It is such a rare occasion that I enjoy a sequel more than the first book in a series.

But, Nita Prose has raised the bar with this one. I can’t wait to discuss this book with my book club once it’s released. I love all of Gran’s words of wisdom. Definitely add this to your “TBR list”….Juan would definitely use “TBR” and Molly wouldn’t understand…so he’d have to text “To Be Read list.” Enjoy.

Thank you @netgalley and @nitaprose for the #ARC. I appreciate it!

#themysteryguest #thesequelwasbetter #ilovegranswordsofwisdom #mollythemaid #netgalley #librarian #bookish #iheartbooks #givemeallthebooks #mysterybook #bookclubbook #bookstagram

I am so happy Molly and the gang is back! I did not know there would be more installments but I am so happy. I love reading cozy mystery stories and this was so good. I also rlly loved a deeper dive into Molly’s history!

Molly the maid is at it again! Another murder at her hotel and she gets in the middle of it all! I enjoyed seeing Molly grow as a character in this sequel and enjoyed seeing her relationships develop! 4/5 stars for me! A delightful, cozy read!

As always, thanks to Net Galley for the ARC!!

Could not wait to read this follow-up mystery to The Maid, which was brilliant. This one is almost as charming, but left me feeling wanting to read more about the main character and her private life. It was an easy, pleasant read but did not pull me in as much as the Maid. Thank you #netgalley for letting me read this advance copy!

Nita Prose has done it again and is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors! I absolutely adore Nita’s characters and couldn’t put this one down!

I think I may have liked this book even more than the first one!

Molly as a character has really grown on me throughout the first book, and this only continued into the second book. Like the first one, this book almost seems to carry the cozy mystery vibe, but this time delves into Molly's mysterious past and how it merges with the current situation. This book really carries the classic charm that you can expect from the first book, but as Molly matures so does the writing and I think this really made this novel that much deeper.

As for the mystery itself, it is very similar to the last book, which basically just means it has the basic twists and turns but overall it's not too difficult to guess who did it. It's still very much a good mystery but in this case, it's just a tad easy. But personally, I found myself drawn to the characters and story more than I was drawn to the murder mystery.

Overall a perfectly fine mystery, but a fantastic story with a character I find more and more endearing.

Nita Prose's first book, The Maid, was my favorite read last year. I was excited to receive the ARC of the sequel, The Mystery Guest. It did not disappoint. Although I will say that the original is still my favorite, this new mystery has plenty of charm all on its own. New secrets from Molly's history were revealed. New friends were made. The hotel's new tea room was introduced and in the first hour of operation, a famous author was murdered. Molly and her friends work dilligently to uncover the killer and return the Regency Grand Hotel to "a state of perfection."

Molly the Maid stole my heart in the book of this series, The Maid. Think of Molly as a very high functioning adult on the spectrum with a dash of Amelia Bedelia in her personality and the gumption to get things done. In this caper, a famous writer dies at the hotel where Molly works. This is the second time she has had to deal with a dead body on the job. Her observational skills are second to none, and her attention to detail once again pays off in the long run.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Molly is back and what a joy this is. All the characters were well-developed and the mystery has lots of twists and turns. Can't wait to see what happens to Molly next .

We are back with Molly the maid! I was really intrigued by Molly in the first book of this series. Molly has such a unique outlook on the world and the things that happen to her. So I was excited to see that again in The Mystery Guest.

Molly is once again caught up in a mysterious situation. Is it foul play? Is a hotel employee involved?

There more flash backs of Molly and her Gran. You get more of Molly’s history and life growing up.

I really enjoyed this book. It was fun and twisty.
Thank you Anita Prose and Random House for the arc.

Molly might just be one of my top favorite characters ever. I loved The Maid and I was THRILLED to get an advanced copy of this sequel, The Mystery Guest. It was super fun to be back in Molly’s world as she works out the latest mystery in the Regency Grand. She is quirky and so clever; this was such a delightful and compelling read. I loved the flashbacks and getting to hear more of her life with her gran. (And her gran-dad- I knew it!!) I loved the back story; it felt like it all came full circle. I’m very excited for Molly and her future!

