𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4.25⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: mystery📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
Molly the maid is back at it again! If you enjoyed The Maid then chances are you’ll enjoy this one too! It’s another cozy mystery. I love Molly’s quirkiness and attention to detail. I had a lot of fun following along as she worked to uncover the mystery. With dual timelines we got to learn more about her past. It’s the quick and fun read. I liked that Molly was in the lead and not as timid as before. The only cons were that Grans says were a little repetitive at times after the first book and the mystery was a little predictable.

I loved reading Nita Prose's The Maid last year and was excited to see Molly appear again in The Mystery Guest, this time as Head Maid! Molly is a quirky woman attuned to things others might not be mindful of. Thus, she can be a super-sleuth when she needs to be. In The Mystery Guest, a famous mystery writer falls dead, suddenly, at Molly's hotel, and Molly and her staff immediately become suspects. This book moves back and forth in history and we learn more about Molly's grandmother, and her previous employment as a maid, and all that Molly learned from her in her formative years.

This is a fun read - just the right number of characters, each quite well defined. The story is compelling and the resolution to the mystery is satisfying, and then there's a fun bonus at the very end. Highly recommend to readers of light mystery!

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The Mystery Guest.

Thank you to Penguin Random House/Ballantine for the ARC and to PRH Audio for the complimentary audiobook!

This is the sequel I didn't know I needed, but I was so delighted to be back in The Regency Hotel with Molly. She had me smiling right off the bat! Molly is such a unique and memorable character. One thing I love about her is her little quips and sayings such as "polished to perfection" and "dust we must"; her inner voice is so authentic and genuine and I think that's why she's so well-loved.

I'm sure it comes as no surprise to you that this book starts out with a murder. When a famous author drops dead in the hotel just before his big announcement, all eyes are on the hotel staff and the suspect list is long. Flashbacks to Molly's childhood reveal connections and secrets that have been hidden for many years and when the truth comes to light, you'll be shocked!

This book is filled with humor, murder mysteries, cleaning tips, but most of all HEART. I really appreciated all the heart-warming moments, especially near the end of the book. This truly is a feel good story!

I didn't expect it, but I loved it even more than the first book and that RARELY happens for me.

As Molly would say "deep cleaning gives life meaning!", so pre-order the audiobook and "grab your duster, buster" and listen while you clean your house like I did for the full effect! Or just sit on the couch and read, I won't judge!

This book and audiobook will be available for purchase on November 28th!

4.5 stars rounded up for GR

Nita Pose reprises her quirky heroine Molly in this follow-up to her debut novel The Maid. The same cast of characters is reunited in this cozy little who-done-it tale. Molly, now head maid at the Regency Grand, must solve the mystery of who is responsible for the dramatic demise of renowned mystery writer J.D. Grimthorpe. Turns out Molly has a personal connection to the famous author, and she is not alone in that distinction. Will the murderer turn out to be the long suffering assistant? Could the new maid in training be culpable? and what does Mr. Preston want to talk to Molly about? Could Molly be the guilty party?
Detective Stark returns as Molly's nemesis, poking and prying until answers are revealed!
Prose leaves the door more than ajar for this to become a series! Is there a career change in Molly's future? This is a satisfying and entertaining read.

Nita Prose has done it again! A quirky "who done it" mystery is a jewel. Molly the maid, tells the story in a dual time line. She lives with her Gram as a child and learns her maid skills as well as life with her. An expert speller with a detailed memory she lives by rules and routine. A well know mystery writer dies at the Regency Grand Hotel where Molly is the head maid. She is off to solve the mystery with a great cast of characters. In doing so we get to know Molly, her inner questions of who she is and who is her family. A well written book and one that you don't want to end.

1.5

The Mystery Guest once again follows Molly the maid who works at the Regency Grand Hotel. She has just become the new head maid. Molly is just getting over the events that happened to her before when another person drops dead. Detective Stark is back to solve this murder and once again questions Molly. Molly is determined to find who the killer is and get Detective Stark off her back. 

