A Book A Week

Nita Prose first captured my imagination with her novel The Maid, which I read last summer. I was instantly charmed by her original protagonist, Molly the maid—a neurodivergent hotel cleaner who unexpectedly becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation. I loved her so much that I immediately picked up the sequel and devoured it just as quickly. When a Christmas-themed novella featuring Molly was released last fall, I didn’t hesitate to read that too. Prose has a knack for blending witty scenarios, clever mysteries, heartwarming romance, and the theme of found family into books that are a true delight. Naturally, I was eager to pick up her latest installment, The Maid’s Secret.

The last few years have brought plenty of change for Molly. First, her Gran succumbed to cancer, leaving her to face the world alone. It could have been terrifying—and at first, it was—but Molly soon found herself surrounded by people who accepted her, quirks and all. Since then, she’s been promoted to Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel, found herself entangled in two high-profile police cases, reconnected with her long-lost grandfather, and even got engaged to the love of her life, Juan Carlos, a cook at the hotel. Yes, change has been a constant, and with a wedding on the horizon and a recent promotion to Special Events Coordinator (in addition to her duties as Head Maid), Molly is learning to embrace it in all its forms.

But nothing could prepare her for the biggest change yet.  A film crew has arrived at the hotel to shoot the hit reality TV show Hidden Treasures. Just for fun, Molly brings in a shoebox of her Gran’s old belongings for appraisal, and to everyone’s shock, one item turns out to be a rare and priceless artifact. Suddenly, Molly becomes a rags-to-riches story, the kind that captures audiences across the nation. But just as she begins to process this overwhelming turn of events, another twist hits. The artifact is stolen in a bold heist.

The key to solving the mystery may lie in the locked diary of her late grandmother. To find the stolen treasure and regain control of her rapidly spiraling life, Molly will have to confront her family’s past and uncover secrets of Gran's history before it's too late. 

With The Maid's Secret, Nita Prose continues to expand the world of her beloved heroine, pushing Molly’s story forward while peeling back the layers of her family's past. As the series has evolved, the sharp, twisty mysteries that defined the first two books have given way to narratives that lean more toward the cozy mystery genre. The stakes are lower, and the primary focus shifts more toward romance and personal discovery. It’s still enjoyable, but I’ll admit I miss the intrigue and tension that made the earlier books so gripping.

Prose alternates between present-day chapters and entries from Gran’s diary, offering a deeper glimpse into family history. While these glimpses eventually tie into the current mystery, I found myself less engaged with the diary sections. Ultimately, The Maid's Secret retains many of the elements that made the first book such a delight (Molly’s unique voice, the hotel setting, the warmth of found family), but their impact has softened. It’s a fun, feel-good read, just not quite a must-read.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 49)

Is anyone else still in a post-holiday daze? Despite my best efforts this week, all I want to do is curl up on the couch with a good book and a few too many snacks. Alas, the real world has other plans in mind. I still have to work, and I have plenty of chores to complete around the house. The only positive about having to complete the tasks that I may or may not have ignored throughout the last couple of weeks is that they give me an excuse to listen to an audiobook as I work. As I begrudgingly took down the Christmas decorations and tidied up my home, I listened to Frozen Detective, the second cozy mystery to feature Amanda Flower's private investigators Piper and Porter. 

On the heels of their last case, Darby Piper and her investigative partner Tate Porter are in search of their next gig. It comes in the form of Tate's former classmate Cece. She is married to a much older dermatologist husband. The couple runs a lucrative skin care company and is preparing to host a group of their associates at Cece's family ski lodge. With new deals set to be announced, the event needs to go off without a hitch. There's only one problem. Cece's husband is receiving threatening letters. She invites Piper and Porter to attend the event, undercover as a couple. As the weekend begins, the threats are realized and Cece's husband is murdered. A snowstorm leaves the attendees stuck in the villa, with everyone there a potential suspect. 

Cozy mysteries typically provide a quick pace, quirky characters, a bit of humor, and a fun mystery to latch onto. All of those elements are present in Frozen Detective. I accepted an audio copy from Flower's publisher and was happy to dive into the series with this second installment. Although I didn't read the first book, I never felt lost in this one. Flower fills in the blanks about the previous book just enough to keep first-time readers abreast of the most important character beats. The story plays out as a clever closed-room mystery. Laura Faye Smith's narration perfectly captured the easy-going tone of the writing. Before I knew it, I'd finished listening to the book and was thoroughly entertained. Even though the ending of this one was apparent long before the conclusion, I enjoyed the characters enough to get a kick out of it. Flower teases the next case at the very end of this book. I can't wait to give that one a listen too. 

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2023, 2)

How do you take your coffee? I was never really a routine coffee drinker until I started working from home during the quarantine. With so much extra time to devote to my mornings before work, I began to obsess about making the perfect cup of coffee. Since going back to work, I have less time in the mornings, but I still appreciate freshly grinding my beans before brewing a piping hot cup. Beyond being the perfect drink to kickstart my day, there's also something oddly satisfying about pairing coffee with a good book. When Emmeline Duncan's publisher sent me a copy of her new cozy mystery Fresh Brewed Murder, I was excited to find a book that combines my interest in coffee with my love for a good mystery. 

For most people walking by the urban food truck lot in Portland, the addition of yet another coffee cart might seem like nothing to take note of. For Sage Caplin, it marks the beginning of fulfilling a huge dream. Her gourmet coffee cart Ground Rules has been in the works for years. Along with her business partner Harley, Sage has spent the time perfecting a signature roast that will serve as the backdrop of her business venture. The cart is only meant to be the beginning. Sage has lined up meetings to include their coffee in local restaurants and has even secured an agreement to potentially include a full-on coffee shop in the new development that is springing up directly across the street. The business is brimming with the promise of potential, but Sage is about to be overcome with a harsh dose of reality. 

Space in the food truck lot is hard to come by, and not everyone is pleased to see Sage's cart move into the area. On the first day of opening, Sage befriends a young homeless girl and is inspired to allow her customers to pay forward a drink to those who are unable to make a purchase on their own. What is meant to be a positive way to interact with the community draws the ire of some of the other vendors who fear the presence of homeless individuals will detract paying customers from the property. There's also chatter amongst the other vendors about the gentrification of the surrounding area. They're specifically concerned about the large commercial property going in across the street, the very same development that Sage hopes to be a part of. Things come to a head when Sage discovers the murdered body of one of her very own customers at the cart. Is this a seriously unfortunate coincidence, or is someone trying to send her a message?

Cozy mysteries are meant to be light and easy reads that contain likable characters and just enough mystery to keep the pages turning. By those standards, Fresh Brewed Murder achieves everything it is supposed to and then some. Author Emmeline Duncan delves deeply into the detail of brewing the perfect cup of coffee, an element that sets her main character up to be a true expert of her craft while also grounding the story into some semblance of reality. I found the parts focussing on growing a business, perfecting a trade, and battling the impact of urban renewal on small businesses to be the most interesting. In fact, the actual mystery became more of a side story than the main driving force of the narrative in some parts. Still, I was invested enough in the main character that I had to see the story through. Fresh Brewed Murder ultimately ends up being like a simple morning cup of coffee. You've probably had better, more complex brews, but it will certainly do the job of getting you through the day, or in this case, on to your next read. 

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2021, 25)