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A Novel
by Nita Prose
One of the Best Books of the Year: Reader's Digest, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Glamour, Elle, PopSugar, Newsweek, Mental Floss, She Reads, Kirkus Reviews
Molly Gray is not like everyone else. She struggles with social skills and misreads the intentions of others. Her gran used to interpret the world for her, codifying it into simple rules that Molly could live by.
Since Gran died a few months ago, twenty-five-year-old Molly has been navigating life's complexities all by herself. No matter—she throws herself with gusto into her work as a hotel maid. Her unique character, along with her obsessive love of cleaning and proper etiquette, make her an ideal fit for the job. She delights in donning her crisp uniform each morning, stocking her cart with miniature soaps and bottles, and returning guest rooms at the Regency Grand Hotel to a state of perfection.
But Molly's orderly life is upended the day she enters the suite of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black, only to find it in a state of disarray and Mr. Black himself dead in his bed. Before she knows what's happening, Molly's unusual demeanor has the police targeting her as their lead suspect. She quickly finds herself caught in a web of deception, one she has no idea how to untangle. Fortunately for Molly, friends she never knew she had unite with her in a search for clues to what really happened to Mr. Black—but will they be able to find the real killer before it's too late?
A Clue-like, locked-room mystery and a heartwarming journey of the spirit, The Maid explores what it means to be the same as everyone else and yet entirely different—and reveals that all mysteries can be solved through connection to the human heart.
"Molly is a likeable, neurodivergent narrator in this outstanding debut. The character-rich mystery ends with several twists that will appeal to fans of Eleanor Oliphant and other sympathetic heroines."—Library Journal (starred review)
"Captivating, charming, and heart-warming, with deft writing and a clever, original plot, this unusual crime novel will leave readers with a warm glow."—Booklist (starred review)
"A compelling take on the classic whodunit." - Kirkus Reviews
"Not every twist feels earned, but on balance Prose delivers a gratifying, kindhearted whodunit with a sharply drawn protagonist for whom readers can't help rooting. Fans of fresh takes on traditional mysteries will be delighted." - Publishers Weekly
"A cozy mystery to take along on vacation ... a lighthearted mystery that shines as Molly evolves and learns to connect."—The Washington Post
"Excellent and totally entertaining ... The most interesting (and endearing) main character in a long time."—Stephen King
"What begins as a sprightly murder mystery turns into a meaningful, and at times even delicate, portrait of growth."—NPR
"Charming, eccentric."—The New York Times
"Daring."—W Magazine
"Entrancing ... something of a modern-day Clue."—PopSugar
"A murder mystery with tremendous heart."—Lisa Jewell
"An eccentric and unforgettable sleuth who captivated me and kept me furiously turning the pages."—Sarah Pearse, New York Times bestselling author of The Sanatorium
"The Maid is a masterful, charming mystery that will touch your heart in ways you could never expect. The endearing, unforgettable Molly reminds us to challenge our assumptions about one another, and shows us how meaningful it is to feel truly seen in the world."—Ashley Audrain, New York Times bestselling author of The Push
"A charming, clever, and wholly original whodunit. I cheered and felt deeply for Molly the Maid—a complex and masterfully drawn protagonist I won't soon forget."—Andrea Bartz, New York Times bestselling author of We Were Never Here
"A heroine as loveable and quirky as Eleanor Oliphant, caught up in a crime worthy of Agatha Christie. Loved it!"—Clare Pooley, New York Times bestselling author of The Authenticity Project
"It's impossible not to love Molly, an endearing, eccentric hotel maid... . As in any cozy whodunit, clean appearances may in fact hide a few smudges. The twists and surprises keep coming until the very last page of this delightfully fresh debut."—Sarah Penner, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary
"Fresh, fiendish, and darkly beguiling ... The Maid is so thrillingly original, clever, and joyous. I just adored every page."—Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author of We Begin at the End
"The Maid is sure to leave mystery lovers delighted, charmed, and eager for more of Prose's work."—Karma Brown, New York Times bestselling author of Recipe for a Perfect Wife
"It took only a few lines for me to fall hopelessly in love with hotel maid Molly Gray. Being in Molly's mind is like eating ice cream on a hot summer day: delicious and refreshing."—Samantha M. Bailey, USA Today bestselling author of Woman on the Edge
"For anyone who has ever felt out of step with the world, no matter how hard they try to fit it, Nita Prose has blessed us with Molly Gray."—Heather O'Neill, internationally bestselling author of The Lonely Hearts Hotel
This information about The Maid was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Nita Prose is a longtime editor, serving many bestselling authors and their books. She lives in Toronto, Canada, in a house that is only moderately clean.
Pony Confidential
by Christina Lynch
In this whimsical mystery, a grumpy pony must clear his beloved human's name from a murder accusation.
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