Dark academia was always in fashion among readers. Close knit slightly eccentric student groups, a charismatic professor, old buildings with huge ceilings, and a murder or two. What’s not to love? When I heard of a new dark academia novel, The Maidens, from Alex Michaelides, I was over the moon. Michaelide’s The Silent Patient was one of the most beautifully written psychological novels and an instant favourite. So naturally I had high hopes for a murdery story revolving around an all-female secret group in a university.
The secret group, christened ‘The Maidens’ owe their allegiance to a Greek Tragedy Professor at Cambridge University. Professor Edward Fosca is a favourite of his students and staff alike. But Mariana Andros, a brilliant group therapist, is convinced that he is a murderer. She becomes fixated on the Maidens but can’t get hold of any solid evidence against Fosca. Things get twisty when the maidens start getting killed, one by one.
The plot and the mystery are the shining beacons in The Maidens. It is more of a how-to-find-evidence-for-murders than a dark academia book—again, another fact I would attribute to the quickness of the plot. But it does have the usual dark academia elements — an enigmatic Professor, fan girls of a secret society, poetry, Greek myths, broody dinner tables with candle sticks, weird rituals and elusive suspects. The allusions to Greek mythology added a shroud of mystery to the murder mystery.
Michaelides’ debut novel The Silent Patient, proved his finesse as a writer who can craft arresting characters. In fact character sketches are his biggest strength. However, the characters in The Maidens fall short. Either they are briefly introduced and forgotten, save Mariana. Or they are one dimensional, with the sole aim to progress the plot. Professor Edward Fosca is often described as one who dazzles. Probably true. But I couldn’t help wishing I could be dazzled by this enigmatic personality too. The Maidens, who could have been a creepy, well-knit, secretive group hardly leave an impact—perhaps because they are dying all too quickly. Mariana trusts Fred to help her solve the murder. But throughout the read a nagging ‘Why’ was at the back of my head. Why trust someone just like that when people are getting murdered left and right?
I adored the references to The Silent Patient in the novel. They were nicely introduced and I gleefully lapped them up. It made the world of The Maidens seem more real, with the small connection between both the novels. PS: You do not need to read The Silent Patient to read the new novel.
In all fairness, Michaelides pens down an unputdownable story. But, the mystery felt dumbed down — the investigating officers are stupid and inefficient, many conversations feel clumsy and unnatural. In spite of this, I found myself pacing through the red herrings, trying to guess how the mystery would be resolved, and praying for more descriptions of the campus.
There are books that you really enjoy even when there are many flaws that might irk you in another book. That was The Maidens for me. I loved it. Reading it with no breaks is proof enough about how addictive the storyline was. I would recommend the book for a perfect binge read. It will leave you satisfied as long as you dive in without expecting another The Silent Patient.
Rating : 3.5/5
Alex Michaelides writes an irresistible murder story. THE MAIDENS—a charismatic Greek tragedy Prof, secret group of girls who get murdered—for Dark Academia fans Click To Tweet
Disclaimer : Much thanks to Orion for an e-ARC of The Maidens. All opinions are my own.
This sounds like another The Secret History type of book?
…But not as atmospheric as The secret history. The focus is on the mystery and establishing the identity of the murderer