This is a book that I could 'Take it or leave it' so to speak. It didn't really excite my from the start so I had a hard time getting into it and never really warmed to it. Actually I found it rather boring.

A long winded, full of social issues, not very interesting or suspenseful type book. I don't like the characters as they came across as quite boring with not much personality, I didn't like the story as it just rambled and I must admit I did skip through some of the pages otherwise I would have just put it down and not finished it.

Not for me I'm afraid!

Eleanor Oliphant has a lot to answer for.
This one is worthwhile though.

An unreliable narrator tale of murder most convoluted in the Grand Regency Hotel, told by neurodiverse maid Molly Gray.

Everyone has colour names in this one, it gives you a clue as to what Molly thinks of them.

Molly is quirky and fun in a way that a neurotypical person may find someone with "subpar or abnormal social skills". She is innocent and naive and easily led. She obsessively loves to clean and follow rules, both spoken and implied as instilled by her beloved Gran and by Mr Snow, the owner of the hotel. Most people around her treat her like a child or take advantage of her trusting nature.

A compelling character driven story that sucks you in deep to a murder mystery, that in the end is quite neat and tidy.

25-year-old Molly Maid, is struggling with recently losing her closest relative, her gran. Without her gran to help her with social cues, Molly struggles to understand social context and expectations as she navigates a transitional phase in her life where she feels alone.

The story begins with a suspicious death of a prominent business man in the hotel that Molly works in as a maid, and Molly soon becomes a suspect in the developing case.

Set mainly in the hotel in which Molly works, The Maid follows Molly’s daily life as a maid as she cleans for the guests there. Her cleaning schedule is focused on in great detail due to the character POV, Molly’s love of cleaning, and the pride she takes in her work. Molly’s story is told from an interesting perspective.

I really enjoyed the character interactions in this book and Molly’s sincerity, especially regarding her love for her gran. The crime r in an interesting sequence of events that saw Molly caught up in the middle of something she didn’t seem to quite comprehend at first.

I wasn’t so keen on the resolution of Molly’s social difficulties, which felt a little like she learned how to fit in and then things were better, which didn’t feel realistic, given that she was unable to do so earlier in the book.

Nita Prose’s writing style is engaging, and moved the story well.

The Maid by Nita Prose is a great read for fans of cozy mysteries. The biggest strength of this book was the array of character’s and each one’s unique relationship with Molly, but you’ll keep reading to find out where things end up for Molly.

Molly Grey is a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel and she’s clearly seen some things while working there -
“I’m the one who cleans your hotel room, who enters like a phantom when you’re out gallivanting for the day, no care at all about what you’ve left behind, the mess, or what I might have seen when you’re gone.”
However, Molly has never seen something like this. When Molly enters prominent and fabulously wealthy Mr Blacks room she’s shocked to find more than just an empty room. Instead, she’s pulled deep into the mystery of Mr Black's death as she tries to clear her name.

This book is described as A Clue-like, locked-room mystery and I can’t help but agree wholeheartedly. This book had me hooked from the moment go and I could barely put it down.

Molly likes things simple and neat, she was raised by her Gran after her mother left her and now she has to make her way through life without the one person that's always been there for her. As such she clings to her job, making her career as a maid much more than just a job but into her life.
“Once I’m dressed for my workday, I feel more confident, like I know just what to say and do - at least most of the time. And once I take off my uniform at the end of the day I feel naked, unprotected, undone.”
Because of this Molly will do anything to keep everything neat and simple, being the main suspect for a murder of a hotel guest is not simple and neat.

⭐ REVIEW ⭐

The Maid by Nita Prose.

I thoroughly enjoyed this debut by Nita Prose, described perfectly as Agatha Christie meets Eleanor Oliphant.

Molly the Maid finds herself at the centre of a murder mystery, after finding the wealthy Mr Black dead in his hotel room.

I love a story set in a hotel. So I loved this. A mystery, though not thrilling, that still had me flicking through the pages quickly and eagerly.

I enjoyed being in Molly's mind, and definitely see the similarities between Molly Gray and Eleanor Oliphant.

Add this one to your TBR pile, I'm glad I did!

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the chance to read and review this impressive book.

A wonderful story ... well written and easy to read. Molly the Maid is a vulnerable woman who has a wonderful heart coming from a sheltered relationship with her beloved grandmother but lacks the ability to express her good intentions and social skills. The cosy mystery develops as the story progresses and comes to a delightful ending. Recommended reading to all cosy mystery readers. A five star read.

This book! It completely sucked me in within the first 30 pages and I found myself spending more and more time with my head between the pages. If you’re looking for a cozy mystery, this needs to be at the top of your list.

