I am your maid. I know about your secrets. Your dirty laundry. 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 passing 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 as Molly becomes embroiled in the hunt for the truth, following the clues whispering in the hallways of the Regency Grand, she discovers a power she never knew was there. She’s just a maid – but what can she see that others overlook?
Escapist, charming and introducing a truly original heroine, The Maid is a story about how the truth isn’t always black and white – it’s found in the dirtier, grey areas in between…
Read some great reviews from our Preview readers here:
This was a fantastic book, I absolutely loved it! Molly the maid is an intriguing, engaging but lovable character. Molly is different, she doesn’t easily read social cues and is very precise in her manner as a result, she is quite alone in the world. Molly only wants to help and do the best job she can, unfortunately, her naïveté gets her into a little strife, like being charged with murder. Nita Prose has created an entertaining murder mystery with a surprising twist at the end. I would highly recommend this book. Wendy, WA, 5 Stars
Well Molly the maid what an adventure you have had! This story of the maid, the guest, and the doorman was delightful. This had mystery and intrigue from the opening pages. It had me guessing the whole way through and even after finishing it, I’m still left with a question that I’m not sure I’ll ever get answered. Molly you can come and clean my motel room always. Danielle, VIC, 5 Stars
I loved The Maid. A clever story which kept me guessing until the end despite my best efforts at working out ‘The Whodunit.’ This book is a little bit The Rosie Project, a little bit Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and a little bit The Thursday Murder Club. Quirky characters, and a quirky storyline this book captured my interest early on and I was drawn into the world of the ‘lowly’ housekeeping maid in a luxurious and elite hotel. Molly goes about her business and strives for perfection in every task she completes. She likes rules and likes the order they give her life. She loves her job and has made some friends she can trust through the job; this is particularly important as her treasured and beloved grandmother has recently died leaving her alone in the world. Molly’s world is thrown into upheaval when she discovers a dead guest – an extraordinarily rich dead guest! She is soon embroiled in a murder investigation, a situation with no set of rules for her to follow. She is soon flailing with uncertainty and without her grandmother to guide her who can she turn to, who can she trust? We follow Molly as she learns that not everyone who smiles is being nice and not everyone is as honest as she is. A wonderful modern story which is sure to appeal to a wide audience and delight many readers. Kathryn, NSW, 5 Stars
The book is an insight into Molly’s fascinating mind. Despite her inability to read social cues and her insatiable need for an ordered world there is a warmth and wisdom to her view of the world that captivated me from the beginning. Her mind is really refreshing! Aida, NSW, 5 Stars
I adored this book. The Maid was a fun and cozy murder mystery to dive into that kept me hooked from start to end. Molly the maid is such a delightful character and her innocent and socially awkward view of the world was endearing. With a compelling murder mystery storyline and interesting characters this book reminded me of a cross between an Agatha Christie mystery and Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine. A unique, heart-warming and enjoyable read. You won’t be able to put this one down. Melissa, VIC, 5 Stars
The Maid was an enjoyable, easy read. I loved the development of the characters, especially of Molly. Molly’s narration also gave me more than a few giggles along the way. The story developed at a good pace and was well written. I especially enjoyed the ending, which took a delightful turn that was most pleasant indeed, and left me with a satisfied smile. Overall a lovely story about a loveable, if somewhat quirky, character and her adventures as a hotel maid. Chrissie, WA, 5 Stars
The Maid is a thoroughly enjoyable read from start to finish.The central character is Molly the maid and she is quirky, obsessive and reliable. Molly finds social situations awkward but it is endearing that the author has put Molly front and centre. The author naturally drew empathy and compassion from me throughout the duration of the book. I read this book quickly as I didn’t want to put it down. I thoroughly recommend The Maid, I miss the characters already! Claire, VIC, 5 Stars
