The novel, The Maidens, tells the story from the third-person perspective of Mariana Andros, a book-loving, 36-year-old widow and group therapist who travels to Cambridge to investigate the murder of her niece Zoe’s friend. Divided into six parts, the novel covers the initial investigation and two subsequent murders. In the Prologue, readers are introduced to Edward Fosca, whom Mariana suspects of being guilty, and the Epilogue offers a glimpse into the aftermath of the revelation that the murderer was Zoe.
Throughout the book, first-person narratives from the perspective of the killer are interspersed, with the revelation at the end that it was Sebastian, Mariana’s husband, who had previously murdered her father and co-plotted with Zoe to carry out the killings.
As Mariana’s love for Sebastian and caring for Zoe are rooted in the stories, she has built around them, it is possible that she has fabricated aspects of her married life as well. The references to other stories and myths throughout the novel also suggest that Mariana may not be the only one constructing narratives about her life. It is possible that Sebastian and Zoe are also playing roles in a story that only Mariana fully understands. Ultimately, this ambiguity leaves readers with a sense that the truth of Mariana’s life may remain forever out of reach.
In this story, Mariana is a group therapist and a 36-year-old widow who struggles to manage a troubled patient named Henry and overcome the trauma of losing her husband. She receives a call from her niece Zoe about her friend Tara’s brutal murder and sets off for Cambridge. During her journey, she remembers her husband Sebastian’s tragic death. Fred, a PhD student, flirts with her, which alarms her.
In Cambridge, Mariana meets with Zoe and Julian Ashcroft, an old classmate, and learns that Tara is a member of a privileged group of private students called “the Maidens” led by a charismatic professor, Edward Fosca. Mariana discovers that Zoe is a student of Edward’s and suspects his involvement in the murders. Another Maiden, Veronica, is found dead.
Mariana accepts a dinner invitation from Edward, who attempts to seduce her. She returns to London to visit her supervisor and fellow therapist, Ruth and Theo but ultimately dismisses their concerns about her emotional well-being. Returning to Cambridge, Mariana sets up a group therapy session with the Maidens and Edward but gets nowhere. A third victim, Serena, is found.
As the investigation intensifies, Mariana confronts Zoe, who admits that Edward sexually exploited her and that a porter named Morris was blackmailing him. Zoe attacks Mariana with a knife but is distracted by Fred, who is critically injured. Mariana calls the police and has Zoe taken away.
In my opinion, this book was good but not the best that I have read. Yet it did have a really good storyline and was thrilling. Which is great when looking for a good book. The author really does a great job when storytelling and describing everything. For others, this book is meant to be the greatest, but everyone has their own opinion.
