The Maid’s Secret
Nita Prose
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This is the perfect finale to this wonderful series. I love that in this one we get to travel back in time through Gran's diary to learn more about where Gran came from, who Molly's mother really is, and how Mr. Preston fits into her past. Meanwhile Molly, detective Stark, and the rest of the hotel staff are working overtime to solve the mystery of who stole the Faberge egg, and what their motive was. Must read especially if you have read The Maid and The Mystery Guest!

Two years ago Molly the Maid debuted. Molly is neurodivergent, possibly even autistic. This means that she struggles to understand the world around her. She excels at her job and now has the added responsibility of Special Events Coordinator. She is extremely intelligent and well-read. But by far her biggest virtue is her loyalty - to the hotel where she works, to her friends, to her growing family and to her fiance Juan Manuel.

Naturally the fans can’t wait to read about the wedding. But they also wanted to know more about the woman who raised Molly, her Gran Flora Gray. This novel attempts to kill both birds with one stone, but unfortunately sometimes it just misses the mark.

The novel is told in two alternating timelines. This wouldn’t normally be a problem, but it is never clearly delineated. It makes it difficult to orient in time and place at first. Also, given the fact that Prose’s writing is absorbing, the chapter changes can be jarring and disorienting. Just as I was wrapped up in Molly’s story - bang - new chapter - and back to Flora’s.

The other major problem I had is that this seems like two books mashed into one. The plotline with the Faberge seemed unnecessary until the last 80% of the book to tie both stories together. I would have been perfectly happy to focus on Molly planning the wedding and getting the diary from her grand-dad as a wedding present. I understand there has to be a mystery to tie into the appropriate genre, but this just seemed to have too many genres - romance, mystery, women’s fiction and historical fiction.

But don’t get me wrong, Flora’s story by itself is wonderful. It is extremely well told, just like a fairy tale in letter form. Flora’s world is too vast to have to share time with the present. Even knowing the final results, I still wanted to know about Algernon and the shallowness of Flora’s parents. And about John and their love story. It also illustrates how all this inner strength later manifested later into Molly. This is the heart of the novel, and it is written so well that everything else pales in comparison. I feel like trying to shoehorn in another plot just did this wonderful story a true disservice.

I do hope these books continue. I know there are too many literary universes out there, but given that Angela just made her way into the police academy, is it too much to want a spinoff series with my favorite spiky haired wannabe detective?

This sequel brings back Molly in all her quirky, lovable glory. The mystery is once again cleverly crafted, and I appreciated the way it delves more into Molly’s past. Nita Prose balances warmth and intrigue beautifully. The ending was a touch predictable, but that didn’t take away from the charm or heart of the story. A delightful follow-up.

There’s just something about neurospicy Molly the Maid that continues to absolutely shine. Every book deepens my love for this cast of cozy chaos—Gram and Grandad’s love, Molly’s delightfully rigid ways, and the ever-growing web of people who show up for her (in their own weird little ways).

Yes, Molly stumbles into mystery and mayhem as usual, but this time it’s wrapped in even more warmth and heart. The hijinks are fun, but what keeps me hooked is knowing that Molly is never truly alone—her family, found or otherwise, is growing, and my heart is so full. Even Cheryl is giving me hope, and I did not have that on my cozy bingo card. 😂

This series is a hug in book form. Quirky, charming, and surprisingly heartfelt.

Vibes:
found family (with bonus hotel staff hijinks)
neurodivergent brilliance
cozy mystery with a heart
sleuthing meets self-discovery
a cast of lovable oddballs

Would I recommend it?
Without hesitation. If you need a feel-good cozy mystery with the kind of main character you root for so hard, Molly’s waiting for you. Just don’t touch her cleaning cart. 😉

Thank you to Ballantine Books, Penguin Random House, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this delightful book.

Molly is the head maid and Special Events Manager at the Regency Grand Hotel. She’s engaged to Juan Manuel, who is the head chef at the hotel, and their wedding is only a couple of months away. Life may not be as extravagant for them as it is for the guests of the hotel, but they are happy.
The hit reality tv series comes to film at the hotel and Molly brings a shoebox full of her gran’s trickers and gems for appraisal, not knowing that she has something that is going to change her life.
The story is told in present day and in Gran’s diary chapters which tell of her life and her forbidden love as a teenager which gives a historical romance aspect to the story. The two timelines are ties together well and the diary chapters help Molly decide what to do when the time comes as well as solve the mystery of who stole the Faberge.
Thanks to Ballantine and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

Molly's wedding is getting closer, but first they have a taping of the TV show "Hidden Treasures" at the Grand Regency. The staff is invited to bring in a few items to see if they are worth anything. Most of Molly's are just treasures to her, but one of them is an esteemed Faberge Egg that is worth millions. Are Molly and Juan Miquel about to become millionaires?

This is another fun book in this series. I love reading about Molly's adventures! You won't go wrong reading this series!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in return for my honest review.

The Maid's Secret by Nita Prose is a great addition to the Molly the Maid series. In this installment, Molly uncovers a hidden and expensive treasure among late grandmother's belongings which sets off a chain of events leading to its theft and a subsequent investigation. The narrative is enriched by interspersed chapters from her grandmother's journal, offering readers a glimpse into her past and deepening the emotional resonance of the story.​ I really love this series!

