#nita prose | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

reverie-quotes · 9 months

Text

The truth is, I often have trouble with social situations; it's as though everyone is playing an elaborate game with complex rules they all know, but I'm always playing for the first time.

— Nita Prose, The Maid

40 notes · View notes

loveboatinsanity · 19 days

Text

#nita prose #the maid #the mystery guest

5 notes · View notes

sometimesreading · 1 year

Text

Molly would be disappointed in my rumpled bedspread and dust bunnies, but I love her anyway

#also i‘m in Love with the light this morning…i‘m rarely at home this time of day #currently reading #booklr #book photography #the maid #nita prose #krimi #mystery

21 notes · View notes

books-to-add-to-your-tbr · 1 month

Text

Title: Murder at the Royal Ruby

Author: Nita Prose

Series or standalone: standalone

Publication year: 2023

Genres: fiction, mystery, thriller, crime, suspense

Blurb: Grace is an usher at the stately (and possibly haunted) Royal Ruby Theater. She's also an aspiring actress ready for her big break. Vanessa is the glamorous-yet-spiteful star who's made more enemies than friends on her rise to the top. When Vanessa winds up dead in act one, Grace is determined to find the killer...but is she seeking justice, or something darker?

#murder at the royal ruby #nita prose #standalone #2023 #fiction #mystery #thriller #crime #suspense

2 notes · View notes

ijustkindalikebooks · 4 months

Text

Review: The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose.

Molly Gray is not like anyone else. With her flair for cleaning and proper etiquette, she has risen through the ranks of the glorious five-star Regency Grand Hotel to become the esteemed Head Maid. But just as her life reaches a pinnacle state of perfection, her world is turned upside down when J.D. Grimthorpe, the world-renowned mystery author, drops dead—very dead—on the hotel’s tea room floor. When Detective Stark, Molly's old foe, investigates the author’s unexpected demise, it becomes clear that this death was murder most foul. Suspects abound, and everyone wants to who killed J.D. Grimthorpe? Was it Lily, the new Maid-in-Training? Or was it Serena, the author’s secretary? Could Mr. Preston, the hotel’s beloved doorman, be hiding something? And is Molly really as innocent as she seems?

It's been a hectic time, but having this to read has been an absolute blessing as he once again return to the life of Molly the maid. Seven years since her time as maid-in-training, we see her now as head maid and she has her nan's idioms and proverbs to get her where she needs to go, returning you to that cozy mystery vibe of the first book.

The characters here are well developed, Molly is such a great character and the cast that support and surround her in this book are excellent, particularly for me the addition of Lily in this book as she begins her own training. I really hope we see more of this series with the characters continuing to develop as we see the series grow, I loved returning to them at the end of a very long day.

The plot though not new by any means is executed brilliantly in this book, I would happily read it again just to see what I missed the first time around - and I don't like re-reading mysteries, that's how strongly I appreciate The Mystery Guest. As we see The Mystery Guest become the mystery, this story unfolds perfectly paced and makes you want to turn another page even when you should be asleep (this was very much a me problem with this one, especially near the end!)

Fantastic once again, I hope there's more!

(Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC for honest review).

#booklr #books #bookblr #fiction #book #book review #book reviews #the mystery guest #nita prose

4 notes · View notes

a-skirmish-of-wit-and-lit · 5 months

Text

Book Review: The Mystery Guest (Molly the Maid #2) by Nita Prose

What a delight to be back dusting off clues and tidying up mysteries with Molly the Maid again! Though I'd dearly hoped for a sequel to The Maid, I didn't expect one, so excitement checked me into the story even before I had opened to the first page. And with the murder of a famous author to solve, plus sudsy charm in spades, this did not disappoint at all!

Now Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel, Molly Gray is doing well. It's been four years since that nasty business with Mr. Black and she is enjoying life. Not only is she living happily with her boyfriend, Juan Manuel, but she is following her passion for rules, order, and organization by taking on new leadership and training recruits on how to be spotlessly efficient maids. However, when renowned mystery writer, J.D. Grimthorpe, drops dead from a poisonous beverage right before he's supposed to make a huge announcement in the Tea Room, her squeaky clean world is once again thrown into disorder and chaos.

With fingers pointed in the wrong direction for a second time, threatening not only members of her staff but also the hotel's pristine reputation, it is up to Molly to unearth the killer. After all, if there is one thing she knows for certain it's that she catches details that others tend to miss.

