The Silent Patient was my favorite read of 2019 so this book had major shoes to fill. I’m happy to report that Alex Michaelides has done it once again!! In fact, I may have loved this book even more than his debut because of its many references to and parallels with Greek mythology. The story begins when Mariana, a grieving group therapist who recently lost her husband, travels to Cambridge to support her college-age niece, Zoe, whose best friend was brutally murdered near campus. Upon arriving at the university, Mariana embarks on a paranoid mission to discover the truth behind the murder she believes was committed by Edward Fosca, a Professor of Greek tragedy and the leader of a group of infatuating female students called “The Maidens.” The darkly poetic writing style and brooding atmosphere really set this book apart from other novels in its genre. I was so emotionally affected by it that I was unable to escape the sense of dread even after setting it down. I waited a week to write this review and I still have chills thinking about the plot! Michaelides is a total master of deception; even though I went into the book knowing this, I was still completely caught off guard by the ending. If you think you’ve figured it out, you’re wrong!!! The Maidens is an definite contender for the best mystery/thriller of the year. Thank you to Celadon Books and BookishFirst for providing me with an early copy in exchange for an honest review!!