I really love this series and this book was no different. I really enjoyed the dual perspective of present day Molly and the past journal entries from her Gran. I am definitely said for this series to have ended but I think this last book wrapped everything up nicely!

Nita Prose writes an interesting series about a hotel maid and her life. She depicts a somewhat autistic person who is more than satisfied with her position in life. She doesn't appear to have any weaknesses, except for the few people she loves and/or is somehow related to. She is not greedy, nor does she aim to be higher than what she is. The maid is almost too good to be true...a virtuous individual. Despite being challenged by wealth, the maid remains true. All she desires is a roof over her head, shared with her husband, and the connection with close friends. We should all learn from this maid...to be satisfied with what we have. I enjoyed the book, despite its writing which is somewhat stilted at times, reflecting the maid's thought processes. Lots of sayings that, as example, her Grandmother used to say. Despite her simplicity, she is very wise. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and all the others by Nita Prose. She has much to offer.

Title: The Maid's Secret
Author: Nita Prose
Series: Molly the Maid #3
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: April 8, 2025

I received a complimentary eARC from Penguin Random House Canada via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted

T H R E E • W O R D S

Endearing • Whimsical • Satisfying

📖 S Y N O P S I S

A wedding. A heist. A secret.

Molly Gray’s life is about to change in ways she could never have imagined. As esteemed Head Maid and Special Events Manager of the Regency Grand Hotel, two good things are just around the corner—a TV taping of the hit antiquities show, Hidden Treasures, and even more exciting, her wedding to Juan Manuel.

When Molly brings in some old trinkets to be appraised on the show, one item is revealed to be a rare and coveted artifact worth millions. Molly becomes a rags-to-riches sensation, and a media frenzy swirls as she prepares to sell her priceless treasure. Then, on auction day the treasure suddenly vanishes. and Molly and her friends find themselves at the center of the boldest art heist in recent memory.

But the key to this mystery lies in the past, in a long-forgotten diary written by Molly’s Gran. For the first time ever, Molly learns about her grandmother’s secrets, how she was born into a wealthy family and fell head-over-heels in love with a young man her parents deemed below her. As fate would have it, Gran’s greatest love was someone Molly knows quite well…

💭 T H O U G H T S

Molly Gray is one of the most endearing and loveable characters I have come across in my reading life thus far, making The Maid's Secret one of my 2025 most anticipated releases. I was eager to return to The Regency Grand Hotel and Molly's world for one last time, with this being the third and final book.

Written with her signature charm and wit, the story is told in both the present and the past. The present follows Molly as she navigates a reality TV show (think Antique Roadshow) with her Fabergé egg, its eventual disappearance, and the ensuing investigation. The past timeline reveals long-held family secrets through Gran's diary entries. I absolutely loved learning more about Gran's childhood and family history, which tied in perfectly with what was happening in the present day.

The value of the side characters in Molly's world, isn't lost on me. The found family trope is one of my favourites and this may just be one of the best collection of characters around. As someone with an interest in antiques and collectibles, I also enjoyed that angle of the story - a reminder that the value of what something is worth isn't always tied to its monetary value. The hotel setting plays less of a significant role in the plot, however, I was so glad Nita Prose decided to return to The Regency Grand for one last time.

The Maid's Secret combines mysterious and historical elements in such an enjoyable and unique way, wrapping up Molly's story and brining this series to a satisfying close. Although The Maid never needed to be turned into a series, I am so grateful Nita Prose decided to give readers more Molly. If you're used to reading fast-paced mystery and thrillers with wild twists and turns, this isn't going to be the book for you. It's a cozy and heartwarming world with the most endearing cast of characters. With the Molly the Maid series wrapped up, I am looking forward to seeing what Nita writes next.

📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• antiques/collectibles
• heists
• Molly the Maid

⚠️ CW: grief, death, addiction, body horror, blood, gun violence, murder, pregnancy, infidelity, rape, sexual assault, toxic relationship, injury/injury detail, blood, child death, cancer, terminal illness

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"When you have something of value, there's always someone ready to take it from you."

