I'm still reading this, but thought id leave this message before the post gets archived. I do have a physical copy as well.

I have to say I found this book a bit disappointing when compared to the first two books in the series. This felt less of a clever mystery and more of a family drama, which lashings of emotion. I still adore Molly as a character, and other regular characters were just as charming, but the lack of focus on the mystery left me wanting more.

There's a lot of focus on Gran's history, which on one hand is interesting, but on the other a bit out of step with the rest of the book. I can't say I found the chapters that enthralling, and it felt I'd signed up for a period drama. And this is where one my biggest issues is with this book. The chapters starring Gran, of Flora, continually pulled me away from Molly, and I read these books for Molly and her unique point of view. Removing Molly for maybe half of the book was a big issue for me.

But when Molly is the point of view character, the book works. Even though the mystery is weak, her narrative voice is still strong. A stronger mystery would have been welcome, and I know Nita Prose can write a stronger mystery, but I'm still grateful for being able to read more about Molly.

Was this the best ending for this series? No, it could have been stronger, but it still had charm and Molly's character was still written with grace.

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Molly the maid is back again! I’ve read all the other Molly the maid books and have loved them all. This one was no different. This story starts with being about a tv show similar to Antiques Roadshow going to Molly’s place of work and her taking in her grandmother’s treasures. However, the story goes between a chapter by Molly and a chapter from her grandmother’s diary, which I loved, it filled the backstory to Molly and her life. Throw in some drama and mystery with a stolen Faberge egg and some interesting characters and the two timelines and it builds a great story. Especially when it all ties together and makes sense near the end.

4 1/2 ⭐️ rounded up
I was so excited for the next instalment in the Molly the Maid series, but with a bit of trepidation after not enjoying the Mistletoe Mystery novella.

I absolutely loved this book, while not following the same format at the other stories (no murders), I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Grandmas backstory. It was a beautiful ode to family love and sacrifice packaged in the same easy to digest story telling.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in return for my honest feedback.

The Maid's Secret (Book 3 in the Molly the Maid Series) by Nita Prose

Molly, the Head Maid and newly appointed Special Events Manager at the Regency Grand Hotel is prepping for her upcoming wedding with Juan Manuel. One of Molly and her Gran's favourite reality TV shows, "Hidden Treasures", films an episode at the hotel, and Molly brings in a shoebox of her Gran's things for appraisal; one piece is revealed to be a priceless treasure, but the heirloom disappears in a daring heist!

Luckily, another item discovered in the shoebox is the key to Gran's diary, which alternates with Molly's chapters. Gran's chapters, which recounted her upbringing and forbidden love, weren't my favourite parts of this book. The characters were written to be deliberately unlikeable, so while I didn't enjoy them, they were a success, character-wise.

The two stories/timelines are cleverly connected, and the book (and possibly the series?) is wrapped up with everybody living happily ever after.

Thumbs up 👍 but probably not as big a thumbs up as the earlier books in the series.

Go read a book!

Body count: 0 - a very cosy mystery.

The Maids Secret will be available on April 10, 2025. Thanks to HarperCollins Australia for giving me the eARC of The Maids Secret to read via NetGalley.

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Molly the Maid makes her return in the third book of this series. Molly has been promoted to Head Maid and is madly in love with her partner Juan, who also works at the Regency. The two are planning for their wedding when Molly becomes the victim of crime. Told through dual timelines with alternating perspective of Molly and her Grandma we are taken back to where it all began. The story started out slowly but picked up midway. A cosy mystery for fans of Molly

Molly Gray is back for the third instalment in Nita Proses ‘Molly The Maid’ series. During this book we follow Molly who is a head maid at The Regency Grand Hotel when a daring heist takes place and Molly is at the centre of it.

A popular TV show called Hidden Treasures takes place at the hotel and Molly decides to bring along a few of her Grans things in a shoebox until low and behold she finds out one of the items is a rare and priceless treasure.

I loved how Nita Prose cleverly ties the two timelines together of past with Grans diary entries and present.

