Thrillers & Suspense
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The Maid: A Novel
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK • "A heartwarming mystery with a lovable oddball at its center" (Real Simple), this cozy whodunit introduces a one-of-a-kind heroine who will steal your heart.
"The reader comes to understand Molly's worldview, and to sympathize with her longing to be accepted-a quest that gives The Maid real emotional heft."-The New York Times Book Review (Editors' Choice)
"Think Clue. Think page-turner."-Glamour
ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Reader's Digest
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The Washington Post, The Guardian, Glamour, PopSugar, She Reads, Kirkus Reviews
In development as a major motion picture produced by and starring Florence Pugh
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.
"The reader comes to understand Molly's worldview, and to sympathize with her longing to be accepted-a quest that gives The Maid real emotional heft."-The New York Times Book Review (Editors' Choice)
"Think Clue. Think page-turner."-Glamour
ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Reader's Digest
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The Washington Post, The Guardian, Glamour, PopSugar, She Reads, Kirkus Reviews
In development as a major motion picture produced by and starring Florence Pugh
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.
Editorial Reviews
"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 impossib...
"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 impossib...
Readers Top Reviews
Lindsay Worsha
The perfect beach book. Nice, easy read that moves along well with surprises and twists. The protagonist is unusual, and hearing the story from her view of life was engaging and interesting. Very well-done book. I recommend it as a light read. It took me away from the world for awhile.
Pauish Lindsay
At the beginning I was very disappointed that it seemed the author was using its main character neurodiversity to drive the narrative, but halfway through everything changes an it allows you to see the character grow, evolve and show that everyone is different in their own way. I ended up really liking this book. It’s hard for me not to see right through the plot and this book kept me guessing all the way to the epilogue. Would recommend.
L.DuncanPauish
Molly The Maid, is a charming heroine. Written and delivered as a cozy mystery experience. From the beautiful relationship Molly had with herGrandmother, to the found family and friendships, this was a refreshing memorable story. Nita Prose debut novel was engaging from beginning to end. There are the obvious 'good eggs' and 'bad eggs', Ms.Prose builds each character to be interesting and relevant to the story. The Maid is a good read, as the reader I was cheering for Molly. I wanted Molly to be okay, and find her true champion.
colleenL.DuncanPa
I was lucky enough to hear the author speak about her book at a conference. She talked about the way we fail to “see” the people who play a small role in our lives and how we accept their services while ignoring their existence. I’m a people person and I know my mail woman, my lottery clerk, and my barista’s by name. I’m weird that way. The main character is a maid in a posh hotel. She’s invisible until she discovers a body in one of the rooms she cleans. (No, I haven’t ruined the story for you - the rest of the book revolves around this incident.) the Maid is charming and dedicated, proud, of her job and her place in the “posh” hotel. I enjoyed her innocence and trust in a world not so innocent and trustworthy. The other character worthy of note in the novel is the deceased grandmother who I was totally drawn to: she left the Maid a wealth of wise sayings and a way to work though life. I heard echoes of my own father in this wonderful character. I loved the book. You will love it too.
Emily Kirchoffcol
I loved this whodunnit because I loved Molly (the titular Maid). The person she loved most is gone and she must learn to function in the world without them. I’m going through this right now in my own life. Molly learns to change her black and white view of life and make room for the shades of gray. She struggles with social skills (again, I can relate) and is able to make connections with people by the end. It’s marketed as a cozy mystery and the conclusion is kind of impossibly optimistic, but the message of being kind to others who are different from you makes this a book I can recommend to anyone. Bought a large print for Mom for Christmas and she will pass it along to her sister. Don’t skip this one.
Short Excerpt Teaser
Chapter 1
I am well aware that my name is ridiculous. It was not ridiculous before I took this job four years ago. I'm a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel, and my name is Molly. Molly Maid. A joke. Before I took the job, Molly was just a name, given to me by my estranged mother, who left me so long ago that I have no memory of her, just a few photos and the stories Gran has told me. Gran said my mother thought Molly was a cute name for a girl, that it conjured apple cheeks and pigtails, neither of which I have, as it turns out. I've got simple, dark hair that I maintain in a sharp, neat bob. I part my hair in the middle-the exact middle. I comb it flat and straight. I like things simple and neat.
I have pointed cheekbones and pale skin that people sometimes marvel at, and I don't know why. I'm as white as the sheets that I take off and put on, take off and put on, all day long in the twenty-plus rooms that I make up for the esteemed guests at the Regency Grand, a five-star boutique hotel that prides itself on "sophisticated elegance and proper decorum for the modern age."
Never in my life did I think I'd hold such a lofty position in a grand hotel. I know others think differently, that a maid is a lowly nobody. I know we're all supposed to aspire to become doctors and lawyers and rich real-estate tycoons. But not me. I'm so thankful for my job that I pinch myself every day. I really do. Especially now, without Gran. Without her, home isn't home. It's as though all the color has been drained from the apartment we shared. But the moment I enter the Regency Grand, the world turns Technicolor bright.
As I place a hand on the shining brass railing and walk up the scarlet steps that lead to the hotel's majestic portico, I'm Dorothy entering Oz. I push through the gleaming revolving doors and I see my true self reflected in the glass-my dark hair and pale complexion are omnipresent, but a blush returns to my cheeks, my raison d'être restored once more.
Once I'm through the doors, I often pause to take in the grandeur of the lobby. It never tarnishes. It never grows drab or dusty. It never dulls or fades. It is blessedly the same each and every day. There's the reception and concierge to the left, with its midnight-obsidian counter and smart-looking receptionists in black and white, like penguins. And there's the ample lobby itself, laid out in a horseshoe, with its fine Italian marble floors that radiate pristine white, drawing the eye up, up to the second-floor terrace. There are the ornate Art Deco features of the terrace and the grand staircase that brings you there, balustrades glowing and opulent, serpents twisting up to golden knobs held static in brass jaws. Guests will often stand at the rails, hands resting on a glowing post, as they survey the glorious scene below-porters marching crisscross, dragging suitcases behind them, guests lounging in sumptuous armchairs or couples tucked into emerald loveseats, their secrets absorbed into the deep, plush velvet.
