I was so excited for The Maidens. When I saw that Alex Michaelides was coming out with another book after The Silent Patient, I was PUMPED. Boy…was it a letdown. When you’re excited about a book, there is nothing worse than being let down by every aspect of it.

The Story

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 Thoughts

I’ve essentially stopped reading the synopses of books. I see if other people have liked it or if it’s by an author that I like and I get it. I had seen mythology tied with The Maidens when people were talking about it, so I thought it was the perfect book for me.

The Maidens was just so unbelievable for me. Not unbelievable in the sense of it being amazing, but in the sense of it not making any sense. The characters felt like they were poorly developed, and no one had a real purpose in the story.

As far as mythology coming into play, that was a very loose stretch. For whatever reason, Mariana kept bringing up Persephone and her story. That was all of the mythology the book had. It was very disappointing to someone who loves mythology.

I was also super bothered by the story of the girls fawning over a professor, and him having an “exclusive” group of young women. I firmly believe that any university or school-governing body would put a pin in that. It’s not like this book was written 10 years ago. It was published in 2021. It’s a very male author type of thing to write.

Additionally, The Maidens alluded to The Silent Patient, which I think technically means that it took place first? It was only a repeat character, so you don’t have to read one or the other to understand them.

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