I loved this book. I found the campus setting intriguing, and enjoyed the inclusion of Greek mythology. I also like how the book connected to THE SILENT PATIENT in subtle ways. This was one of my favorite reads of 2021 so far, and I really enjoyed both narrators. It was very difficult to walk away!

Once I started this audiobook I didn't want to stop listening until I was finished - I was completely drawn in! I loved the Cambridge setting and the numerous references to Greek Mythology and Greek Tragedies. I didn't see the twist coming which is definitely a sign of a good thriller. Fans of The Silent Patient should definitely check out this one!

Thank you Netgalley for this Audio-ARC in exchange for my honest feedback and review.

Marina is a therapist who holds group therapy sessions. She has experienced quite a lot of loss in her short life. When her niece, Zoe, calls in hysterics she go right back to the school that brought her to where her life is now. Determined to protect Zoe at all costs she sets out to find who is killing women in a group called The Maidens.

I could hardly stop listening to this audiobook. I simply devoured it in less than 2 days. I didn't see that end coming at all! I loved the connection to The Silent Patient. I believe I may have squealed a little. Alex Michaelides you are so talented you're quickly becoming my favorite author.

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you so much to @celadonbooks and @netgalley for allowing me to listen to this book early in exchange for an honest review. Most importantly thank you so much to the author @alex.michaelides for the opportunity to read this book at all.
I was approved for the ARC just yesterday and spent a large part of the last two days completely entranced by it. From the first page I felt an underlying sense of foreboding, which continued to build until culminating in an end worthy of the Gods themselves.

At the start we are introduced to our main character, Mariana, a group therapist still stunted by the loss of her husband a year earlier. When she receives a phone call from her distraught niece Zoe convinced not only that her friend Tara has been murdered but that she also knows just the the professor responsible for the act, Mariana jumps on a train and heads to her old university, to be at her niece's side..
Edward Fosca is a young, charismatic, Greek tragedy professor who has singled out five of his favorite female students and labeled them with the moniker, The Maidens; of which Tara was one. What ensues is an expertly woven tale of mythology, history, and mystery, that Mariana feels she must solve if she wants to prove that Edward Fosca is guilty.
You don't want to miss this sophomore novel. Coming to a bookstore near you on June 15th and available for pre-order now.

To say that The Maiden was one of my most anticipated reads of the year would be an understatement. I really enjoyed The Silent Patient and this is coming from someone who is constantly disappointed by the thriller genre. Add the exciting writing style of Alex Michaelides with a twist of Greek mythology and you’ve got me sold.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t the 5 star read I was hoping for. Don’t get me wrong, it was still enjoyable but it wasn’t the soul shattering, mind twisting story that I expected. Michaelides creates an amazing atmosphere and his writing is quite sophisticated and lovely. He also does that thing where every character introduced has an air of suspicion around them. The red herring he tried to throw might fool a lot of people but I expected this person to be involved in the murders from the beginning.

I will say that I didn’t expect a certain aspect and the influence of another character throughout the novel. I did figure out the whole thing before the big reveal, though.

Like I’ve mentioned before, I am not easily duped by thrillers so I’m sure that most people will enjoy this substantially more than I did. Michaelides enjoys using therapy as a device in his books so far and I do think it’s cool how he involves that. I also think it’s important how he used grooming to show the damage that can be done on young minds. Throughout the novel, there’s a lot of this being done and Mariana has to address this. As a therapist, she has to remind herself that the terrible things people do are often because of the horrors inflicted on them.

All in all, this was a darkly entertaining thriller that intertwines itself in Greek tragedies. The lush setting only adds to the atmosphere and will keep you reading until you’ve finished. Try to lower your expectations a bit from the hype and you’ll probably enjoy it immensely.

Thank you to Celadon and the author for the opportunity to read this novel. I will still continue to pick up the books Alex Michaelides puts out in the fire. That cover is absolutely gorgeous, as well.

Trigger warnings for grooming, self-harm, drugging, murder, unwanted sexual advances.

Blog and Bookstagram links to be added

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a fabulous book. It exceeded my expectations! I would love to recommend this book to anyone who loves a mystery wrapped in intellectual innuendos. The Greek mythology makes it historical yet interesting.. ENJOY!!!

3.5⭐️
This author writes amazing books. His mystery, suspense-thrillers always have me on the edge of my seat.
So I was super excited about getting my hands on this one. I listened to the audiobook and the narrators were good. This had murder surrounded by many mysterious events and crazy disturbing side characters. Some really good stuff and then....... he just drops off with this _______ ending.
I did enjoy it. I did. But. What. Was. That? Really?
Thanks to Celadon Books via Netgalley

Terrific book however a bit predictable. I am not one to guess who the killer is very easily however I did early on. It was just a feeling I had gotten. Even though I was right it didn't diminish how much I enjoyed the book. That twist at the end I didn't see coming!!

