Such a great read! It hooks you from the start, and you can't put it down. Finished it in one weekend! Will definitely be recommending this one.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC. This was cute- it kept me reading for sure, and I liked how the two storylines came together at the end, but at first it felt like reading two completely separate books since the storylines were so different. Overall, this was my least fav of the Molly The Maid books, but I did still enjoy it, and if you liked the first two, I’m sure you’ll like this one.

3.5 stars.

📚ARC Review📚

The third instalment in the maid series follows are beloved Molly and yet again any other mystery in the Regency Grand Hotel. This time however, there is not murder involved. The key focus of this book is the fabregé egg.

When two art appraisers come to the hotel to film an episode, Molly decides to bring a few of Gran’d belongings to see if she can uncover anything about her past. Little does she know that the egg holds all the secrets and all the answers.

This books alternates between the current mystery surrounding the egg in the hotel and entries from Gran’s diary. I absolutely loved reading the chapters about Flora’s past and even got emotional at parts. You really get to understand who and what shaped Gran and then how she used those experiences to help shape Molly into who she is.

Overall a really great character development story. A few things seemed a bit random, especially the appearance of Molly’s mom. As always there was a happy ending and honestly a few twists that I didn’t really see coming.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.

4.5 /5 stars

The Maid’s Secret is the third and final book in the Molly The Maid series (there is also a holiday novella). This is a cozy mystery series.

I adore Molly and have really enjoyed her amazing journey throughout this series. In this book part of it is told in the present from Molly’s POV. The other part is told from her Gran’s diary entries (when Flora was 17).

It was really nice to get Gran’s backstory. It was quite surprising. Normally I would prefer for most of the story to be told in the present. However Flora’s story was so interesting. It was fun to go back and forth especially since some of her story was connected to what was happening in the present.

In The Maid’s Secret a film crew from the hit tv show Hidden Treasures arrives at the hotel to film an episode. I thought that this was so much fun. I really enjoyed the “treasure” that they discovered. And the mystery was so good.

I really enjoyed seeing all of my favorite characters including Mr. Preston and Molly’s beloved Juan Manuel. This was a wonderful conclusion to an original and hilarious series. And the ending was perfect.

This final installment in the Molly the Maid series focuses on the backstory of Flora, Molly’s grandmother.

Molly appears on an Anriques Roadshow type show with an old jewelled egg, believing it to be junk. She and her grandmother symbolically named it the Faberge. Only, it turns out to be an actual Faberge worth millions. As the egg is about to be sold, someone steals it and leaves Molly a threatening note. Molly must figure out what happened and why and in the process, learns a lot about herself.

In the age of consumerism, consumption and the desire for material things, this story brings the focus back to what matters most. It’s a warm, satisfying conclusion that reminds us that real treasures aren't always the ones with a price tag they're the ones that connect us to the people we love.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the ARC.

More Molly adventures at the Regency and more gran too yay!! Solid read but for some reason just wasn’t like a 4-5 star for me. But can’t put my finger on why.

In The Maid's Secret, Nita Prose demonstrates her mastery of gentle suspense and heartfelt character development, delivering a truly captivating read. Told through the earnest and meticulous voice of Molly, a maid with a deep sense of duty and justice, the novel uncovers not just secrets hidden in curio cabinets or vacuum canisters, but those buried in memory, legacy, and the quiet spaces between words.

While this is my first Prose novel, what elevates The Maid's Secret beyond a simple whodunit is the author's masterful use of subtext. The recurring motif of "reading between the lines"—a concept explicitly highlighted with the insightful observation, "Sometimes, it’s not what’s on the page that tells you the most... it’s the blank space in the margins"—becomes crucial as Molly navigates not only surface-level secrets but also the unspoken histories that bind her and her Gran, Flora Gray.

Prose skillfully navigates profound intergenerational themes, using the poignant line, "It is the prerogative of the young to rail against injustice, and it is the fate of the old to endure it," to highlight the contrasting experiences that shape Molly's understanding of the past. Through the unfolding of her Gran's story, revealed through her diary entries which expose long-held secrets, Molly undergoes a significant emotional and intellectual maturation, grappling with the complexities of justice, love, and the possibility of forgiveness and reconciliation across generations.

Prose's narrative is characterized by a quiet power, where seemingly simple reflections resonate deeply. Lines like "We reap what we sow… I’ve gained compassion, comprehension, and empathy" not only reflect her grandmother's journey of transformation but also underscore the novel's central message about the redemptive power of understanding and empathy, qualities that Prose subtly weaves throughout the narrative.