Molly is obviously on the autism spectrum and, as she was raised by her grandmother, her mannerisms and language are old-fashioned for someone in their twenties. Her differences don’t hinder her position as a maid but when Molly comes across a dead body in one of the rooms she is set to clean, they do cause her to become the chief suspect. The Maid is a sometimes sad but heartwarming book. There’s a mystery plot, a slight touch of romance and even a fun heist element at one stage. It reminded me of the movies Knives Out and Clue (in fact, I’m pretty sure Prose was at least influenced by the latter movie, given the names of her characters – Molly Gray, Mr Black, Mr Snow!). The autism and OCD aspect of the book is well handled. Along with the strong theme surrounding Molly’s social and communication challenges, I also enjoyed the ‘found family’ trope. I flew through the book, Prose’s debut, and was impressed with her show-not-tell style. Although it’s a fresh contemporary read, I think The Maid will appeal to older readers too. My prediction is this will be the ‘must read’ of the new year and highly recommend. ReadWriteWish, QLD, 5 Stars
Nita Prose has written an intriguing mystery novel in The Maid. I couldn’t put the book down once I began, I wanted to know more about the characters and following the twists and turns that she created. The character of Molly the maid was unique, showing her struggles with social skills and her perception of other people. This novel is narrated by Molly and it is interesting to view through her point of view and the ‘invisible people’. I am looking forward to Nita’s next novel. Christine, WA, 5 Stars
What a charming book! I thoroughly enjoyed it and ended up reading it much quicker than I anticipated. The main character was quirky and likable, and I found myself riding the rollercoaster along with her as the story line unfolded. At times it felt almost uncomfortable as I wanted to protect her, so I was certainly engaged with this book. The ending didn’t disappoint either. I would certainly recommend this book! Rebecca, VIC, 5 Stars
Molly Gray sees the world in black and white. She knows she’s different and is comfortable in her own skin, but her confidence has been shaken since the death of her beloved grandmother, and the comfort and security of their organised routines. Molly is clever. She’s also observant, obsessive, and has firm opinions about her colleagues at the Regency Grand Hotel where she works as a maid. But for Molly these are positives in a refreshingly witty and unfailingly polite and considerate protagonist who lacks the filters most of us use to safely navigate the world. Her uncompromising and critical assessments of other hotel staff might not win her too many friends, but they also force the reader to reflect a little more deeply on their own attitudes towards people who are ‘different’, and who may not always conform to the accepted social mores. So when Molly discovers a regular hotel guest dead in his bed, and is immediately assumed to have killed him, she’s ripe for exploitation by unscrupulous colleagues, and a justice system that wants a swift result. This is not only an original whodunit, it’s also a reminder that we should never be too quick to judge others. A top read. Anne, TAS, 5 Stars
I have one word to say about this book: WOW. Just kidding, I have at least another 500. Since the publishing of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine every second book is highlighted as being ‘the next Eleanor Oliphant’ but this is the only book I believe could take that title. This novel has everything we loved about Eleanor Oliphant: a socially awkward, loveable and neurodiverse main character, beautiful stories of friendship and a journey of someone who goes from simply existing to enjoying their life. The Maid has all this as well as an exceptional murder mystery tied in that makes this book one to look forwards to on its release in Jan 2022. Narrated solely by Molly the reader is allowed insight into the workings of her mind, we learn how she initially feels invisible, lonely and lost in life and then follow her journey seeing how she is able to learn and blossom so much in just one very wild week. Who would have thought that becoming the main suspect in a murder can bring so much joy to ones life. Molly’s character is eccentric, charming and entirely unique. I challenge any reader to have not fallen in love with Molly by the end of this novel. Her characterisation makes this novel such amazing read and along with the engaging plot line, entertaining cast of other characters and the cozy murder mystery feel of this story I believe this is going to be a 5 star book for many readers. This novel is 1 part murder mystery, 1 part cute rom-com and 1 part hilarious coming of age but 100% loveable, a huge congratulations to Nita Prose of her impressive debut. Cathie, VIC, 5 Stars
