This is one of the most original, fascinating, and well written mystery I read in some time.
It's one of those book you cannot classify as there's a mystery but it's also a story about learning to navigate the world and who you can trust.
Molly is young, quirky, and naif. She's alone in the world and her world is a hotel where she works as maid. An invisible even if she sees a lot and can see without being seen.
Is she a murderer or a victim.
The story is told by her point of view and we meet other people through her eyes and and quirky approach to reality.
It's a bit slow at the beginning but after a couple of chapters I was hooked and couldn't stop reading.
I loved book, loved Molly and loved storytelling.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I couldn’t read this fast enough! It was fantastic - gripping, so incredibly well written and the little twists that were thrown in there just as you thought everything was as it seems, it very much wasn’t. The characters were great, I especially loved Molly and Mr Preston. Definitely a book I highly recommend

Thank you NetGalley and to the publishers for my copy of this book in return for a review

Molly is described by one character as an old soul in a young body and this description is perfect. Quirky, old-fashioned and innocent would also be apt adjectives to apply. As is often the case, what makes Molly such a unique and delightful character to read about, are the very things which are used against her in the plot. It is obvious, almost from page one, that Molly is going to get herself into trouble because she simply doesn't see the world in the same way as everyone else does. Her charming naivety allows more cynical characters to take advantage of her and although it makes for a thrilling and heart-stopping read, it also makes me really sad to think that there are people to whom this kind of thing happens and unlike in fiction, there isn't always a friendly face there, ready to step in and get them out of the mess they've got themselves into.

Some characters are set up from the start as 'the bad guys' while others take time to show their true colours and again, this reflects real life. I really felt for Molly when she discovered that those she thought she could trust, were not only unworthy of her trust, but also had actively been working against her. Her confusion and and hurt really leap out at the reader and the feelings of protectiveness and sympathy that have been building for her, really come to the fore by the middle of the book.

Before I began reading, I'd seen Molly described as being a little bit like Eleanor Oliphant and again, I think the comparison is an apt one. However, the key difference is that Molly seems far more alone than Eleanor ever did. She doesn't see the overtures of friendship which are made to her and her circumstances are such that the people with whom she might be friends, aren't initially able to pursue that potential friendship.

Once the main event has happened, which is about halfway through the book, the pace picks up dramatically and the second half all happens very quickly and everything is resolved at top speed. This suits the nature of the plot particularly well and it almost feels as if you're reading in real time.

This book is perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and in spite of its modern American setting, the opulence of the hotel hearks back to the locations of the golden age of crime and with twists and turns galore, it would sit comfortably on the shelf alongside books of that ilk. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am grateful to Harper Collins and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to review this book.

Wow, if this is a debut novel, we're bound to expect great things by Nita Prose in the future!

Molly the Maid is a wonderful character, expertly characterised. Having myself a kid on the autistic spectrum, I'm usually a bit wary of books with characters who are as well, since sometimes it feels a bit "spectacularised" and used mainly because it's trendy. But not in this case. In this case it felt true and raw and I've had the feeling of being inside my son's and Molly's head.

The Maid would have been a great book even without the mystery format, but it definitely is an added bonus.

Absolutely buy this book, you won't regret it, and you'll love Molly and want to hug her.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’d say if you are going into this one expecting a fast paced thriller you might be a little disappointed. This is more of a slow cozy mystery with a somewhat predictable ending. However, I really liked our protagonist Molly the maid and there are some likeable side characters as well. Middle of the road 3 for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was my favourite read of 2021. Molly the Maid is incredible, I want her to be real. Following the death of her beloved grandmother, Molly finds the world difficult to navigate due to her lack of understanding when it comes to social skills. People take advantage of her. Her organised life crashes around her when she discovers one of her wealthy clients dead in his room. Things take a turbulent turn for her but she sticks with what is honest and truthful. I absolutely loved how her life turns out in the end. We need a sequel.

