She’s back! This is the fourth Molly the Maid book I’ve read if you include the Christmas novella. I’ve liked Molly’s character since the first book. In this one we still get all the characters from the Regency Grand Hotel as Molly gets ready for her nuptials to Juan Manuel.

An antique type roadshow is coming to the hotel and Molly brings her golden egg from her gran. The story of the egg unfolds with a dual timeline story.

I love this cast of characters that has a cozy vibe. We are able to learn more about Gran and Mr. Preston’s backstory.

Pick this up for a continuation of Molly’s story with all her Amelia Bedelia like antics along the way

Returning to Molly Gray's world in The Maid’s Secret felt like slipping back into a cozy, familiar room—neat, orderly, and full of quiet surprises. Nita Prose has a real talent for crafting characters that are both quirky and deeply human, and Molly remains one of the most unique and endearing protagonists I’ve read in recent years.

In this follow-up to The Maid, Molly is still navigating the pristine but often chaotic world of the Regency Grand Hotel, but this time, there are new layers of intrigue and emotion at play. The mystery is tightly woven, with just enough twists to keep the pages turning, but what really shines (again) is Molly’s voice—precise, sincere, and refreshingly different.

On a more personal note, I have a family member who is neurodivergent, and that’s made me especially appreciative of how Prose writes Molly’s worldview. Her perspective isn’t just a quirk—it’s a lens that makes the story richer, more thoughtful, and often unexpectedly moving. It’s heartwarming to see a character who interprets the world in a unique way be treated with such care and dignity.

What I especially appreciated about The Maid’s Secret is how it deepens Molly's character. We get more of her backstory, her vulnerabilities, and her evolving relationships, all without losing the charm and quiet wisdom that made her so beloved in the first book. The themes of truth, perception, and how we judge others are handled with care, and the pacing strikes an outstanding balance between heartfelt moments and classic whodunit tension.

If you enjoyed The Maid, this sequel delivers everything you'd hope for—and maybe a little more. Nita Prose expands Molly’s world without losing the intimate feel that made the first book so special. It’s a satisfying, thoughtful mystery that reminds us that sometimes the biggest secrets are hiding in plain sight.

I usually read a book in one sitting, but I had to take breaks from this one.
This is basically a story about Gran told in flashbacks, and I just didn't like Flora (Gran). Plus, she makes a sacrifice that turns out to be for naught.
As Molly and Juan (who, for some reason, really annoyed me in this book) prepare for their wedding, a TV show comes to the hotel. Hidden treasures, the show encourages the staff to bring their treasures, and that egg in Molly's sideboard turns out to be a Faberge.
This leads to quite a mystery, which, of course, Molly solves. All our favorite characters appear, as well as many new ones.
it was interesting to learn how Gran went from being a spoiled rich girl to a maid. There are many really terrible people in this book, but in the end Molly is surrounded by those who love her.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the EARC. These are my honest opinions.

I adore Molly The Maid so much. I have loved every book in this series. I enjoy getting to know her and follow her in all of her adventures.

This book was a little different than the previous books. This one did not have a murder but was still a mystery.

I really enjoyed that we got to read the diary of Gran. This allowed her to tell her story and how it all tied together with the mystery in this book.

I hope there will be more books in the series because I can’t get enough of Molly.

I uploaded my review to Goodreads. I uploaded it to Amazon on release day.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Nita Prose for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Maid's Secret coming out April 8, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I was obsessed with the first book! I have a real thing for mysteries set in hotels. I really enjoy Molly’s character and personality. She sees things differently than other people. I love her relationship with Juan. I think the first two books were amazing and I loved them so much. The novella was really short and fun. I have a few mixed feelings about this book. Overall, I’ll always love this series. This book felt different than the other books. I think maybe because of the two timelines. I enjoyed it a lot, and I’ll always be a fan of Molly. I was just expecting a little something different. However, I definitely love the series.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys mysteries!

This was so freaking good! I always love the Molly Gray books but this one really hit me in the feels. The “dear molly” chapters were definitely my favorite. Learning more about gran’s past was sooo interesting it just made me want to keep reading. I love this series so much.

Out of all the entries in the Molly the Maid series, I found this one to be lackluster. The most compelling part of the story was the flashbacks of Molly’s grandma Flora’s childhood. It was beautiful and heartbreaking, made me really appreciate the strength of women. The present day story showed how Molly discovers her trinket is worth millions, causing her to go viral. This storyline eventually turned into a mystery but it didn’t present itself until halfway through the novel. Since the mystery resolved more quickly, it felt like the stakes weren’t very high. Even if this entry was disappointing, I have no idea where this series will go from here. This story felt forced and I can’t imagine future entries not feeling the same.

