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I finished this book in just a few days. I had this advanced copy but realized I never read book 2 in the series, so needed to read that first. This book does a great job of tying up loose ends and fleshing out characters from previous books. I did enjoy getting to know much more about Molly's Gran (essentially her entire life story) and the back and forth between the present day and Gran's story worked for me. It felt like this was a natural conclusion to Molly's story, so I don't expect further books and now need to read the Christmas themed novella.

What I would have liked to see was much more of Juan Manuel, Molly's fiance. He was hardly in book 2, so I had high hopes to know more about him and his background, but he was mostly a peripheral character, which was a letdown given he is the most important person to Molly save for her late Gran. And in the final pages, it might have made sense for his family to be present, but they were no shows which didn't make sense to me as they are only in Mexico and could have traveled.

I also did not completely buy into the present-day activities involving the Antiques Roadshow-esque plot and felt some characters didn't add much as they were not very compelling. I loved the first book, but have felt the sequels did not quite measure up to the original.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC. I appreciated being given a copy for an honest review.

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Thank you NetGalley for this amazing ARC of one of my favorite series. Book three of the Molly the Maid series finds our very own Molly in the limelight as she's just discovered her precious faberge egg that belonged to her late grandmother is worth a lot of money. Molly and Juan Manuel must decide what to do with it - sell it and become rich or keep it. The decision is made for them when the egg disappears and death threats begin. Just as quickly as the egg is stolen, it is returned with another threat, "Sell it or die." Molly and her cast of hotel friends must work together to track down the perpetrator before it's too late. I absolutely adored this one as we get to finally hear Gran's story and how she came to be the caretaker of Molly and her tragic love story had me in tears. This one made me laugh a lot, cry a little and the ending was absolute perfection. I adore Molly the Maid and her stories, so I do hope Nita Prose isn't finished with her story just yet.

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Molly the Maid books are always cute and quick reads. This one was exciting and I enjoyed the flashbacks to Gran’s life and her journal entries. Good mystery and will recommend for our cozy mystery display as well as neurodivergent characters display.

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I enjoyed it even though it was anticlimactic.

I think this is a great wrap-up for the series🥹 all the characters in the book are so lovely & I love every single one of them🫶

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I love Molly the Maid and Juan Manuel. Their wedding is just 2 months away, and they can hardly wait.
The Regency Grand has decided to host a show called Hidden Treasures, where Brown and Beagle, art appraisers, come and film the show to appraise people's treasures. Molly and her co-workers are asked to bring in any items they want to have appraised. Crazy enough, one of Molly's items is appraised very highly. She can become a millionaire. But an art heist changes things. Molly and her ragtag of friends must go back to the past to figure out the present. Thanks to Molly's Gran, who left Molly her journal with her life story in it, they were able to work backwards and solve things.

Was this my favorite Molly the Maid book? No, it wasn't. It was still enjoyable and interesting enough to get me reading. I think the back and forth of present and past and also seeing who Gran was at a younger age kind of annoyed me. It wasn't the Gran we all know and love.

Thanks Netgalley and Ballantine Books for sending me a free copy of this book to read.

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Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I had high hopes going into The Maid's Secret because I really enjoyed the first two books but this one didn't quite measure up for me. The pacing was slow, and it felt like not much was happening for the first half of the story. It took a while to reconnect with the characters that I've really enjoyed in the past..

That said, the second half definitely picked up. The twists started coming, and I finally felt more invested in where the story was going. Once the secrets started unraveling, things got more engaging, and I was curious to see how it would all end.

Overall, it’s a decent read, but you’ll need a bit of patience to get through the slow beginning. If you like slow-burn mysteries, this might be more your style.

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Unfortunately this one wasn’t my favorite. While Molly the maid is near and dear to my heart, this same storyline has run its course. Gran’s voice that was sprinkled through on the previous books has changed to a series of flashbacks, which aren’t my favorite. Still as the wholesome loveable storyline, just missed the mark for me.

