Ballantine
Published April 8, 2025
Reviewed by Barbara Fister
Molly Gray has become Head Maid at the Regency Grand hotel and will soon be marrying her beloved, Juan Manuel. In addition to her housekeeping duties, she is entrusted with special events, including the filming of an episode of a widely popular antiques show, Hidden Treasures, at the hotel. Staff have been invited to have their own “treasures” evaluated, so Molly brings to the show some of the keepsakes she has accumulated over the years, including an old key, a teacup and saucer, and a decorative egg that she has been told is just a cheap bauble. To her shock, she learns it’s an invaluable Fabergé prototype, long rumored to exist but never found. When it’s auctioned off, she’ll become a millionaire. To her dismay, her newfound wealth also brings celebrity that turns her life upside-down. And then the egg is stolen.
This third entry in the Molly the Maid series is told in two voices: that of Molly, a neuroatypical woman who has trouble reading social cues or understanding idiomatic phrases, and that of her beloved deceased grandmother, who as she lay dying of cancer filled a diary with information about her past that she had never shared before. The stories alternate, with the grandmother’s past interwoven with Molly’s present. The grandmother’s story involves a fall from selfish wealth to honorable poverty; Molly’s involves an unexpected rise to wealth and the uncomfortable burden of viral fame. Both involve the Fabergé egg and underscore one of their favorite sayings: All that glitters is not gold.
This series embraces coziness. The characters curtsy and bow to each other, wisdom is passed along in the form of familiar adages, and Molly uses stock phrases about her work. Silver is “polished to perfection” and rooms are not just cleaned, they are “returned to a state of perfection.” Enjoyment of the story may depend on whether you find her character sweet or too saccharin.
The Maid (2022) swept several awards and spent weeks on The New York Times bestseller list. Readers new to the series may find it hard to keep track of the number of eccentric characters and their histories, but those who enjoyed The Maid and The Mystery Guest will be happy to see how their favorite characters are doing as Molly and Juan Manuel’s wedding day approaches.