The franchise's title character was co-created by Straffi, known for his previous creation Winx Club, and Silvia Brena, the former director of Cosmopolitan Italy.

In late 2008, Iginio Straffi revealed plans for Maya Fox adaptations for both television and cinema, depending on the success of magazine sales.

[5] They met again in 2006 to develop a concept that would appeal to young adults between the ages of 15 and 25, a target that Brena called "one of the most attractive markets for those involved in entertainment.

"[4] Rainbow's publishing manager, Cristiana Buzzelli, carried out some research on what topics were popular with teenagers and found that "they are particularly fascinated by thrillers and the supernatural.

[11] The novel series was published internationally by Carlsen Verlag in Germany, by Pocket Jeunesse in France, and by Planeta Group in Latin America, Spain, and Portugal.

While she rushes to solve a string of puzzles relating to the apocalypse, Maya learns that her father's killer, Michael Gacy, has escaped from prison.

[6] Reviewing the first novel based on Maya Fox, Alessandra Rota of la Repubblica wrote that its "presentation strategy is spot-on ... the ingredients of teenage angst are all there, as well as those of noir.

"[8] Kirill Reshetnikov of the Russian magazine Vzglyad complimented the series' blend of supernatural themes with a "sensible and charismatic" protagonist relatable to teenagers.