Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

The Maid by Nita Prose

171 reviews

veeples's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I had a lot of fun with this book! Its a well paced mystery with a protagonist I couldn’t help but root for and wanted the best end for her. I found the last twist in the book to be a little out of left field and the justification slightly flimsy, otherwise this would have been a solid 4 star book.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Violence, Drug use, and Domestic abuse

norwegianforestreader's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Confinement, Gun violence, Abandonment, Ableism, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Classism, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Deportation, Drug use, Infidelity, Misogyny, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Cancer, and Murder

isabezza's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

3.5

This is a difficult review to write as this book was simply okay. Initially I enjoyed our main character's unique, flawed, bullied, possibly neurodivergent mindstyle, but it quickly became repetitive. The mystery was generally predictable even when the main character omitted aspects of the narrative for suspense. The characters were two-dimensional; good or evil with little nuance. Nonetheless, this was an enjoyable and comfortable read with some exciting moments. The little victories for the main character I particularly enjoyed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Bullying, Cancer, Death, Deportation, Drug use, and Murder

madamenovelist's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Blood, Body horror, Chronic illness, Cancer, Classism, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Drug abuse, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Physical abuse

The heroine has overt autistic traits (and possibly OCD traits? it’s unclear what the author’s intent was) but the manner in which her neurodivergence is handled was vaguely… flat. Like a caricature rather than a real person. I’m not sure if the author had a sensitivity reader/discussed what it’s like to be autistic with actual autistic people. Fantastic premise that would have made 5 stars if neurodivergence was handled with better care.

whewtaewoon's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Molly, an Autistic maid, finds the body of a VIP guest and finds herself square in the focus of the investigating detective. Molly must learn who she can trust to help her shine a light on the truth of the situation and uncover much more than just a murder. 

I'll be honest, I was a bit skeptical at first of The Maid. I couldn't find any information on if Prose herself is Autistic, coupled with the fact Molly is never called Autistic in the book (rather she's called "different") I wasn't sure what to expect. Actually, I think I expected the worse. However, in my opinion, The Maid is a fun and respectful representation of an Autistic woman finding her way in the world on her own for the first time in her life. Not only did I enjoy the depection of Molly but I also enjoyed the mystery itself. I enjoyed (although was frustrated by) Molly having to figure out who was friend and who was foe. The twists in the story were delightfully surprising as well. 

I look forward to the next book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Murder, and Drug use

katielikestoread's review against another edition

mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

If you're looking for a lighter, more digestible book with a bit of mystery thrown in, this is the book for you. Some parts of it were entertaining but it doesn't completely check out as a murder mystery to me. I do have a tendre for Molly but the rest of the book is a bit rote. Some of the topics surrounding certain characters were handled clumsily, to say the least, and it's my opinion that a book published in this day and age should be more sensitive. It felt like everything but the kitchen sink was thrown in to make this a mystery, and there were a lot of instances in which the protagonist straddled the line between oblivious and sly, despite the book claiming the very opposite.

I get that the protagonist isn't supposed to be a sophisticated, seasoned murderer, but it's a different thing entirely to have her be written in an oblivious light and not address why. One strength of the book is that it's not bogged down by red herrings but in my opinion, the simplicity of the plot doesn't read well and the third act comes together all too conveniently for my taste.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use and Murder

sarahflanders's review against another edition

emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Bullying, Death, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Grief, Terminal illness, Murder, and Toxic relationship

literarylatte's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Murder, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Ableism, Infidelity, and Death

ember13's review against another edition

emotional funny mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Minor: Drug use

sarahbethhh's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Molly is such a charming narrator and I enjoyed her worldview throughout the story. The pacing was slow for a whodunit, but still enjoyable. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Ableism

Minor: Deportation, Drug use, and Physical abuse