The Maid’s Secret by Nita Prose

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

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….

My Opinion

The Maid’s Secret is the third book in the Molly the Maid series and I would highly recommend reading the books in order. Who wouldn’t be a fan of Molly? This is such a great series and I really enjoy the way Nita Prose reveals the family secrets. A delightful read.

Rating 4/5

I have read all the books in Molly the Maid series, including the short fictional reads, that the author usually releases during the holiday season and I've enjoyed reading about Molly's life and how her relationship with Juan progresses and also finding out about her life with her granny.

But this book, the third in the instalment, didn't quite live up to the expectations and in fact felt the weakest link in the series. This maybe because originally this series was a cozy murder mystery, and in parallel we also discovered about Molly's life with her granny and how personal life develops. But there is no murder in this book and although there is some mystery of the stolen Fabergé egg, the whole plot seems to fall flat and honestly, sometimes feels boring.

The chapters alternates between Molly's present life, where suddenly she is pushed to the centre of limelight when she discovers that her Fabergé egg, is a precious antique and she is now a multi-millionaire. The sudden fame and popularity stresses Molly and her cozy, personal life becomes a prime content on a reality show. The other chapters details about Molly's grandmother and how she came to possess this Fabergé egg. I liked these chapters but the whole story was very cliched and predictable.

I just hope that the next book is better than this. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advance copy of the book.

I've thoroughly enjoyed this series so I was keen to read the final instalment. I think this one might have been my favourite.
I loved the two storylines in this book. Firstly we join Molly in her life as a maid when she decides to value an old antique egg she owns and discovers it is worth millions. What follows is a heist at the Regency Hotel as the egg is suddenly stolen. Who took the egg? Who is threatening Molly and why?
The second part of the story is narrated by Molly's Gran through a diary she wrote as a young girl. I loved this part the most. I became completely immersed in Flora's life story particularly the love story between her and John.
Both stories come together as the diary holds some of the answers to the current mystery.
Molly is such a brilliant character and I loved delving into her past
This is one of my favourite cosy crime series so I'm looking forward to seeing what Nita Prose writes next.

I have loved Molly the maid since the first book and the second was just as good. She has a quirky way about her (obviously on the spectrum) so beguiling and a really likeable character.
I’ve enjoyed reading about her mishaps and the other people in the hotel. But sadly this book just missed the mark of actually being interesting. I became bored with the Molly parts very quickly, it was too much of the same drama that has played out in the last two books. I did enjoy more the parts going back in time with her gran, but to be honest I had lost interest by then and so I skimmed to the end.

Some book series are compelling and while the characters are generally the same, there are good plots that keep you wanting to read them. But, for Molly the maid to continue, it needs to diversify the plot somewhat and change it up, but then perhaps it wouldn’t be the same Molly.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC in return for an honest review.

I loved this, next in the series of Molly the Maid. Loved getting all of Flora’s history and seeing how the lives in the past shaped future events and characters. Warm, funny, deep, very engaging and highly recommend.

A perfect , satisfying and wholesome read .
In this book we have two time lines Molly in the present day and her Gran’s voice through her diary .
Molly is back and her character shines through and she returns with all her best turns of phrase .
Can Molly go from rags to riches and lead a life she could only have dreamt?
The writing is excellent and there are plenty of twists and turns to keep the readers interest .
I’ve enjoyed the previous books in the series but I think this is my favourite it’s such a satisfying read.
A must read for all Nita Prose fans.
A solid five star read.
An excellent read!
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction.

A perfect ending to the series. I don't think I could ever dislike a Molly book and I'm just sad it's all over. Very excited to see what Nita Prose does next!

The Maid’s Secret
Nita Prose

‘It is an unfortunate fact of life that sometimes we grow old before we grow wise, and for my part, I have learned-too late-the error of my ways.’

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?

‘Dear Molly,
Life is a mystery. Try as we might to solve it, a new puzzle
always presents itself.’

There’s always high jinks and shenanigans when Molly’s around. There’s plenty afoot in The Maid’s Secret, including a wedding, a heist and a secret.

“Don't you see? All it takes is one moment
of desperation to turn a good egg into a bad one.”

This book delves more into Gran’s past and helps expose secrets from her younger years. We also have the current chapters and the life changing events occurring to Molly. Plus of course, a classic who done it style mystery to solve.

