Molly the maid is a protagonist like none that I've encountered before. And yet, I immediately understood who she was, how she operated and how she behaved.
She's definitely an old soul (thanks to her Gran) in a young person's body and undeniably on the autism spectrum. But this is handled with care and attention and even had me looking at the similarities between myself and Molly.
I'm also a bit of a perfectionist and old soul and have been since my early teens.
It is frustrating to see Molly taken advantage of time and time again, by a high proportion of the characters in this. But you understand why this has happened. This isn't just some naive woman or girl, like in other murder mysteries. So that certainly wasn't a negative.
I enjoyed seeing Molly grow and her world expand, even though this only happened because her routine was interrupted by the death of Mr Black.
This isn't necessarily a thriller of a murder mystery, it's more of a cosy old fashioned one, if that makes sense.
But that isn't necessarily a bad thing either.
I did enjoy how it was all wrapped up at the end but getting Molly out of the precarious situation of being arrested for various different crimes happened a bit too quickly and neatly for me.
However, I really enjoyed this and found myself eagerly looking forward to the next time that I could pick it up to read it.
I can't wait to see what Nita Prose does next and I'm also very much looking forward to the film adaptation of this that is already in the works.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This mostly quirky,charming book,also made me a bit sad.
That the Molly was treated so badly by so many people just because she wasn't quite like everyone else.
There were genuine heart warming moments too though,so it all balanced out.
The plot was a tad predictable,but such a cosy crime story,that it was forgivable.
Mostly it was just charming.

There's huge buzz around this already (and film adaptation in the works) and it's easy to see why - likeable central character, cast of quirky people around her and a contrast of sumptuous hotel and simple apartment - the chasm between the 'haves' and 'have nots'. And a cracking murder mystery plot, which while dark at times is deftly written, and comes across as a bit of a romp, and while it keeps you guessing you also sort of know the right people are going to come out on top.

I found this a little slow to get into - and honestly I struggled at first to work out the time this was set.....it clearly references current things, and yet despite Molly's age, and the fact that both her mother and Gran are described as 'very young' when they became mothers it seems Gran spoke like a long-retired Head Housekeeper at Downton Abbey which jars a little. But, minor quibbles aside this is a good read. The pace really picks up second half, and despite the murder at it's heart is actually a fun read. And if it makes people go back to find Columbo reruns that can only be a good thing!

I couldn't wait to read this intense and intriguing thriller. It is such a original plot about Molly the maid. You wouldn't expect a story about a maid to be thrilling but it really is. Molly is invisible to most people while she cleans the rooms and dusts, she can be as quiet as a mouse and hear and see everything and anything. When one of the guests is found dead, Molly is on the hunt to find out the truth of what happened to the guest, as she steps into the limelight this is her big entrance. I found I just wanted to keep reading and was sad when it came to the end as it was just so good I want to read it all over again incase I missed out of anything. It shows you how everyone deserves to be seen whatever job they do. I thought it was a well thought out and researched plot and having the main characters job as a maid certainly hit the nail on the head as I haven't read a book before with a maid being the main character. A very good story, one I think will be turned into a film and I just can't wait.

I received an advance copy of, The Maid, by Nita Prose. I found Molly Maid, boring and depressing, and annoying.

Molly Gray works as a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. She takes pride in doing her job, returning the rooms to a state of perfection, despite being invisible to most guests. Her days follow a routine, until the day she discovers the dead body of one of the guests, Mr Black. Suddenly her quiet, routine life is upended. The finger of suspicion points her way.

Molly is an unusual protagonist, she doesn’t really understand people, doesn’t make friends easily and doesn’t really understand right and wrong. She appears to be on the autism spectrum. She’s well written, a trusting innocent with a formal turn of phrase, I was rooting for her throughout the book.

The story itself is a bit of an old fashioned mystery. One I really enjoyed reading, I’d thoroughly recommend this novel.

#TheMaid #NetGalley
This is phenomenal thriller.
Maid or murderer or victim? Find out in the book.
Molly the Maid is all alone in the world. A nobody. She’s used to being invisible in her job at the Regency Grand Hotel, plumping pillows and wiping away the grime, dust and secrets of the guests who pass through. She’s just a maid – why should anyone take notice? But Molly is thrown into the spotlight when she discovers an infamous guest, Mr Black, very dead in his bed. This isn’t a mess that can be easily cleaned up. And so Molly becomes embroiled in a hunt for the truth, learning who to trust as she navigates the secret underbelly of the Regency Grand Hotel.
It started slow but after two chapters, I was hooked in the story.
Excellent.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK Harper Fiction for giving me an advanced copy of this book.

Ooh I absolutely loved this! Molly Maid is an old soul in a young persons body and I kept forgetting that she was only mid twenties. Due to the influence of her gran, she's quirky, and a bit lonely- she sort of reminded me of Elinor Oliphant but less tragic.
Very polite, and very very clean she gets embroiled at a scandal at the hotel and events unfold.
Love the names of the book- felt very Cluedo with Mr Black and Miss Grey. Also the minor characters are fab too.
Also a small pancreatic cancer storyline which is not in books enough in my opinion. (Not a spoiler as this is early on.)
Couldn't put this down, very addictive.
Definitely a hit for me. And Columbo references, what more could you need?
Clever, witty, everything you want in one book.