What can I say? I just love Molly the maid. I am giving this 5 stars, with the caveat that I don’t think it’s quite as good as the first book in the pair. But isn’t that so often the case with sequels? I won’t hold it against anyone!

Molly the maid is back in The Mystery Guest. Another mysterious death has occurred at The Regency Grand. Molly, having been close to the event and unable to lie, is not looking too innocent to the skeptical Detective Stark. (Nor is her maid-in-training, Lily.) When Molly’s keen eye for detail cracks the case, the Regency Grand will be reminded not to underestimate their Head Maid. (Yeah, she got promoted.)

I don’t know what it is, but I just love Molly and the way she sees the world, and these books have consistently been a win for me. On top of the compelling mystery, the fact that Molly is generally very literal and not overly sentimental makes the relationships she builds with her inner circle that much more heartwarming.

This book was different from the first in that the victim is already known to Molly, so we are treated to flashbacks which detail these interactions. I liked that we got to see some of her life as a child, and got some more insight into her Gran as a younger woman. I was equally interested in the past and the present, so I was never rushing through one time period to get back to the other one.

The most satisfying part of both of these books is when, after consistently being dismissed and ignored, Molly shows that her unique mind and special skills are exactly what have been missing all along. When she emerges triumphant and everyone has to admit she’s terrific, it’s just the best! But the part I love most is that Molly already knows she’s terrific. She’s just waiting patiently for everyone else to figure it out.

Anyway, if you loved The Maid, read this. If you haven’t read The Maid, read both. You’ll be so glad you did.

Love love love!

This is the SEQUEL to The Maid, which was released in 2022. I read it earlier this year & ADORED it; 5⭐️!!!

✨A man is dead on the hotel room floor… again. How does Molly manage to continue getting into these predicaments?! When her past & present intertwine, Molly finds herself assisting in solving another murder.

The Mystery Guest was one of my most anticipated reads of the second half of 2023. I was absolutely obsessed with Molly the Maid when she made her debut in the first installment, & could not wait to be back in her world. Her sweet, neurodivergent brain makes for so much fun & uniqueness. Her particularities & literalness WILL make you love her- I guarantee it. If I could hug one fictional character, I think Molly would be the one. 🥹🫶🏼 this quite possibly may be my favorite duology to date?! It’s cozy, cute, fast/evenly-paced, & a story I never wanted to end. The Mystery Guest picks up right where The Maid left off, so FOR SURE read them in order. I ate both of these novels up; here’s to hoping for a third!!! This time, maybe with Molly as a detective?! 👀🔎 gal is a genius!!! I simply cannot wait for the adaptation to be done so I can see her on the BIG SCREEN!

The Maid takes the cake for me so far (the mystery wasn’t AS intriguing in the second book) BUT I would read 10 more books in this series; I can’t recommend it enough. I really think it could be perfect for all readers, with the perfect genre mash-up of mystery, comedy, & precious characters. Need a palate cleanser or an exciting little series to binge?! This is the one! ❤️

READ IF YOU LIKE:
🧠 Neurodivergent characters
🎼 All Too Well by Taylor Swift (spotted more lyrics)!
👵🏼 Grandparent relationships
🔎 The game Clue
😂 Adorable MCs that make you giggle
🧼 Organizing/cleaning
⏰ Dual timelines
📕 Quick reads/shorter novels

I really enjoyed this one! I sat up late reading it with a cup of tea, a fuzzy blanket, and my cat. It was so nice being back in a story with familiar characters. I liked the jump between Before/After and thought that was done really well and in a way that was not confusing. Getting to see the world through Molly's eyes is truly a wonderful experience!

I devoured this book in one sitting! I absolutely loved Molly the maid in the first book of this series, so I was super excited to get my hands on this one! Such a good read!

