This book was a bit different than the first two Molly the Maid books. For one thing, there is no murder (although there is a theft). The other thing it there is more backstory on Molly's gran. This book feels almost as much about her as it does about Molly. Unfortunately, I didn't connect nearly as much to Flora as I do to Molly. Also, it was fairly apparent who had to be the perpetrator, as realistically there were only three suspects. That took away from some of the twists and turns.

As a result, this book came across more as social commentary on class and privilege than as a mystery. Still a good read, though.

⛓️ ARC REVIEW ⛓️

Thank you SO much @netgalley @penguinrandomhouse & @nitaprose for my early copy of The Maid’s Secret 🥹

I am so sad that this is the final instalment to the series, but it ended with a bang. I once again felt all the emotions in this story and I loved the dual timelines. Learning Grans story was intriguing and heartbreaking.

Molly is truly one of my favourite MC’s to date, and I just love her! Despite everything she had gone through, she is still the BEST egg.

The Maid’s Secret was released yesterday and is out in the world waiting for you!

Molly Gray returns with all the lovable quirks, unwavering honesty, and fierce loyalty that made her an instant literary favorite. Watching her navigate a new tangle of secrets, lies, and hidden truths - this time even closer to home-is as gripping as it is emotionally resonant. Prose deepens Molly's world in ways that are both touching and thrilling, allowing readers to see new sides of her while never losing the essence of what makes her so unique.

The Maid's Secret is everything I hoped for and more. Nita Prose has a rare gift for creating characters that stay with you long after the last page, and in this utterly captivating follow-up to The Maid, she delivers a story that's as charming, heartfelt, and delightfully mysterious as ever.

This book is more than just a mystery - it's a celebration of kindness, resilience, and the beauty of seeing the world a little differently. The Maid's Secret's is a triumph. I couldn't put it down. Easily one of the best reads of the year.

The Maid's Secret by Nita Prose is the third in the mystery series starring a loveable (if rather  different)  protagonist, Molly Gray.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Penguin Random House and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.




Series Background: (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
Molly Gray is in her mid 20's, and the Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel.  She's been there for over seven years, and very proud of her promotion to Head Maid, and now Special Events Manager has been added to her title.  Her boss is Mr. Snow. Molly's social skills are lacking. She lost her beloved grandmother, who had always helped Molly get through life's day-to-day situations, because she doesn't really "get" other people....their expressions, their actions, their intent.  So Molly is now left to interpret things on her own, although her boyfriend Juan Manual, and her grandfather Mr. Preston try to help. She loves her job, her uniform, her trolley, and she's a perfectionist.  Her best friend is Angela, the head barmaid, who is obsessed with true crime.




My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
The Regency Hotel is hosting the reality TV show "Hidden Treasures", with the popular hosts Brown and Beagle, esteemed art appraisers.

The staff of the hotel are allowed to bring something in to have it appraised, and to everyone's surprise, Molly's treasure is worth millions. An old item from her gran's curio cabinet has made Molly a media sensation.  But Molly isn't happy with being the center of attention.  All she wants is to find a used wedding dress for her upcoming marriage to her beloved fiancé, Juan Manuel.  She doesn't want her life to change in any other way.  Then the treasure is stolen from the hotel.

Meanwhile, her grandfather gives Molly her gran's diary.  In this way, Molly discovers how her grandmother went from being a wealthy young woman to a maid.  The diary also provides the answer to the treasure's disappearance.




My Opinions:
I'm discovering that I'm really not a cozy mystery fan.  I like Molly, but I'm getting a little sick of her naivety.  However, I did enjoy this book, because I loved the story of her grandmother, told through the diary. 

This was another one of the feel-good mysteries, but as I said earlier, they don't really pack a punch, and the twist was a little weak.

The writing is good, if sometimes repetitive, and the characters are okay, but everything is a little too predictable.  Unfortunately, I imagine we will be hearing more from her mother in future books.

I enjoyed the first two books a little more, but if you are a fan of a light mystery, give Molly a chance.

