Summary of The Maid by Nita Prose
The Maid by Nita Prose was published in January of 2022 and immediately moved to our best-of list for the year. I wanted to make a summary of The Maid by Nita Prose to help refresh your memory before reading this book with your book club. Since then, Prose has written 3 additional Molly the Maid books, which only shows how popular Molly is.
Below you will find a summary of The Maid by Nita Prose. This book was the January 2022 Good Morning America Books Club Pick. Kirsten and I both loved this cozy mystery for the plot, characters, themes, and surprise ending.
If you are thinking about choosing this book for your next book club, this is the perfect place to review the plot. I also have a list of The Maid Book Club Questions, so you don’t have to do the hard work yourself.
Summary of The Maid by Nita Prose
Molly Gray is a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. She loves the order that comes with her job and the anonymity of wearing her maid uniform. Her grandmother died recently, and as a result, Molly is having a difficult time navigating social situations on her own. She has trouble understanding social behavior and has become accustomed to using her grandmother as a sounding board and for guidance with complex social scenarios.
Molly takes a lot of pride in her work, so when she arrives to clean the penthouse on the fourth floor and finds Giselle Black looking very upset, she agrees to come back later and clean the room. When she does, she finds Mr. Black dead on the bed. She immediately calls her boss, Mr. Snow, to tell him about the body.
It turns out the Black family may have been in trouble with fraud. It is clear throughout the book that Molly is trusting and naive, which means we are not surprised when Molly becomes the main suspect in the murder. We know that Molly has been inadvertently cleaning the rooms to cover up the shady drug deals of Rodney, the bartender.
Detective Starl, the detective on the case, arrests Molly for the murder.
After Molly is arrested, she calls Mr. Preston, who calls his daughter Charlotte to help Molly. Charlotte is a lawyer. This is the point in the story when Molly starts to see the people in her life who love and care for her, as well as the people who are using and manipulating her. We see throughout the book.
Molly struggles with the police interrogation.
Spoiler
While Molly is thinking about her life with Gran, she recalls that Gran begged Molly to alleviate her pain. After a long, painful battle with cancer, Molly crushed up pain meds and then suffocated her grandmother with a pillow. This has weighed heavily on Molly, even though it is what her Gran wanted.
The Maid Ending (with Spoilers)
Molly reveals that she had been helping Juan Manuel stay in unoccupied hotel rooms by giving him key cards to vacant rooms and then cleaning the rooms after. She was unaware that Rodney had also been using those rooms for a drug trafficking scheme.
With the help of Charlotte, Mr. Preston, and Juan Manuel, they come up with a way for Rodney to implicate himself in the murder. Molly convinces him to check the hotel room to make sure there is no evidence left to implicate him.
Rodney is arrested, and Molly testifies at his trial. Rodney goes to Jail.
The Maid Ending Spoiler
Afterward, Molly receives a wire transfer from Giselle. We know that the wrong person is going to jail. Molly admits that on the day she found Mr. Black murdered, she saw the first Mrs. Black and helped her escape without being seen. She thought the murder was justified because she was trying to stop Mr. Black from harming any more women. She feels like she has camaraderie with the first Mrs. Black.
Molly gains recognition for her help in solving the murder. She has made new friends and is beginning to understand her self-worth. Everything her grandmother taught her about herself is starting to sink in.
Themes of The Maid
- Social Isolation
- Importance of Human Connection
- Reality vs. Perception
- What is Justice?
Character Guide for The Maid
Main Characters
- Molly Gray- main protagonist, maid at the Regency Grand Hotel
- Flora Gray- Molly’s beloved, late grandmother
- Mr. Charles Black- a high-profile guest who was murdered
- Giselle Black- Second wife to Mr Black
- Mr. Preston- Doorman and the hotel, like a grandfather to Molly
- Juan Manuel- dishwasher and love interest
Secondary Characters
- Rodney Stiles- bartender at the Hotel
- Mr. Snow- Molly’s boss at the hotel
- Detective Stark- Detective in charge of the murder investigation
- Charlotte Preston- Mr. Preston’s daughter, lawyer
- Cherry Green- Head Maid
- Sunshine and Sunitha- fellow maids at the hotel
Review of The Maid by Nita Prose
The Maid
Author: Nita Prose
Year: 2022
Genre: Mystery
More info: January 2022 Good Morning America Pick
#1 New York Times Bestseller, EDGAR AWARD Finalist, Anthony Award Winner
Age Range: 14+
Plot
Molly Gray works as a maid in a grand hotel and gets joy from leaving things orderly and pristine. Molly struggles with reading social cues and has had even more trouble since her gran can no longer help.
