The maid by Nita Prose

Goodreads Choice Award Winner for Best Mystery & Thriller (2022) and Winner of the Ned Kelly Award for Best International Crime Fiction, The maid is an intriguing mystery starring an unforgettable main character in Molly Gray. Molly is a maid in the superior Regency Grand Hotel. She loves her work, delighting in keeping the hotel rooms perfect, but she has problems with her social skills and is often the butt of the jokes of other employees. When she discovers the body of Mr Black in his suite, she is targeted by the police as a main suspect, and the fact that she has been helping her friend use a hotel room every night adds to her fears. Fortunately, she does have friends who will help her and together they scheme to uncover the dirty secrets in the hotel and the identity of the murderer.

The character of Molly Gray reminded me of Don Tillman in The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion and is as equally as engaging. Although Molly is different, the final twists and turns in the novel demonstrate her intelligence and unique take on what is right and wrong.

The cast of friends and villains surrounding Molly add depth to the story and it is easy to relate to Molly’s struggles to work out who is friend or foe. I found myself holding my breath hoping for the best outcome for Molly, and finally very surprised and satisfied by the final denouement.

This is a suspenseful and great escapist cosy read for all lovers of mysteries.

Themes: Mystery, Suspense, Hotel workers, Murder.

Pat Pledger