Fans of Molly the Maid from Nita Prose’s first book, The Maid, will enjoy following Molly as she helps unlock the mystery of what happened to an esteemed author who died mysteriously at the hotel where she is “Head Maid.” Funny and reflective, we root for Molly and her friends as they rely on each other as a non-traditional family brought together by the hotel in which the work.

Pleasant surprise that we got to have a sequel. I didn’t realize it would be a series but I liked the maid and enjoyed the characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Publication: November 28, 2023

Rating: 2.5 stars

I loved Prose's first book "The Maid" and I had rated it 5 stars! It was a quirky read but I loved that I could resonate with Molly with her neurodivergent traits. These traits made me want to learn more about her. When I saw that this was a follow up book, I was pleasantly surprised and requested right away!

Unfortunately, I did not get along with this book. The writing style was the same as the first book where I found it easily to slip into the story. My main quip would be the fact that Prose relies heavily on Molly's neurodivergent traits.

I can't explain why it bothered me but it was enough that I had to put the book down. It was amazingly touched on in the first book but with this one, it almost seemed as if the readers are supposed to roll our eyes and say "Oh that Molly!" when the plot relied on Molly's lack of social skills. It honestly left a bad taste in my mouth.

Overall, not the book for me but still a cute cozy read as the temps drop!

Read if you like:
🧠 Neurodiverse Character Rep
⏳ Dual Timelines/Flashbacks
🏨 Hotel Settings
🧼 Cleaning
🔎 Who Dun it’s
🌀 Quirky MC’s
🧹 Enjoyed The Maid

The Mystery Guest brings us back to The Grand Regency Hotel a couple years following the ending of The Maid where we get to reunite with beloved characters and meet new characters as Molly is once again throw into the midst of another murder mystery that she unfortunately has become embroiled in again at the hotel.

We see the growth that Molly has experienced as the Head Maid for the hotel and how she is using her love for cleanliness and exact language to make changes to the way the hotel maid service is run… but even with her changes as head maid, it’s possible there is a bad egg in her team and they just might have something to do with some not so nice things happening once again at the hotel.

I really enjoyed coming back and spending more time with Molly the Maid as she is a pivotal part of the investigation of what happened to a famous mystery author whose plot from one of his books is hitting a bit close to home with his untimely demise… but Molly sees details others miss and with her keen attention to detail will she be able to solve another murder?!

If you enjoyed Molly in The Maid, I highly recommend reading this next installment and getting to know Molly a bit better in this cozy mystery. Thank you so much to the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review!

After reading and enjoying The Maid, I was stoked to receive the sequel as an ARC!

My favorite part about this novel was being able to get more background on the relationship Molly & her gran had with each other, as well as getting to learn her grandmother's life story. You see more character development in Molly and even more quirky and funny moments-all while still capturing that cozy mystery feeling.

The only reason I didn't rate this as a 5 star read was due to her boyfriend Juan having no real purpose being mentioned in the story. I was looking forward to learning more about their relationship, but he was out of town for pretty much the entire book.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group Ballantine for this ARC.

I liked The Maid. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read this, as there are so many books on my list that I thought would be better. I then decided to pick this up for an October mystery, and I’m so glad I did. It was exactly what I needed!

The infamous author J.D. Grimthorpe is going to speak at the hotel where Molly the Maid still works (and was promoted to head maid). Just as he’s about to take the stage, he falls down dead. Was this done by someone who worked in the hotel? Someone visiting? Someone from his past?

This books goes between 2 different time periods in Molly’s life, when she was a young girl living and working with her gram and the present time. While she still doesn’t always “get” things and takes most of what’s said quite literally, Molly is seen as a bit stronger and smarter in this book. I love how she was portrayed as authentic but also having a mind of her own.

This was a fun mystery, some would even call it cozy. I came to like Molly much more than in the first novel, and I hope to see her again soon!

realized that I had already read this book earlier when about half into the book, but finished it. great story about misfit persons with special talents. also about children on the spectrum needing that special person in their lives

"Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end." Gran.

4.5 stars! Molly is back and is now the Head Maid in The Mystery Guest. There's been another murder at the Regency Grand Hotel, and as usual, the maid is one of the first suspects. The story unfolds in a double timeline, narrated by the current day Molly and Molly when she was 10 years old. Both Molly and her Gran are lovable and make this story - bravo to Prose for creating such fabulous and interesting characters. I adore Molly's inquisitive innocence, her love and pride she takes in a job well done and the many Gran sayings that Molly refers to when making decisions. Mr. Snow, Mr. Preston, Angela and the questionable maid, Cheryl are back from the first book, as well as a host of new characters. Molly's quirky, but honest personality can sometimes get her into trouble, but her persistence and ability to notice small, out-of-place things help to solve the crime. This was an enjoyable, fun, heart-warming read. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the eARC.

I was so excited for more of Molly. This book was just as good as the first one. I love that we get to see some of Molly’s childhood and see just how kind and special her grandma actually was. Molly was treated horribly by her peers and teachers. Her grandmother managed to override all those horrible comments and experiences to make Molly feel truly loved and special.
I enjoyed the the new murder mystery in this book. It was fun guessing who did it and why. Molly’s character grew more confident and others finally gave her the respect she deserved. The end makes it seem like this won’t be the last we hear about Molly.

In the posh world of Regency Grand Hotel, Molly Gray, the Head Maid, is the queen of clean and manners. But when famous mystery writer J.D. Grimthorpe keels over dead in the hotel's tea room, everything goes haywire. Detective Stark, Molly's old nemesis, starts digging, and suspects pop up like daisies – the newbie maid, Lily, Grimthorpe's secretary Serena, even Mr. Preston, the friendly doorman. With the hotel's reputation on the line, Molly dives into her past ties with Grimthorpe, uncovering childhood memories and secrets in the creepy Grimthorpe mansion. Time's ticking as Molly races to crack the case, unveiling buried secrets that could wreck the hotel's polished image.

