Review: The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

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. 

Mariana, a therapist grieving for her husband, receives a distressing phone call from her niece Zoe at Cambridge University that will alter the course of her life. A body has been found by the river. And it’s Zoe’s best friend. The victim was a member of The Maidens, a private study group of beautiful women taught by the enigmatic Professor Edward Fosca, an expert in Greek Mythology. As Mariana spends time in Cambridge to support her niece she becomes convinced that the police are ignoring the obvious, and decides to conduct her own investigation...

I haven’t read much dark academia before, but as a big fan of Morse/Lewis the university setting and influences of Greek Mythology really appealed to me. Mariana as a lead character I actually found a bit annoying. I saw one review that hit the nail on the head describing her as a ‘gothic heroine’, wandering around alone in the dark and going for drinks with the suspects in their private rooms!? Have some sense, please! The main man himself Edward Fosca is every bit as dark and mysterious as I expected, and I actually wish we saw more of him! Alex says in the authors notes that he took inspiration from classic crime for this book, and true to genre every character is suspicious and there are red herrings galore. Just when you think you have things sussed along comes another twist to keep you guessing. I did find the ending a bit left field though. It made sense but I didn’t quite believe it somehow. That said, if you’re after a dark, compelling murder mystery then this is definitely worth a read!