Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of the book. All opinions are my own.
My Thoughts
There are two mysteries here. One is “who is the art thief?” The other mystery, woven through the series, involves Molly’s Gran. She raised Molly, but Gran has always been vague about her background. Now Molly has inherited Gran’s diary, but will Molly’s grief allow her to read it?
The novel alternates between diary entries and present time. While I was interested in Gran’s past, for me the diary entries overshadowed the mystery of the art heist and slowed the pacing of the book.

What did stand out to me was Prose’s take on the “money changes people” belief. Money does change people in this novel, but not in the usual way. Molly doesn’t change, but it was interesting watching the people around her change, a least for a while.

My Impression

I’ve read all The Maid books, and I was excited to read this one. I was a bit disappointed in The Maid’s Secret. The art heist didn’t happen until well into the book, and once it did happen, it didn’t really hold my attention. Gran’s diaries seemed to go on a little too long. This book is different in pacing than the earlier books. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but this book didn’t hold my interest as much as the others. Even though this book wasn’t quite for me, it doesn’t mean it isn’t for you.
3/5 stars

In The Maid's Secret, the Regency Grand Hotel is hosting the popular television show "Hidden Treasures." While the television show is filming, Molly brings a shoe box of her treasures to have them appraised by the Beagle and Brown, the show's hosts. Much to Molly's surprise, she has an item of great value. This new knowledge catapults Molly into the spotlight and also into dangerous situations. The story alternates between Molly's story in the present day and Gran's journal where she recounts her life story to Molly.

I really enjoyed the characters in this story. There are a lot of returning characters (Mr. Preston, Juan, Angela, Detective Stark, etc.) and also the addition of a few new characters like Speedy. I also appreciated the way in which Gran's journal and Molly's story came together in the end.

Normally I like the dual timeline concept for a story, but with this book it took me a really long time to get invested because of the two stories being told. In this book, I didn't care for having so much of Gran's story. While it served a purpose when everything came together at the end of the book, I felt like her story could have been condensed and there could have been more to Molly's mystery. Because of the length of Gran's entries every other chapter, I felt that it was hard to get into Molly's story, and it made this book feel much less like a mystery.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read, but I didn't enjoy it as much as the first two books in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ebook in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

When the head maid at a fancy hotel realizes that a precious family heirloom has been stolen, she must scramble to figure out what to do next. Along the way, she’ll reconnect with her beloved grandmother and discover the true worth of love. Author Nita Prose brings her debut series to a close in this heartwarming novel that focuses much more on the past than it does the present in The Maid’s Secret.

Molly Gray is the luckiest woman in the world. Not only does she have her dream job—Head Maid and Special Events Manager at the esteemed Regency Grand Hotel—she’s also going to marry the love of her life, Juan Manuel, in just a few weeks. She and Juan may not have much in the way of possessions, but what they lack in material wealth they more than make up for in their love for one another and their dedication to their work.

That dedication is why, even with the wedding so close, Molly is determined to make the Regency Grand’s latest event a smashing success. The hit TV show Hidden Treasures has chosen to film an episode at the hotel, and Molly can’t wait to meet the charismatic hosts, Brown and Beagle, who are aficionados of antiques. She and Juan Manuel have spent many Sundays watching the show and debating the value of the various items people bring for Beagle and Brown to evaluate. Now she’ll get to meet them in person!

On the day of filming, Juan Manuel suggests Molly bring the old ceramic egg given to her by her late gran. Molly agrees, because she knows it’s just a pretty fake egg. When the show’s hosts identify it as a rare Faberge, however, suddenly Molly is faced with an incredible decision. If she sells the egg at an auction, like Beagle and Brown suggest, she’ll be a rich woman. She and Juan Manuel will have enough money to start a new life together.

Despite her dislike for all the social media attention that comes her way, Molly agrees to the auction. Then on the big day, in front of a breathless audience, the egg goes missing, and a death threat follows. Clearly someone wants Molly out of the picture and the precious artifact for themselves.

Molly doesn’t understand why the egg is the focus of attention all of a sudden and wishes more than ever that Gran was there to explain everything. Her wish is granted when she finds Gran’s diary and starts reading. As she gets to know her grandmother better, she discovers the story of how the Faberge came into Gran’s hands in the first place and the challenges she faced when she herself was a young woman. By the time she gets to the end of Gran’s diary, Molly knows exactly what she needs to do to get the egg back and solve the mystery.

