Author: Nita Prose
Published: April 8, 2025 by Ballantine Books
Format: Kindle, Hardcover, 336 Pages
Genre: Mystery
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Molly the Maid #3
Blurb: Molly Gray’s life is about to change in ways she could never have imagined. As the esteemed Head Maid and recently promoted Special Events Manager of the Regency Grand Hotel, good things are just around the corner, including her marriage to her beloved fiancé, Juan Manuel, only two months away.
But Molly’s entire existence is upended when a film crew descends upon the hotel to shoot the hit reality TV show Hidden Treasures, starring popular art appraisers Brown and Beagle. On a whim, Molly brings in a shoebox containing a few of her gran’s old things for appraisal, and much to everyone's surprise, one item turns out to be a rare and priceless treasure. Instantly, Molly is both a multi-millionaire and a media sensation—the world’s rags-to-riches darling—until the priceless piece vanishes from the hotel in the boldest, brashest antiquities heist in recent memory.
The key to the mystery lies in the past, in a long-forgotten diary written by Molly’s gran. For the first time ever, Molly learns about Gran’s true-to-life fairytale, a young girl to the manor born, the only child of a wealthy magnate. But when Gran falls head over heels in love with a young man her parents deem below her station, her life is thrown into turmoil. As fate would have it, the greatest love of Gran’s life is someone Molly knows quite well….
Together with her friends, Molly combs the past and the present to catch the thief before looming threats against her become real.
A spirited heist caper and an epic love story, The Maid’s Secret is a spellbinding whodunnit that will capture and warm your heart.
My Opinion: A fitting conclusion to the Molly Maid series. A narrative that comes full circle with charm and depth. It not only ties up loose ends but enriches the story by highlighting Molly’s grandmother (who might be the “maid” referenced in the title) and the origins of their quiet life. Readers witness how Molly Gray first absorbed her grandmother’s wisdom. An education rich with aphorisms, metaphors, and foundational stories that shaped her view of the world.
The development of characters throughout the series stands out as one of its defining traits. Growth is present in every corner, but it takes many forms: some characters fight against it with every fiber, while others embrace it slowly and gradually, finding their way. Molly herself remains an intriguing puzzle. While debates about whether she is on the spectrum persist, her direct, literal worldview is not a limitation, it’s her strength and the lens through which readers connect with her. It’s what makes Molly who she is: frustrating at moments, but so endearing and unique that we can’t help but root for her.
However, there’s one lingering disappointment in Juan Manuel, her fiancé. His portrayal lacks depth, and rather than presenting him as a true equal to Molly, he feels oversimplified. Juan is a missed opportunity to showcase a partnership full of potential and teamwork. This portrayal feels out of step with the otherwise nuanced narrative arc.
As the series ends, I won’t necessarily miss Molly. Her story has reached its natural conclusion. This isn’t a loss but an acknowledgment that her journey has been told. It feels right, like a curtain falling on a play that has given us all it could. Prose crafts a farewell to Molly that honors her quirks, challenges, and triumphs, leaving readers with a quiet satisfaction and a sense of closure.
But Molly’s entire existence is upended when a film crew descends upon the hotel to shoot the hit reality TV show Hidden Treasures, starring popular art appraisers Brown and Beagle. On a whim, Molly brings in a shoebox containing a few of her gran’s old things for appraisal, and much to everyone's surprise, one item turns out to be a rare and priceless treasure. Instantly, Molly is both a multi-millionaire and a media sensation—the world’s rags-to-riches darling—until the priceless piece vanishes from the hotel in the boldest, brashest antiquities heist in recent memory.
The key to the mystery lies in the past, in a long-forgotten diary written by Molly’s gran. For the first time ever, Molly learns about Gran’s true-to-life fairytale, a young girl to the manor born, the only child of a wealthy magnate. But when Gran falls head over heels in love with a young man her parents deem below her station, her life is thrown into turmoil. As fate would have it, the greatest love of Gran’s life is someone Molly knows quite well….
Together with her friends, Molly combs the past and the present to catch the thief before looming threats against her become real.
A spirited heist caper and an epic love story, The Maid’s Secret is a spellbinding whodunnit that will capture and warm your heart.
My Opinion: A fitting conclusion to the Molly Maid series. A narrative that comes full circle with charm and depth. It not only ties up loose ends but enriches the story by highlighting Molly’s grandmother (who might be the “maid” referenced in the title) and the origins of their quiet life. Readers witness how Molly Gray first absorbed her grandmother’s wisdom. An education rich with aphorisms, metaphors, and foundational stories that shaped her view of the world.
The development of characters throughout the series stands out as one of its defining traits. Growth is present in every corner, but it takes many forms: some characters fight against it with every fiber, while others embrace it slowly and gradually, finding their way. Molly herself remains an intriguing puzzle. While debates about whether she is on the spectrum persist, her direct, literal worldview is not a limitation, it’s her strength and the lens through which readers connect with her. It’s what makes Molly who she is: frustrating at moments, but so endearing and unique that we can’t help but root for her.
However, there’s one lingering disappointment in Juan Manuel, her fiancé. His portrayal lacks depth, and rather than presenting him as a true equal to Molly, he feels oversimplified. Juan is a missed opportunity to showcase a partnership full of potential and teamwork. This portrayal feels out of step with the otherwise nuanced narrative arc.
As the series ends, I won’t necessarily miss Molly. Her story has reached its natural conclusion. This isn’t a loss but an acknowledgment that her journey has been told. It feels right, like a curtain falling on a play that has given us all it could. Prose crafts a farewell to Molly that honors her quirks, challenges, and triumphs, leaving readers with a quiet satisfaction and a sense of closure.
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