“Who is Maud Dixon?” is a fun, twisty mystery that publishing industry folks (and avid readers) are sure to love. It opens with 26-year-old Florence Darrow who gets fired from her entry-level publishing job. Her next gig requires moving “to the sticks” outside of New York City. And she becomes an assistant to the beloved author, Helen Wilcox. Helen’s books, published under the pen name “Maud Dixon," are all the rage.

In Florence’s new role, she hopes to learn everything she can from Helen. After all, Florence wants to a famous writer, too. She wants the life Helen has. Soon enough, everything is going splendidly. Florence is typing up Helen’s next manuscript. She’s paying all Helen’s bills. And she’s one of only two people who know the true identity of Maud Dixon. 

Then something wild happens between Helen and Florence on their research trip abroad. It’s as if the book’s author, Alexandra Andrews, pulls from the pages of “Gone Girl.” The next thing we know, Florence gets her big break to live the life she’s always wanted. But how long will it last?

This debut novel is the perfect escape. And the perfect summer read, despite its publishing date of March 2. I very much enjoyed the plot twists and the dialogue between the two characters. Of the two women, Helen is my favorite. She’s got a prickly, no-holds-barred attitude and she seems wise beyond her age (yet she’s only 32). Helen is quirky, totally country and mysterious. And, as we soon discover, a wee bit off-the-rails crazy.

I’m voluntarily leaving this review after receiving a free advanced e-book by Little, Brown and Company via NetGalley. I also listened to the audiobook, narrated by the very talented actor Therese Plummer. Plummer completely shines with her take on Helen. The southern accent is spot on. I can easily see this book becoming a movie. And from what I hear, Universal Pictures snatched up the optioning film rights. WOW!

3.5 stars, rounded up
This is a very good, very twisty story once it gets going. But it takes a very long time to get there, probably halfway through the book before things actually start moving. I was overall not a fan of Florence for most of the story, I felt like she had no distinct personality. However once I got to the end I found out there was a good reason for that, and I appreciated her growth throughout the book.

I hesitate to say too much because I don't want to give it away, but suffice it to say that if you can stick with it, when they get to Morocco things begin to happen and then once things start to spiral, they don't stop. Yes, there are a few coincidences that made me roll my eyes, but overall this is a unique suspenseful thriller.

I’m judging a 2021 fiction contest. It’d be generous to call what I’m doing upon my first cursory 
glance—reading. I also don’t take this task lightly. As a fellow writer and lover of words and books, I took this position—in hopes of being a good literary citizen. My heart aches for all the writers who have a debut at this time. What I can share now is the thing that held my attention and got this book from the perspective pile into the read further pile. 

The preface was so intriguing “Madame Weel-cock?” ha! Wilcox… I love it how this was pulled off.. Fun read.

“People think they want the truth but they’re always disappointed. It is invariably less interesting than the mystery.” 

WHO IS MAUD DIXON? is twisty novel about Florence, a young girl who’s trying to make a name for herself in the publishing world when she lands a job with a bestselling novelist. her dream job quickly goes sideways when she finds herself in the middle of a criminal investigation halfway around the world. I enjoyed the first half of this book, but it was the second half that I couldn’t put down! it’s a very entertaining and surprising story that examines power and identity and the lengths people will go to get what they want. I shared my review on Instagram and Goodreads during publishing week with my audience of over 1,200 followers. I think this is going to be a hit and it would also make a fun TV series or movie!

Who is Maud Dixon by Alexandra Andrews is a novel about Florence, a woman working in the publishing industry, who finds herself working for her favorite author Maud Dixon after she is fired from her previous job. Florence loves her new job and discovers she is one of two people who knows the true identity of "Maud". However when they travel to Madagascar to Maud can write her book, Florence wakes up in a hospital room and Maud is gone. With no one else to tell, Florence assumes Maud's identity so she can write a novel. Unfortunately Florence didn't realize just how many secrets Maud had... 

