A delightful read that earns a solid rating for its charming blend of innocence and intrigue. Set in the grandeur of the Regency Grand Hotel, the city and year remain a mystery, much like the plot itself, which cleverly unfolds through a mix of past and present narratives. Prose’s protagonist, Molly, is refreshingly naive, her quirks endearing as they are portrayed through her unique interpretation, spelling, and rich vocabulary.

The story references old television shows reminiscent of reruns Molly once shared with her grandmother, adding a touch of nostalgia.

As a sequel, “The Mystery Guest” stands strong, providing enough backstory to welcome new readers without confusion. The significant time gap between this and the previous book suggests a new chapter in Molly’s life, inviting readers to unravel the ongoings at this 5-star hotel anew.

Prose’s narrative is a testament to her skillful storytelling, making “The Mystery Guest” a compelling continuation of a beloved series.

Molly is back!!!

I really love this character.
She's so exact in her thinking, which for some may seem complicated but her directness just really does it for me.
Molly is back to solving another murder in the hotel where she works as a maid.
And yes, please suspend all reality as she investigates the crime and also helps the good detective.
We learned a few things about Molly's past and her gran in this one.
I loved the backstory but was also a little sad at times to learn how hard it was for her to fit in socially.
I will absolutely continue to follow this character to the very end

what a satisfying sequel to The Maid. Molly's unique voice and way of looking at things is refreshing and makes me consider the way I view the world. The mystery was top notch and had me guessing. I can't wait for a third installment.

Nita Prose just wrote the perfect character I am absolutely in love with. Reading THE MYSTERY GUEST was like treating myself to a world of a wonderful time that has passed. Molly Gray is simply charming and delightful. The Regency Grand Hotel would be a travel destination for me, especially now that Molly is the HEAD MAID and in charge of the new staff in training.

In this second book, a famous author keels over during an author event at The Regency Grand Hotel. As Detective Stark investigates this very mysterious death, we glean from the story about young Molly and more about Gran and her wonderful advice and idioms for Molly.

I really enjoyed my time with Molly and cannot wait to see more of this series.

Thank you to Netgally, the publishers, and Nita Prose

When I requested this book I was unaware that it was apart of a series, one that requires you to read the previous books for this one to make sense. I am unable to read all the previous books along with this one before the publish date. Therefore, I will rate this a fair 3/5 stars and will adjust the rating and review when I am able to read all the books in the series along with this one.

Molly Gray returns in the Mystery Guest, and once again - there is a death at the Regency Grand Hotel. Although I enjoyed this one, I felt like this was a bit too close to the first one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the advanced e-book.

"The Mystery Guest" felt like a long overdue visit with Molly, the crew from the Regency Grand Hotel, and others from "The Maid".

I admit that I wasn't quite sure how to take Molly when I first started "The Maid", but she very quickly sucked me in, unlike most of what I've been reading recently. The reveal at the end didn't totally surprise me, but it still brought a few tears to my eyes 🥹 .

Now anxiously awaiting the next installment ☺️ .

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love the quirkiness of this series. It makes it a very fun read. This book was not as good as the first book but I still Enjoyed it and was glad there was another in the series.

I absolutely adored the first book and didn’t hesitate to get so more time with Molly’s enduring, quirky character in the second book. This is a wonderful mystery of whodoneit just like the first one except we get a further glimpse into Molly’s background, her gran and why they became maids. I appreciate that her character is different but accepted and considered an asset in the second book. I think it is good reminder to everyone. This is quick, entertaining read, but didn’t have the exciting surprise twist when finding out the “killer” like the first one.

A special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Ballantine for the digital ARC!

I extend my sincere appreciation to NetGalley for providing me with an early copy of this book.

While I hadn't anticipated this sequel, I was very excited to read it. As well as 'The Maid', the 'Mystery Guest' is refreshingly devoid of excessive blood or grime. Instead, it spins a story around a murder, once again putting Molly Gray under the spotlight of suspicion.

Molly is dealing with personal struggles, longing for her grandmother and missing her dear Juan Manuel. Despite usually having Mr. Preston as a close companion, she distances herself from him too, feeling increasingly isolated. The arrival and subsequent murder of J.D. Grimthorpe only serve to stir up memories of Molly's childhood, particularly her strong bond with her grandmother.

Interestingly, I found myself more drawn to understanding Molly herself than solving the murder mystery. In essence, the book goes beyond the typical whodunit, with Molly emerging as the true enigma. In 'The Mystery Guest', readers are given a unique opportunity to get to know Molly better by learning about her family, her past, and her childhood memories. The book delves into her experiences growing up, giving a deeper understanding of who she is as a person. Through these insights, which grabbed my attention and kept me engaged throughout the book, I felt like I became more connected to Molly and her story.

