I really enjoyed the first two books in the series. However, I had a hard time getting into this one. About halfway through I had to push myself to finish. If there are more books in this series I don’t think I will be continuing.

This is a charming series, with great characters and a wonderful protagonist. This volume flashes out a very important person for Molly, someone we think we know but have never seen: her grandma. The story has two threads, Gran’s journal and Molly’s brush with fame. The latter is, as always, narrated by Molly. One of those reality TV shows about valuable antiques is shooting at her hotel. She brings them one of the treasures handed down from her Gran, and it turns out to be worth millions. Being so bad at reading people, it takes her longer than it should to figure out how this will change her life. But change it will and, like Gran always said, not all that glitters is gold. As always, there is a crime and a mystery that Molly will have to solve. The second subplot is her Gran’s own diary, and it tells her full story, including the people that were significant in her life, as well as where some of her famous sayings that Molly still uses come from. It pains me to say this but I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the previous volumes. Her Gran’s story is a little too long and repetitive, since we already knew most of the information already, and the action in the present is not as compelling as her other cases. It relies too much on coincidence, and I wasn’t really too invested in the crime, since Molly didn’t really care about the money. I enjoyed spending time with the characters, so overall it was a satisfying read.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine.

2 stars. I really liked the first of this series, I liked the second one less than the first, and I liked this third one the least. Potential spoilers coming: I thought the chapters told through Gran's voice and diary were much more enjoyable than Molly's chapters - which I found really predictable from early on in the book. I felt like every character popped in to do the same thing they've done in all the previous book and we were only introduced to 2 new people so the 'whodunit' was pretty obvious. It kind of seemed like this might have been the third and final installment in the Molly the Maid series. I hope it is. Curious to see what Nita Prose does after moving on from Molly (who I still love btw... even if she is trapped in a never-ending cycle of crime).

This is a world I never thought I'd be this involved in, but that I keep coming back to time and time again.

I absolutely adored the first Molly Maid book, and found something cozy in these mysteries that carried me throughout the whole series. The story of her Gran and how Molly herself develops overtime is my favorite part of the books, and I just like the idea that the whole series is dedicated to Grandma's everywhere. My Grandma would've loved these books honestly.

The Maid's Secret is very centered around the backstory of Molly's Grandma and her side of the family, which kept me entertained the whole way through. The diary entries made me feel all sorts of different ways, and I really like the back and forth aspect of the storytelling.

Fans of the first two (and novella) will most likely enjoy this installment as I did; though there was definitely a shift from murder mystery to family lore (not necessarily a bad thing, just something to point out). This also felt like a very satisfying ending to the series, but I'll be honest - I would read another if it were written.

Thank you to Nita Prose, Random House Publishing Group, and NetGalley for access to the ARC of this book. I am always honored to be able to read stories like these early.

Posted to Goodreads on February 25, 2025. Link attached below.

Molly the Maid is back, preparing for her wedding when Hidden Treasures films at The Regency Grand. She submits one of Gran’s heirlooms for appraisal—only to discover it’s a Fabergé egg worth millions! But excitement turns to danger when the egg is stolen, and Molly’s safety is at risk. Detective Stark returns, and Molly unearths secrets from Gran’s diary, uncovering a story of love and loss. The mix of cozy mystery and heartfelt messages makes this installment shine. Fans of the series will love the romance, humor, and satisfying resolution. Highly recommended!

So happy to be back in the world of Molly Gray & Juan Manuel!! Every minute spent with these characters is such a joy. I have been so lucky to get these books early and to dive back into them. So good!! Loved hearing Grans story as well.

If you haven’t read any of the Molly the Maid books yet, grab the first one and get ready to binge!! If you have read them, you know how much life Molly’s (dead) Gran breathes into the stories. This book is no exception! I absolutely loved learning all about Gran’s adolescence. Another delightful read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Ballantine Books and Net Galley for this fabulous ARC

#cozymysteries #2025fivestarreads #mollythemaid

I loved the first two books. Even the mini holiday book. I couldn’t get into this book, care about the topic, or bond with the characters like usual. I sadly DNFed this one at 55%

My two favorite things, mysteries and reality television shows come together in Nita Prose's upcoming novel, The Maid's Secret! Getting to see more of Gran's backstory in this installment in the series was an absolute delight. Prose perfectly melded the two timelines--Gran's and Molly's--with perfect precision. This book is a fun, fast-paced whodunnit melded with an emotional journey, and did we mention it's also a heist story?! All of Molly Gray's devotees are sure to love this one!

4 stars out of 5.

I love this series so when I saw this book available to request I was super excited. This installment switches from past and present. Molly gets her hands on Grans diary which was the story of Grans life. We get the whole picture of who she really was and where she came from which answers a lot of lingering questions.

The other story going on in the present relates to the Fabergé egg that has been sitting in a cabinet at Molly's house. The show Hidden Treasures is being filmed at The Regency Grand and employees are urged to bring in their treasures to get appraised. It turns out Molly's egg is worth a fortune and she is catapulted into the spot light. The egg is then stolen and now enters Detective Stark to track down the egg. Molly just wants things to go back to normal and to plan her upcoming wedding.