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Nita Prose returns with The Maid’s Secret, a captivating and heartfelt follow-up that reintroduces readers to Molly Gray—our meticulous, socially unique, and utterly endearing hotel maid turned amateur sleuth. This time, Prose delves deeper into Molly’s past while unraveling a new, high-stakes mystery that tugs at both the intellect and the heartstrings.

The novel picks up in the same world of polished surfaces and hidden truths, where Molly finds herself entangled in a fresh investigation that echoes unresolved moments from her past. What distinguishes The Maid’s Secret is how Prose skillfully balances intrigue with character growth. While the mystery at the core is compelling and well-paced, it’s Molly’s evolving inner world—her vulnerability, resilience, and pursuit of belonging—that gives the story its emotional resonance.

Prose’s prose (no pun intended) remains tight, accessible, and infused with empathy. Her ability to write a neurodivergent character without resorting to stereotype is both refreshing and important, offering a protagonist who is unique yet universally relatable. Themes of justice, truth, and quiet strength are seamlessly interwoven, making the novel not just a mystery, but a meditation on personal growth and the search for meaning in unlikely places.

With its deft plotting, unexpected emotional depth, and the return of a character readers can’t help but root for, The Maid’s Secret is both a satisfying continuation and a standalone triumph. It will undoubtedly appeal to fans of The Maid, as well as to new readers drawn to character-driven mysteries with heart.

LOVE!!! 5 out of 5 Stars!!!

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Note: Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC.
I was delighted to learn more about Gran's story—such a rewarding thread throughout the series. I loved how everything came full circle, with themes like the Fabergé egg and the idea of being a “good egg” woven throughout. While the mysteries in this novella and the final novel leaned more toward life and family revelations rather than traditional murder mysteries, Gran’s arc kept me deeply engaged. Honestly, I would have preferred Gran’s story to be the novella instead—it had that much heart and depth.

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I am so happy to have received a preview of "The Maid's Secret" by Nita Prose. I love the character of Molly, definitely out of line, enterprising but very scatterbrained. We have seen our Molly grow up and finally here she is again in an incredible adventure. Here we will also be able to discover a lot about molly's famous grandmother, are we ready?
Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the chance to read this book in preview in exchange for my honest opinion.

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Oh, precious Molly the Maid. This book was absolutely everything I wanted it to be and more. I think it is my favorite Maid novel yet...Gran and her story being told so beautifully was such a joy to read about. Molly and her wedding had me in tears. What a beautiful cast of characters that just flows so seamlessly.

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This fourth book in the Molly The Maid Universe was my favorite of the bunch and really wrapped up her story nicely. I absolutely loved the diary entries written by Flora and getting to learn more about her & Mr. Preston. I wasn't very invested in the present day timeline until 70% into the book but after that, I couldn't put the book down. Molly was witty and adorable as ever, as well as Juan Manuel. Mr. Preston is still a favorite character of mine and I loved Angela and Detective Stark. The mystery aspect of the book was well done and the ending was a satisfying conclusion. I cried throughout the end of the book and felt that it was a great conclusion to Molly's journey. Thank you for sending me this book to read & review!

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The maid’s secret by Nita Prose is the third installment in Molly the maid story. I always love reading about Molly and her adventures! This part did not disappoint. I absolutely loved learning more about Molly's gran, Flora, and her life. Overall, it was one of my favorites cozy mysteries, highly recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Molly Gray loves her job as the Head Maid and Special Events Manager at the five-star Regency Grand Hotel, where her fiancé Juan Manuel works as a chef. But things could change, big time, as things get awfully exciting in the third episode of Nita Prose’s Molly the Maid series titled The Maid's Secret

The hotel is hosting the filming of a popular TV show, Hidden Treasures. Molly rummages through her late grandmother’s belongings and brings a few old knickknacks to be appraised. Much to her surprise, one of the objects is deemed to be extremely valuable, likely worth millions of dollars. Molly is speechless but agrees to auction off the item. She immediately becomes the focus of media attention, too much for her liking. She and Juan try not to get too caught up in the hoopla, but they do hope they can have a nice wedding and a better life. Then something happens to change their plans. As suddenly as they seemed to be on the brink of good fortune, the heirloom is gone, and Molly has received threats.