This book was such a fun ride! The writing was witty and playful, drawing the reader in from the beginning. The story started off a bit slower but the pacing of the second half was fast and gripping. I loved the character development of Florence and Maud who were complicated, yet entertaining characters. There are so many twists in this book that make you want to figure out what happened to the characters. I also loved the sense of place in the book! Overall this was a delightful read and I highly recommend it for readers wanting a side of mystery with some fun!

Many thanks to the publisher Little, Brown and Company and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

"The charade was on."

I'll cut to the chase...I LOVED every page of this novel and frankly I'm shocked that I'm not seeing more advanced reviews for this book. Currently there are only 21 posts with the #whoismauddixon hashtag on Instagram and 83 reviews on Goodreads. I mean, what?! Author Alexandra Andrews' writing compares to Shirley Jackson, Patricia Highsmith, and Ruth Ware--full of uncomfortable situations, unlikeable characters, and cutting dialogue. As with any mystery it's important to not give away too many details so I'll simply say that I totally recommend this.

Categorized as a mystery/thriller, the novel feels more mysterious and simply entertaining than suspenseful during the first half, and the second half eases into a fast-paced suspense novel. 

The writing is smart and witty. I found the novel and the characters immediately engaging and interesting. I loved the unapologetic honesty of the two female main characters and the freedom that came with not being concerned with propriety. As the novel goes on, the main characters’ actions move from bold to more scandalous, so I can’t say that I’d consider them role models, but I enjoyed the ride.

This is a book lover’s book. The novel begins with the familiar point of view of an aspiring young writer and newcomer to New York City trying to find her place in the world of publishing. As the plot progresses, the novel becomes darker. For those who love to travel in books, you may enjoy the characters’ trip to Morocco for a fresh setting.

Overall, I recommend Maud Dixon to fiction lovers, especially those who like smart writing and suspense. I found it to be an extremely fast read, as well.

This was one twisty and turny unpredictable story and I was pulled in at full force. Wow! There were plots within plots and unexpected devious throughout. I am always on the lookout for a good unpredictable read and this one was recommended to me on my Bookstagram. I am so glad I requested and got approved. This will be brief because I'm not sure how to not spoil this and it really needs to be read blind, if possible. 

The story follows Florence Darrow, who works in publishing and is struggling to make a name for herself as a writer. After she becomes embroiled in a scandal at work, Florence gets a fabulous job offer from the reclusive and unknown author, Maud Dixon. The old adage, too good to be true comes to mind as this intricate plot unfolds. Helen Wilcox, wrote a giant bestseller under the name Maud Dixon. They go to Morocco on a research trip, but get into an accident, and Helen disappears, leaving behind her passport and ID. Could Florence simply become Maud Dixon? The answer is... complicated. Although the start is slow, once this book takes off, it moves like a rocket.Who is the villain? Who is the victim? What is justifiable revenge? I’m still thinking about this. I was totally riveted by this story, and the prose is both compact and arresting. I highly recommend this to readers who want a well written and utterly engaging novel.

Who is Maud Dixon? had me hooked from the start! I loved the combo of mystery, cons, conniving characters & dark comedy.

Florence Darrow lives a boring life and hits rock bottom when she’s fired from her editorial job. But the opportunity of a lifetime presents itself when she’s approached to be the assistant of literary sensation and recluse, Maud Dixon: real name Helen.

This is a character-driven story with some great locations and scenarios woven throughout the book. The second half of the book is the strongest and really pulls you into the story. I can see this making a great movie or miniseries !

Great debut and look forward to reading more from Alexandra Andrews.

Thank you to netgalley and @hbgcanada & @grandcentralpub for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

Alexandra Andrews’ debut novel, Who is Maud Dixon?, is one of those novels that is almost impossible to discuss without spoilers, as readers will discover if/as they read other reviews. This review will attempt to give you a flavor of this book without spoiling it. Fortunately, Who is Maud Dixon? is also a book that can be read in one or two sittings, so it will not be long before readers are in on the action and understand why this debut has the buzz that it does.

