The Maid

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• Were you surprised by the revelation that Rodney was not the killer? What clues were there that Mr. Black died of an accidental overdose?
• How does this novel compare to other cozy/hotel mysteries you’ve read, such as Agatha Christie’s novels At Bertram’s Hotel or Evil Under the Sun?
• What did you think about the time jumps in the novel? How did these changes in narrative affect your reading experience?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• Ultimately, Molly decides that Mr. Black deserved to die because of his bad behavior, including his abuse of her friend Giselle. How do you feel about this judgment? Have you ever gone to extreme lengths to protect a friend?
• In the novel’s final scenes, Molly and the first Mrs. Black agree that some wicked people are rewarded by society while good people suffer. Do you agree? Why or why not?
• Molly’s grandmother argues that truth is subjective. Do you share this belief? If so, what does that look like in your life? If not, what makes you feel otherwise?
• Molly’s closest friends are the people she works with. Does this ring true for you? What factors lead to intimacy among coworkers, in your experience?

3. Societal and Cultural Context

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• How does the novel represent differences in social class, and is this realistic? For instance, do you think that Molly and Giselle would be friends in real life? What about Molly and Juan Manuel? Why or why not? Does the novel offer any critique of the conditions its working-class characters are exposed to?
• What relationship does the novel posit between Black’s use of alcohol and pills and his abuse of his wife? Is this a fair characterization of the real-world intersection of addiction and domestic violence?
• How does the novel’s ending—in which Rodney is convicted of a murder he did not commit—reflect modern conversations about criminal justice?

4. Literary Analysis

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• How is Molly’s job as a maid used as a symbol of justice throughout the novel? What other jobs could she have that would serve a similar symbolic purpose?
• Consider the significance of the characters’ names—e.g., Mr. Black’s last name denoting darkness and therefore evil. How does the novel use names as a tool of characterization? How do you understand the title in light of this?
• To what extent would you characterize this as a coming-of-age story? What elements of the genre does it uphold or subvert?
• What clues were there in the novel that Giselle was not Mr. Black’s first wife? How do the two wives compare?

5. Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• If you were adapting this novel, whom would you cast in the roles of Molly and Giselle? Would you keep the original ending, or would you change it so Rodney or another character was actually responsible for the death?
• Create a playlist that parallels the events of the novel. What songs could you use to capture its overall mood or evoke particular characters?

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