The Mystery Guest
by Nita Prose
Reviewed by Valerie Palmer

I was thrilled to receive this book as an ARC from Netgalley as I read the first book, The Maid, and fully enjoyed it. The second book, The Mystery Guest, did not disappoint either. I will definitely be reading more books by Nita Prose.

Summary
Molly Gray is not like anyone else. With her flair for cleaning and proper etiquette, she has risen through the ranks of the glorious five-star Regency Grand Hotel to become the esteemed Head Maid. But just as her life reaches a pinnacle state of perfection, her world is turned upside down when J. D. Grimthorpe, the world-renowned mystery author, drops dead—very dead—on the hotel’s tearoom floor.

When Detective Stark, Molly’s old foe, investigates the author’s unexpected demise, it becomes clear that this death was murder most foul. Suspects abound, and everyone wants to know: Who killed J. D. Grimthorpe? Was it Lily, the new Maid-in-Training? Or was it Serena, the author’s secretary? Could Mr. Preston, the hotel’s beloved doorman, be hiding something? And is Molly really as innocent as she seems?

As the high-profile death threatens the hotel’s pristine reputation, Molly knows she alone holds the key to unlocking the killer’s identity. But that key is buried deep in her past, as long ago, she knew J. D. Grimthorpe. Molly begins to comb her memory for clues, revisiting her childhood and the mysterious Grimthorpe mansion where she and her dearly departed Gran once worked side by side. With the entire hotel under investigation, Molly must solve the mystery posthaste. Because if there’s one thing she knows for sure, it’s that secrets don’t stay buried forever.

What I Liked
I liked Molly’s character development between the two books. She became a much stronger and more confident woman by the end of the second book. In the end, Detective Sparks had a lot more respect for Molly.
I was not sure who was to blame for the murder of Grimthrope and was suspicious of multiple characters for a while. I enjoy a good mystery that keeps me engaged and want to continue reading to see what is going to happen next.

I liked the writing style and how every other chapter was present versus past time. It gave a glimpse of who Gran was and how she did her best to protect Molly as a child.

What I Didn't Like
One of the main things I did not like was that the book seemed a bit unrealistic. I also did not like that it took Mr. Preston so long to tell Molly that he was related to her.

Rating⭐⭐⭐⭐
I gave this book four stars on Goodreads. I enjoyed the book, but it seemed rather impossible. Would I recommend this book? Absolutely.

I was skeptical when I started The Maid, but I ended up loving Molly and the rest of the cast of characters from The Grand (Cheryl excluded). So I was excited to see another installment was coming out.

I enjoyed this one as well and learning a little bit more about Molly, Gran and the rest. Hoping to see more from the author soon.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

Our favorite maid Molly is back with an all new murder mystery to solve!

I loved the first book and was SO happy to get another book of Molly! This book was clever, and a fun cozy mystery to read. I could go into a more detailed synopsis but I think it is more fun to go in blindly.

What I loved:
- Molly, of course! She just makes me smile and I adore her. I am happy to see her doing so well after the first book! She deserves it all.
- Her little quotes and nuggets from her grandma! I always love how her love for her grandma is still so strong even after her grandma has passed
- The mystery and murder! Okay, I actually couldn’t figure this one out. For a cozy mystery, I was actually shocked with what went down
- I love the whole world of Molly’s. The hotel is such a fun setting. I also love her friendships with everyone and her relationship with her boyfriend is adorable . Although, I do wish we got more of him in this book!

Overall, this was a fun and quick read! I love a good cozy mystery and this one did not disappoint. 4 stars out of 5! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

There's been a murder in the Regency Grand and Molly the Maid is once more on the case. At least she's not a suspect this time.
Molly dives into the mystery with her signature style that we all fell in love with from book 1, and its just as on point the second time around. I love getting to walk in Molly's shoes and see the way she views the world. Molly is no longer reeling from the emotional trauma of losing her grandmother, but she does have to dive into her past with this case, plumbing a different sort of emotional trauma.
This book was everything I wanted it to be and more. Molly is a delightful heroine, the mystery of excellently done, and the ending completely satisfying.

