Cassidy is a devoted detective. This is all she wants to do. Restricted by a protective family, and a very clingy boyfriend she now finds herself needing time and space to help in solving the most cryptic of murders. A series of random girls found murdered and posed in scenes reminiscent of Greek mythology. It’s a case which baffles the detectives and no one knows what to expect next.

The FBI gets drawn in and the case gets more complicated when Cassidy gets photographs and notes relating to the death of her dearest friend, decades ago. Are the killings related and is Cassidy now a focus for the killer?

I like the pace of the story but at the end it was not as sharp as it could be. A good story though.

This is such a deliciously devourable story that fans of the secret history will absolutely adore. Dark academia is alive and well.

I am a sucker for all things Greek mythology. As a proud Greek myself and high school taker of the National Mythology (Medusa) Exam, as an adult, I am constantly seeking new ways to take in and dissect the classic myths (until your new favorite show Kaos is canceled - looking at you, Netflix!) So when The Myth Maker appeared in my potential Netgalley feed, I was immediately hooked. The idea of a mortal man killing women and staging them as though they were Greek goddesses has a lot of potential: The psyche of a murderer thinking he is above the divine, the choice of which goddess each woman represents, and ultimately, the goddess that the killer considers his "chosen one." I loved how Dumas-Heidt sets each scene to harken back to each goddess, even if it was described in disturbing detail.

My issue was with the execution of this overarching theme and the pace. The main character Cassidy is, suffice to say, not trained in the classics, and gets all of her information / inspiration from a Classics professor. Instead of understanding the mythology and the potential psychology behind it, Cassidy is portrayed as a young yet hardboiled detective with a chip on her shoulder and a decidedly unacademic approach. Her generally unlikable character, combined with a huge cast of other characters and a slightly formulaic plot, makes The Myth Maker fall a little flat for me. It also makes me a little sad to think that any future books with Cassidy will not have the same Greek mythology theme (even though it is, of course, a positive that [spoiler!] the murderer was caught). However, it would be a very interesting take if Dumas-Heidt includes other mythologies or academic themes in her future murder mysteries.

Book Review – The Myth Maker: A Novel by Alie Dumas Heidt
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

Let me tell you, this book had everything I love—crime, murder, mystery, detective work, Greek mythology, and even an academic setting. The minute I read the synopsis, I knew I had to dive in. And from the very first chapter, The Myth Maker absolutely delivered. The murders were not just gruesome and clever—they were inspired by Greek goddesses. Greek goddesses! The level of detail and intelligence behind each crime scene had me grinning like a nerdy maniac. I was hooked. I was in. I was ready to give this book a full five stars.

For the first two-thirds, I devoured every page. It was sharp, dark, and perfectly paced. The clues, the atmosphere, the tension—it all worked. I even started recommending it to friends before I’d finished.

And then… the last mystery happened.

The story took a turn into a trope I absolutely hate: kidnapping. The final “big reveal” fell completely flat for me. It felt like a different book altogether, like the smart, sophisticated narrative I was loving suddenly got replaced with a generic thriller twist. I hate when a book changes tone so drastically in the final act, and unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened here.

Still, I can’t ignore how brilliantly constructed the first part of the novel was. For the originality of the crimes, the rich mythology, and the sharp writing, I’m giving it four stars. But wow—if only that ending had kept up the momentum, this would have easily been a favorite.

This sounded so intriguing= murders that are inspired by Greek Mythology.

Detective Cassidy Cantwell becomes involved in a series of murders, where the victims are poised like the characters of greek mythology. She is still haunted by the unsolved murder of her best friend. One of the victims is tied to her ex-boyfriend, so the case becomes personal to her. Cassidy, along with her partner and the FBI, must decipher clues and race to figure out the killer. She is also struggling with personal issues, which adds to the chaotic atmosphere surrounding this story.

I loved the unique idea for the story, but was a bit disappointed. There is so much going on between the overload of characters (family members, FBI people, Police team, etc) that I had a very hard time keeping the people straight, as well as who did what! It also seemed to just skim over the mythology aspect, instead of going deeper. I feel that if the focus had been more on the case, and really used the mythological pieces to drive the investigation, it would have been a much more effective and satisfying read.

