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alaina's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Murder, and Bullying
Moderate: Death of parent and Deportation
thndrkat's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
There were aspects of this book I found enjoyable, but more that I didn't. Prose does a great job at times with the contrast between what we know to be true and what the main character believes to be true, creating some truly cringy moments that I found entertaining. But more often, the story is cringy in a truly unpleasant way, from the unnatural dialog (such as countless instances of "my dear girl..."), to the absurdly two-dimensional characters (portrayed with stereotypes that are simplistic at best, offensive at worst), and the severely unbelievable wrap-up. I don't normally read mysteries, so I don't have a sense of the normal level and types of tropes, but this is not a book I would recommend. However, I picked it for a book club, so I had to finish it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Suicide, Violence, Bullying, and Drug abuse
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
jessietn's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was sweet. I can understand some of the criticisms, but I don’t agree that Molly misrepresented neurodivergence. Rather, I think the story was intentionally whimsical, which reflected on all of the characters and exaggerated her traits.
I found the use of colours for surnames interesting, with Molly’s surname being Gray, while those around her are Black, Snow, Green or Brown (among other non-colours). One symptom atypical people experience is black-and-white thinking. Using these names could point to the fact that neurotypicals can be equally as binary in their thought processes, but the characters make more problematic decisions as a result.
While the mystery element of the story was somewhat lacking and the ‘twist’ ending was nothing radical, I didn’t mind it and thought it was fitting. Molly displayed her ability to make morally grey decisions by helping and keeping the secret of Mrs Black. I didn’t find there to be enough chemistry between Molly and Juan Manuel for there to be a romance, and felt the ending could have been just as cute if they had remained good friends.
I found the use of colours for surnames interesting, with Molly’s surname being Gray, while those around her are Black, Snow, Green or Brown (among other non-colours). One symptom atypical people experience is black-and-white thinking. Using these names could point to the fact that neurotypicals can be equally as binary in their thought processes, but the characters make more problematic decisions as a result.
While the mystery element of the story was somewhat lacking and the ‘twist’ ending was nothing radical, I didn’t mind it and thought it was fitting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Murder
bookybecka's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse, Toxic friendship, Murder, Bullying, and Cursing
Minor: Ableism and Death of parent
costellar's review against another edition
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Murder
cannesi's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.0
I do agree with a majority of the comments below... The first half of the book dragged on and even toward the end it felt like the same message/cliché being repeated over and over again. I can understand Molly being neurodivergent and would agree with those who mention the autism spectrum, however, I do not believe this was something worth badgering on about throughout the entirety of the book. We, the readers, can see that she is, as the author would put it, "different"; it reflects in her actions and I felt the author spent too much time putting it into words. That being said, I enjoyed listening to this book and found the ending to be slightly shocking in the best way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Racism, Murder, Bullying, Cancer, Classism, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Infidelity
Minor: Deportation
chris_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Grief, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Bullying and Murder
Minor: Cancer and Domestic abuse
kelly_e's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.75
Title: The Maid
Author: Nita Prose
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 4.75
Pub Date: January 4, 2022
T H R E E • W O R D S
Refreshing • Uplifting • Quirky
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Since the recent death of her grandmother, Molly has been forced to navigate a complex world, she doesn't seem to fit into, all on her own. She takes pride in her work as a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel, and returning guest rooms to a state of perfection.
During one shift, Molly enters the suite of the infamous Charles Black only to find it in a state of disarray, and Mr. Black dead in his bed. Molly soon finds herself the target of the police as the prime suspect. In order to clear her name, she must take things into her own hands. What she will uncover is that not everything at the hotel is as it seems.
💭 T H O U G H T S
This book took me by complete surprise, in the best possible way! The opening prologue was fantastic, and I could not put it down. My entire reading experience was delightful.
Molly is a heroine unlike any other. She is unforgettable and loveable. She is naïve and eccentric. She is a kind soul. She speaks her mind. I felt her pain and was rooting for her from start to finish. Her relationship with her late gran wiggled its way into my heart, and would not let go. I empathized with Molly's grief, and loved the inclusion of her grandmother's wisdoms as her inner thoughts. Nita Prose has done an incredible job of really getting the reader into Molly's mind.
The hotel setting added to the atmosphere, and I loved learning some behind the scenes glances into what it's like working in a hotel.
This book is so much more than just a murder mystery. It is a book about finding your footing in the world, about being yourself, and about growth. The Maid was mismarketed as a thriller. Rather it's a cozy, well thought out murder mystery/whodunit with humour and heart. What a debut by Nita Prose! I am definitely looking forward to Nita Prose's next book.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of the cozy mystery
• readers who enjoyed Don Tillman series
• anyone who has felt lost in the world
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"My truth is not the same as yours because we don’t experience life in the same way."
"That's the trouble with pain. It's as contagious as a disease. It spreads from the person who first endured it to those who love them most. Truth isn't always the highest ideal; sometimes it must be sacrificed to stop the spread of pain to those you love. Even children know this intuitively."
"There are times in life when we must do things we don't want to. But do them we must."
Author: Nita Prose
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 4.75
Pub Date: January 4, 2022
T H R E E • W O R D S
Refreshing • Uplifting • Quirky
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Since the recent death of her grandmother, Molly has been forced to navigate a complex world, she doesn't seem to fit into, all on her own. She takes pride in her work as a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel, and returning guest rooms to a state of perfection.
During one shift, Molly enters the suite of the infamous Charles Black only to find it in a state of disarray, and Mr. Black dead in his bed. Molly soon finds herself the target of the police as the prime suspect. In order to clear her name, she must take things into her own hands. What she will uncover is that not everything at the hotel is as it seems.
💭 T H O U G H T S
This book took me by complete surprise, in the best possible way! The opening prologue was fantastic, and I could not put it down. My entire reading experience was delightful.
Molly is a heroine unlike any other. She is unforgettable and loveable. She is naïve and eccentric. She is a kind soul. She speaks her mind. I felt her pain and was rooting for her from start to finish. Her relationship with her late gran wiggled its way into my heart, and would not let go. I empathized with Molly's grief, and loved the inclusion of her grandmother's wisdoms as her inner thoughts. Nita Prose has done an incredible job of really getting the reader into Molly's mind.
The hotel setting added to the atmosphere, and I loved learning some behind the scenes glances into what it's like working in a hotel.
This book is so much more than just a murder mystery. It is a book about finding your footing in the world, about being yourself, and about growth. The Maid was mismarketed as a thriller. Rather it's a cozy, well thought out murder mystery/whodunit with humour and heart. What a debut by Nita Prose! I am definitely looking forward to Nita Prose's next book.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of the cozy mystery
• readers who enjoyed Don Tillman series
• anyone who has felt lost in the world
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"My truth is not the same as yours because we don’t experience life in the same way."
"That's the trouble with pain. It's as contagious as a disease. It spreads from the person who first endured it to those who love them most. Truth isn't always the highest ideal; sometimes it must be sacrificed to stop the spread of pain to those you love. Even children know this intuitively."
"There are times in life when we must do things we don't want to. But do them we must."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Ableism, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Death, Murder, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Grief, Drug use, Addiction, Death of parent, and Drug abuse
Minor: Cancer, Infidelity, and Terminal illness
drug traffickingsophiemartin's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Terminal illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Death, Murder, Cancer, Bullying, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Grief