Helpful Score: 2
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides is receiving so much buzz that my opinion doesn't matter in the grand scheme, but I'm sharing it anyway. As an occasional thriller reader, I thought it was "fine." I haven't read The Silent Patient (the cover freaked me out) and I'm not knowledgeable of Greek tragedies so that likely impacted my enjoyment.
The most obvious suspect isn't likely to be guilty, so I speculated about the murderer's identity and was very wrong. Also, several things about student life at Cambridge (late night tutoring sessions in private chambers, employees who make students' beds and take out their trash, etc.) took me out of the "reality" of the story. I won't share more to avoid spoilers.
I liked the short chapters that propelled me through the story, and really appreciated the atmosphere created by audiobook narrators Louise Brealey and Kobna Holdbrook-Simith. The ending was intriguing as I occasionally enjoy a novel that leaves me with questions.
Thank you to Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio for the review copies; all thoughts are my own.
The most obvious suspect isn't likely to be guilty, so I speculated about the murderer's identity and was very wrong. Also, several things about student life at Cambridge (late night tutoring sessions in private chambers, employees who make students' beds and take out their trash, etc.) took me out of the "reality" of the story. I won't share more to avoid spoilers.
I liked the short chapters that propelled me through the story, and really appreciated the atmosphere created by audiobook narrators Louise Brealey and Kobna Holdbrook-Simith. The ending was intriguing as I occasionally enjoy a novel that leaves me with questions.
Thank you to Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio for the review copies; all thoughts are my own.
Creepy (in the bad sense) and with ideas about human psychology that I did not find credible or interesting. Halfway through I debated whether or not to finish it.
Takes some time to get rolling. I enjoyed the Silent Patient more, but still good enough if you want a study of people who spend way too much time in school.
Edward Fosca is a handsome and charismatic Greek Tragedy professor at Cambridge University but Mariana thinks he is a murderer. Fosca is adored by staff and students. The members of a secret society of female students known as The Maidens are intrigued by him. Why would the professor target one of his students? Why does he keep returning to the rites of Persephone, the maiden, and her journey to the underworld? Mariana is determined to find out. This book kept me guessing until the very end. I enjoyed the writing and the Greek tragedy references. There are a lot of twists and the ending was a complete surprise. I would recommend this book and I am looking forward to Michaelides next book. I would like to thank McMillian Audio and Celadon Books and NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy for an honest review. I listened to the audio and read along with the book. I enjoyed the narrator and it was a great experience.
I wasn't impressed by this book as all the hype perceives it to be. The characters were well written and the ending was somewhat of a surprise towards the end. If I had to recommend this book to be read, I would not recommend it.
