The Maid by Nita Prose follows 25-year-old Molly Gray who works as a maid at the esteemed Regency Grand Hotel and her life is thrown into chaos when she discovers the dead body of the celebrity Mr. Black. Before Mr. Black’s death, Molly used to rely on her grandmother to explain social cues and norms. However, it has been several months since her grandmother died, and through deception and deceit, Molly ends up as the prime suspect and must find a way to clear her name with the help of some friends.
I enjoyed the cozy atmosphere the author created in this book. While this particular book has often been categorized as a thriller or suspense, I believe this story fits the genre of slow and snug mysteries. The first half of the book contained very detailed descriptions of Molly’s grandmother, cleaning, and random tidbits that I feel did not add much to the story in general. While the first half included important information like Molly’s friendship with Giselle, it could have been significantly condensed to keep the story going.
When the book finally picked up the pace, I enjoyed the excitement the author created when Molly and her friends hatched a plan “to catch the fox”. I know many have found the strategy and action boring and slightly pathetic. However, I found Molly’s adventure in being the enemy appealing. I also liked that the book explored the theme of invisibility. Molly often talks about how she feels invisible and even more invisible as a hotel maid. I think some people may find that relatable.
I had mixed feelings about the ending, specifically the courtroom scenes and afterward. Throughout reading the book, I was hoping for a hidden twist at the very end. While the twist was very much unexpected, I do not believe it was the best kind of twist to use given the context of the book. It does not match Molly’s character, given she is straightforward and she told her lawyer every detail on the day Mr. Black died. I also believe most of the storyline and Molly’s depiction were unrealistic, especially the ending. I do not mind a slightly inaccurate representation of how criminal investigations work, but I felt that the investigation did not feel authentic.
From other reviews about The Maid, many have pointed out how Molly is depicted as a stereotypical autistic or neurodivergent person. I am not on the spectrum, so I can not speak to Molly’s characteristics and behaviors, but I can say that the author wrote about Molly as if she were a child. Molly appears to be not smart enough to understand basic human interactions which felt a little infuriating at times. The character development Molly had in terms of understanding social cues was too rushed. Another issue that other reviews have brought up is that Juan Manuel is also expressed through stereotypes. I, too, noticed that the author describes Juan Manuel as a stereotypical undocumented immigrant.
In conclusion, The Maid is a cozy mystery that contains some exciting action and explores invisibility in people. While I found the second half of the book mostly enjoyable, I disliked the author’s portrayal of Molly, the confusing ending, the unrealistic storyline, and the hard-to-relate characters. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a slow read and doesn’t mind the lack of authenticity in some parts of the book. I would not recommend this book to anyone sensitive to potential misrepresentation of the neurodivergent community and other minorities.