Review #17: The Maid by Nita Prose
Title: The Maid
Author: Nita Prose
Genre: Fiction, Mystery
# of Pages: 304
Format: Paperback
Part of Series? Yes – book #2 came out in late fall 2023
Source: Penguin Random House
Rating: 4/5 stars
Thoughts: I really enjoyed this one and thought it was cute. I adored Molly, the main character, but I could easily see how another reader could find her annoying and frustratingly naïve. Molly is neurodivergent, which I think explains her actions and reactions to those around her. I don’t think that most readers will be able to fully understand the innerworkings of Molly despite Prose’s efforts – you just don’t know if you don’t know, and that is okay! Molly’s naivety places her smack dab in the middle of a murder mystery. I think the key to really enjoying this book is to suspend your disbelief. The novel takes place in an Anywhere USA city with characters that are all more like caricatures. If you try to rationalize anyone’s thoughts or make too much sense of a character’s actions, then you may miss the entertainment factor of the novel. Prose specifically does not mention the city in which this novel takes place and there is minimal use of technology (a little calling and texting), which I think will help this novel transcend time and place. Each reader can have their own unique experience reading. I imagined that the book took place in a secondary US city – perhaps Pittsburgh, Denver, or Baltimore – somewhere that isn’t too happening but has a bit of history and a roots in an industry. I thought of a city where a fancy hotel would have been needed in 1840 for the industrialists. The draw to this novel is the fast-paced plot. At just around 300 pages, this is a quick read. A second book in the series just came out. While I really enjoyed this one and heard the second is better, I don’t think I’ll read it. Will keep you posted…
Important thought that came up in book club – does the author have experience, personal or otherwise, with how the brains of neurodivergent people work? How it feels to be inside of that brain?
You will like this if you like: Agatha Christie, Knives Out, Neurodivergent main characters (Rosie Project, Elenor Oliphant is Completely Fine)
