I think everyone was a little surprised to see Molly the Maid make a comeback for another book, but I for one am not disappointed. Four years after Molly helped solved the death of a Regency Grand Hotel guest, Molly is still working at the hotel as Head Maid. When an acclaimed author dies during a conference where a big announcement was supposed to be made, it is up to Molly to figure out who the killer is.

I loved The Maid when it first came out and I almost enjoyed the sequel even more. Molly is the same great unique character, and you get to learn more about her and her gran's past during the two timelines throughout the book. Characters from the first book also make a comeback such as Detective Swan and Mr. Preston. I will be curious to see if this series ends as a duology or if Molly will be back to solve another crime.

The Mystery Guest comes out on November 28th.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the oppotunity to read The Mystery Guest. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.

This was just ok for me. I often felt like the book was taking too long to tell us something we already knew, and was just generally very slow. I also felt like most of the characters were two dimensional. Everybody is either good or bad, and everybody gets one characteristic at most. It just felt hollow. Personally, I could have dropped all the chapters set in Molly's childhood and not missed them.

The plus sides of this book are that the last third of the book does actually move at a good pace. The detective stops treating Molly like an imbecile (which you think she would have already known after the first book). We actually get some clues and make some progress unraveling the case.

In sum, if you liked the first book, give this one a try, but keep your expectations in check.

7/10

*ARC provided by publisher in exchange for feedback.*

When I read The Maid last year I immediately saw it as not only a good story but also a well written book and one containing a lot of wisdom. I never expected it to become a series either but when I saw that The Mystery Guest was coming I was thrilled.

Admittedly I do think that this book fell a little flat compared to the first entry in the series but that was a high mark to hit, and I am certainly not saying this book was bad. It had a lot of the same great vocabulary and unique prose as the first book as well as a lot of good life lessons sprinkled into its story. That story however was a bit less exciting than the first one, and in some ways much more predictable. I did like that it provided us with more backstory on its characters though and hope that this (as well as some specific events from this story) set up for a great book 3.

While some have said this could be a stand alone book, I think that you should probably read The Maid first to truly understand Molly Gray. Molly is "Molly the maid", a unique and quirky person who is now Head Maid at the hotel. She has a keen insight for details and takes pride in her work to make everything look to its perfection. Once again, a murder happens in the hotel and who is first to blame? The maids. But this time, Molly sets out to help solve the case with Detective Starky and her friend Angela, even enlisting the help of the LAMBS who are the fan club of this writer. What Molly doesn't share is that she knew the victim, a well-known mystery writer, and that she and her gran had been maids at his mansion when she was young. Lots of twists and turns, it kept me reading straight through. I delighted in all the sayings and reflections that Molly could hear her gran saying, such great advice. For every situation there just seems to be a quote from gran that could be put on a pillow. Molly may be different but she is a special woman who is honest and good and forthright as she sees the world differently. Even Detective Starky begins to thaw and appreciate Molly's genius. I'm hoping that there will continue to me more cozy stories of Molly the Maid going forward by Nita Prose. Many thanks to #netgalley #themysteryguest #nitaprose #penguinrandomhouse for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The followup to The Maid is just as delightful as the first. Molly, Head Maid, finds herself in the middle of another death investigation and memories of her past intrude.

I enjoy Molly's character and her way of seeing the world. In this adventure she grows more in relating to people around her and makes a surprising new friend. The mystery itself is satisfying and reminds me of reading classic British mysteries.

I loved The Maid and was excited to read this sequel. It didn’t get me quite like the first one, but I liked the backstory and learning more about her grandmother. Entertaining

Molly Gray is back and what a pleasant surprise to get another story about our favorite maid at the five-star Grand Regency Hotel. You all remember Molly, the meticulous cleaning aficionado, who has reached a new highpoint in her career as maid .. she is now known as Molly, Head Maid. Today is special, you see the acclaimed but reclusive mystery author J.D. Grimthorpe is about to make a big public announcement in the tearoom at the Grand Hotel. Fifty-five VIP guests, including the LAMBS (Ladies Auxiliary Mystery Book Society members) have gathered in the hotel for this “big” announcement. But just as J.D. Grimthorpe is about to make his announcement ….. he topples over and drops dead …. in the tearoom … in front of the VIP guest.

To make matters worse Molly’s old adversary Detective Stark is back and she is ready to pin this murder on Molly. As more and more questions arise so does the list of suspicious characters. Could the murder be Molly’s new Maid-in-Training, Lilly, or maybe one of the LAMBS? What about Mr. Preston, the Grand Regency Hotel much loved doorman? And let’s not rule out Angela, head barmaid at the Social or even Grimthorpe’s secretary, Serena! Even with all this chaos happening at the Hotel, Molly realizes that although she is not the murder, she does hold the key as to who the murder is. You see as young child she accompanied her Gran to the Grimthorpe mansion – she starts remembering some strange things at the mansion.

I questioned whether Nita Prose could provide a charming follow-up to her debut novel The Maid and that she did with the The Mystery Guest. I loved Molly’s character in the first book and she was just as delightful and enchanting in this sequel. It was a fun read with lots of quirky characters with some crafty twist and turns, giving you that “cozy mystery” feel with a lovely surprise at the end.

