While I enjoyed the dark, academic world of THE MAIDENS quite a bit more than that of THE SILENT PATIENT, Michaelides' sophomore novel feels rather sloppy by compare. Set in Cambridge surrounding a set of on-campus murders, therapist (I use this term loosely, she's pretty terrible at her job) Mariana returns to her alma mater to care for her niece who has lost a close friend. In a ridiculously underdeveloped turn, she gets suddenly wrapped up into solving the case much to the broadly evil head investigator's consternation. Despite the fact that she continues to bring the investigator legitimate evidence, he totally villainizes her. This dynamic frustrated me because Michaelides never justifies why the investigator provides such push back to Mariana's findings.

As in the case of THE SILENT PATIENT, I enjoy Michaelides' use of short chapters, but I felt the device works less successfully here because the constant meetings Mariana takes in her quest for answers are laughably short. She'll make big plans to meet someone for a drink and the conversation will last realtime 2 minutes before they're on their way. Perhaps this wasn't as noticeable in THE SILENT PATIENT because, well...the patient was silent and the conversations were mostly one-sided.

The novel really derails about halfway through when Mariana simply has to leave Cambridge to have another 2-5 minute conversation with her therapist in London. Not only does it take all the steam out of the building action, but feels absolutely preposterous in the modern era. It becomes clear that Michaelides didn't want Mariana to pick up a phone because this departure lays the groundwork for the Michaelides Multiverse wherein Mariana meets up with Theo Faber from THE SILENT PATIENT. It's completely unnecessary, totally hokey and ultimately detracts from the overall experience.

Now, as much as I found ending of THE SILENT PATIENT to be predictable, the twist here was surprising and somewhat satisfying (although some of the details of the murderer's intentions were fuzzy at best...) so was I happy to have binged my way through this? Sure. It's all fun in the end, but I wish Michaelides would have let this one simmer much longer.

Thank you to Netgalley and Celadon Books for a ARC in exchange for this review.

Rating: 4/5 stars.

“The Maidens” is another killer psychological thriller novel by Alex Michaelides, author of “The Silent Patient.” While set in the same universe and acting as a prequel of sorts to “The Silent Patient”, “The Maidens” works well on its own as a standalone novel, and does not spoil the former. Any references to “The Silent Patient” function more as Easter eggs for diehard fans, rather than substantial plot points.

This novel has a different focus and feel, featuring a new cast of characters. The author’s Cypriot and British roots are evident throughout the novel, with major influences on plot, settings, and characters shining through. The story did get a little mythology-heavy at times, and as that is not an area of interest for me, I found it hard to get through those parts of the novel. This made the plot lag a bit in places. I loved how much depth the author gave the characters. It was so easy to feel the emotions of the main protagonist seeping through the pages, affecting my own feelings.

A few of the twists were fairly obvious from the beginning, but the main twist was one I never saw coming. Looking back, the set up and execution of this twist was masterfully crafted and written. However, the book still lacked a bit of the “zing” that I felt when reading “The Silent Patient.” Though I did love this novel, it did not elicit in me quite the same feelings of shock and excitement, and I was a little disappointed. It is still one of the best thrillers I have read this year so far.

Overall, I fully enjoyed this book. I highly recommend it to fans of psychological thrillers, especially those who enjoyed “The Silent Patient.”

*I received a complimentary copy of this book on NetGalley and have provided an honest review.*

An ominous murder mystery with Greek tragedy adeptly interwoven.

This was an easy book to get lost in. The short, concise chapters kept the book moving at an ideal pace, and I said “just one more chapter” until I had flown through the book in one sitting.

Michaelides created the perfect, menacing atmosphere on the Cambridge campus that kept me drawn in and on edge as the murderers were unraveled. He also masterfully utilized Greek tragedy (I mean can anything be more ominous that Greek tragedy?) to deliver an extra punch of foreboding. And as things unfolded, I enjoyed the extra level to the puzzle as it became obvious that while everything was as it seemed, nothing was as it seemed.

But then, at about the 85% mark, the twist was unveiled, and it just didn’t sit right with me. There wasn’t enough groundwork in place for it to hold true to me. And the loopholes I had overlooked previously became too blaring to ignore any longer. Is it possible to thoroughly enjoy the story while also hating the conclusion?

The crossovers from The Silent Patient gave an extra layer of drama and intrigue to this novel. I enjoyed tapping back into that same world and seeing connections between these two stories. Michaelides could easily create a third novel with these two intertwined, and I would absolutely be there for it!

Thank you Alex Michaelides, Celadon Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.

The Silent Patient is a book that I recommend to anyone who asks me for a thriller rec. I read it in one sitting and it still remains the top thriller for me. Needless to say, I had super high expectations for The Maidens.

The Maidens has all the Michaelides' trademarks - compulsively readable (I read it one sitting), movie-like writing where you can vividly imagine the scenes happening in the book, and multiple characters who you will suspect throughout the book. This book also has a background of psychotherapy - the main character Mariana is a troubled therapist. The pacing of this book is amazing and it makes you not put down the book at all. The atmosphere of the book is perfect, with a sense of foreboding always hanging around in the background. Sadly, I was able to guess the murderer quite early on - maybe because I was expecting the unexpected.