So can she do it? Can she follow the crumbs that were left behind to catch the culprit before another innocent is wrongly accused?

With suspects lingering in every crook and cranny of the hotel, with Detective Stark sniffing around like a bloodhound in search of answers, and with Molly harboring a secret connection of her own to the victim, there is much to tantalize readers in this book. The murder mystery unfolds itself in a cozy fashion--with oodles of warmth and quirkiness and neurodivergent richness. Molly herself is as competent and as captivating as ever, having matured into a more confident self-assured version of herself where she is able to champion her uniqueness instead of allowing herself to limited by it, and I loved being privy to her growth in that way.

I also appreciated the interconnectedness of the dual timeline, which I believe provided both endearing exploration into Molly's childhood and background, especially her time at the Grimthorpe mansion with Gran, as well as searing insight into who she is as a person, as a precocious character one can't help but love. That structure helped to add intrigue, create suspense. More than that, though, I thought it allowed Molly's infectiousness to take deeper root so that she could continue to not only thaw the hearts around her, but change their perspectives, altering other's attitudes for the better. And what's not to love about that? It's so heartwarming!

The ending left it open for Molly's crime-solving to continue in the future and, I, for one, hope it does because I'd help mop up killers with her forever!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC in exchange for my review.

4/5 stars

**Follow me on Goodreads

#ashlee bree's book reviews #the mystery guest #molly the maid #nita prose #arcs #mystery #cozy mystery #recs: ashlee approved!#read october 2023 #published november 2023 #bookblr #booklr #book recs #book reviews

2 notes · View notes

sobersaber · 8 months

Text

Im taking the plaque for first ever The Maid (Nita Prose) fan art. Next time someone is crying Id say that. Book is controversial at best with valid points, but personally I liked it, its one of the few books that make me anticipate the next page after the next, although the ending kinda killed it for me.

#the maid #nita prose #molly gray #giselle black #the maid nita prose #nita prose the maid

6 notes · View notes

oracleofmadness · 6 months

Text

I have to admit, I enjoyed the first book more. Molly the maid still has the unique characteristics that make her so loveable and such a warm presence, but I also feel like some of that was a bit lost. However, this mystery and Molly kept me reading, and overall, I loved this story.

The chapters jump between a young Molly and the present Molly, which I felt was the perfect setup for revealing the truths in this mystery because both contained the victim.

It's been a few years since the last book, and Molly is now head maid. When she prepares the hotels new tearoom for a special V.I.P. guest, she is not expecting him to drop dead. Molly, once again, is in the middle of an investigation, but can she prove her innocence this time?

I really loved this. Molly is an amazing character, and I would love to sit down and have a cup of tea with her. This is a series that is comforting and perfect for curling up with in the soon to come winter months!

Out November 28, 2023!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

#book #bookish #books #bookworm #book review #currently reading #read #bookblogger #reading #murder mystery book #murdermysteries #mystery books #The Maid #The Mystery Guest #nita prose

3 notes · View notes

reverie-quotes · 9 months

Text

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.

— Nita Prose, The Maid

8 notes · View notes

wttnblog · 6 months

Text

8 November Book Releases

Happy November! Welcome to deep fall, where we get to curl up inside of our houses and await the inevitable snowfall. There aren’t too many books coming out this month, but the ones that are look great. Check & Mate Author: Ali Hazelwood Release Date: November 7th, 2023 Genre: Young Adult Romance Find the Book: Goodreads | StoryGraph | Bookshop Somehow, I still haven’t gotten around to…

View On WordPress

3 notes · View notes

tentz · 7 months

Text

Just finished reading The Maid by Nita Prose, honestly i was expecting much more of this book hoping it was full of mystery and thriller, i was met by an average story but an adorable main character that had a relationship with her granny that kept me hooked waiting for more flashbacks.

What i most hated was these rich people words that the author had to throw in - i really hope she wasn't showing off lol-, and obviously the shitty crime part of the story and the way the author views autistics and immigrants 💀 just because someone is different doesn't mean they're innocent morons, I'm definitely super hyped for the upcoming movie adaptation with Florence Pugh.

#nita prose #The Maid #Booklr #books #books and reading

3 notes · View notes

spaceorphanssecondbreakfastclub · 8 months

Text

SO's Bookclub: The Maid

Title: The Maid Author: Nita Prose Genre: Mystery

Goodreads Summary:

Molly Gray is not like everyone else. She struggles with social skills and misreads the intentions of others. Her gran used to interpret the world for her, codifying it into simple rules that Molly could live by.