This story follows Molly, a neurodiverse Maid, working at the Regency Grand Hotel - this job means everything to her and she is damn good at it! As she goes about her normal duties, she finds a well known guest, Mr Black dead in his bed and the big question is, who did it?

I throughly enjoyed this story, full of wit and a loveable and unforgettable main character. Molly really stole my heart in this one, as she does her best to navigate life through the lens of her grandmother’s advice which was really heartwarming to see her able to flourish in a world that is against you.

Finding her self caught up in a murder investigation she has to enlist the help of those around her and the relationships she forms are really special and you find yourself wanting to shout encouragement to help set things right.

The writing was easily consumed and allows the reader to feel a sense of joy as you turn the last page, even with that clever little twist in the epilogue!

My favourite quote in the book came from Molly’s grandma, that ultimately “We are all the same in different ways”

I’m sure this book will continue to flood bookstagram and I’m really looking forward to the film adaption with Florence Pugh - AMAZING.

Thank-you to @harpercollinsaustralia & @netgally for my advance review copy.

Molly is potentially neurodivergent. A maid at a very nice hotel, she is often called name by other staff and completely misunderstood... and she continually misunderstands.
When Mr Black is found dead and she is the first person to find him, we start an unravelling of what from the outside seems to be a 'normal' hotel.

We have seen many wonderful books over the last few years ([book:Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine|31434883] and [book:The Rosie Project|16181775]) that explore main characters who have challenges and are seen as "different". Unfortunately The Maid is not one of them. Her character felt forced, unlikeable, and was really not consistent in her actions.
Add into that a whole bunch of stereotypes and a very odd ending....
It was easy enough reading, but scrapes in as 3 stars for me. I don't seem to be in the majority with my thoughts on this, so you may still want to give the book a go for yourself if the topics seems of interest.
With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Nita Prose - what a brilliant name for an author who is also an editor. Just perfect. This is her debut novel and it is a very good one.

[book:The Maid|55196813] introduces us to Molly Gray who understands life a little differently from the norm but is nevertheless intelligent and charming and, understanding her differences, works hard to deal with them. Her job is a great example. Her obsessive need to keep things clean and neat is perfectly channeled into cleaning rooms in a large, prestigious hotel.

Sadly Molly has recently lost her mother and is now left without her companionship and more importantly her guidance. When a man is discovered murdered in Molly's hotel she becomes involved in a number of issues which she compounds with her naivety. I wanted to jump into the book and save her but luckily she had a Good Fairy to assist.

I thought the mystery was handled well. There were several likely candidates for the murderer and a bit of a surprise was thrown in for good measure. I was also very happy with the way things turned out for Molly.

This is a feel good book and it is very hard to stop reading at any point during the story. Five stars from me and I recommend it to any one who wants their day to feel a little brighter.

“We’re all entitled to a bad day now & again, but when they are all bad days, with no pleasant ones, then it’s time to reconsider things.”

Molly is a maid at the prestigious Regency Grand Hotel and is wholly consumed by her job. After losing her beloved Gran, her role as a maid is pretty much the only asset she’s most attached to. So, when she discovers the dead body of a VIP guest- Mr Black, she becomes the prime suspect. All odds are against her despite all the loyalty she’s had for the hotel. But is she really the one who’s behind the crime?

The Maid is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated books 2022 has to offer. Nita Prose has carefully carved her characters in this debut fiction, and I instantly warmed up to the lead character- Molly, for her innocence and oblivious personality. In a world that is constantly racing up to tear each other down, being a pure soul appears to be a crime. And you’ll find so much of that in Molly. Yes, she’s different and socially awkward. She is mainly on the receiving end of being deceived by the ones she has a big heart for, but that makes her even more special. She takes pride in her work and is a superstar employee who likes to do her tasks with perfection. She’ll grow on you within the first few pages of the book.

At some stages, the novel did give me Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine vibes. But I also can’t deny that Prose has delivered an extraordinary story at the first go with an equal measure of heroes and villains protruding in her novel. I was slightly disappointed by the revelations in the epilogue because I was thoroughly invested in the story, and I expected something better, but it overall makes for a great read. It also bears all the potential to get pivoted into some Netflix series real soon. So watch out!

This book has received a lot of attention and it has been made into a series on Netflix. I enjoyed it but I didn't like the ending. I won't say what it is, of course, but it promotes one answer to an ethical question with which I disagree. The ends were tied up but I found the actual ending itself deeply depressing and the book could have ended in the previous chapter.

The story concerns Molly, a young and 'green' maid in a smart hotel in London. She is all alone, living in a flat in a shady building, and grieving her grandmother's death. She has no friends or boyfriend and most of the people at work treat her extremely badly. She has trouble reading and understanding people. The only positive note is that she loves her job. I liked the descriptions of the hotel and its luxurious rooms.

