The Maid's Secret

The Maid (Molly the Maid Mystery #1) was a top-shelf read for me. On one level it was a clever cozy crime mystery. On another, it was a compelling and emotionally astute character study with depth.

Then came The Mystery Guest, in which Nita Prose did not quite conjure the same magical spell. The foreground story felt more ‘cozy mystery’, with that novel’s real strength and propulsion lying in the alternating historical narrative. Through that, we began to learn more about Molly’s stoically selfless Gran, and other characters long in her orbit. Then #2.5, The Mistletoe Mystery – a novella with a very simple plot, that spotlights the progression of Juan and Molly’s relationship.

Despite being a little disappointed by The show more Mistletoe Mystery‘s lack of heft, I remained hopeful that with Book 3, The Maid’s Secret, Nita Prose would deliver a strong and memorable conclusion to this iconic series. I was invested in its wonderful ensemble cast and felt they deserved it. Well, she has certainly delivered.

Molly’s indomitable late Gran’s influence, and the warmth of her voice, are back in this outing, stronger than ever. Few readers would fail to be moved as the epistolary insights into her past, the sacrifices she made and the consequences she bore are revealed.

It is not simply the content of Gran’s diary entries that is moving, but also the context in which she wrote them. Continue reading: https://www.bookloverbookreviews.com/2025/05/nita-prose-the-maids-secret-review.... show less

I loved that Prose's writing style for Molly had a wonderfully quirky style that celebrated her individuality and uniqueness and her way of seeing the world. Exciting, original, inviting, and utterly delightful it was pure pleasure watching Molly grow and explore who she is and follow her developing her strength and confidence through this book. This books was the perfect way to wrap up the series, not only did we get to see a Happily Ever After Moment for Molly, but so many reunions and resolutions to the dramatic points that have been developing throughout the series. Questions about Gran's past with Molly and before have been resolved and all with the authors signature style and a humor as well as the deep emotional connection to the show more characters that moves these books from simple cozy style beach reading to a series I will long keep on my shelves. There are surprises and twists, as always, and good tugs on my heartstrings as in the story that is half told in Grans's voice about her past thought the secret diary and half from Molly who is solving the mystery that connects these two amazing women together forever. show less

Had this book not been chosen for book club, I would not have finished it. I found it insipid and overly sentimental and clichéd. I enjoyed the first book, The Maid, because Molly, the narrator and protagonist, offers an interesting neurodivergent perspective. In this novel, I found her less charming and really the focus is on Flora, Molly’s Gran, who is the maid in the title.

At an Antiques Roadshow-like event at the Regency Grand, Molly and her fiancé Juan Manuel learn that Gran’s ornamental egg is a Fabergé worth millions. Molly decides to sell it, but at the auction, it is stolen. The present-day chapters detail the search for the egg but these alternate with lengthy diary entries addressed to Molly in which Gran tells her show more life story and, indirectly, that of the Fabergé egg.

The book ends with Gran’s comments that “life is a fairy tale” and this story actually reads like one. Though marketed as a “spirited heist caper” and a “spellbinding whodunit,” it is not. The focus, as stated in the prologue, is love. Much of the book reads like a historical romance, and that is not a genre I enjoy. Since much of Gran’s story, especially her relationship with John Preston, is discussed in the earlier books in the series, there’s not much suspense either.

The characters are caricatures which had me rolling my eyes. Gran’s parents and the Braun family are just arrogant rich people; focused on money, they have only contempt for those not of their social class. They get away with robbery, rape and murder?! Servants like Margaret Mead and Uncle Willy, on the other hand, tend to be saintly and capable. We are expected to believe that a dishwasher works his way up to the position of pastry chef in a 5-star hotel?

I had several issues with the book. There are problems with setting. Gran is a teenager in the mid-20th century, but she and her family behave like characters from Downton Abbey. The curtseying seems anachronistic, as does the attitude towards girls’ education. The novel is vague about the country in which it is set, though references suggest a North American city; for instance, Molly and Juan Manuel live in an apartment, not a flat. So what’s with the references to manor houses and barons?

