Molly Gray’s life is about to change in ways she could never have imagined. She is now the esteemed Head Maid & Special Events Manager of the Regency Grand Hotel, and two good things are just around the corner—a taping of the hit antiquities TV show Hidden Treasures and, even more exciting, her wedding to Juan Manuel.
When Molly brings in some old trinkets to be appraised on the show, one item is revealed to be a rare and coveted artifact worth millions. Molly becomes a rags-to-riches sensation, and a media frenzy swirls as she prepares to sell her priceless treasure. Then, on auction day, the treasure suddenly vanishes, and Molly and her friends find themselves at the center of the boldest art heist in recent memory.
But the key to this mystery lies in the past, in a long-forgotten diary written by Molly’s Gran. For the first time ever, Molly learns about her grandmother’s secrets: how she was born into a wealthy family and fell head-over-heels in love with a young man her parents deemed below her. As fate would have it, Gran’s greatest love was someone Molly knows quite well…
The Maid’s Secret is the third full-length novel in Nita Prose’s popular “Molly the Maid” series. The book is another heartwarming, comedic whodunnit mystery that will delight readers of the series.
The story once again follows Molly Gray, a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. After her heroics in the first two novels, she has a newfound confidence and has been promoted to Head Maid & Special Events Manager and is now preparing for her wedding to Juan Manuel. The story begins with the hotel hosting an event to film an episode of Hidden Treasures, a reality TV show where guests bring antiques for appraisal. Molly brings a shoebox of her late Gran’s belongings, only to discover one item is a rare Fabergé egg worth millions. The discovery thrusts Molly into sudden fame, but the egg is soon stolen in a daring heist, and Molly’s life is threatened!
The story is told in a dual POV, alternating between Molly’s POV in the present day and her Gran’s past, told via diary entries. The historical timeline enriches the plot and includes some intriguing characters that have connections to the present-day mystery—there are clues presented along the way, so pay close attention! As there are several past timeline scenes, they do somewhat detract from the suspense of the missing egg—so expect a slow-burn mystery that only really gets intense towards the end!
Molly continues to be a lovable and whimsical character. When compared to the first book, she’s clearly matured and has an easier time communicating with people, but her literal interpretations and childlike ignorance still remain, providing a lot of humor to the story. Gran, who passed away in the last novel, is depicted as a teenager (in a very different time) in the diary entries. Her backstory of riches to rags is very compelling and ties in nicely with what readers already knew of her in the previous books. Molly and Juan Manuel’s relationship has also evolved in this book, and they confide in each other many times during their heartfelt dialogue, making their love story more heartwarming and authentic.
The mystery revolving around the heist of the Fabergé egg and the subsequent investigation begins at the midpoint of the story, which may disappoint readers who are expecting an epic whodunnit tale. In addition, there’s not as much suspense in this mystery compared to previous novels. On the positive, the mystery’s resolution nicely ties together the dual timelines, and in ways that readers will not be expecting!
As in all the Maid novels, the Regency Grand Hotel setting is lavishly depicted and is a character in its own right. There’s a tangible element of atmospheric suspense whenever the maids are venturing around the hotel hallways—in this novel we see Molly’s maid cart take center stage in the investigation when an ominous note is discovered within. The story ends on an uplifting note, with substantial character resolution, which could signify an end to this beloved series—but let’s hope not, as yearly releases of new Molly Grey adventures have been a very real joy for so many readers!
Overall, The Maid’s Secret is a heartwarming and hilarious slow-burn mystery. Fans of the series will really appreciate Molly’s continued character development and the compelling insight into her and Gran’s family history. If you haven’t yet read this series and you love cozy mysteries with memorable characters, get a copy of these books ASAP and enjoy!
Narrator Performace
Narrator Lauren Ambrose returns to deliver another standout performance of Molly. Her portrayal of Gran, who’s suddenly a secondary protagonist in this book, is much more expressive and emotional, and she vividly brings the past timeline to life. Ambrose also provides distinct voices and personalities for the large cast of characters, making for a very entertaining listening experience. If you’re considering this series, it is highly recommended to listen on audio, as Ambrose delivers outstanding and memorable performances in all three full-length novels and the Christmas novella!
Narrator Performace
Narrator Lauren Ambrose returns to deliver another standout performance of Molly. Her portrayal of Gran, who’s suddenly a secondary protagonist in this book, is much more expressive and emotional, and she vividly brings the past timeline to life. Ambrose also provides distinct voices and personalities for the large cast of characters, making for a very entertaining listening experience. If you’re considering this series, it is highly recommended to listen on audio, as Ambrose delivers outstanding and memorable performances in all three full-length novels and the Christmas novella!
Narrator Lauren Ambrose returns to deliver another standout performance of Molly. Her portrayal of Gran, who’s suddenly a secondary protagonist in this book, is much more expressive and emotional, and she vividly brings the past timeline to life. Ambrose also provides distinct voices and personalities for the large cast of characters, making for a very entertaining listening experience. If you’re considering this series, it is highly recommended to listen on audio, as Ambrose delivers outstanding and memorable performances in all three full-length novels and the Christmas novella!