The Mystery Guest (The Maid Book 2) by Nita Prose

304 Pages
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Ballantine Books
Release Date: November 29, 2023

Fiction (Adult), General Fiction (Adult), Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, British

Molly Gray is now the Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. The author, J. D, Grimthorpe, will be making an important announcement at the hotel. After making a few remarks and sips of tea with honey, he collapses on the floor. He lands on Lily, the new maid in training.

This book is as good as the first in the series. Molly is quirky and different than society’s idea of normal. There are a lot of backstories. We learn more about Molly’s Gran and Mr. Prescott, the doorman at the hotel. It is fast paced, the characters are well developed, and it is written in the third person point of view. If you like a good mystery with memorable characters, you will like this book.

I did not enjoy this title as much as I did Prose's first one, The Maid. I think part of it was I had recently read another newly published title with a very similar plot (Death Writes, by Andrea Carter) that was much better written with more realistic and nuanced character development, so it made this one look very poor in comparison. Unfortunately what seemed so charming in The Maid felt stilted and simplistic in this one, and I'm not sure if the reason is my own - since I had just read a better book with the same plot - or Prose's.

I was nervous for this follow up. I don't know why. I was like the first one was good and let's leave well enough alone. I would like to go on the record and say I was wrong. This was a super entertaining and enjoyable read. I hope there's so many more to continue to prove me wrong

MOLLY!!!! I love her so much and it was a delight to truly get to know Gran and her life and love. We got to see why and how she was just so dedicated to protecting Molly. My love for this series is also that we get to see the hardships as well. It makes it human, and if I can feel in a book, that's really the greatest accomplishment an author can have. Well done, Nita Prose!

I finished this book a couple of weeks prior to its Pub date in November '23, and it was one of my most anticipated. While not a 5 star for some "suspending belief" and what I call, "Scooby Doo elements"/cozy mystery, it was still a win in my book! AND, a double bonus is that it was about a book within a book - my favorite trope!

"Deep cleaning gives life meaning." This book has a heart and that's all I'm going to say. Read the first if you haven't, you won't be sorry!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

I *loved* the first book of this series and was excited to return to the Regency Grand and visit my friends. I really enjoyed the setup of this book and its conclusion, but the book didn’t have quite the same emotional depth as the first book. It wasn’t quite as delightful as the first book, but I found it to be a fun, cozy mystery.

Molly the Maid is back in another whodunit mystery. World famous author JD Grimthorpe mysteriously drops dead at the Regency Grand and Molly is in the middle of it all! She plays detective to clear her name. All beloved characters such Juan Manuel, Mr. Preston and Detective Stark appear in this sequel.

I absolutely loved the Mystery Guest as much as I did The Maid! Molly is such an adorable and peculiar character, I am really hoping to read a third installment.

A lovely followup to the maid. Equal parts of the hotel and crime solving along with more background on our delightful protagonist!

I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. If I didn't receive this book from NetGalley I probably wouldn't have read this book. I'm glad I did though because I did really like it. I think I might have liked this one just a tiny bit more than the first book.

If you've read the first book then definitely give this book a chance. You'll be a little lost if you haven't read the first book and read this one first.

I feel like this book perfectly paired with the first book. You meet the FMC in the first book and immediately are thrown into the quirkiness of her life and thought processes. You learn what makes her tick and get a little taste of those who are in her inner circle - which is not many. This book really takes you deep into her life with the dual timelines - her childhood and her current adult life. I enjoyed the sweet little romance happening but wish there would have been a little more of their relationship in this book….perhaps that’s in store for book number 3!

As with the first book, the plot was well thought out, the FMC is complex but also so relatable for those who have experiences with neurodivergence or autism. The author places you in her world so perfectly. You understand some of the difficulties she experiences on a regular basis while also experiencing the amazing precision she is capable of because of the beautiful mind she has. The mystery brings along some twists and tangles, and her awkwardness makes it cringy in all the best ways.