I love these Molly the Maid books and this one was great because there was a lot of backstory about Molly's beloved grandmother and a bit of a unique mystery component that came together so well at the end. I found it engaging, humorous, sweet, and fun to read. The cast of characters is always nice to be reunited with and I could see this being the last book in the series but I hope not!

The art history and reflections on class and wealth and privilege really elevated this one for me as well.

Another great story from Nita Prose and definitely recommend if you've enjoyed the others in this series!

If you’re not familiar with Molly the Maid series, that’s ok, I feel there’s no need to read the previous books in order to read this one, though you’ll want to after this. Nita Prose does an excellent job of filling in all the people and places in Molly’s life, and is super easy to follow.
Now, for the readers who are familiar with this series, I will say that this book fells slightly different than the others- but in a good way. Has the author developed and grown in her writing? Or did the story (with dual timelines) allow for the change? Whatever it may be, I think it’s amazing!

Molly has worked hard and is now Head Maid and Special Events Manager, and she’s engaged to the equally sweet Juan Manuel.
A popular antique appraisal show (think Antique Roadshow) arrives at the hotel to film an episode at the beautiful old hotel. After getting a few items appraised, Molly finds her beloved Gran left her a priceless heirloom. If Molly decides to sells the heirloom, it is worth millions! For someone who has lived simply with her Gran, sometimes struggling to pay the rent, this is indeed life-changing! But before she can sell it, the heirloom is STOLEN. With the discovery of Gran’s personal diary, Molly knows the answers may lie within, she just needs to figure it all out.

This latest book in the Molly the Maid series is my favourite so far! I’m not just saying that. As a history fanatic, Antique Roadshow groupie (thank you PBS & Samsung 24hr Roadshow channel), and one who is simply intrigued with uncovering family secrets, this was right up my alley. Nita Prose has the talent writing design details that many miss (I still remember her describing the parquet flooring in the first book and can not only visualize it, but also smell it). Most importantly, she can weave an addictive cozy mystery with brilliant, lovable characters. Loved it!

If you are not acquainted with Molly the Maid, you’re really doing yourself a disservice by not getting to know her. Nita Prose has painted such a rich character in Molly; funny, lovable, naïve, with a wonderful, moral compass who manages to get herself embroiled in wildly mysterious circumstances. The Maid’s Secret is fun mystery within a mystery that you just can’t wait to see how it all turns out.

Molly returns in the third and final instalment of the series! This time Molly, now Head Maid & Special Events Manager at the Regency Grand Hotel, discovers that what she thought was an old trinket kept in her Grans curio cabinet is actually a rare Faberge egg worth millions. Molly becomes an overnight sensation, thrust into the spotlight, until the egg is stolen at auction! What unravels next is a mystery that only Molly, with a little help from her Grans diary, can solve.

This series will always hold a special place in my heart for how much I enjoyed the first two books. The characters of Molly, Juan, Mr. Preston remain so kind and wholesome but we learn a lot more about Flora, Molly’s Gran and her backstory. Unfortunately the way this was presented - in alternating chapters between the present day mystery and Flora’s diary entries - felt a bit jarring and I struggled to stay engaged. The appearance of Mollys mother was interesting but didn’t lead anyway which was disappointing. The ending is feel-good as one expects (and desires) but I do think it was fitting that this is the final book in the series.

The Maid’s Secret is the third book in the Molly the Maid series by best-selling Canadian author Nita Prose.

Molly Gray is back and her life is in a good place – she was promoted to Head Maid and Special Events Manager at the Regency Grand Hotel, and is engaged to be married to Juan Manuel, love of her life, chef at the Regency. A TV show, “Hidden Treasures” hosted by a flamboyant antique experts couple also known as the Bees, who appraise people’s treasures for valuation by antique experts (like real-life Antiques Road Show), is being taped at the Regency. Molly has some of her own treasures that were handed down to her by her beloved grandmother, which she brings for appraisal. One in particular turns out to be very rare and priceless, and the hosts of the show suggest that Molly auction it off as proceeds could offer lifechanging opportunities. Mystery ensues when Molly’s treasured item disappears on auction day. Who took it and why? All of this happens under the unrelenting eye of social media and reality TV, with Molly wondering whether all the newfound celebrity brought by the mystery and potential windfall is indeed worth it.