Florence Darrow works as an underling at a publishing house, but she has dreams – or delusions – of grandeur, wanting to quickly climb the ladder and establish herself as a famous author. She longs for this so badly that her poor decision-making might just cost her everything.

That is until she happens into the job of a lifetime – working as the assistant to Maud Dixon. Maud made a splash with her debut novel and has built up a legendary façade that has the literary world salivating. Most everyone knows Maud Dixon is a pseudonym, but no one know the author’s true identity…until now. Jumping at the chance to work beside a legend, Florence finds working with “Maud” to be inspiring, exhausting, and everything in between.


When she is invited to accompany the author on a trip to Morocco to research the second novel Maud Dixon is very late in delivering, Florence is beyond thrilled. Little does she know that this decision will change the course of her life. The more Florence discovers about this mysterious new work of Maud Dixon’s, the more she begins to see that it may very well be a Roman à clef. And that is only the beginning of the secrets.

Readers familiar with the behind the scenes publishing milieu will recognize many archetypes from that industry. It is always fun to see a novel about books, publishing, authors, and the act of creation; it is like a glimpse at how the sausage gets made. And Alexandra Andrews presents us with an example readers might wish they never knew. That is how authentic and real this plotline feels.

Once begun, there is no way to stop following this twisted journey to its natural conclusion. Who is Maud Dixon? is a fast-paced novel, with each choice Florence makes leading the reader down a forgone path that can only end in ruin. Right? This reads like a book written by a veteran author, skilled at manipulating readers (and characters) in only the best possible sense of that word. From the opening preface, Alexandra hints at what is to come, which lulls readers into a sense of control they really do not possess, allowing her to pull the rug out from under them when it is least expected. Who is Maud Dixon? will find many fans for Alexandra Andrews, all of whom will be waiting anxiously to see what she delivers next.

After having been fired from her job as an assistant to an editor at a New York publishing house, Florence Darrow decides to put her own short stories together and look for a publisher.  She has dreams of becoming a successful author, but her work is rejected.  Finally a call from an agent offers hope.  Maude Dixon, the alias of a best selling author, is looking for an assistant.  Hoping to learn from a published author she accepts the position, but spends her days answering mail, typing pages and running errands.

Helen Wilcox (Maude) had one immensely successful fiction book that was based on her early life and a murder that was committed by her friend.  She lives an isolated life and refuses interviews.  Her agent and Florence are the only people aware of Maude’s true identity.  On the spur of the moment she decides on a trip to Morocco for research on her new book.  Returning from a dinner, their car goes over a cliff and into the sea.  Florence is the only one rescued.  Carrying Helen’s passport in her purse, police and hospital staff believe that she is Helen Wilcox.  There is a physical resemblance between the two women but can she pull off a switch and become Maude?

What starts as a look at the publishing industry turns into a tense psychological thriller from the time that Florence becomes Helen.  A police officer who continues to investigate the accident and a number of inconsistencies threaten to destroy her entire plan.  While neither Florence nor Helen are likeable  characters, Alexandra Andrews manipulation of these women makes this book hard to put down and just when it seems that everything is resolved, she ends with one more surprising twist.  I would like to thank NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for providing this book for my review.

How far will you go to be who you’re supposed to be?

Florence Darrow knows that it’s her destiny to be a famous writer. But instead of finding endless literally acclaim she’s stuck as a publishing house assistant and being told that her writing has promise, but isn’t ready for publication. Unsatisfied with her job and disappointed with just about every aspect of her life in New York City, she jumps at the chance to become the personal assistant to one of her literary heroes, the reclusive Maud Dixon. Maud, whose real name is Helen Wilcox, lives a quirky, isolated life far from the hustle and bustle of the city. Florence is meant to transcribe Maud’s handwritten pages, manage her correspondence and assist with research for her new novel. It’s in this environment that Florence is sure her own writing will flourish. But a whirlwind research trip to Morocco is filled with more twists and turns than a cliffside highway and work - and life - becomes a lot more complicated.

