Each month, we select a book with characters, themes, or elements relevant to college aged students. Last month, we picked How to Win Friends and Influence People in the Digital Age, a nonfiction book about improving interpersonal skills. For our September 2022 Book of the Month, we’re switching back to fiction for a fantastic murder mystery. As spooky season is around the corner and autumn is at our doorstep, there’s nothing better to get into the mood than The Maid by Nita Prose. Also, I’ve heard that it’s going to be turned into a movie with Florence Pugh! This fantastic author interview mentions it here.
The Maid Summary
Twenty-five year old Molly is a maid at the ornate Regency Grand Hotel. She absolutely adores her job, from the routine to the ability to “polish everything to perfection.” Molly has difficulty with social cues (likely on the autism/OCD spectrum), and for her, this is the perfect job. It gives her stability and purpose, especially in the months after her beloved grandmother passes away. However, that stability is quickly upended after Molly finds one of the hotel’s wealthiest, most high profile guests dead in his room. As the police pry into the case, they start to consider Molly as a suspect–the suspect. It’s up to Molly and the friends she gains along the way to prove that she is not, in fact, the killer, and to discover who truly is.
Amazon link here
Goodreads link here
Who Should Read The Maid:
While I’d recommend this book to most people, there’s a niche who it’s best for. This includes people who like…
- Clue-like mysteries
- Unreliable narrators
- Unique voices (neurodivergence)
- Excellent settings and atmospheres
- Memorable and familiar characters
- Suspense and thrillers
- Cozy whodunnits
Why We Picked It
This book was a real page turner. It’s not too long–only about 300 pages–and there’s something so heartwarming about it as you read. As you turn the pages, you get the sense that you’ve been here before. The characters, with simple names like “Snow” and “Black” and “Gray” are reminiscent of classic murder mysteries. The vague setting similarly allows you to imagine this happening anywhere, giving it a cozy feeling. While the book can be a bit predictable at times, it doesn’t disrupt the enjoyability of reading it. In fact, it just adds to it–it’s an old story with a new, fresh voice!
Beyond that, however, the voice is what truly drive the story. We see everything so clearly through Molly’s eyes. She knows she’s different. She accepts her world straightforwardly, and the author does a fantastic job of sticking to telling the story through Molly’s eyes. Even when we’re squirming in our seats, thinking no, that’s not what he meant!, Molly continues her path, taking us on a real journey. She goes over feelings that so many of us have about being alone and different, and by the end of the story, there’s a heartwarming resolution. It’s a story of murder and mystery, yes, but overall, it was a story about friendship and finding your people in the world, which was beautiful.
Additionally, the prose is written beautifully. The descriptions, dialogue, and pacing are all excellent, and you can tell that this author has been around literature for a long time, even if this is her debut novel. You truly feel that you’re in the hands of a master, and you can sit back and enjoy the twists and turns of Molly’s story as you read.
A Final Word
If you’re looking for a cozy read to get you into the fall mood, this might be the one for you! Let me know what you think in the comments below.
