Greetings you guys! It’s Friday and the weather outside spells 90% chance of reading time. Rainy and cold. We’ve had a hectic week at school and with sorting out book reviews, so for this weekend, we just want to curl up on the couch and read whatever we want. No deadline or anything!
We’ve been excited to read our choice for this weekend ever since the reviews first start popping out.
The Maid by Nita ProsePublished by Harper Collins on January 20th, 2022
Genres: Mystery
Pages: 352
Format: Paperback
Source: Book Club
Goodreads
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 our first stop, we will pay a visit to @ Reading is my Super Power for First Line Friday and to Gilion @ Rose City Reader for Book Beginnings. Every Friday you can link up and share the first sentence of your current read (or the one you plan to devour over the weekend), as well as your initial thoughts and impressions.
The Maid opens with a bar of soap and a prologue:
I’m your maid. I’m the one who cleans your hotel room, who enters like a phantom when you’re our gallivanting for the day, no care at all about what you’ve left behind, the mess, or what I might see when you’re gone.
I’m the one who empties your trash, tossing out the receipts you don’t want anyone to discover. I’m the one who changes your sheets, who can tell if you’ve slept in them and if you were alone last night or not.
Okay, she’s definitely going to discover something…
For our next stop, we will pay a visit to Freda’s Voice who hosts the Friday 56. Don’t show up empty handed though!
- Grab a book (Yes, any book. But it might get you to your other Friday activities a bit quicker if you just grab the book you are currently reading)
- Turn to page 56 or 56% on your e-reader
- Find a sentence or two (your other Friday activities might determine this)
- Post it!
- Remember to post your link on Freda’s Voice and to visit the other guys in the linky.
- And last but not least, don’t forget to list the title of the book and the author as well.
A funny, but sad passage on page 56:
“What did they call you?”
“Rumba,” I said. “Gand and I used to watch Dancing with the Stars and the Rumba is a very lively partner dance.
Giselle winced. “I don’t think they meant the dance, Molly. I think the meant Roomba, as in the robotic vacuum cleaner.”
Friendly Fill-ins
I see we have a few minutes to spare to do a quick Friendly Fill-ins. Yea for me! We are enjoying the Friendly Fill-Ins community so much. Lots and lots of furry friends. Yea for me! Friendly Fill-Ins is hosted by 15 and Meowing and Four-Legged Furballs. They come up with a couple of sentences, and then you have to fill in the blanks. I think it’s a great way to get to know each other better as well. This week’s questions:
My first line is from Counterfeit Love by Crystal Caudill. Happy Weekend!
https://daniellegrandinetti.com/2022/04/22/counterfeit-love/
Hi there Danielle! Thanks for letting me know, I’ll take a look now.
Hope you had a good week so far!
I’m in line at the library to get the audio of The Maid but there are sooooo many people in front of me. I’m trying to be patient but I might end up caving and using an Audible credit.
Hi Katherine! Oh you are going to love The Maid and I think the audiobook might be well worth the wait.
This looks like a really good book! I already like Molly – she reminds me of a co-worker I had at my last job. Happy Reading!
Hi there Kym! I’m a bit halfway through and I am thoroughly enjoying it so far. Molly is a very enduring character and I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen here.
Thanks for stopping by!
I read Magpie Murders last year and quite enjoyed it! Thanks for the fun reading through yuor answers on the fill-in.
Hi there Anne!
I think I saw it somewhere on one of your comments and I’m very glad to hear you also enjoyed it so much. Did you see the mini series? I thought it was handled quite well too.
I really enjoyed The Maid. It was a fun and interesting read for me.
Hi Wendy!!
Aah yea! So glad to hear you’ve enjoyed it. I have only started with it, but so far it’s good and I love Molly’s character.
Hope you are having a good weekend!
I want to read The Maid! Happy weekend!
It’s good Freda! Hope you will get to it soon!
Hello! You commented on my blog and i wanted to return the favor.