Author Nita Prose brings back her beloved Molly Gray for the final installment in the plucky maid’s adventures. This book, however, is much less about Molly and more about her gran, Flora. While many readers may enjoy getting to know Flora better, those expecting a Molly mystery in the same vein as the first two books will most likely be disappointed.

Half of the book focuses on Flora’s diary and her coming-of-age story. Prose shows a knack for building believable tension and conflict in the historical fiction sections of the book. In fact, in most cases Flora’s story comes off as much more compelling than the present-day dilemma with Molly.

Given that the Faberge egg is a beloved possession of her gran’s who she adored, Molly’s willingness to let it go without much fuss is puzzling. The decision feels like an obvious plot device, and what follows in Molly’s timeline is a weak mystery. Had Prose chosen to tell that story without interspersing Flora’s diary entries, the book would have floundered much more than it does. The saving grace for this novel is Flora’s story, made all the more enjoyable because readers familiar with Molly’s journey already know the end.

Prose salvages the book by tying up most of the loose ends in a lovely wedding scene for Molly and Juan Manuel. With this book being the final in the series, there’s no better way to say goodbye to Molly the Maid than on one of the happiest days of her life. This one is most definitely for those who have followed Molly’s story from the beginning, but the first book in the trilogy is the best by leaps and bounds.

The Maid’s Secret by Nita Prose
Format: ebook/audiobook
Pub Date: 4/8/25
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Big thank you to @netgalley and @prhaudio for the complementary advanced reader copies of the most recent installation in the Molly the Maid series. It was charming as always!

I will simply never get sick of this series! Molly the Maid and her family will always hold a special place in my heart and I loved getting more of Gran’s backstory. This book is a very fun cozy mystery with an Antique’s Roadshow flair!

Forever here for the audiobooks in this series because they’re narrated by Lauren Ambrose and a total dream! If you’re on the fence whether it’s worth a credit…it absolutely is!

Molly Gray returns in this charming and satisfying conclusion to The Maid series. Now Head Maid at the Grand Regency Hotel and just weeks away from marrying her fiancé, Juan, Molly is juggling exciting new responsibilities. When a hit TV show comes to the hotel to film, she submits a box of her late grandmother’s belongings—only to discover one piece may be worth millions. But when the antique mysteriously vanishes during an auction, Molly and her friends must dig into the past to uncover the truth.

Told through Molly’s eyes and her grandmother’s diary entries, this story beautifully blends mystery with heart. I especially loved learning more about her grandmother’s life, and seeing familiar characters return made it all the more special. A perfect ending for longtime fans of the series.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group–Ballantine for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

She’s back! This is the fourth Molly the Maid book I’ve read if you include the Christmas novella. I’ve liked Molly’s character since the first book. In this one we still get all the characters from the Regency Grand Hotel as Molly gets ready for her nuptials to Juan Manuel.

An antique type roadshow is coming to the hotel and Molly brings her golden egg from her gran. The story of the egg unfolds with a dual timeline story.

I love this cast of characters that has a cozy vibe. We are able to learn more about Gran and Mr. Preston’s backstory.

Pick this up for a continuation of Molly’s story with all her Amelia Bedelia like antics along the way

Returning to Molly Gray's world in The Maid’s Secret felt like slipping back into a cozy, familiar room—neat, orderly, and full of quiet surprises. Nita Prose has a real talent for crafting characters that are both quirky and deeply human, and Molly remains one of the most unique and endearing protagonists I’ve read in recent years.

In this follow-up to The Maid, Molly is still navigating the pristine but often chaotic world of the Regency Grand Hotel, but this time, there are new layers of intrigue and emotion at play. The mystery is tightly woven, with just enough twists to keep the pages turning, but what really shines (again) is Molly’s voice—precise, sincere, and refreshingly different.

On a more personal note, I have a family member who is neurodivergent, and that’s made me especially appreciative of how Prose writes Molly’s worldview. Her perspective isn’t just a quirk—it’s a lens that makes the story richer, more thoughtful, and often unexpectedly moving. It’s heartwarming to see a character who interprets the world in a unique way be treated with such care and dignity.

What I especially appreciated about The Maid’s Secret is how it deepens Molly's character. We get more of her backstory, her vulnerabilities, and her evolving relationships, all without losing the charm and quiet wisdom that made her so beloved in the first book. The themes of truth, perception, and how we judge others are handled with care, and the pacing strikes an outstanding balance between heartfelt moments and classic whodunit tension.

