Last year I was fully charmed by Molly in The Maid, solidifying her as one of my favorite characters of 2023.  

 

And now she’s back in a cozy new mystery.  

 

The Regency Grand, once a state of perfection, is again mired by murder.  World renowned writer, JD Grimthorpe, had a big announcement.  But before he was able to utter a word of such, he dropped dead. 

 

Ah, but this isn’t Molly’s first foray with Grimthorpe.  Told in dual timeline, the key to his demise might just be found in their connected past.  

 

Where the modern storyline sometimes fell a bit flat for me, the past timeline excelled at tapping into what first endeared me to Molly.   Getting to know her as a precocious young girl.  Watching the tender ways Gran guided her.  💗  

 

Prose truly captured the essence of charm in those sections., and the novel shined brightest in its execution of Molly’s backstory. 

 

Though the intrigue is light, the book brims with heart.  This isn’t a story you go into for the mystery.  Rather, this is a warm and endearing, feel-good read.

 

Prose hints at a possible change for Molly. So, I am hopeful we’ll be seeing much more from her.  

 

🎧 Lauren Ambrose reprises her role of Molly in this audiobook narration, and it makes for a quick and easy binge.