‘Life is unpredictable. Like an episode of Columbo, it never turns out quite the way you think it will.’

These books are light and easy. All her classic catchphrases are back as usual;
"Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative,” “If it's not okay, it's not the end,"
‘deep cleaning to give meaning’, “denial isn’t just a river in Egypt”, "Fair and square, the maids all share” and of course “a tissue for your issue”. I find it’s Molly’s quirks that make her a character to keep returning to.

This is a very fun palette cleanser book.

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✨ Secrets and lies
✨ Friendship
✨ It’s best to read the first books to better understand the characters.

Wow! I think this is the best book out of the three Nita Prose has published.
The story unfolds across two timelines and points of view — one from Molly and one from her grandmother — beautifully showing how deeply she loved her until the very end.

A faux Fabergé egg that Molly didn’t even know was worth millions sets everything in motion. Will she go from rags to riches — or not? So many secrets and dramas are uncovered because of it.

The historical love story adds such a powerful layer to the narrative — I think it might be the best part.

Highly recommended for fans of heartfelt mysteries with strong character developement.


❤️shaye.readss

Another lovely Molly the Maid story, possibly the conclusion of these books as it feeld like this tale is now wrapped up. I thoroughly enjoyed this series and am looking forward to seeing what comes next from Nina

Absolutely gorgeous. Another great read from Nina. Her books just keep getting better and better. I loved going back to the hotel with it's mystery and looking for clues. Such a lovely story. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

3.5 of 5 stars (rounded to 4)
https://lynns-books.com/2025/05/06/review-the-maids-secret-by-nita-prose/
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Good, but not my favourite

I think The Maid’s Secret may be the final chapter in Molly’s tale – although I could be wrong of course – it just reads like a conclusion with everything neatly concluded.

This is a series that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed, Molly has been a delight to read about and all the hijinx at the hotel she works at have been cosy and delicious.

In this instalment things take a very different turn. A couple of famous antique dealers are airing a show from the hotel, people come along and bring along items they think may be antique or worth some money and as an extra bonus the staff at the hotel are invited to bring something along of their own before the show airs – a little prelude if you will. Imagine everyone’s surprise when the ‘spangly’ egg that Molly brought turns out to be a priceless antique, long lost and much debated upon. It seems that Molly and her intended are about to go from rags to riches. Molly becomes an overnight online sensation (much to her surprise and dismay) and the rare egg is set to be sold. Of course, the best laid plans, etc, etc. I won’t go further into the plot at this point.

So, my feelings when reading this.

Once again I loved the writing. Prose has a lovely style, she’s a very easy to read author who manages to inject humour and a reasonably pacy style into her stories and, of course, Molly is such a great character.

This story is told in alternating timelines. Surprisingly Molly comes into possession of her gran’s diary and so we flit back and forth unfolding her story from the past and then jumping forward to the current dilemma – the hope all along being that her gran’s diary might just hold the key to this most recent mystery.

I’m actually a big fan of alternating timelines and the author manages to tie everything together in a really satisfying way.

I did mention that I didn’t quite love this one as much as the first two. That could simply be because the surprise element has worn a little thin over the course of the series but I felt that Molly lost her way a little in this book. I didn’t feel like she held centre stage in fact she came across like a different version. Likewise her gran’s story, whilst really well written and quite compelling, didn’t sound at all like her gran – now obviously you have to understand that she’s writing about events that took place many years ago and so of course her personality has had time to change, that being said, both of them felt more like strangers to me in this book. I think if I’d picked this up and it was the first in series I would have loved it, and I did in fact enjoy it very much, but having read the previous two books it felt like both personalities were very different.

So, to be fair, I did enjoy this, but I didn’t love it. It didn’t wow me the way the first two books did and I missed some of the unique spark that made Molly such an instant sensation.

Overall though, a satisfying conclusion (if it is the conclusion – does anyone know? Feel free to correct me). And, I very much look forward to seeing where this author’s wonderful imagination will take us next.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

My rating 3.5 of 5 stars rounded to 4 for concluding such a great series in such a satisfying way

It’s witty, sharp, and full of those “I didn’t expect that!” moments. The writing is spot-on, keeping you glued to the page without overwhelming you with unnecessary details. It’s cozy, but with just the right amount of edge to keep things fresh and engaging.

