in pulling together all the twists and turns into a satisfying and
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believable conclusion. Show Less
LibraryThing member datrappert
I can't help but wonder what a good writer would have done with this plot. Andrews isn't a bad writer in the sense that someone like Dan Brown is. She puts together sentences quite well, and the setting of the story, whether it is New York City, an isolated house in the woods, or Morocco, is well
I don't expect to read this author again. (The audiobook narrator was quite good, however. She was able to give the characters very different voices without turning them in to caricatures.)
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done. It is the gaping holes in the plot that made this an exasperating listen. We can see from the start that our protagonist, Florence, is not a very good person, or a very smart person. But her inability to spot the obvious gets trying after a while. The reader (or listener) can pretty much predict the plot turns before they happen. The author manages to throw in a twist or two regarding the details, but the big shocks aren't that shocking, because the paint-by-number plot requires them. There are so many problems with the plot that it would take too long to list them all, but, for one, does the author understand that modern US passports include biometric information? Even if two people look alike, the biometric information will clearly differentiate them. To sum it up, I certainly had to listen to this book to the end to find out the final details of what happened. There again, we have some serious issues. Such as wills being contested by actual relatives....I don't expect to read this author again. (The audiobook narrator was quite good, however. She was able to give the characters very different voices without turning them in to caricatures.)
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LibraryThing member rmarcin
This book started off slowly, and built slowly, but then the last few chapters were quick and full of tension! Florence Darrow is an aspiring author but no one is interested in her work. After an embarrassing incident with her boss, Florence loses her job. Then, she gets hired to work for the
Helen suggests that she and Florence travel to Morocco to research Helen’s latest book. When things go awry, they go awry in a big way! This is when the book becomes very interesting.
I don’t think you will see it coming!
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author known as Maud Dixon: Helen Wilcox. Helen suggests that she and Florence travel to Morocco to research Helen’s latest book. When things go awry, they go awry in a big way! This is when the book becomes very interesting.
I don’t think you will see it coming!
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LibraryThing member gypsysmom
This was recommended as a good summer beach read. I haven't been to a beach yet this summer but I listened to it while doing other summer activities. It was fast-paced and compelling but really quite unbelievable.
Florence Darrow has been working in New York City as an editorial assistant in a
Neither Helen nor Florence are very likable characters. I always stuggle with a book when I can't like or at least empathisize with the main characters. Yet another reason for my less than rave of a review.
Florence Darrow has been working in New York City as an editorial assistant in a
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publishing firm. At a holiday party she goes off to have a one-night stand with her boss's boss who, of course, is married. Although she assured the man afterwards that they were good, she started stalking his wife and kids. Then, unbelievably, she sent him pictures that she had taken of them. Of course, she was fired. Like everyone else (it seemed) she had read Mississippi Foxtrot by Maud Dixon. Maud Dixon is a pseudonym and only her agent knows who she really is. Then Florence gets offered a job as a personal assistant for the reclusive author, Helen Wilcox, and learns that she is Maud Dixon. Florence moves into the guesthouse on Helen's property and is soon acting like a rock musician fan by trying to look and sound and write like Helen. (Naturally, Florence is an aspiring writer.) Helen, for her part, seems to quite like Florence. When Helen suggests going to Morocco to do research for her new novel Florence is thrilled. They set themselves up in a villa on the coast near a small town that gets its share of American tourists. Life seems too good to be true to Florence and that is when everything goes to hell in a handbasket. Florence is pulled from the car they have rented after driving off the coast road. In the hospital when she regains consciousness everyone starts calling her Madame Wilcox Florence cannot remember driving or going off the road but she thinks Helen must have been with her. Does that mean Helen died in the crash? The only identification left to her is Helen's so she decides to become Helen. Possibly not the best decision Florence has made as later events will show. Neither Helen nor Florence are very likable characters. I always stuggle with a book when I can't like or at least empathisize with the main characters. Yet another reason for my less than rave of a review.
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Awards
Macavity Award (Nominee — 2022)
Barry Award (Nominee — First Novel — 2022)
Lefty Award (Nominee — 2022)
NPR: Books We Love (2021)
ISBN
0316500313 / 9780316500319