For some reason I did not have high hopes or expectations for this sequel. I was happily surprised by how easy of a read this was. I kept wanting to pick it back up. Molly the maid is such a good protagonist. She’s funny, peculiar, caring, and smart. The ending of this one made my heart feel so warm. I do wish we saw more of Juan Manuel and Molly together in this one though, hopefully next book though? I recommend! Love Nita Prose’s writing.

I loved The Maid and was so excited to get to read The Mystery Guest. Molly is such a wonderful character and I found myself laughing out loud at some of the things happening in this book. There were some slow parts but I loved getting to know more about Molly's past and how things tied in what was happening in the present. I just really enjoy Molly and do hope for a little more mystery if there is a book 3.

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose is the follow-up novel to The Maid, featuring Molly Gray as the dutiful Maid of the Regency Grand Hotel.
I really enjoyed being able to revisit Molly at her place of employment, and delighted in watching her work to solve the latest mysterious death to take place at the Regency Grand. I enjoyed this book because Molly is such a quirky and lovable character.
The Mystery Guest features a dual timeline -- giving us a glimpse into Molly's life as a child with her beloved Gran, who also served as a maid. I loved having the opportunity to see how her childhood experiences shaped her and her opinion about the mysterious Mr. Grimthorpe, the acclaimed author who suddenly dies during an event for VIPs hosted at the Regency Grand. Who is Mr. Grimthorpe and how is he connected to Molly? And how did he die? Molly's keen eye for detail will surely come in handy in solving his mysterious death.
***
I read this on ebook courtesy of Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, NetGalley and author Nita Prose. Thank you to the author and publisher for an advance copy of this book.

Another great book from Nita Prose! I love her character, Molly the maid, a smart and quirky maid who gets herself into the middle of all sorts of things. She is in the middle of another murder investigation at her hotel, but helps police find the killer with ease. Read it in a day! 5 ⭐️!

this book was good, but not great. it was very redundant and the mysteries were easy to figure out which make it somewhat boring, molly had had great character development which is the only reason i am give this one 3 stars

I am really enjoying this series and the lead character Molly. In this second of the series the story moves ahead a few years, with Molly living with her beau and now the Head Maid at the NYC hotel. We learn more about Molly's childhood with her Gran, which also helps tell the current story of a popular mystery writer who comes to the hotel to reveal a secret but dies before he can speak. Molly encounters the same detective from the last story, who continues to underestimate Molly and her abilities. The story is again well-written and well-plotted. I hope the series continues with book #3. Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing, and Ballantine Books for providing an ARC.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose. What a great follow up to the original by Nita Prose. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters more and seeing how the story continues. This was just as good as the first. Highly recommend!

A lovely cozy mystery, with plenty of twists and turns! Prose strikes the balance of intrigue and comfort exceptionally well, not sacrificing one for the other. The time jumps were a fun added touch that helped build the mystery and show us more about the main character.

Thank you NetGalley and random house for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5 stars

Synopsis: Molly is back with another mystery. This time the hotel is hosting a famous author with a special event at the hotels new tea room. However before he can make his announcement.

What I liked: in this installment, we get more personal information about Molly and her gran. I really loved the insight that you fit into gran and Molly. I felt for her gran so much and how she loved molly so much but struggled with how best to guide Molly and provide for her. That was my favorite part for sure. Molly provided support to the police on the mystery especially since she had a personal connection to the victim. This time Mollys skills were not patronized but rather celebrated and Molly also was more self reflective in this book. I really liked that aspect. I also enjoyed Angela who was the new salon manager. She provided a nice friend to Molly. The ending twist didn’t seem realistic especially given book 1. Overall I liked this one better than the first and especially interested in the new direction Molly could go.

This book, as the first, is enjoyable. Molly is an endearing lead even with her occasional violent thoughts. I really enjoyed learning more about Molly’s past. The twist was obvious from the start but I still enjoyed this book nonetheless.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the follow up to the very popular “The Maid”, the book where we first met Molly the Maid. Molly has been promoted to Head Maid and she takes her position seriously.
Unfortunately, a well known mystery author named JD Grimthorpe is found murdered. Who’s responsible? Molly has a secret that should he her solve the crime, she actually knew the author years before. Can Molly find the murderer and save the reputation of her staff and the hotel.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

Lovely follow-up to The Maid. Easy read that wrapped everything up in a nice package. Provided some additional backstory that was enlightening.

