The second in The Molly the maid series was just ok for me. I liked learning a little more about Mollys history but it was just meh for me.

4 stars- A main character like Molly tugs on my heart strings. She is proof that there is no stereotypical 'hero'. She gives courage to all to be their authentic selves and the people who are meant for you will adore you. I wish I could live in this hotel and be around all the characters. Thanks netgalley & the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the unique voice of Nita Prose's The Maid, so I was delighted to receive a copy of The Mystery Guest. It's another cozy mystery, and it was engaging to be back in the company of Molly Gray.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

Nita Prose returns with "The Mystery Guest," a delightful sequel to her acclaimed debut "The Maid," offering readers another charming mystery featuring Molly Gray, now the Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel.
The novel opens with a dramatic scene: world-renowned mystery author J.D. Grimthorpe dies suddenly in the hotel's tearoom, thrusting Molly into another murder investigation. What sets this book apart is Prose's unique ability to blend a cozy mystery with deeply personal storytelling, exploring Molly's past and her relationship with her beloved Gran.
Prose masterfully develops Molly's character, revealing more depth and nuance compared to the first book. Her quirky, socially awkward protagonist continues to charm readers with her distinctive perspective and keen observational skills. The mystery itself is relatively low-stakes but engaging, with Molly's personal connection to the victim adding an intriguing layer of complexity.
The narrative alternates between present-day events and memories of Molly's childhood, providing rich context for her character. Prose's writing style remains warm and inviting, infusing the murder mystery with moments of humor and genuine emotion.
While the book may not be groundbreaking, it's an entertaining and satisfying sequel that will delight fans of the first novel. Prose continues to excel at creating a feel-good mystery that balances darker themes with hope and resilience.
Recommended for readers who enjoy character-driven mysteries with a touch of warmth and wit, "The Mystery Guest" proves to be a solid addition to the Molly Gray series.

A cleverly crafted and atmospheric whodunit with a great plot and engaging characters. Prose unveils layers of mystery and human emotion, delivering a thoroughly satisfying and unpredictable reading experience.

This is the second book in the Molly Maid series. This one goes back and forth from when Molly was young to present time. We get to see some of Molly's childhood, her troubles in school, and how her grandma supported her. In present time, a mysterious death of a famous author is connected to Molly's past and she's the one to solve his mystery! I like how Molly stand up more for herself in this book, showing character growth.

Couldn't and didn't want to put this cosy mystery down!

Everything I loved about the first book makes a comeback in this captivating page-turner. The cast is just as lovable and memorable as before, and I loved how we get more of their backstories here.

I thought the whodunit was just okay as it didn't blow my mind, but the suspense kept me hooked still. Needless to say, it's the characters (Molly and her gran especially) who really shine.

Once more, the author masterfully dives into important issues such as prejudice against blue-collared workers and those who are deemed different from societal norms. I really enjoyed her writing; it's easy to flow through while filled with humour and wit.

Can't wait for Molly's next adventure!

Sequels are always hard to anticipate…will they live up to the way you loved the first book or will they leave you wanting more?

The Mystery Guest is the follow up to Prose’s hit book, The Maid, and for me, this one did not disappoint!

I loved that Prose chose to weave storylines from past and present together, allowing readers to get to know more about Molly and her childhood. The past timeline is not without a strong connection to present day events, but as often happens with this style of plot, readers are left to guess how things will wrap up.

The overarching murder mystery plot is quick to be executed, which leaves plenty of time for Molly to sleuth along with readers for clues about the killer’s identity and their motive.

Prose carries on the same quirky, cozy mystery vibe from the first book to ensure fans will be sticking around for many more releases in this series!

I enjoyed this read, but sadly for me not as amazing as the first book featuring this character, The story was gripping though and a fast read,

This was a sad miss for me. I loved the first novel, but I just couldn't get back into the Molly world with this one. It kind of felt like all that I needed to know about Molly, I learned in the first novel.

Great follow up to the first book! I always enjoy entering the world of Molly the maid. She is such an interesting protagonist and I love seeing what she gets up to.

Molly is back and better than ever! Many times sequels don’t live up to the hype of their predecessors but this one was certainly a good contender for the original. Absolutely love Nita Prose’s writing and can’t wait to see more from her in the future.

I really enjoyed The Maid. The quirkiness of Molly was fun & overall, between her unique character & the story itself it was a great read.

In this book, The Mystery Guest, I liked how it alternated between the past & present so we found out much more about Molly’s character, and how she ended up under her grandma Flora’s care.

