Scan barcode
A review by stephbakerbooks
The Maid by Nita Prose
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I had mixed feelings about this one! Overall, I liked it. I thought the premise was interesting, and Molly was a good narrator. I liked her character and the growth she got over the story. I've seen people compare her to Eleanor Oliphant, and I definitely got that vibe. (But I think the comparison is probably unfair because I loved Eleanor Oliphant, so it actually makes me like this less...lol.)
The side characters...are all flat. The little bit of development that anyone else gets either makes that character unlikable or it's only done to push the plot along. Maybe this was part of the "cozy mystery" aspect of the story (and in case I haven't been clear in the past, I really don't like cozy mysteries), where all the side characters are just there to service the main character and move the plot along so she can get from point A to figuring out what point B is, but several of them fell into stereotypes and I was rolling my eyes a lot (everything to do with Juan Manual was cringeworthy). Also that twist with Molly's grandmother...did not appreciate it.
And then there's the plot itself, which started out great and an intriguing mystery, but by the end turned a bit nonsensical (to me) and the investigation just didn't make sense to me. Also, everything happens so quickly! The bulk of the book is only like four days; I think the plot needed some space to breathe.
That being said, I did find this book easy to read and I finished it pretty quickly. I did like it, though I realize most of what I just wrote was on the negative side...but this was a middle-of-the-road kind of book to me. I read it for a buddy read and did enjoy the discussion!
The side characters...are all flat. The little bit of development that anyone else gets either makes that character unlikable or it's only done to push the plot along. Maybe this was part of the "cozy mystery" aspect of the story (and in case I haven't been clear in the past, I really don't like cozy mysteries), where all the side characters are just there to service the main character and move the plot along so she can get from point A to figuring out what point B is, but several of them fell into stereotypes and I was rolling my eyes a lot (everything to do with Juan Manual was cringeworthy). Also that twist with Molly's grandmother...did not appreciate it.
And then there's the plot itself, which started out great and an intriguing mystery, but by the end turned a bit nonsensical (to me) and the investigation just didn't make sense to me. Also, everything happens so quickly! The bulk of the book is only like four days; I think the plot needed some space to breathe.
That being said, I did find this book easy to read and I finished it pretty quickly. I did like it, though I realize most of what I just wrote was on the negative side...but this was a middle-of-the-road kind of book to me. I read it for a buddy read and did enjoy the discussion!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Drug use, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Physical abuse