Amanda Cross in recent years has been attracting attention with her Kate Fansler stories and the latest is "The Theban Mysteries."… Again the action is built around literature, in this case a seminar on "Antigone." There is something of the Elizabeth Daly quality about the literate, low-keyed, sophisticated writing. There is no great drama in this story of an expensive girls' school in New York. But we get a study of rebellious youth, and even a few insights into the relevance of Sophocles to our time.

As novels go, "The Theban Mysteries" is gentle. And it is thoughtful.

Newgate Callendar, "Criminals at Large: 'The Theban Mysteries'," in The New York Times Book Review (© 1971 by The New York Times Company; reprinted by permission), October 31, 1971, p. 30.