The Maid Book Club Kit
The Maid by Nita Prose is the official October 2023 pick for the Peanut Blossom Book Club for Recovering Readers.
October is the perfect month for reading a cozy mystery and I know that our members of the Peanut Blossom Book Club for Recovering Readers prefer their books to be not-too-scary and not-too-violent.
This month’s pick has been compared to Clue but with a heartwarming element to the story.
Sounded like the perfect fit to me!
I enjoyed my read through so much, I finished it in less than 24 hours. I hope you love it, too.
P.S. Just joining us? Don’t miss the full 2023 line-up for our book club picks.
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Peanut Blossom Book Club
This book club pick is one of the awesome books from our ninth year of book club.
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What is The Maid About?
“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.”
The Maid Discussion Questions
I believe the best book club questions to spark a lively discussion in your group help readers make personal connections to the story.
You can read about how to write the best book club questions on your own here, but hopefully these will get you started!
Question 1:
Think about your experiences staying in hotels, what have your own interactions been like with the hotel maids? What do you think they thought of you based on your room?
Question 2:
How did you feel about Molly as a character? Did you identify with her or did she make you feel uncomfortable? Why?
Question 3:
Which of the secondary characters did you enjoy reading about the most?
Question 4:
Who do you think failed Molly the most? She faces hardships and betrayals, which one had the biggest impact?
Question 5:
Why do you think cleaning was so important to both Molly and Gran? Is cleaning that important to you?
Question 6:
Molly is thrilled to go on a date at the Olive Garden, where was your first dinner date?
Question 7:
Discuss the ending, did you see it coming? Who did you think was responsible? Do you like how the book ended?
Book Club Party Menu
I think it is so fun to plan your book club dinner menu or dessert list based on the theme of the book.
A significant plot point in the book hinges around Molly’s love of the Tour of Italy entree from Olive Garden.
This classic restaurant dish involves three main parts:
- Lasagna
- Fettuccine Alfredo
- Chicken Parmesan
While your book club might usually only enjoy light appetizers, how fun would it be to plan a full Italian feast for a book club dinner?
Many of the dishes can be made ahead and just heated up in the oven before your party starts.
Start with my make ahead lasagna roll ups which are an easier version of lasagna to make and serve.
You can prep my baked chicken parmesan up to 24 hours in advance and just bake it before serving at dinner.
And then don’t miss my homemade alfredo sauce with cream cheese. You can prep the sauce early and then just warm it through to toss with fresh made pasta.
Want a lighter version of this meal?
Plan a batch of my chicken parmesan sliders and then follow it up with an easy tiramisu or my favorite cannoli dip.
You Might Also Enjoy
If you loved The Maid you might also like:
