The Mystery Guest is the second novel in the Molly the Maid series. While the book could be read as a standalone, I would highly recommend reading The Maid first.

Molly is the head maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. Her eye for detail and focus on perfection have led her to the elevated role, for which she is quite proud. Her perfect like seemingly comes to a screeching halt when famous author, J.D. Grimthorpe, falls over dead in the middle of the Regency Grand Hotel tea room. Was it murder? Who would have wanted to kill Mr. Grimthorpe?

On a journey to find the truth, we meet many interesting characters along the way, including members of the LAMBS--a fan club for J.D. Grimthorpe. We also get to learn more about Molly's childhood and some secret are revealed. This was a great novel!

4 out of 5 stars.

The Mystery Guest is the second in a maid novel series by Nina Prose. Following the exploits of Molly Gray now the head maid at the Regency Grand, "a five star boutique hotel."

Once again Molly pushes her well stocked maid's trolley which she calls "a portable sanitation miracle", through the rooms as she brings them all back to clean order. Molly knows she sees things differently and since her grandmother has passed on, she relies on her boy friend, Juan for giving her a clear perspective.

This time Molly gets involved in the murder of J. D. Grimthorpe, the world-renowned mystery author, when he drops dead on the hotel's tea room floor. In an effort to clear both her name and the name of Lily, her new maid in training, she steps in to assist in solving the mystery. Molly may have more information about the case than she is letting on.

She works once again with Detective Stark looking at and interviewing the multiple suspects. Is it Serena the author's secretary, or Mr. Preston, her friend and the hotel's beloved doorman? With a few misdirections Molly and Detective Stark will uncover the culprit and clean up the mess.

***This review, expressing my honest opinion, is voluntary, and I extend my gratitude to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books and NetGalley for providing the ARC of "The Mystery Guest.***

Embracing her newfound role as Head Maid at the esteemed Regency Grand Hotel, Molly basks in the pride she knows her grandmother would feel. The anticipation is palpable as the hotel readies for an opulent gathering in their freshly renovated tea room. However, the air of excitement takes an unexpected turn to dismay when the celebrated author J.D. Grimthorpe collapses during his speech at the event.

Once more, Molly finds herself aiding Detective Stark in unraveling the intricate threads of a murder mystery. Will the discerning detective finally embrace Molly's unique skills this time? Molly's unblemished innocence remains a refreshing beacon in today's complex world.

The narrative gracefully navigates through Molly's past, delving into her youth and the formative years spent with her grandmother, as she wholeheartedly embraces the true calling of being a maid. This delightful and whimsical mystery serves as a constant source of joy, guaranteeing a smile from beginning to end. While this is the second installment in a series, it stands independently; nonetheless, starting from the beginning is recommended for the sheer pleasure of acquainting oneself with the endearing Miss Molly.

I love Molly the maid but this did not hit the same as the maid! I actually didn’t really like the nonlinear timeline in this instance as I felt like it was taking away from the mystery in the present day. With that said… I’ll read whatever Nita Prose writes!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy
of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited when I discovered Nita Prose was writing a second book. Her first novel, The Maid, was one of my favorite books for the entire year when it was published in 2022. It was everything I could have asked for in a book. A unique protagonist, well drawn and believable characters, perfect pacing, a top notch mystery, and a satisfying ending that I never saw coming. I read so many books, and to be lucky enough to pick one up that was so unexpected was such a great pleasure.

Going into The Mystery Guest, I was a little trepidatious. Could Nita Prose top what she pulled off with The Maid? I wasn’t sure, but I went into it thinking if was at least half as good, it would still be a fantastic book.

Having just finished the last few pages of The Mystery Guest, I can confirm this: the sequel is every bit as enjoyable as The Maid! I’m not going to give anything away, because spoiling such a rare book would be a crime. So instead, I’ll tell you that I enjoyed every page of this book from the first to the last. Thank you Nita, for reminding me exactly why I love reading so much. Opening the pages of a good novel transports you to a new world and lets you go on so many adventures. It was so fun to go on another journey with Molly. I eagerly await another book from you in the future.

