Reviews

Very fun “cozy” mystery. I really liked Molly, and her differences were beautiful. I loved how the author developed her character, especially what she did with the ending! Do not skip the epilogue y’all. Fun, cute, good time.

greenmama23's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful 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

4.25

julie2525's review against another edition

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4.0

lovely, light, cozy book. This book is popular because it’s a fun, quick read.

We read this from the Molly’s POV. Molly is neurodivergent in her own way, misunderstanding the most basic social cues and relying too much on people’s words. The writing style reflects her formal and stilted thinking style. It’s a nice touch and makes for a quick read.

In concept this book is about growing up and finding your own family, but really, it’s a murder mystery, styled a little differently. We have a maid who 1) misses extremely obvious social cues 2) trusts everyone and 3) finds the dead body. We have the classic characters: the family, the villain, the friend, the nice old man, the immigrant missing his paperwork, the bad boss, the good boss, and the detective. Most importantly, we have Molly’s nativity, which is in its own class entirely.

andlivloves's review against another edition

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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

3.0

This was a quick read for me, but I'd describe the book as "just okay." I liked the overall setup of the ignored maid solving a murder in a fancy hotel, but I think the execution became a little underwhelming about halfway through the book. I think part of that is because we the audience know that Molly

is being taken advantage of by other characters, which leaves a lack of mystery in places - even if it is still a mystery to Molly.

. I think this makes for an interesting story, but not so much for an interesting mystery. The ending rectified this problem a bit, but not completely.

dscass3's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

coreac's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted mysterious 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

5.0

This was a captivating read that effortlessly drew me into the unique world of its protagonist, Molly Gray. Prose’s skillful writing evokes deep sympathy for Molly, a socially awkward hotel maid. Molly's distinct voice and perspective are so well-rendered that I couldn't help but root for her.

One of the standout aspects of the novel is the snippets of italicized wisdom imparted by Molly's grandmother. Her insights provide Molly with the tools she needs to face the complexities of her situation, acting as a moral compass and helping to flesh out the central theme of the story: the importance of kindness, integrity, and seeing beyond first impressions.

While the central mystery may not keep seasoned mystery readers on the edge of their seats (I figured it out fairly quickly), the novel’s charm lies in its engaging writing style and Molly’s inner monologues. So despite the predictability of the plot, "The Maid" is a thoroughly enjoyable read.

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