For fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and whodunnit murder mysteries, The Maid is the perfect thrilling, humorous and entertaining novel.
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​Molly is a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. Molly is sometimes has trouble reading social cues and knowing who to trust, especially after her Gran died. One day when cleaning the suite, she finds the dead body of Mr. Black, one of the wealthiest and famous guests at the hotel. To her surprise, Molly’s unique personality is misread, making her a prime suspect in his murder. With the help of some friends, can Molly clear her name and find the real culprit?
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​I read this book in one day! I could not put it down and I can already see why this is being made into a movie. Molly is a lovable character and you find yourself rooting for her in the novel and wanting to protect her from the people taking advantage of her kindness. No doubt this is one of the most anticipated reads of 2022 and a great read to start off the year with.

Molly is different, weird, struggles with social cues and misinterprets meanings. She is also very sad and lonely. Molly loves her job as a maid and does all that she can to clean “to perfection” and to follow the instructions laid out by not only her boss, Mr Snow, but also the many homey bits of guidance given by her beloved but now deceased”Gran”. Her kind and dutiful heart responds to those she perceives are in need which leads to her unwittingly becoming the centre of a criminal investigation. I found the first part of the book very uncomfortable and upsetting because of the way other characters treated Molly and the resulting circumstances she found herself in, however, the second half brought redemption! Those who saw her for who she truly was, stepped forward to help her and I was hooked. An interesting look at how cruel we can be to those who don’t fit in and how important and compelling a “different” perspective can be.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for this ARC

Molly is a maid at a fancy hotel. She is passionate about her job and restoring order, but she has trouble interpreting people. When she finds the body of a guest dead in one of the rooms, a series of circumstances and her unusual way of looking at the world soon make her a suspect.

▪ Neurodivergent heroine. Molly has such a specific way of looking at the world that it makes the book unlike any mystery book I have ever read. There are bits of awkwardness when I as a reader knew she was misinterpreting things, but her point of view often obscured the twists in the plot so it was always full of surprises. I absolutely loved her.

▪ Great supporting cast of characters. Because the book follows Molly’s point of view so closely, it is easy to begin suspecting everyone of ulterior motives. It makes the mystery much more complex, as I for one could never tell if the other characters were genuine of trying to take advantage of Molly’s naiveté.

▪ Surprisingly heartwarming. Despite everything, this book will remind you that there are some good people in the world, among all the bad. It also reminds you that there are other ways of looking at the world than your own.

I loved this book, although it made me cringe at times. I highly recommend it.

Honest review in exchange for e-ARC. Indigo Employee.

I was excited for this book after seeing the cover and reading the synopsis. I sounded right up my street as a devoted fan of Agatha Christie and the like.

This book was not for me. I did read it all the way through but I skimmed large sections.
I think the central issues for me was the lack of believability in the central character and her overall aggravatingly annoying personality and dialogue. The murder itself was uninspired - rich man found murdered in his hotel room by maid, his second 'trophy' wife accused because obviously she's done it for the money, but then maid draws suspicion because the detective doesn't have empathy or understanding of her unusual personality - and the reveal at the end tried too hard to be dramatic. The whole she couldn't have done it, but wait did she, no it can't be etc etc...

There's a lot I could say but I do not want to influence others interpretation of the novel.

I could not put this book down! Even though I figured out what had happened pretty early on I still needed to know how everything was going to work out. I loved how Molly's relationship unfolded with all of the characters in the end and that she was really able to take control of her life. I think it was a little frustrating to read the beginning half of the book because you could just tell that everyone was taking advantage of Molly and I just wanted to be able to save her.

Too many social issues thrown into this book, which results in a hodge podge social commentary tale, which took away from the charm of the story. Illegal immigration, domestic abuse, drug running, euthanasia, with the latter being the most out of character.

Stereotypes abound in the minor characters, especially the maid staff, and the ridiculous side story about an illegal immigrant was eye-rolling and offensive.

Then there was the ending. I don’t mind a twist in a book, but not when I find out Molly was sitting on information throughout the book that identified the murderer, information she kept from the police and the reader. There were no clues along the way, and the sudden appearance of a new character when all was revealed at the end by Molly made me want to throw the book across the room..

And if you want to include an atypical character, do it loudly and proudly. Let's not tiptoe right now.

The Maid is a fun and cozy mystery that is driven solely by the loveable main character, Molly.

I go into most books blind, so I didn’t realize the main character in this book is neurodivergent (Prost never tackles this head-on, but it becomes clear early on in the book). While at times I struggled with the consistency of Molly’s character, overall I think Prost did a good job of building an endearing leading lady that impossible to dislike. Molly is hardworking, diligent, self-aware, and kind-hearted.

The first half of the book is more general fiction than mystery as we get to know about Molly, her beloved Gran (deceased), and the interesting cast of characters that work alongside Molly at the hotel. Perhaps every character in the novel is an overdone hyperbole, but it seems to fit the genre nicely; afterall, this book feels like a game of Clue, which is filled with larger than life stereotypical characters.

