The Maid: A Novel | Nita Prose

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK • “A heartwarming mystery with a lovable oddball at its center” (Real Simple), this cozy whodunit introduces a one-of-a-kind heroine who will steal your heart.
 
“The reader comes to understand Molly’s worldview, and to sympathize with her longing to be accepted—a quest that gives The Maid real emotional heft.”—The New York Times Book Review (Editors’ Choice)
 
“Think Clue. Think page-turner.”—Glamour

In development as a major motion picture produced by and starring Florence Pugh

Molly Gray is not like everyone else. She struggles with social skills and misreads the intentions of others. Her gran used to interpret the world for her, codifying it into simple rules that Molly could live by.

Since Gran died a few months ago, twenty-five-year-old Molly has been navigating life’s complexities all by herself. No matter—she throws herself with gusto into her work as a hotel maid. Her unique character, along with her obsessive love of cleaning and proper etiquette, make her an ideal fit for the job. She delights in donning her crisp uniform each morning, stocking her cart with miniature soaps and bottles, and returning guest rooms at the Regency Grand Hotel to a state of perfection.

But Molly’s orderly life is upended the day she enters the suite of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black, only to find it in a state of disarray and Mr. Black himself dead in his bed. Before she knows what’s happening, Molly’s unusual demeanor has the police targeting her as their lead suspect. She quickly finds herself caught in a web of deception, one she has no idea how to untangle. Fortunately for Molly, friends she never knew she had unite with her in a search for clues to what really happened to Mr. Black—but will they be able to find the real killer before it’s too late?

A Clue-like, locked-room mystery and a heartwarming journey of the spirit, The Maid explores what it means to be the same as everyone else and yet entirely different—and reveals that all mysteries can be solved through connection to the human heart.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

An Amazon Best Book of January 2022: In The Maid, Molly, a twenty-something maid working in a New York hotel, discovers notorious—and very wealthy—guest Charles Black dead in his bed. This is a problem for any number of reasons, not least of which is that it offends Molly’s sense of order, which is what leads her to clean Black’s room immediately. At sea when it comes to social cues, lonely, and reliant on her late Gran’s codes of conduct to navigate the world, Molly’s actions and curious demeanor see her propelled to the top of the suspect list. Guileless, earnest, and determined, the bulk of the suspense in this novel is watching Molly—as vulnerable as a toddler on train tracks—hunt down the real killer. Luckily, this endearing odd duck has more friends than she realizes, and that makes this mystery as charming and amusing as it is propulsively readable. —Vannessa Cronin, Amazon Editor

Review

“Prose threads a steady needle with the intricate plotting, the locked-room elements of the mystery, and especially Molly’s character. . . . The reader comes to understand Molly’s worldview, and to sympathize with her longing to be accepted—a quest that gives The Maid real emotional heft.”—The New York Times Book Review

“Charming, eccentric.”—The New York Times

“Daring.”—W Magazine
 
“A twist-and-turn whodunit, set in a five-star hotel, from the perspective of the maid who finds the body. Think Clue. Think page-turner.”—Glamour
 
“Entrancing . . . something of a modern-day Clue.”—PopSugar

“A heartwarming mystery with a lovable oddball at its center.”—Real Simple

“An eccentric and unforgettable sleuth who captivated me and kept me furiously turning the pages.”—Sarah Pearse, New York Times bestselling author of The Sanatorium

“The Maid is a masterful, charming mystery that will touch your heart in ways you could never expect. The endearing, unforgettable Molly reminds us to challenge our assumptions about one another, and shows us how meaningful it is to feel truly seen in the world.”—Ashley Audrain, New York Times bestselling author of The Push

“A charming, clever, and wholly original whodunit. I cheered and felt deeply for Molly the Maid—a complex and masterfully drawn protagonist I won’t soon forget.”—Andrea Bartz, New York Times bestselling author of We Were Never Here

“A heroine as loveable and quirky as Eleanor Oliphant, caught up in a crime worthy of Agatha Christie. Loved it!”—Clare Pooley, New York Times bestselling author of The Authenticity Project

“It’s impossible not to love Molly, an endearing, eccentric hotel maid. . . . As in any cozy whodunit, clean appearances may in fact hide a few smudges. The twists and surprises keep coming until the very last page of this delightfully fresh debut.”—Sarah Penner, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary

“Fresh, fiendish, and darkly beguiling . . . The Maid is so thrillingly original, clever, and joyous. I just adored every page.”—Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author of We Begin at the End

“The Maid is sure to leave mystery lovers delighted, charmed, and eager for more of Prose’s work.”—Karma Brown, New York Times bestselling author of Recipe for a Perfect Wife

“It took only a few lines for me to fall hopelessly in love with hotel maid Molly Gray. Being in Molly’s mind is like eating ice cream on a hot summer day: delicious and refreshing.”—Samantha M. Bailey, USA Today bestselling author of Woman on the Edge

“A supremely clever and heartwarming story that is not to be missed.”—Stephanie Wrobel, USA Today bestselling author of Darling Rose Gold

“For anyone who has ever felt out of step with the world, no matter how hard they try to fit it, Nita Prose has blessed us with Molly Gray.”—Heather O’Neill, internationally bestselling author of The Lonely Hearts Hotel
 
“I enjoyed every minute of this twisty yet tender thriller. The Maid is gripping, deftly written, and led by a truly unforgettable protagonist in Molly. I’m recommending it to everyone I know.”—Emma Stonex, author of The Lamplighters

“The Maid is elegant, warmhearted, and wry, and Molly the most winningly offbeat narrator since Eleanor Oliphant. An absolute joy—I didn’t want it to end!”—Louise Candlish, author of The Other Passenger

“Molly is a likeable, neurodivergent narrator in this outstanding debut. The character-rich mystery ends with several twists that will appeal to fans of Eleanor Oliphant and other sympathetic heroines.”—Library Journal (starred review)

“Captivating, charming, and heart-warming, with deft writing and a clever, original plot, this unusual crime novel will leave readers with a warm glow.”—Booklist (starred review)
 
“Prose delivers a gratifying, kindhearted whodunit with a sharply drawn protagonist for whom readers can’t help rooting. Fans of fresh takes on traditional mysteries will be delighted.”—Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Nita Prose is a longtime editor, serving many bestselling authors and their books. She lives in Toronto, Canada, in a house that is only moderately clean.