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Available
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Collection
Publication
W&N (2021), 368 pages
Description
"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"--… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Marse
The book is readable, that is, it reads like a novelization of a movie not yet made. Lots of dialogue, some description -- but nothing fancy. Nothing special about the language or narrative or characters, so much so that this would be an excellent book to read if you are a beginning English
About the best I can say is that you learn a lot about university life in Britain -- stuff that sounds extremely elitist and incredibly foo-foo: bedders, porters, high tables. Whatever.
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language learner. This is a crime novel that fancies itself another "The Secret History" with Tennyson and psychotherapy thrown in. It contains lots of red herrings (some fairly obvious) and a blatantly ludicrous denouement, that judging from everything else in the novel, comes as no surprise--the ludicrousness that is. Without giving too much away, ask yourself (if you do read this novel) about the timeline (2 years of planning?), and how exactly did the murderer actually "do it"? About the best I can say is that you learn a lot about university life in Britain -- stuff that sounds extremely elitist and incredibly foo-foo: bedders, porters, high tables. Whatever.
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LibraryThing member Liz1564
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides was sent to me by the publisher MacMillan Audio via NetGalley. Thank you.
What an engrossing novel! It took me only two days listening to the superb narrative by Louise Bealey to finish the book. It is the best type of psychological thriller/murder mystery.
Marina
The police have a ready suspect in Tara's drug-dealing boyfriend, but Mariana believes that this is more than just a brutal killing. There seems to be a ritualistic aspect to it which points to Professor Edward Fosca, a charismatic classics professor with his coterie of eight beautiful, brilliant students labeled "The Maidens." Tara was part of this group.
Mariana's two day visit extends while she tries to make sense of Fosca's role in Tara's life and the thrall he has on the eight young Maidens. At the same time, she is personally overwhelmed by new sorrows. She cannot help but relive her student years with Sebastian. There was the corner table they sat at in their favorite pub and the bench on the river where they ate lunch. Everywhere she goes he seems to be there, just out of sight.
Even though there is no proof that Professor Fosca is a murderer Mariana knows he is guilty. Her investigation uncovers too many secrets, too many references to classical tragedy to be coincidental. When another student is murdered in the same ritualistic manner Mariana rushes to connect the dots. Someone is watching her. Will she become another target of the killer?
What an engrossing novel! It took me only two days listening to the superb narrative by Louise Bealey to finish the book. It is the best type of psychological thriller/murder mystery.
Marina
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Andros is a group psychotherapist with too much tragedy in her personal life. At 36 she is grieving the drowning death of her husband Sebastian a year earlier. When she receives a frantic call from her only relative, a beloved niece she helped to raise after the girl's parents were killed in a car crash, she drops everything to go to her support. Zoe is an undergraduate at St. Christopher's College, Cambridge. The body of her best friend, savagely mutilated, has just been discovered in the woods not far from the college.The police have a ready suspect in Tara's drug-dealing boyfriend, but Mariana believes that this is more than just a brutal killing. There seems to be a ritualistic aspect to it which points to Professor Edward Fosca, a charismatic classics professor with his coterie of eight beautiful, brilliant students labeled "The Maidens." Tara was part of this group.
Mariana's two day visit extends while she tries to make sense of Fosca's role in Tara's life and the thrall he has on the eight young Maidens. At the same time, she is personally overwhelmed by new sorrows. She cannot help but relive her student years with Sebastian. There was the corner table they sat at in their favorite pub and the bench on the river where they ate lunch. Everywhere she goes he seems to be there, just out of sight.
Even though there is no proof that Professor Fosca is a murderer Mariana knows he is guilty. Her investigation uncovers too many secrets, too many references to classical tragedy to be coincidental. When another student is murdered in the same ritualistic manner Mariana rushes to connect the dots. Someone is watching her. Will she become another target of the killer?
