Book Review | The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

Mariana is a group therapist still grieving the death of her husband. When her niece, Zoe, calls from Cambridge University asking for help after the murder of her friend, Mariana jumps in to help. She suspects the charismatic and popular Greek Tragedy professor, Edward Fosca, who is adored by everyone – particularly a group of female students called The Maidens. But with no evidence and no one who believes her, can Mariana prove Fosca’s guilt? Or is she looking at the wrong person?

In her mind, she would go back to the very beginning and remember it all. Every single detail. And she would catch him.

I enjoyed the author’s debut, The Silent Patient, so I was really excited for The Maidens! Described as a fusion of dark academia, Greek mythology, and murder mystery, the premise is enticing and sounds right up my alley. And true enough, the author blends the right amount of Greek tragedies and literature into the story. Set at Cambridge University, the location is like another character, looming in the background. I enjoyed the amount of detail included, from the dorm rooms to the architecture of the campus. Discussions on Greek tragedies provided a unique angle to the story and added to the moody ambience.

I wish the author had focused on these elements because I found the murder mystery to be the weakest part of the book. The investigation is unrealistic; the police don’t follow up on clues and involve a potential suspect at the expense of a witness. The protagonist, Mariana, is a group therapist but inserts herself into the investigation without any difficulties – at one point she just strolls into a crime scene! Not to mention the ethics violation of her profession and the way her training seems to disappear. I didn’t find the plot twist to be effective because it relies on information the reader does not have. I also didn’t believe the villain’s motive. Instead of closure, the book ends with an indulgent crossover with The Silent Patient that frankly adds nothing to the story.

While the writing works in relation to the setting, its functionality doesn’t elicit emotions from me when it came to the characters. The characterisations were superficial and unconvincing. Like the men who stalked Mariana yet one of them is cast as her love interest. And I’m mostly disappointed at the lack of agency for the women. I wanted to know about The Maidens, who they are, and what drew them to the secret society, yet they barely featured. The book could have dived into the themes of female friendships, power imbalance, abuse, and sexual grooming. But it barely scratched the surface.

For The Maidens, I say stay for the dark academia vibes but temper your expectations on the murder mystery.

CW: child abuse, domestic violence

I received a copy from the publisher and Netgalley for review purposes. The Maidens is out in the UK now and will be out in the US on 15th June.

About the author: Alex Michaelides

Photo by Jose Llamas