I was very lucky to be able to win this book The Maid to read. What a fabulous story- a mixture of all genres- adventure, romance, crime, biographical with a little bit of Eleanor Oliphant’s quirkiness thrown in! It is a story of a very “particular” maid, her unusual habits, and a group of people that she meets while working at the Regency Grand Hotel. All is not as it seems- and towards the end of the book you are not quite sure how it will end. I can’t say anymore as I don’t want to spoil your enjoyment of what is a fabulous book! Stacey, NSW, 5 Stars
After only a few pages, I knew this was a book I wanted to read. Molly was not just a maid, she was proud, she was honoured to be a Maid and work at a grand establishment. She lived a quite life, saddened by a recent passing, she always though the best of people, yet at times this was her flaw, trust. Her regimented day was focused and direct, never straying with the task involved, cleaning. Until that one day, when the attention came her way. She was drawn into the spotlight, something that had never happened before. I felt saddened, I hoped it wasn’t what it seemed. Her character was challenged; she came to the realisation that there was a difference between a ‘good egg’ and the bad, which turned her life around forever. Cheryl, VIC, 5 Stars
This was ridiculously good, and a debut which read more as a piece of writing from a seasoned prolific author! I love a good, solid and real protagonist, and Molly our dutiful maid had all this in spades. Quirky to the point of tragic awkwardness which was not to her detriment; the author crafted this in such a way that even though we cringed as she stumbled her way through, arms flailing, if you will, grew from this point. And the delight was watching this blooming and coming to life. The ensemble cast a delight (in the most part) and the reading a breeze. Molly is dutiful as much as she is ostracised. Molly performs her beloved work as a maid in the Regency Hotel, a job she loves and performs better than any other staff. She understands her place in the hierarchy and enjoys being left alone to do her tasks with love and pride. Living with her beloved Grandmother whose employment has always been of the same vain, they have a lovely life together. Gran provides smatterings of gold which help Molly learn a little more about life, their relationship is lovely. A delightful romp in the whodunnit genre. A must read. Suzanne, NSW, 5 Stars
A very interesting read. You can tell the author is an editor because of the great descriptions she gives in the book. Very detailed descriptions enable the reader to feel as though they are actually there in the story. The book starts off detailing the life of The Maid in her earlier years of life, with such insightful descriptions of everything – her Gran, the house, clothes, thoughts. A very gentle introduction to what is to come!!! Then getting into The Maid’s work at the hotel – WOW!!! Everything suddenly becomes very dramatic. Great details of her work within the hotel with insight into other staff, management and patrons. The story dramatically changes once the book gets into her work side. I was not expecting this at all. Again, very detailed descriptions of her work enable the reader to feel as though they are actually in the hotel too. Some heartbreak, but mostly high drama. I found it hard to put the book down until it was finished. Very gripping storyline. I had a few thoughts on who the bad guy/s were. However, you have to read to the end of the book to get the full picture. Glenice, VIC, 5 Stars
Nita Prose tells a captivating story in her debut novel, The Maid. This murder mystery is a heart warming story of Molly the Maid; who immediately captured my heart. This story epitomises the old adage to never judge a book by its cover. I found this a cleverly written story touching on many issues including bullying, thuggery and deceit whilst also seeing the world in a different light by the ever humble life of the main character Molly. Thank you to Harper Collins Publishers and Better Reading for an advance copy in exchange for my review. Vicki, QLD, 5 Stars
Molly Gray is a hotel maid. She loves her work and is courteous, diligent and discreet. She takes great pride in her cleaning and her attention to detail is meticulous. Will that be enough, when she discovers a dead guest in his suite, to save her from prosecution? In this brilliant debut novel, Prose offers the reader an irresistible protagonist, plenty of dark humour, and a few red herrings laced through a fast-paced plot that will keep even the most astute reader guessing right up to the final, stunning twist. Definitely lives up to the hype!! Marianne, NSW, 5 Stars
