Amazon.nl: Klantenrecensies: The Maidens: The instant Sunday Times bestseller from the author of The Silent Patient (English Edition)

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Beoordeeld in Nederland op 25 juni 2021

How refreshing to be able to read a psychological thriller with depth, a good solid storyline but most of all, strongly depicted characters. Mariana has a compelling voice all along the book, professor Fosca is the villain you'll love to hate, and the most endearing role is for young Fred who scrolls through Cambridge on his rickety bicycle. The scene is set in a typical English university scene, one day between the turrets and towers under steal colored skies, the next under a warming sunshine in the neighboring meadows.
It is clever and sophisticated and if I had to point out one flaw, it would be that the book might have been better if it were a little longer. I felt as if a few chapters extra could have benefited and it would have been a joy to read them.

But all in all it is just a little gem and I will now certainly read The Silent Patient.

Nuttig

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The Cookster

Very disappointing. A run of the mill mystery hiding behind an intellectual façade.

Beoordeeld in het Verenigd Koninkrijk op 9 juni 2021

Geverifieerde aankoop

Rating: 2.0/5

Having missed out on Alex Michaelide's debut novel, "The Silent Patient", which received overwhelmingly positive feedback, I was keen to make sure that I got my hands on a copy of his follow-up. Having read the accompanying synopsis my anticipation was only heightened further: A murder mystery set in the world of academia within the appealing environs of Cambridge University. In addition to murder, the plot was said to combine psychology and Greek mythology, as legendary tales from the time of ancient Greece seem to bear an uncanny resemblance to events taking place now. My appetite was suitably whetted ... but unfortunately it wasn't to be too long before severe disappointment set in.

Frustratingly, some sections are nicely written and quite prosaic. This, in combination with an appealing backdrop and an engaging premise, could and should have been a recipe for a successful story. Unfortunately, there are just too many elements that simply don't pass muster: The characterisation is simplistic and lacks any depth. Descriptive language tends towards the melodramatic. The dialogue is often stilted, clunky and unnatural. Some of the mechanics used to move the plot forward are convenient to the point of being inane and reminiscent of the kind of thing you might expect to find in a children's adventure story. The frequent references to Greek mythology are, no doubt, intended to give an impression of worthiness and of being profound, but it is little more than a veneer. Ultimately "The Maidens" is a run of the mill mystery hiding behind an intellectual façade.

In his notes the author states that this novel is his fond homage to the classic female crime writers: Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, Margaret Millar, Margery Allingham, Josephine Tey, P.D. James and Ruth Rendell. A nice gesture perhaps, but those ladies really deserved something better than this.

31 mensen vonden dit nuttig

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R. White

It’s just not very good

Beoordeeld in het Verenigd Koninkrijk op 12 juni 2021

Geverifieerde aankoop

I really wanted to like this book. Having read ‘The Silent Patient’ which was an entertaining thriller, I was hoping this would be in the same vein. But it’s just not very good. The plot is ridiculous and the characters are so two dimensional that you find yourself scoffing at the wooden dialogue. Any references in the plot to therapy feel as though they’ve been lifted directly out of a text book. What most annoyed me was one of the reviews which compared it to ‘The Secret History’ - this is a long long way from being anywhere near as good as Donna Tartt’s writing. Most disappointing.

24 mensen vonden dit nuttig

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Peliroja

Unbelievable tosh

Beoordeeld in het Verenigd Koninkrijk op 6 juli 2021

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This has to be the stupidest story I've ever read. Absolutely stupid. I cannot believe I finished it, though I did scan the last 50 or so pages, once it became obvious who the perpetrator was. And trust me, you'd better clear away all your precious ornaments once you near discovering this as you will hurl the book across the room in total disgust. Absolutely stupid. I almost never give one star to a book I actually finish, but this deserved minus one star.

I mean. Mariana is an intelligent woman. The way she goes for a Cambridge lecturer she's never met, based on hearsay - one comment made by the dead girl to Mariana's niece before she was murdered - is bizarre to say the least. Then we have Mariana agreeing to meet up with this lecturer in private several times and also meet up with a stranger/stalker she met on a train. The whole thing is just weird. She even attacks one of the above in public - it's completely laughable.

Mr Michaelides' writing is morose. There's no light and shade to it whatsoever. So it wasn't even fun reading up until the stupidest denouement in the entire bookshop. Oh, I can't be bothered to write any more. It doesn't deserve another minute of my life.

19 mensen vonden dit nuttig

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Hilary Scannell

Absurd and perfunctory

Beoordeeld in het Verenigd Koninkrijk op 14 juni 2021

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A hackneyed and silly plot, sloppily written. Clearly rushed out under pressure and I get the feeling even the author was bored and couldn’t be bothered to take the time needed to wrap it up.