Having read The Maid, I was super excited for the second book in this series! I found Molly’s quirks endearing in the first book and although I loved to see her progress into a much more confident person in this book, her quirks started to lose their charm and got on my nerves slightly. I also found it difficult to stay engaged with the murder mystery of the world famous author Mr. Grimthorpe. It was relatively easy to figure out the culprit and I didn’t care much about the new characters that were introduced. I did enjoy the descriptions of Mr. Grimthorpe’s extravagant mansion and, of course, the Regency Grand Hotel. I would’ve liked this book more if there was a better plot twist. Overall, I enjoyed the book as a leisurely cozy mystery, however it’s not one of my favorites. Thank you to Nita Prose, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy so I can provide an honest review.

QUICK TAKE: It's fun, but forgettable. probably a book that didn't need a sequel, though one of the few books where the flashbacks were more entertaining and interesting than the current day storyline, which was kinda snoozy tbh.

I love this book. Molly is at it again. Molly is my favorite character I think ever, she has her own way of looking at things and I love it. I also love how Nita writes things vague, meaning you can take this story and make it your own. Using your own imagination to see how the story goes. This second book of the maid series follows Molly as she is thrown into another investigation when a famous author drops dead at an event at the hotel. This book had me turning the pages and couldn't wait to see how it played out. I hope there's more Molly in my future.

What a wonderful follow up to The Maid! I really enjoyed the timeline jumps and getting a good picture of our main character's past. I also really enjoyed our main character being able to take another under her wing.

I really enjoyed this follow up to The Maid. I really enjoy Molly as a character. I love her for her nuances and her representation. I don't think this book was as strong as the first book, but the story was still great, it was a quick read, and I am very much looking for and hoping for the next one!

I was happy to be back with Miss Molly. She is such a lovable character. While I know sequels are hard to write and therefore go in with lower expectations, I definitely don't think this book lived up to the first. The murder mystery was good, not great. I did enjoy her memories of the past with her gram but that didn't make up for the issues with this book for me.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley but right after I did, I realized that I had never read the first book in the series, The Maid. I meant to but never got to it. Fortunately, I was able to get it from the library. It was a light, easy read that I enjoyed. I was expecting this book to be more of the same. However, I was pleased to find that there was a good deal more substance to it. This is not to say that The Maid was bad (I did give it four stars). The Mystery Guest was more "seasoned" and there was a good deal more to Molly than her awkwardness with people. The story was more complex but so were the characters. Molly had a love interest (more on that in a minute). She kept her trademark awkwardness but the author deepened her character and made her multidimensional. In the first book, the focus was on her Asperger's (never stated but I assume) and her job. Here, she is so much more.
About perhaps the only criticism I have is that her love interest was sent away at the beginning of the book and comes back later on. It would be interesting to see Molly with him. But maybe the author is going to reveal that in the next book.

Nita Prose does it again!! 👏🏻

I loved the first book so I was super excited for The Mystery Guest!! Molly is such an endearing character and I love how literal she is. She just makes me so happy!

Molly, now Head Maid, and her maid in training Lily are getting prepared for an exclusive gathering for the mystery writer JD Grimthorpe. They are responsible for serving him his tea. He promised a major announcement, but before he could get the words out, he dropped dead right in front of hotel staff, his secretary, and a group of ladies called the LAMBS (Ladies Auxillary Mystery Book Society).

With yet another suspicious death within the hotel, Detective Stark is back and I remembered why I didn’t like her in the first book (but y’all, she totally redeems herself in The Mystery Guest!!) Stark immediately suspects many different people— Lily, Serena, and even Mr. Preston was under scrutiny! When she learns that Molly spent time in the Grimthorpe Mansion as a child with her Gran, Molly was also suspected. This time, she isn’t nervous and she takes the investigating into her own hands! No stone will be left unturned while Molly gets to the bottom of this mystery, just as she keeps every room in a state of perfection!

Oh— and Cheryl is still terrible. That is all I have to say about her 🙄

I loved the past and present timelines. It was so fun getting a peek into Molly’s childhood and how it all connected with the events of her adult life! Molly had so much growth from the first book to now and it was so nice getting to see that change in her as she investigated and gained more and more confidence.