If you enjoyed The Maid, this sequel delivers everything you'd hope for—and maybe a little more. Nita Prose expands Molly’s world without losing the intimate feel that made the first book so special. It’s a satisfying, thoughtful mystery that reminds us that sometimes the biggest secrets are hiding in plain sight.

I usually read a book in one sitting, but I had to take breaks from this one.
This is basically a story about Gran told in flashbacks, and I just didn't like Flora (Gran). Plus, she makes a sacrifice that turns out to be for naught.
As Molly and Juan (who, for some reason, really annoyed me in this book) prepare for their wedding, a TV show comes to the hotel. Hidden treasures, the show encourages the staff to bring their treasures, and that egg in Molly's sideboard turns out to be a Faberge.
This leads to quite a mystery, which, of course, Molly solves. All our favorite characters appear, as well as many new ones.
it was interesting to learn how Gran went from being a spoiled rich girl to a maid. There are many really terrible people in this book, but in the end Molly is surrounded by those who love her.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the EARC. These are my honest opinions.

I adore Molly The Maid so much. I have loved every book in this series. I enjoy getting to know her and follow her in all of her adventures.

This book was a little different than the previous books. This one did not have a murder but was still a mystery.

I really enjoyed that we got to read the diary of Gran. This allowed her to tell her story and how it all tied together with the mystery in this book.

I hope there will be more books in the series because I can’t get enough of Molly.

I uploaded my review to Goodreads. I uploaded it to Amazon on release day.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Nita Prose for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Maid's Secret coming out April 8, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I was obsessed with the first book! I have a real thing for mysteries set in hotels. I really enjoy Molly’s character and personality. She sees things differently than other people. I love her relationship with Juan. I think the first two books were amazing and I loved them so much. The novella was really short and fun. I have a few mixed feelings about this book. Overall, I’ll always love this series. This book felt different than the other books. I think maybe because of the two timelines. I enjoyed it a lot, and I’ll always be a fan of Molly. I was just expecting a little something different. However, I definitely love the series.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys mysteries!

This was so freaking good! I always love the Molly Gray books but this one really hit me in the feels. The “dear molly” chapters were definitely my favorite. Learning more about gran’s past was sooo interesting it just made me want to keep reading. I love this series so much.

Out of all the entries in the Molly the Maid series, I found this one to be lackluster. The most compelling part of the story was the flashbacks of Molly’s grandma Flora’s childhood. It was beautiful and heartbreaking, made me really appreciate the strength of women. The present day story showed how Molly discovers her trinket is worth millions, causing her to go viral. This storyline eventually turned into a mystery but it didn’t present itself until halfway through the novel. Since the mystery resolved more quickly, it felt like the stakes weren’t very high. Even if this entry was disappointing, I have no idea where this series will go from here. This story felt forced and I can’t imagine future entries not feeling the same.

📖 Title: The Maid's Secret
✍️ Author: Nita Prose
📃 Publisher: Ballantine Books
🗓 Pub Date: April 8, 2025
Genre: mystery
Format: Kindle (eARC)
Length: 336 pages
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“A life without love is not worth living."
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I am so happy to be back in Molly the Maid's world! This is the third and last book of the series, and I think it was the perfect way to end it.
We are back to following Molly and her love, Juan Manuel. Molly is engaged and the Head Maid and Special Events Manager of the Regency Grand Hotel. She couldn't be happier! She is living the quiet life she has always wanted. Well, things are about to change when Molly's favorite reality TV show decides to come to the hotel. Hidden Treasures seek antiquities. She decides to bring a few of her gran's things, and one of them ends up being worth more than she ever imagined. But trouble is always following Molly, and when the treasure gets sold, it disappears! Molly and her close friends will have to dig into the past to find the theif.

I LOVED that we got journal entries from Molly's gran! To be honest, I was more entertained with her story than the present events. Dual timeline. Dual POV. A bingeable, cozy mystery. Definitely recommend all The Maid fans to read this final book of the series!

Name of the publication/blog/outlet where your review will be published/posted: Instagram

Run date for when the review will be posted/published: 4/8/2025

A link to your review, if available, so the publisher can share your review: https://www.instagram.com/p/DINQwwdOtpJ/

This is the third full-length novel in the Molly the Maid series & it did not disappoint! The story continues with Molly & the Regency Grand Hotel who are hosting television art collectors looking at 'Hidden Treasures' brought in by the staff of the hotel. Molly realizes that something she always underestimated may have the power to change her future.