Wow what a way to wrap up the series. I was not ready to leave Regency Grand and it's employees. This is not your typical whodunnit murder like the first two were but rather a wrap-up in Molly's story. This story revolves around Molly and the Faberge - the same one that caught her eye when she was Gran's maid-in-training. One of my favorite aspect in this book is Gran's POV. We read about Gran and more about her story and about everything is connected. I also love reading about Maggie - Molly's mother. I expected a redemption story from her but this just proves that not everyone comes to their senses and some people just stays around fly by nights as Gran would say. The new character introduced being somehow connected to Molly's past was a beautiful "small world" moment.

I also like to say how I adored Gran's story. Her story-telling about her background shows her wisdom and the lessons she's learned from her upbringing. The overall theme about this last book - love, was very evident in this universe and especially with Gran's own love story.

Maybe it's the romance reader in me but I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will miss all the characters greatly!.

This was a great read. I love Molly the Maid! I liked knowing more about her backstory as well as her lineage. I was hoping for a slightly better ending, but I still enjoyed it.

I made it halfway through The Maid’s Secret before realizing I just couldn’t bring myself to care about the story. While it’s great to see continued neurodivergent representation through Molly—one of the series’ strengths—the plot itself felt tired and overdone. What started as a fresh perspective in The Maid has started to feel like a story that’s simply played out. The mystery didn’t hook me, the pacing dragged, and unfortunately, I found myself detached from the stakes and characters.

That said, I do appreciate what this series has done for bringing a unique voice like Molly’s to the genre. I just think this final installment lacked the spark to keep me invested.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book and exchange for a honest review .

Molly the Maid has learned many lessons in her life but the most important ones come from her beloved Gran. With Molly’s wedding quickly approaching and her highly relatable worries over affording daily life taking the forefront of her thoughts, she stumbles upon a surprising treat: her Gran’s “golden egg”. Of course this wouldn’t be a story about Molly the Maid without some sort of mystery, but the greater story is of her Gran’s life and how all things were done with love at the forefront.

Nita Prose outdid herself with the dual timeline in the newest addition to The Maid’s series. Molly has always been an unforgettable character for me across genres, but to know her Gran’s full story told through diary entries solidified her as a standout character to me. I devoured this book in three days and find it to be a beautiful addition to this quirky series. Five BIG golden stars to The Maid’s Secret!

I am so sad this is the last we will see of Molly. She is such an iconic character and I absolutely love these stories.

Gran’s backstory stole the show with this book. I soaked up her chapters and was so engaged. I enjoyed the missing egg as well, but Gran’s backstory stole the show. I wish we would have seen more of Maggie or maybe the next book 😉 (a girl can dream). I do think her story would be fascinating too. I always enjoy the humor and cast of characters. If you haven’t read this series yet, you need to!

Molly the maid captured my affection with the first in this marvelous series. I enjoy all the diverse characters from her Gran to the doorman, her new fiancé and all the others. Molly has grown so much and spread her wings and her world. I’m selective about cozy mysteries and this one of several I won’t miss reading. The plot is full of family secrets and lessons on the value of riches versus living and loving life. Molly’s discovery of a rare antiquity upends her life in both good and bad ways. The mystery and suspense was high in this who-dun-it. I couldn’t read fast enough and finished in record time. If you’ve read the previous books, this one is the best yet. If you’re new to the series, you’ll fall in love with the wonderful stately hotel, the staff and all the supporting cast. It’s a heartwarming story with pertinent life lessons. I laughed and cried and rooted for Molly!
Ballantine Books(via NetGalley) provided me with an Advance Reader Copy of “The Maid’s Secret” A Maid Novel #3,by Nita Prose, published 04/08/2025. These are always my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

I have been a fan of this series until this one. It had a different format, and therefore a different feel. The whole thing felt forced and yuck. So bummed.

This is an excellent cozy mystery! The characters are really what make this story. Molly and Juan are always enjoyable to read but I loved hearing Gran’s back story and diving deeper into the character of Mr. Preston.

i love the entire Maid series from Nita Prose!!! so well written and always with intriguing plots. 5/5 stars

Molly continues to be endearing, but this installment is as much about finding out Gran's full backstory as getting a final adventure/resolution with Molly. I liked both plot lines fine, but felt like I was losing the rhythm of the plot in switching back and forth. I didn't think this had quite as much charm as the prior two, but worth a read to round out the series.

This was the fourth book I’ve read in the series, so I was excited to dive back into the world of Molly and the Regency Grand Hotel. Right away, it was fun catching up with all the familiar characters and seeing what they’ve been up to. Of course, there’s another mystery to solve, and once again Molly finds her quirky personality right in the middle of it with some help from her group of friends.

One of my favorite parts of this book was learning more about Molly’s Gran. The backstory added a lot of depth and ended up playing an important role in solving the current mystery. I loved how everything connected, and it gave more insight into who Molly ‘s Gran was and why she saw the world the way did and the lessons she passed onto Molly.

Nita Prose does a great job mixing mystery, heart, and a little bit of humor. Molly is such a unique character: kind, determined, and unintentionally funny, and it’s always fun seeing how she pieces everything together. If you’ve read the earlier books, you’ll enjoy this one just as much. And if you haven’t, definitely start from the beginning, it’s a great series.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing-Ballantine Books for the opportunity to preview this book in exchange for my honest review!

Molly the maid forever has a piece of my heart. I loved the larger perspective from Gran this time! As always, well written and Nita Prose will forever be an auto-buy author for me.

This last book in the series is a pleasant enough read but not as good as the first two books. I enjoyed the two timelines, but for me it was too much of the past and not enough of the present. This said, I did enjoy the ending and I would recommend this book to anyone who liked the others in the series!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.