‘Who Is Maud Dixon?’ clever debut novel about a debut novel

Just who is this Maud Dixon whose first novel is the most talked about book in the history of publishing?

Discussions about the book are rivaled by the secret identity of Maud. All that is known about the author is that Maud Dixon is a pseudonym — she doesn’t do book signings or appearances.

An better question in “Who Is Maud Dixon?” is who is Florence Darrow, a lowly editorial assistant at a New York City publishing firm.

Florence was used to being the smartest person in the room in her small Florida hometown, but that was before she moved to New

York. Now she can’t quite fit in with those co-workers raised on the Upper East Side. She wants to be a novelist, but she hasn’t written a word in ages.

Through a fluke, Florence is asked to be a live-in assistant to Maud, whose real name is Helen Wilcox.

Andrews skillfully delves into each woman’s true personality, driving “Who Is

Maud Dixon?” into an incisive look at ambition, greed, identity and celebrity worship. Florence is a cypher, soaking up as much as she can. She has more than a little larceny in her heart — not above stalking her married lover’s family or sending his wife photos and texts.

Helen is mercurial, cruel and dismissive of others. During a research trip to Morocco, Florence wakes up in a hospital following a horrific car accident. No Helen, but all her identification is in Florence’s purse; making it an opportune time for Florence to trade up identities.