I’ve just finished reading The Maid’s Secret, the third and (I think) final book in the Molly The Maid series (I believe there’s also a Christmas novella available but I haven’t read that one). I have read the other two books in the series and enjoyed them both.
This third book was also an enjoyable read. I really liked getting the back story of Molly’s grandmother, it really held my interest and kept me wanting to read more. Molly herself is a bit of a one dimensional character so I was more interested in reading about her gran’s story than Molly’s but I think the story did flow well between present day and in the past, and was happy with the ending too.
The story felt a bit too coincidental in a couple of areas, a little unrealistic, but overall, I thought it was quite a good read. The touch of mystery, dash of romance and the family ties are what I most enjoyed. Three and a half stars from me. Thanks HarperCollins Australia and Net Galley for the opportunity

Thank you HarperCollins Australia and Netgalley an ARc of this book.

Molly the Maid returns in the third and likely final book in this series.

Molly has been promoted to Head Maid and is madly in love with her partner Juan, who also works at the Regency. Plans for their wedding are going well when life is turned upside down for Molly when she becomes the victim of crime.

Told through dual timelines and the alternating voices of Molly and Grandma we are taken right back to where it all began.

Nita Prose neatly ties up all the lingering questions of history in the family and seemingly completes her trilogy in a completely wrapped bow.
I’m glad I finished it up, however the first half dragged for me. I wanted more but now it’s finished I can see where it was leading, albeit a bit slowly for my liking.

An enjoyable read, however not my favourite in this series.
3.5 stars.

2.5 stars

The Maid's Secret is the 3rd novel in the Molly the Maid series and Molly is back to solve another mystery. The author changes things up a bit in this instalment and explores two timelines, present day, and her grandmother's youth which I was excited to learn more about. This was a refreshing new perspective in this series and I would've enjoyed this book less without it.

This books delivers the same great atmosphere and the occasional laugh that I've come to expect from Nita Prose, but I maintain that Molly the Maid should have been a standalone. Book 2 and the Christmas novella both felt stale and this book even more so, with the exception of gran's perspective as a reprieve. Molly is an endearing yet one-note character, which you may argue is where her charm lies and I wouldn't disagree, but a one-note character can't carry 3 novels and a novella successfully in my opinion. For perspective, if this was a 3 season tv show, I think I'd watch 4-5 episodes of season 1 and call it a day. Some of the side characters are interesting but they're about as dynamic as Molly with maybe one exception. The romance is sweet (and cringey, sorry!) as ever in this instalment but I'm glad the author didn't force conflict to spice things up, as is common when a mc is close to their HEA.

Overall I wouldn't recommend this to anyone unless they are head over heels in love with the entire series so far, because it has actually negatively impacted my opinion of book 1 (which I enjoyed) because of how drawn out the storyline has been.

The Maid's Secret by Nita Prose is the third instalment in her hugely successful Molly the Maid series. This one is a little different from the previous two as it's a dual narrative, Molly in the present day and her Gran in the past, told through the medium of a diary. I quite enjoyed Gran's backstory, but overall, this one was an average read for me, at best. I found the elements of the mystery far too dependent upon unrealistic coincidences, and the banter between the characters felt cheesy and overdone. It was a bit tedious.

Looking back over my ratings for each of these Molly the Maid books, the first book in the series was a solid 5 stars, the second was a 4 star read, for the Christmas special I gave 3 stars, but for this one, it's 2.5 stars. I think Molly the Maid has reached the end of her road, and the happy ever after ending of this one makes me believe that it should be the final book.

‘My gran loved to tell stories. A maid for most of her life, her best stories featured maids.’

Molly Gray is now the Head Maid at The Regency Grand Hotel, and about to marry Juan Manuel, the love of her life. As the story opens, Molly and Manuel’s wedding is two months away, and meanwhile they are both preparing for the filming of the popular television program ‘Hidden Treasures’ at The Regency Grand Hotel.

Molly takes a shoebox of her late Gran’s treasures to be valued. Imagine Molly’s surprise when Beagle and Brown, the hosts of the show, assess one of those items as extremely valuable. But the valuable item has a backstory, which Molly partially uncovers through reading her Gran’s diary.
The story shifts between Molly in the present and, through her diary, her Gran in the past. The past contains several secrets and there are two mysteries to be solved.

While I really enjoyed the first two books in this series, this instalment did not work quite so well for me. I found it difficult to reconcile the young Flora in the diary with Molly’s wise Gran, and I struggled with some of the machinations of Beagle and Brown in the present.

