Book Blurb:
The Maid: 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?
My Review: 4 stars
The Maid by Nita Prose is a terrific story with a mystery that will satisfy many readers. The main character, Molly, is an endearing young woman that you’ll be rooting for. She fits somewhere on the Autism spectrum with her literal take on commentary and her inability to see the true emotion behind actions and words. Basically, she’s easily duped and taken advantage of.
When she finds Mr. Black dead in his bed, she becomes a suspect in his murder which is completely off the charts impossible for Molly. She is being framed. Together will a small cast of characters that support Molly’s innocence, they create a plan to both prove her innocence and nab the true murderer.
Beyond the mystery aspect, there’s a sweet side about Molly’s relationship with her Gran who died about nine months earlier. Their relationship was both loving and nurturing as Molly’s mom was out of the picture. This is important to the story but explaining why would expose a good spoiler.
This is a quick and easy story. The audio narration was fantastic.
Quotes I liked:
I’ll never understand it—why people find the truth more shocking than lies.”
“That’s the trouble with pain. It’s a contagious as a disease. It spreads from the person who first endured it to those who love them most.”
“People are a mystery that can never be solved.”
“Laughs are just like smiles. People use them to express an array of confounding emotions.”