Molly has had previous encounters with Detective Stark; at least this time she knows she is not a suspect. In the past, she’s had experience piecing together puzzle pieces to help solve a mystery. Perhaps the clues may lie in her grandmother’s diary. In alternating chapters, we learn about her Gran's, Flora Gray’s youth, about her relationships, and about her relationship with Molly in her later years. Her Gran was not perfect, by any means, but she owns her mistakes, and she proves her loyalty and devotion to those she loves.

We are also privy to Molly’s thoughts and actions as the investigation into the missing treasure continues. The finale proves to be quite satisfying. Molly is still a maid, but now she’s also a Mrs.

I received an ARC copy of The Maid’s Secret. My opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House – Ballantine Books.

4 stars

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Crying at the end of a quirky cozy mystery series was not on my 2025 bingo card, yet here we are! I have enjoyed the Molly the Maid series since the beginning but, before starting the final book, I felt ready to say good-bye. Fast forward to me weeping over the beautiful ending and feeling so sad that it was over. Prose gifted us with an unforgettable character in Molly.

The Maid’s Secret is the perfect ending to this trilogy. I loved that we got to see some of Gran’s younger years and got answers to questions we’ve had since book one. I loved Molly discovering this past through her Gran’s journal, it was a perfect way to present her life’s story. Molly remains unique and charming and her relationship with Juan Manuel is so sweet. I will miss these characters but know I will revisit them in the future!

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Molly Gray is back, and this time she’s not just polishing silver—she’s about to become rich, married, and famous. As Head Maid and Special Events Manager at the Regency Grand, life is looking sparkling clean. But when an old trinket turns out to be a million-dollar artifact, Molly’s world spins into a media circus.

Just as she’s preparing to auction off her treasure (and maybe finally splurge on a toaster that works), the artifact vanishes in a daring heist straight out of a Netflix special. Cue the chaos: cops, cameras, and more secrets than a hotel minibar.

The real twist? The key to it all is hidden in her Gran’s diary, revealing a love story so swoony it could have its own period drama adaptation. Turns out, the past isn’t done with Molly—and neither is romance, mystery, or a very clever thief.

With heart, humor, and a dash of vintage glam, The Maid’s Secret delivers a mystery that dusts off the past to reveal something priceless.

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First, I would like to thank both NetGalley and Random House for giving me the opportunity to read this as an ARC. ❤️

Molly the Maid and the rest of the staff at the Grand Royal have been so delightful to get to know. Prose’s writing, much like Molly herself, is very to the point without being boring or unimaginative. I do think that this particular story is my favorite of the series so far. I loved the alternating perspectives of Gran’s diary entries vs. real time goings on. I think that this installment of Molly the Maid gave a lot of great insight into the family history, where Molly came from, and how she became who she is today. But I also think that this series has a run its course and that this book was the perfect way to put a nice little bow on the whole series to wrap it up.

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I absolutely loved this series! I am sad that this trilogy is over but so grateful for the journey. Gram’s story tied into this mystery was a perfect way to end the book and series!

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4.5 stars

Nita Prose has done it a third time. And this one might be my favorite! Molly is such a wholesome character that is impossible not to root for. I loved this one for the spin on the Antique’s Roadshow but even more was learning about Gran’s backstory. So nice to hear her history and see how it led to Molly being the person she is. Prose is adept at reeling the reader in and creating a character that you love to love! I will gladly read anything that has Molly and her sweet sidekicks in it...

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Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the advanced reading copy!!


So sad to see this series end but what an ending. For those who have loved this series you won't be disappointed.

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