The narator was great, easy to follow along and well spoken.

I am ambivalent writing this review because I understand why there are so many readers who loved it. Michaelides is an excellent mystery writer. So far he has produced two well thought out mysteries-replete with misdirection, credible presentation and surprise ending. He also keeps his audience shifting suspects and does some nice twists and turns.

For me I did not become hooked and absorbed from the get go alike I was in The Silent Patient. The Maidens is dryer, more cerebral yet retains the qualities of a good classic mystery. The Maidens does gain momentum, but it is further along. I like the use of the mythical gods and goddesses and the authors use of allegory in the story. Very effective. I also like the use of different mental health professionals as central characters in both books..

The plot takes place at Cambridge University where Edward Fosca, a debonair professor has a gaggle of beautiful female students who adore him-hence the title The Maidens who worship Demeter and Persephone. When one of the girls is savagely murdered -a student named Zoe persuades her aunt, Marianna to come to Cambridge and look into her friend's death. Fosca is the main suspect at which point there are pros and cons into thinking him the killer. Other girls are murdered as we gain momentum before we have resolution of learning who the murderer is.

Absolutely enthralling! I started the audiobook while reading along with an ebook arc and I absolutely could not stop. It was everything I had hoped for coming off of Michaelides' debut novel The Silent Patient. He is 2 for 2 now! His way of storytelling and weaving characters together is brilliant.

The Maidens was not what I was expecting at all. Perhaps, I am just not intelligent enough to understand the deeper meaning behind the plot or I mistakenly assumed the book was going to be more in the realm of dark academia when all it was is set on the Cambridge campus but overall the storyline was so disparate and not cohesive. It was also predictable since one knows from the Silent Patient that the author likes to give the readers a twist in this book he leaves plenty of crumbs yet he seems to be trying to give a deeper meaning in terms of mental health and it just did not work for me. Very disappointing. HOWEVER, the only reason I was able to finish this book was because I really did enjoy the narration of the audiobook. The narrators kept me engaged in the story even if I was disappointed in the overall plot. I would definitely recommend the audio to my library customers.

OH. MY. GOD. HE DID IT AGAIN. Alex Michaelides managed to blow my mind once again with his brilliance. I am genuinely at a loss for words right now. I was a huge fan of the Silent Patient and as soon as I heard about the Maidens, I knew I would love it and I’m not disappointed in the slightest.

Mariana is a group therapist who lives in London. One day, her niece Zoey calls and is hysterical because her best friend was murdered. Mariana runs to her aid and immediately suspects Greek mythology professor Edward Fosca is the murderer. When the murders continue, she gets more confident in her analysis and becomes fixated on his private group of students known as the Maidens.

I went into this book with such high expectations and they were blown out of the water. I can honestly say there was not one dull moment in the entire book and my heart was beating in anticipation during the last few chapters. FIVE STARS. Easily.

TW: pedophilia, animal cruelty

4.5 stars rounding up to 5 stars.

Wow, this is the best book I’ve read in awhile. The writing was haunting, beautiful, and darkly atmospheric. The Greek myths tied into the novel did wonders for the writing. Ultimately, while this is reminiscent of the Secret History, I much preferred this. The mystery, twists, and red herrings kept me interested throughout.

Overall, I liked Mariana in the beginning, but towards the end she started to ignore flags. For being such a deep and logical person, she seemed to lack self-awareness.

The minor characters were interesting (Clarissa, the Maidens, Fred, etc.) as well as Mariana’s backstory.

The Maiden’s by Alex Michaelides
Publication date: June 15, 2021

4/5 stars
Having read The Silent Patient, I was excited for Alex Michaelides second novel, The Maidens. The blurb had me even more intrigued; secret society of females known as the Maidens, murder mystery, Greek Tragedy professor with an alibi, I was ready.

The story takes place at Cambridge University, a place the main character, Mariana, has previous ties to. With the murder of one of the Maidens, Mariana is determined to prove the charming professor, Edward Fosca, is the murderer.

While the setting at the University begins as a light prestigious place, it continuously darkens. Michaelides paints a clear, detailed image of the setting in a way that places you there. Mariana was difficult to connect to and I would have liked more exploration and dialogue with her character, her past and less on the professor.

This dark murder mystery, thriller is enveloped in Greek mythology and hidden clues. With the mystery and twists, I was entertained and engaged throughout the book.

The audio narration was paced well. The dialogue and characters changes were smooth and worked well. No complaints. I would definitely recommend this to readers of murder mystery who enjoy clues and twists.