Still, Molly is our hero, and she does solve the present-day mystery.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

After enjoying the previous three chapters of Molly the Maid’s story I was really looking forward to getting swept up in this newest edition, and reader it did not disappoint!

This story builds over a dual timeline, building out Molly’s beloved Gran and her backstory while also following along the usual cosy mystery structure with Molly in the middle of a priceless artefact heist. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Gran’s mysterious backstory and had all the feels as it is neatly round up, as usual.

Thank you to the HarperCollins Publishers Australia, Nita Prose, and NetGalley for the gifted digital ARC.

Third book of Molly the Maid’s adventures-this was fun, captivating and heartwarming cosy mystery and I certainly enjoyed this one as much as I enjoyed reading the first book. ( have to read the second and in between!)

Highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher HarperCollins Publishers Australia for the ARC,

A fairytale in reverse! I loved being transported back into the world of Molly, Juan Manuel & The Regency Grand hotel. Though the first book in the series remains my favourite, The Maid’s Secret ties so many loose ends together in this series (for what feels like a finale?). The golden egg well and truly becomes Molly’s fabergé when she takes it in for an appraisal on an antique roadshow-esque show - she becomes an instant millionaire, until it vanishes!

The dual timeline approach keeps the suspense high in current day events, and Gran’s diary becomes paramount to solving this whodunnit mystery. Along the way, we find out more about Gran’s backstory and a heartfelt love story between her and Mr Preston.

Huge thank you to Netgalley and & Harper Collins Australia for this ARC, this was one of my most anticipated reads this year and it did not disappoint!

Thank you so much to @harpercollinsaustralia and @netgalley for this ARC, which will be published on 10th April 2025.

Another wonderful installment of Molly the maid’s series. This is a heartwarming cozy mystery, centered around Molly and her hilarious adventures at the Regency Hotel.

This one is told in alternating timelines. In the past timeline we learn of Molly’s Gran’s childhood and upbringing through a diary that she kept for Molly. In the present day, a reality TV show, Hidden Treasures, comes to the Regency Hotel to film an episode. This show assesses antiques that people have at home to see if they are valuable treasures. Juan encourages Molly to bring her Faberge egg, even though she thinks it’s just a trinket. But alas, it’s worth millions! And that’s just the
first twist.

A heist later, a death threat later and lots of other funny twists, Molly is thrown in the midst of the investigation and she may hold the key to solving the case – the answers may be in her Gran’s diary.

I really enjoyed how the two timelines converged into the ending. I enjoyed reading Gran’s story, heartbreaking as it
was. It filled a lot of the gaps of the family history. The present was heartwarming as Molly and Juan are about to get married. This is definitely a character driven book, not just for Molly and Juan, but all of the supporting characters. I also quite enjoyed the new doorman at the Regency, Speedy.

If you’re after a cozy mystery that will have you chuckle along but also pull at your heartstrings then pick this up. This is a great series.

Molly Gray is back for one last mystery at the Regency Grand Hotel, and what a final adventure it is! In The Maid's Secret, Nita Prose delivers another delightful, heartwarming, and intricately woven story featuring the lovable yet complex Molly the Maid. This installment brings together elements of family secrets, hidden pasts, and a thrilling mystery that keeps readers engaged until the very last page.

Molly has now risen through the ranks to become the esteemed Head Maid of the Regency Grand Hotel, a role she takes immense pride in. Her meticulous nature and deep-rooted love for cleaning—instilled in her by her beloved Gran—make her a perfect fit for maintaining the hotel's pristine reputation. But when a theft threatens to tarnish the hotel's image, Molly finds herself entangled in yet another puzzle that demands her unique perspective.

What sets this novel apart is its deep dive into Molly’s personal history. While she’s busy solving the present-day mystery, she stumbles upon an even more intriguing enigma—secrets hidden within her Gran’s diary. The diary reveals a past she never could have imagined, raising questions about why her Gran cut ties with certain people and kept these truths from her. As Molly untangles these revelations, readers are taken on a dual-timeline journey that beautifully explores the impact of family secrets and self-discovery.

One of the reasons I felt a strong connection to this series is because of Molly’s character. As someone on the spectrum, she approaches the world in a way that feels both authentic and refreshing. Her literal interpretations, her struggle with social nuances, and her deep love for structure make her an incredibly relatable protagonist. Nita Prose does a brilliant job portraying Molly’s unique perspective with warmth and respect, making her one of the most memorable and endearing characters in contemporary fiction.

