u003cpu003eu003cbu003e**THE INSTANT u003ciu003eNEW YORK TIMES u003c/iu003eBESTSELLER**u003c/bu003eu003cbru003eu003cbru003e"Alex Michaelides’s long-awaited next novel, 'The Maidens,' is finally here...the premise is enticing and the elements irresistible." u003cbru003eu003cbu003eu003ciu003e—The New York Timesu003c/iu003eu003c/bu003eu003cbru003eu003cbru003e"A deliciously dark, elegant, utterly compulsive readu003ciu003e—u003c/iu003ewith a twist that blew my mind. I loved this even more than I loved u003ciu003eThe Silent Patientu003c/iu003e and that's saying something!"u003cbru003eu003cbu003eu003ciu003e—u003c/iu003eLucy Foley, u003ciu003eNew York Times u003c/iu003ebestselling author of u003ciu003eThe Guest Listu003c/iu003eu003c/bu003eu003cbru003eu003cbu003eu003cbru003eFrom the #1 u003ciu003eNew York Timesu003c/iu003e bestselling author ofu003ciu003e The Silent Patientu003c/iu003e 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” (u003ciu003ePublishers Weeklyu003c/iu003e).u003c/bu003eu003cbru003eu003cbru003eEdward 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.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eMariana 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.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eMariana, 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?u003cbru003eu003cbru003eWhen 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.u003c/pu003e