Is this the best thriller that I have read since The Silent Patient? A resounding YES. But did it surpass my expectations set by The Silent Patient? Not quite. But I still think that this book is really good and you should definitely read it. This book will make a GREAT movie (the book rights have already been bought from what I know) and I will read whatever Michaelides writes since he is my favorite thriller author. Can't wait to see what he comes up with next.

REVIEW • The Maidens • Pub Date: June 15• #gifted @celadonbooks

I’ll start this by saying, The Silent Patient was one of my favorite books of the year when it came out, however I read thrillers a lot less than I did then. Despite that, I was really excited for this one because of how much I enjoyed the author’s debut.

Unfortunately, this one really missed the mark for me. I’ll try to keep my thoughts brief/kind of vague to avoid any spoilers, but if you’ve read it and want to talk in more detail, just message me.

It seemed like there was way too much going on, it didn’t feel super suspenseful to me until the ending, which was a bit rushed and abrupt. Some of the writing was a bit cringey to me and I found our main character, Mariana extremely annoying. There were also a few elements of the story that I would have liked a bit more explanation of, or more time going in depth on.

All that said, I know so many people have loved this one, and if you are a thriller lover or have really been itching to read this, give it a try because you may love it too!

The Silent Patient is my favourite thriller so I went into The Maidens with high hopes and it did not let me down, I was hooked right off the bat!

This is another one that kept me guessing, I was suspicious of way too many characters. But that’s exactly how I like my thrillers, not knowing at all what’s going to happen next!

I really liked the bits of Greek mythology tied into the storyline, I am all about that these days! I also loved the shorter chapters and how we were thrown right into the whole murder mystery right away, which is why I had a hard time putting it down! I highly recommend this one to anyone who loves a fast paced thriller!

Believe it or not, this is my first book by this author! I know, I know, I’m the only person on the planet that hasn’t read The Silent Patient, but I do plan on changing that soon.

I meant to just read a chapter or two of the Maidens, but instead, I found myself reading the whole book in one sitting. I just couldn’t put it down. Plus the chapters, which alternate points of view, are nice and short so it’s a fairly quick read.

The Maidens is mostly set at Cambridge University in the UK, and follows Mariana Andros, a therapist, as she tries to find out who is killing off female students. There is a lot of Greek Mythology throughout the book, and Mariana’s own history comes into play fairly significantly.

She’s determined to prove that it’s charismatic Edward Fosca, the Greek Tragedy professor, who is behind it all, but no-one seems to believe her.

Despite working out who the killer was by about halfway through, I found that my enjoyment of the story wasn’t diminished. It’s so rich with dark, moody details that you really feel you’re there watching over Mariana’s shoulder the whole time. Plus there were still several twists and events I didn’t see coming.

There were a couple of characters that I didn’t feel were totally necessary to the storyline, and some parts that I think could have been fleshed out a little more, but having said that, it was a very entertaining and immersive read and I highly recommend it.

I lucked out and received one of the physical ARCS of The Maidens from the publisher/bookishfirst! I loved Alex Michaelides's first novel, The Silent Patient, and couldn't wait to read his second novel. I once again enjoyed the writing style, was surprised by the twist at the end but did not care for the pacing of this novel. It took me a while to get into the story and felt like it dragged. I am looking forward to reading what this author writes next.

3.5 Stars out of 5 Stars.

I was so excited to receive a copy of this highly anticipated thriller. I never like spoilers, so I recommend going into this book with as little knowledge as possible and avoiding synopses. The story brings in Greek mythology and takes place at Cambridge University. That's all I needed to know to be intrigued.

The chapters are quite short, and the book is fast paced with great prose throughout. It kept me guessing and suspecting everyone. I never did figure it out, but all the clues were there. I especially appreciated the incorporation of clinical psychology, both in the group sessions and the application to forensics. I recommend this great novel for all who enjoy thrillers.

Thank you so much to CeladonBooks for sending me this Advanced Reader Copy.

The Maidens is a smart and sly thriller that kept me intrigued and guessing the whole time I was reading. And as someone who studied psychology and read the Greek tragedies in college (approximately a thousand years ago 😂) I absolutely loved how the plays were woven in to the story, and the fact that our MC is a psychotherapist.

The Silent Patient was such a great thriller with the best "What?!!!" moment of all time so I was so super excited to get my hands on Alex Michaelides' new book, The Maidens. It's definitely a page turner but I'll be honest that you have to separate yourself from The Silent Patient. Don't expect the same book. With that said, if you enjoy a good psychological thriller, then definitely pick this one up!

Edward Fosca is worshipped and adored at Cambridge University; especially by his "special" students, a very small group of beautiful young women called The Maidens. To Mariana, he's a murderer. Mariana was once a student at Cambridge, but goes back when her (current student) niece Zoe calls her, informing a good friend has been murdered.