I found The Maid appealing straightaway as I too know what it’s like to clean and be in a sometimes thankless job. The quirkiness and eccentricities of the main character stood out to me, and I loved the way the character evolved throughout the book. Her trusting side and naivety was refreshing and sometimes I would catch myself trying to give her advice as I was reading, even though I knew I couldn’t! The supporting characters were just as interesting and definitely had me turning the pages quickly to find out what was going to happen next. There was a lot of funny incidents in the book, along with a few tear jerkers and the ending was definitely not what I expected. I really enjoyed the novel and watching the main character grow from strength to strength. A definite must read for anyone who is a clean freak, feels undervalued or just likes a good entertaining adventure! Karen, NSW, 5 Stars
The Maid by Nita Prose is absolutely delightful! It is an easy and enjoyable read- for me it was the perfect anti-dote to Sydney lock-down. I was drawn in from the very beginning and I enjoyed the characters so much that I didn’t want this book to end, it felt like the ultimate comfort book. Molly loves her job as a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel and strives for perfection, but she has difficulty with social interaction and her work colleagues make fun of her and take advantage of her trusting nature. One day Molly finds a very important hotel guest dead in his bed and the repercussions of this change her ordered life forever. The mystery has plenty of twists to keep you guessing and is very well written, quirky and uplifting. Molly the maid is drawn with sensitivity and heart, her bravery and perseverance are amazing. This is a story for all the people who feel invisible at times and shows that you should never underestimate their strength. What a fabulous debut novel from Nita Prose, I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next. Debbie, NSW, 5 Stars
I was smitten with the main character, Molly, in The Maid by Nita Prose. I love her unfiltered observations. The Maid is an easy, enjoyable and quirky read. It has all the elements that I appreciate – murder, love, interesting characters and a delightful storyline. What makes it different is Molly is likely on the spectrum and therefore interprets things in a unique way. She is aware of this and does adjust for it. Her beloved Gran ensured Molly would be able to understand the nuances of life. Molly is not necessarily all goodness but generally she is about working hard and ethically. The story is tied up well in the end with just desserts all round. Sandra, ACT, 5 Stars
Agatha Christie meets John Grisham in this warm, poignant and suspense filled drama. Each page unveiled secrets for the reader to decipher. I laughed, developed goosebumps and nearly cried. An emotional paperback that delivered the goods in all departments! Thanks Nita Prose for the delightful journey Izabella, VIC, 5 Stars
Have just finished a thoroughly engaging debut novel, The Maid, by Nita Prose (perfect name for a writer!). Molly the maid and central character, is one of the ‘invisible’ people we don’t really see. She’s a maid in an upmarket hotel, one who does her work to the best of her ability, one who loves where she is employed. In her day to day life, she is guided by a seemingly endless store of truisms drummed into her by her late grandmother. For example, “You’re never alone as long as you have a friend” “What’s done is done” “The longer you live, the more you learn” The truth behind such commonplace sayings becomes more real as the story unfolds. The story is told in the first person by Molly but Molly is a little special. She accepts what she sees and hears at face value but we, the discerning readers, are seeing a very different situation unfolding. It’s going to be catastrophic for poor Molly! Molly is a character you can’t help but love. I found myself reading the book over two sessions because I wanted to see how it turned out for Molly. The book is highly readable and should generate lively conversations about people like Molly, the unspoken, often thoughtless assumptions we sometimes make. I hope Ms Prose is working on her next novel. If it’s anything like The Maid, it will be a winner! Chris, NSW, 5 Stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was so different to anything I usually read. I’m so glad I read it. Christine, QLD, 4 Stars