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LibraryThing member RidgewayGirl
This is marketed as a literary thriller and beyond being set in Cambridge, I can't figure out how they decided that was a good idea. Everything other than the setting and the degrees held by several characters, is a run-of-the-mill mystery and is predictably written, predictably plotted,
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predictably structured, and with the predictable characters. If that's what you're in the mood for, enjoy it, but I didn't love the bait and switch that had me picking up a copy, in hardcover no less, with the expectation of at least being mildly entertained. Show Less
LibraryThing member kulmona
A lonely, loveless childhood. Tragic loss. Both of these make group therapist Mariana well-suited for her profession. She is able to empathize and relate to those under her care. But, as in any group, there is comraderie and conflict. There's a dynamic. And some members are more challenging than
While in the midst of dealing with a troubled member, Mariana receives an urgent call from her beloved niece. Zoe, a student at Cambridge, is beside herself with grief. Her best (and only) friend has gone missing. She implores her aunt to come and Mariana doesn't hesitate for a second. Of course, she'll go.
Back at her alma mater, Mariana feels like she's stepped back in time. She's again that young woman who stepped off the boat from Greece into a new world. Everything's the same and, yet, so much has changed.
Before she gets settled in, it becomes apparent that the situation is more serious and complicated than she expected or could even imagine. She shouldn't get involved. It's none of her business. But...she has to. For Zoe, right? Next thing she knows, she's in over her head.
The hype surrounding this book piqued my curiosity. Did it live up to the hype? In my opinion, yes! It held my interest and I looked forward to picking it up whenever I got the chance. And when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it. It had elements that I enjoy : an academic setting, secret societies, and murder mystery. The vivid and disturbingly graphic descriptions. The fleshed-out characters. Last, but not least, the mythology, a genre that has always intrigued me, was a bonus. It made for an entertaining and informative read. And that ending...BREATHTAKING!
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others. While in the midst of dealing with a troubled member, Mariana receives an urgent call from her beloved niece. Zoe, a student at Cambridge, is beside herself with grief. Her best (and only) friend has gone missing. She implores her aunt to come and Mariana doesn't hesitate for a second. Of course, she'll go.
Back at her alma mater, Mariana feels like she's stepped back in time. She's again that young woman who stepped off the boat from Greece into a new world. Everything's the same and, yet, so much has changed.
Before she gets settled in, it becomes apparent that the situation is more serious and complicated than she expected or could even imagine. She shouldn't get involved. It's none of her business. But...she has to. For Zoe, right? Next thing she knows, she's in over her head.
The hype surrounding this book piqued my curiosity. Did it live up to the hype? In my opinion, yes! It held my interest and I looked forward to picking it up whenever I got the chance. And when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it. It had elements that I enjoy : an academic setting, secret societies, and murder mystery. The vivid and disturbingly graphic descriptions. The fleshed-out characters. Last, but not least, the mythology, a genre that has always intrigued me, was a bonus. It made for an entertaining and informative read. And that ending...BREATHTAKING!
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LibraryThing member IonaS
I enjoyed the author’s first book very much, so this sequel had a lot to live up to.
We see the story’s development through the viewpoint of Mariana, a psychotherapist who has a therapy group in London. She is a quarter Greek.
Her beloved partner, Sebastian, recently drowned and Mariana is
She gets a distressed phone call from her niece, Zoe, and rushes to Cambridge to be with her and see what she can do to help.
The body of a young woman has been found murdered; Zoe fears it is her friend, Tara, who has been missing for a few days.
They are both students at St Christopher’s College at Cambridge University.
The victim of the murder does turn out to be Tara.
The story is suspenseful and filled with characters, each one suspicious in some way.
Later, there is a second murder.
Who can the murderer be?; there are almost too many suspects.
There is Professor Edward Fosca, who is Zoe’s professor and that of the murdered girls.
There is a man called Conrad, who is quickly proved to be innocent.
There is Henry, a troubled member of Mariana’s group in London, who seems to be stalking her.
There is Fred, a young man she meets on a train who also keeps pursuing her and seems besotted with her.
There is Morris, the head porter at the college.
There is a group of female students called The Maidens, to which group the murdered women belonged.
There is Julian, a forensic psychologist, who is helping the police solve the murders, and has “a prurient delight in madness and death”.
And then there is Zoe. Could it possibly be she, in love with the professor and jealous of the Maidens, who is attempting to dispose of them?