This is one of those books where you are going to have to read the first one before reading this. If you don't you will be missing a lot of key details. I did not like The Maid that much. I thought that was better than this book though. I did not think that the book needed a sequel. Nothing about this book gave me any thriller vibes. It seemed like a lazy mystery story. This book had a very similar plot to the first one. I do not know why I read this one I had a feeling going into it I was not going to like it. I do not think this author is for me.

honestly, same critiques as the first book. i thought that molly would get a bit more development and she did—she's not as "innocent" or "quirky" as the first book, but i feel like if it's set in a modern-day setting, would it really be so bad to give it a name? i don't know that this is the neurodivergent representation i'd want to see, but it's better than just…taking the symptoms of autism and making your character "quirky." i don't know. even with the backstory, molly still felt a bit two-dimensional to me. also, the whole thing with mr. preston was just so unnecessary and out of character?? there's no way that molly would've accused him of stealing just out of the blue when she's known him for so long—it's SO out of character.

overall, a fairly enjoyable read. i finished it in one sitting. it's a cozy mystery, and i just had some bones to pick with the characterization is all.

Nora prose does it again. Molly is impeccable and The Mystery Guest is even better than The Maid! I can’t get enough of Molly

THE MYSTERY GUEST (MOLLY THE MAID #2)
BY: NITA PROSE

3.5 Stars!

Molly Gray is back only she proudly pins a name tag over hear heart every day that reads Head Maid. That's right she has been promoted and is a lot more clever. For those looking for the charm of the excellent first book in this series called, "The Maid," by Nita Prose you won't find it in this second book in this series. I loved the first book so much better, also. This was still a great mystery, just not as excellent--in my humble opinion.

What you do get is to know Molly's wonderful Gran and see the two interact in alternating chapters. This is more of a cozy type mystery who features an author who gets murdered before he can make an announcement in the Tearoom of the boutique five star hotel where Molly is still employed.

Molly and her Gran actually are employed (back when Molly was a child) by this famous writer's mansion. The writer's wife is mean to both of them and the writer is a scoundrel, also. There is a murder that does take place in Molly's Grand Hotel in the very beginning. I don't want to say too much more in order not to spoil it for those looking forward to reading this. It's still a decent mystery, just go into knowing ahead that I didn't feel the joy and as much love for this as I did for "The Maid," the original was definitely a Five Plus reading experience.

Publication Date: November 28, 2023

Thank you to Net Galley, Nita Prose and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for generously providing me with my eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#TheMysteryGuest #NitaProse #RandomHousePublishingGroupBallantine #NetGalley

Nita Prose's The Mystery Guest reintroduces us to the endearing Molly Gray, now the Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. While this standalone novel leans more towards cozy mystery, it maintains its unique charm and witty humor. Molly's character has grown since the first book, and she is now a mentor to her introverted maid-in-training, Lily. The story unfolds with the mysterious death of renowned author J.D. Grimthorpe at the hotel's tea room, leading to a murder investigation by Detective Stark, who has a history with Molly. Molly's detective skills, her past connection to Grimthorpe, and her distinctive wisdom and sayings all contribute to a charming and engaging mystery. The Mystery Guest is a delightful return to Molly's world, offering both character growth and captivating storytelling.

This book had me hooked from the first page to the last! I loved how the main character referred to her grandma because she taught her so much and they had an incredible bond. The author did such a great job with the pace of the book and I'm looking forward to reading more books by her.

What a fun follow up to The Maid. Molly is back and once again her keen observation, commitment to detail, and charming wit serve her well as she solves a mystery in the hotel, and her private life. I love that this book focused a lot on her growing up and how Molly and Gran came to be. Highly recommend!

I just love Molly the Maid!! It was so fun to revisit this cast of characters and learn more about Molly and her gran’s life before working at the Regency Grand.

Just like in the first book, not everything is quite as it seems with the death and Molly’s unique way of seeing things helps Detective Stark put the pieces together. This is a cozy mystery that will often put a smile on your face while keeping you guessing.

I can’t wait to see where this series goes and what’s in store for Molly next.

