The Maid
Star rating: 4/5
Book 1: The Maid
Oh Molly! Molly is delightful! And The Maid is a delight to read.
Reviewers are crazy about Molly and so am I. I can’t think of fresh adjectives: charming, quirky, original, escapist, refreshing, heartwarming, etc. etc. All true. And if that makes you squirm, no it’s not mawkish or sentimental or yucky. (Well I suppose it is, but only in a few places). It’s a genuinely good book and a great read. Is it overhyped? Yes, it’s that too. Read it on the wrong day and it’s no doubt irritating and unbelievable. It has more plot holes than a bowl of macaroni.
I get the (few) negative reviews. But I also get the rave reviews. In these sad and scary times, we all need a dose of Molly.
BelEdit Book Reviews
Star rating: 4/5
Book 2: The Mystery Guest
As charming and feel-good as the first novel in the series. Yes, it’s light fare, but it’s well-written: good plotting, a range of interesting characters and a satisfying dénouement. And Molly is just adorable.
In this one, we learn a lot about Molly’s childhood, explaining (amongst other things) why she so loves cleaning.
I give it 4 stars because it’s pleasurable and heart-warming without being saccharine.
BelEdit Book Reviews
Star rating: 3/5
Book 3: The Maid’s Secret
As you can read above, I really loved The Maid and The Mystery Guest. I found Molly totally charming and the stories, while essentially light fare, rich and engaging. So I was delighted to get the opportunity to read an ARC of The Maid’s Secret.
There’s a lot to like about this third book in the Molly trilogy, but I didn’t love it. A large part (most??) of the story is about Molly’s grandmother, going deep into her background. While this was interesting in and of itself, it wasn’t a Molly book, but a Gran book. Molly is overshadowed.
It’s a pity, because Molly is the character that readers have loved in this series, the character that enables us to suspend disbelief and get swept into the [truly unlikely] narrative of life in the Grand Regency hotel. With Molly playing second fiddle to Gran, a large part of the charm is lost.
Finally, Molly’s love of cleaning barely figures in this story. Odd as it may sound, it’s one of the aspects I liked best in the first two novels in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for providing ARCs of this trilogy. All my reviews are 100% honest no matter how I acquire the book.
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