Author: Alex Michaelides
Publisher: Celadon Books
Publication Date: June 2021
Genre: General Fiction / Mystery / Thriller
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible
Description: 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.
My Thoughts: The Maidens is the second book from this talented author, though it should be a prequel to his first novel as references to the first novel are made, but the timeline occurs prior to the events of the first novel. This is very much a stand-alone story but hopefully will incite an interest to the reader for the first book. Once again, the author crafts a very twisty novel that takes the reader into some very dark places that, once illuminated, reveal some surprises that I was not expecting.
Mariana is the main protagonist of this story. Grieving the death of her husband the year before, she tries to stay busy as a group therapist. I found it interesting that her vocation was a therapist, helping others deal with their issues, but not dealing with her own. When Mariana is contacted by her niece, Zoe, about a murder at the university she attends, Mariana heads to Cambridge and finds herself right in the middle of the investigation when Zoe advises that the victim related to her that one of their professors threatened to kill her.
Frankly, I was surprised at how quickly Mariana accepted that Edward Fosca was the murderer when there were several viable suspects to my way of thinking. I thought Edward Fosca was a complex character and not hero material, but I figured he was a red herring and having him turn out to be the killer would be too obvious. I thought Mariana’s therapist training would prompt her to look deeper below the surface, but she spends most of the book adamantly, almost rabidly, trying to prove to the investigators that he’s the culprit. I was more suspicious of the other girls in Fosca’s student group, The Maidens. It had a cult-like feeling about the way they appeared to idolize and worship him.
I was also very suspicious of Fred, a young man that Mariana meets and who appears to be everywhere she is. At first glance, he comes across as an admirer of Mariana’s who is determined to start a relationship, but then I started wondering if he might be the mysterious man whose dark thoughts about his upbringing and complicated relationship with his parents are provided to the reader in short increments. Who is this man? Fred? Edward Fosca? The anticipation the author creates as the book progresses is palpable.
My Final Verdict: I really enjoyed this story but not as much as the first book by this author. I think it’s perhaps due to Mariana’s relentless pursuit of Edward Fosca’s guilt. Her perception was clouded through most of the story, which made her an unreliable character. I think readers will enjoy this story for the suspense and when all was revealed, I wanted more.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The Maidens from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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