One minor point that occasionally pulled me from the narrative was the ambiguity of the setting. While Prose's writing evokes a certain English sensibility, specific details, such as Flora attending a "Prep School" for university entrance (a term with a different connotation in England), certain turns of phrase, and the legal impossibility of Molly's half-sister, a judge, marrying Molly and Juan, created a slight sense of geographical uncertainty. Clarifying the setting more explicitly in future novels could further enhance the reader's immersion.

I enjoyed the subplot involving Cheryl, the errant maid who constantly struggles to meet Molly's high standards. Prose handles this character with a delicate touch, avoiding caricature and instead using Cheryl to explore themes of empathy and the challenges of living up to rigid expectations. The development of Cheryl's character, and the way Molly's perspective on her evolves, adds a layer of emotional depth to the story, underscoring the novel's broader themes of understanding, inclusion and compassion.

Ultimately, The Maid's Secret transcends the traditional cosy mystery, offering a deeply moving and intelligent exploration of family secrets, personal growth, and the enduring power of love. It's a quietly triumphant read that will linger in the reader's thoughts long after the final page.

If Amelia Bedelia grew up and got into the amateur sleuth game, you'd get Molly Gray—and I’ve adored every quirky clue-trailing moment.

In this third installment, Molly thrives at the Regency Grand, newly engaged, with a new job title and newly inherited fortune. What should’ve been a cozy, clever heist ended up feeling… flat.
The dual timeline with Gran’s diary didn’t add depth, and Molly herself felt less sharp, less uniquely Molly. Gran, once the heart of the series, read like someone else entirely.

I wanted to love it. I tried to love it. But this one just didn’t land. If you’re new to the series, don’t start here. If you’re a longtime fan, maybe manage expectations.

Thank you to Nita Prose and Penguin Random House Canada for the early digital ARC in exchange for my honest review! Publication Date: April 8, 2025.

The final novel of Molly the Maid has heart, mystery, and a revisiting of the past. Perfectly toggling through the storylines, I loved Gran’s journal entries and Molly’s present day.

Molly and her found family shone through once things go awry for her after an antique goes missing. A theme I thought of from Gran’s journal entries is that we are more than our worst mistake(s) made in our past.

Nita Prose did so well ending the Molly the Maid series! I still recall that the first novel got me out of a pandemic reading slump and will always be fond of Molly’s quirkiness, her world point of view, and refreshing perspective.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I cannot remember the last time I stayed up until 2am to finish a book but here we are! Molly is back and her wedding to her beloved Juan Manuel is coming up in a month. She’s keeping busy though - because an episode of Hidden Treasures (think Antique Roadshow) is being filmed at the Regency Grand and the staff are all invited to bring in antiques and treasures that could be worth something.

Molly brings several items from her late Gran’s curio cabinet that are meaningful to her, including a skeleton key, a teacup, and an egg. When one of Molly’s treasures turns out to be worth millions, and she faints upon hearing the news, she suddenly goes viral. For someone like Molly, who is private and needs a set routine, this is a living nightmare. The film crews follows her for a week between her episode and the auction, capturing her rags-to-riches story. The day of the auction, her treasure truly becomes hidden - it is stolen right from under everyone’s eyes and Molly’s safety is threatened if she goes looking for it.

As always, I loved seeing the rag tag team of Regency Grand employees try to find out what happened, and being funny, quirky and loveable amateur sleuths. The story is interlaced between this happening in real time, and a beautiful set of diary entries that Gran has left for Molly to read when she’s ready to find out more about the family history that’s always kept from her. It is such a wonderful balance to have the chapters alternating this way and it became impossible to put down because I felt I always needed to know how each story was going to progress.

Overall this was a lovely instalment of the series and I want to thank Penguin Canada and Net Galley for the e-arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

4.1 ⭐

I accidentally read this before reading the first two, but you don't really need them to enjoy this.

I liked it a lot. This book tells a sweet story between a grandmother and her granddaughter through letters from a diary. I enjoyed how the author unraveled the backstory as we saw the present day mystery take place. It was done well! I was thoroughly impressed. Best of all, I have a newfound respect and admiration for service jobs after finishing this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy of this book.

