I was at a dinner party (remember those?) a few years ago, and various guests hotly debated the real identity of the author who publishes her internationally bestselling novels under the pseudonym Elena Ferrante. Not having read the books, I had no skin in the game, but I definitely recall being struck by the fervor with which her devoted fans discussed the various possibilities, including one guest who passionately outlined all the ways in which he had determined that Ferrante was in fact a male writer.

In Alexandra Andrews’ debut, a similar debate rages in the publishing industry and the reading community at large about the identity of an author known as Maud Dixon. Dixon --- whose true identity is known only to her agent --- is the author of a phenomenally successful novel, Mississippi Foxtrot, published a few years before the events of WHO IS MAUD DIXON? begin. Speculation about Dixon’s identity is only outpaced by anticipation for her next book.

"WHO IS MAUD DIXON? has as many hairpin turns as the dangerous Rue Badr that plays such a central role to the plot. Set aside some time for this one, because once you crack it open, you won’t want to put it down until every last question is answered."

Andrews’ protagonist, Florence Darrow, is an editorial assistant at a literary publishing house in New York City, and consequently has also gotten swept up in the debate. As the novel opens, though, Florence is more concerned with figuring out how to reignite her own faltering writing ambitions while recovering (badly) from a mortifying one-night stand with a (married) senior editor.

Florence, who --- unlike most of her junior colleagues --- comes not from an Ivy League legacy but rather from a working-class town in Florida, is too humiliated to admit to her mother when she gets fired from her publishing job. Almost before she needs to deal with the financial and career fallout, Florence is approached by a most surprising contact --- a woman who claims to be looking for an assistant for (who else?) the elusive Maud Dixon.

Much to her surprise after burning her bridges at her old job, Florence is hired and finds herself heading to upstate New York, where the author known as Maud Dixon (whose actual name is Helen Wilcox) lives in relative isolation in the picturesque countryside. At first, Helen is warm and welcoming, and seems to really care about Florence’s life and her writing. Florence can imagine Helen becoming a mentor.

But as she gets started with her work, and especially after Helen abruptly suggests a research trip to Morocco, Florence begins to notice strange inconsistencies in Helen’s behavior. And soon things really start to go awry in Morocco, with tragic disappearances, mistaken (or stolen) identities, and more than one murder in store before the end of the novel. Astute mystery readers will surely anticipate one or two of the surprises, but hardly all of them. WHO IS MAUD DIXON? has as many hairpin turns as the dangerous Rue Badr that plays such a central role to the plot.

Set aside some time for this one, because once you crack it open, you won’t want to put it down until every last question is answered.