Thank you, Nita Prose, Ballantine Books and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel is due to be released on November 28, 2023.

If there end up being more books in this series, I'm not sure I'll be interested enough to read them.


For context: I didn't LOVE The Maid, but thought it was above average. I gave it a 4-star (rounded up from 3.5) rating. There were some details (or lack of attention to them) that bugged me, but I didn't have many complaints about the characters, the story/plot/mystery, etc.

Unfortunately, The Mystery Guest was quite a downgrade in my opinion. So much of it was over-the-top. Pretty much all of the "bad eggs" were comic-book-villain levels of bad/mean/cruel/incompetent. The mystery and its resolution were just meh. A lot of Molly's/Gran's rhyme-y sayings got incredibly repetitive (though maybe some of that will be culled before the final version is published?). And what was with all the curtsying? That's not something I remember happening so frequently in The Maid. I didn't even think much of it until other (non-Molly) characters started doing it.

A couple other nitpicky (non-spoiler) things:
-There's a very small scene/detail towards the end where (once he's back home from visiting family in Mexico) Juan Manuel shows Molly a picture of a card that his mom made for Molly. But if he's back home and in the same room WITH Molly, why wouldn't he just give her the actual card??? Alternately, the picture of the card could have been sent while he was still away.
-(I don't know why this didn't bug me in the first book) What's the point of wiping the bottoms of shoes with a rag/towel just to put them away?!? It would make more sense if it were an alternative to having a rug to wipe them on when entering someone's home, but if they're not going to be put back on and worn while indoors, why bother?

It’s no secret I wasn’t a huge fan of The Maid when I read it back in 2021. But when offered to read the second installment in the Molly the Maid series, I decided to give it a chance. I won’t say it blew my socks off, but I did seem to like it slightly more than The Maid.

In The Mystery Guest it’s been a few years since Molly Gray helped to solve the murder of a guest at Regency Grand Hotel and she’s now the Head Maid. When a renowned author ends up dead in the hotel’s tearoom, Molly is thrown into the mix and might be the only person to unravel the secrets surrounding not just the dead guest but also around the hotel’s staff.

These are cozy reads, and you have to take them for what they’re worth. Molly is still not my favorite character, but I felt that we got to know her a bit more in this second book and she started to grow on me. I enjoyed her and Gran’s backstory and I felt that she had grown quite a bit since the first book. She still has her quirks they just weren’t as exaggerated. Other than Molly, almost all of the characters from the first book make an appearance, and I will say I did like having The LAMBS as an addition to the cast.

The story itself is a bit repetitive of the first book so I didn’t find the plot to be very original nor did it completely suck me in. I also wasn’t a fan of the ending and hints to where the series might potentially go, but maybe it’ll be even better that way. I mean how many guests can die unexpectedly right?

If you enjoy cozy mysteries, you’ll enjoy this series, and you can 100% read these either of these books as standalones. Check out my review of The Maid below:

The Mystery Guest comes out November 28, 2023. Huge thank you to Ballantine Books for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.

I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Group - Ballentine for granting me the opportunity to read this ARC!

I couldn't contain my excitement when I received the notification for this book! In just two days, I devoured every page, captivated by the character of Molly the Maid. She has undoubtedly earned a permanent spot among my all-time favorite fictional characters. Witnessing her growth and blossoming confidence as the Head Maid was an absolute delight.

Every facet of this book brought me immense joy. The dual timeline point of view added a layer of complexity that I relished. It's remarkable how the smallest gestures in the past wielded such a significant influence on the unfolding narrative in ways would have never expected (but like Molly I lack in the foreshadowing aspect). The multiple reveals throughout the story were expertly executed, keeping me eagerly turning the pages.

As for Molly, the Head Maid, I am convinced that I will never tire of her entertaining escapades. My anticipation is piqued, wondering what lies ahead for this charming character.

3.75 stars

Follow-up mystery to The Maid, featuring a different sort of main character. Molly was raised by her grandmother and is smart, a bit OCD and maybe on the spectrum. She is the Head Maid at a big hotel and gets involved in another mystery when the guest of honor at a banquet drops dead. And we come to find out Molly had a definite connection to the victim - her grandmother had been a maid for him and his wife years ago.

There are many revelations about Molly's background and family in this story, carefully meted out over the course of the narrative. Molly is an appealing character and more of a strong independent force in this book than she was in the series debut. She tends to have a sort of black and white view on things but is honest, hard-working and not afraid to deal with unpleasantness. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book was so good! If you liked The Maid, you’ll love The Mystery Guest. My like The Maid, it centers around a murder that takes place at a hotel. Molly is the head maid at the hotel and it very spunky in the best way possible. She was raised by her grandma who left a very last impression on her and made her who she is. Molly takes everything very seriously and suffers from not being able to pick up on social cues. But that doesn’t stop her.
She witnesses an author drop dead in her hotel and gets roped into solving it. The story line goes from then and now which really helps tie the book in a pretty bow.

