This is everything I hoped it would be. Sequels to beloved books can be so hit or miss, but this book really hit for me. The actual mystery was compelling and interesting and didn't just feel like the first book all over again. This book and mystery storyline can really stand on its own, which is something I always want in a mystery sequel. The flashback scenes really brought a lot to the story too. Not only did we get to see more of Gran, but we really got to understand Molly so much. Nita Prose really makes me care about each of these characters. I will certainly read more of this series of she continues!

Another sweet read about Molly the maid. Molly find another opportunity to use her skills to solve a mystery at the Regency Glen hotel using her same inadvertent observations skills. If you liked the first one, you will like the second.

Molly the maid is endearing and sweet. If you liked the first book, this second one stays true to Molly’s voice and the scenery of the Regency Grand hotel.
I love the classic who done it vibes of these books, and the clue-like way the mystery is revealed and solved.
Nita Prose has such a beautiful way of describing everything from location to characters, and she creates such a charming space for her readers to enjoy.
I have a feeling this won’t be the end for Molly the Maid and I’m curious to see what she does next.


Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

From my blog: Always With a Book

I was thrilled to find out Molly the Maid was back! I loved The Maid and this second book easily became a much anticipated read…and I’m so happy to say it totally lived up to all my expectations and then some.

Being back in Molly’s world is just such a treat. She is still working at the Regency Grand Hotel, so there are familiar faces if you have read the previous book, which I highly recommend as it was a favorite of mine! And if you haven’t, definitely pick it up after reading this one. Once again, a murder has happened, this time a high-profile one that threatens the hotel’s reputation and Molly just happens to know how the victim is and might have the key to figuring it all out.

I loved how this time around, not only do we have another locked-room mystery, but we have a dual timeline that allows us to get a glimpse into Molly’s past. We learn so much about her as a child, seeing her with her beloved Gram. This relationship is just so special and I love that even though Gran is no longer here, we see she is still such a large part of Molly’s life.

The mystery really kept me guessing all the way through, with red herrings a plenty and I couldn’t have loved it more. And Molly’s inner voice as she worked things out was just pure joy.

This is such a quick, fun read and I cannot recommend it enough. I do hope we haven’t seen the last of Molly…especially with that last twist at the end!

I absolutely loved the first book in this series that I did not know was a series lol and this book was another winner for me! It was really just your run of the mill mystery, but the writing and the character development makes it a very enjoyable read. It was really nice to see Molly grow into herself and to see her relationship with her boyfriend. I hope there will be many more books in this series.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book.

Another simple but enjoyable mystery from Nita Prose. I really do love the character of Molly Gray and it was intriguing to find out more about her childhood. I love the idea of a secret office hidden behind a bookcase and will be petitioning my husband! As always it’s great to see more diversity in lead characters and it be a strength rather than weakness. Lighthearted and easy to read.

MILLE IS BACK.
YOU CAN LOVE HER, HATE HER BUT YOU CANNOT IGNORE HER.
This sequel was equally enjoyable and we see a more refined version of Millie though she continues to be a bit eccentric.
Thank you publishers and netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose

Thank you to @netgalley, @randomhouse, and @nitaprose for the opportunity to read this #advancedreadercopy in exchange for my #honestbookreview! This book is available now and is a BOTM add-on.

Molly the Maid is back and that can only mean one thing for the Regency Grand Hotel: a killer good time! This time the hotel is hosting popular murder mystery author J.D. Grimthorpe as he is set to reveal some big news. But things take a shocking turn when he drops dead in the middle of his press conference. Molly has a strange sense of Deja vu as she works her hardest to ensure justice is served and new maid in training Lily isn’t framed.

This was absolutely delightful! This one was even better than the first one in my honest opinion and the first one was a heartwarming tale. I highly recommend for those looking for a heartwarming cozy mystery.

TWs: profiling, framing, theft, r*pe/sexual ass*ult, dr*g ab*se, more

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ - 4.25/5

Molly the Maid is back in this fantastic sequel to The Maid. I loved the twist at the end and I couldn’t put the book down! Thanks to NetGalley for the Opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest review. And we were actually staying in a hotel while reading this so it sure had me “thinking” what if “that” happened there! Lol Loved it!

Another tale full of mishaps and quirks from Molly the Maid - The Mystery Guest takes the reader through years of Molly’s early life, growing up as a precocious girl with only her Gran to care for her. We learn more about Molly’s childhood and more about Gran and her role as a maid for a famous author.

Decades later, the very same author is signing books and making a big announcement at the hotel where Molly works. Mayhem ensues and Molly the Maid is on the case again, trying to solve a mystery with her keen perception that is often unrecognized.

I love Molly - she’s such a great narrator and learning more about her life was a joy! I enjoyed the flashbacks even more than the present mystery. I wish there was more of Juan Manuel in the book, but I hold out hope he’ll be a key part in future adventures.

4.5 stars

Molly the Maid is back and she has a new murder to solve!

Molly never thought she’d ever see mystery writer J.D. Grimthorpe again. As a child, Molly worked alongside her Gran at the Grimthorpe mansion, and those dark days hold unpleasant memories.

When the author falls over dead in the middle of giving a speech at the Regency Grand Hotel where Molly works as Head Maid, she is once more thrust into a murder investigation. Molly must dig through the clues of her past in order to restore her own and her beloved hotel’s reputation.

While the plot of this sequel didn’t grip me as much as The Maid, I still loved being in Molly’s head and following along with her as she solved the mystery. We get to hang out with Mr. Preston, Cheryl and some of the old crew, as well as get to know quirky and unforgettable new characters.

My favorite part of this book were the flashback chapters of Molly as a child. Her interactions with Gran are so precious! There were so many emotional moments that made me even more attached to Molly and come to understand her even more.

I’m more than ready to go on another adventure with Molly in the future!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the digital arc. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.

Molly Gray, AKA Molly the Maid, is back with another adventure at the 5-star Regency Grand Hotel! Her grandmother has recently died and Molly is still suffering from that loss, and she and Juan Manuel, the co-worker with whom she fell in love, have been living together for the past two years. But Juan Manuel has taken a long overdue vacation to see his family in Mexico, and Molly is missing him dearly.

This new adventure begins on the day that the international best selling author J. D. Grimthorpe is to hold a press conference at the hotel, and he is promising a Big Announcement. But just as the author begins his remarks, he drops dead on the floor. And, once again, the Maid is the main suspect. This time it is not so much Molly as her maid-in-training, Lily who is the suspect, but Molly, as Lily's supervisor, feels equally responsible, while not believing for a moment that Lily is actually guilty.

In a series of flashbacks to Molly's earlier life with her Gran, we discover that Molly actually knew Grimthorpe, having worked along with her grandmother as maids at his house when she was much younger. When Detective Stark, with whom Molly also has a past, learns of this connection, Molly finds herself once again right in the middle of a murder investigation. She has to rely on her knowledge of Grimthorpe's past to put the pieces together and solve the case.

I really loved the first story, and this one is good, but now quite as enjoyable. All the flashbacks, while explaining who the victim was and Molly's connection to him, was a bit intrusive, mostly because they were almost every other chapter.

Molly, now the Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel, is faced with another dilemma. The author, J.D. Grimthorpe is coming to speak to a select group of ladies and everything must be perfect. But then the author collapses and dies during his presentation. This time, Detective Stark is much more willing to accept Molly's help in solving the case.

Molly even has some insider information as her beloved Gran used to be in the employ of the author and Molly has been to his house with Gran. She knows secrets about him that almost no one else knows about.

Molly and her readers are growing into her being on the spectrum. Another enjoyable installment in the life of Molly the Maid.

In this latest adventure, Molly takes center stage as she leads her team of maids in meticulously restoring rooms to a "state of perfection." Her commitment to excellence is deeply rooted, instilled by her beloved Gran, whose enduring wisdom continues to shape Molly's values long after passing.

Admittedly, "The Mystery Guest" leans more towards cultivating a cozy atmosphere, and the dark comedy and intricate mystery elements are somewhat subdued. However, the narrative compensates by delving into Molly's past, offering readers a more intimate understanding of her bond with her grandmother, the motivations that led these women to choose a life of service, and the noticeable void of other family members in Molly's life.

While this installment may not match its predecessor's razor-sharp wit and entertainment value, it does introduce the intriguing prospect of Molly joining the ranks of crime-solving. I find it impossible to resist Molly's detective adventures. Despite its comparatively milder tone, the book remains an engaging, easily digestible, and captivating story I wholeheartedly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine for generously providing me with a digital review copy of this book in exchange for my candid opinions.

The Mystery Guest is the second book in the Molly the Maid cozy mystery series following once again Molly, the now head maid of the Regency Grand, as she once again finds her workplace entangled in another murder.