📖 Title: The Maid's Secret
✍️ Author: Nita Prose
📃 Publisher: Ballantine Books
🗓 Pub Date: April 8, 2025
Genre: mystery
Format: Kindle (eARC)
Length: 336 pages
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“A life without love is not worth living."
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I am so happy to be back in Molly the Maid's world! This is the third and last book of the series, and I think it was the perfect way to end it.
We are back to following Molly and her love, Juan Manuel. Molly is engaged and the Head Maid and Special Events Manager of the Regency Grand Hotel. She couldn't be happier! She is living the quiet life she has always wanted. Well, things are about to change when Molly's favorite reality TV show decides to come to the hotel. Hidden Treasures seek antiquities. She decides to bring a few of her gran's things, and one of them ends up being worth more than she ever imagined. But trouble is always following Molly, and when the treasure gets sold, it disappears! Molly and her close friends will have to dig into the past to find the theif.

I LOVED that we got journal entries from Molly's gran! To be honest, I was more entertained with her story than the present events. Dual timeline. Dual POV. A bingeable, cozy mystery. Definitely recommend all The Maid fans to read this final book of the series!

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Run date for when the review will be posted/published: 4/8/2025

A link to your review, if available, so the publisher can share your review: https://www.instagram.com/p/DINQwwdOtpJ/

This is the third full-length novel in the Molly the Maid series & it did not disappoint! The story continues with Molly & the Regency Grand Hotel who are hosting television art collectors looking at 'Hidden Treasures' brought in by the staff of the hotel. Molly realizes that something she always underestimated may have the power to change her future.

I really enjoyed this book because it was a little different than the previous novels. The story explored more of gran/Flora's backstory which weaved in & out of Molly's present day circumstances. I also loved the character development that happened for Molly as she considered a big life change, something that seems uncomfortable for her to experience. This was definitely less of a whodunit and leaned more into family drama, but it was a great continuation of the character's lives. I'd definitely recommend for fans of Molly the Maid!

Molly Maid is back! Another fun, cozy mystery from Nita Prose as we re-enter the world of Molly the Maid, gran, and her fiancé Juan Manuel.

With the wedding rapidly approaching, Molly and Juan could use some extra cash. Molly brings some knickknacks of grans to the Regency Grand to be evaluated by the show Hidden Treasures. Unexpectedly, she learns that one item in particular, an old egg, has more value than she ever could have imagined. But as quickly as it came to her, it was gone, leaving Molly and friends on a quest to figure out what happened to the egg.

In order to figure out what is happening in the present, Molly is forced to dig further into the past - gran's past. That was by far the best part of the story and so engaging, which is really challenging for a third novel in a series to do. But I found this one to be quite entertaining and a quick read, just like the others. Would definitely recommend for fans of Molly. as it gives more insight into her family's history.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for my eARC in exchange for an honest review - out today!

Gran's origin story!

In this third installment, Molly Gray steps into a supporting roll and Gran's past takes center stage. The story splits into two, where we learn of Gran's life as told to Molly through diary entries, and alternating chapters about an art heist happening in the hotel where Molly works. Both stories converge at the end.

After a rather slow start the tempo and interest picks up about halfway through. It's Gran's story that saved this book for me. Otherwise, it would have been too much with the number of outlandish characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House/Ballantine, and Ms. Prose for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

I enjoyed this book but it wasn't my favorite of the series. Instead of Molly solving a mystery in her unique way, this book instead gives us two books tied together: (A) Gran's backstory, delivered in the form of letters to Molly as diary entires and (B) Molly's misery as she becomes briefly internet famous due to the discovery that her "knickknack" is actually an extremely valuable Faberge egg. First Molly suffers in the spotlight, which she does not understand, then the egg is stolen (accompanied by death threats), then the egg is returned (accompanied by more threats), but whodunnit? The mystery here, even though it sounds like a big deal, takes a definite seat to Gran's tragic backstory. This Gran is a younger, snobbier version who had not yet learned harsh life lessons. I felt sorry for her.

Overall it was fun, although I liked the first two books more because the focus was entirely on the mysteries that Molly was solving. Molly's unique detective process is where the books really shone, in my opinion. Nonetheless, I would still recommend it; if you enjoyed Molly before you'll find a lot to like here too.

⭐⭐⭐

Hooray! Molly Gray is back and better than ever. Thank you Nita Prose for giving your reader The Maid's Secret. Molly is a most memorable character and her positive personality can lift anyone's spirits. Molly becomes a media sensation because she possesses an extremely valuable Fabergé egg. Molly shuns the celebrity that comes with the discovery. She is thrilled to be engaged to Juan Manuel and she relishes the challenge of her job as Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. The egg is just a distraction to her. Molly has all the ingredients for her future happiness, but a financial windfall would be nice. Prose makes this novel fascinating by revealing more about Molly's family tree. The Maid's Secret is a very good mystery with Molly at its heart.

The Maid's Secret may just be my favorite in this series! While Molly the Maid is preparing for her upcoming wedding, the Regency Grand Hotel is preparing for an upcoming taping of Hidden Treasures, a popular antiquities show. When employees are given the chance to have some of their personal items appraised, Molly's world turns upside down as she is made aware of the value of a collectable she possesses. Filled with mystery, surprises and many twists and turns, The Maid's Secret also takes us back in time as Gran's diary is revealed to Molly and we learn even more about her past. I've always loved the connection Molly and her Gran share, and I especially enjoyed learning more about her past in this book. I would highly recommend this book, and the entire Molly the Maid series. Thank you to Net Galley and Ballantine Books for the advanced copy, all opinions are my own.