I have other questions. Gran didn’t recognize the egg when it made its way into her home? If she did, wouldn’t she have taken advantage of its value to ease their financial situation? Molly and Juan Manuel’s landlord makes an instant decision to convert the apartments to condos? Magnus Braun has decided to purchase Gray Investments but then tells Reginald Gray, “’you’ve got nothing I want’”? The police department needs Speedy’s help to set up proper surveillance? Angela is “accepted into the local police academy, prerequisites waived on account of ‘experience in the field’’? A reality show about antiques has rabid groupies who pursue Molly for autographs?

Dedicated fans of the series might enjoy the book, and it will certainly appeal to readers who like cozy, feel-good fiction. Unfortunately, I found it predictable and tedious, lacking the originality of the first book. I hope this is the last book in the series; if not, I will not be reading any further installments.

Note: Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/). show less

The third full-length mystery in the Maid series finds Molly's life turned upside-down. Just as she's about to marry Juan, the love of her life, an antiques show films an episode at the hotel where they work. When she brings in a few personal treasures to be appraised, one of them turns out to be a rare find: a Faberge egg with a unique history, one that had been hunted for years in vain. Because the audience is entranced both with the find and with Molly's unusual response to it, she becomes a viral celebrity. And she hates every minute of it. And then the egg is stolen.

In alternating chapters, we learn about Molly's beloved grandmother and how she became the person we know from previous books. It fills out Molly's backstory and show more provides a compelling story of its own.

I admit I'm growing just a tad weary of some of Molly's chirpy sayings, though her quirky character remains compelling. The flavor of the book is a bit different due to the duet of voices, but I enjoyed finding out what happened to the egg as well as the more compelling mystery of how it came to play a role in Molly and her grandmother's lives, and how they came to be the people they became. show less

In this book, I really enjoyed getting to know Molly more as a character and then her gran in the way the story unfolds. I don't think I would have liked this book as much if I wasn't already a fan of the first couple, and my rating is reflective of how long I felt like it took me to actually get into it. It was slow moving at first, but then picked up towards the end. I wasn't as enthralled with this book as I was with the others, but it was still an enjoyable read - especially the parts about gran and how she came to be the person she was at the end.

A particular gran quote/advice stood out to me this time:
"Because, Molly," she said as she looked me in the eye, "pride is taking less than you need. Generosity is leaving a gift for others."

“Life is a mystery. Try as we might to solve it, a new puzzle always presents itself.”
The Maid’s Secret is the third book in Nita Prose’s series set about an year after The Mystery Guest.
As the Regency Grand’s Head Maid and Special Events Manager, Molly is determined that the fine arts and collectibles event being filmed for the hit TV show ‘Hidden Treasures’ in the ballroom will go smoothly. She’s prepared for just about anything…except learning that one of her late Gran’s trinkets is worth millions, only for it to then be stolen and a message left in its place, Find the egg and you die.
The mystery of who stole the Fabergé Egg, and who is threatening Molly, alternates with the story of how Molly came to be in show more possession of it through entries in her Gran’s hidden diary. Followers of the series should appreciate the insight into Gran’s past which fills in some gaps from previous novels and though there are no big surprises it’s nice to have some suspicions confirmed.
Similarly the mystery doesn’t offer much in the way of surprises. How the thief stole the egg from the crowded room Is quickly determined, and though there is a red herring or two, it’s not difficult to work out with whom the responsibility lies. I did enjoy the drama of the sting operation though.
Molly’s friends at the Grand quickly rally round her, determined to protect and help her. The regular cast are all in play, and I liked the addition of Speedy. The comeuppance of sorts for Cheryl was satisfying.
Molly is a delight as always. She’s very uncomfortable with all of the attention she’s getting due to the Faberge Egg, and she’s reluctant for anything to change, though she does dream of spending some of the money on a fancier wedding than the city hall affair she and Juan have planned, and possibly a bed and breakfast for the two of them to run.
As a finale I felt the The Maid’s Secret was a satisfying end to the Molly the Maid series with Molly getting her well-deserved happy ending, and although Prose never quite recaptured the magic of the first book it’s been an engaging series. show less

I love the relationship between Molly and Juan; it's adorable. Molly has been a favorite book character of mine since I read the first in the Maid series. I enjoyed getting background information on Flora's life from the diary entries. This one definitely tugged at my heart strings several times.