The Maid sounds like a great read, i have relatives and friends who are “a bit different” so i think i’d enjoy this.
The Friendly Fill-Ins are fun, aren’t they! Your home manager sounds smart, she looks out for you.
By the way, The Happiness Project is not a movie that i know of, the fill-in was about any book or movie, and i chose to highlight a book.
Aah thank you so much for returning the favor, that’s very nice of you.
I work with students who are a bit “different”, so books like these always catches my attention. It’s a good read!
Thanks for letting me know about The Happiness Project! I haven’t started searching for the “movie” yet, but might have been very disappointed! LOL!!! Still want to read the book though.
Have a wonderful weekend!
That looks like a good book. Thank you for joining the fill-ins- I missed you. How dare anyone try to remove you from your blankie- you need a new house manager. Have a nice weekend. XO
Hi Ellen!
I miss the Fill-Ins too! I am most definitely going to try to be more present on Fridays again.
Elza is actually lying on my feet right now, because now she wants MY blanky.
Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!
This looks like just my kind of novel. Thank you for sharing.
I know a cat that also has trust in blankies placed on stair rails. Now they are only found on safe, level surfaces.
Hi Roberta!
Oh cats and all the places they can find comforting. Blows my mind!
I am enjoying The Maid a lot! Will keep you guys posted.
Thanks for stopping by!
The Maid sounds interesting!
I love answering questions so I thought I’d take a stab at it!
1. A book or movie I recently read ( or saw) that I recommend is… for book I’d say The Whispering Dead by Darcy Coates and for movie I’d say… Planet Terror if you like bad b list horror movies.
2. I prefer to shop when I have money, lol,
3. I have a lot of trust in my family.
4. I have very little trust in the government, oops.
Ash @ Essentially Ash
Hi Ash!
Friendly Fill-Ins is a lot of fun and I just wish I had more time to do it. It’s also a lovely community. The fill-ins get published on Thursdays already.
Love your answers, will take a look at your recommendations. I’m from South Africa, so don’t even get me started on trust in the government…..
Thanks for stopping by and I hope you will have a good weekend!
The excerpts for The Maid sound really good. I have to add this one to my wishlist. Your fill ins are great. I hope you have a great weekend!
Hi Yvonne!
I think you will really enjoy The Maid yes! Add it to your TBR and I hope you get to read it soon.
Happy Friday!
I’m currently reading Blind Date with a Billionaire Reality Star by Evangeline Kelly. It’s super good!
“I wasn’t sure if they were his actual favorite or not, but it thrilled me that Abby and I would have two hours with him on a sunset boat ride. The thought was absolutely heavenly.”
I hope you have a fantastic weekend!
Hi Nicole!
Sounds like the perfect weekend read! I hope you are enjoying it!
Molly sounds like a great character to read about. Plus, the mystery has me intrigued too. I’ll have to check this book out. Thanks for sharing! Hope you have a great weekend! 🙂
Hi Ashley!
She is a very interesting and enduring character for sure. Can’t wait to see where this book is going.
Thanks for stopping by! I hope you are having a good weekend!
My first lines come from Fatal Code by Natalie Walters which comes out next month. :
Maple Valley, Iowa
“Death has no sting.”
He studied the pastor speaking from the stage, a giant cross hanging behind him and smirked. Depends on how you kill someone.
Hi there Paula!
Oh my gosh! That opening line will draw my attention for sure!
I enjoyed The Maid. You chose great excerpts. Thanks for sharing, and for visiting my blog.
Glad to hear you’ve enjoyed it as well! I’ve started with it and it’s a good read yes!
Thanks for returning the favor! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
This one does sound really good, Elza. I look forward to hearing what you think about it. Have a lovely weekend!
Hi there Cindy!
So far we are enjoying it a lot and yes, I will keep you guys up to date for sure!
Hope you are having a good weekend.
Clue? I’m sold!
I’ve started with it earlier today and it really is such a fun read!