PLOT: 4/5 ENTERTAINMENT: 4/5 CHARACTERS: 4/5 OVERALL: 4/5
“It’s easier than you’d ever think—existing in plain sight while remaining largely invisible. That’s what I’ve learned from being a maid.”
– The Maid, Nita Prose
Have you ever wondered about the housekeeping staff at the hotels/resorts? How many rooms do they clean, and what do they find in rooms when they clean? What’s missing from the rooms and how do they organize their cleaning supplies in trollies?
Well, I have always been fascinated with their trollies, their small shampoo/soap bottles, tea sachets, etc.
And I will be honest, this is the main reason why I picked up The Maid.
The plot
Molly Grant is not like everyone else. She is neurodivergent struggling to understand social skills, and misreading what others mean and intend.
Until recently, it was her grandmother who helped her interpret and understand the world and its people, but then she dies, leaving Molly alone to understand the complex human nature and its equally baffling tendencies.
Employed as a cleaning maid at Regency Grand Hotel which suits her love and obsession for cleanliness, manners, and etiquette, thus making her a perfect fit for the job, Molly’s life changes as she enters the suite of the super-rich Charles Black, only to find him dead in his bed.
Before she can completely figure out what’s happening, the police arrest her and she is touted as the lead suspect.
But what really happened in that hotel room?
Will Molly be framed for what she did not do?
Will the real killer be caught before it’s too late?
My thoughts
I enjoyed reading The Maid, the setting of the book, and the insights into the life of hotel maids were refreshing to read.
My reading was a combination of audiobook and paperback, but I enjoyed the audiobook more as the narrator did a good job of portraying Molly’s character as a neurodivergent.
I admit it did take me a while to understand Molly’s mind but once the story started, I was hooked on the audiobook.
It was more of a mystery than a thriller and it was quite obvious what happened to Mr. Black and who could be responsible. There was one twist, (more of a reveal, actually) that I did not anticipate.
But for me knowing how or what happened to Mr. Black wasn’t the highlight, it was Molly and how she navigates situations. Some of them, no doubt a little over the top, but some funny as well. Because of her lack of social cues, she doesn’t try to be sarcastic on purpose, but boy, does she deliver it on point in some instances!
I would certainly recommend this to people who wish to listen to or read a cozy mystery with the central character who is lovable yet eccentric in her own way. The unique setting, and the unique character in a unique occupation of a hotel maid, are further complemented by some heart-warming relationships that help save the day.
Can’t wait to read it? Buy your copy of The Maid using the link below.
This review is contributed by Dr. Nitisha Shah. Nitisha is a 37-year consulting homeopathic physician based in Mumbai. You can connect with her on her Instagram page @our_readingjourney, which she started in January 2021 to talk about her and her 7yr old daughter’s reading journey.