In connection with the murders, postcards are found, each carrying a quotation in Ancient Greek from a play by Euripides.
Professor Fosca is “dazzling”, charismatic and extremely popular, and is the prime suspect for the murders in Mariana’s view; he teaches Greek tragedy and is proficient in Ancient Greek.
He holds a lecture on the secret rite of Eleusis, which is the story of Persephone - the goddess of death, queen of the underworld.
Fosca also seems to be pursuing Mariana, and invites her to dinner.
He tells her that the murders are “a sacrificial act – a ritual of rebirth and resurrection”.
Throughout the book we are occasionally given access to letters written by an unnamed person, someone split in two, a good person but also a villain.
I found the book exceedingly readable and suspenseful, though at first rather irritated by the many suspects; but at the end I felt the author had excelled himself and the book was just as good as his first one, perhaps better. I highly recommend it.
We see the story’s development through the viewpoint of Mariana, a psychotherapist who has a therapy group in London. She is a quarter Greek.
Her beloved partner, Sebastian, recently drowned and Mariana is
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still mourning him. She gets a distressed phone call from her niece, Zoe, and rushes to Cambridge to be with her and see what she can do to help.
The body of a young woman has been found murdered; Zoe fears it is her friend, Tara, who has been missing for a few days.
They are both students at St Christopher’s College at Cambridge University.
The victim of the murder does turn out to be Tara.
The story is suspenseful and filled with characters, each one suspicious in some way.
Later, there is a second murder.
Who can the murderer be?; there are almost too many suspects.
There is Professor Edward Fosca, who is Zoe’s professor and that of the murdered girls.
There is a man called Conrad, who is quickly proved to be innocent.
There is Henry, a troubled member of Mariana’s group in London, who seems to be stalking her.
There is Fred, a young man she meets on a train who also keeps pursuing her and seems besotted with her.
There is Morris, the head porter at the college.
There is a group of female students called The Maidens, to which group the murdered women belonged.
There is Julian, a forensic psychologist, who is helping the police solve the murders, and has “a prurient delight in madness and death”.
And then there is Zoe. Could it possibly be she, in love with the professor and jealous of the Maidens, who is attempting to dispose of them?
In connection with the murders, postcards are found, each carrying a quotation in Ancient Greek from a play by Euripides.
Professor Fosca is “dazzling”, charismatic and extremely popular, and is the prime suspect for the murders in Mariana’s view; he teaches Greek tragedy and is proficient in Ancient Greek.
He holds a lecture on the secret rite of Eleusis, which is the story of Persephone - the goddess of death, queen of the underworld.
Fosca also seems to be pursuing Mariana, and invites her to dinner.
He tells her that the murders are “a sacrificial act – a ritual of rebirth and resurrection”.
Throughout the book we are occasionally given access to letters written by an unnamed person, someone split in two, a good person but also a villain.
I found the book exceedingly readable and suspenseful, though at first rather irritated by the many suspects; but at the end I felt the author had excelled himself and the book was just as good as his first one, perhaps better. I highly recommend it.
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LibraryThing member oddandbookish
I received an ARC of this book for free from the publisher (Celadon Books) in exchange for an honest review.
First off, I just want to preface by saying that I have not read the author’s other book, The Silent Patient. I cannot speak as to how this book compares nor did I have any expectations
There were some things that I really liked about this book, and some things I did not like.
I really liked the dark academia setting and aesthetic. I thought it was very well done and had the perfect tone to create the dark academia atmosphere.
The incorporation of greek tragedy and mythology was also well done.
I also liked the short chapters. It helped the book flow so nicely and made reading the book a breeze.
Now onto what I didn’t like.
For a book called The Maidens, there was little time actually spent on the Maidens. We never really got to see what they did in their secret society, nor were the girls themselves explored that deeply. I felt like this was a missed opportunity and could have added to the mystery.
When it comes to thrillers, the endings are often a hit or a miss. The ending of this one was a miss for me. The ending seemed a little out of left field and also felt rushed.
Overall, this book had a lot of potential but it fell a little flat for me.
First off, I just want to preface by saying that I have not read the author’s other book, The Silent Patient. I cannot speak as to how this book compares nor did I have any expectations
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going in. I have heard from other reviewers that this book is set in the same universe as The Silent Patient, so if you’ve read that there are probably some references to it in this book. There were some things that I really liked about this book, and some things I did not like.
I really liked the dark academia setting and aesthetic. I thought it was very well done and had the perfect tone to create the dark academia atmosphere.
The incorporation of greek tragedy and mythology was also well done.
I also liked the short chapters. It helped the book flow so nicely and made reading the book a breeze.
Now onto what I didn’t like.
For a book called The Maidens, there was little time actually spent on the Maidens. We never really got to see what they did in their secret society, nor were the girls themselves explored that deeply. I felt like this was a missed opportunity and could have added to the mystery.
When it comes to thrillers, the endings are often a hit or a miss. The ending of this one was a miss for me. The ending seemed a little out of left field and also felt rushed.
Overall, this book had a lot of potential but it fell a little flat for me.
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LibraryThing member gpangel
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides is a 2021 Celadon Books publication.
Sophomore Slump?
A group therapist, Mariana Andros, still grieving the tragic loss of her husband, gets a desperate call from her niece, Zoe, who is frantic and distraught over the disappearance of her college roommate.
Mariana
When another student is murdered, Mariana steps up the pressure on the elusive Professor Fosca. Her actions begin to border on obsession, making her appear more and more unhinged…
This is Alex Michaelides follow up to his wildly successful debut novel, ‘The Silent Patient’. I enjoyed that novel, not quite as much as most others, but I thought the author had probably established himself and was on the way to very promising career as a writer. Unfortunately, lightening didn’t strike twice… at least for me.
The plot in general didn’t have enough cohesiveness to pull off another stunning, shocking surprise twist at the end. The atmosphere was creepy- the feeling of foreboding and dread was thick with apprehension, but it wasn’t enough to hold the story together.
Once I made it to the halfway mark, I had already figured out the main piece of the puzzle, despite the author's attempts to divert my attention away from what was all too obvious, with too many smokescreens and devices.
Mariana’s characterization became so overwrought, shrill, and annoying, implausibly overstepping her bounds at every turn, I was tempted to just skip to the end to see how everything was wrapped up.
Well, in truth, it was taking me way too long to finish the book, and I was growing so weary of it, I was afraid if I put it down, I might not pick it back up again- so I did skim some parts to get to the big reveal at the end.
For me, this book wasn't anything I had not seen before. It was good enough- average- but not up the author's previous standards. It could be a case of nerves, the author feeling pressure to live up the hype and anticipation for this follow up to his massive sleeper hit.
I wouldn’t want to be his shoes, that’s for sure. So, maybe he was working a little too hard, or overthinking things a little.
All that said, despite my underwhelming experience with this book, in all honesty, it’s not terrible, terrible- It’s just ordinary, like many others in this category, and way too predictable for me. I see the book has been generally well- received, so you may have much better luck with it than I did!
2.5 stars
Sophomore Slump?
A group therapist, Mariana Andros, still grieving the tragic loss of her husband, gets a desperate call from her niece, Zoe, who is frantic and distraught over the disappearance of her college roommate.
Mariana
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leaves immediately to join Zoe at Cambridge University to offer her support. Mariana is immediately suspicious of a popular Greek tragedy professor, Edward Fosca, and his elite group of female students, dubbed ‘The Maidens’. When another student is murdered, Mariana steps up the pressure on the elusive Professor Fosca. Her actions begin to border on obsession, making her appear more and more unhinged…
This is Alex Michaelides follow up to his wildly successful debut novel, ‘The Silent Patient’. I enjoyed that novel, not quite as much as most others, but I thought the author had probably established himself and was on the way to very promising career as a writer. Unfortunately, lightening didn’t strike twice… at least for me.
The plot in general didn’t have enough cohesiveness to pull off another stunning, shocking surprise twist at the end. The atmosphere was creepy- the feeling of foreboding and dread was thick with apprehension, but it wasn’t enough to hold the story together.
Once I made it to the halfway mark, I had already figured out the main piece of the puzzle, despite the author's attempts to divert my attention away from what was all too obvious, with too many smokescreens and devices.