Overall, an ok read for me- but I think I will not read the next- I can't remember all those characters!

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Book Review: The Myth Maker by Alie Dumas Heidt

Rating: 3 Stars

I picked up The Myth Maker because the cover and synopsis really caught my eye—there’s something intriguing about a serial killer thriller woven with Greek mythology. The story follows Cassidy Cantwell, a detective haunted by the unsolved murder of her best friend, who now faces a chilling new case. Women are being killed and their bodies staged in eerie, symbolic ways that seem to echo ancient myths. When Cassidy discovers that one of the victims is tied to her ex-boyfriend, the case becomes deeply personal. Alongside her partner Bryan and with the FBI stepping in, Cassidy races against time while juggling a complicated personal life and cryptic clues linked to Greek legends.

While I admired the ambitious attempt to blend mythology with a contemporary thriller, I found the plot somewhat bloated and felt it didn’t dive as deeply into the mythological aspects as I had hoped. The story had potential for a rich, layered mystery but sometimes got lost in its own complexity. That said, I’m curious to see where the series goes next, especially with the ongoing subplot involving "Jenna," which adds another layer of intrigue.

Overall, The Myth Maker was an engaging read but didn’t quite live up to the hype for me. I’m giving it three stars—not a bad book by any means, but one I think could have been tighter and more focused on its unique angle. Still, I’ll probably pick up the next installment to see how the mysteries unfold.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

I really liked this!

Two things stood out to me when I was reading the blurb for this book: Greek mythology and serial un-alivers. I knew I had to read it based on those two aspects alone! And I was not disappointed.

This book has two separate mysteries going on at the same time: one from the FMC’s teenage years when her best friend was killed, and the other is a current psycho un-aliving women and incorporating Greek goddesses into their killings. The FMC is a fairly new detective, and this is her first big case.

I haven’t read a lot of cop / police procedurals this year (I think the last might have been Head Cases), so I loved jumping into this one. It has some chapters from the killer’s POV, so that added an interesting element, as well. This was a fast and easy read, and kept my interest peaked throughout. I will say I thought the ending was rather abrupt. (I really thought I was missing pages.) But it definitely seems like it’s setting up for a second book. (If not, then I will be really disappointed in the ending, lol.) If a second book is announced, I’ll be hopping on that right away!

𝑾𝒉𝒐 𝑰'𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐:
Lovers of crime fiction or police procedurals, especially with hunting serial Ks.

4.5/5 rounded up

The Myth Maker, an exhilarating book that has so many twists you will be left dizzy for more!!!

Detective Cassidy Cantwell carries a huge burden. Her best friend Jenna Sutton was killed as a teen, and Cass believes it was her fault. So when dead women start appearing with special offerings around them and possed like goddesses, Cas knows she must figure out who is behind it.

I loved this story so much. I enjoyed the glimpses into Cassidy's not so perfect life with her boyfriend Nicky. Her family dynamics and her twin brother Jamie were fun to read. I really enjoyed how each goddess was represented and all the symbolism around them. The goddesses represented in the story were Eos, Athena, Aphrodite, Circe, Psyche, and Persephone. And the best part was the cliffhanger. Someone is taunting Cassidy about Jenna's murder and she is going to solve it.

Thank you, Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books, for this ARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

2.5 stars rounded up. Though this book didn’t have any plot twists, it was interesting and had my attention. I felt as though there was a lot of unnecessary information given to us and especially far too many unnecessary characters. I found myself asking “wait who is so-and-so again?” I may be spoiled in my thrillers with having lots of twists, or even one twist, but this was pretty cut and dry detective work. I was invested on who the killer was but when it was revealed, I went “oh. Okay”. Lastly, I think the set up for the next book could have been done differently or at least at a different part of the book instead of sprinkling bits and pieces throughout. All in all, an okay book and I’ll probably end up reading the second one.

