The Maid by Nita Prose is an absolute page turner. Told from the point of view of Molly Gray, an employee at a luxurious hotel, it immerses readers into her world as she dusts, cleans, and manages the housekeeping of the grand suites. That is until she makes a discovery in suite 401- the infamous guest is dead in his bed. Molly, of all people, finds herself thrown into the middle of a crime mystery. As her investigation ensues, she uncovers secrets that could unravel all that the luxury hotel is built upon. Prose creates a compelling plot line with a captivating cast of characters and engaging details that have readers quickly turning page after page to solve the mystery and root for Molly to the end. If you’re looking for an exciting thriller with plenty of intrigues, then The Maid is an absolute must-read.

First person narrative mystery, very much drawing on 'Eleanor Oliphant' etc. I enjoyed the plot and the characters. A good, quick read.

I can’t believe it took me so long to get around to reading this brilliant book. I was looking for what to read yesterday and this one came up. Once I started the first page I just couldn’t put it down until I had finished it.

I loved the main character Molly who is also the narrator throughout. Molly has been raised by her gran, she hasn’t had any friends, everything she does is with her gran, they enjoy jigsaws, Columbo, ice cream and cleaning, they have a rota for there cleaning which they stick to religiously every week. But when Molly’s gran dies that leaves Molly alone. She loves her job at the Regency Grand Hotel as a maid. She lives the uniform, she loves cleaning, her gran has raised her to be respectful. Some people find Molly a little strange, but I found her unique and likeable. She will help anyone, the only problem with that is that she can find herself in deep trouble. Which she does through no fault of her own.

When she arrives at work one day, something happens, Molly has to go back to clean the suite of Mr and Mrs Black, Molly has made a friend in Mrs Black, as the wealthy couple come and stay in the hotel for a week every month, Molly doesn’t like Mr Black she finds him rude but he is a very wealthy man so she has to be polite. On this day she has to go back and clean the shower as Mrs Black had been in it when Molly had been there earlier. But when she goes into the suite the curtains are drawn, and things are a mess, Molly goes to check the bedroom where she sees Mr Black asleep or is he? Does Molly notice anything else?

Everyday as she begins work Molly goes to see Juan Manuel in the kitchens she gives him a room key, why? She then goes to the bar area where she sees Rodney who she really likes, she collects the newspapers for the rooms from him, but Molly finds him attractive. After she has found Mr Black, Rodney asks her out, is this a real date as she thinks it is? Or is Rodney wanting something else.

You could say Molly is naive in many ways but she is an endearing character, although there maybe a couple of twists that take the reader by surprise!!

I would like to thank #netgalley and #HarperCollinsUK for an eARC of this book all opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.

I'm a bit torn with regard to this book - one side of me LOVED Maid Molly, but I feel at times the author did her a disservice and altered her behaviour to make it better fit into the story..... for example at one moment she is clueless and completely unable to read social cues, and then several pages later she is shown as being quite astute in deciphering the underlying message and unspoken nuances of social interactions.

Molly also tells us a lot about her condition instead of showing us, and at times I felt her actions were not always consistent with her character.

There are plenty of delightful characters in the book, especially Molly’s Gran who helps Molly navigate the world with her pithy truisms, and Mr. Preston, the hotel’s doorkeeper, who assists in clearing Molly’s name.

I loved the premise of the story, the mystery, the suspense, I loved the characters and I loved Molly herself.
As I said I enjoyed the book; I just wish the author had remained more consistent with Molly herself and perhaps she'd have come across as more "real" and relatable.

This was a slow and steady read, that involves the reader in the duties of Molly the maid, a maid that cleans so well, she erases all evidence. Solid read, recommended.

Molly is not like the rest of the maids.

Whilst others are scrambling around, she's restoring rooms to a 'state of perfection'.
Other maids have their inner friendship circles. Molly befriends a long-term guest, Mr Charles Black.

And when Mr Black is found dead in his bed, all suspicion is plonked on Molly's shoulder. This is the story through her eyes to prove her innocence.

It's a wonderfully written and unique story I'd happily read again and again.

However, I know there are some issues that have been raised in the neurodivergent community.

Wow. What a thrilling read! A story about a maid should surely not be this interesting, an absolutely phenomenal book.

I'm not 100% sure what I was expecting from The Maid but I was definitely surprised.

I liked that the story was told by protagonist Molly and how we experienced events through her eyes. Early on it was clear that Molly had ASD which became a large part of the narrative. It was interesting to see how different situations were interpreted by Molly and also heartbreaking to see her tormented by her peers and colleagues.

I'm a big fan of a whodunnit and I especially liked the twist at the end - I did not see that coming! I enjoyed how the story was told over a 7 day period and felt this built the intensity and mystery. The additional characters added to the story telling and I thought the subplots were believable. It was also sad witnessing Molly process the death of her Grandma and the grief that resonated.

One thing I found slightly confusing was where this story was set. Until the mentions of dollars I thought it was quintessentially British - tea and manners played a big part.

Overall a good mystery!

I've read lots of comparisons between 'Eleanor Oliphant...' and 'The Maid'. I could only see one similarity and that is the main character being socially awkward. However, the storylines about our two heroines are completely different. It's very possible that Molly is autistic although this is not mentioned specifically. Her inability to read social cues will impact on her actions and on her misunderstanding other characters'' intentions and it will invariably land her in trouble. With some help from others, all is well that ends well and this makes for a very enjoyable read. 3.5 stars - rounded to 4 from me.

Thank you to the editor and Netgalley for an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest and impartial review.

Engrossing mystery that gleams like polished brass, with a protagonist you can’t not love!

