The Maid
Author: Nita Prose
Published by: Harper Collins
Pages: 341
Format: Paperback (Uncorrected Proof copy)
My Rating ★★★★
I am your maid. I know so much about you. But what do you know about me?
Molly the Maid is all alone in the world. A nobody. She's used to being invisible in her job at the Regency Grand Hotel, plumping pillows and wiping away the grime, dust and secrets of the guests who pass through. She's just a maid - why should anyone take notice?
But Molly is thrown into the spotlight when she discovers an infamous guest, Mr Black, very dead in his bed. This isn't a mess that can be easily cleaned up. And so Molly becomes embroiled in a hunt for the truth, learning who to trust as she navigates the secret underbelly of the Regency Grand Hotel.
Escapist, charming, and introducing a truly original heroine, The Maid is a story about how everyone deserves to be seen, and how the truth isn't always black and white - it's often found in the dirtier, grey areas in between...
Molly the Maid is all alone in the world. A nobody. She's used to being invisible in her job at the Regency Grand Hotel, plumping pillows and wiping away the grime, dust and secrets of the guests who pass through. She's just a maid - why should anyone take notice?
But Molly is thrown into the spotlight when she discovers an infamous guest, Mr Black, very dead in his bed. This isn't a mess that can be easily cleaned up. And so Molly becomes embroiled in a hunt for the truth, learning who to trust as she navigates the secret underbelly of the Regency Grand Hotel.
Escapist, charming, and introducing a truly original heroine, The Maid is a story about how everyone deserves to be seen, and how the truth isn't always black and white - it's often found in the dirtier, grey areas in between...
My thoughts:
The Maid by Nita Prose is an impressive debut novel. The story revolves around Molly Gray, who's most-likely mildly autistic, and proud to be a maid at the five-star Regency Grand hotel, with its sumptuous features, lemon polish fragrance, bustling activity, and VIP guests. She loves her uniform, her maid's trolley, and her ability to return rooms to a state of perfection - as instructed by Mr. Snow, the hotel manager. She is a hard worker and gains a great sense of satisfaction in carrying out her cleaning duties.
While the mystery wasn’t complex, this book was about so much more than that. It is about the characters. Molly Gray is an endearing character, with a distinct personality and I enjoyed her narration throughout the story. Her grief over her recently departed grandmother, and the enthusiasm she shows for her job were engaging and made me care about her.
Reviewers have already made comparisons between Molly and characters such as Eleanor Oliphant, and whilst I can certainly see similarities in their ways, Molly does have a more devious side that Eleanor didn't possess. In my opinion, this made her character even more refreshing and complex. She has hidden depths and I found it so enjoyable to experience her unique voice.
Nita Prose’s writing flows seamlessly from chapter to chapter; it soon becomes very difficult to put the book down at all. There is a mystery that builds slowly, along with a slight tension as the story evolves and we are introduced to more of the characters who interact with Molly. Some are people she works with who consider her odd and a few are rudely dismissive of her. Some take advantage of her inability to read social cues, while others try to help her navigate her life and avoid those who take advantage of her. The book explores a great message about how we view and treat others, especially those who feel “invisible”.
I want to avoid spoilers, so without giving too much away I think it’s okay for me to say that a twist late on in the book somewhat changes the perception of who she is and the power she has to become whoever she really wants to be.
This is a cosy and engaging locked-room mystery, taking readers on a heart-warming journey of the spirit. The Maid cleverly explores what it means to be the same as everyone else and yet entirely different. For me this was an enjoyable and truly page-turning read. A lovely ‘whodunnit’ to curl up with in the winter months.
A big thank you to Harper Collins who kindly gifted me an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. The Maid will be arriving in January 2022. The film rights have already been snapped up by Universal and I'm looking forward to seeing the adaptation!
Overall reaction:
The Maid by Nita Prose is an impressive debut novel. The story revolves around Molly Gray, who's most-likely mildly autistic, and proud to be a maid at the five-star Regency Grand hotel, with its sumptuous features, lemon polish fragrance, bustling activity, and VIP guests. She loves her uniform, her maid's trolley, and her ability to return rooms to a state of perfection - as instructed by Mr. Snow, the hotel manager. She is a hard worker and gains a great sense of satisfaction in carrying out her cleaning duties.
While the mystery wasn’t complex, this book was about so much more than that. It is about the characters. Molly Gray is an endearing character, with a distinct personality and I enjoyed her narration throughout the story. Her grief over her recently departed grandmother, and the enthusiasm she shows for her job were engaging and made me care about her.
Reviewers have already made comparisons between Molly and characters such as Eleanor Oliphant, and whilst I can certainly see similarities in their ways, Molly does have a more devious side that Eleanor didn't possess. In my opinion, this made her character even more refreshing and complex. She has hidden depths and I found it so enjoyable to experience her unique voice.
Nita Prose’s writing flows seamlessly from chapter to chapter; it soon becomes very difficult to put the book down at all. There is a mystery that builds slowly, along with a slight tension as the story evolves and we are introduced to more of the characters who interact with Molly. Some are people she works with who consider her odd and a few are rudely dismissive of her. Some take advantage of her inability to read social cues, while others try to help her navigate her life and avoid those who take advantage of her. The book explores a great message about how we view and treat others, especially those who feel “invisible”.
I want to avoid spoilers, so without giving too much away I think it’s okay for me to say that a twist late on in the book somewhat changes the perception of who she is and the power she has to become whoever she really wants to be.
This is a cosy and engaging locked-room mystery, taking readers on a heart-warming journey of the spirit. The Maid cleverly explores what it means to be the same as everyone else and yet entirely different. For me this was an enjoyable and truly page-turning read. A lovely ‘whodunnit’ to curl up with in the winter months.
A big thank you to Harper Collins who kindly gifted me an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. The Maid will be arriving in January 2022. The film rights have already been snapped up by Universal and I'm looking forward to seeing the adaptation!
Overall reaction:
