Author: Nita Prose
Series: Molly the Maid #1
Publisher: Random House Publishers
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of Pages: 304
Date of Publication: January 4, 2022
My Rating: 4 Stars
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.
MY THOUGHTS:
Nita Prose’s debut novel, The Maid, introduces Molly Gray, a young woman left to fend for herself after the passing of her beloved grandmother. From the very beginning, Molly’s unique ways of doing things are evident, and her precise methods set her apart. In fact, it’s fair to say that our delightful protagonist is on the spectrum, showcasing her specific behaviors, including her social awkwardness.
As a hotel maid, Molly is determined to maintain the utmost perfection in the rooms she cleans. When she enters the room of the wealthy Charles Black, she immediately notices how messy the room is, to her shock, finds Mr. Black dead. The police immediately point to Molly as their primary suspect, and her well-ordered life is turned upside down.
Despite her innocence, Molly is perplexed by the complexities surrounding the crime. However, she’s not alone in her quest to prove her innocence. The hotel staff, who have become her friends, rally around her and help her find the culprit.
The book is described as a locked-room mystery, and the fact that a murder has taken place at Molly’s workplace adds to the intrigue. However, the heart of the novel lies in the uniting of friends and the support they provide to Molly, creating a truly heartwarming and uplifting experience. I couldn’t help but fall in love with Molly and wish I could give her a warm hug. Additionally, there’s a slow-burning storyline that is threaded throughout the series.
Many thanks to Random House Publishers and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
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Title: The Mystery Guest
Author: Nita Prose
Series: Molly the Maid #2
Publisher: Random House Publishers
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Format: Audiobook
No. of Pages: 293
Date of Publication: November 28, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
Molly Gray is not like anyone else. With her flair for cleaning and proper etiquette, she has risen through the ranks of the glorious five-star Regency Grand Hotel to become the esteemed Head Maid. But just as her life reaches a pinnacle state of perfection, her world is turned upside down when J. D. Grimthorpe, the world-renowned mystery author, drops dead—very dead—on the hotel’s tearoom floor.
When Detective Stark, Molly’s old foe, investigates the author’s unexpected demise, it becomes clear that this death was murder most foul. Suspects abound, and everyone wants to know: Who killed J. D. Grimthorpe? Was it Lily, the new Maid-in-Training? Or was it Serena, the author’s secretary? Could Mr. Preston, the hotel’s beloved doorman, be hiding something? And is Molly really as innocent as she seems?
As the high-profile death threatens the hotel’s pristine reputation, Molly knows she alone holds the key to unlocking the killer’s identity. But that key is buried deep in her past, as long ago, she knew J. D. Grimthorpe. Molly begins to comb her memory for clues, revisiting her childhood and the mysterious Grimthorpe mansion where she and her dearly departed Gran once worked side by side. With the entire hotel under investigation, Molly must solve the mystery posthaste. Because if there’s one thing she knows for sure, it’s that secrets don’t stay buried forever.
MY THOUGHTS:
Molly Gray, the newly promoted Head Maid of the Regency Grand Hotel, is filled with pride. However, another death at the hotel, this time a murder, disrupts the delicate balance that our unique Molly has in her life, at her job, and with her friends. World-renowned author Mr. Grimthorpe has fallen dead on the tearoom floor.
Molly’s innocence is once again tested, as she was previously acquitted of a previous murder at the hotel. Her actions after that led to her promotion, and she is now determined to uncover the truth behind Mr. Grimthorpe’s death.
Amidst her investigation, Molly also faces the challenge of training a new maid, Lily. Meanwhile, there’s something about Mr. Grimthorpe that Molly can’t quite place. She has a feeling of familiarity, but she can’t recall when or where they met. After a moment of reflection, the memory finally comes to her.
With another locked-room mystery, the suspects are limited. Molly, her friends, and Detective Stark, who handled the previous murder, band together to find the killer. This second installment in the Molly the Maid series is a delightful read, featuring Molly’s quirky and endearing personality.
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Title: The Mistletoe Mystery
Author: Nita Prose
Series: Molly the Maid #2.5
Publisher: Random House Publishers
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Format: Audiobook
No. of Pages: 112
Date of Publication: October 1, 2024
My Rating: 4 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
Molly the Maid has a whole new mystery to solve in this heartwarming novella from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid and The Mystery Guest.