I’ve been ready to read The Maid ever since I first saw it announced and I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to sit down with it. It is the quintessential classic mystery, with a throughly 21st Century wit and a central character who springs off the page and vacuums up your heart like she’s using the best Dyson hoover on the market! This book is everything, because Molly the Maid is such a beautifully drawn and exquisitely human character. Her social challenges and antiquated manners make her an immediately likeable and genuinely unique character. I loved all of her sayings that she had picked up from her Gran, as well as her inability to read all social situations, her unwavering sense of right and wrong, her dedication to truth and her black and white directness. I really felt that I got to know Molly over the course of the novel and was completely consumed by both her present day dramas and her complex and often heartbreaking backstory. I was really drawn to her sense of strength and her confidence in her own abilities, which juxtaposed with her desire to be loved and have companionship. Her relationship with her Gran is really heartwarming and their closeness really helped to highlight Molly’s place in the world. At the start of the narrative she is regimentally ordered, often alone and cleaning is both her escape and salvation. Over the course of the events, I enjoyed seeing Molly grow and expand. Although cleaning and the order associated with returning a room to perfection is still a major part of Molly’s life, it was lovely to see her forging new relationships, taking risks and living more life. I would be thrilled to see her return in another novel!

There’s something rather Hitchcockian about The Maid too, which absolutely hooked me into the plot. Whilst the murder of Mr. Black is the driving force behind much of the narrative, it’s also Prose’s McGuffin. This book is so much more about relationships and character than it is the discovery of Mr. Black’s killer. In fact, I’d go so far as to say, I wasn’t really that bothered who had done him in, I just loved spending time with the people between these pages! Despite this, The Maid is still a brilliantly plotted and engrossing mystery. Prose keeps the case moving along at a steady pace, with a number of clever reveals and some unforeseen truths. I could definitely see this book being adapted for the screen and would certainly tune in if it was! As I listened to the audiobook, I could really picture how well this book would work on screen and Lauren Ambrose’s narration is pitch perfect. She imbued all of the characters with a unique identity and captured Molly’s voice so superbly. I really enjoyed the audiobook, which was excellently paced and throughly engaging.

If you enjoy a glamorous, character driven mystery, with a protagonist that sparkles like a newly mopped floor, The Maid should be polished to perfection atop your TBR.

Enjoyed the story and the characters are generally interesting but had some problems with authenticity of voice, I felt. Nevertheless an entertaining read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This book was everything I look for in a book. It was so exciting. The plot was fantastic. It really had me on the edge of my seat, and my heart racing. It was very well written and flowed well.

A very intriguing murder mystery which mashed together inspiration from some completely different novels: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, The Remains of the Day, and an Agatha Christie mystery. What a combo!

Thank you to NetGalley, Nita Prose, and the publisher for the opportunity of reading The Maid.

Molly Gray works as a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. She prides herself on restoring rooms to a “state of perfection” and keeping guests happy. Although she struggles socially and misinterprets situations, she loves the rules of the hotel and the structure of her job. However, when she finds the wealthy Mr Black (an esteemed guest) dead in his hotel bed, her social naivety lands her in rather a lot of bother.

I enjoyed the twists and turns in this book as we investigate the death of Mr Black. Molly’s character also evolves a lot throughout the book and I was really rooting for her.

This is a real cosy murder mystery full of friendship. It gave me The Thursday Murder Club vibes which I loved.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange of an honest review.

This thriller had such a likeable and unique MC, I was hooked from the beginning to the end. All the time being worried for the fate of the MC.

Loved the twists and rollercoaster!

After Nunez and Virginia Woolf, I wanted to read something light. And The Maid was all that and more. It was one of my most anticipated reads of 2022 and I am glad to have finally read it.

The Maid was a charming and wonderfully narrated story with the right touches of mystery and suspense. Molly Gray, is a maid at the Regency Grand hotel. She perceives the world differently from others and that makes her special. She is kind, sweet and orderly, but also sometimes naïve to trust the wrong person. This gets her into trouble. Mr. Charles Black, a business magnet and a regular guest at the hotel is found dead in his suite.

Suspicions fall on Molly, who finds him dead. Her friendship with Giselle Black, Mr. Black's second wife and her affection for Rodney, the bartender puts her in a difficult position. Feeling alone in the world, since the death of her grandmother, Molly doesn't know whom to trust or turn to for help. But Mr. Preston, the door man at Regency, his daughter Charlotte, a lawyer and Juan Manuel come together to support Molly. Together they sort out the mess in which Molly and Juan, an undocumented employee at the hotel are caught up.

The one liners of Gran were superb. Molly's friendship with Giselle, Mr. Preston and Juan Manuel was heart warming to read. The final twist was unexpected. I felt that the book had influences of Bertram Hotel by Agatha Christie.

Overall, it was a delightful locked-room mystery with pleasant characters. It definitely was worth the hype and met my expectations for a light and cozy read.

Loved it , great characters and storyline

Intrigue and mystery about. Unreliable characters, an easily-led heroine and an insight to the underbelly of five star hotels. I absolutely loved it. Read it 6 months ago and still thinking about it. A strong 5* read !

With thanks to Nita Prose and Harper Collins for an advanced readers copy of this book

4*

I enjoyed this one, a very unique style for a thriller not quite what I was expecting. Please to see it is being adapted as it reads as if it's for the screen.

A wonderfully original written story

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 January 2022

I absolutely loved this story. Molly the maide is a truly unique and endearing character. I was completely engrossed in her life and journey throughout the book. Would highly recommend.

What a book! Absolutely brilliant and am going to recommend this to everyone I know.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.