Another best seller by Michaelides! A great new thriller full of unsolved twists. Just like in The Silent Patient, which makes an appearance in The Maidens, you never see the end coming until it’s unfolding. Loved it!

Thanks NetGalley, Alex Michaelides, and Celadon Books for this awesome ARC!

"The Maidens" by Alex Michaelides has already garnered a lot of attention. I've seen physical ARC copies passing hands, as well as ISO lists on Facebook with people that are eager to read this book. Thank you to Netgalley and Celadon Books for an e-arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
"The Maidens" has already shown that it will be a crowd-pleaser for the thriller-reading audience. For me, this book is between 3-4 stars-closer to 4 stars for the entertainment factor, closer to 3 stars for being a bit ridiculous. I think that a lot of these fast-paced thrillers that are published depend on the reader to read through it quickly so as not to actually think about the believability of the characters and their actions.

As a reader, we are supposed to suspect everyone as the murderer. Michaelides really emphasizes this by making the (multiple male) characters act like stalkerish, weird creeps. The idea is that the female main character is jumpy and unsure of herself. But even from a "maybe this guy is a murderer" standpoint, the descriptions of the characters that we are supposed to suspect are over-the-top. The main character is a therapist, but she constantly jumps to conclusions and acts without thinking about the consequences, which should be uncharacteristic to her profession.

As a fast-read, "The Maidens" was fun. There is a character overlap to Michealides other book "The Silent Patient." It makes a good setup for another book in the same world, but it was also a bit forced pushing the characters from his other book into this one. I did an eye-roll, but also admitted that it was kind of a fun Easter egg for the story.

I know my review is nit-picky, but I really did enjoy it and recommend it for thriller fans. Everyone and their mom will be reading this one- I'm sure there will be lots of interesting discussions about it.

I enjoyed The Maidens a lot. It definitely kept me guessing and I love a good secret society! This would be a great pick for a book club because it is worth talking about!
Thank you to Netgalley for this arc ebook!

I will recommend this book just so I can find out what the heck happened at the end as I was lost! Well written but a bit confusing.

After the tragic death of her husband, group therapist Mariana Andros is thrown into a murder investigation when the friend of her niece Zoe is killed while attending school in Cambridge. Initially there to comfort Zoe, Mariana is convinced that professor Edward Fosca is responsible for the death of one his students. Idolized by faculty and students alike, Professor Fosca holds the special attention of a secret society of female students known as, The Maidens. As members of the Maidens keep being murdered, Mariana races to prove Fosca's guilt, while uncovering insecurities and secrets of her own.

SPOILERS AHEAD! DO NOT READ FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW!

"The Maidens" is author Alex Michaelides's follow up to the best selling novel "The Silent Patient." I will totally honest with you, I wasn't able to finish TSP. I have intentions of giving it another try, but haven't made my way back to it. The reason for that is actually one of my main issues with "The Maidens." It takes so long to get to the actual story. Michaelides is a great writer, but the overly descriptive and wordy nature of his novels, really doesn't hold my attention. There is so much background information provided for these characters, trying to make them seem flawed and complex, that truly by the time the action gets going, I really have no connection to them or any interest in the story.

I feel like this book was a bit all over the place. I was initially intrigued by the idea of this secret society and it's connection to Greek myth and tragedy. I will be honest in saying I don't believe this society was all that secret, it just seemed to be a fan club for Professor Fosca. We never got to know any of these women, or what exactly the purpose of The Maidens was. I also felt like the references to Greek myth and tragedy were just sprinkled throughout the novel, but didn't serve any real purpose in pushing the plot forward. I also had a hard time with all the references to Alfred Lord Tennyson. He kept coming up a lot and I was trying to figure out if the author couldn't make up his mind if he wanted to have Greek myth or Tennyson be a part of this plot. It seemed unfocused.