I love the Molly the Maid series! This is number four in the series (the third was a cute holiday novella, in case you missed it) and while it still felt like a Molly novel, we as readers got a lot more. The Maid’s Secret goes back and forth in time as Molly deals with an art heist at the hotel in the present and Gran’s young adulthood and engagement in the past.

I just loved how much Gran we got in this book! And so much more depth to all the beloved characters. If you’re hooked by this series like I am, it’s on shelves today!

4.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine for the free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

When the reality TV show Hidden Treasures arrives to film at Molly's Regency Grand Hotel, the employees are given the opportunity to bring their own treasures in for appraisal. Molly brings in some belongings of her late grandmother and everyone is surprised when one particular item is indeed a treasure. But when it disappears, Molly searches for the item and discovers the story of her grandmother and her childhood.

This is the 3rd book in the Molly the Maid series and it's another fun one. Getting a look into Molly's gran's life is interesting and gives us more insight into how she was and how she raised Molly. This is both a whodunit and a family story and both are told very well. Entertaining and interesting, we get to revisit our favorite characters and meet some new ones.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Available April 8, 2025.

The Maid's Secret by Nita Prose
(Molly the Maid #3)

Molly never wants attention shining on her. She loves her simple life as head maid at the Regency Grand, simple to her because she knows her job, she's written an instruction manual for the job, even. So much of what she knows about life came from her late, wise grandmother, the person she misses most dearly.

Now a reality TV show, Hidden Treasures, is filming at the Regency Grand and Molly tosses in old things that belonged to her grandmother, including an old, jeweled egg, to be valued by the hosts. That old egg, when appraised, is what throws Molly into the spotlight. Now everyone wants a part of Molly, the Molly who will be multimillionaire once the egg sells. Then there is an egg crisis, not the kind of eggs you eat crisis, but a Molly's egg crisis.

Throughout the story we get to go back in time to Gran's early days which are much different than Molly would have suspected. It's the early days that didn't feel right to me but the story is trying to present Gran's early days as a kind of reverse fairy tale. Sadly, I think early Gran came across as one of the wicked step sisters in a famous fairy tale and she was so off putting, selfish, and cruel that it was hard to match her up to the Gran Molly knew.

I had more fun with the present day Molly and trying to figure out what Molly and company were going to do about the egg and with the egg. Molly has her beloved fiancé, Juan Manuel, and all the friends that love and support her. Molly has really grown over this series and I enjoyed watching her move toward her wedding, a wedding that didn't need to be fancy at all because she knows the important things in life and those things have nothing to do with money.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

LoveLoveLoved this sweet story of our beloved Molly the Maid and her treasured egg. I have read and enjoyed all the previous Molly books and this one did not disappoint! Precious Molly brings her old, jewel encrusted egg to a televised appraisal at the hotel where she is employed, and is more than shocked to find that the piece actually has GREAT value. What ensues is the story behind the egg, revealed in her Gran's diary, and the adventure of finding out what folks will do for both riches and for love. The Maid's Secret is well written, and compelling just like the other Maid stories, and the ending is, of course, delightful! Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The Maid's Secret!

The Maids Secret 💛🗝️🥚

Molly is back to her maid duties at the Regency Grand Hotel. Head Maid in charge and Special Events manger— two good things are around the corner. A taping of the hit antique show Hidden Treasures is about to be tapped at the hotel. Molly is so excited to bring a few trinkets of her gran. When her soon to be husband suggests she bring “the golden huevo” for appraisal she agrees. Molly is shocked to find out this egg is worth millions and if she sells it she could live comfortably for the rest of her life. But all things change when the golden huevo goes missing. Threats start popping up and Molly is scared. Will the golden egg be found or will Molly keep being threatened?

I feel like this book was okay. We got a look into the past with grans diary entries, but to be honest the begging half of the entities were long and boring. I feel like they could have been shorter and wrapped up a little more. By the time you finished the entry you had to refresh on the current happenings at the hotel. The entries helped solve the case in the end, but again they could have been a little shorter. Also this mystery I started to guess about half way through. 😣

Read if you like:
Art heist 🖼️
Hidden treasures 🥚
Past flash backs 📔
Happy endings 💍

Ratings:
⭐️: 3.5/5
📖: 336
📚: mystery
🍾: out today 4/8

Thank you @nitaprose @ballantinebooks @netgalley for my early copy!!

The Maid’s Secret by Nita Prose is the third book in the Molly the Maid series.

Molly Gray is back, still working at the Regency Grand as Head Maid and Special Events Manager. She and Juan Manuel are engaged to be married and although they do not have much, they are happy. Life changes dramatically for Molly when one of her prized possessions turns out to be worth millions, leading to mystery, theft, and intrigue. Throughout the novel we are also learning about Gran’s history through a journal she left for Molly and this was the real magical part of the book for me. I loved learning where Gran came from and how she became the Gran we knew and loved. The book was engaging, heartwarming, and overall charming, it was a great addition to the Molly the Maid series!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and the author for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.