The Maid
A Novel
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4.1 • 5.4K Ratings
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- $14.99
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK • “A heartwarming mystery with a lovable oddball at its center” (Real Simple), this cozy whodunit introduces a one-of-a-kind heroine who will steal your heart.
FINALIST FOR THE EDGAR® AWARD • “The reader comes to understand Molly’s worldview, and to sympathize with her longing to be accepted—a quest that gives The Maid real emotional heft.”—The New York Times Book Review (Editors’ Choice)
“Think Clue. Think page-turner.”—Glamour
ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Reader’s Digest
WINNER: The Anthony Award, The Fingerprint Award, The Barry Award
In development as a major motion picture
Molly Gray is not like everyone else. She struggles with social skills and misreads the intentions of others. Her gran used to interpret the world for her, codifying it into simple rules that Molly could live by.
Since Gran died a few months ago, twenty-five-year-old Molly has been navigating life’s complexities all by herself. No matter—she throws herself with gusto into her work as a hotel maid. Her unique character, along with her obsessive love of cleaning and proper etiquette, make her an ideal fit for the job. She delights in donning her crisp uniform each morning, stocking her cart with miniature soaps and bottles, and returning guest rooms at the Regency Grand Hotel to a state of perfection.
But Molly’s orderly life is upended the day she enters the suite of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black, only to find it in a state of disarray and Mr. Black himself dead in his bed. Before she knows what’s happening, Molly’s unusual demeanor has the police targeting her as their lead suspect. She quickly finds herself caught in a web of deception, one she has no idea how to untangle. Fortunately for Molly, friends she never knew she had unite with her in a search for clues to what really happened to Mr. Black—but will they be able to find the real killer before it’s too late?
A Clue-like, locked-room mystery and a heartwarming journey of the spirit, The Maid explores what it means to be the same as everyone else and yet entirely different—and reveals that all mysteries can be solved through connection to the human heart.
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The Washington Post, The Guardian, Glamour, Elle, PopSugar, Newsweek, Mental Floss, She Reads, Kirkus Reviews
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
We couldn’t wait to get back into Nita Prose’s charming murder mystery every night. The book’s heroine, Molly, is a maid at an upscale hotel, where she takes great pride in her fastidiousness and finds inspiration in the general manager’s motivational speeches. But Molly’s personal life is much less tidy—she has a hard time reading social cues, and with her beloved grandma gone, she’s lonely…and an easy target. And when one of the hotel’s wealthy guests is found dead in his suite, which Molly was assigned to clean, she becomes a suspect. Prose strikes a perfect balance, drawing us into Molly’s life while keeping the whodunit humming along. The Maid is full of heart.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Molly Gray, the 25-year-old neurodivergent narrator of Prose's assured debut, has sought solace in her maid's job at the Regency Grand, a boutique hotel in an unspecified city, since the recent death of the grandmother who raised her. Molly's uniform makes her feel invisible, which is a relief given her difficulty reading social cues, and she derives great satisfaction from returning things to a "state of perfection." When frequent guests Charles and Giselle Black check into one of Molly's assigned rooms, she's pleased; though tycoon Charles is imperious, Giselle tips well and treats Molly like a friend. To her dismay, upon entering the couple's suite, Molly discovers that Giselle is out, and Charles is dead. The police find Molly's stoicism suspicious, and someone seems determined to make her their patsy, but Molly thankfully has more allies than she realizes. Not every twist feels earned, but on balance Prose delivers a gratifying, kindhearted whodunit with a sharply drawn protagonist for whom readers can't help rooting. Fans of fresh takes on traditional mysteries will be delighted.
Customer Reviews
The Maid
Charming story of a young hotel maid with asperger’s syndrome who witnesses a murder and is then accused of committing it. A fun read
IT TOOK JUST A DAY -
- to read this fabulous, entertaining, and interesting book and to put it away - up on my virtual bookcase for this years books read from cover to cover. This is the first novel that i have read in quite some time - as I usually read TRIUE CRIME, NON FICTION BOOKS on NATURE and ADVENTURE, etc. - that a see reviewed from my favorite authors in the many magazines I read - as well as books on HUMAN NATURE, PSYCHOLOGY, and on REAL and FASCINATING PEOPLE - from many years ago - up until today. I HIGHLY recommend this quick - can’t put down until you get to the end read - to anyone who has the time to truly enjoy it - as I have done - reclining in my bed - on a cold, windy, and rainy winter’s day - or at anytime at all.
A 10 STAR read in my expert opinion - but as the raring stars only go up to FIVE - that is what it got from me.
EFHJR.
Coziness in a book
It’s a cozy thriller. I love Molly the maid. I resonate with her character for I too lack expertise on social skills and can be very awkward myself. I have also worked in places where I was seen as less and was constantly a subject of gossip and laughter because I am “not normal.” This book made me feel like I’m not alone. Thank you Nita Prose.