My god this book is full of secrets, mystery, and twists you won’t see coming. There are family secrets and the truth is twisted. The book can be best described as twisted and unputdownable. This is the best one in the series. Molly gets access to the long forgotten diary written by her gran. There are a lots of secrets in it. The book has dual timelines and dual pov. Expect the unthinkable, secrets, buried truths, mystery, Auctions, wedding, investigation and so much more. This book is multilayered. And once you will start reading it. It will completely grip you and won’t let you go until all the layers will be unfolded.

Absolutely enjoyed getting back to Molly's world. Well written and gives a good glimpse into the characters and their past.

The premise is interesting and it captures right from the start. A fun thriller that is light, interesting and captivating. Absolutely enjoyed it!

Thank you HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review.

What a delight to be back at the Regency Grand in the company of Molly the Maid, Juan Manuel, Mr Preston and all the familiar characters from the first two books in this series!

Molly is the head maid at the Regency Grand, conscientiously returning rooms to a state of perfection and always ready with ‘a tissue for your issue’. When a precious trinket from her beloved late Gran is declared a priceless antique on a national tv show filmed at the hotel, Molly’s world is turned upside down. All of a sudden she’s a media sensation, not something she’s comfortable with, and she soon comes to learn who her true friends are – or who is a good egg as her Gran would have said. I felt so sorry for poor Molly who wanted nothing more than a quiet life with Juan Manual.

What I particularly enjoyed in this book is that we finally find out more about Molly’s Gran and what a story that turned out to be. From the pages of her diary we discover that she wasn’t ‘just a maid’, a phrase Molly herself uses often, but had an incredible back story. As we find out about her earlier life from the diary, we learn where much of the wisdom she passed onto Molly comes from. Molly truly comes to understand that all that glitters isn’t gold and that love is the only gift that lasts.

I flew through the pages of this delightfully entertaining book. It’s a must read for anyone who has enjoyed Molly’s previous adventures. The book is billed as being ‘one final mystery for Molly the Maid’ and while I’m sad that this will be the last story about Molly, it is a fitting end to the series. The Maid’s Secret is quirky and charming and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I just love this series of books.
Nothing comes close to the first book... that just absorbed me. The second book I enjoyed also. This book is my least favourite Molly the Maid book - but it was still a really great read. I just have super high expectations after the first one.

Once again, this book reveals more about Molly's past and has a particular focus on her Grandmother. It had a similar format to the second of going back in time with flashbacks and then back to present day. With each flashback revealing more about the Grandmother

I want more of this series - please don't let this be the last one!

I started reading it not very convinced but it's been a surprise. I've loved learning about the past of Gran and how it has left a print in Molly's future. So happy with the story and the end of Algernon.

Molly is back and everyone is excited as there is a famous tv show coming to film in the hotel. Molly is suddenly thrown into the limelight and she’s not sure she likes it. A great read that fills in some of the blanks about Molly and her gran. I have really enjoyed these books a mystery with heart and I’m always invested in Molly and Juan.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for this eCopy to review

When I picked up The Maid’s Secret, I was excited to dive back into the world of Molly Gray, the quirky and endearing maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. This third instalment in the series promised a blend of mystery and heartfelt storytelling, and it certainly delivered.

The story begins with Molly happily planning her wedding to Juan Manuel, her beloved fiancé. The hotel is bustling with activity as it hosts the reality TV show Hidden Treasures, where art appraisers Brown and Beagle evaluate various items. On a whim, Molly decides to bring a shoebox filled with her gran’s old belongings for appraisal. To everyone's surprise, one of the items is a rare and priceless treasure and turns Molly into a media sensation.

However, the excitement quickly turns to chaos when the priceless piece vanishes in a daring heist. Molly's life is thrown into turmoil as she tries to uncover the truth behind the theft. The key to solving the mystery lies in a long-forgotten diary written by her gran, revealing secrets from the past. Molly learns about her gran’s fairytale-like life, her love story, and the challenges she faced.

As I followed Molly's journey, I was captivated by the blend of high-stakes intrigue and heartfelt moments. The characters were well-developed, and the plot twists kept me engaged throughout. The exploration of love, legacy, and self-discovery added depth to the story, making it more than just a mystery.

The Maid’s Secret is a delightful and engaging read that combines mystery with emotional storytelling, making every page worth savouring.