Molly the Maid sees a lot more than people expect, and knows a lot more than people assume… I found this book interesting and Molly’s unique point of view refreshing. She certainly is a lot smarter than people give her credit for! Ayesha, NSW, 4 Stars
Molly is a woman after my own heart. Her thinking is organised and structured and she just loves cleanliness. This beautifully written book about a maid who works in a fancy motel really grabbed my attention from the first few pages. Molly discovers a dead body in one of the rooms she cleans, and the story plays out from there, as various characters start to show their true colours. Molly is a likeable protagonist, with a certain innocence about her. She is dedicated, hardworking and just wants to live a simple life. Thank you to @betterreadingau and @harpercollinsau for the preview copy of this amazing debut novel by Nita Prose. Alison, VIC, 4 Stars
He is very dead! A phone call is made to the reception of the Regency Grand by Molly the Maid – but what has happened here??? The Maid as its title suggests, is about Molly the Maid, and I know what you’re thinking, how could this book possibly be interesting. However, you would be surprised what the person in the background, who seems to just appear, create cleaning magic, then disappears – actually hears and sees as they go about their business. The story is told by Molly about the events that lead up to, the day of Mr Black’s death and what happened after that day. Would you suspect a respectable hotel to have shady dealings occurring everyday behind closed doors. Who really are Mr Black and his wife Giselle – just regular rich guests or is there more behind their stays. This book really surprised me, it was somewhat of a mystery that unfolds as you learn about Molly and her world. Nita Prose does an outstanding job of telling us Molly’s story in her unique way – down to the way she talks, her awkward sense of being and even how she processes every last thing. Do you really notice someone who is used to being invisible. This was an easy read and one that covers many styles and interests. Suzie, WA, 4 Stars
Molly the Maid is a 25 year old who was raised and lived with her grandmother until she passed 6 months ago. Molly struggles socially and trusts easily. Which puts her in a very serious and bad situation. Since her grandmother’s death Molly no longer has anyone to guide her and speak with about her situation. Molly is a very proud and very good maid at the Regency Grand. She loves her job and is obsessive with cleaning and doing the right thing. One day when cleaning she finds a regular guest of the Regency Grand dead in his bed. Molly quickly becomes the prime suspect. She struggles to understand how this could have happened and who she can trust. Mr Preston, the Regency’s doorman, his daughter Charlotte, a lawyer and Jean Manuel, a dishwasher at the hotel are there to help her. She struggles to know who to trust but soon learns who are her true friends who are not. Molly is a clever girl and gets through this situation with her new friends. A very lovely read. Highly recommend. Thank you to Better Reading and Harper Collins for giving me the opportunity to read and review this wonderful novel before it’s release. Renae, QLD, 4 Stars
This is a wonderful light hearted read, such an easy read but with lots of intrigue to keep you interested in the storyline. Molly is the main character in this story, a lovely unusual young lady who draws you into her world. Molly isn’t great in social situations, has had an awkward upbringing however in her role of The Maid she shines. Throughout the different story lines I was compelled to support her hoping she would get through, I felt myself developing an interest in her welfare. Add a murder and the ensuring mystery and this book has you drawn in. A lovely read. Christine, QLD, 4 Stars
This novel is about a maid called Molly and a murder that takes place in the hotel where she works.Molly has great difficulty picking up non verbal cues which her grandmother helped her with, but she has just died at the beginning of the story so Molly has to muddle through the whole murder investigation without her special help. Molly always cleaned the room of Mr Black and his second wife Giselle, and it is Mr Black who has been killed. She had become friends with Giselle, who helped her understand people like her grandmother did, until Giselle and then Molly herself becomes the prime suspect in the murder. Through this trial Molly discovers who her true friends are and her own inner strength. Great characterisation and eye opening dive into the secret life of a hotel maid. you may not notice them, but they notice you!! Kristy, NSW, 4 Stars
