DEBUT Twenty-five-year-old Molly Gray loves cleaning at the Regency Grand Hotel. But she's socially awkward, and other employees bully her, even calling her Roomba. Until now, she's had her gran to help explain her mistakes in reading body language. But now that her grandmother is dead, there's no one to explain why the police are upset when she finds the body of a hotel guest, Mr. Black, dead in his bed. What mistake did she make by cleaning the room, picking up glasses, before she found the body? When the police discover a drug ring operating in the hotel, and that Molly moved a bag from room to room, it's easy to suspect her of murder. They can't comprehend that she easily misunderstands situations, especially when requests come from people she trusts. Evidence implicates Molly, but she has a few friends who help her when she's arrested. Molly gets her moment to shine, though, surprising even her lawyer while she's on the witness stand following a drug dealer's arrest for murder. VERDICT Molly is a likable, neurodivergent narrator in this outstanding debut. The character-rich mystery ends with several twists that will appeal to fans of Eleanor Oliphant and other sympathetic heroines.--Lesa Holstine, Evansville Vanderburgh P.L., IN

The shocking murder of a public figure at a high-end hotel has everyone guessing who the culprit might be. Twenty-five-year-old Molly Gray, an eccentric young woman who's obsessed with cleaning but doesn't quite have the same ability to navigate social cues as those around her, loves working as a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. Raised by her old-fashioned grandmother, who loved nothing more than cleaning and watching Columbo reruns, Molly has an overly polite and straightforward manner that can make her seem odd and off-putting to her colleagues despite her being the hardest worker at the hotel. After her grandmother's death, Molly's rigid life begins to lose some of its long-held balance, and when the infamous Mr. Charles Black, a rich and powerful businessman suspected of various criminal enterprises, is found murdered in one of the rooms she cleans, her whole world gets turned upside down. Before Molly knows what's happening, her odd demeanor has the police convinced she's guilty of the crime, and certain people at the hotel are a little too pleased about it. With the help of a few new friends (and while fending off new foes), she must begin to untangle the mystery of who really killed Mr. Black to get herself off the hook once and for all. Though the unusual ending might frustrate some readers, this unique debut will keep them reading. A compelling take on the classic whodunit. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Molly Gray is a hotel maid whom few hotel guests acknowledge or really even see. That's fine with Molly because what's most important to her is to be an excellent maid. But she is extremely naïve and socially awkward. Abandoned by her parents as a baby, she was raised by her wise and gentle grandmother. Gran wanted Molly to become more than just a hotel maid, but that didn't happen, and the job suits her perfectly. She doesn't socialize much, especially after her Gran dies, but she does have a handful of friends at the hotel: bartender Rodney, dishwasher Juan Manuel, and the doorman, Mr. Preston. Normally, Molly follows the hotel rule that maids should not befriend hotel guests, but in the case of Giselle Black, the much-younger wife of an abusive business tycoon, she makes an exception. Then she finds Giselle's husband dead in his suite one day and is accused of his murder. Happily, there's more to Molly than meets the eye. She's rescued in a most unexpected way that's partly down to her own plucky ingenuity. Captivating, charming, and heart-warming, with deft writing and a clever, original plot, this unusual crime novel will leave readers with a warm glow.

Molly Gray, the 25-year-old neurodivergent narrator of Prose's assured debut, has sought solace in her maid's job at the Regency Grand, a boutique hotel in an unspecified city, since the recent death of the grandmother who raised her. Molly's uniform makes her feel invisible, which is a relief given her difficulty reading social cues, and she derives great satisfaction from returning things to a "state of perfection." When frequent guests Charles and Giselle Black check into one of Molly's assigned rooms, she's pleased; though tycoon Charles is imperious, Giselle tips well and treats Molly like a friend. To her dismay, upon entering the couple's suite, Molly discovers that Giselle is out, and Charles is dead. The police find Molly's stoicism suspicious, and someone seems determined to make her their patsy, but Molly thankfully has more allies than she realizes. Not every twist feels earned, but on balance Prose delivers a gratifying, kindhearted whodunit with a sharply drawn protagonist for whom readers can't help rooting. Fans of fresh takes on traditional mysteries will be delighted. Agent: Madeleine Milburn, Madeleine Milburn Literary (U.K.). (Jan.)