I loved this one!! Such a good cozy mystery and I loved seeing Molly again. I thought the mystery was juicy and I thought the flashbacks where written well! Also loved seeing Molly really own more of who she was compared to the first story . I really hope we get to see Molly again!

🔎 The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose AVAILABLE 11/28 🔎

Thank you Ballentine Books and NetGally for the advanced copy!

Molly the maid is back! For those that enjoyed “The Maid” last year, a new sequel will be released. The quirky Molly the Maid is again the main character, but a new crime has taken place. Even though this book is a sequel, it could be read alone.

Molly is a quirky, very literal, young maid who takes her job very seriously. Last year she was suspected of murder and now it has happened again. A famous author has dropped dead in the hotel she works, and Molly has now become involved to help solve the case (and not be suspected of murder again!)

This book is very light hearted and cute! It’s an easy read with funny interactions and sayings. Fans of the tv show “Psych” would really enjoy it since this is what it reminded me of! 4 out 5 stars ✨ make sure you look for it on bookshelves 11/28

Nita Prose does it again. Thank you for giving us more background and insight into Molly's life and upbringing. This book was a quick and easy cozy mystery read! Molly is such a lovable character and I love that she is neuro divergent. Similar to the The Maid, we are back at the Regency Grand Hotel where yes, you guessed it.. Someone has died. It is up to Molly to solve the murder and save the hotel's reputation. We see the same familiar characters that we love and solve a murder as well as find out a big surprise ending!

Thanks so much Random House Publishing Ballantine and NetGalley!

I loved Molly the Maid and was so excited to read another story with her in it! Another high profile death has happened at the hotel, and Molly is determined to figure it out. I really appreciate how Nita Prose writes about Molly and all of her strengths. This was such a good story, and I especially enjoyed the further character development of Molly. I'm looking forward to the next one!

I loved The Maid and was happy to see there was a sequel written about Molly. Set only a short while later, The Mystery Guest follows another murder linked to the hotel that Molly works as a maid. One thing I appreciated about this second novel is both books begin and wrap up within each book, so each book can stand alone. I also thing this novel gives more of Molly’s past that we were introduced to in the last book. We rarely see a hero who is neurodivergent in literature so it’s refreshing to have a character whose strengths are the fact she sees things different than others.

3 stars.*

As a fan of The Maid, I was excited to see The Mystery Guest come up as an option on NetGalley.

I enjoyed the quirky uniqueness of Molly the maid and I thought the mystery was nuanced and clever.

This book fell short of the mark, especially when compared to The Maid.

Molly returns, now head maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. Once again, a guest (this time a famous mystery author) is murdered at the hotel, and Molly is in the thick of it. I enjoyed the link between her past and the story. I also enjoyed the further development of her character. However, this lacked the depth and quick of the first book. The mystery itself was simple and it felt more like one of those mystery books that my grandma read back in the 90s.

*with thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for this honest review.

5 Molly the Maid Stars

I first met Molly last year in her first book, and I found her to be a unique and endearing character. I jumped at the chance to read the next book in the series.

Molly is a world-class cleaner at a five-star hotel, the Regency Grand Hotel. She’s moved up in the world to Head Maid now and even has a Maid in Training, Lily, learning from her.

Murder has a way of finding Molly, though. This time, it’s a famous author who spectacularly collapses and dies just when he is going to make an announcement. And the tearoom had just been thoroughly prepared for a comeback.

The return of Detective Stark to the case makes Molly nervous. In the last case, the detective put Molly through the wringer, and she feels like a suspect again.

The investigation begins with so many suspects! Could it be his secretary? Why is the doorman, Mr. Preston, acting so oddly? How about Molly’s horrible colleague at the hotel? And who has a past with the author?

This one was just as enchanting as the first book for me. I especially loved the chapters where we return to Molly’s childhood and her Gran. Those had a fairy tale quality to them, and loved having more time with Gran. These chapters helped me understand Molly’s character even more.

I can’t wait for the next installment of Molly’s story. I’m curious where the author will take the character this time. You can clean my hotel room every time, Molly!