Head Maid Molly's beloved Regency Grand Hotel has recovered from the recent murder scandal and redecorated. To celebrate the opening of the new tea room, they are hosting a famous author who has a momentous announcement. Unfortunately, he collapses just as he is about to start his speech - right on top of one of Molly's Maids-in-Training, Lily. Of course, the imminent Mr. Grimthorpe has been murdered. And Molly is, once again, a prime suspect.
What the police don't know is that Molly knows Mr. Grimthorpe. The reader learns of their connection as the book is told in alternating chapters - present day and past. Molly's beloved grandmother was, at one time, the maid at the Grimthorpe mansion. And Molly herself even worked there for a short while.
We learn a lot about Molly's past in this book. Her grandmother's wisdom continues to guide her through another turbulent investigation at her cherished Regency Grand Hotel - along with Mr. Preston and Angela.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an e-ARC of the book. It was delightful!

Molly the Maid does it again! Using her quirky personality and observations to solve a crime at the hotel. Not only is this book full of twists it also pulls at your heart strings as Molly reflects on her childhood and is always striving to honor her Gran. Sometimes sequels aren’t as good as the first but this sequel lives up to the hype

I love the characters in this series. The Mystery Guest does a great job of unveiling the mystery and solving the crime. The imperfection of the characters is what makes them relatable. There were lots of twists and turns to keep the readers intrigued. The growth of the characters really shines in this book. The plot provides many opportunities for all the characters to flourish. The sequel to The Maid is a compelling story that anyone love loves mysteries will enjoy. I cannot wait to see what else happens with these characters in future stories. Prose does a brilliant job of storytelling.

The Mystery Guest is the follow-up to The Maid, about Molly Gray, a neuro-divergent newly minted Head Maid of the Regency Grand Hotel. The book opens with the sudden and suspicious death of special guest, blockbuster mystery author, J.D. Grimthorpe. As with the previous book, there are a strong cast of characters who assist Molly with helping to investigate this new mysterious death in the hotel, as everything is definitely not as it appears.

This book is told in alternating timelines in the present, and in Molly's past as a young girl, when her path previously crossed with Grimthorpe's, as her beloved Gran was a maid in the Grimthorpe household.

For those who read and enjoyed the previous book, I would certainly recommend this book as being worth reading. In my opinion Molly is more established as a character, and her narration shows how her character is continually growing and developing as she becomes more comfortable socially with her friends and co-workers. This mystery was satisfyingly concluded and Molly is left with new personal developments by the end as well.

Thank you to Random House Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.

Just as charming and quirky as the first one. The main character is unintentionally hilarious, but there is also a lot of heart behind her. And secrets which keeps one turning the page!

Molly Gray is back!
I am sure you remember The Maid by Nita Prose that featured the young maid with very specific ideas about cleaning and still working to figure out how to best work with her colleagues and contemporary life.

In this story Molly is back with a vengeance, committed fully to ensuring that the Regency Grand continues to be the five star hotel that all expect. The staff in fact expect that their latest event, hosting a reclusive author with a surprise announcement will thrust the Grand back into a positive spotlight and help all forget the murder in the past.

Unfortunately the famous author dies before revealing his great secrets and the Grand is quickly infiltrated with police and detectives and looker-loos that are intent on solving the mystery. Stranger yet, Molly has a connection to the very mysterious and hermit like Grimthorpe. As we read the flashbacks we learn more and more about Molly's background and how she came to be.

Join Molly and the crew at the Grand Hotel and you will not be sorry, this is a cheery cozy-type mystery that will keep you engaged and on your toes - just don't track any mud inside when you read :)
#Ballantinebooks #TheMysteryGuest #NitaProse

I LOVE MOLLY!!! I was thrilled to hear there was a sequel to The Maid and even more excited to receive an advanced copy of it!!!!!
This novel is the definition of a cozy mystery and I can’t get enough! Molly is the investigator this time and probably one of the most likable characters of 2023. I hope the series will continue to we can continue to hear of her adventures at the hotel!!!

THIS WAS SO CUTE.

Did The Maid need a sequel? Not really. But this gave off all the cozy mystery vibes I needed. We also got some backstory on Gram and Molly.

Loved it! 4 solid stars.

molly the maid is back!!!! super cute and quick cozy mystery that will be PERFECT for fall/winter mood readers. didn’t really think that the maid needed a sequel, but the author has set this up well for a continued series. 3.75!!