Molly Gray is the esteemed Head Maid and recently promoted Special Events Manager of the Regency Grand Hotel. And, with her upcoming marriage to Juan Manuel only two months away, life seems too good to be true.

When the hit reality TV show “Hidden Treasures” starring popular art appraisers Brown and Beagle, chooses to film an episode at the hotel, 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.

Could life become even better?

After reading all of the Molly Maid series from Nita Prose, I can firmly say Prose delivered again! The previous books were needed to get the full back story, but this book was absolutely wonderful. I loved the details and stories. Molly the Maid is such an endearing character with quirks that make her lovable. The love in this story between so many different characters was very well written and shines through the dark parts. My favorite parts were the diary entries and how well Prose wove every part together. Big thank you to Random House Publishing Group for the early edition of this novel.

Love Molly, love this series. She will always be one of my favorites. I adore this series. It's a cozy mystery with all the trappings of a classic whodunit twist.

The Molly the Maid books are cozy mysteries with an edge, and I love them. The Maid’s Secret is happy without being sappy, with just enough twists and turns to keep the mystery moving. I love the family that has formed around Molly, helping her navigate a world that she sometimes has difficulty understanding and interacting with. Wonderful addition to an amazing series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you Ballantine Books for my gifted copy!

“Once upon a time, I dreamt of this day.
I never knew my dream would come true.
My dear Molly, life is a fairy tale.
Wonders never cease.
And love - love is the greatest gift of all.”

I am
Sob
Bing
Sobbing.

It’s Molly’s world, and we are all lucky to live in it.

It feels rare that the ending of a series wraps up so beautifully and does a character justice. But The Maid’s Secret was just that. Never before has there been a character I loved so much - who gave me a voice I didn’t know I desperately needed. Molly is it for me. And I was so anxious about reading this final installment. Worried about the integrity of this series. Worried that Nita Prose may not stay true to the voice she has so beautifully crafted. Oh, but she did.

I am too emotional to articulate how wonderful this final installment was. It was so packed with growth. I love remembering who Molly was with her gran by her side. And seeing Molly become more self assured in who she is has been one of my favorite parts of this entire series. Molly is so beloved for simply being who she is. And, frankly, every neurodivergent person deserves that. The world was not made for us, but Molly never stopped being true to herself and her own little world. The people she has collected over the span of this series have embraced her and her quirks in the most inspiring ways.

This is a series I will read over and over again, because it is such a comfort. The puns, the dry humor, the literal thinking, are all a recipe for the way my brain works, and it felt like home.

Molly, Juan, and Mr. Preston are back and ready to steal our hearts once again.

I fell in love with Nita Prose’s characters in the first Maid book, and hope she writes so many more.

The characters are lovable, eccentric, and smartly written. The plot is quintessential cozy mystery. We have to figure out what’s happened to the Fabrege egg both in the present and the past.

The Maid’s Secret
Nita Prose
Publication Date: Out now!
4/5 stars

I enjoyed this final installment in the Molly the Maid series! Molly goes on an antique show and discovers that one of her most prized possessions is worth more than she could imagine. The dual timeline kept my attention throughout the book as well as learning more about Gran's past.

I highly recommend this book if you have read and enjoyed the other Molly the Maid books.

Thank you to Random House Publishing, Netgalley and Nita Prose for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Random House Publishing!

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.

I have adored my time with this series and Nita Prose did a nice job of tying all of the books together and tying up loose ends. I also enjoyed hearing more about Gran and Preston and less from Juan. Molly, of course, remained center stage but it was nice to dive a little deeper into the past before Molly. I believe this was the final installment and it was just enough 📚

I've fallen in love with all the characters (except for maybe CHERYL) in this series and was excited to have the opportunity to pre-read book 3! An antiques tv show is coming to the Regency Grand to assess viewers old stuff and let them know whether they have a treasure or junk. Molly takes a few of Grans old items in a shoebox and gets a big surprise! But how is this trinket really a treasure, and why did Gran have it? This installment of the series flips back and forth between Gran's diary entries and Molly's quest to find the treasure when it is stolen.

I loved hearing Gran's voice for the first time and understanding the background to some of the sayings and people in her and Molly's lives. While Molly potentially has a 'rags to riches' story - Gran truly had a 'riches to rags' one.

I enjoyed this book much more than the previous full-length novel - the story line flowed much better, and the suspense was palpable! I finally researched where this series could take place - I was constantly confused with referenced that seemed American but also British. The author is Canadian, so it made so much more sense after finding that out!

Another wonderful Molly the Maid story! This series is one that has easily moved to the top of my favorites list. I love the detail that Nita Prose includes in her books, and of course, the content of the stories. For this book, we find Molly the Maid at a new phase in her life, being engaged to her love, Juan Manuel.
The hotel is also abuzz with the famous antique show coming to the hotel, ready to appraise the worlds antiques, including Molly's. Through this book, we learn more about Molly's Gran, and her life, between alternating POV's and timelines. The mystery was engaging and so fun to read.

