This is a spoiler-free book review!
Rating: 3.5/5
Genre: Mystery
Author: Nita Prose
Quick Summary: The Maid by Nita Prose is a murder mystery that aims to uncover the truth behind the death of a famous and wealthy man who’s been found dead at the spectacular five-star establishment, Regency Grand Hotel. The story follows none other than Molly the Maid, a socially awkward woman who is strangely fixated on cleaning any trace of dirt she comes across. After discovering Mr. Black’s dead body while cleaning his room, she must reexamine everything she thought she knew about the Regency Grand Hotel to solve the case.
Overview: The Maid Book Review
I decided to pick up The Maid for two reasons. 1. my love for mystery novels and 2. the sheer fascination of following a character named “Molly Maid” (even though it’s a nickname). The Maid by Nita Prose is an endearing story with an intriguing plot and a great cast of characters you will grow to love. Along the various twists and turns you will encounter, there will be just as many wholesome moments for you to enjoy. If you are like me, hopefully you will enjoy trying to solve the mystery yourself.
Story/Plot
The Maid is a fantastic mystery story that kept me guessing every step of the way. The story starts by painting a vivid and overly detailed description of what The Regency Hotel is like from Molly’s perspective, before thrusting you into the moment of finding Mr. Black’s body. Then you meet all the whacky characters and potential suspects react to this horrible news with the occasional flashback of Molly’s past. The mystery reveals itself at a nice and steady pace that grips you in during multiple points of the story. It was a treat to read.
The Characters
The Maid has a great cast of characters. I loved reading about each of Molly’s unique relationships and trying to decide for myself who she should trust. Molly is such an easy character to bond with. Looking over her shoulders for the whole duration of the book, you will be wishing nothing but the best for her.
As you might already know, Molly is a neurodivergent character, so she sees the world in a unique way, as shown in her perspective and how she interacts with others. We also get a peek into how her past influences her behavior. Visiting Molly’s past was the most enjoyable part of the story for me because we get to see who Molly really is and why. Same goes for the other characters whose backgrounds you will explore.
All in all, The Maid is a very fun read, that despite exploring dark topics from time to time, is made light and comedic because we are experiencing it through Molly’s perspective.
Writing
Just like it’s ironic how Molly’s last name is Maid, I have to say the same for the author whose last name is Prose. Her prose is the perfect mixture of being poetic and easy to grasp which makes for a very relaxing and interesting read.
This book gets a 3.5 out of 5 stars from me.
If you decide to read The Maid by Nita Prose, be sure to check out my book discussions after reading the first half and ending of the book!