Alternating with the present-day story of the missing treasure, is the story of Molly’s Gran’s Flora, detailed in her diary that Molly is now reading. Learning about Flora’s riches to rags story, her journey from great privilege to becoming a maid, provides the love story in the book. The author brings the tales of the past and present together to the end in a tidy package.

This was a charming, lighthearted book and a very quick and easy read. The characters were not complicated, almost fairy tale like, and the book had a nice story book ending. I read the first book “The Maid” but did not read the second “Mystery Guest”. I had no problem following the story so would say that book number two is not a prerequisite.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy for review. The Maid’s Secret is out April 8, 2025.
A nice 3 stars out of 5.

The Maid’s Secret is a charming and elegantly crafted mystery that continues the journey of Molly Gray, our beloved protagonist.
Molly finds herself once again drawn into a web of secrets, family history, and unexpected revelations. Fans of the series will love seeing Molly grow even more confident while maintaining her endearing quirks.
It’s a cozy mystery with heart, perfect for fans of character-driven whodunits and compelling storytelling.

Another great book in The Maid series. I so enjoy all the characters and am sad the series is finished.

The Maid's Secret is the final book in The Maid series by Nita Prose and personally I thought it was the perfect ending.
This book is a little different then Prose's others in the series. Molly and the staff in the Regency Grand Hotel find themselves wrapped up in another mysterious crime while they prepare for Molly and Juan's long awaited wedding. This book however features a dual time line wherein we learn in fairytale fashion the story of Flora Gray, Molly's gran.
While some have been a tad critical of this approach to the ending if this series, I enjoyed the juxtaposition of the 2 storylines. The antics of Molly, her colorful cast of co-characters and Molly's literal way of processing the world is set along side the more serious story of her grandmother. While it could have been written as an entirely different book I felt Gran's story helped us to see and appreciate Molly's own development. I felt like Prose finished the series well leaving Molly with all she needed to be well cared for as she went on from life after the story ended.
A lovely easy read that I enjoyed from beginning to end.
Thank you @netgalley and @randomhouseca for this advanced reader copy. Providing a review was my pleasure.

I've mentioned so many times before how much I love this series. But truly Molly is one of my favourite characters l've ever read. I couldn't tell you what specifically makes me love Molly - it's just each bit of her personality and charm that has made me adore her character more and more with each book released. It's not just her either, but Juan Manuel, Angela, Mr. Preston, and of course, Gran, who we learn so much more about in this book.
Flora's story mixed in with Molly's was absolutely brilliant. It's wonderful to see the girl behind the Gran and is such a beautiful story that I ended the book in a puddle of tears for both women and everything they've gone through.

If you've read the other novels in this series, I highly recommend this next book! And if you haven't, I recommend starting it from the beginning. I hope you fall in love with Molly and Gran's stories like I have
A HUGE HUGE thanks to Nita and Penguin Canada for the opportunity to read this ARC

It’s always nice to hang out with Molly and the crew from the Regency Grand, though this outing was more backstory than interesting mystery (but a lovely wedding, which was super cute).

I’ve enjoyed the Molly the Maid books, because they’re just the right mix of sentimentality (in a good way), found family, and light mystery. Molly was raised by her Gran, who has just died at the beginning of the first book, but has found her people at The Regency Grand, the hotel where she has now worked her way up to Head Maid. Molly is forthright, values her work, and loves the people who care about her. She’s a uniquely wonderful character, and her fiancé Juan Manuel is so genuine. And they’re getting married!

Now, the Regency Grand is hosting an antique roadshow-type event, and Molly has an old memento she’s bringing to be appraised. When it’s revealed that it’s worth a fortune, she’s suddenly a media it-girl and her life will change. When the object is stolen and Molly threatened, the Regency Grand crew will have to solve the crime. This story is interspersed with Gran’s diaries, and we finally get to learn the backstory of Gran’s life.