A rookie detective haunted by the murder of her best friend that was never solved when she was a teen finds herself on a new case that involves the murder of her college ex boyfriend... as well as dealing with strange things being sent to her anonymously by none other than the possible murderer of her childhood best friend. Cassidy has devoted her life to becoming a detective ever since her childhood best friend was murdered and no one could solve the case. Yet as she's getting along with her boy she cant seem to balance her work life and home life... and then a strange new murder case comes in front of her and it involves the wife of her college ex-boyfriend being murdered. The case is strange and connected to a Greek myth... and then something else shows up at her door she begins receiving anonymous taunts about her best friend's death and soon she finds herself drawn in two different directions with two cases. This is the first book in a series for sure with the way it ends, but it just kinda felt boring to me. I feel like maybe this would work better as a tv mini series or a movie, but as an actual book it just felt slow and dragging. I kinda got bored with it unfortunately. I love a fun murder mystery and I love when there are themes and such, and this sounded like it would be perfect for me, but it just got boring by the halfway point unfortunately. While this one was just meh for me, I do think it would be a fun mystery read for someone else.

Release Date: July 8, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the month, and it delivered!

Myth Maker weaves together two mysteries unfolding side by side, and both kept me equally hooked. The mythology-inspired crimes added a unique and eerie edge, and I loved how those ancient themes were layered into a modern police procedural.

The dynamic between the detectives was a standout for me: sharp, clever, and filled with the kind of back-and-forth banter that makes you want to keep reading just to see what they’ll say next. The police vibes felt grounded and authentic, which gave the mystery even more weight.

There’s a side plot involving a brother’s best friend that didn’t really add much to the story, but it wasn’t distracting enough to pull me out. The pacing was a bit choppy in places, especially with the timeline jumps, but honestly? I was so invested I barely noticed. That final reveal? Chef’s kiss.

If you love myth-heavy mysteries with layered storytelling and detective drama, this one deserves a spot on your list.

The synopsis of this book caught my interest immediately. A mystery thriller with a serial killer and greek mythology? Too intriguing to pass up. While I worried it would be written in a heavy or gritty way that would make it hard to get into or keep me focused, but it kept my interest pretty steadily throughout.
The way the author put it together as to keep you guessing throughout, while your mind gets caught on clues and hints. The journey through the story is twisty and entertaining while remaining dark from start to finish, and I had an amazing time reading it.
I can’t wait for more from the author in the future.

As a Greek mythology girlie, I really wanted to love this one. The premise of a serial killer staging victims in scenes inspired by ancient myths? That had my name all over it. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to the potential for me.

The story follows Cassidy, a detective still haunted by the unsolved murder of her childhood best friend. When a new case lands on her desk, Cassidy becomes deeply invested in uncovering the truth, even as her personal life starts to fray at the edges.

While the concept is intriguing, the execution felt a bit uneven. The mythological connections, which I was most excited for, ended up being somewhat shallow and underdeveloped. I kept waiting for that satisfying, chilling link between the murders and the myths, but it never happened.

Cassidy is an okay protagonist, but the subplots especially around her boyfriend and family, sometimes pulled focus from the central mystery in a way that felt distracting. That said, the pacing picks up toward the end, and there are some creepy moments and clever red herrings that mystery lovers might appreciate.

In the end, this one just wasn’t for me. That said… I absolutely loved the cover. It’s stunning, honestly one of the prettiest I’ve seen all year. I’ll probably still purchase a physical copy just to have it on my shelf, that’s how much I was hoping to love this book.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Detective Cassidy Cantwell has a real puzzler on her hands because someone is killing and staging bodies in ways reminiscent of Greek mythology. She's also got a lot going on in her life as echoes of a past tragedy emerge. I liked the way the Greek myths were incorporated but there's too much going here (too many subplots, too many characters). That could have been solved with a dispassionate edit and would have made for a better read. That said, Cantwell is a good character I'd be willing to give another chance. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Over to others.

This thriller pulses with energy, weaving danger and mystery into every chapter. The plot twists are bold yet believable, and the characters feel strikingly real. It’s an edge-of-your-seat experience that delivers pure reading pleasure.

Rookie police detective Cassidy Cantwell gets involved in a baffling serial killer case. The killer is staging each of his female victims as goddesses from Greek mythology. Their first victim happens to be married to her college boyfriend.

As the cases pile up and the FBI gets involved, the team begins working almost around the clock which has severe consequences for Cassidy's own relationship with her boyfriend. He's tired of coming in third after her job and the investigation of the murder of her high school best friend some years earlier.