I did struggle around the 40% mark because I have a low threshold for bullies and lowlifes. I even shed a tear or two on behalf of poor Molly. However, at about the 50% mark the mystery starts to pick up.


In all honesty this was a 3-3.5 star read for me up until the end. There are two big reveals that are masterful, and I love when a final reveal makes me mentally back track to pick up the pieces that were so carefully dropped. As Molly says, it’s so satisfying when all the pieces of a puzzle fall into place.

Overall, a nice cozy mystery with a feel good ending.

thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and Netgalley for a free digital copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I think I'm in the minority here. I loved all the life lessons the MC shared throughout the book that her Gran taught her. However, I found the MC to be painfully naïve and that greatly took away from the plot. I thought I had guessed who the murderer was, and the twist at the end wasn't enough to make up for the MC's complete lack of common sense. I wanted to love this one and I was left feeling slightly disappointed. Thank you to the author, Penguin Random House Canada, and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have just finished reading The Maid by author Nita Prose.

The main character Molly Gray is a simple young lady, who grows up with her Gran. She has always loved cleaning and is very particular with her detail in a job well done. Her Gran before she dies helps her to get a maid position in an upscale hotel.

She has a difficult time fitting in with people and life in general and is thrilled to have gotten this position. She has a very special childlike and innocent way to her, which allow people to take advantage of her.

She walks into a suite one day at work to find a wealthy prominent and regular guest dead.

Being in the Commercial cleaning business for well over 3o years myself I did find myself enjoying her descriptions of her daily routines and tasks at hand.

I did overall enjoy this book but found it quite simple and probably most suitable for a younger reader. It had a bit of a felling like it was a script for theatre to me.


Thank you to NetGalley, Author Nita Prose and Penguin Random House Canada for my advanced copy to read and review.

4 stars for enjoyment

Meet Molly, the maid – a charming and pure neurodiverse employee of the luxurious Regency Grand Hotel. Molly is one of their best employees and embodies the company’s motto of returning each guest room to a state of perfection. She is the perfect maid – discreet, invisible when she needs to be, obsessed with cleaning and with proper etiquette.

She’s been struggling to interpret the world around her since her grandmother passed and to make things worse, she finds a guest murdered in one of her roster’s rooms and finds herself as the main suspect.

Nina Prose’s debut novel gifted us with one of the most endearing characters I have ever met. From the first page, I was not only invested in the book, but I also felt this overwhelming need to protect her from the mean, rotten people who prey on her. Literally, some of the characters in this book made me so angry, I was yelling at them and hoping Molly could see what we the reader see. Molly is one of those characters who unknowingly expose the sum of the earth just by being the exact opposite.

The Maid reads like a cozy mystery with a faint hint of a 1960’s French comedy. Its plotting is careful, fair, and tight. Is The Maid’s plot ground-breaking? No. But Molly’s characterization is. I am a reader who connects to a character, and I could literally hear her voice as I read the book. (In my head, she sounded just like Florence Pugh – same tone and accent but enunciating each word individually and speaking at 0.75 speed, in case you are curious) I am in love with her and with some of the characters we meet in the book.

Although I appreciate how all the Ts were crossed by the end of the book, I hope this is not the last we see of Molly and her gang.


Disclaimer: In exchange for an honest review, I am thankful to Penguin Random House Canada, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of The Maid.

4 stars

This is the story of Molly, a special, special girl who loves being a maid and loves cleaning.
The mystery in this book becomes almost irrelevant by the time the reader is reaching the end. One gets completely immersed in Molly's life story.

The book is narrated through Molly's eyes and that makes it fun, adorable, but also hard and sad in the same time. Because even though Molly was failing to see some things, the reader will be able to easily decipher the real meaning behind some people's words and actions.

This book is best to be read and not to be described. It has a particular charm and Nita Prose has done an incredible job giving all of us a glimpse and allowing us to look at the world through Molly's eyes.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for allowing me to read this great book!

Molly is an interesting girl. Some would say quirky…some are crueler and say she is weird. You see, Molly can't read social cues, isn't very good at small talk, isn't the best judge of character, and is obsessed with cleanliness. This second attribute comes in handy because Molly is a maid. One of the best maids, in fact, who works at the posh Regency Grand Hotel. Molly loves her job. She loves to see how she can magically transform a dirty room into a shiny welcoming sanctuary. However, after her grandmother dies, life becomes more complicated. One day Molly discovers a dead man in one of the rooms, and she soon becomes entangled in a web of deception and manipulation, a web where people take advantage of her innocence.
I love the first-person narration in which this story is written. Molly's use of proper etiquette and elocution and a penchant towards the literal makes her a sweet and funny protagonist inserted in a compelling murder mystery.
A heartwarming, suspenseful read with a memorable main character. A fantastic novel to start the new year.

How often does a book catch your attention from the very first sentence? It doesn't happen too often with me, but "The Maid" had me gripped from the beginning. This novel is an example of exceptional characterization and storytelling skills.

