I've got a little bit of a book hangover here...
First, a confession. I didn't like The Silent Patient. No big deal; it just wasn't the book for me (though I loved the Easter egg he drops here). And that's ok. I can rest assured that Alex Michaelides will continue on writing just fine without me there. That being said, I was still really intrigued when I saw The Maidens being previewed.
The synopsis captured me right away. Mariana, a troubled therapist grieving over the loss of her partner Sebastian, is certain that Edward Fosca, a respected and charismatic professor of Greek tragedy at Cambridge University, is a murderer. But he's untouchable: staff and students love him and he's fiercely protected by a secret society called the Maidens.
When one of the Maidens, a friend of Mariana's niece, Zoe, is found murdered, Mariana is drawn into a sinister world behind the idyllic beauty of her old college.
When another body is found and Mariana's assumption of Fosca's guilt spirals out of control, she must stop the killer at all costs, even if doing so threatens her professional reputation, all her relationships, and even her life.
As I read a brief excerpt, I was drawn even more fully into the story; I knew I had to read it in its entirety. The book I received did not let me down.
It's not perfect: reviewers have been quick to point out that some of the dialogue between characters is a bit stilted and actions taken don't always seem logical or sensical. I also usually hate books in which some tormented woman is going to Annie Oakley her way into an investigation and attempt to solve things a trained investigative team just cannot.
But something just worked for me here. I loved the short, snappy chapters that didn't get bogged down in unnecessary exposition. As a reader, it sometimes felt a little abrupt and disjointed, but I connected that to Mariana's mental tension.
Additionally, Michealides could have fallen back on his Greek knowledge and beat us over the head with mythology. But what he provides in terms of Persephone's story and Mariana's link to Greece is simple and engaging rather than pedantic, which often drags down more literary books.
I adored the addition of Tennyson. As one of my favorite poets, I loved how Michealides wove his story subtly into the text.
As far as the thriller/suspense aspect of the book goes, I was completely satisfied with how everything wrapped up. Unlike others, who saw the plot as a little too predictable, I thought the numerous red herrings were great. Just as I thought I had figured something out, and settled on the identity of the villain, the rug was yanked out from under me. And though I had an inkling of someone's involvement, I wasn't prepared for what the twist actually was. So kudos, Mr. Michaelides, you definitely got me.
All in all, I would heartily recommend this book. It's a quick, satisfying read and I was completely comfortable with willingly suspending my disbelief to this novel. I'll be on the lookout for more.
Thank you to BookishFirst and Celadon Books for providing a copy of this ARC to review.
First, a confession. I didn't like The Silent Patient. No big deal; it just wasn't the book for me (though I loved the Easter egg he drops here). And that's ok. I can rest assured that Alex Michaelides will continue on writing just fine without me there. That being said, I was still really intrigued when I saw The Maidens being previewed.
The synopsis captured me right away. Mariana, a troubled therapist grieving over the loss of her partner Sebastian, is certain that Edward Fosca, a respected and charismatic professor of Greek tragedy at Cambridge University, is a murderer. But he's untouchable: staff and students love him and he's fiercely protected by a secret society called the Maidens.
When one of the Maidens, a friend of Mariana's niece, Zoe, is found murdered, Mariana is drawn into a sinister world behind the idyllic beauty of her old college.
When another body is found and Mariana's assumption of Fosca's guilt spirals out of control, she must stop the killer at all costs, even if doing so threatens her professional reputation, all her relationships, and even her life.
As I read a brief excerpt, I was drawn even more fully into the story; I knew I had to read it in its entirety. The book I received did not let me down.
It's not perfect: reviewers have been quick to point out that some of the dialogue between characters is a bit stilted and actions taken don't always seem logical or sensical. I also usually hate books in which some tormented woman is going to Annie Oakley her way into an investigation and attempt to solve things a trained investigative team just cannot.
But something just worked for me here. I loved the short, snappy chapters that didn't get bogged down in unnecessary exposition. As a reader, it sometimes felt a little abrupt and disjointed, but I connected that to Mariana's mental tension.
Additionally, Michealides could have fallen back on his Greek knowledge and beat us over the head with mythology. But what he provides in terms of Persephone's story and Mariana's link to Greece is simple and engaging rather than pedantic, which often drags down more literary books.
I adored the addition of Tennyson. As one of my favorite poets, I loved how Michealides wove his story subtly into the text.
As far as the thriller/suspense aspect of the book goes, I was completely satisfied with how everything wrapped up. Unlike others, who saw the plot as a little too predictable, I thought the numerous red herrings were great. Just as I thought I had figured something out, and settled on the identity of the villain, the rug was yanked out from under me. And though I had an inkling of someone's involvement, I wasn't prepared for what the twist actually was. So kudos, Mr. Michaelides, you definitely got me.
All in all, I would heartily recommend this book. It's a quick, satisfying read and I was completely comfortable with willingly suspending my disbelief to this novel. I'll be on the lookout for more.
Thank you to BookishFirst and Celadon Books for providing a copy of this ARC to review.