Any mistakes or catastrophes are someone else's fault, not hers. She gets an idea and runs headlong off to put it into action, with nary a twinge of conscience to guide her way. She thinks she deserves it all, without question. She wouldn't mind having what they have without lifting a finger to earn it. She might have some talent and brains but it can be hard to tell as she covets what everyone else has while feeling sorry for herself for not having it. Who Is Maud Dixon? by Alexandra Andrews (Author), Thérèse Plummer (Narrator)įlorence Darrow is a 26 year old piece of work. I cannot wait to see what else she comes up with. The fact that this is Alexandra Andrews' debut is astonishing, as it reads like a truly masterful thriller. She's self-centered, unapologetic, and desperate to achieve her ambitions. And Florence is a cunning lead character. This atmosphere reminds me of the best of classic noir, in the vein of Hitchcock.Įven though it takes a while to get to the denouement, the story still grabbed me from the very first page. The feeling of dissonance, that something isn't quite right, hangs over Florence, and it ratchets up over time, little by little. There's this sense of ominous foreboding that permeates throughout. The story unfolds slowly, and a good part of the fun is not really knowing where it's headed.

I think 20% into a book is about the max that should be revealed. (Seriously, publishers, if you're reading this, please stop oversharing in your blurbs and taking away the fun. I cannot believe how much information is just divulged, willy-nilly, right there on the book jacket. It pretty much gives away the entire first half of the story, which is crazy. In fact, don't read the official book blurb before going in. and Maud Dixon.Īnd that's all I'm going to say regarding the plot, because anymore would be spoiling the goodies. Unfortunately, she isn't getting any closer to her goal, until a series of choices upends her life and puts her on a collision course with destiny. She's not happy with her slavish job, but feels it's a stepping stone to becoming the famous and revered writer that she is meant to be. Enter Florence Darrow, an assistant at a publishing company. She is a novelist who has won critical acclaim and commercial success, but no one knows the identity of the person behind the pseudonym. Who Is Maud Dixon? That is indeed the question.

Who is Maud Dixon? by Alexandra Andrews