Molly Gray has always loved the holidays. When Molly was a child, her gran went to great lengths to make the season merry and bright, full of cherished traditions. The first few Christmases without Gran were hard on Molly, but this year, her beloved boyfriend and fellow festive spirit, Juan Manuel, is intent on making the season Molly’s mofinst joyful yet.
But when a Secret Santa gift exchange at the Regency Grand Hotel raises questions about who Molly can and cannot trust, she dives headfirst into solving her most consequential—and personal—mystery yet. Molly has a bad feeling about things, and she starts to wonder: has she yet again mistaken a frog for a prince?
A heartwarming, magical story about the true spirit of the season, The Mistletoe Mystery reminds us that love is the greatest mystery of all.
MY THOUGHTS:
Molly Gray, affectionately known as Molly the Maid, has gotten adjusted to spending Christmas without her beloved Gran. Fortunately, she is not alone this season as her sweet boyfriend Juan Manuel, has plans to make this holiday really special. However there is a Secret Santa exchange at the hotel where Molly works, and a spinner has been thrown into the works.
This quick novella is a perfect fit for this series, and definitely whets the appetite for the 3rd book in a very enjoyable series.
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Title: The Maid’s Secret
Author: Nita Prose
Series: Molly the Maid #3
Publisher: Random House Publishers
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of Pages: 336
Date of Publication: April 8, 2025
My Rating: 4 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
When a daring art heist takes place at the Regency Grand, Molly’s life is threatened. The question is who’s out to get her, and why? Long-buried secrets will be revealed in this intriguing and heartwarming novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid and The Mystery Guest.
A wedding. A heist. A secret.
Molly Gray’s life is about to change in ways she could never have imagined. As the esteemed Head Maid and recently promoted Special Events Manager of the Regency Grand Hotel, good things are just around the corner, including her marriage to her beloved fiancé, Juan Manuel, only two months away.
But Molly’s entire existence is upended when a film crew descends upon the hotel to shoot the hit reality TV show Hidden Treasures, starring popular art appraisers Brown and Beagle. On a whim, Molly brings in a shoebox containing a few of her gran’s old things for appraisal, and much to everyone's surprise, one item turns out to be a rare and priceless treasure. Instantly, Molly is both a multi-millionaire and a media sensation—the world’s rags-to-riches darling—until the priceless piece vanishes from the hotel in the boldest, brashest antiquities heist in recent memory.
The key to the mystery lies in the past, in a long-forgotten diary written by Molly’s gran. For the first time ever, Molly learns about Gran’s true-to-life fairytale, a young girl to the manor born, the only child of a wealthy magnate. But when Gran falls head over heels in love with a young man her parents deem below her station, her life is thrown into turmoil. As fate would have it, the greatest love of Gran’s life is someone Molly knows quite well…
Together with her friends, Molly combs the past and the present to catch the thief before looming threats against her become real.
A spirited heist caper and an epic love story, The Maid’s Secret is a spellbinding whodunnit that will capture and warm your heart.
MY THOUGHTS:
The Molly the Maid series has come to an end with The Maid’s Secret. However, as Molly is about to embark on a new chapter in her life, her story is just beginning. Molly’s rise in her role as Head Maid with interesting duties is certain to keep her busy. More than that, only a couple of months more and she will be marrying Juan, her loving and attentive fiancé.
The Grand Regency Hotel has a very good reputation. Thus, it is no surprise that a popular television show would like to produce their next episode at the hotel. As the show being produced is called Hidden Gems, Molly takes advantage of this as it would be the perfect time to get her grandmother’s jewelry to be appraised. However, when her grandmother’s box of jewels contains what just might be a very lucrative item, things go haywire causing things to spiral completely out of control.
I have enjoyed this series with a neurodivergent character. It is a wonderful cozy mystery series, with Molly being a wonderful protagonist. No excuses, with great support, and her life has thrived. I loved the romance that began and bloomed throughout the series and it was wonderful to see Molly getting her happily ever after, even while another mystery needed to be solved.
Many thanks to Random House Publishers and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
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