The Maid's Secret by Nita Prose

This quaint cozy mystery is a charming story by Canadian author Nita Prose, featuring a stolen Faberge egg. If you enjoy traditional mysteries with a posh hotel setting and a rags-to-riches plot, you’ll love this book.

The main character, Molly, is adorable and down-to-earth. “I’m just a maid,” she states. And she loves her job. But one event changes her life and that of her fiance. When the reality show, Hidden Treasures, films at her hotel, Molly brings in her grandma’s old heirloom and discovers it is priceless. The gilded egg and a decades-old diary bring the past into Molly’s present with shocking revelations and dangerous repercussions.

The alternating timelines between Molly’s present and her grandma’s past slowly expose family secrets and a love story reminiscent of Wuthering Heights, in which class dictates partners. It’s a timeless, poignant fairytale with a brooding young man caught in the midst of high society’s expectations. 

Although I loved the grandma’s backstory, it gave the book a historical feel, which combined with Molly’s old-fashioned mannerisms, created a somewhat staid, quite formal tone. Reading the first two books in the series would no doubt bring the reader into the world created by Nita Prose and make this last installment more satisfying. A slow burn, which picks up speed as the story progresses, The Maid’s Secret is recommended for readers of traditional historical cozy series.