Mariana’s characterization became so overwrought, shrill, and annoying, implausibly overstepping her bounds at every turn, I was tempted to just skip to the end to see how everything was wrapped up.
Well, in truth, it was taking me way too long to finish the book, and I was growing so weary of it, I was afraid if I put it down, I might not pick it back up again- so I did skim some parts to get to the big reveal at the end.
For me, this book wasn't anything I had not seen before. It was good enough- average- but not up the author's previous standards. It could be a case of nerves, the author feeling pressure to live up the hype and anticipation for this follow up to his massive sleeper hit.
I wouldn’t want to be his shoes, that’s for sure. So, maybe he was working a little too hard, or overthinking things a little.
All that said, despite my underwhelming experience with this book, in all honesty, it’s not terrible, terrible- It’s just ordinary, like many others in this category, and way too predictable for me. I see the book has been generally well- received, so you may have much better luck with it than I did!
2.5 stars
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LibraryThing member FlowerchildReads
Alex Michaelides is back with The Maidens where dark academia meets greek tragedy, sign me up! Mariana travels to Cambridge University to check on her niece, Zoe, when one by one girls are murdered. All clues point to Edward Fosca a professor and founder of a group ‘The Maidens’ that all
Alex Michaelides writing is lyrical, almost hypnotic. It’s at odds with the unsettling subject matter at times, keeping us uncomfortable, off kilter. This is extremely effective. The plot however is full holes, misdirection, a round robin of cat and mouse, and mouse, but maybe another cat? It feel needless complicated.
The audiobook elevates the story entirely and is my recommendation one hundred percent. Voice actors Louise Brealey (The Silent Patent), and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith are outstanding and cast extremely well here. Chapters are narrated very sporadically by Holdbrook-Smith, our unnamed villain. His voice is dark, extremely disturbing, but like a train wreck we just can’t look away. Since his voice is used so sparingly we don’t know when it’s coming it’s more suspenseful. Louis Brealey is extremely adaptive at portraying the wide variety of other characters, their emotions, and nuances.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy and the opportunity to review The Maidens by Alex Michaelides. All opinions are my own.
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victims belong to. Still navigating the loss of her husband, Mariana’s perspective is somewhat muddied as she begins to help investigate in her role as a therapist. Could she be misjudging the professor?Alex Michaelides writing is lyrical, almost hypnotic. It’s at odds with the unsettling subject matter at times, keeping us uncomfortable, off kilter. This is extremely effective. The plot however is full holes, misdirection, a round robin of cat and mouse, and mouse, but maybe another cat? It feel needless complicated.
The audiobook elevates the story entirely and is my recommendation one hundred percent. Voice actors Louise Brealey (The Silent Patent), and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith are outstanding and cast extremely well here. Chapters are narrated very sporadically by Holdbrook-Smith, our unnamed villain. His voice is dark, extremely disturbing, but like a train wreck we just can’t look away. Since his voice is used so sparingly we don’t know when it’s coming it’s more suspenseful. Louis Brealey is extremely adaptive at portraying the wide variety of other characters, their emotions, and nuances.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy and the opportunity to review The Maidens by Alex Michaelides. All opinions are my own.
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LibraryThing member fredreeca
Mariana is a group therapist. When her niece calls her about a death at her college, Mariana leaves at once to help Zoe. Mariana immediately focuses on a brilliant Greek mythology professor, Fosca. She knows he is the killer but can she prove it!
Mariana is a unique character. I was drawn to her
This is narrated by two different voices, Kobna Holbrook-Smith and Louise Brealey. These two narrators are some of the best in the business. They are the right amount of excitement and emotion!
Alex Michaelides has done it again! This story is captivating, intriguing and unstoppable! It twists and turns until all your suspects are cleared…then what?!? You will have to read this to find out!
Need a good dark thriller….THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!
I received this audiobook from the publisher for a honest review.
Mariana is a unique character. I was drawn to her
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inhibitions and her strengths. Throw in the Greek mythology and the tragic murders and you have an enthralling tale. I was glued from start to finish.This is narrated by two different voices, Kobna Holbrook-Smith and Louise Brealey. These two narrators are some of the best in the business. They are the right amount of excitement and emotion!