I really enjoyed this book because it was a little different than the previous novels. The story explored more of gran/Flora's backstory which weaved in & out of Molly's present day circumstances. I also loved the character development that happened for Molly as she considered a big life change, something that seems uncomfortable for her to experience. This was definitely less of a whodunit and leaned more into family drama, but it was a great continuation of the character's lives. I'd definitely recommend for fans of Molly the Maid!

Molly Maid is back! Another fun, cozy mystery from Nita Prose as we re-enter the world of Molly the Maid, gran, and her fiancé Juan Manuel.

With the wedding rapidly approaching, Molly and Juan could use some extra cash. Molly brings some knickknacks of grans to the Regency Grand to be evaluated by the show Hidden Treasures. Unexpectedly, she learns that one item in particular, an old egg, has more value than she ever could have imagined. But as quickly as it came to her, it was gone, leaving Molly and friends on a quest to figure out what happened to the egg.

In order to figure out what is happening in the present, Molly is forced to dig further into the past - gran's past. That was by far the best part of the story and so engaging, which is really challenging for a third novel in a series to do. But I found this one to be quite entertaining and a quick read, just like the others. Would definitely recommend for fans of Molly. as it gives more insight into her family's history.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for my eARC in exchange for an honest review - out today!

Gran's origin story!

In this third installment, Molly Gray steps into a supporting roll and Gran's past takes center stage. The story splits into two, where we learn of Gran's life as told to Molly through diary entries, and alternating chapters about an art heist happening in the hotel where Molly works. Both stories converge at the end.

After a rather slow start the tempo and interest picks up about halfway through. It's Gran's story that saved this book for me. Otherwise, it would have been too much with the number of outlandish characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House/Ballantine, and Ms. Prose for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

I enjoyed this book but it wasn't my favorite of the series. Instead of Molly solving a mystery in her unique way, this book instead gives us two books tied together: (A) Gran's backstory, delivered in the form of letters to Molly as diary entires and (B) Molly's misery as she becomes briefly internet famous due to the discovery that her "knickknack" is actually an extremely valuable Faberge egg. First Molly suffers in the spotlight, which she does not understand, then the egg is stolen (accompanied by death threats), then the egg is returned (accompanied by more threats), but whodunnit? The mystery here, even though it sounds like a big deal, takes a definite seat to Gran's tragic backstory. This Gran is a younger, snobbier version who had not yet learned harsh life lessons. I felt sorry for her.

Overall it was fun, although I liked the first two books more because the focus was entirely on the mysteries that Molly was solving. Molly's unique detective process is where the books really shone, in my opinion. Nonetheless, I would still recommend it; if you enjoyed Molly before you'll find a lot to like here too.

⭐⭐⭐

Hooray! Molly Gray is back and better than ever. Thank you Nita Prose for giving your reader The Maid's Secret. Molly is a most memorable character and her positive personality can lift anyone's spirits. Molly becomes a media sensation because she possesses an extremely valuable Fabergé egg. Molly shuns the celebrity that comes with the discovery. She is thrilled to be engaged to Juan Manuel and she relishes the challenge of her job as Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. The egg is just a distraction to her. Molly has all the ingredients for her future happiness, but a financial windfall would be nice. Prose makes this novel fascinating by revealing more about Molly's family tree. The Maid's Secret is a very good mystery with Molly at its heart.

The Maid's Secret may just be my favorite in this series! While Molly the Maid is preparing for her upcoming wedding, the Regency Grand Hotel is preparing for an upcoming taping of Hidden Treasures, a popular antiquities show. When employees are given the chance to have some of their personal items appraised, Molly's world turns upside down as she is made aware of the value of a collectable she possesses. Filled with mystery, surprises and many twists and turns, The Maid's Secret also takes us back in time as Gran's diary is revealed to Molly and we learn even more about her past. I've always loved the connection Molly and her Gran share, and I especially enjoyed learning more about her past in this book. I would highly recommend this book, and the entire Molly the Maid series. Thank you to Net Galley and Ballantine Books for the advanced copy, all opinions are my own.

I love the Molly the Maid series! This is number four in the series (the third was a cute holiday novella, in case you missed it) and while it still felt like a Molly novel, we as readers got a lot more. The Maid’s Secret goes back and forth in time as Molly deals with an art heist at the hotel in the present and Gran’s young adulthood and engagement in the past.

I just loved how much Gran we got in this book! And so much more depth to all the beloved characters. If you’re hooked by this series like I am, it’s on shelves today!

4.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine for the free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!