"Love cannot be stolen."

I absolutely loved how the series ended. The character development, the plot, and just how it all came together. I do hope the author continues on more series in the future, as I enjoyed her writing style.
Thanks to the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for this honest review

Cozy. Quirky. Enjoyable!

Molly is back, and it’s another quirky and cozy mystery featuring an art heist, a great love and history unveiled.

Life is about to change for Molly, head maid and special events coordinator of The Regency Grand Hotel when a taping of the tv show Hidden Treasures is set to be filmed at the hotel.

On a whim, Molly brings in some trinkets to be appraised by the hosts and is shockingly surprised to discover one of her possessions is worth millions- the Faberge Egg! A frenzy ensues and Molly becomes quite the popular person!

With the help of the tv hosts, they set a date for the auction which will be filmed for the world to watch. But the egg vanishes after the final bid.

Molly and her friends are once again in the middle of an investigation at The Regency Grand Hotel. The key to this mystery can be found in the past, and with the help of dear Gran’s diary the truth about the beloved egg is revealed along with an incredible love story.

I have been Molly’s number one fan since the release of The Maid and I will continue to scoop up every single one of Nita’s books. Safe to say, this one did not disappoint!

Where this book is a part of a series, I don’t want to give away too many details… but I will tell you, everything you enjoyed about the first 2.5 books is present (and more). This book had so much heart and it was a wildly unexpected emotional journey…. AND we got more of Gran, which is exactly what we all wanted/needed. Oh, and more of the Regency Hotel (I LOVE books set in hotels and restaurants), more of Juan, more Mr. Preston, more Molly-isms…

Basically this book was the perfect next installment in the series and I have zero complaints. If you haven’t dove into the Maid series yet, do yourself a favor and pick one up. They’re sweet, fun, heartwarming, and will make you want to polish all of your silverware.

Thank you NetGally, Penguin Random House Canada and Nita Prose for gifting me a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review, please keep sending them my way!!

Molly is at it again!! Third installment in the series and I still want more, prose is perfection and it’s easy to find yourself amused and invested in Molly and gran stories

I cannot wait to listen to the audiobook because it lands so well both on paper and audio
Whenever it feels like Molly -or the writing- is repetitive, well it’s Molly, but anyways the audio narration REALLY resolves that because it makes the reader/listener realize it’s a natural repetition and very much a quirk of the MC

So happy to have got the opportunity to receive this ARC

I don’t know how I feel about this book. It was… fine? It was well written, somehow captivating… yet it lacks the “oomph” that I was looking for. Plus, I’m generally not much of a fan of alternate past/present chapters, I ended up skimming through some of grandma’s chapters. I also found the reveal pretty lacklustre. That was the most disappointing part for me.

Having said that, this would definitely captivate a lot of readers. I’m probably just not the target audience for this.

ARC provided by NetGalley. Much appreciated.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy. I wasn't able to read it on my Kobo so the review is late. My review is based on the ALC I received from Libro.FM

I didn't like this one very much. It was saccharine in some aspects and the mystery just didn't work for me at all. What I did like was hearing about Molly's backstory (mainly her mom and gran).

I am honoured to have been given the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of The Maid’s Secret by Nita Prose. The following review is a description of my own thoughts and feelings about the story.

This is the third novel in the Molly the Maid series. It follows the story of Molly, who works at the Regency Grand hotel, who is about to get married to the love of her life. When a TV show called “Hidden Treasures” is filming at the hotel, Molly is convinced she has some treasures worth something. But the treasure that catches their eye, is not the one that she believes is worth anything. However, what starts out exciting about their hidden find, turns into chaos when the new found artifact ends up vanishing in front of their very eyes. Molly needs to discover why and where the treasure has gone, and realizes a diary belonging to her Gran holds the mystery. There is a connection between the two timelines of Molly finding a priceless heirloom and her Gran’s story, written in a diary, of how the heirloom came to be in her possession.

