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chaotically_katie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Abandonment, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Cancer, Bullying, Chronic illness, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, and Grief
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Ableism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Confinement, Deportation, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, and Trafficking
kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book reminded me of Eleanor Oliphant is Fine a bit — the main characters being somewhat strange and therefor similar. I liked that the narrator was morally grey, because she was a bit different than other people. I also found her naivety to be quite refreshing if not a bit unbelievable. All in all, a quick read that is interesting and well-written.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Classism, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship
alba_marie's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This one wasn't for me. So much hype surrounded this book; I'm generally a bit suspicious of hyped-up books, and they rarely meet my expectations. This one was no different. I truly do not get why so many people wanted to read it.
The book is a "murder mystery" in a hotel in which a maid becomes implicated. The entire time though the mystery felt like it took the backseat, and a detailed account of Molly the Maid's life was the main story.
I really struggled to connect with Molly the maid throughout the whole book. This made it hard to enjoy the novel, as it was a largely character-based story rather than a proper murder mystery. Though never explicitly said, Molly is on the spectrum somewhere – probably on the higher end of the spectrum. She’s obsessed with cleanliness. She has very limited social skills – to the point of exhibiting a child-like innocence at times – doesn't do well with change, and can't read social situations or facial expressions. Sarcasm is lost on her, and she struggles to grasp the gravity of certain situations. I'm sorry to say it but her life is very simple and very boring.
She was a tough character to connect with, and spending hours upon hours in her mind was exasperating for me. I was exhausted by the end (well before the end, actually) of the book, and delighted to be out of her life. Her world is very constricted and offers little in terms of stimulation or interest. I think it'd be hard to find anyone that cares that much about cleaning!
The story itself was simple and the murder wasn't hard to work out. There was no cat and mouse chase, no hunting down the clues, no working towards understanding the victim's or suspects' secret lives, no red herrings or secret agendas or exciting chases or nail-biting moments. The detectives were 2-D, flat characters. The baddies were so obviously baddies to everyone but Molly. The end took far too long to materialise, and then the murderer was caught and there was still 1 hour left and I was like, noooo!
Anyway, I wouldn't recommend it. It was not well written, it was pretty boring, there was nothing unique or interesting or fun about it, and I just couldn't engage with Molly or her world. When I finished listening (on double speed just to get there....), it was with an enormous sigh of relief.
The book is a "murder mystery" in a hotel in which a maid becomes implicated. The entire time though the mystery felt like it took the backseat, and a detailed account of Molly the Maid's life was the main story.
I really struggled to connect with Molly the maid throughout the whole book. This made it hard to enjoy the novel, as it was a largely character-based story rather than a proper murder mystery. Though never explicitly said, Molly is on the spectrum somewhere – probably on the higher end of the spectrum. She’s obsessed with cleanliness. She has very limited social skills – to the point of exhibiting a child-like innocence at times – doesn't do well with change, and can't read social situations or facial expressions. Sarcasm is lost on her, and she struggles to grasp the gravity of certain situations. I'm sorry to say it but her life is very simple and very boring.
She was a tough character to connect with, and spending hours upon hours in her mind was exasperating for me. I was exhausted by the end (well before the end, actually) of the book, and delighted to be out of her life. Her world is very constricted and offers little in terms of stimulation or interest. I think it'd be hard to find anyone that cares that much about cleaning!
The story itself was simple and the murder wasn't hard to work out. There was no cat and mouse chase, no hunting down the clues, no working towards understanding the victim's or suspects' secret lives, no red herrings or secret agendas or exciting chases or nail-biting moments. The detectives were 2-D, flat characters. The baddies were so obviously baddies to everyone but Molly. The end took far too long to materialise, and then the murderer was caught and there was still 1 hour left and I was like, noooo!
Anyway, I wouldn't recommend it. It was not well written, it was pretty boring, there was nothing unique or interesting or fun about it, and I just couldn't engage with Molly or her world. When I finished listening (on double speed just to get there....), it was with an enormous sigh of relief.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Deportation, Emotional abuse, and Classism
simrankohli's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, and Drug abuse
maya_cole321's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Physical abuse, Cancer, Chronic illness, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, and Murder
erindoesdesign's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Suicide, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Bullying, and Emotional abuse
phantasmaboo's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Maid by Nina Prose follows the story of Molly, a young maid who works in a high-class hotel with some dark secrets. Molly knows she thinks differently from everyone else and is grieving the loss of her beloved grandmother, who helped her navigate the complexities of society. When Molly finds a VIP dead in his room, a series of events unfold that place Molly at the center of a very dangerous plot.