Overall, this book was another great addition to the series. I loved all the characters and really enjoyed the ending. I'd highly recommend!

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I LOVED the first book. One of my favorite books of ALL time! However, I've loved each book a little less because they just can't stack up to the original book. I love the characters but this plotline fell a little flat for me. It was an enjoyable read with characters I adore, but the plot just wasn't up to par for me.

I just love Molly.
This novels centers around Molly's Wedding, learning about her Gran, and about the Egg.
Between the flashbacks from her Grans Diary and learning more about the Egg, this is the perfect continuation of Molly's story.

This might be my favorite Molly the Maid book yet! It's the loveliest cozy mystery with a lot of heart. I loved learning more about Gran's background and thought the author did an excellent job writing in a completely different voice for Gran's chapters. I love these characters and hope the series will continue.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Thank you to Nita Prose, NetGalley, and Ballantine Books for allowing me to read a free ebook in exchange for my honest review.

This is my favorite book yet in the Maid series! It is told in a dual timeline. The first story is the current day in which Molly is going on an antique appraisal tv show with some of her Gran's "treasures". Although Gran's favorite teacup (chipped) and an old key (what does it go to?) and a few other bits and bobs turn out to be worth nothing to anyone other than Molly, one of her treasures turns out to be worth a LOT of money! Molly learns that windfalls of fame and money come at a cost. The other timeline returns us to when Gran was in her late teens. We learn her backstory and all the details of her past that have so far only been hinted at - a childhood surrounded by wealth and privilege, not one but TWO romances, a fall from grace into virtual slavery, and the death of Gran's much loved nursemaid.

I love this series (and this book in particular) because every page is a reminder of what is truly important in life and that we all make mistakes but that is okay as long as we make amends and learn how to do better in the future. It is very comforting. I also love this series because Gran reminds me so much of my own Grandma, who has been dead for 20 years and not a day goes by that I don't miss her.

Thank you Ballantine Books for the ARC!
I adore Molly but had reservations about there being another book in the series, how many things can happen to Molly? I was presently surprised by this & really enjoyed this addition. I love Gran and Mr. Preston, so I loved getting to hear about their childhoods. Prose’s execution of dual timelines of present day Molly and Gran’s diary entries was done very well, I enjoyed both POVs equally.

The hotel is hosting the Bees and the employees are thrilled to get to bring a few items to find out if any of them have value! While Molly didn’t want to bring the egg, it’s just a trinket after all, Juan convinces her to and when the Bees see it, they immediately see its value. Suddenly Molly is a household name and she is not thrilled about it. When the egg goes missing however….Molly and crew are determined to figure out who, and how it was stolen.

Welcome back Miss Molly! I just adore Molly and this book was no exception! I loved that we dive into Grans past, it was certainly not what I expected!! This book goes back and forth between Grans diary entries and Molly’s current day. Normally I have a timeline I enjoy more than the other, but in this one I loved both timelines just the same. Molly is such a unique character, I cant wait to find out what’s next for her!

Thank you to @randomhouse for my gifted copy of this book!

This installment offers a compelling blend of mystery and family history, with a particular focus on the grandmother’s past, which added depth and intrigue. The Fabergé egg twist was a charming and unexpected touch that tied the narrative together in a satisfying way. With its mix of warmth, wit, and suspense, The Maid's Secret delivers an engaging and enjoyable read.

Thank you to @netgalley and Random House for this ARC. Book 3 of Molly the Maid. The hotel is hosting the taping of Hidden Treasures and Molly decides to grab a couple of trinkets to be appraised. Little does she know, one of the trinkets is grabs is worth millions that has now caused more harm than good. This book swings between present day and the diary of her beloved Gran. Nita Prose has created a character in the first book of this quirky maid with a nack for only perfection to a lovable member of the family. Another sweet, sweet story of Molly the Maid. #TheMaidsSecret #NitaProse #RandomHouseBallatine #April2025

Diary, distressing, and diamond.

Here is the 3rd book in our Molly the Maid series. Again, these books are cozy and predictable (struggle that they put this under Mystery & Thriller genre), but sometimes we just need lighthearted love from Molly and her Gran. This book takes us into Gran’s diary and past, and then picks up with Molly now. I love duel timeline books, this one just has a different spin. When times are heavy, I love reading a book with Molly’s perspective. We need more of her (literal) love and kindness, the antics are just one of a kind that bring a smile to my face.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballentine Books for this opportunity, in return for my honest review!
The Maid’s Secret is scheduled to publish April 8, 2025 under Mystery & Thrillers, General Fiction.

Reading this series is like reading a grown up Amelia Bedelia. In this book we learn more about Molly and her grandmother Flora. We get two interwoven points of view and if I’m honest I enjoyed hearing from Flora and her story the most! Overall fun and lighthearted, a great read.