This cozy mystery mixed with a little bit of a historical romance, was a beautifully and poetically written story. It is a blend of family, love and self discovery, with a little mix of a thrilling heist.

I thoroughly enjoyed the third instalment of Molly the Maid . Thank you to NetGalley and the author Nita Prose for an early digital copy. I look forward to continuing the Molly the Maid series with future novels.

Nita Prose’s The Maid’s Secret is a charming and emotionally resonant addition to the Molly the Maid series, earning a solid 4 out of 5 stars for me.

In this third installment, Molly Gray, now Head Maid and Special Events Manager at the Regency Grand Hotel, finds her life upended when a reality TV show uncovers a priceless Fabergé egg among her late Gran’s belongings. The discovery catapults Molly into unexpected fame, but the subsequent theft of the treasure plunges her into a high-stakes mystery. The narrative alternates between Molly’s present-day challenges and her Gran’s past, revealed through diary entries that add depth to the storyline.

Prose’s signature blend of wit and warmth shines through, particularly in Molly’s interactions with her fiancé Juan Manuel and the quirky hotel staff. The mystery is engaging, with clever twists that keep readers invested.

Overall, The Maid’s Secret delivers a satisfying mix of cozy mystery and heartfelt storytelling, making it a delightful read for fans and newcomers alike.

Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.

When a priceless heirloom goes missing, hotel maid Molly Gray is thrust into a high-stakes mystery that uncovers her grandmother’s secret past, and changes her future forever.  

As always Molly's story was a fun and light mystery, but it was Gran's story that stole my heart!
I almost wish Grans story had been its own book.

There is always something with these books that gives me anxiety.
I think because I'm always waiting for something bad to happen, for another person to take advantage of Molly. 
She is a character I feel very protective of.

I found this book hard to rate. The beginning felt like it dragged a bit. It took a long time to get to the exciting part of the story. Grans story was long and maybe too detailed. She was insufferable as a young girl. But the mystery once it started was interesting and everything tied together quite nice. The ending was so heartwarming and it was such a perfect ending for the series.
I think overall the other two books were a little stronger. But this was still quite good. It just took a while to get into it.

*4.5 stars*

Molly is back and I’m loving it…

This series kind of snuck up on me. I wasn’t expecting much of the series to be honest, sad but true. I thought perhaps a one-time read to while away an afternoon but instead I found characters – and stories – that have kept me highly entertained and more enthusiastic with each turn of the page. Molly has come a long way and now that she is in charge of the maids (and events) she couldn’t be happier. Until good fortune brings chaos and criminality. And more unwanted conversations with the police…

I’m not a fan of stories that stray from a linear timeline, I just find them jarring but for Molly and her sweet Gran I had to get over it. And not only did I do just that, but I found both narratives intriguing and soul-searching. Sides of Gran I could not have ever dreamed of showed up and I really was appalled at first. I found it hard to reconcile what I thought I knew about her to include truths I thought didn’t sound like her at all. Probably I just didn’t want to believe it. These revelations gave Gran nuances though and showed how profound the unexpected path life took had changed her. For the better. And brought us full circle to Molly…

Reality television, an unexpected windfall, a wedding and a slew of characters I love even more now made this well-written story a favourite. I’ll be reading this again and again…

Question: Which is my favourite book in the Molly The Maid series by Nita Prose?

Answer: The Maid's Secret!

Why? Because we finally get more of Gran!

I ate up this story within a story, and Gran's chapters quickly became my favourite part of the whole book. I loved getting even more backstory to the overall series, which had me falling deeper in love with Molly!

There was a slight hitch over my love of Juan Manuel this time, however... but after giving it a lot of thought, I know his heart and intentions were in the best place!

There may have been a little bit of a book hangover after I finished, since I missed reading this story so much! Molly and this series simply have a part of my heart! Each of the four books (including the holiday novella) have been five-star reads for me, though each is unique.