20 mensen vonden dit nuttig

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book lover

Was glad it came to an end

Beoordeeld in het Verenigd Koninkrijk op 17 juni 2021

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The only thing I like about it was the interwoven bit about the silent patient characters otherwise I wouldn’t recommend it

14 mensen vonden dit nuttig

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David Oakley

It’s alright.

Beoordeeld in het Verenigd Koninkrijk op 3 juli 2021

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It was alright. I purchased this on the strength of a lot of reviews. One review compared it to The Secret History. If you’re looking for that don’t bother. It doesn’t come close. If that is your bag try Once Were Villains. But I guess that’s harsh. I don’t think this book is trying to be The Secret History, it’s a good read, well written and a good pace. I just didn’t really build a connection with any of the characters, they felt a bit flat, a tad one dimensional. I just didn’t feel that involved. For me it was like a fairly decent episode of Morse. But what do I know? Make your own mind up. As I said earlier, it’s alright.

6 mensen vonden dit nuttig

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Michael N.

Brush Up Your Shakespeare...

Beoordeeld in het Verenigd Koninkrijk op 18 juni 2021

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... and your Euripides, Tennyson and Aristotle, while you're about it.

With interesting literary references scattered (not overbearingly) throughout, this is a classy modern thriller with a vivid cast of characters. The reader is treated to a fast-paced and engaging story which is also pleasingly descriptive and insightful, particularly with the author's evocations of Cambridge and its majestic old university.

The book was as compulsive a page-turner for me as the author's previous work, The Silent Patient, and even more accomplished and involving. The deities, therefore, are pleased, and are handing down to Mr Michaelides five golden stars for this enjoyably haunting fusion of ancient myth and modern murder.

4 mensen vonden dit nuttig

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Reader1996

Refreshingly mind-blowing!

Beoordeeld in India op 25 juni 2021

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I cannot begin to describe what an incredibly stunning read this was. His debut novel 'The Silent Patient' was the ultimate read that got me officially initiated into this genre (dramatic but TRUE) and I had expected no less from 'The Maidens' either. And guess what? It gave me even more! 'The Maidens' is exactly why I love psychological thrillers so freakin' much. And you know what? I kinda feel proud that I could - quite early on - correctly identify the person who had been writing the memoir! And I was like YAASSSS I KNEW IT!!!

Haha. Now. I don't want to say ANYTHING negative about this book, thanks to the brilliant plot twists, the captivating pace, the intriguing characters, and the conscientious descriptions of the aesthetic Cambridge University. Nevertheless, one aspect of this book that could have been done better was the number of red herrings. There were just too many. And as someone who digs thrillers like cake, I can tell you (quite accurately) that everytime a person is associated with a red herring, that person is never the killer. That way, I had to strike out almost all the suspicious characters before the big reveal and duh. I was right. But it didn't matter since I had already had my suspicions with the least suspicious characters anyway.

All in all, it was an unbelievably enthralling read. This book exceeded my expectations which were already quite high, to begin with! I really cannot wait for his next one. I wonder what that's going to be about. ❤

18 mensen vonden dit nuttig

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Talia

A twisty murder investigation set among Cambridge University’s elite

Beoordeeld in het Verenigd Koninkrijk op 5 oktober 2021

Geverifieerde aankoop

After loving The Silent Patient, I was excited to read Alex’s second book. I didn’t know what to expect and it was certainly unexpected. Set in beautiful Cambridge, The Maidens draws on Greek tragedies that I was unfamiliar with, although that didn’t detract from the story as they were all well explained. 36 year old Mariana is a brilliant group therapist, still reeling from the unexpected death of her husband Sebastian in a climbing accident. She travels to Cambridge with her niece Zoe who has asked for her assistance following the disappearance of her friend, Tara. Shortly after they arrive, Tara’s body is found. It is clearly the result of murder. Zoe believes her Greek History Professor, Edward Fosca, is responsible for her death.

There is a group of female under graduates called The Maidens. They are guided by and totally supportive of their Professor. It is unsurprising that they gave him an alibi for the time of Tara’s murder. Having studied at the University, Mariana is soon trying desperately to find out what happened to Tara and who is responsible for her murder. The Police advise her to leave the investigation to them and tell her to back off. Not used to being told what to do, Mariana ignores their warning. She places herself at risk of harm.

Her investigation allows us to see into Cambridge’s secrets and there is a lot of tension as we accompany Mariana as she delves deeper into the tragedy. More bodies ramp up the suspense and it is not until the very end that we find out the big reveal. I did not think the reveal or the twist was as good as the Silent Patient, however, I was shocked as events unfolded. If this is the style of his books in the future, I am already looking forward to Mr Michaelides’s next book.

Vertaal recensie in het Nederlands

5 sterren		42%
4 sterren		30%
3 sterren		18%
2 sterren		6%
1 ster		3%

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The Maidens: The instant Sunday Times bestseller from the author of The Silent Patient (English Edition)

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