The Maid (Molly the Maid #1) by Nita Prose

 

Summary (from the publisher): 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.

Review: Molly Gray is a very dedicated maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. She is twenty-five years old and is figuring out life on her own for the first time since the death of her grandmother Gran, who died a few months ago. Molly has a difficult time with social interactions and is frequently misunderstood or misreads others. But she is hardworking and earnest and tries to live a tidy and mannerly life. Until her orderly life is upended when she finds a guest of the hotel dead in his bed. Quickly, Molly finds herself the lead suspect in a murder case.  While some in the hotel were not true friends to Molly and were deceiving her and others, Molly does have some true friends who will help her get disentangled from the mess. 

This was such a fun, quirky read! In spite of her social difficulties and apparent neurodivergence, which could have made her narration stilted or difficult, Molly comes across as a very sincere and endearing narrator who has clearly been taken advantage of by certain individuals in the hotel. In addition to such a delightful lead, the plot is intriguing. A murder mystery that reads like a game of clue, it has tension and interest without being scary or phony feeling. 

I love how this book turns the spotlight on people who are often overlooked in society. Molly in particular is a good example of this because she is young, awkward, and works in housekeeping, so she is nearly invisible to many in her workplace. Under interrogation, she attracts suspicion because she doesn't have "normal" responses. She very politely and gently makes a point that it is wrong to make assumptions on this basis and I loved her for it. She is unfailingly polite and kind to others to the best of her abilities. Molly is truly an outstanding character and really the star of this book in every way. 

Stars: 4