Thanks to Netgalley, Celadon, and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy to review

Death and tragedy have surrounded Mariana all her life. Still, since marrying the man of her dreams, finding her calling, and raising her orphaned niece, Zoe, as if she was her own, Mariana's life seemed to be finally on track.

That is until tragedy struck, and she loses her husband. We meet her a year after her loss, and still grieving, she leaves everything behind when Zoe calls asking for help. Her best friend was murdered, and Zoe suspects professor Fosca and his posse, the maidens, are very much involved.

Mariana sets out to Cambridge to protect her niece and make sure professor Fosca is caught; Mariana is obsessively convinced of his guilt.

When another girl is found murdered in the same ritualistic way, Mariana knows it's just a matter of time before another body shows up. She is determined to put an end to it before the murderer targets Zoe.

I usually try not to be greedy and only request one format of a book I am interested in - either a copy I can read or a copy I can listen to. I was almost done reading The Maidens when the audiobook became available; I should have just let it go, right? Well, no. For one, the audiobook is published by Macmillan Audio, and y'all know how I feel about their productions. For "two," Louise Brealey is a narrator in this book, and I am a massive fan of hers. She is one of my favourite narrators, and let me tell you, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith matched her talent!

Between the two of them, the story came to life. Their pace was impeccable, their chemistry was evident, and I feel they took a magnificent story and elevated it. There were passages in The Maidens that were written in Greek. I loved listening to the narrators read them! Even though I still did not know what it meant, I appreciated listening to them being spoken as they should be, which, unfortunately, I failed to do independently. I also liked the atmosphere the narration brought to our mystery character's chapters. The narration was so creepy! I loved it! Lastly, I read with a North American "accent," so I love listening to British books because they always sound better than my "head voice."

Technically and based on my personal criteria, I can not fault The Maidens. The plot idea was excellent – Greek Tragedies ARE the perfect inspiration to thrillers. The way Michaelides executed his vision was superb. It was everything I love in a book – Fast, witty, enthralling, fair, compelling. Reading The Maidens was like being pulled into a vortex: each time I started reading, my world ceased to exist, and I was utterly immersed in the world Michaelides created just for me (okay, okay, it was a gift for everyone who reads it). He has this ability to build an atmosphere so authentic, you see what he wants you to see and feel what he wants you to feel. He played entirely fair, but for the first time in a long time, I didn't quite put the puzzle completely together; his final twist was "chef's kiss." I liked it so much I read the audiobook in its entirety right after I finished the e-book.

Mariana was a fantastic character, and her development was done perfectly. I felt like I knew her; I saw myself in her. Experiencing the book through her eyes was a privilege. Alex gave each character a unique voice and a purpose within the text. Different characters evoked different visceral reactions in me that still linger: The empathy I felt for Mariana, The dislike I felt for Fosca, the revulsion I felt for Morris, the loathing and pity I felt for the harpies, erm, I mean the maidens, the ambivalence I felt for Fred. In fact, I don't think there was a single character I didn't have an emotional reaction to.

As for my personal feelings, first and foremost, I need to let out the excitement I felt when seeing some characters from The Silent Patient make an appearance. It's not often that Thriller/mystery authors actually BUILD their own universe, and I'm here for Michaelides' world. I can't wait to see more of it! I feel his books can be read in any order (so far), but do yourself a favour and have both books handy when you start reading, it will be impossible not to read them back to back. In fact, I mentioned that I read The Maidens twice in a row (one as an audiobook); I forgot to say that I have also added The Silent Patient to my May TBR because I just can't stop thinking about it now!

I really don't want to drop even an inkling of a spoiler, but Michaelides really surprised me with parts of his twist. I was hoodwinked, fooled, stupefied, and loved every minute of it—utter and total whiplash syndrome. As much as I am competitive and love solving plot puzzles, there is something to be said about the thrill of being surprised when reading a book. I am cherishing this feeling.

The way Michaelides describes places is brilliant. I really felt like I was at that farm, in Greece, at Mariana's house. I felt like I had attended St Christopher's College. Basically, wherever he took me, he evoked a vivid visual that made me feel like I was there. This, to me, is another of the millions of reasons why I adore his writing style.

Lastly, (though I feel no one but me will care) can I take a moment and show my most profound appreciation for Alex's love of commas? The comma is my favourite graphic sign. I think I even use them when I speak. There are no words to express how much I love seeing them used. Is it just me, or do they really make sentences so much more dynamic and exciting? Just me? Okay, rave done.

I foresee The Maidens making it to my 2021 top reads list! And I will be utterly shocked if it doesn't make it to Goodreads' best thriller shortlist.


