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The Maidens cover art

The Maidens

Written by: Alex Michaelides
Narrated by: Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Louise Brealey
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Publisher's Summary

2021 AudioFile Best Audiobooks
2021 Hudson Booksellers Best of the Year

"Between the three of them, author Alex Michaelides and narrators Louise Brealey and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith cast a spell that will have listeners glued to this suspenseful novel every chance they get." (AudioFile Magazine, Earphones Award winner)

"The audiobook is narrated primarily by actor Louise Brealey, who has given life to complex female characters in the audio editions of The Girl on the Train and The Silent Patient, Michaelides’ first novel. Here, she does an excellent job of conveying Mariana’s confusion, courage and determination to solve the mystery at any cost. Actor Kobna Holdbrook-Smith’s nuanced performance as the killer reminds us that monsters are made, not born, and that within even the most heinous murderer is a shattered, lonely child." (Booklist, starred audiobook review)

"Listeners will not be disappointed with this suspenseful and intelligent thriller." (Booklist, starred review)

From the number one New York Times best-selling author of The Silent Patient comes a spellbinding tale of psychological suspense, weaving together Greek mythology, murder, and obsession, that further cements “Michaelides as a major player in the field” (Publishers Weekly).

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.

A Macmillan Audio production from Celadon Books

"Stunning.... The intelligent, cerebral plot finds contemporary parallels in Euripides's tragedies, Jacobean dramas such as The Duchess of Malfi, and Tennyson's poetry. The devastating ending shows just how little the troubled Mariana knows about the human psyche or herself. Michaelides is on a roll." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

"A deliciously dark, elegant, utterly compulsive read with a twist that blew my mind. I loved this even more than I loved The Silent Patient and that's saying something!" (Lucy Foley, New York Times best-selling author of The Guest List)

©2021 Alex Michaelides (P)2021 Macmillan Audio

What listeners say about The Maidens

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    5 out of 5 stars

Almost as good as the last one

An excellent read with twists and turns. The narrator was incredible. I look forward to reading more from this author

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4 people found this helpful

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I am a fan.

After reading 'The Silent Patient', I knew I had to get this book.I was not disappointed. Enough twists and turns to keep you interested especially wondering who the male voice was. My assumption was off. Enjoyable read.Recommend.

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3 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Secret History Lite

Beauty and blood abound in this psychological thriller. A story of darkly charismatic psychopaths, cat and mouse conversations over fine meals, classical.allusions, ancient Greek rituals, with the prestigious Cambridge University as the dark academic setting.

The story was engaging and easy to get into, but I saw the twist coming, unfortunately, and the prose is very workmanlike (a lot of redundancy: "She felt impotent and powerless." and sentences like "Her voice on the phone sounded anxious, which indicated she was worried about something.").

A well narrated, well produced audio book, that tells a good, if not great thriller. If you like Dark Academia aesthetics and shows like Hannibal, this might do the trick for you!

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2 people found this helpful

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Can’t wait for the next one!

Loved this almost as much as the silent patient. Really kept me guessing straight through to the end.

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2 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Thank god for Louise Brealy

This lackluster thriller was redeemed only by Louise Brealy’s narration for me, but otherwise a super underwhelming book

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2 people found this helpful

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Whoops didn't see that coming!

That's all I'll say so as to not spoil it. Enjoyed the narrator and the story, a nice little twisty read.

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1 person found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Totally Implausible storyline!

A good mystery needs plausibility and credible characters. This book has neither. A Cambridge educated therapist should be aware of the professional boundaries inherent in a police investigation; yet, she’s running around campus contaminating evidence and withholding it, questioning suspects, and all the while, she’s positioned as a femme fatale, attractive to every eligible man she encounters. To add insult to injury, the plot twists are so implausible that this book reads more like a YA gothic horror than adult mystery. It’s too bad because the prose is not bad; it’s the plot that’s ridiculous. I think some writers of this genre think that readers value shock, gore and plot twists over intelligent, believable characters and credible storylines. Not so!!!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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Good book, just not as great as Silent Patient

I had a hard time getting into the story…I didn’t feel invested in the characters.

The female narrator was good, although her American accent was atrocious - luckily that is just a small portion of the book.

The male narrator is excellent.

The book is definitely worth the read/listen but I definitely preferred The Silent Patient.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Another master piece!

Very good! I couldn't put it down! Michalelides surprises you once again with an unexpected ending.

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1 person found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Good twist, but slow overall

I enjoyed the twists at the end of the book, but I found the majority of the book quite slow. I didn’t feel connected to the characters, and there are certain characters/moments that seem unnecessary to the plot after finishing the book… was confusing and hard to get into.

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