Book Review: THE MAIDENS by Alex Michaelides

THE MAIDENS by Alex Michaelides (Thorndike Press Large Print, June 2021) Hardcover, 493 pages.  ISBN #1432885480 / 9781432885489 

Summary on the Goodreads website . . . . .

 

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.

My Three-And-A-Half Star Review on the Goodreads website . . .  

     While I enjoyed the setting, the mix of Greek mythology and murder mystery on a legendary English college campus, and the mini-psychological profiles of several characters - - I did not fully engage with the main character, or any of the secondary players. 

     The story seemed a bit plodding to me, although I kept turning the pages of some very short chapters. Thanks for that! For those reasons I rate this a 3.5. It's good, worth a reading, but not entirely satisfying. I picked this up as one of Riley Sager's recommended 2021 thriller novels, and might have just as easily put this down as did-not-finish after 50 pages. 

     After reading the author afterwords and learning that this was intended as a homage to some classic women mystery writers of the good old days (Agatha Christie, etc) it has more relevance when viewed from that perspective. 

  SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT: There are many suspects beyond the professor that the main character is convinced is responsible for the murders, so I was anticipating some new information before the end of the novel to turn things in that direction. Naturally, the culprit is not who I expected it to be. I felt cheated but after reflection I realized that the author had planted sufficient clues throughout the story so I can't accuse him of pulling a fast one, or bait and switch.