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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Molly Gray is a maid at the swanky Regency Grand Hotel. Known for her limited social skills, she is simply struggling to get by after the death of her beloved grandmother a few months prior. One Monday when cleaning the Black suite, she finds Mr. Black dead in his bed. And eventually, Molly becomes the primary suspect.
I read this book on the recommendation of a friend, and I am currently in a mystery/thriller phase, so I took it. Unfortunately, this book didn’t do it for me.
The biggest problem was that it was hard to get into and I got stuck often due to the slow pacing in the first half. There is so much filler and unrelated focus on cleaning and memories of her grandmother, and not much to do with the mystery until halfway through.
I also had a bit of a problem with how Molly was written. It’s constantly mentioned that Molly has problems understanding social cues and nuances, and is obsessed with neatness. All the signs point to her being on the autism spectrum, but that’s not the issue I have. It’s never directly stated that Molly is autistic, but she felt more of a caricature of one. It’s as though the author picked the autistic traits that would suit the story and then exaggerated them. Further, this characterization is inconsistent. From scene to scene, Molly would go from being naïve and lacking in common sense to suddenly being more astute and focused, and back again. The latter is especially so in the final 45% of the book, after Molly gets out on bail.
Juan Manuel, the dishwasher at the hotel, also felt like a caricature (of an immigrant).
I guess the final issue I had was that it was predictable. I could sense Rodney’s involvement chapters before it was revealed, so when the actual revelation came, I didn’t feel that shock.
To me, 3 stars is akin to saying “this was okay, but not memorable.” I still enjoyed the writing but everything else just wasn’t for me.
I read this book on the recommendation of a friend, and I am currently in a mystery/thriller phase, so I took it. Unfortunately, this book didn’t do it for me.
The biggest problem was that it was hard to get into and I got stuck often due to the slow pacing in the first half. There is so much filler and unrelated focus on cleaning and memories of her grandmother, and not much to do with the mystery until halfway through.
I also had a bit of a problem with how Molly was written. It’s constantly mentioned that Molly has problems understanding social cues and nuances, and is obsessed with neatness. All the signs point to her being on the autism spectrum, but that’s not the issue I have. It’s never directly stated that Molly is autistic, but she felt more of a caricature of one. It’s as though the author picked the autistic traits that would suit the story and then exaggerated them. Further, this characterization is inconsistent. From scene to scene, Molly would go from being naïve and lacking in common sense to suddenly being more astute and focused, and back again. The latter is especially so in the final 45% of the book, after Molly gets out on bail.
Juan Manuel, the dishwasher at the hotel, also felt like a caricature (of an immigrant).
I guess the final issue I had was that it was predictable. I could sense Rodney’s involvement chapters before it was revealed, so when the actual revelation came, I didn’t feel that shock.
To me, 3 stars is akin to saying “this was okay, but not memorable.” I still enjoyed the writing but everything else just wasn’t for me.
This feels like an old-timey murder mystery, but it takes place in present/near present time. The narrator's voice made this one special for me. Like The Rosie Project, this protagonist does not pick up on social cues and norms very well. So to see this murder mystery unfold through her eyes added a complexity to figuring it all out. Who are her friends? Who is manipulating her? You pick up clues that she doesn't, but you aren't certain how to interpret them at first.
A neatly tied up conclusion and Molly's growth and development as a human being from start to finish in the novel made it a very satisfying read.
A neatly tied up conclusion and Molly's growth and development as a human being from start to finish in the novel made it a very satisfying read.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A quirky, fun take on the typical mystery.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Cancer, Drug use
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Short and sweet mystery that is an easy read and ties up in a satisfying way.
I have been waiting to get this book from my library and when it came in I immiedately had to start reading. Molly is the maid at the prestigious hotel and takes great pride in her work. When she finds one of the guests dead in their suite who world is turned upside down. For Molly isn't like everyone else and struggles to understand the nuances of others. Soon Molly is thrust into the case and must clear her name. Everyone should read this book it is fantastic. I want more of Molly, Mr. Preston, Juan Manual, and Charlotte. I listened to some of it on audio and the narration was fantastic. If you prefer reading with your ears check it out.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes