The Stats

Title: The Maidens

Author: Alex Michaelides

Narrated By: Louise Brealey, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith

Publisher: Celadon Books (15 June, 2021)

Time: 9 Hours 19 Minutes

Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Mythology

Trigger Warnings: Grooming, Abuse of Power, Blood, Violence,

Read if you like: The Silent Patient, Greek Mythology, Into the Water

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June 2021 selection from Book of the Month Club

Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Mystery & Thriller (2021)

Feature Stock Image by Tirachard Kumtanom

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The Review

“The Maidens” by Alex Michaelides, the author’s sophomore novel following the success of “The Silent Patient,” falls short of its potential. The book revolves around Mariana Andros, a grieving widow and psychotherapist, who becomes embroiled in a murder investigation at her alma mater, Cambridge University. Her niece’s roommate, Tara, is found brutally stabbed, and Mariana suspects Zoe’s Greek Tragedy professor, Edward Fosca. As Mariana delves deeper into the case, she uncovers a secret society called The Maidens and finds herself in danger.

While the premise of “The Maidens” has all the elements of a compelling psychological thriller—dark academia, a secret society, and Greek mythology undertones—it fails to deliver. One of the main issues is the portrayal of the female characters, which feels shallow and lacking depth, and felt like they were written by a man (which they were). The story hardly passes the Bechdel Test. Mariana, the main character, primarily focuses on her deceased husband, her disturbed patient, and various male figures, leaving little room for independent and meaningful conversations among female characters. Also, any attempts to provide insight into Mariana’s psyche feel clinical and do not fully explain why she is Nancy Drewing around a murder investigation.

The plot of the novel suffers from multiple issues. There are too many plot holes, and the incessant misdirection regarding the murderer’s identity is unnecessary. The investigation team’s incompetence is frustrating, especially considering Mariana is hiding crucial information from the team. The pacing is slow in the beginning, and the story takes too long to introduce the Maidens, the central focus of the mystery. Furthermore, the revelation of the killer’s motive feels baffling and out of left field.

Despite these flaws, there are some positive aspects of the book. The short, easy-to-read chapters contribute to a relatively quick reading experience. The atmospheric descriptions of Cambridge create a vivid sense of place and add to the overall appeal of the setting. Additionally, the incorporation of Greek mythology and literary references adds an intriguing layer to the story. There is also a nod to Michaelides first novel, “The Silent Patient”, which was enjoyable to hear, but readers would need to have read the novel before “The Maidens” to enjoy the dramatic irony.

Overall, “The Maidens” falls short of expectations. While it has an interesting premise and elements of a compelling psychological thriller, the weak characterization, predictable plot, and unsatisfying resolution hinder its success. Fans of Alex Michaelides’ previous work, “The Silent Patient,” may find this book underwhelming. However, readers who enjoy academia murder mysteries and Greek mythology may still find it moderately entertaining.

3 out of 5 Stars!

Short Review (AKA TLDR)

“The Maidens” by Alex Michaelides is a psychological thriller set at Cambridge University, where Mariana Andros, a grieving widow and psychotherapist, becomes entangled in a murder investigation. When her niece’s roommate is brutally stabbed, Mariana suspects the charismatic Greek Tragedy professor, Edward Fosca, and his group of adoring female students called The Maidens. While the premise of “The Maidens” has all the elements of a compelling psychological thriller—dark academia, a secret society, and Greek mythology undertones—it fails to deliver. Mariana and the other female characters lack depth, and the attempts to provide insight into Mariana’s psyche feel clinical and disconnected. The plot suffers from numerous plot holes, unnecessary misdirection, and a slow-paced beginning. The ultimate revelation of the killer’s motive feels arbitrary and out of place. Despite these flaws, the book offers short, easy-to-read chapters and atmospheric descriptions of Cambridge. It incorporates elements of Greek mythology, adding an intriguing layer to the story. There is also a cheeky reference to Michaelides first novel, but readers would have needed to read “The Silent Patient” before to understand the dramatic irony.