The Maid by Nita Prose

The Maid

by Nita Prose

Reviewed by Valerie Palmer

I chose to read this book because it was recommended to me by a friend, and I was hoping it would get me out of a reading slump. If you are a fan of Lisa Jewell or Rachel Hawkins, you will enjoy this book. I am excited there is a sequel, The Mystery Guest, coming out on November 28, 2023 as I want to read more about Molly the maid.

Summary
Molly Gray is not like everyone else. She struggles with social skills and misreads the intentions of others. Her gran used to interpret the world for her, codifying it into simple rules that Molly could live by.

Since Gran died a few months ago, twenty-five-year-old Molly has been navigating life’s complexities all by herself. No matter—she throws herself with gusto into her work as a hotel maid. Her unique character, along with her obsessive love of cleaning and proper etiquette, make her an ideal fit for the job. She delights in donning her crisp uniform each morning, stocking her cart with miniature soaps and bottles, and returning guest rooms at the Regency Grand Hotel to a state of perfection.

But Molly’s orderly life is upended the day she enters the suite of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black, only to find it in a state of disarray and Mr. Black himself dead in his bed. Before she knows what’s happening, Molly’s unusual demeanor has the police targeting her as their lead suspect. She quickly finds herself caught in a web of deception, one she has no idea how to untangle. Fortunately for Molly, friends she never knew she had unite with her in a search for clues to what really happened to Mr. Black—but will they be able to find the real killer before it’s too late?

What I Liked
I grew to like Molly's personality as I got further into the story. Molly knew she was different than everyone else in her own unique ways. She was very particular about things but tried to see the best in people. Her character develops throughout the book, and she becomes more confident in who she is through making new connections after her gran died. I also liked the twists that came near the end that I did not see coming. Molly was a stronger woman than she thought and got through some difficult things in her life.

What I Didn't Like
At first Molly's character annoyed me and I was not sure I could get through the book. Her personality reminded me of Eleanor from Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. I did not like Rodney's character and how he took advantage of Molly. He knew that she was different and knew of her infatuation with him.

Rating⭐⭐⭐⭐

I gave this book 4 stars on Goodreads. I enjoyed the story, but it was not one that necessarily kept me on the edge of my seat like Freida McFadden. I was fully into the story and wanted to know what happened to Molly in the end.