Author: Nita Prose
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers / Women’s Fiction
Publisher: Ballentine Books
Publication Date: January 4, 2022
Book Description: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.
Rating: 5 Stars
Review: Let me start by saying, I read no background information on this book before picking up, and I am so I glad I did not because it was so surprisingly good.
Molly “the maid” is unique. She loves all thing cleanliness, talks with the most proper language and does not understand all social cues. She grew up with her grandmother after her mother died of a drug overdose. When this story begins Molly’s grandmother has recently passed, and their life savings has been stolen. Her one saving grace is being a maid at a luxury hotel. She becomes friends with Giselle the wife of a very prominent businessman that comes in regularly. When he winds up dead, Molly becomes the accused.
Through the storytelling you learn of her friends and associates, and trying to figure out who she can trust. Something is going on in the hotel that people are aware of except Molly, which potentially winds her in a lot of trouble. Thanks to new friends and acquaintances they rally around her hopefully to save her from demise.
I adored Molly so much. If you loved Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” than I think you will love this book too. Molly is so endearing and you root for her for the entirety of the book. The mystery is solid if not a little predictable, but the star itself is Molly and that is all you need to know.
Thank you NetGalley and Ballentine Books for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Obsessed Bookaholic 