"The Mystery Guest: A Maid Novel" by Nita Prose is a delightful blend of mystery and humor that kept me entertained from beginning to end. Prose's clever storytelling introduces us to the quirky world of maids and hotels, where nothing is quite as it seems. The protagonist, Molly, is endearing and relatable, and her journey to uncover the truth behind a mysterious guest's disappearance is both captivating and amusing.

Prose's writing is sharp and witty, with just the right amount of suspense to keep readers guessing. As Molly delves deeper into the mystery, we're treated to a cast of colorful characters and unexpected twists that add layers of intrigue to the story. "The Mystery Guest" is a charming and entertaining read that I would highly recommend to fans of cozy mysteries and light-hearted fiction.

I struggled getting into this! Just like the first book it took awhile for me to get into the story but I was still interested enough to see where the story was going to go.

Thank you Netgalley, author Nita Prose and Random House Publications for sharing the ARC.

When a famous mystery author dies unexpectedly at the Regency Hotel it’s up to Molly the maid to connect the dots to solve yet another mystery is this sequel book.

I was super excited to read continuing adventures of Molly Maid and it did not disappoint. The unique way of Molly handling problems , her straightforward viewpoint of people and world is endearing, ironical and funny through the whole plot .
I ended up liking this installment better as it gave more background to Molly and her grandmother’s backstory.
Reading alternate chapters of current timeline and Molly’s version of her childhood with her granny that contains elements to connect the current story , I couldn’t turn the pages faster to know it all.
As always this is a cozy mystery with loads of drama and sentiments weaved in it.

Definitely recommend someone who wants to read something light hearted, fresh with a touch of whodunnit.

It’s a 4/5 ⭐️ read for me .

Like a spoonful of clotted cream on top of one of Gran’s freshly baked scones, this follow up to The Maid hits the spot. Molly is back, this time as Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel, caught up in a new mystery. The death of a famous writer has sent the hotel staff into a tizzy, and reluctant detective Molly must figure out who did it before the formidable Det. Spark casts her eye on the hotel employees. Switching between past and present timelines, not only do we learn about Molly’s connection to the deceased writer l, but we also get glimpses into Molly’s childhood with her beloved Gran. Fans of The Maid will enjoy reading this book.

I was so excited to get back into the story of Molly the Maid and her antics at the Regency Grand Hotel!

Molly is back and just as quirky and lovable as ever, but now with a few more years of experience in live without Gran. When famous author J.D. Grimthorpe is drops dead inside her hotel, Molly is forced into yet another mystery that needs to be solved to return the reputation of the hotel to a state of perfection. And even better yet, this mystery brings us deep into the past of Molly and Gran for us to see where it all began.

I really enjoyed being back with Molly and seeing her grow throughout the two books. The mystery of this one was maybe not as thrilling as the first, but I actually enjoyed the more slow burn mystery of the past just as much. I appreciated getting a bit deeper into how Molly became the maid she is, as well as her connection to Gran while also solving the mystery of what happened to Mr. Grimthorpe. While this one was honestly a bit slower, I still found it to be quite enjoyable, but admittedly maybe slightly less than the first.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Nita Prose did it again with this book. I really enjoyed the first book but I think this one might be my favorite. Molly is such a great character and makes it so easy to get sucked into her story. I really enjoyed the twists in this story. All in all this was an enjoyable and comfortable read, tending towards being a cozy, but is definitely a good read. I would recommend this book,

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

3.5 stars! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Molly’s next journey into the daily life of a maid at the Regency Hotel! Molly’s personality makes for a fun twist on your standard cozy mystery story and I enjoy seeing how her mind will help the story unfold.

I absolutely adore these characters! And I actually love the way this book took place 4 years after the events in the first one. It was like catching up with old friends.
Molly is such a enjoyable main character. She's one of the few I can read without getting annoyed at any moment. The Mystery Guest allowed us to also look into her past, which created a better picture of who she is now. I truly hope Nita Prose continues with this series. Honestly, Cheryl is the only character I can't stand.

This book was an excellent sequel to The Maid. Molly is still as quirky as ever and with a new situation. I loved watching her character develop throughout both books as well as this book answering a few questions we were left with from book one. Wonderfully written and an easy read!

Molly the maid is back! The author did a wonderful job at sticking true to Molly's character, personality, and speech habits.

If you liked the first book you will probably like the second. There is more to Molly's story.

There is a bit of a repetitive theme due to the protagonist quirks that get a little tiresome as the reader, but it's a quick cozy with a double mystery which is nice.