Alex Michaelides has done it again! This story is captivating, intriguing and unstoppable! It twists and turns until all your suspects are cleared…then what?!? You will have to read this to find out!
Need a good dark thriller….THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!
I received this audiobook from the publisher for a honest review.
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LibraryThing member Penny_L
You had me at "Greek mythology, murder, and obsession". Yes, I want to read this!
I could just feel the all consuming tenacity of Mariana in the prologue. Atmospheric with a level of tension looming, this story has suspense building from page one. The flawlessly poetic writing drew me in
Set in the vividly described Cambridge University, this story takes you to a place of privilege and beauty. But, also a place of murder and an overwhelming sense of dread. The plot twists and turns as a modern day Greek Tragedy plays out.
After inserting herself into the investigation, the protagonist (Mariana) becomes increasingly unreliable. When her concerns are seemingly dismissed by law enforcement, she conducts her own investigation and becomes plagued by fear and paranoia at what is happening around her. As the multi-layered plot unfolds, Mariana is forced to come to terms with more than just finding a killer.
Intriguing, thrilling and dark, this fast paced story held my attention to the end. But there were a couple characters who I felt could've had more development, and some loose ends were left. This is the first book I've read by this author, so maybe they're from the author's previous novel? Or will be picked up in a next book?
*Thank you Celadon Books, Alex Michaelides and BookishFirst for the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I could just feel the all consuming tenacity of Mariana in the prologue. Atmospheric with a level of tension looming, this story has suspense building from page one. The flawlessly poetic writing drew me in
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immediately and I did not want to stop reading!Set in the vividly described Cambridge University, this story takes you to a place of privilege and beauty. But, also a place of murder and an overwhelming sense of dread. The plot twists and turns as a modern day Greek Tragedy plays out.
After inserting herself into the investigation, the protagonist (Mariana) becomes increasingly unreliable. When her concerns are seemingly dismissed by law enforcement, she conducts her own investigation and becomes plagued by fear and paranoia at what is happening around her. As the multi-layered plot unfolds, Mariana is forced to come to terms with more than just finding a killer.
Intriguing, thrilling and dark, this fast paced story held my attention to the end. But there were a couple characters who I felt could've had more development, and some loose ends were left. This is the first book I've read by this author, so maybe they're from the author's previous novel? Or will be picked up in a next book?
*Thank you Celadon Books, Alex Michaelides and BookishFirst for the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
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LibraryThing member Iudita
In many ways this is your typical suspense novel, but the Dark Academia element added a lot of atmosphere and interest for me. It is also a quick, engaging read.
LibraryThing member Dianekeenoy
Quite a twist ending!
LibraryThing member SheriAWilkinson
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
Mariana is a therapist who once attended Cambridge University. When her Niece's friend is found dead Mariana thinks she knows who the murderer it. She is certain it is Edward Fosca, a Professor at Cambridge University, where her Niece (Zoe) is attending. Mariana
The story moves at a steady pace with plenty of twist turns and secrets revealed. A bit of Greek mythology adds to the compelling plot. I was hooked from the first page until the shocking end. Overall I enjoyed The Maidens and highly recommend to those who like a great psychological thriller.
Mariana is a therapist who once attended Cambridge University. When her Niece's friend is found dead Mariana thinks she knows who the murderer it. She is certain it is Edward Fosca, a Professor at Cambridge University, where her Niece (Zoe) is attending. Mariana
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investigates deeper, and another young woman is found dead, she is determined to get to the truth. The story moves at a steady pace with plenty of twist turns and secrets revealed. A bit of Greek mythology adds to the compelling plot. I was hooked from the first page until the shocking end. Overall I enjoyed The Maidens and highly recommend to those who like a great psychological thriller.
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LibraryThing member ChelleBearss
Alex Michaelides has quickly become on of the authors that I watch for new releases! This is the second novel that I have read by him and it was thrilling to the point that I didn't want to put it down! I love that he weaves so much information together and I never seem to see the ending coming!
(Thanks to NetGalley for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.)
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Recommended!(Thanks to NetGalley for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.)
