That’s at the Manchester Public Library in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts.
Natives call it MBTS or mostly just “Manchester.”
[This page updated 3/30/24]
Next Meeting: Friday April 26, 10:30 am
April 26 Meeting Location: Inside the library.
Read The Maid by Nita Prose (2022) for the April 26 Meeting. QUICK PREVIEW:
In this book, the lead character is a highly professional maid at a boutique hotel in New York City and likes her work, but a wealthy guest is murdered in his bed, and the police begin to suspect her of the murder. The story is told in the first person, meaning that the highly professional maid will be telling the story in her own words as she tries to clear her own name in this unusually told, twisty tale. The book won 6 awards from various crime fiction organizations.
Molly Gray is not like everyone else. She struggles with social skills and often misreads people’s intentions. But no matter—she still throws herself with gusto into her work as a hotel maid at the five-star Regency Grand Hotel. She delights in donning her crisp uniform each morning and returning guest rooms to a state of perfection.
But Molly’s orderly life is upended when she enters the suite of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black, only to find Mr. Black dead—very dead—in his bed. Perplexed by Molly’s unusual behavior, the police immediately suspect her of murder. She’s soon caught in a web of deception with no idea how to untangle herself.
Fortunately for Molly, friends she never knew she had join her in a search for clues about what really happened to Mr. Black—but will they be able to find the real killer before it’s too late?
“The reader comes to understand Molly’s worldview, and to sympathize with her longing to be accepted—a quest that gives The Maid real emotional heft.” —The New York Times Book Review (Editors’ Choice)
“Think Clue. Think page-turner.” —Glamour
“What begins as a sprightly murder mystery turns into a meaningful, and at times even delicate, portrait of growth.” —NPR
We invite you to read the book and join us in discussing it on April 26 at 10:30 am.
Type of Crime Fiction Book: Cozy Mystery, “Locked Room Mystery,” Literary Mystery ?
Characters in the Book
View, download, and/or print the above character cards by clicking here.
About the Author
Nita Prose is the author of THE MYSTERY GUEST and THE MAID, which has sold over one million copies worldwide and was published in more than 40 countries. A #1 New York Timesbestseller and a “Good Morning America” Book Club pick, THE MAID won the Ned Kelly Award for International Crime Fiction, the Fingerprint Award for Debut Novel of the Year, the Anthony Award for Best First Novel, and the Barry Award for Best First Mystery. THE MAID was also an Edgar Award finalist for Best Novel.
Prose does not have a bio on Wikipedia, and does not have an About page on her website where she says anything about her private life. Her day job for 20+ years has been as a publisher’s book editor. In the video below, she drops a very few hints about her life, including that she had earlier worked as a special ed teacher. She lives and works in Canada. I recommend listening to this interview – there are no spoilers.
The above interview took place not long after the book was published in 2022. Since then, there are two updates:
- Her second book featuring Molly the Maid was published in 2023 – The Mystery Guest.
- I cannot find any new news about the movie touted even before the book was published.
About Our Mystery Book Group
DO YOU LIKE MYSTERY BOOKS? We welcome your participation with us. Our monthly Friday meetings focus on the mystery book of the month. The group helps to create the annual reading list each June. (Click to see this year’s book list.) When we gather, we enjoy each other and the varying views that each person shares, recognizing that there are many genres and tastes in mystery books, crime books, thrillers, etc. It’s just fun!
WANT MORE TO READ AND DISCUSS, MORE THAN ONE BOOK A MONTH? In addition to our regular end of the month meeting, we often have one or more “sub-groups” that are ongoing, reading through a series of books by one author.
AND THERE’S MORE! As we like to say, “We are more than a book club.” For example:
- Authors as a guest for Q&A, most recently– Bruce Robert Coffin in June of 2023 and Daniel Palmer in November 2022,
- A recent Gloucester Harbor cruise on the Ardelle. An annual June backyard picnic,
- Field trip to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (it started with a book we read in which the museum’s famous heist was featured),
- Two Spenser Tours of Boston based on the Robert Parker books,
- Outings to movies like – Mr Holmes, Murder on the Orient Express, and Knives Out.
- Field trip to the Poe Statue in Boston,
- Lunch at the Agawam Diner,
- A Transcendental Murder mystery book field trip to Concord, MA.
- Frequent local restaurant luncheons following the regular book club meeting
- No agenda Zoom Lunch hour socials – a fill-in idea during the Pandemic
Click here for ongoing Mystery Book Club resources and helps. Quick link to current list of books for the year (September through August).
Our special speaker for Nov 18, 2022: D.J. Palmer – author of various kinds of thrillers (5th from left)
Our club outing on Gloucester Harbor Tours’ Lighthouse Cruise – Saturday August 20, 2022: below – Selena and Mike seated (picture by Leslie)
Our club outing on Gloucester Harbor on the Schooner Ardelle charter – August 25, 2021: below