How can you go wrong with Molly and this unique menagerie of quirky, lovable characters!? I'm going to miss them so much!

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Random House Canada (Adult) and Viking for the complimentary copy to read and review.

I received a copy from NetGalley and I'm willingly leaving a review.
TRIGGERS: LGBT+, violence, attempted rape and multiple women are raped (no details), rich people getting away with violent crimes by paying the authorities - no closure and no justice on these, effects of drug habits.
Not worth the hype. Gave 2.5 stars, rounded down. Too many clichés such as "I did it for you!". I loved how Juan answers the phone when Molly calls him but I was a bit wary of him at time; he was the only one listing items they could finally buy. There is no logical reason why Molly kept Cheryl on payroll; she's a thief and a sloth, and she brings chaos. Nothing belongs to Molly, it's all Gran's stuff: her quilt, her kitchen, her sofa, her dishes. Everything. At 50%, I was already fed-up with Gran. I was not interested in hearing a brat's biography. I found the Bees arrogant, not funny, and insulting. I completely disagree with Gran's sacrifice; it was selfish of her. The choice should have been shared between her and John, and perhaps his father. It's been at least 50 years since John last saw Algernon; why would Molly expect her grandfather to remember details? I'm not too sure what I liked in the story; I'm probably too upset by the diary-logue thingy.

I’ve loved all the books in this series and The Maid’s Secret is no exception. I enjoyed learning more about Gran’s history and the mystery surrounding the egg.
I hope there’s more to come in Molly and Juan’s journey.

Overall I really enjoyed this final chapter of Molly’s story! I deduct one star solely for pacing. The first 30% moved really slowly, and I had a hard time getting into it. Although I enjoyed hearing about Gran’s history, the parts with Molly and the show and the pre-heist goings-on felt like they dragged on. Once things get going it’s a great little cozy mystery, although the stakes feel way lower than they were in the first two books.

Thank you NetGalley for an advance review copy!

I am obsessed with Molly the Maid! This is one of my favourite series, and this third installation did not disappoint! Molly, happily in love with both Juan and work, is still reeling with grief and loss. When an Antique show is set to take place at the hotel where she works, she decides to bring a few items to get appraised. Little does Molly know, that she has an antique in her possession that is worth millions of dollars. Queue shock-heist-discombobulation-Angela and Stark's detective skills, for an ultimate whodunnit story surrounding Molly! To top it off, we get to read letters to Molly, written by her late grandmother, detailing her own upbringing and coming of age story. Prose is a beautiful writer- I laughed and I cried on repeat. Thank you so much to #NetGalley and #Penguin Random House #Viking for the ARC of this incredible book.

Nita Prose has given Molly Gray the most beautiful sendoff in The Maid's Secret – this final instalment wrecked me in the best possible way. I'm equally devastated that the series is over and overjoyed that Molly and her gran will live forever in my heart.

I've loved Molly since page one of <b>The Maid</b>, but this book made me adore Gran just as sincerely. The dual timeline reveals her incredible strength and wisdom in ways that had me highlighting nearly half my Kindle copy.

The author has done a brilliant job representing neurodivergence with warmth and respect. Watching our neurodivergent main character navigate different circumstances shows how far she's come—yet she stays wonderfully, authentically Molly. I've genuinely started seeing hotel lobbies differently because of her!

The author masterfully balances cosy mystery vibes with intense emotional depth. The "riches to rags" storyline is executed with such grace and emotions, it left me crying happy tears.

While you could read this as a standalone, don't rob yourself of the full experience. Start with The Maid – Molly's quirks, her bond with Gran, and the Regency Grand Hotel's charm need to be savoured from the beginning.

If you love heartwarming stories that make you laugh, cry, and appreciate life's small perfections, this trilogy belongs on your shelf. Molly Gray isn't just a character – she's a reminder that goodness and grit can change the world, one polished surface at a time.

Thank you, Netgalley and the publishers, for the advance ebook.