Lastly, another issue with this book is the actual murder investigation itself. It seemed to take a back seat to all of the internal observation and analyzation that our main character Mariana was doing. She accuses Professor Fosca of the murders, yet she has absolutely no evidence to support her claims. The entire investigation steams off the fact that she has a weird feeling about Fosca. And she spends a majority of the novel thinking about what that weird feeling could mean, not really gathering evidence that would prove he was the murderer. I was also dissatisfied with the identity of the murderer. I am all for red herrings, but we spent so much time being told Fosca was the murderer, that when it was revealed Zoe was the true murderer, I scratched my head and audibly said, "huh?" It didn't make any sense to have her be the murderer, she was barely even in the story to begin with, and during her whole "villain reveals how she did it" moment, she gives us information that as a reader we are discovering in that moment. So how are we expected that Mariana would've made those connections, or that we the reader would have made those connections. It felt very much like the author wanted a huge twist, a huge shocking moment. Yet didn't lay the groundwork throughout the novel for it to be a twist, instead leaving me feeling blindsided.

Overall, even with the misgivings this book has, I would still recommend it to readers. Like I said, author Michaelides is a great writer, his passages are very thought provoking, eloquent and poetic. It was also a fast read, that yes did keep me turning the pages after I was able to get into the story.

I want to thank Celadon Books and NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy.

Edward is a professor Cambridge University and a secret society of girls called The Maidens adore Edward. Zoe is Mariana's niece and she is a student at Cambridge and one of her friends are murdered, Mariana goes to the university and it holds terrible memories for her. Mariana inserts herself into the investigation as she is sure Edward is responsible even though he has an alibi. Can Mariana prove Edward committed the murder before someone else is murdered? This was a really great thriller which kept me on my toes guessing what is going to happen next. I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

Book • Review
The Maidens
Alex Michaelides
Out June 15, 2021
⭐️⭐️

I really wanted to like this book but I just didn’t.

After the wild success of The Silent Patient (which was a solid 4⭐️ for me), the pressure to follow it up with a banger is very high. While this book may work for some people, I found it to be muddled, rife with plot conveniences, over-the top misdirections, and an overall sense of theatrical self indulgence. I hope that doesn’t sound too harsh, I’m just honestly a bit frustrated.

Here you will find the typical academic mystery setting, except the protagonist is not a student, but a middle aged group-therapist named Marianna- a strong but grieved woman dealing with the recent demise of her husband. Marianna brought an interesting perspective on this tried setting, but I ultimately found her to be a frustrating character. She becomes so fixated on certain ideas that she is ultimately blind to truths that are obvious to the reader. I think the author was trying to sway the reader’s theories in the direction of Marianna’s, and while in real life her drawn conclusions may make sense, when you are reading a thriller you know nothing is ever so plain.

I did find the pacing of the book to be consistent, and I will admit that this is a very easy book to get into and progress through quickly. But, I was just really frustrated by the way this book was executed. If you have read The Silent Patient, you know there are some serious twists to be found in that novel. It felt like, in The Maidens, Michaelides felt he needed to pull off a twist that felt just as jaw-dropping, but didn’t know how to set it up in a way that was seamless. The end result was a plot that felt contrived and full of too many loose ends. I will still pick up the next book that Michaelides writes, but I can’t say I will be as optimistic as I was going into this one.

Thank you Netgalley, Celadon Books, and Alex Michaelides for an early digital copy of this book.

The format on this arc is very hard to read.
That being said I did enjoy the book immensely.
Was short quick chapters. Easy characters to get into. The ending seemed a little rushed..
Overall another great book from this author.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.

Amazing book !! Amazing plot, unique , very easy to read . Is was not a predecible book . Well written. It kept me guessing until the end . Strongly recommend this book . I loved it

When Mariana’s niece, Zoe, calls her hysterical from the university that her best friend has been murdered, Mariana knows that she must go. As a therapist, she has a unique view on who may have committed this crime. Or so she thinks, until another murder is committed. Now the race is on to find a serial killer, one who won’t mind making Mariana the next victim.
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides has been my most anticipated book of the year. I may have screamed a bit when Celadon and NetGalley gifted me with it. My expectations were so high and while most of the book lived up to them, there were parts that could have been done differently. For the main character to make some of the choices she did, seemed out of character at times. The many red herrings helped to completely shock me, at the point where I thought I knew what was going on. Michaelides is a master at keeping the pace strong and engaging. There was Greek Mythology included that was fascinating and made me want to learn even more about it, even the non-murdery stories. The Maidens is a strong follow up to The Silent Patient.

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
9/10 4.5 stars/5 stars (rounded up to 5 on Goodreads)
Out June 15th

WOW. This book was great. I can’t thank @netgalley & @celadonbooks enough for the privilege of reading this before it’s released on June 15!