I had high hopes with this book, because a friend has read it and raved about it. So I was a little disappointed after reading it myself.
The story grabbed me from the start, and the main character was amusing in many ways, but somehow it didn't keep me wanting to readon. Around half way through it got more interesting for me, and I completed the second part of the book faster.

it was an enjoyable if slightly predicatable story.

What a fantastic debut!

Molly ‘The Maid’ is a fabulous character, although not mentioned, I think it's clear that she has Asperger's syndrome, she is polite, endearingly quirky, obsessively clean and also heartbreakingly lonely since her beloved grandmother's death. Her mannerisms and literal approach often frustrates her employer and co workers, leading the less kindly to mock or exploit her, thankfully there are a few 'good eggs' around her too.

This is a wonderful well written, smart and refreshingly different cosy novel, with a well paced storyline, colourful characters, plenty of tension and a few twists - the ending, although somewhat predictable was heartwarming and just what was needed. I'm sure this will be a bestseller I've heard it's already been optioned for a movie and I am praying it makes it to the big screen. I'm now looking forward to Nita Prose's next book.

With huge gratitude to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this wonderful book and give my honest opinion.

Molly ‘The Maid’ is a fabulous character, quirky and endearing she made a fantastic centre for this murder mystery.
A lovely cozy sofa read, with a well paced storyline, enjoyable and I am not surprised that the film rights have already been snapped up!

A cozy, page-turning mystery with a unique main character.

Molly was an interesting character and I enjoyed the setting of the high end hotel, but the plot was a bit all over the place. I didn't find the story particularly touching or funny, but the unique perspective did make up for a lot of this.

I could definitely see this as a TV adaption.

Very engaging story with an uncompromising and likeable main character. Thank you for the opportunity to get to know Molly the maid.

Molly the maid is a character all of her own . Socially inept and somewhere probably on the autistic spectrum. Since the death of her grandmother she lives alone and is fully dedicated to her work in the hotel as a maid. She is naïve, meticulous in her work and trusting with people and this leads her into stormy waters after the death of the occupant in the suite she was attending.

I really enjoyed this book and the characters in it. Molly was enthralling and so well described. The insight into her thoughts, actions and speech gave her a vulnerability and made her so likeable.

I was drawn into this story and the way it was gradually presented by the author . There was only one part that I found very farfetched and that did spoil it for me and reduce my rating. This was concerning the sting operation by Molly and her friends. I did not let this spoil the novel for me.

Ever wondered how much hotel staff, such as maids, really know about guests - and how involved they get in the guests' questionable activities?

Molly, a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel, takes her job very seriously. She doesn't connect easily with people socially like others seem to, but she knows her job and she likes her life to be orderly and structured. One day, however, a rich guest dies in the hotel: Charles Black, whose wife Molly has become quite close to. It turns out there's far more going on at the Regency Grand than it first seems - and poor Molly gets embroiled in the havoc which ensues as police try to work out who killed Charles.

Molly's character is incredibly likeable. We can tell (and in fact, Molly says herself) that Molly struggles to understand when people aren't being serious, and she takes everything literally, so unfortunately some people take advantage of her. As the reader, we can see this coming a mile off but poor Molly often can't - and the story is entirely narrated by Molly, so often there's certain phrases or pieces of information Molly gives away which makes us aware of this.

As well as Molly, there are lots of other likeable and not so likeable characters who are interesting to read about, and plenty of different themes and issues addressed in the narrative - including grief, inclusivity, identity and neurodiversity plus many more. The mystery element to the plot - who actually killed Charles and why? - is an added bonus for me.

The Maid is an enjoyable, sweet book that mixes an enjoyable storyline with unique, memorable characters.

I really enjoyed this book and will be interested to see if the film does it justice. Molly is clearly neurodiverse and I felt that, for the main part, the way others treated her or reacted to her was spot on. Some were cruel, some were kind, some didn't bat an eyelid and just carried on. However, on occasion I felt that she was presented perhaps too simply or with less credibility. That said, it was a great story and it unravelled really well with red herrings and mis-directions. A sound murder mystery story. An interesting take and would definitely recommend a read!

