Picture a Brooklyn storyteller who spun a tale so twisty it left readers dizzy with delight—meet Alexandra Andrews! Born in 1985, Andrews burst onto the literary scene with her debut novel, Who Is Maud Dixon?, a psychological thriller that blends suspense, identity, and ambition into a page-turning masterpiece. With a knack for crafting morally complex characters and a style that echoes Patricia Highsmith, Andrews has quickly become a rising star in contemporary fiction.
Before her novel took the world by storm, Andrews honed her storytelling skills as a journalist, editor, and copywriter in New York and Paris. Her journey from newsrooms to novel-writing is as compelling as her fiction, proving that ambition, much like her characters’, can lead to extraordinary places.
The Making of Alexandra Andrews
Born Alexandra Drury Andrews in 1985, she grew up in New York City, shaped by a love for books sparked after her father’s death when she was six. Authors like Agatha Christie and Joan Didion fueled her imagination. Andrews attended the Chapin School and Groton School before studying comparative literature at Georgetown University. She briefly explored therapy and earned a Master’s in Communications Design from Pratt Institute. Her varied career—writing for ProPublica, New York Magazine, and The Paris Review—sharpened her ability to weave sharp, engaging narratives. In 2017, while living in Paris with her husband, Christopher Beha, Andrews began writing her first novel, channeling years of pent-up creativity.
Alexandra Andrews’s Unforgettable Stories
Andrews’s debut, Who Is Maud Dixon? (March 2021), is a literary thriller that follows Florence Darrow, an aspiring writer who becomes the assistant to the mysterious author Maud Dixon. A trip to Morocco unravels into a game of deception, memory loss, and stolen identities. Critics, including James Patterson, praised its “twists and turns” that leave readers “dizzy with joy.” The novel’s Highsmithian vibe and sharp prose earned it spots on best-of lists from The New York Times, NPR, and TIME.
Andrews’s style is a blend of suspense and dark comedy, with a focus on ambitious, flawed women navigating power dynamics. Her characters, like Florence, grapple with identity and the lengths they’ll go to achieve greatness, reflecting Andrews’s own musings on authorship and authenticity. While Who Is Maud Dixon? remains her only published work as of 2025, Andrews is reportedly crafting a second novel, keeping fans on edge for her next move.
The novel’s success has also sparked Hollywood interest, with Universal Pictures adapting it into a film titled Under Another Name. Andrews’s ability to craft stories that resonate across mediums highlights her versatility and growing influence in literary fiction.
Why Alexandra Andrews Matters
Andrews’s impact lies in her ability to elevate the psychological thriller with literary depth, exploring themes of ambition and identity that resonate with modern readers. Her debut challenged the genre’s conventions, blending wit and suspense to create a narrative that’s both entertaining and thought-provoking. By drawing on influences like Elena Ferrante’s anonymity and Highsmith’s moral ambiguity, Andrews has carved a unique niche, inspiring aspiring writers to embrace their own complex stories.
Her transition from journalism to fiction also underscores the power of perseverance, making her a relatable figure for creatives chasing their dreams. As she continues to write, Andrews’s influence is poised to grow, promising more stories that captivate and provoke.
- Born: 1985, New York City
- Key Work: Who Is Maud Dixon? (2021)
- Genres: Psychological Thriller, Literary Fiction
- Notable Recognition: Best Mystery Novel (The New York Times), Best Book of the Year (NPR, TIME)
Ready for a thrilling read? Snag Who Is Maud Dixon? and dive into Alexandra Andrews’s world of suspense and secrets!