THE MAID
By: Nita Prose
Published: January 4, 2022
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Fiction/Mystery
Molly Gray knows that she is different from everyone else. She is quirky, straightforward, odd, charming, and the most loyal friend anyone could have. She is also a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel and takes her job of cleaning the guests’ rooms very seriously. Molly lives in the same home she grew up in. Not a thing has changed in her 20+ years except that now her Gran is no longer there. For the past several months, Molly has been adjusting to life without her beloved Gran and instead remembers all the witty and helpful quotes she taught Molly over the years on how to handle people, work, and life in general.
“That’s the trouble with pain. It’s as contagious as a disease. It spreads from the person who first endured it to those who love them most.”
Nita Prose, THE MAID
One of the regular guests of the Regency Grand is Mr. and Mrs. Black, a well-to-do couple who may have a few issues in their marriage. Molly has become friends with Giselle, the second Mrs. Black, and she has confided in Molly some of the difficulties she has been facing. During a recent stay, Molly enters the Blacks’ room to clean and finds she isn’t alone, Mr. Black is on the bed, dead.
The book takes us through a difficult week in Molly’s life beginning with the death of Mr. Black and eventually Molly being arrested for his murder. Molly quickly finds herself in a web of deception and lies and doesn’t know who she can trust although trusting others is who she is.
Even if you think you have figured out this murder mystery, don’t get ahead of yourself. Prose has worked in a few twists and turns to keep you guessing and by the end of the story, you will see Molly in a whole new light. Molly is very detailed and particular about how she manages her cleaning trolley and home. Her obsessive cleanliness along with her unique personality is the perfect character trait for a young woman who finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery. I found myself smacking and shaking my head in disbelief as Molly navigates relationships and the justice system. But, there is no doubt, you’ll be cheering for her all the way to the end.
For fans of quirky characters like ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETE FINE or WHERE’D YOU GO BERNADETTE, this might just be the mystery for you.
Nita Prose is a longtime editor, serving many bestselling authors and their books. She lives in Toronto, Canada, in a house that is only moderately clean. Check out her website, HERE.
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Posted Under Book Review, fiction, mystery, Nita Prose
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