Since Gran died a few months ago, twenty-five-year-old Molly has been navigating life's complexities all by herself. No matter—she throws herself with gusto into her work as a hotel maid. Her unique character, along with her obsessive love of cleaning and proper etiquette, make her an ideal fit for the job. She delights in donning her crisp uniform each morning, stocking her cart with miniature soaps and bottles, and returning guest rooms at the Regency Grand Hotel to a state of perfection.

But Molly's orderly life is upended the day she enters the suite of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black, only to find it in a state of disarray and Mr. Black himself dead in his bed. Before she knows what's happening, Molly's unusual demeanor has the police targeting her as their lead suspect. She quickly finds herself caught in a web of deception, one she has no idea how to untangle. Fortunately for Molly, friends she never knew she had unite with her in a search for clues to what really happened to Mr. Black—but will they be able to find the real killer before it's too late?

Review:

I had been really looking forward to reading this one. It sells itself as being a locked room mystery with a 'Clue' like feel to it. And yup - I am totally here for a zany, crazy mystery that goes in some bonkers directions.

This book... is not like Clue. It's not really that good of a mystery, if I'm being honest. It's much more of a character study? And while that's okay, and I don't think it's a bad book, I was disappointed that I wasn't getting what I was being sold.

The whole schtick is that Molly the Maid who works for a hotel is an the autism spectrum. I didn't mind her characterization (even if it might have benefited the author to address the whole autism thing directly rather than skirt around it). Molly's social awkwardness is really unlike anything I've read in most of these kinds of books. And even if it was cringey at times (and oof - it was) I get that this book was really set up to be a study in Molly kind of dealing with her relationship with the world and how she fits into it. And that's not wholly a bad thing.

I just wish there had been more to the mystery!

Anyone who is familiar with reading mysteries can probably figure out who the murderer is relatively quickly. There aren't that many characters in the book, and only a few who stand out as real possible suspects. It becomes more of the why -- and how is Molly going to figure it out. Which, idk, made me lose interest pretty quickly.

You can tell that the author was inspired by Clue in that half the characters have last names that relate to colors. So - why not go all the way? Why not do more with the character names than kind of give half the cast some colorful names without any real meaning to it?

I guess my disappointment with the book is more about wanting more of a mystery novel and less of a character study. It's the author's debut novel - and kind of felt like one.

But the writing is relatively solid. Molly was a good character, and the rest of the supporting characters were at least decently drawn. The hotel makes for an interesting set piece. The pacing was fine - if sluggish and predictable at times.

Rating: 3.5 stars. Definitely not a terrible book, but I really wanted more from something sold as a thrilling mystery novel.

#books #book review #sbc bookclub #the maid #nita prose

4 notes · View notes

earfulbooklist · 2 years

Text

Here’s one for those who enjoy a light mystery with quirky personality. Expect a few surprising twists as the clues unfurl. The ending is satisfying in an unexpected way. That’s all I’ll say about that. This story isn’t going to change your world or give you big ideas to ponder. Sometimes a book is just for fun. I liked it.

The Maid: A Novel by Nita Prose, 2022

#book list #nita prose #the maid novel #audiobook

11 notes · View notes

just-a-bookish-reader · 2 years

Text

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly - Autistic Representation

Autism - “A serious developmental disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and interact. Autism spectrum disorder impacts the nervous system.The range and severity of symptoms can vary widely. Common symptoms include difficulty with communication, difficulty with social interactions, obsessive interests, and repetitive behaviors. Early recognition, as well as behavioral, educational, and family therapies may reduce symptoms and support development and learning.” - Mayo Clinic

I don’t usually, nor do I plan on beginning any educational posts in the future - this is simply (hopefully) a one time thing. Though I highly highly doubt it will be. But this I absolutely need to discuss. I feel that I am qualified to do so as well as I’ve been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (specifically Asperger’s Syndrome when the DSM IV was still around) since I was 6 or 7 years old. So I have lived just about one and a half decades with it. Well at least with it diagnosed. Truly I’ve lived with it for all 20 years and 11 months of my life.