I think that I was content with a one & done for The Maid/Molly though. This book just felt too over the top for me & pretty repetitive as far as Molly went (her signature quotes etc.). I also thought it was weird that Juan was her live-in boyfriend but not really in the book at all besides a couple phone calls. I think had he actually been a part of the book it would have added to the story with maybe some weird romance (I picture her a Nun or never giving more than a hug🤷‍♀️😂) or at least another dynamic to having him interacting with her during what all went on. I did like where the relationship between Molly & Detective Stark went, that helped me with the story & being interested in it. Kind of a flat story overall & just kind of silly. I could’ve gone without reading this & not felt like I missed out, I never felt excited to pick it up & I don’t like that! The only thing I felt that it added to The Maid (series?) was getting backstory into Molly’s past. It was written well (the authors vocabulary is impressive to say the least), she’s also very good at being descriptive of the surroundings & the people! It’s not a bad book by any means but I just didn’t find it super exciting/interesting.

Prose is an excellent writer so I’d love to read what she comes out with next (as long as it’s not a sequel to The Maid & a fresh storyline) 💖

Thank you NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC - always appreciative!

Nita Prose is back with Molly the Maid! I was not expecting a sequel to The Maid, but I am glad the Molly's story was not finished and we were given another mystery for her to solve. To me it was not as good as the first one, but still kept my attention. Overall this is a cozy mystery, easy to read, and entertaining.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Molly the Maid is back for her next installment. Now, she is the Head Maid and takes her job very seriously. She convinces her boss at the Regency Grand Hotel to reopen the Tea Room. In its debut, a famous author is coming to give a huge announcement. However, the author drops dead prior to the big announcement. Unfortunately, the detective thinks that one of the staff caused the death of the author. In a back and forth in time, Molly once again proves that just because you are a maid, you are not unintelligent.

I love this series and look forward to what comes next!

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲...
✨ Cozy mysteries
✨ Multiple storylines / flashbacks
✨ Quirky main character
✨ Friends that become family

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
During the first book, it took me a while to warm up to Molly BUT, but the end of the book, I fell in love with her. Picking up this book, especially as an audiobook, was like a warm hug. I was invited back into Molly’s world and I didn’t want to leave. I really enjoyed the narrator and finally putting a voice to Molly — it made me love her even more.

The plot was certainly interesting - and I really enjoyed the flashbacks to Molly’s childhood with Gran and how it is woven with the storyline of J.D. Grimthorpe. I enjoyed spending more time with Gran and learning about Molly when she was younger. The mystery plotline throughout was very well written and kept me guessing the entire time - it was certainly a cozy mystery!

I can’t wait to pick up Molly’s holiday story ◡̈

I like Molly. She reminds of me of an adult Amelia Bedelia. Good mystery but nothing too surprising in the reveal. I am waiting to get 2.5 The Mistletoe Mystery. I will continue reading the series.

Thank you to Nita Prose, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and NetGalley for an eARC of The Mystery Guest!

I was so excited to get an ARC of The Mystery Guest. I truly enjoyed the first book in the series, The Maid and was ready for more of Molly the Maid's antics and witty quips. The Mystery Guest was more of the same.

While Prose did keep us on the edge of our seats trying to figure out if Molly was going to be wrongfully charged with murder again, I enjoyed how the readers got more of Molly's back story and a look into her life with her grandmother. The flashbacks to Molly's childhood and experiences really helped to solidify her character and provide insight into her habits as an adult. We also got to see more of Molly's friendships with the other people working at the Regency Grand Hotel and it is wonderful to see such an adorable little found family forming with these characters.

I thought the book moved at a great pace and kept me wanting to read more to figure out just who had poisoned J.D. Grimthorpe. I ran through so many scenarios in my head. Was this man truly murdered? Did he commit suicide? Did he have any redeeming qualities? Everything was "polished to perfection" at the end and wrapped up leaving me satisfied with the ending but still wanting more stories from these characters. I hope we get more from this series!

4.5 out of 5 stars

Oh how I love Molly the Maid! This was such a fun book to read. I fell in love with Molly in book one and loved seeing her story continue in this book. I was glad to see the return of a few characters from the first book as Molly has to deal with another murder at her hotel in The Mystery Guest. She is so smart and notices things others don't because of her neuro-divergence and it helps her be instrumental in solving the crime. I loved the flashbacks in this book that help us to know her character even better. It was fun seeing others realize what a treasure she is. I am very eager to read more from Nita Prose.

Easy to follow. A light mystery with romance, humor and cuteness. If you just need something easy to read or listen to this is perfect. Main character is a perfectionist and that makes the book fun.