Who is Maud Dixon?

By: Alexandra Andrews

A "stylish and sharp" character-driven suspense novel, "with wicked hairpin turns," about a famous novelist and a small-town striver locked in a struggle for fortune and fame. (Maria Semple, author of Where'd You Go, Bernadette?)

Florence Darrow is...Read More

Experience: Page Turning Thrill Ride

Format: Paperback

Genre(s): Mystery & Suspense

Page(s): 336

Published: March 2021

Rental Price: $8.49 for six weeks (List Price $16.99 | Save 50%)

Florence Darrow is a low-level publishing employee who believes that she's destined to be a famous writer. When she stumbles into a job the assistant to the brilliant, enigmatic novelist known as Maud Dixon - whose true identity is a secret - it appears that the universe is finally providing Florence's big chance.

The arrangement seems perfect. Maud Dixon (whose real name, Florence discovers, is Helen Wilcox) can be prickly, but she is full of pointed wisdom - not only on how to write, but also on how to live. Florence quickly falls under Helen's spell and eagerly accompanies her to Morocco, where Helen's new novel is set. Amidst the colorful streets of Marrakesh and the wind-swept beaches of the coast, Florence's life at last feels interesting enough to inspire a novel of her own.

But when Florence wakes up in the hospital after a terrible car accident, with no memory of the previous night - and no sign of Helen - she's tempted to take a shortcut. Instead of hiding in Helen's shadow, why not upgrade into Helen's life? Not to mention her bestselling pseudonym...

Taut, twisty, and viciously entertaining, Who is Maud Dixon is a stylish psychological thriller about how far into the darkness you're willing to go to claim the life you always wanted.

Alexandra Andrews has worked as a journalist, editor and copywriter in New York and Paris. Who Is Maud Dixon? is her first novel. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and children.

"Who Is Maud Dixon? combines a rapid-fire plot with larger questions of authenticity and authorship, creating an edgy and distinct work that is as compelling as the mysterious figure at its center." - Chloe Schama, Vogue

"Who is Maud Dixon? is clever, cunning, and diabolical in the best possible way. Anyone longing for a good old-fashioned thrill need look no further." - Ann Patchett, author of The Dutch House

"Smoothly written, nimbly plotted--yet also buzzing with an irresistible intensity and relish. Roaring round of applause here." - AJ Finn, author of The Woman in the Window

"The debut novel everyone will be talking about this spring is a twisty, spicy tête-à-tête that pits two very determined women against each other - but in a good way." - Entertainment Weekly

"Who Is Maud Dixon? has enough twists and turns (really good ones!) to make you dizzy for a week. Dizzy with joy! By the end of the book you'll start wondering if author Alexandra Andrews might be a murderer herself." - James Patterson

"A sparkling debut that will keep you guessing." - New York Post

"Part Elena Ferrante, part Patricia Highsmith-themed thriller, Who Is Maud Dixon? is set to be one of the buzziest debut novels of the year." - Wall Street Journal

"Devilishly plotted debut . . . barrel[s] full-speed towards a breathtaking series of Highsmith-style twists and a stunning conclusion. This darkly comic take on contemporary publishing may well leave readers asking, 'Who is Alexandra Andrews?'" - Publishers Weekly