Well written, but not my cup of tea. I wish I had read the other two books first. I think that might have made this last book more engrossing.

I'd like to thank NetGalley for the ARC of The Maid's Secret!

Molly holds a dear place in my heart that makes this final installment to the series bittersweet. I enjoyed the dual timeline and alternating POVs that differs from the format of the previous books. We are also seeing a different version of Gran than we've seen before - a younger Flora by which we learn more about her life through her diary entries. And of course this series wouldn't be without it's usual fun, cozy mystery!

Every character in this novel is an absolute gem! We get to see the backstory of Gran and Mr. Preston's love story, and Molly and Juan's wedding!

Although this was a charming finale to the series, I would love to see Molly and the rest of the crew again in the future.

Molly the Maid is back at it again with the third installment of the series. Molly is subject to a heist of a personal belonging, and her life is endangered. Her gran helps solve the case from beyond the grave through journal entries. A thoroughly enjoyable book with a conclusion I loved!

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

This book is the third in a series that follows Molly, the head maid at a hotel. She finds herself in some crazy circumstances due to her limited social skills and ability to read social situations.

I was not a huge fan of the first book in this series but I enjoyed the second one. Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I found the Gran chapters in this one to be boring and slow. There wasn't much of a mystery throughout, and it just failed to grab my attention.

I hope others love this one.

Molly Gray is back — and I couldn’t be happier! In The Maid’s Secret, we once again see the world through her unique perspective as she’s caught in another web of mystery at the Regency Grand Hotel. I adore how Nita Prose writes Molly with so much heart: quirky, observant, and unexpectedly wise.

The mystery itself kept me intrigued (even if a little slow in parts), but the real joy here is Molly — her inner world, her growth, and the way she sees things others miss. It’s charming, cozy, and a little bittersweet, just like The Maid.

🌿 Overall: A delightful, character-driven cozy mystery with a touch of suspense. Perfect for fans of The Maid or anyone who loves mysteries with heart.

📌 Save this if you’re in the mood for:
✔️ A cozy whodunit
✔️ A quirky, lovable narrator
✔️ Mystery with warmth + charm

Molly the Maid can do no wrong. I love all of Nita Prose's Maid books. Molly is a maid at the Regency Grand and Hidden Treasures (think Antique Road Show) is coming to the hotel. Molly brings in a few items from her Gram and one of them ends up going missing. Molly is on the case to find out who is after her treasure and why.

Molly is one of my favorite characters. Her interactions, the way she speaks, I just love all of her. I cannot wait until the next Molly the Maid book is released!

I love the Molly the Maid series! The Maid's Secret is the latest novel in this series (which is best read in order). It is just as delightful as the previous novels, but there is some darker subject matter this time around. I enjoyed learning Molly's gran's backstory and seeing how it fit in with the current mystery. I also felt sympathy for Molly with her life getting upended over an heirloom she thought was worth very little.

I love all the recurring characters and how they played into this story, as well. The new characters were interesting too. The mystery aspect was well done, as we were given different leads that took the story in new directions. I liked how her gran's story was interspersed throughout the novel.

I already look forward to many more mysteries featuring Molly "I'm just a maid" Gray. I even introduced my husband to the first book in the series and he enjoyed it!

(Trigger warnings below.)

Movie casting suggestions (some are from my review of the previous books):
Molly: A newcomer, as I don't feel right casting someone famous for this role.
Juan Manuel: Daniel Zovatto
Mr. Preston: Richard Jenkins
Detective Stark: Nia Long
Gran (in flashbacks): Kim Darby
Angela: Monica Barbaro
Cheryl: Amanda Fuller
Brown: Neil Patrick Harris
Beagle: Michael Urie
Flora (past): Millie Bobby Brown
John (past): Sam Nivola
Algernon (past): Ben Armstrong
Flora's mom (past): Emilia Clarke
Flora's dad (past): Colin Morgan
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TW: Death of loved one due to nefarious circumstances, death from childbirth, parental abandonment, sexual assault

What I liked: An Antiques Road Show style event comes to the Regency Grand Hotel, causing another crazy mystery for Molly the Maid

What I disliked: The dual timeline approach detracts from the plot

I am a big Molly the Maid fan and have to say this is my favorite story of hers yet. I loved her dynamic with her grandmother, Flora, and even though Flora is no longer in Molly’s life, this storyline gave us the opportunity to learn more about Flora’s life before Molly.

Molly is enjoying her life as the Head Maid and Special Events Manager at the Regency Grand Hotel with upcoming nuptials to Juan Manuel, when her world is turned upside down. An Antiques Roadshow-esque show comes to the hotel and offers the employees the opportunity to share their own items for appraisal. Molly brings several of her gran’s trinkets, including the beautiful egg they called the Faberge. Come to find out, the egg is authentic and worth millions! Molly is thrust into the spotlight, but before the egg can go to auction and Molly can enjoy not worrying about money for a while, it is stolen.

Disappointed and perturbed, Molly begins reading one last gift from gran, her diary. In alternating chapters, we learn about Flora’s “riches to rags” story and the present search for the Faberge. Are the two stories connected? How did gran come to have the Faberge? And will they find the egg?

Many are saying this is the final installment in Molly’s story and if that’s the case, I found it to be a very fitting ending for our lovely protagonist. 4.5 stars. Thanks to Random House-Ballantine and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books and Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't realize this was in the middle of the series and in saying that it didn't feel like I missed anything from the previous books.

I found this to be such a sweet, cozy mystery. Molly seemed a little naive but I think that is part of her charm. I thought it kept me guessing until the end and I liked that I hadn't figured it out.

I have thoroughly enjoyed The Maid series by Nita Prose. I'm sad that it's come to an end but I have absolutely enjoyed the journey. The Maid's Secret is less about Molly ( not to say that we don't see her) and more about a character readers have come to know and love, Gran. Only this is not the story of Gran as we know her. This is the story of Flora. We get to see her childhood and learn about the secrets of her past.

Told in alternating povs and timelines, this final installment in the Maid series definitely reads a bit differently from the two novels prior. There's more of a historical vibe to it. I also feel like both Gran and Molly read a bit differently. Overall, this wasn't my favorite but it was a heartwarming read. Can't wait to see what Nita Prose comes out with next.

None of the books in the series have lived up to the first, but I continue to enjoy them overall. A sweet cozy mystery series for sure.

"My gran used to say to err is human, but to apologize is divine."

"Be careful, for what at first you hate, you may come to love later."

"The relief I feel in this momentis equal to the trepidation that lodges in the pit of my stomach."

The Maid's Secret had become my favorite book The Maid series written by Nita Prose. This installment was written in a dual timeline and from two different points of view. Molly is the present timeline and she's preparing to marry her love, Juan Manuel. The second timeline is from her late Gran's point of view written as letters to Molly. We discover so many surprises and twists to Gran's life and how she came to raise Molly. This was a most enjoyable and captivating read. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

This book was so fun!! I find Molly to be such a fun character that I relate to so much. I wish there was an actual Molly that I could meet and talk to!!

Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of The Maid’s Secret by Nita Prose.

“Truth hides in plain sight, if only we knew where to look.”

This charming and clever mystery with a beloved neurodivergent protagonist and a hotel full of secrets. It explores perception, loyalty, and the courage it takes to speak up with witty dialogue and impeccable pacing. Perfect for fans of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and character-driven mysteries.

I’ll be sharing this review on Goodreads, Instagram, StoryGraph, B&N and Amazon.

Thank you so so much to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the e-arc!
The Molly the Maid series is one of my favorites with some of my favorite cast of characters that I’ve read from so this e-arc was so special to receive. The most notable of these characters is Molly herself. Molly has such a strong spirit to her that although she’s fictional I really look up to her. She cares about those around her so much and what a beautiful trait that is.
Hearing about her grandmothers life was fascinating, I loved hearing about Flora’s life and her strength throughout everything she had experienced and how her kindness was brought back to Molly. There were a lot of difficult moments in Flora’s chapters and they were written in a way that felt so real I would tear up and have to settle book down to think about what I just read.
I think the biggest take aways from this series is how the friends and family around you bring you strength and I think about these characters often and how supportive they are while also having kindness and a strong sense of self. Each of these characters read so distinctly, Nita Prose has such a handle on her own characters that she wrote them each with a unique voice that it makes me think she loves these characters as much as we do.
There are many complicated relationships in this book. Molly encounters her mother for a moment, while also experiencing brief fame and the people she encountered during that journey being friends and foes. We find out about Flora’s family and care takers and classmates and all the dynamics at play there. This book was beautiful but also unexpectedly heartbreaking.
Thank you again to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for this e-arc!
I have reviewed this book on goodreads and an Instagram review is coming soon

Absolutely loved the delve into grans backstory in this one and where we get to meet John Preston for the first time. Their love story was adorable and so sad. Even though we know the end already, ypu still felt all that love and hope in grans diary entries.
It also served as a great tie in to the mystery of the faberge egg and little anecdotes we received theiughout other books.
Bittersweet to say the least but a wonderful way to wrap it all up.

Molly Gray's life is going well. Engaged to Juan, recently promoted to Special Events Manager and still Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel and enjoying a relationship with her newfound grandfather, Molly couldn't ask for more.
Until she finds out a trinket her Gran had left behind could be worth millions.
Told in multiple POV, "The Maid's Secret" goes back in time to Gran's younger days and Molly's current life, revealing how Gran became a single mother and eventually raising Molly on her own. The Maid's secrets in the case are more Grans, or rather Flora's, rather than Molly's in this case, but still interesting and engaging.
IT was a nice end to a lovely series, settling Molly and Juan nicely and giving some good background to Gran's life.
Despite being the supposed end to the series, I would still love to see Molly again in the future!

3 5 stars

And our time with Molly has come to an end. I really enjoyed the dual timelines even if I figured early on who the thieves were. It is more cosy mystery than anything and because of the extensive exposition you will definitely not need to read the other two first, but it'll give you a better sense of the story and the surrounding characters. And Molly herself.

Thanks for these stories, layered with nuggets of wisdom gleaned from fables and fairy tales.

3.5 stars rounded up
I think I'm tired of Molly and her story. What I enjoyed most in this book was her grandmother's story. Not that I ever found myself wondering about it, but it explained a lot and made the relationship between Molly and Mr. Preston all the more special