Much like the first book, I was unsure about the narrator initially, it always takes me a chapter or two to really settle in. Once the story starts taking off I have found both times that I DO enjoy the quirkiness she brings to the character, that is who Molly truly is! I enjoyed this book and will definitely recommend.

I would like to thank Nita Prose, NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. I so appreciated this opportunity!

Sadly not as enjoyable as the original. It felt rushed, Molly wasn't as endearing this time around, and the solve was not as satisfying as I was hoping it would be,

~3-3.5/5

An overall enjoyable, entertaining quick read, but the mystery didn't really grip me the same way it did in book 1.

In this story we are back at the Regency Grand Hotel where Molly is now head maid. A renowned author comes to the hotel to hold a press conference, but drops dead before he can share the big news. We follow Molly and a cast of new and familiar faces as they try and figure out what happened.

I found this book to be a little predictable (I guessed most of the outcomes, including one that I had guessed at from book 1) but I can't help but cheer Molly on. Seeing her character growth and confidence was lovely (and I'm sure her Gran would be proud :))

As a follow up to the first book, I actually enjoyed this one so much more! It was full of twists and had an ending I truly loved and did not see coming!

This follow-up to The Maid is not quite as surprising and fun as the original. While Prose works to provide Molly with a deeper and more complex back story, I felt that the present-day mystery was not as exciting as I'd hoped. The dual timelines are interwoven well and the author ties things up nicely at the end. But I felt the resolution to the mystery was a bit contrived and unsatisfying.

That said, this book is an easy read that brings back some favorite characters. Molly goes through some interesting character development in this installment and I'm interested to see where the author takes her in future books.

Molly the Maid is back again! 🧹🫧🧼

I absolutely loved The Maid by @nitaprose and knew I needed to read her second book in the series, The Mystery Guest, to get another dose of Molly!

When an acclaimed author dies at the Regency Grand Hotel, it’s up to a fastidious maid, Molly Gray, to uncover the truth, no matter how dirty.

Molly is a one of a kind character and I love her! She is dedicated to her job as head maid at The Regency Grand, believes in proper etiquette in all situations, and cannot stand messes! So when an author she knew way back when she was a young girl drops dead during an appearance in the hotel tea room, Molly is all over the case with Detective Stark to uncover the killer. With dual timelines and flashbacks to her past, this story was interesting and kept me on my toes!

And as always, I loved the dark witty comments throughout, making this murder mystery thrilling yet lighthearted and fun!

Molly Grey is one of the most unique protagonists I have met in mystery novels. Her attention to detail, linear thinking and esoteric knowledge add up to an engaging character. She takes pride in her role as head maid at the prestigious Regency Grand Hotel, quite content and proud of a profession viewed as menial and demeaning. When famous mystery author J. D.. Grimthorpe is poisoned at a book event in the Art Deco tearoom suspicion falls on her coworker Lily. Determined to maintain the Regency's and Lily's reputation Molly is determined to uncover the culprit. Despite distrust Detective Stark grudgingly accepts her input. In this second outing readers learn much more of Molly and her grandmother's backstory highlighting her childhood and the people and events that shaped her. Written in two different timelines this engaging cozy unfolds gently making for a refreshing and relaxing read. Molly's unusual response to the world and people around her as she shares her inner thoughts are interesting and thought provoking. An enjoyable, relaxing read.

Molly the maid is back! There is another murder at the Regency Grand Hotel and Molly and the same cast of characters we met in, The Maid, are on the job to find the murderer. Molly is now head maid, a role she takes very seriously and with much pride of purpose. The murder victim is a famous mystery author about to make a big announcement, but dies on stage before he gets a chance. Turns out that J.D. Grimthorpe was someone from Molly's past - she helped her Gran clean Grimthorpe mansion. We get a glimpse into Molly's childhood as she remembers bits and pieces of her time at the mansion. This is a very entertaining cozy style mystery, the characters are interesting and it is wonderful to read Molly's backstory and how she became so close to her Gran and why she enjoys being a made so much. My only complaint would be that the "twist" was a little too obvious, but since I like Molly so much this was still a fun read.