When Molly meets the glamorous Giselle, the wife of the much older and nasty Mr Black, she discovers that she has a new friend. But she becomes involved in a murder scandal which could ruin everything. Molly needs to rise to the occasion. Can she do it?

This is a clever and enjoyable book but the ending ruined it a bit for me.

I received this free ebook from NetGalley n return for an honest review.

This is a book that is getting a lot of hype - and now I know why.
Molly Grey is a maid at the Regent Grand Hotel, there her role is to restore hotel rooms to a state of perfection. This is a job that suits her to the ground, however, Molly is not good at reading people and situations, taking things purely at face value. She finds herself, unintentionally, at the centre of the murder of a hotel guest and things start to go downhill for Molly from there.
Molly is alone, raised by her grandmother who is now deceased, she is navigating life solo and finding her situation more and more difficult. Then when matters come to a head, she finds it hard to know who to trust. But then again are there people who should be worried that despite her lack of social skills, she is in fact quite astute and more capable than they give her credit for.
I am looking forward to reading more by this very talented author. Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins Australia for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I came very close to giving up on this book less than 100 pages in as I was so angry at the way Molly (a very obviously neurodivergent character although a ‘label’ was never given) was portrayed. A lot of it was what you would expect but other parts were quite offensive with just how stupid she was made out to be.
I decided to continue though, luckily, since my rating went from a 1 star to 3 stars. In any other book the complete change of character out of nowhere would have reduced my rating, not increased it, but since she was so badly portrayed in the beginning that complete change could be nothing but an improvement!

Overall (forgetting those first 100 pages), I found this to be a quick and fun read even though it wasn’t very memorable. The Gran was my favourite character which is saying something since she was dead before the book started, but her advice to Molly was lovely and was the main thing that kept me pushing through this book.

REVIEW: The Maid (★★★★★)
"My uniform is my freedom. It is the ultimate invisibility cloak."

𝘼 𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙮 (𝙉𝙤 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙨)…
𝘓𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘯, 𝘔𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘸𝘦𝘣 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥. 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘔𝘳 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘔𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵. 𝘔𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 - 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘺𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴.

It is not often that such an anticipated book lives up to the hype, but 'The Maid' is a delightful exception. As I do with extremely hyped books, I entered the world of 'The Maid' with caution and braced myself for disappointment. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that this was an easy 5 star read. It truly has it all - idiosyncratic and lovable characters, a refined plot, and delightful twists and turns. What an impressive debut! I will surely be looking out for more by Nita Prose.

A must-read for mystery fans - I haven't read a mystery novel that ties up all loose ends and has as many delightful twists as 'The Maid' in a while. On top of that, Prose manages to create nuanced and lovable characters - even the supporting characters are well-developed and realistic.

This being said, 'The Maid' defies genre. On the surface, it is indeed a cosy mystery, but it also borrows the best elements of many genres, including coming of age, fable, and humour. 

This book is sure to feature at the top of many readers' 2022 Favourites.

𝗬𝗼𝘂'𝗹𝗹 𝗔𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲...
ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE // GAIL HONEYMAN -  for another touching, humorous, and heart-breaking story about a lost soul struggling to find friends and piece of mind.
DIRK GENTLY'S HOLISTIC DETECTIVE AGENCY // DOUGLAS ADAMS -  like 'The Maid', the central plot of this novel is a mystery, but the book should be appreciated for so much more than that. Strong backstories, eccentric characters, clever word-smithery… both books have it all.
THE WIFE,, THE MAID, AND THE MISTRESS // ARIEL LAWHON - for another mystery narrated by the unseen and the marginalised. This one is based on the true story of the disappearance of Justice Crater in 1930.

There has been a lot of hype around The Maid lately, and I have to say, there are excellent reasons why this book has been so popular. However, I must admit that I don't know exactly how I feel about the latest tendency of neurodiverse characters written by neurotypical authors. Of course, I cannot condemn the representation... but shouldn't own-voices novels own this trend? Nevertheless, I must admit that this novel is perfect for fans of Eleanor Oliphant and Amy Asthon.

I read the first half of The Maid in one sitting. I was utterly engaged with the novel mainly because I instantly fell in love with Molly - a character hard to resist to. The richness of her inner monologue and her unique perspective of life were doubtlessly impressive. Prose's talent is remarkable: Molly defines what characterisation should always feel like. Prose found the perfect balance between innocence, wit, fairness, intelligence and goodness, making Molly an unforgettable character.

I also enjoyed how much empathy Proser made me feel. It was impossible to ignore the shocking reality of what our society looks like and how there are always genuinely awful people out there. Weirdly enough, this made me feel enthusiastic, and I promised myself to be on the lookout for those who might be struggling silently. Prose and Molly made me want to be kinder.

However, I must admit that I was somehow disappointed with the plot development. The novel has been referred to as a 'murder mystery', but from the very beginning, it is blatantly clear what happened, what is happening and who the culprits are. The mystery elements did not contribute much because they were pretty predictable and clouded the balance between plot and characterisation.

Overall, The Maid is an addictive novel portraying one of the most adorable and admirable characters of all time. It is full of funny and heartwarming moments and also many heartbreaking ones. I'd recommend it to readers looking for a heartfelt and entertaining story with low expectations regarding plot development.

A charming story that is easy to devour in a couple of days. Molly the Maid is quirky, endearing, and a joy to read. She has an Eleanor Oliphant vibe about her, and I loved experiencing life through her unique lens. The story was far from what I expected, I found the prologue a little misleading to what the book is about but nevertheless I enjoyed it. Even though it carries themes of crime and violence it’s ultimately a feel-good story that’s full of heart. It’s eventful and funny, with intriguing characters that really come to life. What would have elevated the story for me is if there was more suspense throughout it or a twist to where things ultimately finished up. Because I was comparing it to Eleanor Oliphant a little, I was expecting a bombshell ending which unfortunately didn’t happen.

I looked up a review for this book before I read it and it was classified as a cosy crime. That description almost put me off. I like real crime not cosy old lady stuff. But then I figured I love the Thursday Murder club books and they are “cosy” right? I am very glad I read this book, it is so good and it is all thanks to the main character Molly.
Molly works as a maid at a 5 star hotel. She takes extra special pride in her work and her attention to detail. She likes to leave the rooms in a state of perfection. Raised by her Gran, she sees the world in a different way to everyone else. She takes things literally and fails to see the worst in people. She misses social cues and often misinterprets the intentions of others. Her beloved Gran helped her steer a course through life and now she is gone, Molly must do the best she can.
When she finds a wealthy and well known guest dead in one of the rooms, Molly becomes the prime suspect. Because of her naivety at reading situations she finds it hard to understand that she could have been framed for the murder.
The who dunnit aspect of the book, for me, was the side character of the story, the main character was Molly, the one you are rooting for. She is so well written and although never stated maybe has a form of autism? The reader can clearly see what is going on around her as she falls victim to foul play.
It’s a wonderful easy read and I will be recommending it to lots of people.

#TheMaid #NetGalley

“𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯!”

Another delightfully cosy whodunit! Molly spends her days cleaning up other people’s mess as a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. When a guest is found dead and Molly is accused of murder, she finds herself in a mess that even she can’t clean on her own.

Molly the maid is utterly charming. Quirky and endearing, Molly struggles with social skills and often misreads situations, cues and tones of others. The way Prose gives readers insight and clues about other characters through Molly’s lack of social awareness is just brilliant, and made for a totally unique reading experience for me.

This book covered a multitude of topics that surprised me including domestic abuse, drug use, immigration and grief. Although this sits in the mystery/crime category, the murder component felt secondary to Molly’s character exploration and this list of social issues. Whilst this would usually irk me, I found myself less invested in solving the crime, and more interested in watching Molly forge stronger connections and realise that she isn’t truly alone in the world.

The Maid is heart-warming and sweet, and I highly recommend this book if you’re after a little bit of mystery and a whole lot of heart 💚

Thank you @harpercollinsaustralia and @netgalley for the e-ARC of this delightful read ✨

The Maid by Nita Prose was a real surprise. Although marketed as a mystery I found it a really lovely story and adored the main character Molly and the way she looked at the world!

Molly is a maid at a 5 star hotel and when she finds a rich guest dead in his bed her life turns upside down. The story is told in the present and in flashbacks and I highly recommend it !Massive thanks to Harpercollins Australia and Netgalley for a digital copy of this book to read and review .

Nita Prose’ debut novel The Maid is one of the most highly anticipated 2022 new releases. Book rights have already been sold in 29 territories and the film rights snapped up by Universal pre-release; Florence Pugh set to play the title character. And yes, I am very pleased to report that this title certainly lives up to the hype.

This novel has so many intriguing and intelligent layers. On one level this is a clever cozy crime mystery. On another, it is a compelling character study. Molly Gray, aka Molly the Maid, finds comfort and satisfaction in black and white rules, but is all at sea in the ‘grey’ of human interactions.

Her quirks and prospensity to take things literally spawns light-hearted moments of course. But as we know, those that are different walk paths more difficult than most. Continue reading full review at BookloverBookReviews.com