The Maidens: A Novel

Written by Alex Michaelides

Narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith and Louise Brealey

"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 #1 New York Times bestselling 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 bestselling author of The Guest List

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Jun 15, 2021
• ISBN: 9781250262356

Alex Michaelides

Alex Michaelides was born and raised in Cyprus. He has an M.A. in English Literature from Trinity College, Cambridge University, and an M.A. in Screenwriting from the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. The Silent Patient was his first novel, debuting at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, and has sold more than 6.5 million copies worldwide. The rights have been sold in a record-breaking 51 countries, and the book has been optioned for film by Plan B. His second novel, The Maidens, was an instant New York Times bestseller and has been optioned for television by Miramax Television and Stone Village.

Reviews for The Maidens

[Lisa Bulatek · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed it. Felt like I read this plot/story before. It’s worth the listen. Though you might feel like it’s incomplete or characters unfinished/fully explained.

[Corrina · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

What on Earth happened in this book?! I left it feeling a bit shanghaied. ??‍♀️

[Jonnie Furmanchik · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book had so much potential!! I like how the author writes. How mythology was weaved in.
But we never get crucial details…..
about Mariannas father, sabastians drowning, why the press wasn’t anywhere at the school after a senators daughter was murdered? And Marianna beats up the professor? C’mon! But I would have swallowed all
of that had a convincing conclusion been given.
Why go through all of that just to stop so abruptly?A sequel? I refuse. Had the ending been fulfilled properly, I’d be writing a very different review.

[Elizabeth Svendsen · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This book is completely idiotic. The plot is completely unbelievable, the main character is a moron, character development in general is weak and none of the characters are likable. Just skip it.

[Carrie Cullen · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Completely ridiculous - the whole premise of her investigating these murders was so unrealistic.

[Patricia Cruz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a fucking prequel! I'm just amazed. Best author. Can't wait for more

[Emily Lassiter Branch · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'm the unicorn who hasn't (yet) read Alex Michaelides' The Silent Patient. At this point there's been so much hype about it (and I've seen good reviews and bad) that I've been afraid I'll almost surely be disappointed. But now that I've read The Maidens, I do believe I'm ready to jump into The Silent Patient soon.
Mariana Andros, the main character, is troubled - she's a gifted group therapist but she's still reeling from the loss of her husband. When her niece's university friend is murdered Mariana becomes involved in trying to determine who the killer might be, and while she has one specific suspect in mind, as a reader it's much less clear. It was twisty and turny and overall I enjoyed this one - but I don't want to say too much and give anything away. I will add that it was very well narrated - the two narrators, Louise Brealey and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, reading the two points of view definitely added to the enjoyment, and to the mystery.
My thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an advance copy for an unbiased review.

[Josh Sternin-Moser · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved it, it was even better than The Silent Patient.

[Charlotte · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is completely idiotic.i really like all the characters . .https://buyozempiconlinesouthafrica.com/

[Jodi Matheson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent read! Very suspenseful, and kept me guessing to the very end.

[Anj · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was a little underwhelming but overall I guess it did okay.

[SuhailaHalim · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Ok. Not bad but the man's voice quite disturbing. I dont know.

[forstfighting21 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyed this post very much! thankd for sharing . https://gamefowlsforsale.com/

[terre j peck · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Narration is excellent, the story was good but a little sophomoric. Nice ending. Def recommend

[Ashley Prince · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Love this! Love the authors writing, just like I loved The Silent Patient. The narrator was great, too!

[Julianna Guini · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow! As good as the Silent Patient!! Bravo Alex!!! Brilliant!

[lambergs germaine · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The ending will knock your six off. Great thriller enjoy

[Sonam Verma · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Alex Michaelides is a wonderful writer. I love the way he writes and his writing intrigues me and I could not help turning the pages while reading this book. I dont want to compare this book with The Silent Patient (one of the most amazing books that I have ever read) but somehow you end up doing doing that(guilty). This book stands pretty well on its own.

The book is full of red herrings and twists which kept me at the edge the entire time. That is what I expect of a good thriller.

The most anticipated part of every mystery novel- its end. Yes, I didn’t see it coming but it sure did not blow my mind away. That is a pretty much the reason I didn’t give this book a five star rating. But overall I loved this book. The chapters are short and crisp.

Another reason why I thoroughly enjoyed this book was that I was listening to the audiobook version of it all along while reading it. I completely loved that experience.

[Sydney Nelson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

fuck this book. everyone should read this book. i’m so mad right now

[Emberlynn2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

THE MAIDENS (CBTB Rating: 5/5 stars) tells an elegant and atmospheric story of secret societies and murder at a university. Grieving widow Mariana Andros' life is turned upside-down one evening when she receives a fateful call from her niece, Zoe, a student at Cambridge University.https://heyemjay.us/

[Gabriela Avila · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great read with an unexpected ending! I would absolutely recommend this.

[Christie Fuller · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The book was good to listen to and slightly predictable but I still enjoyed it. Narrator did a great job.

[Andrea Hall · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The twist! I also love the combo and crossover of this book and the Silent patient

[Sydnie Henri · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Was okay. Wish it had a little more the lead up is great.

[Anita Little · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I found The Maidens to be very slow moving filled with red herrings. The ending was out from left field in that the connection to the main plot was very thin indeed.

[Johannah Timbreblue · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I can't tell you exactly why, but I felt no emotional attachment to any of the characters. I felt like I read this book already, when it was the [much better] 'The Liar's Girl' by Catherine Ryan Howard.

[Veronica's Vision's · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent!! What a twist!! I didn’t expect that ending at all!

[Shaimaa Salem · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I absolutely loved this book. I read the silent patient for this author and loved it and this book didn’t disappoint. I admit that I was expecting the plot twist but not to the extent that the author imagined. The writing and the reading was smooth and listening to it was very enjoyable.

[margaret leon · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Gripping and totally unpredictable til the very end! Well written

[Alyssa Reimer · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent narration, great story that kept me guessing! Exciting and interesting. Will be reading more by this author!