Molly Gray is back and has found herself in another "situation" at the Regency Grand Hotel. Several years have passed since we last saw Molly; not since her promotion to Head Maid after the last "situation" (murder). Unfortunately, Molly cannot seem to get away from these unfortunate events. When J.D. Grimthorpe is slated to appear at the brand new tea room in the hotel, Molly is optimistic and hopes this appearance helps to rid the hotel of its bad past. In the middle of J.D. Grimthorpe's big speech, he suddenly drops dead. Grimthrope was poisoned! But by who? Is there a killer hiding amongst the Regency staff? How could this have happened twice in a span of a decade? Molly is back on the case to help solve the murder. Will Molly's secret past with the Grimthorpe family help or hinder the situation? How will Molly tackle this situation without her Gran?

I loved (!!!) The Maid and was so excited to hear that there would be more Molly in our future. Molly is still her quirky self, dedicating her life to the cleanliness of the Regency Grand Hotel. As comforting as it was to reunite with these familiar characters, the story fell flat for me. I felt like some areas were rushed while others that were less impactful were very drawn out. I did enjoy the dual timelines with Molly revisiting her childhood and her past with Grimthorpe, but I wanted more from that storyline as well. The two timelines didn't fully come together for me. The book was definitely missing some of the charm and mystery of the first one. However, the ending was so worth it! It had no relation to the plot, but it was super heartwarming and really saved the book for me. If you enjoyed The Maid, I would give this one a read. However, in my opinion, nothing will come close to the first book.

The Mystery Guest is a sequel to The Maid, but you do not necessarily have to read The Maid. You can't reverse it though, so please keep that in mind when deciding if you want to pick up either or both of these reads!

The Mystery Guest follows another murder that occurs at The Regency Grand Hotel, where Molly works as the head maid. Of course we meet Detective Stark and other members of the hotel again, but there are new characters as well. This book also flashes between past and present, which is one of my favorite ways for a story to be told.

Personally, I love Molly Gray, she is probably one of my favorite characters. Overall I simply love how Nita Prose has developed her character and really showcases that even though people may be different, they can surprise you. Molly's attention to detail and desire to enjoy the simple things truly showcase her pure and kind makeup. This read also provides more history into Molly's life as a child, and how her difficulties faced her in school at such a young age.

Other than the characters, this is a quick "little" mystery read with small twists but still leaves the reader satisfied with the pace of the read. I read this book for a little bit of the mystery, but mostly for Molly and the other characters involved, which is not common for me! (Also I love hating the individual that got murdered, way way better than feeling as though I wish they were alive in the book,)

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine for providing me with a digital review copy of this fantastic book in exchange for my honest opinions.

I truly loved The Maid and wanted to love this book. The best part of the book were definitely the flashbacks where we got to learn more about Molly and her Gran! However, this book was a bit of a let down after the first book. The supporting characters that we loved from the first book were barely in it, the mystery fell flat, and the big reveal at the end about Molly's personal life felt extremely rushed and unsatisfying. It was a fine easy read just not the mystery or follow-up I was hoping for!

What a delight to return to the quirky life of Molly the Maid in this second installment from Nita Prose. Another murder, another mystery to solve, will Molly be up to the challenge?

Welcome back to the Regency Grand Hotel, where head maid Molly Gray and her coworkers are about to find themselves in the middle of another murder investigation. This time, renowned mystery author J.D. Grimthorpe drops dead in the middle of an author event in the newly renovated tearoom. So many questions abound: Could one of the hotel employees be behind his demise? Maybe his fan club of bookish ladies? Or his lovely secretary? And how does Molly’s history intersect with Mr. Grimthorpe? Is the adage “the maid is always to blame” really true?

Molly Gray is once again delightful and quirky, with a unique voice and mindset that brings to mind a smidge of a grown-up Amelia Bedelia, with her literal interpretations and misinterpreted social cues. I loved that we got a good dose of Molly’s backstory growing up with her gran, who dispensed many pearls of wisdom and inspired Molly’s career choice. While the mystery of who killed Grimthorpe was entertaining, it was Molly’s character arc that I truly enjoyed!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House – Ballantine Booksfor providing me an advance copy of this book.

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose was a welcome treat. I loved The Maid and getting to know her and sleuthing skills. This book is just as good. Molly is such a fresh character in fiction and I enjoyed that the author went back into Molly's childhood. Next, I'd love a book about Molly's mom!!

Links and formal review coming soon.

I convinced myself that I don't like cozy mysteries and definitely not in a series and here comes Molly the maid and I love her! I''m already looking forward for book 3 in the series before book 2 is even published. Molly has a boyfriend now and seems less miserable and overall more brave. Well written and entertaining!

Molly the maid is back, and she is just as wonderful as ever. There is another death at the Regency Grand Hotel, and this time, the deceased is not only a VIP guest, but also a person from Molly's childhood. In fact, it is their connection from the past that may be the key to solving whodunnit.

I really enjoyed this sequel, especially how we got more insight into Molly's childhood. Furthermore, there were more themes of self-acceptance coming from Molly's character. While the first book was more about others accepting her for who she is, this one was more about Molly coming to terms with her own 'isms.'