I had higher hopes for this sequel after enjoying The Maid, a hotel-themed murder mystery as told by a neurodivergent maid, but this left something to be desired. The story unfolded more slowly and focused more on the flashbacks than unraveling the mystery. There was more suspense in The Maid than this story too.

SERIES REVIEW

GENRE: Mystery
MY RATINGS:
▫️The Maid 🌟🌟🌟💫 (3.5/5)
▫️The Mystery Guest 🌟🌟🌟🌟 (4/5)
#gifted @randomhouse 🫶

READ IF YOU LIKE:
▫️Neurodivergent representation ♾️
▫️Murder mysteries 🔎
▫️Single POV
▫️Medium-pace reads
▫️Amazing audiobooks 🎧

MY THOUGHTS:
This mystery series is absolutely delightful! 🙌 It will keep you entertained, make you laugh, and even surprise you! I just recommended it to my sister (she prefers mysteries over thrillers) and she LOVED IT. If you like audiobooks, you must try these on audio bc the narrator, Lauren Ambrose, KILLS IT. (Pun intended 😉)

Molly loves her job as a maid cleaning at a five-star hotel. She is quirky and brilliant, but at times has difficulty with her social skills, which can land her in some sticky situations… especially when she discovers a dead body in one of the hotel rooms 😧 As a prime suspect, she must figure out how to get out of this one!

RATING EXPLAINED:
If you go in expecting, crazy “thriller energy” with big twists & turns, you will be disappointed. That is not what these books are. These books are compelling, cozy mysteries that will leave you craving more of Molly. ❤️ She remains my favorite fictional character TO DATE. She is so quirky & lovable!!! 🥹 The plot is good in both books, but Molly truly is the star of the show here. I liked book 2 slightly more bc we got to dive deeper into Molly’s past with her Gran 🫶 plus, I found book 1 a tad slower. Overall, I def recommend these books!

DETAILS:
▫️Published: 1/4/22 & 11/28/23
▫️Pages: 304 (for both)
▫️Awards: Book 1- Goodreads mystery winner for 2022

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

3.75// Let’s start with the things that were really good in this book. I loved Molly in the last book and I still loved her in this book. Nita Prose did a great job giving her more responsibility and altogether with her character growth. In The Maid, Molly came across as more naive, but in this book she didn’t and was more socially aware. I also loved the new additions to the maids like Lily, Sunshine, and Sunitha.

Another aspect that I loved about this book was that the author showed us Molly’s childhood. I loved getting to understand how she was raised, where her love for cleaning started, and seeing how she looked out for Gran as much as he looked out for her.

Here are the things that I didn’t really love. Finding out who the murderer was, wasn’t necessarily predictable, but the way it was explained was murky and just didn’t have the unexpected twist the way the first book did.

There’s also a big secret revealed - at least I think it’s supposed to be a big secret - that I guess was supposed to be shocking, but I had already figured it out.

Overall, I think this book had some sweet moments, but it didn’t wow me the way the first book did.

The Mystery Guest is the second book featuring Molly the maid, who finds herself unexpectedly in the midst of another murder investigation. This time, a famous author dies in the middle of an event at the hotel where she works, and Molly uses her wit and attention to detail to seek out clues as to who is behind it all. But Molly also has a connection to the dead author…one that may give her special insight into what really happened to him.

This was a solid sequel to The Maid. It felt like a classic, cozy mystery to me, where there’s another cast of characters to suspect and little clues hidden throughout the story. I loved all of Molly’s little sayings and her character development in this story. I also really appreciated the themes of found family, knowing your worth, and loving yourself just as you are.

Overall, this is a cute sequel and I’m looking forward to the next one in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine Books for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.