This sequel delves into Molly's past and her bond with her grandmother, adding depth to her character. While the story is decent and can stand alone, it doesn't quite match the excitement of the first book.

The childhood chapters are beautifully written, providing a nostalgic touch. It's a cozy mystery, easier to read but not as gripping as "The Maid". Still, it's a recommendable, engaging read, especially if you enjoy a lighter mystery vibe.

"The Mystery Guest" is expected to publish on November 28, 2023. Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adored The Maid so I was thrilled to received an ARC from Netgalley for The Mystery Guest! A famous author dies at a hotel and it is up to the maid to discover what happened. Secrets do not stayed buried forever and its up to the maid to find it out! A must read in 2023!

I have to admit, I enjoyed the first book more. Molly the maid still has the unique characteristics that make her so loveable and such a warm presence, but I also feel like some of that was a bit lost. However, this mystery and Molly kept me reading, and overall, I loved this story.

The chapters jump between a young Molly and the present Molly, which I felt was the perfect setup for revealing the truths in this mystery because both contained the victim.

It's been a few years since the last book, and Molly is now head maid. When she prepares the hotels new tearoom for a special V.I.P. guest, she is not expecting him to drop dead. Molly, once again, is in the middle of an investigation, but can she prove her innocence this time?

I really loved this. Molly is an amazing character, and I would love to sit down and have a cup of tea with her. This is a series that is comforting and perfect for curling up with in the soon to come winter months!

Out November 28, 2023!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

Molly Gray is at it again, only this time, she is the Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. When a famous author dies in the hotel, it is up to Molly (again!) to solve the mystery. If you loved Nita Prose's previous book, The Maid, you must read The Mystery Guest. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced e-reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed her first book more than this one, but it's still a fun read. She develops characters well and the story flowed nicely. I love how quirky her main character is and she gave me some laughs throughout this book.

Cozy-ish Mystery about a fastidious five-star hotel maid who turns sleuth in order to uncover who killed a famous mystery author whom she knew in her childhood.

5/5 stars: This is the second entry in Prose's Molly the Maid series and it doesn't disappoint. This book is told in dual timelines, the past when Molly was a child and the present day which picks up Molly's life several years after the events in The Maid. Prose's characters are incredibly likable and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to read more about Molly's Gran and checking in with all folks at the Regency Grand Hotel. Most importantly, Prose's mystery perfectly balances the clues, red herrings and suspects and will leave you guessing the whodunit until the final reveal. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll enjoy it much more if you start this series at the beginning and pick up book one, The Maid.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

The Mystery Guest is the second book in the Molly the Maid series.
Molly is now the Head Maid at the Regency Hotel. She has an adoring boyfriend, good friends, and everything she's ever wanted. She has to delay her trip to visit her boyfriend's family due to a big event at the hotel with a famous author, J D Grimthorpe. Before he can make his big announcement to his fans, he drops dead. Molly will have to look into the author's past, and her own, to figure out what happened.
I was definitely hesitant when I heard about a sequel since the first book was so good. However, this was the perfect follow up.

3.5 stars

Molly the Maid is back at it again as the Head Maid for the Regency Grand Hotel. Molly is in charge of setting up an event for a very important mystery author, J.D. Grimthorpe. Unfortunately, before the author gets to make a big announcement, he drops dead. Everyone at the hotel is a potential suspect when his sudden death turns into a murder investigation.

Okay, I was super conflicted about reviewing this one, so I am going to do it in a pros and cons format to make it easier.

Pros:
- Same characters. We love them and we know them, which is comforting.
- Insights from the dead author, including juicy secrets.
- We get to dive in more into Molly's childhood life.

Cons:
- Lots of repetition from Molly's inner thoughts (Gran's words). This was fine in the first novel but quite tiring in this one.
- Utterly predictable. A quick and fun read but I simply didn't find it intriguing.
- I did not like how little time Juan Manuel and Molly got in this book. The romance in this one was non-existent. I was hoping we would've gotten more from those two.
- What made Molly great was her quirkiness and uniqueness, but in this book Molly has "evolved" and I was not a big fan.

There was somewhat of a hint towards the end that we may potentially get another book placing the next mystery somewhere else completely. If so, I will definitely be reading!

Overall, this is not a bad book or a case of bad writing whatsoever, but it felt forced. I can only imagine the pressure that comes with whether to go for a sequel or not. Personally, I would've been content with just one book. This was a quick and fun little cozy mystery but I wasn't quite into it.

Thank you so much Ballantine Books, NetGalley, and the author this ARC. It's always a pleasure sharing my honest thoughts on a book.
Pub date: 11/28/23

Find me on IG: @ coffeebreakwithrachel

I was very excited to see that Nita Prose is coming out with a follow up to The Maid. It will be published on November 28, 2023. Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for a digital copy for my opinion.

I loved the quirkiness of Molly the Maid and thoroughly enjoyed learning more about her childhood with her beloved Gran. This helps to solve another mystery in the Regency Grand Hotel involving a famous writer that Molly had met as a child.

I can't recommend this book enough if you want a quick read that will keep you engaged!

Molly, the maid, is back at it in this latest book. Her hotel has J. D. Grimthorpe, famous author, giving a press conference with he drops dead right before he's supposed to speak. Who did it? Molly intends to find out.

The Maid was a hit with our library, the way the author gets the reader involved in the plot. We have had so many request for The Mystery Guest and I know it's going to be a hit!