When Molly finds the body of Mr. Black in a room at the hotel, she becomes a prime suspect and will need all her friends to help her. She calls her friend, Mr. Preston, the doorman at the hotel, for help. His daughter is a lawyer. Soon, it becomes clear that Molly, in her naivete, is involved in a drug scandal as well.
Why Jackie loves it
I loved the description of this book and I hoped it would live up to my expectations. It did that and more. I adored every minute of this story and closed the last page smiling. Molly is such a wonderful character who has more depth than is apparent initially.
Find this book in: Books like Lessons in Chemistry / Best Mystery Books / Feel-Good Books / Books for Book Clubs / Best Cozy Mystery Books / Books With Neurodivergent Characters
Book Recommendations: What to Read After The Maid by Nita Prose:
The Marlow Murder Club
Author: Robert Thorogood
Year: 2021
Genre: Mystery
More info: Marlow Murder Club #1
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Judith is a 77-year-old crossword puzzle author who enjoys her quiet life with her whiskey in her dilapidated mansion in Marlow. When she is out skinny dipping one nice in the Thames, she hears her neighbor get shot.
The police think nothing is awry so Judith takes to investigating. Soon, there are two more murders and Judith unknowingly brings two more people into the investigation with her- Suzie, the dog walker, and Becks, the vicar’s wife.
Why Jackie loves it
This book was an absolute delight to read. It was witty and funny, and I enjoyed every minute. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
Find this book in: Ultimate Beach Reads 2023 / Fiction Serial Killer Books / Best Cozy Mystery Books / Best British Mystery Books / Cozy Fall Books
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
Author: Gail Honeyman
Year: 2017
Genre: Fiction
More info: June 2107 Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick
Age Range: 14+
Plot
I wasn’t sure how I felt about this contemporary fiction book initially. Initially, Eleanor’s behavior and responses to people and situations upset me. I had the outside perspective of a reader to understand how Eleanor is misinterpreting situations. She is not supposed to be likable initially which is why I persevered and ended up loving the book and Eleanor.
Eleanor has difficulty with social skills and is used to being alone until one day, she saves an elderly man who has fallen with the help of Raymond from her work. The three develop a friendship that helps Eleanor heal.
Trigger Warnings
Loneliness
Why Jackie likes it
As we get to know Eleanor and understand her profound loneliness, it made me think about what initial judgments I make in other areas. Eleanor is able to find herself and understand herself in this wonderful, feel-good book.
Why Kirsten loves it
If you love a character-driven novel, this is the book for you. Eleanor changes so much from the beginning of the story to the end, I loved taking the journey with her.
Find this book in: Books Like Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine / Books Like A Man Called Ove/ Books About Scotland / British Books / Books With Neurodivergent Characters / Best Books Like Lessons in Chemistry / Ultimate List of Feel-Good Books / Amnesia Books
Expert Tip
Consider choosing The Maid by Nita Prose for your next book club. There is so much to talk about, and the themes are thought-provoking as well. I have a list of The Maid Book Club Questions to help you prepare.
This book examines themes like social isolation, the importance of human connection, reality vs. perception, and the idea of justice. It is a mystery with a wonderfully neurodivergent character as the main protagonist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Maid by Nita Prose a series?
Yes, The Maid by Nita Prose is the first in a four-book series.
1. The Maid (2022)
2. The Mystery Guest (2023)
3. The Mistletoe Mystery (2024) (Novella)
4. The Maid’s Secret (2025)
Is Molly Neurodivergent?
While it is never explicitly stated, Molly is a neurodivergent character. She has trouble understanding social cues and navigating social situations.
Related Content
Join the Beyond the Bookends Book Club!
Looking to engage with like-minded readers and the authors of your favorite books? Join our book club!
Epilogue
Will you be using The Maid book club questions for your next book club?