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LibraryThing member SimplyKelina
DNF
Nothing was happening
Nothing was happening
LibraryThing member write-review
You Won’t Believe This
Readers who enjoyed Michaelides’ debut, The Silent Patient, might be intrigued to find the protagonist of that novel, Theo Faber, make an appearance in a consultive role. Like the first, the novel follows a psychologist, group therapist Marianna Andros, as she ties solving
Marianna and her deceased husband Sebastian took in her niece Zoe after the girl’s parents died in an accident. They raised her and sent her off to Cambridge. One day she calls Marianna grieving over the murder of her best friend Tara. Marianna decides to go up to Cambridge to comfort her. Once there she involves herself in finding Tara’s killer. This leads her to the charismatic professor Edward Fosca. So popular, he has a court of maidens who nearly worship him. We meet them first as a group at the memorial service for Tara, unmistakeable as they parade into the chapel all dressed in white capes. Could any of them be the killer as rivals for the attention and affection of Fosca?
Maybe not, as several of them meet Tara’s fate. Other suspicious characters begin showing up in droves, among them Conrad, the local drug dealer to students and faculty; a young porter, odd by virtue of his youth; an abrasive housekeeper who seems to harbor a grudge; a loony patient of Marianna who doesn’t get the concept of group therapy; a freshman physics student obsessed with Marianna. Since a psychopath doesn’t need what most would consider a rational excuse for murder and has the ability to blend in, any of these could be the culprit. Sorting the likely from the unlikely is the fun of reading a murder mystery, but when the killer descends from the heavens like a Hera manifesting her jealous nature, well, that puts a damper on things. By the way, readers might want to keep the queen of the gods in mind as they try figuring out who will reveal their self in the end.
The Maidens might have been a decent murder mystery if Michaelides hadn’t buried the identity of the real killer under a thick covering of self-analytical mumbo jumbo. Readers can take that as both a hint at a solution and a warning of dissatisfaction ahead.
Readers who enjoyed Michaelides’ debut, The Silent Patient, might be intrigued to find the protagonist of that novel, Theo Faber, make an appearance in a consultive role. Like the first, the novel follows a psychologist, group therapist Marianna Andros, as she ties solving
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the mystery of serial killing of several female students at Cambridge University. Unlike the first, it ends by making no sense to the point where readers will feel duped into consuming a couple of hundred pages of Marianna's personal angst over the unexpected, accidental death of her husband.Marianna and her deceased husband Sebastian took in her niece Zoe after the girl’s parents died in an accident. They raised her and sent her off to Cambridge. One day she calls Marianna grieving over the murder of her best friend Tara. Marianna decides to go up to Cambridge to comfort her. Once there she involves herself in finding Tara’s killer. This leads her to the charismatic professor Edward Fosca. So popular, he has a court of maidens who nearly worship him. We meet them first as a group at the memorial service for Tara, unmistakeable as they parade into the chapel all dressed in white capes. Could any of them be the killer as rivals for the attention and affection of Fosca?
Maybe not, as several of them meet Tara’s fate. Other suspicious characters begin showing up in droves, among them Conrad, the local drug dealer to students and faculty; a young porter, odd by virtue of his youth; an abrasive housekeeper who seems to harbor a grudge; a loony patient of Marianna who doesn’t get the concept of group therapy; a freshman physics student obsessed with Marianna. Since a psychopath doesn’t need what most would consider a rational excuse for murder and has the ability to blend in, any of these could be the culprit. Sorting the likely from the unlikely is the fun of reading a murder mystery, but when the killer descends from the heavens like a Hera manifesting her jealous nature, well, that puts a damper on things. By the way, readers might want to keep the queen of the gods in mind as they try figuring out who will reveal their self in the end.
The Maidens might have been a decent murder mystery if Michaelides hadn’t buried the identity of the real killer under a thick covering of self-analytical mumbo jumbo. Readers can take that as both a hint at a solution and a warning of dissatisfaction ahead.
