The Maid - Nita Prose - Book Review

 

                    It's been quite a while since I've done a buddy read. Buddy reading has led me to some interesting books in the past. When a good friend was interested in one recently, I was all for it.

               Molly is a hotel maid working in the Hotel Regency Grand. She is sort of a loner and has difficulty connecting with people. She considers her job more seriously and is often ridiculed in her workplace by some people due to her obsession with cleanliness and etiquette. Her friend circle is very limited and after the passing of her dear Gran, life has been largely uneventful. Well! She finds a dead body during her shift and ends up becoming a suspect. Amidst some backstabbing, the story proceeds as to how Molly and her friends try to solve the mystery and escape the suspicion of the police.

               To tell the truth, the initial 5- 10 pages of the book failed to interest me. Then, the book started to grow on me. This was mainly due to the characterisation of Molly. She has the innocence and uniqueness that slowly grows into you. The way she carries herself around when being bullied and betrayed is endearing. I was able to connect with Molly on the difficulty she has trying to connect with people. This is not the normal whodunit story that keeps you guessing who the culprit is till the end. If you are expecting that kind of a read, this book is not for you. This novel is about how Molly finds help at unexpected quarters and how they help in acquitting her. We get to know the culprit halfway into the book. This was a turn-off for me initially when things unfolded fast but then I was able to bounce back and be involved with Molly and friends. There are a handful of characters that play their characters neatly and what is needed of them. A few red herrings present in the novel do not do much to throw you off the track. The writing style is simple enough making the read a breeze. Of the characters, I liked the Grandma and the Mr. Preston. Their kindness keeps Molly afloat through thick and thin. Molly has these quotes that she heard from her Grandma which were very endearing. I liked the way they were quoted at random places and how they brought a sort of warmth to the story. Some twists towards the end were interesting (not related to the killer, definitely!).

               To sum up, this is a very cosy sort of mystery novel that you can read in a few hours. Do not expect a nail-biting thriller and just soak into the situation with Molly and friends who bowls you over with their goodness.