This book also brought back memories of my mum and her love for Antiques Roadshow. The themes of uncovering hidden histories, the appreciation for things long forgotten, and the excitement of revealing truths all resonated deeply. However, it also brought a bittersweet feeling—knowing this is the last installment in the Molly the Maid series. Saying goodbye to a character I’ve felt so at home with is never easy, but I’m grateful for the journey.

Reading The Maid's Secret was another reminder of why I love being a book reviewer—getting the chance to experience incredible stories before they hit the shelves. With its April release date, readers still have time to anticipate this final chapter in Molly’s story, and I can confidently say that it’s a mystery worth unraveling.

Мolly тнe мaιd ιѕ вacĸ! вυт тнιѕ тιмe Мolly geтѕ тнreaтѕ !

Тнιѕ ιѕ мy тнιrd Мolly'ѕ вooĸ and everyтιмe ιт geтѕ вeттer. Тнere ιѕ ѕυѕpenѕe ѕυrely вυт тнιѕ тιмe тнere ιѕ love тoo. Readιng тнroυgн тнιѕ мade мe ғaмιlιer тo Мolly'ѕ gran. Нer gran'ѕ dιary тo Мolly depιcтed a loт aвoυт нer lιғe and alѕo нelped Мolly тo ѕolve a мajor нιeѕт тнaт ғollowed lιғe тнreaтѕ тo нer.

Ι lιĸed тнιѕ мore мayвe вecaυѕe тнere waѕ leѕѕ oғ Мolly'ѕ repeaтed вeнavιoυr тo вe ѕeen lιĸe prevιoυѕ вooĸѕ. Ι lιĸed тнe clever ploттιng or тнe вooĸ and тнe relaтιon oғ тнe cнaracтerѕ. Тнere waѕ alѕo ѕoмe мoмenтѕ oғ eмoтιon aт тнe end oғ тнe вooĸ.

Тнanĸ yoυ neтgalley ғor an early arc

Thank you to @harpercollinsaustralia and @netgalley for this gifted arc! This one comes out on the 10th of April 2025!

I was so thankful and excited to receive this arc as I have absolutely loved this series so far.

Molly has recently been promoted to Head Maid and Special Events Manager at the Regency Grand Hotel and her wedding to Juan is upcoming in two months. Things are looking up for her. When a reality show, Hidden Treasures comes to film at the hotel, Molly brings some of her trinkets from her Gran to be appraised. Brown and Beagle are the art appraisers and to everyone’s surprise, one of Molly’s items is a treasure, a faberge egg, may be worth millions. It seems like Molly’s life might be turned upsidedown and she becomes an overnight celebrity. When the egg goes missing, and Molly’s life is threatened, an investigation ensues. There’s a mystery to uncover-the story of this valuable item, where it came from and to whom it belonged and Molly holds the key- a literal key to her Gran’s diary.

It was a joy to return to Molly’s world, I loved her voice and her quirky personality. She is so loyal in her role at the hotel and to her Juan Manuel and she’s still quoting Gran’s words of wisdom. This was written in dual perspectives, Molly’s voice in current day, and Gran’s diary, written in letter form to Molly. At the beginning, I really enjoyed Molly’s perspective but I struggled a bit to connect with Gran’s pages. As I kept reading, the story began to come to life and her diary pages were absolutely worthwhile.

This was an emotional read and despite a slower pace on Gran’s perspective, I felt that all the pieces came together really beautifully in the end. The third book really pulled the series together and there was a really nice family history aspect to the third book. Thank you so much for the arc, a very enjoyable read but sad for Molly’s story to come to a close.

My Favourite Molly so far! Sincerely hoping for a Book 4 in this series!
I've never been much of a fan of Gran tbh, but was happy to learn more about her (even though that's mostly what kept me from giving this one 5 stars). I can appreciate that it was a necessary part of Molly's story here, it just didn't jive with me completely nor did it make me any more of a fan of Gran than i already was not. lol
Molly Rocked this story! She just gets better, more mature, with each book and seems to have Really come into her own. I Absolutely Loved Her, and her main supporting characters also continue to shine! :D
Many Thanks to HarperCollins Publishers Australia and NetGalley for this ARC! xox