*If you are new here, WELCOME! For The Maid, I provide your book club with a brief summary, food ideas and a recipe, and discussion questions in that order!
The Maid is Nita Prose’s debut novel. This cozy mystery set in a hotel is sure to appeal to fans of Agatha Christie.
Featuring a neurodivergent main character, the novel follows Molly, the hotel maid, as she’s suspected of murder and tries to clear her name. The entire hotel staff is full of friend and foe, and in a Clue-like mystery, Molly must determine where each person lies.
Already slated to be a major motion picture featuring Florence Pugh, readers are loving this heartwarming book.
I’ve provided book club questions and delicious food ideas for The Maid! So if you are looking for book club ideas and more, keep reading!
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Here’s a brief summary of The Maid:
From the publisher:
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?
A Clue-like, locked-room mystery and a heartwarming journey of the spirit, The Maid explores what it means to be the same as everyone else and yet entirely different—and reveals that all mysteries can be solved through connection to the human heart.
For The Maid Food Ideas:
This novel was fast-paced, so there wasn’t a lot of time for food. However, Molly does mention a few of her favorites.
Here are some food ideas from the pages of The Maid.
- Tea and shortbread cookies. Molly constantly wants a cuppa!
- Dinners at home with Gran – spaghetti on Wednesdays, fish on Friday.
- Olive Garden with Rodney – Tour of Italy and Spaghetti and Meatballs. Don’t forget the salad and bread sticks!
- Later another Olive Garden dinner of pizza, bruschetta, and fried mozzarella as they scheme.
I highly recommend that you just meet as a group at Olive Garden. No dishes anyone? Just me?
But, if you’d like to meet in person, these Italian Meatballs from another featured author, Soraya Lane, would be a hit. Hop over to this post for the recipe!
Soraya’s meatballs are featured in the photos on this post. Check out that deliciousness! Yum!
Whether you choose something from this list or try your own option, I hope these ideas will get your creative juices flowing to host your book club for The Maid.
LOOKING FOR THE RECIPE? Click HERE.
The Maid Book Club Questions:
*WARNING: May contain spoilers!
- How did you feel about the treatment of Molly throughout the book? Did you find it believable that everyone was so insensitive to a neurodivergent person?
- Did you suspect who the actual murderer was? Were the motives believable?
- What did you think about Gran’s last moments? Did it change how you saw Molly? What would you do if someone asked the same of you?
- Molly has a strict weekly schedule for housekeeping. Do you have any similar tips? Share what keeps you on tract (either cleaning on in life) or any other mantras you live by like Molly and Gran.
- How did The Maid compare to other cozy mysteries you’ve read? Did you enjoy it?
- In the end, Molly shows she’s capable of more than others expect. Did you feel like Molly was an unreliable narrator? Why or why not?
- Are you looking forward to (or have you seen) the movie? What did you think of it in comparison to the book?
Have you read The Maid? What did you think? Did it satisfy you or were you left wishing for more? What are some similar books you’ve read?
Until next time, Happy Reading!
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