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LibraryThing member DrApple
The victims in the mystery are all beautiful students of a magnetic classics professor at Cambridge. Our heroine, Marianna, still grieving from the death of her husband, becomes involved because the niece she and her husband raised is a student there. She immediately identifies the person whom she
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believes is the killer, but there are a number of other suspects. The ending is a surprise. Show Less
LibraryThing member bblum
Well written literary fiction. Strange ritualistic murders of young women students who are accolites of an American professor of Greek literature. These are the Miadens. The professor is our prime suspect pursued by Mariana a naive group therapist who is still grieving the death of her husband.The
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creepiness and good writing can really get under your skin but, for me, there is something missing. Maybe it was the sudden conclusion. Show Less
LibraryThing member KarenHerndon
A lot of hype about a just so, so read.
Very predictable to me.
Little better than his Silent Patient, but not much.
Very predictable to me.
Little better than his Silent Patient, but not much.
LibraryThing member hemlokgang
Two for two! This second thriller from Alex Michaelides is just shy of being as good as "The Silent Patient". Young "maidens" are being killed at Cambridge University and the murders seem to be linked to the niece of the psychotherapist sleuth, Marianna. Filled with allusions and parallels to the
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Greek tragedy of Iphigenia, the plot builds in that manner of a good mystery, reeling in the reader page by page. Themes include the relationship between abuser & abused and the blindness of love. A really good thriller! Show Less
LibraryThing member indygo88
Mariana is a group psychologist, still grieving over the tragic death of her husband. When her niece, a student at Cambridge University, calls Mariana in distress over a female student's body found near the college campus, Mariana rushes to comfort her. But then another female student death occurs,
This book will easily pull you in. There were lots of red herrings in this one, and some surprises along the way. It was perhaps a bit unrealistic and farfetched near the end, but I was willing to go with it. The only thing I really did not like was Mariana's character. If I'm going to get behind a heroine, I want to at least kind of like him/her, but I really didn't care for Mariana at all. Other than that, a good story that keeps the reader guessing.
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and Mariana becomes increasingly suspicious of a particular young Greek tragedy professor. Despite warnings from the local authorities, she sets out to solve the mystery of the murders herself, discovering ties to a mysterious campus group known as "The Maidens". This book will easily pull you in. There were lots of red herrings in this one, and some surprises along the way. It was perhaps a bit unrealistic and farfetched near the end, but I was willing to go with it. The only thing I really did not like was Mariana's character. If I'm going to get behind a heroine, I want to at least kind of like him/her, but I really didn't care for Mariana at all. Other than that, a good story that keeps the reader guessing.
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LibraryThing member JJbooklvr
Any worries I had about a sophomore slump were ended right from the start. Loved the Easter egg for his fans. This will be one of the hottest beach reads of the Summer.
LibraryThing member bookwyrmm
This took a little to really get going, but once it did, it was an excellent ride.
LibraryThing member bookczuk
Liked another book by this author. This one wasn't as crisp for me, and the connection to the previous novel seemed contrived. But, all in all, it taught me more about Cambridge, which helped me to recall some fond memories of time spent visiting there while living in London.
LibraryThing member khoyt
I was ready to read "The Maidens" because I was completely blown away by "The Silent Patient". It was well worth the wait! Too bad only five stars are allowed. I thought I had it all figured out. Nope. Each page, each chapter work together to set one's teeth on edge. All information given about the
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characters, the thought processes of the main character, Mariana, lead you to believe one thing and then another with determined efficiency. All the references to the Greek tragedies, group therapy, dysfunctional childhoods are calculated to make one think they are on the correct path. In reality, one is on a roller coaster ride of differing outcomes until it comes to a screeching halt at the conclusion. WOW! Read both of his books and hope he can write another one faster than you can read them. Show Less
Awards
Indie Next List (June 2021)
LibraryReads (Monthly Pick — June 2021)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2021-06-01
ISBN
1409181669 / 9781409181668
Local notes
A literary thriller revolving around Cambridge Classicists and secret sororities. Mariana, who was once herself a student at Cambridge University, suspects that behind the idyllic beauty of the spires and turrets, Greek Tragedy Professor Edward Fosca is guilty of murdering a member of a secret society of female students known as The Maidens.
Signed by the author, black sprayed page edges.
Signed by the author, black sprayed page edges.