‘I am your maid. I know so much about you. But when it comes down to it: what is it that you know about me?’
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I could not have devoured this book faster or loved it stronger. The characters are like a warm hug and the mystery is so enjoyable to read. It gave me Thursday Murder Club vibes and I was fully fully here for it
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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.
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From start to finish I don’t think this book dipped for me. Molly as our narrator and protagonist is charming, funny, quirky and loveable, from chapter 1 till the end you fall ever more in love with her and wish you could reach into the story to help her out of the many conundrums she finds herself in. This book has a good mystery edge to it with a whole lot of heart, I am so pleasantly surprised by this one and will be recommending it to anyone who will listen!
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Thank you to Netgalley & Harper Collins UK for the ARC! Started off my year with one hell of a book!!

Oh gosh! What a read! I absolutely fell in love with ‘Molly the maid!’ Molly is recovering from the death of her grandmother and dealing with that by keeping up with her routines and job at the hotel when she stumbles into a room where a wealthy client has died. Events quickly spiral and you learn that the hotel is not as polished and ‘clean’ as appearances suggest.
Molly is a delightful and seriously interesting character. I loved that she is different but underestimated. The need for structure, cleanliness and a strong moral compass, makes her likeable and endearing.
There are so many layers to this story and as you are seeing them through Molly’s eyes, not always easy to work out. It was a clever and considered move telling the story from her perspective. You are very aware that something is amiss but don’t see the full story until things really start to unravel. I felt tense and protective of this brilliant character.
This book was totally unexpected for me, it was funny, warming, and a mysterious and tense read at the same time. I thought every character was well thought out and perfectly moulded. A fantastic debut, I’ll be watching out for more from Nita Prose!

Wow, I loved this book! Molly the maid works at a hotel where she is a very dedicated cleaner. When a scandal unfolds, she finds herself right in the middle of it, way out of her depth. Molly is naïve and doesn’t always realise what’s happening and who her real friends are. Molly is invisible, unseen by guests and other staff alike until suddenly she’s the centre of attention. She must learn whom to trust while she hunts for the truth. The plot is great, intense in places, fast-paced (after the very beginning) and all-consuming. It is well-researched and shows that everyone deserves to be seen.

Molly the maid is the best character! She is neurodiverse (although, it doesn’t mention that anywhere, it's quite clear). She is an old person in a young person body and has been bought out by her Gran who has recently passed away leaving her alone in the world. Molly is quirky, very polite, and exceptionally clean yet also very lonely. Her mannerisms fluster and frustrate others around her who don’t understand her, they laugh at her expense which she doesn’t always understand. Though some characters are more understanding and caring and look after her well.

The way Molly the maid is treated at times can be funny but is also devastatingly heart-breaking. Despite this, her belief in herself and her skills shine through. She is a very strong character.

Mr Preston was another great character who helped Molly so much and wanted her to let him in so he could look after her like he had promised her Gran. His daughter, Charlotte was also wonderful to Molly as was Juan.

The ending was beautiful though predictable. This is an unusual, heart-warming, “cosy crime” read which is written wonderfully well. I can see that this book will do incredibly well upon release, I am already seeing it mentioned everywhere and it’s been optioned for a movie I believe, which I can’t wait to watch!

The Maid by Nita Prose is a delightful cozy mystery with lovable characters. An entertaining read that I thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend to all mystery lovers. A solid 5 stars

I would like to thank the TBC Reviewers request group , Netgalley , the publisher & the author for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review

Having loved the book Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine and seeing people recommend this was similar I delved right in. Molly is similar to Eleanor and I enjoyed reading her view's on the world and found her to be a likable character. The plot is a somewhat murder mystery, when a male is found dead in a hotel room and Molly is prime suspect, she goes on the hunt to find the truth. At times I felt there was too much going on with this book, at the start liked the references to what her gran use to say but after a few pages I saw it became a running theme throughout, which lost its charm.
Over all I would say this is a lovely debut book however I wasnt wowed by it