Jenna's murder becomes more than a bunch of notebook filled plastic bins when someone decides to start sending Cassidy mementos from their shared past. But Cassidy doesn't have time to pursue these new leads until the current killer is caught.

This was a fast-paced and engaging thriller with an intriguing main character. My only complaint is that the cover doesn't seem to match the story within the book.

The Myth Maker by Alie Dumas Heidt promised Greek mythology meets serial killer thriller, but what I got was elaborate murder scenes based on the most surface-level goddess details—I kept thinking it would be more fascinating if the killer had tapped into their more esoteric aspects instead of just the obvious stuff. Detective Cassidy Cantwell's investigation follows a predictable cycle of murder, mythological explanation from a convenient professor, suspect interviews, repeat, and I lost track of the dozens of characters pretty quickly. The video game-influenced killer reveal felt overwrought, and honestly, I've already forgotten most of the details despite finishing it just two days ago. I'll probably read the sequel anyway since Cassidy's cold case about her murdered best friend seems infinitely more interesting than this by-the-numbers procedural.

The Myth Maker by Ali Dumas-Hight is a mystery thriller with a compelling premise: a serial killer is staging their victims in poses inspired by Greek mythology. Detective Cassidy Cantwell is leading the investigation while grappling with the unresolved trauma of her childhood best friend’s death.

I was really in the mood for a thriller and this concept definitely caught my attention, but the execution didn’t quite land. The plot felt convoluted and the pacing was uneven, which made it hard to stay invested. The mythological element is certainly woven into the story, but rather than feeling organically integrated, it came across as a bit forced—like it was more for effect than depth.

There were flashes of intrigue, and moments that held promise, but overall, it didn’t sustain my interest. It read more like a detailed retelling of events than a true psychological thriller, and that lack of tension made it hard to connect. None of the characters really stood out, and with so many threads in play, the narrative felt a bit overcrowded.

If you enjoy psychological thrillers with a mythological twist, this might still be worth a try. For me, though, it just didn’t hit the mark. Two stars.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

A slow paced mystery with murders inspired by Greek goddesses sounded really intriguing to me. While I enjoyed some elements of this novel, The Myth Maker ended up falling short for me. I will be honest that some of it could have been the weird formatting of my e-ARC, which was disjointed. I didn't think that all of the elements of the story meshed as well together with each other. It felt like she was trying to pack as much as she could in this novel without really fleshing out any of the storylines. Heidt is obviously setting up another book to make this a series with the way it ends. I don't know if I'll continue with Cassidy's story. I didn't find myself completely connecting with any of the characters in the novel. I give some grace because this is her debut novel, but I hope in the future her books are more focused in their narration and not going off on so many tangents.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for review consideration.

"Someone is killing women and staging their bodies in strange, evocative scenes in this Greek-mythology-inspired serial killer thriller perfect, for fans of Alex Michaelides and Tana French.

Cassidy Cantwell has devoted her life to becoming a detective, never forgetting the cold case that has influenced her entire career: the unsolved murder of her best friend. Cassidy tries to balance her demanding job with her suffocatingly close-knit family and her increasingly clingy boyfriend, but when a strange new murder case comes across her desk, she's determined to solve it, especially when it turns out the victim was the wife of her college ex-boyfriend.

While Cassidy's partner, Bryan, works to prove that her ex is their suspect, Cassidy can't shake the feeling that there's something more to the case that they're not seeing. After the medical examiner finds a strange ring among the victim's personal effects that the husband insists didn't belong to his wife, Cassidy is struck by similarly odd details from a previous crime scene - details that seem to have an uncanny connection to a Greek myth.

When another body attracts public attention and the FBI joins the hunt, the case gets increasingly complicated - and solving it seems further and further out of reach. With anonymous taunts about her best friend's death dragging her attention away, Cassidy finds herself pulled in different directions - sacrifice her personal life for the sake of her career, or put everything she has into finding years-old answers to a case that haunts her still.

And the killer behind the murders isn't done yet."

Maybe Cassidy can't move on until she finds the answers? I know I wouldn't.