But perhaps my favorite part of the lobby is the olfactory sensation, that first redolent breath as I take in the scent of the hotel itself at the start of every shift-the mélange of ladies' fine perfumes, the dark musk of the leather armchairs, the tangy zing of lemon polish that's used twice daily on the gleaming marble floors. It is the very scent of animus. It is the fragrance of life itself.
Every day, when I arrive to work at the Regency Grand, I feel alive again, part of the fabric of things, the splendor and the color. I am part of the design, a bright, unique square, integral to the tapestry.
Gran used to say, "If you love your job, you'll never work a day in your life." And she's right. Every day of work is a joy to me. I was born to do this job. I love cleaning, I love my maid's trolley, and I love my uniform.
There's nothing quite like a perfectly stocked maid's trolley early in the morning. It is, in my humble opinion, a cornucopia of bounty and beauty. The crisp little packages of delicately wrapped soaps that smell of orange blossom, the tiny Crabtree & Evelyn shampoo bottles, the squat tissue boxes, the toilet-paper rolls wrapped in hygienic film, the bleached white towels in three sizes-bath, hand, and washcloth-and the stacks of doilies for the tea-and-coffee service tray. And last but not least, the cleaning kit, which includes a feather duster, lemon furniture polish, lightly scented antiseptic garbage bags, as well as an impressive array of spray bottles of solvents and disinfectants, all lined up and ready to combat any stain, be it coffe...
I am well aware that my name is ridiculous. It was not ridiculous before I took this job four years ago. I'm a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel, and my name is Molly. Molly Maid. A joke. Before I took the job, Molly was just a name, given to me by my estranged mother, who left me so long ago that I have no memory of her, just a few photos and the stories Gran has told me. Gran said my mother thought Molly was a cute name for a girl, that it conjured apple cheeks and pigtails, neither of which I have, as it turns out. I've got simple, dark hair that I maintain in a sharp, neat bob. I part my hair in the middle-the exact middle. I comb it flat and straight. I like things simple and neat.
I have pointed cheekbones and pale skin that people sometimes marvel at, and I don't know why. I'm as white as the sheets that I take off and put on, take off and put on, all day long in the twenty-plus rooms that I make up for the esteemed guests at the Regency Grand, a five-star boutique hotel that prides itself on "sophisticated elegance and proper decorum for the modern age."
Never in my life did I think I'd hold such a lofty position in a grand hotel. I know others think differently, that a maid is a lowly nobody. I know we're all supposed to aspire to become doctors and lawyers and rich real-estate tycoons. But not me. I'm so thankful for my job that I pinch myself every day. I really do. Especially now, without Gran. Without her, home isn't home. It's as though all the color has been drained from the apartment we shared. But the moment I enter the Regency Grand, the world turns Technicolor bright.
As I place a hand on the shining brass railing and walk up the scarlet steps that lead to the hotel's majestic portico, I'm Dorothy entering Oz. I push through the gleaming revolving doors and I see my true self reflected in the glass-my dark hair and pale complexion are omnipresent, but a blush returns to my cheeks, my raison d'être restored once more.
Once I'm through the doors, I often pause to take in the grandeur of the lobby. It never tarnishes. It never grows drab or dusty. It never dulls or fades. It is blessedly the same each and every day. There's the reception and concierge to the left, with its midnight-obsidian counter and smart-looking receptionists in black and white, like penguins. And there's the ample lobby itself, laid out in a horseshoe, with its fine Italian marble floors that radiate pristine white, drawing the eye up, up to the second-floor terrace. There are the ornate Art Deco features of the terrace and the grand staircase that brings you there, balustrades glowing and opulent, serpents twisting up to golden knobs held static in brass jaws. Guests will often stand at the rails, hands resting on a glowing post, as they survey the glorious scene below-porters marching crisscross, dragging suitcases behind them, guests lounging in sumptuous armchairs or couples tucked into emerald loveseats, their secrets absorbed into the deep, plush velvet.
But perhaps my favorite part of the lobby is the olfactory sensation, that first redolent breath as I take in the scent of the hotel itself at the start of every shift-the mélange of ladies' fine perfumes, the dark musk of the leather armchairs, the tangy zing of lemon polish that's used twice daily on the gleaming marble floors. It is the very scent of animus. It is the fragrance of life itself.
Every day, when I arrive to work at the Regency Grand, I feel alive again, part of the fabric of things, the splendor and the color. I am part of the design, a bright, unique square, integral to the tapestry.
Gran used to say, "If you love your job, you'll never work a day in your life." And she's right. Every day of work is a joy to me. I was born to do this job. I love cleaning, I love my maid's trolley, and I love my uniform.
There's nothing quite like a perfectly stocked maid's trolley early in the morning. It is, in my humble opinion, a cornucopia of bounty and beauty. The crisp little packages of delicately wrapped soaps that smell of orange blossom, the tiny Crabtree & Evelyn shampoo bottles, the squat tissue boxes, the toilet-paper rolls wrapped in hygienic film, the bleached white towels in three sizes-bath, hand, and washcloth-and the stacks of doilies for the tea-and-coffee service tray. And last but not least, the cleaning kit, which includes a feather duster, lemon furniture polish, lightly scented antiseptic garbage bags, as well as an impressive array of spray bottles of solvents and disinfectants, all lined up and ready to combat any stain, be it coffe...
