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.

3.5 stars
So far I have enjoyed all the books in this series and I'm happy to say that this was no different!
I have to admit I wasn't sure we really needed another book in the series but as I had read the others I wanted to read this one as well.
As per usual, Nita Prose's storytelling felt like a cosy, delightful, charming, warm hug.
I have always liked the character of Molly, so I loved being back in her welcoming world.
One slight thing I wasn't too keen on were the chapters that focused on Molly's Grandma's diaries. It played such a huge part of the story and I would have preferred that the story focused more on Molly and the mystery. The mystery element of the plot did feel very much like it was running in the back ground and wasn't a big part of the plot at all.
I did like the writing style and it was an easy, enjoyable read that I flew through.
I don't think we need another book after this one in the series, but if there is one, I would read it.

I really enjoyed book 1 and like most series the first one is usually the strongest. I feel the series may be becoming stretched too far now and this felt too cute and too many cliches at times. It is a nice light read though and fans of the series will like to see how it ends.

Fans of The Maid series will love this new instalment in the series: The Maid’s Secret. Molly the maid and Juan are busy planning a modest wedding when a popular antiques TV show comes to The Regency Hotel and discovers that one of Molly’s trinkets is very valuable indeed. This is potentially a rags to riches story for Molly but as her gran always said ‘not all that glitters is gold’. A new mystery needs to be solved by Molly whilst we also learn new secrets about her gran’s past from a journal she has left for Molly. This is an entertaining, cosy, easy read and everything you expect from a new story about Molly the maid.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy! I have really enjoyed the Molly the Maid series, love Molly and her family and her stories. Fell straight back into Molly's world picking this up and if you loved the other books you will love this one as well.
You do have to wonder how much can happen at one hotel and how Molly always seems to be involved but she is so much fun.
However this wasn't my favourite of the series and I think it came to a natural end so was perfect to end the series.
Have thoroughly enjoyed these books!

I think it is time to end the series. The characters have been played out and this book is evidence of it. It was easy to know who the culprit was and the subplot didn't add anything.

This new book about Molly and her past missed the mark a bit for me, unfortunately. The other characters were a bit too much for me this time around.

‘The Maid’s Secret’ by Nita Prose is the third full-length novel in the series starring Molly the Maid, and takes place after the events of ‘The Mistletoe Mystery’ - a novella in which Molly and boyfriend Juan get engaged! Everything is going well until a TV antiques show decides to film an episode at the Regency Grand Hotel… Soon, Molly is catapulted into the public consciousness as the quirky owner of a priceless Fabergé egg. However, all that glitters is not gold, and revelations about the past are the emotional heart of the story.

I liked the glimpses into the life of Molly’s gran Flora, via her diary. I could've read a whole book just on that, but the author skilfully interweaves passages of Flora’s reminisces with the present day commotion.

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher Harper Collins UK via NetGalley.

The Maid's Secret is an absolutely brilliant continuation of Molly's story. I've loved following her journey, and this third book brought everything together in such a heartfelt, surprising way.

Molly hasn't had an easy life, but she's found comfort in her job at The Regency Hotel, the memory of her beloved gran, and her sweet fiancé Juan. With her wedding approaching on a tight budget, the appearance of the Hidden Treasures TV show seems like perfect timing-especially when her Fabergé egg catches the attention of the quirky Bees duo.

The real magic of this book, though, comes from the beautiful way Molly's gran's past is woven into the present. The diary entries added so much emotion and depth, telling a fairytale-like story that slowly reveals how deeply everything is connected.

When the Fabergé egg goes missing, Molly turns detective, and what she uncovers is full of unexpected twists and links. I didn't see some of it coming, and I loved how everything tied together in the end.

Will Molly get her fairytale? You'll have to read it to find out-but this one was a total joy. Heartfelt, clever, and full of charm.

Molly and her beloved Gran’s story led me on such an emotional journey as a reader.

I really connected with both of these characters. The mystery felt a bit like it was shoehorned into the story, unlike the prior two main novels I read where the crimes were more of a main plot feature.

It wasn’t a whodunit novel in my book, although there were certainly crimes in it, but it was a very easy guess for me. However, as I read the final page, this paled into the background as Molly’s story gave me everything I’d been hoping for her.

Every so often, you read a book about a character that you just can’t stop thinking about, and Molly fits this bill.

She has such a big heart despite being faced with so many challenges in her life, including the way people have underestimated her. This, however, is her superpower, especially when it comes to solving crimes.

In the beginning, Molly was on the outside, looking into other people’s lives. Throughout the books, she’s been on a journey to find understanding, friendship, love, and self-discovery. It has been lovely to see her grow so much over the books. She’s definitely the star of the show with or without celebrity status!

I wasn’t sure where the book could go this time, but the last novel ties everything together really well in terms of Molly’s story and her Gran’s backstory. The interweaving of the past and present narrative was cleverly done. The theme of value that runs through the book in both the past and present gave me pause for thought.

I am still thinking about what direction Molly’s career will take in the future and if she could reconcile with her Mom. So, I definitely think there could be another book, hopefully with an excellent mystery for Molly to work out. With thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for this ARC. 3.75 stars

In the final instalment of the Molly the Maid series Molly is preparing for her wedding but is an unexpected discovery and the diary of her beloved grandmother going to throw a spanner in the works? This was the perfect way to say goodbye to Molly and all her friends and I will miss her. I look forward to see what the author writes next. A thoroughly enjoyable read. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this novel in return for an honest review.