A delightfully quirky story. Molly, the maid, tries to live life according to her Gran’s homilies, but her neurodiversity sets her apart from others. We see the story unfold through Molly’s eyes, as she cleans the hotel rooms to perfection, and unknowingly finds herself caught up in some very murky business. She is such an endearing character you find yourself talking to her, warning her about creepy Rodney. The worst thing that could happen to Molly turns out to lead to the best of outcomes. The plot is a little predictable but still clever. My only ‘complaint’ is with the Epilogue – seemed out of character for Molly and did not work for me although it tied up an obvious loose end. But a good read with an unlikely heroine and a great supporting cast of goodies and baddies. Victoria, NSW, 4 Stars
Molly the Maid is a very unique and interesting character. She takes pride in her work at the Regency Grand hotel, is very efficient and always follows the rules and protocols in both personal and professional life. After the passing of her beloved Gran, Molly continues to focus on her work and forms bonds with her colleagues and guests. Or so she believes. People often misunderstand and underestimate Molly. She seems to be socially awkward, abrupt and is unsure how to react to certain situations. One example is when she was cleaning the room of VIP’s Mr and Mrs Black and called reception to advise Mr Black was “permanently indisposed”. After finding his dead body, Molly learns the people she trusted and considered friends do not always appear as they seem. This is a great novel with many interesting characters and always some new information and scenarios around the corner. As the reader, you will learn through Molly’s eyes what its like to be the lead suspect in a potential murder case, to make friends and determine who the “good-eggs” are. Oh, and some gentle reminders about manners, such as no elbows on the table. Emma, NSW, 4 Stars
I felt like I was in a modern day ‘Murder She wrote’ Was hard to put this book down, Nita Prose draws you into the world of Molly the maid and you just have to keep reading to make sure she is ok. I cried, I laughed and gasped. Great concept into adult bullying. No more school yard pushing and kicking but manipulation and preying on weaknesses. Molly takes you to back to old Hollywood glamour as she describes her hotel and her passion for her work. Such and old soul. Love it. Christie, NSW, 4 Stars
The Maid is a fantastic read – such a wonderful character to follow as she navigates some very tricky situations. We look through her eyes, but view the events with our own insights, so spot the troubles ahead, but are powerless to help. It makes for an exciting ride with some fabulous twists. It’s at turns hilarious, sad, cringeworthy and joyful. A unique and engaging character with a unique and engaging tale. I want to read it again already. Em, NSW, 4 Stars
Molly “The Maid” works at the prestigious Grand Regency Hotel – she takes her job very seriously, going the extra mile at all times to return rooms to “a state of perfection”. She has recently suffered the loss of her much loved grandmother and is finding life tricky due to loneliness and without the guidance of her grandma. One day at work she discovers the body of a VIP guest and then begins her journey as the accused and the fight to clear her name. Molly is a likeable character, quirky, socially awkward, naive and vulnerable and no doubt on the spectrum. This book reminded me in some ways of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. It’s an easy, enjoyable read .. I recommend it as a perfect summer time beach read. Melanie, VIC, 3 Stars
The Maid was an enjoyable read. Reminded me of English ‘who dunnit’ TV shows. A little bit predictable, a very easy but entertaining read. And Molly the maid has changed hotel stays for me forever! Lisa, WA, 3 Stars
The Maid was a good read. Molly the maid is a quirky character trying to find Her place in the world after the death of Her only Family, Her beloved Grandmother. Molly is an old fashioned girl too trusting for Her own good. Finding the body of a guest in the hotel spins her life in a whole new direction. Deanne, VIC, 3 Stars
I liked the premise of the book, but it was hard to get into as it didn’t feel like the author trusted the reader to understand the nature of the main character so has to keep telling the reader over and over. Belinda, NSW, 2 Stars
I did not particularly enjoy this book, unfortunately. The synopsis had me very excited for a thrilling read, but it just quite didn’t meet my expectations. I found it predictable and couldn’t warm to any of the characters. Didn’t hit the mark for me! Emily, VIC, 2 Stars
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