BOOK REVIEW

BILL MCCARTHY This psychological thriller features a protagonist who is in the psychological trade. She is not in the best shape mentally after the death of her husband. After receiving a call concerning a murder at college, she rushes to join her. The plot moves at a rate similar to a fat Labrador going for a walk. Ambling along, she concentrates on the main suspect while various subplots are woven in, and more murders are introduced.

She occasionally allows us a glimpse of the anonymous perpetrator, obviously schizophrenic. The finish is, admittedly, a surprise. An adequate read, not terribly thrilling or fast-paced. MARY BARBER I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There were a few references to his earlier novel The Silent Patient, which was a bit quirky. Theo from The Silent Patient pops up twice. Mariana the protagonist is a likeable character who is recovering from the death of her husband Sebastian. She gets drawn into an unfolding drama at Cambridge University where her niece is studying. A young woman has been violently stabbed and Mariana is sure the police are on the wrong track.

The story flows well. There are ample suspects to keep you guessing. The characters and the Cambridge setting are vibrant.

If you like a thriller, add this to your list.

TONY HARRINGTON

SUZI HIRST I so looked forward to reading The Maidens after enjoying Michaelides’ last book The Silent Patient. Although this was probably not as big a page turner as his previous book it is still well written with the short chapters keeping you enthralled from the beginning to the twist at the end that I did not see coming.

My criticism would be that the book is longer than it needed to be and that it ends very abruptly.

Having said that, I feel Micaelides has left the door open for a third book which will bring the previous two together. I look forward to it. Well worth a read. 8/10.

THE MAIDENS THEMAIDENS By Alex Michaelides

JOHN KLEINSCHMIDT Crime fiction is my preferred reading and, as with his previous novel The Silent Patient, the author constructs a compelling story in The Maidens. There are many red herrings in mostly believable sub-plots causing ever-changing speculation on the murderer, but not without question or doubt.

The characters are well described and the setting, Cambridge University, is easy to picture while reading. However, the main character, Mariana, a skilled group psychotherapist, uses few of her skills and disappoints as a heroine attempting to solve three murders in a story line that has some obvious holes, before reaching a totally unpredictable conclusion. Worth the time to read. Mariana is certain Edward Fosca, the popular, handsome and charismatic Greek Tragedy professor at Cambridge University, is a murderer but he’s untouchable. He is adored by staff and students, especially members of a secret society of female students known as The Maidens. A former student and now a group therapist, Mariana becomes fixated on The Maidens when a friend of her niece is found murdered, and is convinced that, despite his alibi, Fosca is guilty. When another body is found, her obsession spins out of control, threatening even her own life. This carefully crafted murder mystery is an entertaining read that keeps the reader guessing until the very end. The unique setting, the University of Cambridge founded in 1209, is a time-honoured educational institution. Being the richest university in Europe it attracts very smart, very beautiful and very privileged international students, the Maidens.

When three of this secret society’s group are murdered their charismatic leader and college professor, a manipulative narcissist sociopath, comes under suspicion. The story is spiced up with English eccentricity and secret rituals simulating Greek tragedies and mythology.

The principal character who is trying to solve these murders on behalf of her niece is suffering sadness and sorrow from the recent death of her perfect husband. Or was he perfect?

The author dabbles in Plato’s concept of two realities, the physical and the spiritual realms, and that of parallel universes. Who are the real people behind the Greek tragedy masks? Worth reading. 8/10

JO BOURKE It’s undoubtedly hard for an author to follow a much hyped first book with another crime novel. For me it was an easy read but average in its fixation on the possible killer plus a few too many characters to distract the reader. Great surprise ending which I certainly didn’t see coming. Well done! I find myself wondering if anyone picked the murderer?

The author has woven many threads into this story – the beautiful setting of Cambridge University, the portrayal of grief from losing a loved one and Greek mythology which is second nature to Alex Michaelides, growing up in Cyprus. It was interesting to spot a reference to the psychiatrist Theo from The Silent Patient.

I like to research an author and wasn’t disappointed. Alex has a degree in English Literature from Cambridge and an MA in screenwriting at the American Film Institute in Los Angeles, has studied psychotherapy and worked in a secure unit. Recommended for a holiday read!

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