It was about time that we finally hear grandma’s back story. I knew she had some blue blood flowing through her veins. You can tell it with some folks: the way they present and carry themselves and the way they know about certain things. Our favorite maid needed to learn about her grandmother too and Nita Prose delivered

It all started with an event to be host at the hotel. These auctioneers turned reality show stars wanted to host their next episode at the hotel and gave hotel personnel a free ticket to get their trinkets appraised. Molly brought a lot of things but also her little huevo that she didn’t care too much for. At the end egg was the kind you were all thinking and Molly the maid would be Molly the millionaire

However, where was Molly there was trouble. Egg went missing and the whole world turned upside down for Molly. The secret of the egg would only be solved once Grandma’s diary reached Molly’s hands!

A fitting ending to Molly's story. Filled with the same humor, charm, and quirky cast of characters as the previous two installments, Prose's third Molly story left me with the same warm feelings as the first two.

Thank you to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for the free ebook.

THE MAID'S SECRET by Nita Prose (The Maid and The Mystery Guest) is a LibraryReads Hall of Fame selection for April and received a starred review from Publishers Weekly. Unfortunately, I was disappointed in this series offering. It was not centered on Molly, but instead told the story of Flora, her grandmother, who was involved in a youthful romance many years ago. Yes, there were ties to wealth, both in the past and involving a stressful theft in the present, but the mystery, while surprising, was not especially engaging. And most of the events (how many people own a Fabergé egg?) were hard to imagine as having any connection to reality. I missed Molly's gentle goodness, her reliance on her grandmother's wisdom, and the drama within the hotel walls. Looking forward to a return to form in the next in this series.

Thank you Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an E-ARC of The Maid’s Secret by Nita Prose in exchange for an honest review.

It was like walking back into your regular bookstore when I came back into Molly’s world. I was curious as to what Nita Prose would deliver in the third installment of Molly the Maid. I will admit my expectations were low due to the consistent theme I thought she’d continue to deliver. Instead, this was no murder mystery, but a heartfelt and intriguing art heist.

The pace and writing are completely different from the first two books, and that doesn’t make this one any less interesting. Alternatively, the book offered two perspectives showcasing my personal takeaway theme that there is no better time than the present. I surprised myself to find that I missed reading Molly’s puns and quirkiness, which only elevates the story’s humor.

I wondered whether we were going to be introduced to a small number of new characters, but Nita Prose gave us over a dozen new characters. I was explaining this book to my mother and she’s now referred to it as the egg series and you just have to read it to find out.

I would be satisfied if this is the end of the Molly the Maid series, but would be ready to book another installment because I know the author would give us a great new narrative with the same fun-loving character, Molly.

Somehow, I missed that this was part of a series. I do feel this would have read better for me had I gone through any prior books of the series.

Molly Gray, and her fiancé Juan Manuel both work at the fabulous Regency Grand Hotel. She as the head main and events manager, and he as a chef. A show similar to that of Antiques Roadshow comes to film at the hotel, and hotel staff are invited to bring any treasures in for appraisal ahead of the filming. Molly brings her "very dead" Gran's treasures she holds dear - more for sentimental value than anything.

That's when she has the shock of a life - one of the trinkets is appraised as something incredibly rare, and even more valuable. Only to have said trinket vanish mysteriously in front of a huge audience while going up for auction!

I loved the writer's style, though the story felt a bit confusing to me. We learn about Molly's family tree and the historical events framing her life today - but the transitions seemed rather clunky, and I felt as though this story fought for the spotlight between a love story and a mystery. All said, I'd give the author and series another chance.

Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine/Ballantine Books and Nita Prose for the eARC.
Pub Date Apr 08 2025
#TheMaidsSecret #NetGalley

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.

The Maid’s Secret is the final book in the Molly the Maid series by Nita Prose. Instead of revolving around a murder at the Regency Hotel, this book focuses on a stolen Fabergé egg, while answering questions about Molly’s beloved Gran’s past. Each chapter alternates between the missing art mystery and diary entries from Gran to Molly. I absolutely adored this series and am sad for it to end, but it also wrapped things up perfectly.

9/10

For a series that has typically been on the light hearted side this had me feeling all the emotions in the best ways possible. Molly shares the "main character" spotlight with her Gran's diary entries and the story comes together smoothly between the two, even if we do already know some of what is to come that Molly may not yet. The mystery here is a few layers deep and while some are quick to be revealed others keep you enticed. Between that and the constant humor (that may or may not be to everybody's taste but I enjoyed) this book was an entertaining read from start to finish.

I love Nita Prose so much!! I hope the Maid books never end. Nita’s writing is absolutely amazing and never disappoints. Whenever I’m reading one of Nita’s books, it is like the whole world exists around me and I never want to leave.

Thank you @prhaudio @ballantinebooks for a copy of this book.

Such bittersweet to be back with Molly and her found family at Grand Regency Hotel as this is the finale to the series. We have Molly and Juan, engaged and planning their wedding and life is good. The hotel is hosting a popular antique show and Molly decides to bring an egg her grandmother owned to have it evaluated and surprisingly is worth millions.

The egg turns up missing and now Molly and her friends are trying to find out who stole it. The story is told in Molly's current POV and Molly's grandmother and how she came to have this egg through her journals.

I loved getting to know more about grandma and how she was still so much part of the story.

The story was well told and the mystery of the egg added another level of depth to the story. I loved that Lauren Ambrose narrated all 3 books and her voice for Molly is perfection.