The Maid by Nita Prose

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🧼 Book Review: The Maid by Nita Prose (Spoiler-Filled, Satisfyingly Clean Justice)

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ 4.5 out of 5 stars

I devoured this book like Molly devours cleaning tasks—with precision, purpose, and a dash of heartbreak. 🧹💔

⚠️ Trigger Warnings (For Sensitive Readers)

  • Death by overdose

  • Domestic abuse

  • Substance abuse and drug trafficking

  • Assisted suicide (euthanasia)

  • Manipulation and gaslighting

  • Police interrogation and wrongful accusation

If these are hard limits for you, consider skipping this one—or proceeding with caution. 🛑

📚 Quick Plot Overview – aka, Let’s Talk Murder, Maids, and Moral Gray Areas

Twenty-five-year-old Molly Gray is not like other girls—and that’s her power. Or her downfall, depending on who you ask. She’s socially awkward (or as the world would label her: "weird") and obsessed with etiquette, hotel polish, and being of service. She’s been raised by her gran, recently deceased, and now her world is primarily her job as a maid at the luxurious Regency Grand Hotel.

But then—gasp!—she finds Mr. Black dead in his hotel suite.

And from there, Molly’s well-ordered world begins to unravel, faster than you can say “non-refundable booking.”

🔍 Let’s Dive Into the Dustpan: Full Spoilers Ahead

Molly stumbles into the Blacks’ suite and discovers Mr. Black dead—and someone lurking behind her in the mirror. She faints (mood).

The story then rewinds to earlier that day, giving us a glimpse into the microcosm of hotel life:

  • Rodney, the bartender and Molly’s crush (ew, unfortunately)

  • Giselle, Mr. Black’s abused wife and Molly’s friend

  • Juan Manuel, a kind-hearted dishwasher currently unhoused, who’s secretly crashing in a spare hotel room (Molly helps; Rodney enables)

When the police get involved, things spiral—fast.

  • Rodney pressures Molly to tell him what she told the cops.

  • Giselle asks Molly to retrieve a gun she stashed in the bathroom fan (as one does).

  • Molly finds Mr. Black’s wedding ring and hides it, unsure what to do.

🔎 Cue detective suspicion. Molly’s awkwardness and odd choices (and maybe too much loyalty?) make her a person of interest. She’s arrested for theft, possession of a firearm, drugs, and first-degree murder. 😱

BUT—surprise MVPs enter:

  • Mr. Preston, the doorman, and his daughter Charlotte, a badass lawyer, swoop in and save the day (and Molly).

  • Charlotte uncovers Rodney’s criminal record.

  • Juan Manuel confesses Rodney is using him to cut drugs.

  • Oh, and Rodney’s been sleeping with Giselle, too. (Charming.)

A plan is hatched. Molly tricks Rodney into sneaking into the suite again—with a master key. The police swoop in and arrest him for drug trafficking. But… the murder charge? That one doesn't stick.

Not yet.

🧼 Cleaning the Truth: The Ending That Sparkles (and Confuses a Bit)

Here’s where it gets morally chewy.

Molly reflects on her past, including her assisted euthanasia of her Gran. It was heartbreaking, compassionate—and deeply personal.

As Rodney’s trial approaches, Molly takes the stand. She says she saw someone in the mirror the day Mr. Black died but didn’t know who it was. She implies Rodney was the killer.

He’s convicted.

BUT—plot twist—it wasn’t Rodney.

It was... 🥁 the first Mrs. Black.

Yes, Mr. Black’s ex-wife showed up that day to convince him to give their daughter a chance in his company. He was high and drunk. He may have OD’d. He may have been helped along.

She asked Molly, “Don’t you ever feel like bad people win?”
Molly—fresh from remembering what she did for Gran—got it.

So she cleaned the room, removed all evidence, and told no one.

And that, dear readers, is how our “weird little maid” becomes an unofficial justice fairy. 🧚‍♀️

🧼 Final Thoughts: The Verdict

✨ I loved Molly. I rooted for her, I winced with her, I raged on her behalf.
✨ The narrative voice is unique, charming, and absolutely addictive.
✨ The justice was sweet—but a tad hollow because the killer (first Mrs. Black) felt more like a narrative twist than a character.
✨ Still, Molly’s personal growth? Chef’s kiss. 👩‍🍳💋

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 bleach bottles.

🛍️ Ready to Read It?

👉 Grab your copy of The Maid by Nita Prose here:
Buy it on Amazon (Affiliate link—helps support my cleaning habits and blog caffeine fund!) ☕🧼

📖 If You Liked The Maid, You’ll Love:

  • The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman – Elderly sleuths with heart and sass.

  • Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman – Another quirky queen with a painful past.

  • The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon – For fans of unique narrative voices and twisty emotion.

  • Verity by Colleen Hoover – Much darker, but full of manipulative tension.

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