Review by: Madeline Hobbs

Everyone knows Alex Michaelides can write a good book. The Maidens is no exception. Reading this one right at the beginning of the school year enhances it so much more given the setting, timing, and atmosphere of the novel. I had such a wonderful experience reading this story, and I could not put it down. Find out why you MUST read this one with the review below!

Synopsis: The Maidens by Alex Michaelides is a gripping psychological thriller set amidst the elite world of Cambridge University. When a brilliant but haunted group therapist, Mariana, becomes obsessed with the murder of a student and suspects a charismatic classics professor is behind it, she risks everything to uncover the truth. With mythic echoes, chilling rituals, and a twist that hits like an arrow to the heart, this novel challenges everything you thought you knew—about love, loss, and what it means to be truly guilty.

TW: Themes of self-harm, spousal death, cheating, depression, and violence are present.

Plot Twists: ****/*****

Sexual Content: ***/*****

Profanity: **/*****

Character Development: *****/*****

Political Agenda: */*****

Overall Rating: *****/*****

My Thoughts: This book had me questioning everything. I love a good mystery in an academic setting, and this one fully delivered on this point. The atmosphere is completely chilling and absorbing, and Mariana is such a special character to me. Her determination in the midst of immense emotional struggles is truly inspiring and made her all the more real in my mind. The plot twists in this story came out of nowhere and left you feeling the adrenaline pumping through you by the end of it. The ending was totally unexpected in the best way for me, and the final pages of this book rap up the story so nicely.

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