Also, that heartwarming conclusion was not what I was expecting and it made the entire book for me! Get your tissues ready!

Overall, this was everything I needed in a book! The mystery, the coziness, and the heartwarming ending. It was just pure perfection!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Nita Prose!!

I loved The Maid so I was so excited to see it became a series! I absolutely love cozy mysteries and this one did not disappoint. I really connected with the characters and I found it to be a super fast read. If we get a third in the series, I'll definitely pick it up!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!

Another great story featuring Molly the Maid and her quirky sayings! I loved the first book and this one is just as good! I can't wait to read more from this author and hopefully read a third book featuring Molly! Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.

In the same vein as its predecessor book, The Maid, The Mystery Guest delivers on charming atmosphere, sweet characters, and a satisfying resolution. Lovers of Molly will appreciate that this book digs further into her backstory. The intrigue in this book is of a different type than the first book, but it was a fun read nonetheless!

This fun sequel to last year's The Maid finds our favorite hotel maid Molly once again investigating a suspicious death at the hotel where she works. This book is set 4 years after The Maid, and Molly is in a much better place in her life - but then a famous author drops dead at a book event at the hotel. And since it turns out Molly knew him as a child when her Gran worked at his house, the present day story is also interspersed with flashbacks to Molly's childhood.

I have to say, I enjoyed this one even more than The Maid. I enjoyed the story in The Maid, I just had a few issues with how Molly was portrayed and how horribly she was treated by the other characters in that one. This time, I didn't feel those same issues, and was just able to enjoy both the mystery and Molly's extremely quirky way of looking at the world and her rhyming phrases. I definitely would not read this without reading The Maid first, but if you enjoyed that one I'm sure you'll enjoy this one too.

Did not like this nearly as much as The Maid. Felt like a sequel to write a sequel. Was not nearly as fun or as clever.

Thank you to NetGalley + Ballantine Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Molly the Maid is back and once again finds herself smack dab in the middle of a murder investigation. When a critically acclaimed mystery author drops dead on the tea room floor at the Regency Grand Hotel, it's up to Molly to uncover the true nature of his death — and who is guilty of murder.

I liked this story, though I definitely enjoyed the first installment of this series more. I know it was necessary for the plot, but I'm not the biggest fan of going back and forth between tenses every chapter and it tends to leave me feeling like I'm reading two different stories.

I also thought the 'twist' at the end with the doorman was mediocre at best. It was pretty obvious if you've read the first book that he and Molly's grandmother were an item, so it only makes sense that his desire to protect her and be close to her comes from having a deeper connection than just coworkers.

Overall, I did enjoy getting to solve another murder with Molly and I appreciate the thought and care that goes into writing a character who is clearly, at least to me, neurodivergent. I think as a society, we're quick to judge those who don't appear 'normal' and I like the way that Molly's circle of people interact with her. They never make her feel less than, and even the detective softens and sees the value in who she is — exactly as she is. It's proof that while we may all be different, we are the same at our core and our differences should be celebrated, not mocked.

I enjoyed Nita Prose's The Maid, but I liked The Mystery Guest even more! Molly Gray is a quirky, vibrant and delightful character who reminds me both of Becky Bloomwood in Kinsella's Shopaholic series and Amelia Bedelia in her namesake book by Peggy Parish. In The Mystery Guest, the character of Molly's late grandmother, who plays a role in the story through Molly's memories, shines in her ability to see the "sparkle beneath the patina" in Molly and in her ability to raise a child who experiences the world in a different way; I saw my own experiences in raising my son Aidan, who has Down syndrome and autism, in Molly's grandmother. The Mystery Guest also resonated with me both as a teacher and as a bibliophile; fellow book lovers will enjoy sharing in Molly's joy in reveling in an unusually private library and teachers will delight with Molly's revelation that an education does not need to take place in a classroom. I would recommend The Mystery Guest to readers looking for an up-beat storyline, to fellow bibliophiles, to special needs advocates, and to readers who enjoy the Shopaholic series and Amelia Bedelia.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing a copy of The Mystery Guest for review purposes.