I could NOT put this book down! Terrific writing, twists, turns and an ending I would of NEVER DREAMED!!!
Bonus: I learned a bit of Greek tragedy!

Thank you firstly to Netgalley and Celadon Books for this gifted copy of The Maidens by Alex Michaelides, one of my most anticipated thrillers of the summer! This story felt so unique and I loved the tie ins to Greek Mythology, it was fast paced which kept me engaged and wanting more, and the twists were well thought out! For those who were fans of The Silent Patient by Alex then you'll be in for a treat in regards to several Easter eggs thrown into the story. When you compare both of his publications, The Maidens falls just below the spectacular workings of The Silent Patient, something was just missing but I could never put my finger on it. At times the characters felt a bit unbelievable and made me ponder how certain plot points even made sense. Regardless, this was still a fun thriller that will be devoured by many this summer!

Wowza, another mind blowing book by Alex Michaelides! One that will glue you to the pages, keeping your attention from start to finish, and addicted! In love with his amazing use of Greek mythology! He is able to develop his characters flawlessly, which really makes sure and keep you addicted to the story! Unique anc realistic, which I find to be amazing in the psychological thrillers! A must read for mind blowing shocks, thrilling thrills, chilling chilling, and dizzying twist and turns!

Will make sure to buzz around platforms and use low Amazon reviewer number on release date!

This was a great novel. While it wasn’t quite as entrancing as The Silent Patient, it was a great thriller in its own right. I liked the references to his earlier work.. Although it’s completely not necessary to read The Silent Patient first to enjoy this one, readers of both will see how this one is a prequel of sorts to the first novel.

The atmosphere in this novel is throughly drenched in slowly suffocating dread and the historical references and setting add to the creepiness. The plot is unique and the characters all interesting and suspicious. The misdirection is great and the final twist completely unexpected. This was a thoroughly enjoyable read. Based on this novel and The Silent Patient, I’m pretty sure Alex Michaelides is quickly going to become one of my favorite authors.

QUICK TAKE: if you enjoyed THE SILENT PATIENT, chances are you'll enjoy THE MAIDENS, an almost prequel/spin-off to that bestselling book from a couple years ago. Unfortunately, I liked, but didn't love TSP, and I enjoyed THE MAIDENS even less than that. A lackluster mystery, a main character who claims to be a therapist but somehow forgets all of her training throughout the story, a twist that didn't land for me, and ultimately a big letdown. Unfortunately, this one ultimately wasn't for me.

This is one of the most anticipated books I’ve been waiting to read and it truly did not disappoint! MC Marianna, a psychotherapist and widow, is grieving the death of her husband Sebastian. She keeps herself busy with work until a phone call from her niece, Zoe, prompts her to leave town. Zoe’s friend, Tara, is found murdered on the grounds of the university they attend and fingers are pointed at Professor Edward Fosca. He has an arrogant flair that charms everyone especially a group of students known as The Maidens! Another female body is found and Mariana does her own investigation into Fosca. There’s a few red herrings, a bit predictable & cliche, but still an entertaining suspenseful mystery! Thank you Celadon Books, NetGalley, and to the author for a gifted copy. This is my honest review.

Many thanks to Alex Michaelides, Celadon Books, and Net Galley for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Like many, I very much enjoyed Michaelides’ previous novel, The Silent Patient, so I couldn’t wait to dive into this latest novel. It had many aspects that intrigued me — Oxford university, Greek mythology, mysterious murders — so I had high hopes. Unfortunately, this book didn’t meet my (admittedly sky-high) expectations. I didn’t feel a connection to the characters, much of the writing consisted of dumps of lengthy back-story, and the ending just seemed utterly ridiculous.

The Maidens has many, many positive reviews, so I may just be an outlier on this one. I’ll still look forward to Michaelides’ next novel, and I have my fingers crossed for a return to the well-crafted, well-written thriller that he brought us in The Silent Patient.

The Maiden's was Alex Michaelides second suspenseful book. I enjoyed his first book the silent patient and the Maidens did not disappoint. I loved the suspense that the reader was never really sure what was happening and where the story would go.

I enjoyed Mariana's story as it slowed unfolded and her narration became the main driving force of the story. A second narrator comes in and you are wondering where this will go. I loved the relationship between Mariana and Zoe and how Zoe really took a backseat to Mariana and the story that was happening around her. A truly captivating story that took me a good 50 pages to really get into. It's worth the journey. Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillian for my advance copy.

Thanks to Net galley for the ARC of this book. As a fan of Alex Michaelides's first book, The Silent Patient I knew this book would be just as good. I was not disappointed, it had a twist at the end that I didn't expect. The main character in the book Mariana is called to the college by her niece Zoe after a murder takes place. Mariana's suspicions fall on a professor at the college, Edward Fosca. Mariana pretty much makes herself a nuisance during the police investigation with her wild theories and her lack of evidence. There is a secret society of young women call The Maidens whom I'm not really sure what their purpose is. This book keep me interested and I was satisfied with the ending. I will be recommending this book to my library patrons.