This is a great pick for readers who enjoy dark, twisty storylines and complicated characters. Those familiar with psychological thrillers may see some of the twists coming, but should still enjoy this character driven adventure.

Who is Maud Dixon anyway?  When Florence is seemingly chosen from thin air to be assistant to Maud Dixon, aka Helen Wilcox, she is on top of the world, following what might have been her biggest career blunder ever...an affair with the boss.  Florence and Helen jet off to Morocco to research her next great book, a tragic accident changes the entire trip...for better or for worse.

Maud Dixon is an excellent read, full of twists and turns!

What a great read!   Hard to believe this is the author's first book.  Who is Maud Dixon? reminded me of reading Patricia Highsmith.  The novel starts out with Florence Darrow, a low level employee at a Manhattan publishing firm, getting the opportunity to work with the famous author, Maud Dixon.  

Maud Dixon, of course, is a pseudonym, for  Helen Wilcox.  Helen (Maud) and Florence travel to Morocco to do research for Helen's next novel.  One day, Florence wakes up in a hospital not really being able to remember what happened. 
 The staff believe that Florence is Helen.  So what happened to Helen?  

Florence has always thought of herself as a writer so she becomes Helen and Maud.  The second half of the book moves quickly giving the reader a thrill ride.  I could not put it down.  

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.  The review is my own.

Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for this read!

Who Is Maud Dixon by Alexandra Andrews is told from the point of view of Florence Darrow, a young 20-something living in New York City, working at a small publishing house, dreaming of becoming a writer.  Her mother has instilled in her this feeling that she is destined for big things, so she is frustrated that nothing is happening for her.  She is offered a job as assistant to a very successful author, Maud Dixon.  The catch is that she will have to sign a non-disclosure agreement, because nobody knows the real identity of the author – a woman named Helen Wilcox.  Soon, she is wishing to impress her new boss, and they take a trip to Marrakesh to research the new book.  Then Florence wakes up in a hospital room, not knowing how she got there, and everyone thinks she is Helen.  It reminded me of another book, The Talented Miss Farwell, in that the reader is pulled along in the wake of Florence’s bad decisions, wondering how it is all going to end.  I enjoyed it, and found the ending more surprising, and satisfying, than I expected.

This book was amazing! The writing was clear and fluid and the author’s descriptions of Morocco made it come alive. The first half of the book was fairly straightforward and was a wonderful build up to the switch you knew was coming. Then, the twists started and, once they did, they kept coming at a furious pace. It was great! I could not put the book down. But, it was the characters of Florence and Helen, who were both so flawed and intriguing, that really made the story so successful for me. 

My copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review it.

Who is Maud Dixon? Someone I don't really want to know. On one hand, we have Florence Darrow. She wants to get out of her mundane life and jumps at the chance to be assistant to the famous yet mysterious author Maud Dixon. On the other hand, we have Helen Wilcox, Maud Dixon herself. Both are completely self-absorbed people. Both are very unlikeable. They both have their own agendas and only one can come out on top.

I can't say that I liked either character very much but that only added to the storyline. The mystery of what happens to each woman really keeps you turning the pages. I could also see this continuing on with a long line of Maud Dixons.

Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for an advance copy of this book.

The words you speak become the house you live in.

And words are at the core of Who Is Maud Dixon?. Words tossed about, words spoken in secrecy, and words sprawling upon the pages of a best selling novel.

Alexandra Andrews gifts us with the character of Florence Darrow. Florence hails from Gainesville, Florida and wears it like a second skin. Even at twenty-six, she is nothing but naive with hardly a drop of any experiential background to speak of. Her mother, Vera, constantly checks in on her only child much to Florence's frustration. Florence is the poster child for common sense not being very common.

Florence finally makes a break for it and lands in Manhattan. She's become an editorial assistant for Forrester Books. "Assistant" in the publishing world often entails runs for coffee and delivering copies to the right people. But our girl finally gets an unexpected opportunity when a position opens up to work with best-seller author, Maud Dixon. Maud Dixon is her pen name and she keeps her real identity locked up tight.