I had enjoyed the first book, The Maid, but The Mystery Guest proved to be my favorite between the two. The second installment is taking place a few years after the first and we get to experience once again Molly’s unique voice and astute attention to detail as she ones again finds herself in a situation where she has to protect her favorite hotel and her coworkers.

In the second book, a famous author drops dead right before making a huge announcement at a conference taking place at the hotel and right after taking a sip of tea that the hotel staff served him. Not only does he have the reputation of being a very disagreeable man but he’s also someone from Molly’s past.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC! I truly enjoyed my time with this book!

Nita Prose has done it again.

Molly the Maid is back and in action once again. After reading The Maid, I am now fully invested in Molly’s life & story. Her characteristics remind me so much of Eleanor Oliphant in the best ways possible- quirky, misunderstood, intelligent, observant, socially ‘different’.

In The Mystery Guest, book two of the Molly the Maid series by Nita Prose, Molly has a leading her team of fellow maids to execute a “state of perfection” at the Regency Grand Hotel. as always. Molly is even tasked with assisting in the first VIP event in the new tearoom, a task she takes very seriously. But disaster strikes again, as the events guest of honor, author Mr. Grimthorpe dies on stage seconds before making a career changing announcement.

Molly has once again found herself tangled in the middle of a murder investigation, with Detective Stark breathing down her back. But this time the victims history is much closer to Molly than expected. Readers are taken along through the memories of Mollys grandmother, Gran, to solve the mystery.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC of #TheMysteryGuest

A pristinely fitting sequel to the highly acclaimed #TheMaid.

What a joy it was to get to spend more time with Molly with book No. 2! Thanks NetGalley Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books for the ARC!

Synopsis –

Fast forward a few years at the grandiose Regency Grand Hotel, Molly is now the Head Maid, whom several junior maids and trainees look up to. But when the renowned author J.D.Grimthorpe who was about to make a big announcement at the grand tea room drops dead, Molly’s orderly world turns upside down. As Molly revisits her childhood with her gran, she realizes that the answers for the present, may be buried in her past.

Review –

I felt so proud of Molly for how far she had come in her profession. Her transformation from being an awkward, invisible, tight lipped maid to a tactful, pragmatic and wise leader who inspired and motivated her peers, devised processes to improve their productivity and efficiency was truly amazing! It was also delightful to watch her love life blossom with Juan Manuel - so thankful that Molly found her true love, her life now stable filled with affection and care.

The narrative shifts between the present and Molly’s childhood years when she is raised by her gran. We gradually learn how she struggled with social skills at school, despite being the brightest kid and events that led up to her acquaintance with Grimthorpe.

It’s only a matter of time before Molly has to connect the dots and discover that the key to solve the mystery of Grimthorpe’s death, very much lies in her past and linked to his gothic mansion where she spent a lot of time as a young girl with gran.

I loved how Molly lives by her gran’s footsteps, imbibing her values and wisdom, deriving strength and achieving the pinnacle of perfection! After all, life has a way of sorting itself out and so does the puzzle pieces behind Grimthorpe’s death. The dirty, grim secrets she uncovers were simply jaw dropping and provoked my disgust and wrath.

Don’t miss if you’ve loved book #1!

Molly the maid is back again!

When a high profile guest speaker at the Regency Grand Hotel is murdered prior to making a huge announcement, everyone is a suspect. With humor, heart, and a lot of cleaning tips, Molly helps put together the pieces of the puzzle to solve the crime with the help of a few of her friends along the way.

I love The Molly Maid books. They are such entertaining, cozy reads that warm your heart and make you believe there are still good people in the world.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I don't really know that a second book was necessary... but I still enjoyed this one.

I liked seeing the further development of Molly's character, but the arc of the story fell flat for me.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really fun who-dun-it. I enjoyed the first book in the series, but I think I actually prefer this one more. Even though some serious things happen, it still feels lighter overall. Molly is such a lovable character. You really root for her, including the flashback scenes with her as a child. It’s interesting to experience her realizing as an adult what she couldn’t put together as a child. I enjoyed all the side characters as well. The villains, like Cheryl, are suitably frustrating. Detective Spark starts off frustrating (as she was in the first book), but really redeems herself, which I liked. There were a couple twists, that while weren’t totally shocking, I also didn’t see coming, I look forward to reading more books with Molly solving crimes.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing me access to this eARC for my honest opinion!