This is the third book in a series featuring the main character Molly, the maid with a social disorder that seems to always attract trouble. The first two books were excellent, and I also enjoyed this third book, which seems to wrap up the story of Molly and her grandmother, who raised her.
The story is cute – cozy and full of backstory on Molly’s grandmother’s mysterious background. The book is written half as flashbacks as Molly reads her grandmother’s diary, and half as another mystery that Molly needs to solve at the Grand Regency hotel where she works. One of my knocks on this book is that we give over half the book to grandma, so that means half as much of Molly who is one of the main reasons I like the series. More Molly, less Gran!
In the previous book that I read (Tartufo) there are many wacky eccentric characters – so many that it felt like slapstick sometimes. This book also has some slightly off characters played for laughs, but in a much more polished fashion, and the humor is more clever here. There were quite a few times I laughed out loud, which is always a good sign.
The story and the plot are tied up a little too perfectly, which I guess is part of what makes the story cozy. It was a fitting end to the series, but I get the feeling the author may continue it judging by the positive reaction she is getting from Molly.
Next I am reading The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. LeGuin.