Disclaimer: I first read it as an ARC. In exchange for an honest review, I am thankful to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley and Alex Michaelides for providing me with a copy of The Maidens audiobook

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for gifting me with an Audio ARC of The Maidens by Alex Michaelides. In exchange I offer my unbiased review.

This was just as good as I hoped it would be. Alex Michaelides once again delivers an unputdownable psychological thriller. A serial killer is stalking a group of beautiful coeds known as The Maidens. When
Mariana Andros, a group therapist receives a frantic phone call from her terrified niece, a student at Cambridge, she drops everything to console her. Once at Cambridge, Mariana finds herself immersed in the mystery, using her intuitive skills as a psychotherapist to help with the investigation.
Plenty of intriguing characters, and a surprise visit from Theo Faber made this new thriller a treat to read. Audio narration was excellent.
This book/audio will be the book everybody will be talking about.
A sure fire summer hit!

I really liked the mythology that was just splashed in there. There were just random factoids that I just found really neat. It made sense in the end and that really kept my interest. Also, as a big fan of The Silent Patient I LOVED the references. If you could have seen me slap my desk when they started mentioning Alicia Berenson and Theo Faber! I was PUMPED.

However, that’s kind of all I really enjoyed about The Maidens. I found myself incredibly bored and just flipping through the book just to finish it. I thankfully received it on audio, so I could finish it via audio. I don’t think I could have if I didn’t have the audio. The ending was decent, but I was kind of expecting.. more? The reader of The Maidens was phenomenal and was the main reason I finished the book. I enjoyed her range of voices for each character.

Overall, I don’t know if I enjoyed The Maidens because I know what’s next is The Silent Patient, or because the Greek mythology was so wonderful. Regardless, I felt bored and underwhelmed with The Maidens. It had amazing potential that just fell flat for me. I know I am a very rare unpopular opinion, and I can name at least 20 others who gave this a 5 star. Thank you Celadon and MacMillan Audio for the gifted copy!

The Maidens was one of those popular books that caught my eye, so when I saw I could access the audiobook I was stoked. I listened to this book in 3 sittings. It follows Marianna, a psychologist who suspects that a popular professor at Cambridge, Edward Fosca, is sleeping with and subsequently killing members of a special group of girls known as The Maidens. I really enjoyed listening to this story via audio. The narrators have a really good way of hooking you into the book and continuing to maintain interest. The plot always had me changing my mind about the possible suspects and just the characters in general, and I was constantly changing my mind as new evidence or a new twist was introduced, which is a great element in a mystery novel. The ending itself, the big whodunnit reveal, was completely unexpected. I also loved the dark academia feel of this novel and the references to the Greek classics and all that literary goodness. The Maidens is a story about betrayal, exploitation and power, and if you're looking for a good mystery that will keep you guessing, this is it!

When I heard that Alex Michaelides had a new thriller with Greek mythology elements, I knew I had to read this book. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing an ALC on NetGalley; I also got a friend's ARC from Celadon Books.

Therapist Mariana Andros finds herself back at her alma mater Cambridge University when a friend of her niece Zoe is killed. As Mariana investigates, professor Edward Fosca becomes her lead suspect. As she falls deeper into the mysterious world of Fosca and his female followers, The Maidens, she realizes that she may be in grave danger.

I absolutely tore through this book - I could not stop reading it. I started with the audio - main narrator Louise Brealey did a great job bringing me into Mariana's world and the Cambridge setting. I also loved hearing the Greek passages read aloud. I then speed read through the text version, returning to the audio to re-listen to the ending and some of my favorite sections. The writing was lush and descriptive, perfectly suited to the rarefied Cambridge setting and excellent on audio and in print.

This is a different book than The Silent Patient - it's more character-driven with a mystery that ramps up gradually. I loved the feeling of getting deeper into this dark academic world with Mariana, as well as exploring her own past. Edward Fosca was also a highlight as he went toe to toe with Mariana.

Don't expect this to be a popcorn thriller - but if you like a good mystery, especially dark academia, you should definitely give this one a try. 4.5 stars rounded to 5.

Review posted to Instagram and Goodreads 5/10/21.

The Maidens by Alex MIchaelides follows Mariana Andros a group therapist who becomes fixated on Cambridge University professor Edward Fosca and his secret society of all female students known as The Maidens after a member of the Maiden's and a friend of Mariana’s niece Zoe, is found murdered.

I've never been so excited to receive an ARC! I've been anticipating this book since reading and falling in love with Michaelides' debut novel, The Silent Patient. This novel was super atmospheric and the author did a great job of creating an engaging murder mystery set in a dark academia setting. I suspected everybody at least once in the course of this book and wasn't' disappointed at the end. Michaelides does an excellent job of leaving me shocked at his endings without feeling that the twists come out of nowhere. I also really enjoyed all the mythology entwined in this book.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.