The Maidens

Mariana is a group therapist who is in deep mourning for her beloved husband, Sebastian. She receives a call at her home in London from her niece, Zoe, who she and Sebastian helped raise after the girl's parents were killed in a car accident. Zoe is Mariana's only remaining relative and, since she sounds extremely distraught, Mariana heads up to Cambridge University where Zoe is studying. She learns that Zoe's friend has been brutally murdered. Mariana attended Cambridge many years earlier and still has some connections there so is able to stay on campus to provide support to her niece. Two other girls are murdered in rapid succession. All three girls had been part of an elite group dubbed 'The Maidens'  that was studying Greek Tragedy under the tutelage of charismatic professor Edward Fosca. He was also having sex with them.  Mariana suspects Fosca of committing these brutal crimes and relays her suspicions to the police inspector who, with good reason, believes her behaviour is unhinged. It appears that this is a story about an intelligent woman whose informed input is disregarded and that she will have to prove her case to the police. Then other possibilities are introduced and things become a little more complicated. It took me some time to become engaged because the characters lacked dimension but the plot took over and I felt compelled to read on. It was a good summer read.