I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Maid: A Novel by Nita Prose Series: Molly the Maid #1
Also in this series: The Mystery Guest: A Maid Novel, The Mistletoe Mystery: A Maid Novella, The Maid's Secret: A Maid Novel
Published by Ballantine Books on January 4, 2022
Genres: Fiction / Mystery & Detective / Cozy
Pages: 304
Format: ARC
Source: NetGalley
Buy on Amazon, Buy on Indigo
Goodreads
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK • “A heartwarming mystery with a lovable oddball at its center” (Real Simple), this cozy whodunit introduces a one-of-a-kind heroine who will steal your heart.
FINALIST FOR THE EDGAR® AWARD • “The reader comes to understand Molly’s worldview, and to sympathize with her longing to be accepted—a quest that gives The Maid real emotional heft.”—The New York Times Book Review (Editors’ Choice)
“Think Clue. Think page-turner.”—Glamour
ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Reader’s Digest
WINNER: The Anthony Award, The Fingerprint Award, The Barry AwardIn development as a major motion picture
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?
A Clue-like, locked-room mystery and a heartwarming journey of the spirit, The Maid explores what it means to be the same as everyone else and yet entirely different—and reveals that all mysteries can be solved through connection to the human heart.
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The Washington Post, The Guardian, Glamour, Elle, PopSugar, Newsweek, Mental Floss, She Reads, Kirkus Reviews
Review
I didn’t expect a book about a hotel maid to keep me up past midnight, but here we are. Nita Prose’s debut novel, The Maid, has sold over a million copies, and after reading it, I get why. The story started when Prose met a hotel maid during a business trip. That brief encounter sparked something special.
Meet Molly Gray, a maid at the fancy Regency Grand Hotel who finds a dead guest in his bed one morning. Not exactly the kind of mess she’s trained to clean up. Before she knows it, she’s the prime suspect, and her perfectly ordered world starts falling apart.
Here’s the thing about Molly – she’s different. She takes everything literally, misses social cues, and finds peace in the precise art of cleaning. Her grandmother used to help her navigate life’s trickier moments, but now that Gran’s gone, Molly’s on her own. And let me tell you, watching her try to solve a murder while dealing with people who just don’t get her is both heartbreaking and fascinating.
The cast of characters around Molly could easily have been cardboard cutouts, but they’re not. Each one feels real, with their secrets and surprises. Just when you think you’ve got someone figured out, they’ll throw you for a loop – kind of like real people do.
What really got me was how the book makes you notice the invisible people in our lives. When was the last time you really saw the person cleaning your hotel room? Prose weaves this theme through a story that’s part cozy mystery, part character study, and completely engaging. Through Molly’s eyes, we see the world differently – sometimes hilariously, sometimes painfully, but always thoughtfully.
Sure, the pacing drags a bit here and there, and the love story feels a bit tacked on. The ending might be neater than real life, but by then, I was so invested in Molly that I didn’t mind.
The book’s been such a hit that there’s a sequel called The Mystery Guest out in November 2023, and Florence Pugh is set to play Molly in the movie. If you like mysteries with heart and characters that stick with you, grab this one. It’s a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars, and I bet you’ll never look at hotel maids – or people who are a little different – the same way again.
