The Maid by Nita Prose
Nita Prose’s debut novel has already been snapped up by Universal Pictures – with Florence Pugh cast in the lead role – and it’s easy to see why. The Maid is a mystery thriller that will sweep you along with a story of love, loss, manipulation and murder. Molly Gray takes her job as a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel seriously – and then she discovers a guest dead in his bed. Molly’s neurodivergent eccentricities make her a beguiling protagonist, and through her unique view of the world, we discover the power of human connection. From her beloved late gran to the kindly Mr Preston, the hotel’s doorman, The Maid has a multi-faceted cast of supporting characters.
Writing a story based on the Aberfan coal disaster and emotional aftermath for those involved might not seem like an obvious subject for a debut novel. But that’s what Jo Browning Wroe has done in A Terrible Kindness, a moving and superbly written tale of families, friendships and communities, against the backdrop of tragedy. The story revolves around young William Lavery, who has a special gift as a choral singer but shuns a musical life to follow his family’s embalming business. While attending an awards evening with Gloria, the love of his life, news filters through of the landslide which engulfed a school, claiming the lives of over 100 children.