I enjoyed The Maid’s Secret, but perhaps not to the level that I’ve enjoyed the first two books. The backstory was interesting, but it took a long time for the two stories to converge, though I’m mighty glad they did. I think for this type of escapism, I’d’ve liked the story to move a touch more quickly…and I saw the ending coming quite early. It was a nice, simple feel-good book for difficult times. Ultimately the takeaway message was that love is really important, and you can’t argue with that.

Regardless, I’ll keep reading Molly the Maid, because I’ve come to know the cast of characters and I like them all. I even like Cheryl, kind of. And as the books progress (if there are indeed more on the way) I’d like to see something that has a more intricate mystery to it or events that lead to more significant character development for Molly.

Thanks to Penguin Canada and NetGalley for a gifted copy!

Molly is such a wonderful character, and so is her Gran, whom we learn more about in this book through her diary entries. I loved diving into Gran’s past and how it connects to Molly. I enjoyed the romance subplot between Molly and Juan Manuel, combined with the mystery of Molly’s valuable Faberge egg, especially after it goes missing. Fans of mysteries will enjoy this series.

I was thrilled to receive an ARC at the last minute because I really enjoyed the previous books in the series. This one ended up being my favourite of them all.

In this book, we finally get to learn Molly’s grandmother’s story, revealed through a journal she had entrusted to Mr. Preston to give to Molly when the time was right. The narrative unfolds across two timelines: Gran’s past, growing up in Gray mansion, and Molly’s present-day investigation.
Molly discovers that the golden egg in her possession is extremely valuable and decides to sell it at an auction—but before they can finalize the sale, it’s stolen. A chilling note is left behind, threatening to kill Molly if anyone dares to search for the Fabergé egg. The heart of the mystery revolves around how the egg ended up with her grandmother, and why someone would go to such lengths to keep its secrets hidden.
I was especially drawn to the story because I had a close relationship with my own grandmother. Whenever I come across a book that explores a strong bond between grandmother and granddaughter, I’m immediately invested.

I adored this book and felt everything came together beautifully. While you could read this as a standalone, I wouldn’t recommend starting here—it would be hard to go back and fully appreciate the earlier books after knowing how it all ends.

It’s a quick, engaging read with a twist I didn’t see coming. I’m excited to see what the author writes next now that this series has come to a close.

I think this is the best #MollyTheMaid book in the series. I liked learning about Flora’s backstory, because she was always this mysterious grandma who we didn’t get to know a lot about. Then the second book did give a tad more info about her, but here we get a whoooole backstory. Thankfully, this doesn’t take anything away from Molly and her fiancé, Juan. It’s still their story as much as it is Flora’s. I will also say this book was the easiest of the whole series to read, so that was a plus!

This is book three of this wonderful series. Molly the Maid has once again, won our hearts.

Molly has become embroiled in a mystery at the Regency Grand Hotel. She has inherited a mystery object that turns out to be quite valuable. When it disappears, the hotel is upended trying to find out who stole it and why Mollys life is being threatened.

Nita Prose has recaptured all the truly wonderful and endearing moments from the previous books and taken us once again on a wild Molly adventure. It is told in two different timelines. We learn about her grandmothers past through a forgotten diary. We also follow Molly as she tries to unravel the mystery. The two timelines eventually come together helping to solve the mystery.

This is a compelling warm hearted story that will not disappoint fans of previous Molly books. It is also a satisfying ending for a wonderful series. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for this ARC in exchange for my

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely love Molly and Juan Manuel and it was so much fun to spend time with them again! Through flash-backs via diary entries, we also get to know Molly's Gran more. A delightful book that is both humorous and heartfelt. I know this is supposed to be the end of the series, but I really hope it isn't.

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and the author Nita Prose.
I am truly enjoying this series and the characters.
It had all what I liked in a book, a heist, a wedding and most of all a secret