Linda's Reviews > The Maid

2.5
Nita Prose’s debut mystery Is based on an unusual premise- could an individual on the autism spectrum, someone unable to read social cues, be manipulated by a perpetrator and misunderstood by the police to such an extent that she could be framed for a crime.

Molly Gray is a maid at the Regency Grand a five-star hotel in an unspecified city. Molly, age 25, is neurodivergent, most likely on the autism spectrum and a bit OCD. She has always had difficulty reading social cues and consequently has been the focus of bullying and teasing throughout her life. Molly’s grandmother, her only close relationship recently died, leaving Molly alone in the world. When Molly finds a wealthy guest murdered in one of the suites, she cleans she becomes a prime suspect. Prose writes the novel from Molly’s point of view and the authors uses Molly’s misreading of perpetrator and police to build tension as this likeable, yet unlikely protagonist digs herself into hole after to hole.

The book starts off strong and then it begins to lose its moorings as it moves from mystery to morality tale that gushes with maudlin sentimentality. First off, Molly is surrounded by a cast of one- dimensional stock, stereotypical characters, many of whom are all good or all bad. Then, there is Molly herself, a kind of Pollyanna on the spectrum whose difference becomes the source of her goodness and finally there is the fairy tale happy ending and the nonsensical final twist.

Fredrick Backman, the king of feel- good novels, understands that quirky, misunderstood characters, be they curmudgeons (Ove) or on the spectrum like Britt-Marie are flawed flesh and blood human beings like the rest of us. That’s what makes us root for them. That what makes them real. Molly, while she has her charms, seems more like a character out of a fairy tale.