I thought this book was very good. From the first pages, I really connect to and felt for Molly. I honestly thought that she was the best part of the book, and the fact that Molly does not see the same connections as the reader truly heightened the tension. However, that does not mean that the story is foreseeable in its conclusion, as we quickly learn that though Molly has some difficulty in dealing with social situations due to how her mind works, she is also capable and cunning. I like how this book didn’t portray Molly as a victim due to her differences, but rather as someone in need of support and companionship as she makes her own way.
The plot was pretty standard, but I don’t see that as an overall negative. With the main focus being on Molly, how she views the world, and how she navigates it, I think having a fairly standard plot is okay. As I mentioned, it really added to the tension to see and know things that Molly did not or didn’t pick up on because of her different way of viewing the world. I could see this being frustrating to some, but I thought it made for a more character-driven story.
Overall, I give this book 5 stars. I think if you’re looking for a character-focused mystery that gives agency to someone is neurodivergent, this is a good choice for you.
I thought this book was very good. From the first pages, I really connect to and felt for Molly. I honestly thought that she was the best part of the book, and the fact that Molly does not see the same connections as the reader truly heightened the tension. However, that does not mean that the story is foreseeable in its conclusion, as we quickly learn that though Molly has some difficulty in dealing with social situations due to how her mind works, she is also capable and cunning. I like how this book didn’t portray Molly as a victim due to her differences, but rather as someone in need of support and companionship as she makes her own way.
The plot was pretty standard, but I don’t see that as an overall negative. With the main focus being on Molly, how she views the world, and how she navigates it, I think having a fairly standard plot is okay. As I mentioned, it really added to the tension to see and know things that Molly did not or didn’t pick up on because of her different way of viewing the world. I could see this being frustrating to some, but I thought it made for a more character-driven story.
Overall, I give this book 5 stars. I think if you’re looking for a character-focused mystery that gives agency to someone is neurodivergent, this is a good choice for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Emotional abuse, Death, Death of parent, and Ableism
sea_tea_books's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
3.5
Do two wrongs make a right? Is it ever right to be wrong? "Sometimes, you must do one thing bad to do another thing good. It's not always so clear, so black and white like everyone thinks."
At times this appeared to be an almost charming story. Yet, there were significant plot twists that darkened that charm. I recognize the nuanced decisions the characters are faced with making but I could have done without the promise between Molly and her Gran. That left me most unsettled.
At times this appeared to be an almost charming story. Yet, there were significant plot twists that darkened that charm. I recognize the nuanced decisions the characters are faced with making but I could have done without the promise between Molly and her Gran. That left me most unsettled.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Violence, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Addiction, and Death
Minor: Grief
parisfba09's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Cancer, Deportation, Drug abuse, Drug use, Xenophobia, Emotional abuse, and Terminal illness
berenike_and's review against another edition
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Ein schönes Buch, wenn auch absolut nicht so wie erwartet.
Ein bisschen mehr Ermittlungen und Spannung hätte ich schön gefunden, denn die Untertitel "Ein Zimmermädchen ermittelt" und "Sie kennt deine Geheimnisse | Sie findet die Wahrheit" lassen die Leser*innen ein anderes Buch erwarten.
Außerdem kann ich ehrlich nicht nachvollziehen weshalb sie nichts gesagt hat obwohl sie von Anfang an wusste wer den Mord an Mr Black zu verantworten hat
Molly als Protagonistin fand ich allerdings sehr angenehm, aber warum wurde ihr in ihrer Kindhei anscheinend nie vorgeschlagen auf Autismus zu testen? Inwieweit die Handlung hier stereotyp und evtl. schädlich ist, kann ich nicht beurteilen
Ein bisschen mehr Ermittlungen und Spannung hätte ich schön gefunden, denn die Untertitel "Ein Zimmermädchen ermittelt" und "Sie kennt deine Geheimnisse | Sie findet die Wahrheit" lassen die Leser*innen ein anderes Buch erwarten.
Außerdem kann ich ehrlich nicht nachvollziehen weshalb
Molly als Protagonistin fand ich allerdings sehr angenehm, aber warum wurde ihr in ihrer Kindhei anscheinend nie vorgeschlagen auf Autismus zu testen? Inwieweit die Handlung hier stereotyp und evtl. schädlich ist, kann ich nicht beurteilen
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia
Minor: Abandonment