When I heard that Alex Michaelides had a new thriller with Greek mythology elements, I knew I had to read this book. Lucky for me, a friend was kind enough to share her physical ARC from @celadonbooks, and then I got an ALC from @macmillan.audio on NetGalley!
Genre: dark academia, suspense/mystery
Rating: 📚📚📚📚.5
Pub date: June 15th
Therapist Mariana Andros finds herself back at her alma mater Cambridge University when a friend of her niece Zoe is killed. As Mariana investigates, professor Edward Fosca becomes her lead suspect. As she falls deeper into the mysterious world of Fosca and his female followers, The Maidens, she realizes that she may be in grave danger.
I absolutely tore through this book - I could not stop reading it. I started with the audio - main narrator Louise Brealey did a great job bringing me into Mariana's world and the Cambridge setting. I also loved hearing the Greek passages read aloud. I then speed read through the text version, returning to the audio to re-listen to the ending and some of my favorite sections. The writing was lush and descriptive, perfectly suited to the rarefied Cambridge setting and excellent on audio and in print.
This is a different book than The Silent Patient - it's more character-driven with a mystery that ramps up gradually. I loved the feeling of getting deeper into this dark academic world with Mariana, as well as exploring her own past. Edward Fosca was also a highlight as he went toe to toe with Mariana.
Don't expect this to be a popcorn thriller - but if you like a good mystery, especially dark academia, you should definitely give this one a try.
Genre: dark academia, suspense/mystery
Rating: 📚📚📚📚.5
Pub date: June 15th
Therapist Mariana Andros finds herself back at her alma mater Cambridge University when a friend of her niece Zoe is killed. As Mariana investigates, professor Edward Fosca becomes her lead suspect. As she falls deeper into the mysterious world of Fosca and his female followers, The Maidens, she realizes that she may be in grave danger.
I absolutely tore through this book - I could not stop reading it. I started with the audio - main narrator Louise Brealey did a great job bringing me into Mariana's world and the Cambridge setting. I also loved hearing the Greek passages read aloud. I then speed read through the text version, returning to the audio to re-listen to the ending and some of my favorite sections. The writing was lush and descriptive, perfectly suited to the rarefied Cambridge setting and excellent on audio and in print.
This is a different book than The Silent Patient - it's more character-driven with a mystery that ramps up gradually. I loved the feeling of getting deeper into this dark academic world with Mariana, as well as exploring her own past. Edward Fosca was also a highlight as he went toe to toe with Mariana.
Don't expect this to be a popcorn thriller - but if you like a good mystery, especially dark academia, you should definitely give this one a try.