In this post I plan on discussing mainly books, but also referencing to movies and tv shows as I deem necessary. I will also give suggestions of excellent books with autistic representation at the end of this post bolding, and italicizing the ones written by autistic authors.

Now, without further ado, let’s jump right on in.

The Ugly

We are starting with the worst of the worst - not so I can upset people over their faves but so that you can anticipate the best at the end of this post. I am going to stick to one major example for each category until the last one. As far as “The Ugly,” I am going to be referencing The Maid by Nita Prose.

While it is never officially stated that she is autistic, there is enough insinuation that the lack of a label is almost offensive. If you are going to write a current day, “realistic,” murder mystery thriller, then you should be labeling your characters. And don’t do that “oh I don’t want to put them in a box.” Sometimes people have to be. If I hadn’t been labeled I wouldn’t have gotten the accommodations I needed in High School or College. That being said, there are some aspects here that seem accurate. The desire for a routine life, reading too far into certain conversations, missing out on social cues. I can certainly be glad they didn’t pull the counting toothpicks or burning down houses stereotypes. Outside of that, it just felt wrong. I can’t put a finger on it, and I reiterate that in the review. I think many of my complaints are similar to others, but the neurodivergency nearly felt fictional and I almost wished she’d at least watched the ABC Freeform tv show Stitchers, because while the condition Kirstin has isn’t autism, there certain gaping similarities that are discussed in the show (there’s an episode where she “stitches” into an autistic man’s brain and figures out how he died in 4 seconds because his brain was so similar to hers), that it has been my favorite show for a very long time.

The Bad

Mind you, this example I DNFd rather quickly - as I had learned my lesson with other books. The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi. I went into this book extremely excited after hearing it featured not only a Jewish main character (I am half jewish myself) but that character was also autistic. When I got to her introduction I have never seen so many stereotypes and contradictions in one page. She is mentioned to basically be an arsonist, and love numbers. She is said to only like the “pale bland sugar cookies” and doesn’t know how to ask for more other than standing right behind Laila with an empty tray. But she was smart enough and socially adjusted enough to attend university until her arson. How on earth does that make sense? It felt like they were trying to infantilize the condition, which... feels not great. There are many autistic people out there who can love flavorful foods, love colors, and know how to cook or ask for more. Those same people may not feel comfortable at university, be scared of fires or be terribly at math and love words instead. Autistic people are extremely variable, and while I didn’t finish the book, there was clearly a reason as to why.

The Good

Finally! The good! About damn time. Well, this is a slightly amusing story if you can believe it. So the same morning I finally decided to shelve The Gilded Wolves, I picked up Seraphina by Rachel Hartman. It was at the top of my physical TBR cart as it is a book that I am borrowing from my mom, so I need to finish it soon so I don’t forget to give it back, so I just leaned over and started it. Not only was the immediate prose gorgeous, but soon I discovered that the dragons are absolutely based on autistic people. In this case, it not being a specific label is understandable (same as above) because it is extremely high fantasy. Omran is described as loving difficult mathematics instead of just numbers and hating itchy clothing and is shown to miss social cues, such as greeting before launching into conversation. In one of the memories that Seraphina gets to see of her mother, she discovers that her mother was obsessed with her music, and seemed to know quite know how to word the feeling of deep love. Not enjoying metaphor, but not elaborating exactly why. Yes she does still compare kissing Seraphina’s father to equations but its only one thing she compares it to - she still compares it to “seen the numbers behind the moon and stars, behind mountains and history, art and death and yearning, as if my comprehension is large enough that it can encompass universes from the beginning to the end of time.” (p. 91)

Even if it is not the author’s intention to make the dragons an entire species of autistic people, I’d prefer an accident like that to the aforementioned purposeful attempts at neurodivergent characters.

More (will be updated as I discover more)

Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson

#autism #autism spectrum disorder #the maid #nita prose #Vespertine #margaret rogerson #the gilded wolves #roshani chokshi #seraphina #rachel hartman

20 notes · View notes

marisareadsalot · 1 year

Text

Some messes might just be too big for one woman to clean up on her own.

Molly Maid is particular, clean, and entangled in a web that she can’t seem to unravel. Luckily her dear friends are sticking by her side while they try to uncover the truth hidden in the posh hotel she works for.

I spent the last 7 days desperately trying to catch up with my library books so get ready for a ton of reviews!!

#the maid #Nita prose #mystery books #tbrbooks #book review #book recs

3 notes · View notes