What a wonderful, fitting end to the Molly the Maid Series this was! Not only was this the lead-up to Molly and Juan’s long-awaited wedding, but we also learned about her late Gran’s backstory through diary entries she left for Molly. I fell in love with Gran even more - she was such a loveable character.

From the first couple of pages, I had a smile on my face as I re-entered the heartwarming world of Molly snd her friends. The pacing was good, the use of dual timelines was very effective, there was an enjoyable mystery, and I enjoyed the themes of hope, love, and kindness that underpinned the story.

I read this in one day as I couldn’t out it down. While I was sad to reach the last page as this meant the end of the series, I was also happy that this was the perfect ending to Molly’s story. This is a terrific cozy mystery series that I will not soon forget and one I highly recommend.

Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Nita Prose has done it again! The Maid's Secret is a riveting story that follows Molly, as she discovers she may be suddenly wealthy, and her gran, as she explains her childhood and fall from wealth. The two storylines lend themselves to each other seamlessly as Gran's story is told to Molly through diary entries. I was desperate to read each chapter as they were filled with mystery, suspense, love and drama. Nita does such a good job of creating well rounded and easy to love characters. I will continue looking for other novels by Nita Prose. I would highly recommend to anyone that loves a good mystery or drama.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada/Viking for a digital ARC of ‘The Maid’s Secret’. This is the third book in the Maid series. Molly and Juan are planning their wedding when things get a little ‘interesting’. I enjoyed the present day story and how her grandmother’s journal brought us to a heartwarming conclusion.

Mollys golden huevo (bejeweled egg), given to her as a child turns out to be worth a million dollars. Alas, everything isn’t always as it seems.
If you liked The Maid, you’ll love The Maid’s Secret. This novel encompasses love, death and crime. It follows present day Molly as well as her beloved gran’s story, discovered posthumously through her diary.
A wonderful read. I am already looking forward to Prose’s next book!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. This is book number three in the Maid series by Nita Prose and it did not disappoint. I loved the duel storylines - one about a heist, and one about Molly's grandmother's background as a young girl (quite unforeseen and reads like a historical fiction). Amazing how Nita Prose can write a heartwarming book that is exciting and intriguing all at once!

Nita Prose’s The Maid’s Secret is an intriguing addition in the Molly the Maid series. The pace is steady, and the twists keep you hooked. Overall, it's an engaging follow-up to The Maid, with a richly developed mystery that will satisfy fans.
I want to extend my sincere thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author, Nita Prose, for providing me with an ARC of this novel. It was a privilege to be part of the early readers, and I'm excited to see where Prose takes Molly Gray next.

I know that some people criticize Molly's voice, but I love the unique character it provides in each of the book's series. I enjoyed the story and the tie to her grandmother's history/own story to keep things fresh. Overall, better than I could have expected and warmed my heart too!!

3.5 stars
In the third and likely final installment in the Molly the Maid cozy mystery series, Molly who is now Head Maid and Special Events Planner at the Regency Grand Hotel must solve an art heist while also planning her upcoming wedding to Juan Manuel. A crew has arrived at the Regency Grand to film an episode of a popular Antiques Roadshow type TV show and Molly brings a shoebox full of her Gran's things to be appraised. Much to everyone's shock and surprise, one of the items turns out to be a rare and priceless treasure plunging Molly into the media spotlight until the item disappears in a bold art heist. Unlike her previous cases, Molly discovers that the secret to solving the mystery of the missing antiquity lies in the past and a secret diary left behind by her Gran.

A fun art heist whodunnit and love story told over two timelines by alternating chapters between the modern day mystery that Molly is trying to solve and letters that Gran wrote to Molly telling the story of her early years and her great love for Mr. Preston. The Maid's Secret is a charming conclusion (at least I think it's meant to be the final book) to the Molly the Maid series. Although the first book remains my favourite, it's always nice to catch up with Molly and everyone else at the Regency Grand.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for providing a digital ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I was gifted the opportunity of the ARC by NetGalley.

Nita Prose's "The Maid's Secret" is a great conclusion to Molly Gray's story. It offers readers a compelling mystery intertwined with a substantial exploration of her Gran's history. The book deftly weaves past into present providing valuable context that deepens our understanding of Molly's character. The novel retains the series' hallmarks: a cozy mystery, the gratifying pursuit of justice, and a nuanced portrayal of Molly and Gran's navigation prevailing challenges for their respective timelines. This conclusion provides both closure and a powerful reflection on individual resilience.