Maud meets Florence at a train station outside Cairo, New York. Florence has been sworn to secrecy and no one must know her location......not even her pesty momma. Maud and Florence arrive at a quaint stone house with a guesthouse in the rear. Maud reveals her real name is Helen Wilcox. Soon she and Florence are bonding with Florence doing clerical work for her. But someone in the publishing world presses Florence for info on Maud's new book. Will she take the bait?

Out of the blue, Maud/Helen proposes that she and Florence must take an unplanned trip to Morocco for research on her new book. Within days the two find themselves transported to the winding streets of Marrakech and Semat. Florence from Florida is leading a whirlwind life.

But things are happening too quickly for Florence. She's trying to get a handle on who Maud/Helen really is. And just as we are trying to figure out the same thing, there's a terrible accident. Florence wakes up in a hospital room and the doctors and staff are calling her Miss Wilcox. What in the world happened to Maud/Helen?

And crafty little thoughts enter into Florence's traumatized mind. Can she pull off stepping into the role of the anonymous Maud/Helen? This wonky girl from Florida has taken on a monstrous Manhattan persona. Can she pull it off?

Alexandra Andrews must have dined on donuts with devious frosting while she wrote this one. It's lined with people behaving badly. And badly keeps this storyline rolling in hazardous ways until the very end. Andrews elbows her way into the minds of her readers with nonstop sharp-pointed situations. I'll leave it there, dear readers. Mustn't give away too much here with too many words. You'll be remembering this one for quite some time........

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review.My thanks to Little, Brown and Company and to Alexandra Andrews for the opportunity.

I liked this one - both more than and not as much as I expected... I know, I know - oblique. But the book is odd and feels almost like two stories. There's the "sweet girl trying too hard but to no avail" tale, but there's also the "secret of Maud Dixon and what happens to her" one - and they are mashed together in a way that mostly works but occasionally left me feeling like I was floundering a bit... 

I am a general fan of books about publishing/writing. I find the glimpses into the inner workings (whether real or imaginary) fascinating. Ditto the personalities and characterizations, which seem to suggest that all writers are a little bit wonky in the head (a perspective I personally share, as a sometime-writer myself) and that their views of the world aren't necessarily simpatico with those of the gen pop. Andrews does a marvelous job playing with all those facets in this story, and the result is a wild ride that traveled far and wide (literally and figuratively) throughout the life of a very famous author. 

There were some points after The Event (can't spoil it!) at which I felt like I was meandering a bit more than I would like - and not always in service to the story, although sometimes (in hindsight, as I moved past that part) those wanderings turned out to be purposeful after all. It made for a slightly off-kilter read. Having finished the book, I imagine this was intentional - but at times it made the read feel a little more disjointed than the previous bits suggested were appropriate. Still, it worked on the whole and I'd definitely look up Alexandra Andrews again.

There are nods in blurbs and reviews to Patricia Highsmith. I think that may have been the problem - it set up an expectation in my head, and that expectation was largely unmet. That's not the fault of the book, but of the way it's being pitched. Go into this one cold. The writing is solid and the story is an intriguing, twisty one - and I think you'll enjoy it much more if you don't think about it too much or wonder what's coming next. Enjoy the ride - it's chock full of surprises, and I think best enjoyed with blinkers on!

Wow this is a refreshing psychological thriller and I love it!  We quickly meet Florence Darrow, from Port Orange, Florida, an editorial assistant at Forrester Books in NYC. She believes she’s destined to be a celebrated writer and it may just happen!  Helen Wilcox wrote Mississippi Foxtrot under the name Maud Dixon, selling three million copies.  She’s in the midst of writing her second book and handpicks Florence to be her assistant.  They soon travel to Morocco where things begin to shake up and boom!  So many twists and turns, it’s intense and suspense, a complete page turner!  Thank you to NetGalley, Little, Brown Company, and the author for a gifted copy.  This is my honest review.