There wasn’t much about it I didn’t like. Similarly to The Silent Patient, the story is more of a slow burn with a heavy amount of plot build up leading to the end. This normally turns me away from books, but with Alex Michaelides’ masterpieces, you know that every detail you read is imperative to the plot line & contributes to the fantastic ending. The short chapters definitely help the reader move through the book at a faster pace as well.

I couldn’t help but constantly compare this to The Silent Patient, and that’s the reason for my 4.5 star rating. I didn’t find the ending as psychologically twisting & mind-blowing as I did The Silent Patient. But that’s not to say it wasn’t unpredictable and compelling in its own way! There’s quite a few fun surprises thrown into the last quarter of this book😉 Highly, highly recommend picking up a copy on June 15😋

Mariana Andros, a group therapist, returns to her roots at Cambridge University after her niece's friend is brutally murdered. She soon discovers that the victim was part of a secret society of young prominent women captivated by the handsome and charismatic Greek tragedy professor Edward Fosca. Mariana is certain that Fosca, who is beloved by students and staff alike, is the murderer and becomes consumed with proving his guilt.

The Maidens is an intriguing new mystery/thriller by author Alex Michaelides. The novel uses a unique blend of mental instability, obsession, and Greek myth/tragedy to create a unique whodunit. Mariana's character is a bit obsessed with the goddesses Persephone and Demeter which she connects with personal tragedies from her past. This detail made Mariana's character appear a bit unhinged for me as well as the fact that she tends to over romanticize everything. Edward Fosca is a charismatic Greek tragedy professor who is passionate about the Tragedies of Euripides, specifically the death of the Maidens, and has a cult-like following of young woman. When one of the young maidens is brutally murdered Mariana becomes convinced it was Fosca and will stop at nothing to prove his guilt. The plot synopsis for this one really caught my attention but unfortunately the story just felt a bit flat for me. The writing is well done and the set up was well executed but I just had a hard time connecting to Mariana's character and the whole Greek myth explanation. Although I didn't love it as much as I hoped I would, I still feel that many readers will really enjoy this unique mystery. This novel also includes a fun connection with his first novel, The Silent Patient, which I thought was really clever

I'm not going to lie, I was extremely excited to be approved to read this book. I loved The Silent Patient and I couldn't wait to dive into The Maidens.

**Drum Roll**
I loved this one too!

Alex Michaelides is a great story-teller and The Maidens is another great book from him! I love how dark and twisted this book gets. There are some great references to classic literature which is also a bonus. The story mainly is centered at Cambridge University, and with all the literary features, The Maidens has quite a nice dark academia vibe to it.

I have read some reviews that have been very critical of Mariana's character. Maybe it's because she's so flawed and she's a therapist? I don't know their reasoning, but I will say this; I loved her character BECAUSE she was so flawed. Yes, she's a group therapist, but that doesn't mean she can't have a troubled past, or make mistakes. She's so vulnerable in some ways, and so strong in others. I love that she's a strong, but flawed, lead.

I have to say (and only because I will explode if I don't say it); there are cameo appearances from people that were in The Silent Patient! This makes me extremely hopeful that there will be another book that will delve even deeper into a couple of the characters we meet in the Maidens. I know there's one character in particular that didn't add a lot to this story, but I also feel like there's going to be more to them later on.

Okay, enough with me rambling; here's the synopsis:

Mariana Andros is a group therapist who runs her sessions out of her home. One night after a particular tense session, she receives a call from Zoe and her whole world changes. Zoe's best friend Tara is found brutally murdered and she thinks Edward Fosca is the one who did it.

Edward Fosca is the handsome and charismatic Greek Tragedy professor at Cambridge University. Fosca is praised and adored by everyone, but particularly by one group of young women who he has nicknamed "The Maidens". The Maidens fawn over him and always seem to circle around him wherever he goes.

Mariana knows there's something more sinister at play here and when another body is found, she will stop at nothing to prove Fosca is a cold-blooded killer. She begins playing detective and what she uncovers will shatter everything she has ever known.

The Maidens is almost a modern day take on a classic tragedy. I loved to hate some of these characters too. Each character is so beautifully (and sometimes darkly) flawed, even if you hate them, you want to know more about them. I can't say enough good about this book. Alex Michaelides has done it again!