Molly Gray is a maid at the hotel and is on the autism spectrum. She is peculiar, gullible, has over-explaining nature with no social improprieties. Things take a turn when she finds a dead body in a hotel room while cleaning, and that dead body belongs to a powerful business magnate.

In this whodunnit mystery, I immediately fell in love with Molly. The whole book is written from her point of view, and I loved seeing the world and every situation from her perspective. Every character seems a suspect in this brilliantly written novel.

There are twists and turns at the right moment when you think you have figured out everything. I found this book much more than a mystery novel. It is a delightful journey of what it means to be the same as everyone else and yet entirely different. There are so many highlight-worthy quotes that felt close to heart.

I am so impressed by this debut novel by Nita Prose that I can't wait to read more of her upcoming works. I am so excited for this book's movie adaptation to complete!

Thank you, Penguin Random House Canada and Netgalley, for sending me a digital ARC for review purposes.

The Maid begins with promise. It follows Molly, a young hotel maid carries out her duties with a smile on her face. Although she's seen as odd by her coworkers, and has recently lost her grandmother, nothing stand in her way of doing her job. But, Molly's life gets swept up in a heaping mess when one day, she finds one of the hotels patrons dead.

What commences is a sweeping story of deceit, and unfortunately little intrigue. The Maid also contains some of the worst autism representation I've ever read. Molly just so happened to tick every stereotype that has been cited about people on the spectrum, and at the end of the novel her character and actions were embarrassing and hollow. This also stands for the characters of colour in this book.

What starts as a fun ride quickly becomes a tedious and mind numbing novel that abandons any suspense for amateur writing and plotting.

Thank you to Netgalley for the digital copy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5 stars
This novel is a total delight. Molly the maid, who is socially unaware, is such a hoot and a total sweetheart! She will win over your heart with her quirky mannerisms and have you chuckling to yourself as she navigates her duties as a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. One day while cleaning, Molly stumbles across the dead body of a male tycoon. She quickly becomes the number one suspect. This classic “who did it” will have you turning the pages. Everyone looks suspicious. Can you figure out who murdered Mr. Black?
I highly recommend adding this 🇨🇦 masterpiece to your TBR list!
@nitaprose , what a phenomenal
debut novel! 👏🏻 This book is an absolute “state of perfection.” 😉
Thank you to @penguinrandomhouse and @netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. 🙏🏻❤️

#bookadoration #netgalley #penguinrandomhouse #nitaprose #themaid #bookstagram #canadianbookstagram

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of The Maid by Nita Prose!!

Molly is a maid at the Regency Hotel who spends her days following rules and cleaning rooms. She has trouble with social cues and is a bit naive. One day she comes back to finish cleaning A wealthy guests penthouse (Mr Black) and finds him dead. Will Molly be able to solve who killed Mr Black or will she herself be arrested for the murder?

This is a great first book by Nita Prose. I found I had a bit of a hard time connecting with Molly because of how innocent and childlike she seemed, but I can understand how other people would like that and appreciate it. This was an easy read. If you like Agatha Christy type novels you will enjoy this book.

Simple mystery, easy read. I loved the setting of this novel, and the premise was good. Molly, the main character is quirky, yet loveable. Some of her sayings were a little over the top. She was awkward socially, but didn’t let that stand in the way of pursuing her dreams.

Just finished reading THE MAID by Nita Prose. Thank you to Penguin Canada for my copy in exchange for an honest review. Official publication date was January 4th, 2022.

Molly Gray a.k.a. Molly the Maid 😂, is not like everyone else. Not your average maid! She struggles in social situations & definitely has OCD.

Since her Gran died a few months ago, Molly has been trying to get by on her own. Until she finds Mr. Black a wealthy regular at The Regency Grand hotel where she works, dead in his bed...and the police think she's the prime suspect.

Molly will have to navigate the challenges of social situations to clear her name, but not alone. This is a cozy heartwarming mystery, and really made me believe that there is good in people, and it's okay to be yourself.

A great debut by a Canadian 🇨🇦 author, and I will keep my eyes out for more by Prose!

Molly is a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. She takes her job very seriously, in fact, it’s more then a job for molly, cleaning (and “returning the suite to a state of perfection”)is her passion!

I really enjoyed reading a mystery narrated by a character in the story as opposed to the detective as is the usual style. That being said, Molly is a somewhat unreliable narrator and at times throughout the book I caught myself thinking “wait a second?”. You’ll have to give the book a read to find out what I mean! ;) and make sure to read on to the very last page!

Let me say that louder for the people in the back…. READ THE EPILOGUE!!!

I thoroughly enjoyed the characters (especially Mr. Preston) and the mystery in this story and would recommend it to anyone!!!

Thank you to Net Galley and Penguin Random House Canada, Viking for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!!!

Have you ever felt you were different from everyone else in the ways that matter? Socially, intellectually, etc. If so, you have to read this book. It's a locked room mystery reminiscent of the game Clue. Well written with fun dialogue and characters. It's entertaining and engrossing and just enough puzzles to keep you guessing.
Thank you NetGalley for providing this copy. The opinion expressed in this review is solely my own.