The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

I was blown away by Michaelides’s THE SILENT PATIENT a couple of years ago, like so many other readers, so I was so excited to get my hands on this one!

His latest book follows Mariana, a therapist who is pulled into a mystery when her niece Zoe’s friend is found murdered in Cambridge, and she becomes suspicious of a secret society of female students at the University led by a Greek tragedy professor named Edward Fosca.

The start of this novel, which immediately dives into Mariana’s grief at the loss of her husband, really moved me and caused me to instantly connect with her. And since she is a therapist, I enjoyed seeing things through her lens as it allows the narration to fold in psychological theory and an interesting analysis of certain characters.

I also loved how much the setting of Cambridge University (which apparently is a stand-in for Trinity College, where Michaelides studied English literature) came to life. It was so vibrant and alive it seemed like a character in the book.

The comparison of Edward Fosca to Lord Byron made my nerd-heart sing, I’m not gonna lie! And I found the ending shocking and moving and satisfying.

I SO, SO, SO appreciate how Michaelides elevates the mystery and thriller genre by weaving art, literature, psychology and mythology into his stories. I will continue to read whatever he writes!

This hit the shelves yesterday, June 15!!

Thank you Celadon Books for the ARC!​

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