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for this ARC!

*This is a spoiler-free review*
The Maidens is a well-written, page-turning adventure that will leave you guessing. The novel has so many red herrings woven into the beautiful text that, even when I thought I had figured it out, I was (somewhat correct) but still surprised when the mystery is unraveled.

The imagery evoked in the text will transport you to ancient Greece, and the academic setting contrasts warmly with the foggy, mysterious history of Greek mythology. Mariana, a group therapist still grieving the loss of her husband Sebastian, is called to Cambridge University after her niece's friend is murdered on campus. Enter Edward Fosca, a handsome, charismatic professor who seems just a little off to Mariana, and his specially-selected group of female students, known as The Maidens. Immediately, Mariana suspects that something is suspicious with this group and the close relationship the professor seems to have with them. From there, the story takes the reader on different twists and turns as Mariana applies her knowledge of psychology to find the killer before more women are killed on campus.

Overall, the story is captivating and beautifully-written. The only character I didn't enjoy was Fred, a young man Mariana meets early in the story. I don't want to give anything away, but let's just say I highly doubt any woman would want be interested in someone who is that aggressive and persistent.

Expected publication: June 15th 2021

Thank you to Macmillan Publishers/Celadon Books and NetGalley for sending me an ARC of The Maidens.

In Edward Fosca, author Alex Michaelides has created a vividly charismatic character. When Fosca appears on the page, The Maidens comes to life and is a compelling read. However, I did not connect with the protagonist, Mariana, the plot didn’t hold my interest, and the ending—while it did contain a twist, as I had guessed only one of the two culprits—was a letdown for me.

I am afraid I cannot join in the chorus of praise for this one. The individual elements were familiar and they did not come together in a satisfying whole. The protagonist really needed re-certifying as a therapist, since she seemed incapable of either dealing with her grief or seeking help to do so, let alone of demonstrating concern for her patients, left to their own devices. I did have high hopes for this, but in the end was disappointed.

✨ Review!!✨

Special thanks to @netgalley and @celadonbooks for the ARC in exchange for an open and honest review!

The Maiden by Alex Michaelides @alex.michaelides

Genre: Thriller/Mystery

Synopsis: Group therapist, Mariana, is still suffering from the sudden loss of her husband Sebastian. When her niece, Zoe, calls from university about the murder of one of her friends, Mariana rushes to Zoe’s side for comfort. When another student is found shortly after, Mariana is sure that the murderer is a professor, Edward Fosca. If you are a fan of Michaelides’ debut novel, The Silent Patient, this one is sure to leave you turning page after page until the very end.

✨Review: The Maidens definitely did not disappoint! Like The Silent Patient, I was completely shocked at the end of the book about the twist. My mind was racing the entire time trying to figure it out! I also loved the Greek mythology that was entangled in this one as well as some weird cult vibes AND alludes to the Silent Patient! 4.5 stars for me and I can’t wait until this one is out! Mark your calendars. The Maidens is released in June 15, 2021!

#arcbooks #themaidens #alexmichaelides #bookreview #bookbloggersofinstagram #bookblogger #bookblog #booksofinstagram #booksofig #booksofinsta #thrillerbooks #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #booklover #bookaesthetic #bookaholic #bookish #bookishpost #bookreviewer

I was so excited to read this title! I loved the author's first book, and the description of this one immediately piqued my interest. The fact that it is set in Cambridge and involves a secret society and ancient Greek tragedies made it exactly my favorite kind of book.

This did not disappoint. The author had me convinced that pretty much every character was a murderer at one point or another. I absolutely never would have guessed the twist.

I cannot wait to recommend this title to readers who enjoy psychological thrillers and academic mysteries!

"From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Patient comes a spellbinding tale of psychological suspense, weaving together Greek mythology, murder, and obsession, that further cements "Michaelides as a major player in the field" (Publishers Weekly).

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."

Because I'm ALL about Greek Myths right now!

This story was compelling and intriguing - it fits into a genre I find quite fascinating. The use of language in this book helped to draw one into the story, and kept me guessing until the end. However, there were some parts of the story I did not like as well as I would have wished, going into the story, but it was still overall a good read!

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the chance to read this book!