A fun and fast return to the world of Molly the Maid. While there are times where her neurodivergence/autism-coded speech can feel over the top, I actually enjoyed this novel a bit better than the first. It is nice to see both Molly working out some issues from her past, giving us a ton of backstory, and Molly doing quite well in her life now as Head Maid at her beloved hotel, living with her sweet boyfriend Juan Manuel. Overall, I enjoyed the book and wish that I was as positive a person as Molly is when faced with constant adversity. Her descriptions of beautiful places and things in the hotel and in the mansion her grandmother cleaned were some of my favorite aspects of the book. I aspire to have a home or a workplace ardently admired as dearly as Molly admired the hotel lobby and tearoom, the parlor of the Grimthorpes’, and even the homey little apartment she resides in. Molly and the author both concentrate heavily on details and it is very fun to savor the details with them.

The Mystery Guest
by Nita Prose

J.D. Grimthorpe is a famous mystery author that is planning a big announcement at the Regency Grand Hotel. However, he drops dead in the hotel’s tea room before he can make that announcement. Molly Gray is left to solve the murder despite only being the head maid at the hotel.

This book is the sequel to The Maid but enough background information is provided to read it as a stand alone. I really enjoyed this light hearted mystery. The story is full of loveable characters, especially Molly. She is a fun, well-developed character. You get a glimpse of Molly’s childhood and her sweet relationship with her Gran. The characters definitely make this story!

I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s first novel, “The Maid”. It was delightful and charming with the main character Molly the Maid. The current book is a sequel, continuing on with Molly solving another murder. This book moved rather slowly and it was not nearly as engaging as the first. I think it lacked some of the charm of the first book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

Molly is BACK at it again, and in Nina Prose’s sequel to The Maid, there is another murder mystery to solve. This time around, a famous mystery author is scheduled to make an announcement at Molly’s hotel, but instead, drops dead right before.

You can expect the same witty humor that Molly brings in Prose’s first novel, as well as her unique sleuthing skills that will keep you guessing until the end. If you loved the first novel, run, do not walk, to pick up The Murder Guest. It had me guessing and laughing until the very end. I also love the inclusivity of a main character who is neuro-divergent.

Please, pretty please Mrs. Prose- will you write a third?

I felt like the author was laughing AT Molly instead of WITH Molly. Our protagonist was given stereotypical neurodivergent traits, although it’s labeled as “quirky.” All the characters around her seem to cater to her “quirkiness.”

The writing feels very basic/lower grade level. At first, I was pleased by the easy readability, and it sort of made sense since Molly is a maid and the implication is potentially a lower education or dropping out of school. Then Molly literally spells fancy five-dollar words to self-soothe in a grade school flashback. What. The. Heck. On multiple occasions, Molly is literally whatever the author needs her to be, and character consistency is in the toilet.

The book stands alone. I had “The Maid” on my TBR, but after this one, I’ve lost interest.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I recently came across The Maid and found it delightful! Imagine my excitement to discover there was a sequel ready and waiting as soon as I finished book 1! And once again, Molly did not disappoint. I adore Molly the Maid and hope to have more stories to come.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC and sequel to the maid! Just like the first book in the series I loved the Mystery Guest. If you're a fan of the first book you will definitely enjoy this one as well. I still love the way Molly speaks and comments about the world. The characters are great and really bring you into the story. Some plot points of the mystery I could see coming but it was still an enjoyable read. I liked the ending to this one even better than the first one.

Nita Prose once again introduces us to Molly the Maid in this second outing. Keeping true to Molly's voice and quirky way of thinking, readers will instantly be drawn back into Molly's world. On the day of the Grand Opening of the hotel's Tea Room, a reclusive author is scheduled to make a major announcement. Unfortunately, he dies before he can make that announcement leaving his fans upset and turmoil at Molly's usually serene and clean hotel. Weaving Molly's childhood experiences with her dearly departed Gran into the current situation, Prose is able to create a believable resolution to the mystery of the author's death. Characters from the first book are included which makes Molly's world familiar to readers. This volume can stand alone, but readers may want to start with "The Maid" to fully appreciate the character of Molly. Definitely looking forward to another "Molly the Maid" book!

I gobbled this book right up! Molly is back at the Regency Grand and when a famous author drops dead at the hotel, she is on the case. Through flashbacks we learn more about Molly’s childhood while connections are made to the present. I loved this book and Prose provides another comfort read. Can I just say that I adore Angela and hope to see more of her in future books, too?!? A great book for fans of the classic mystery genre and those who appreciate neurodiversity.

The Mystery Guest comes out at the end of November 2023 and would make a great holiday gift for mystery readers.

Loved the book. Just as charming as her first one. Such a unique and original voice.

Even if the plot was somehow predictable and a bit coincidental, it is a fun and entertaining read.

Maid Molly, in her impeccable atypical voice, sees and considers things that other people don't notice, although she has always had trouble reading social cues. As she narrates this second mystery involving her work as a hotel maid, the chapters alternate between a current day murder at the hotel and memories of her childhood. Both plots are completely engaging and they overlap in surprising ways. This is a quick and comfortable read with a well-deserving murder victim and plenty of twists.

Molly the Maid is back in a new mystery. Molly faced some major life challenges in The Maid but she persevered and her life is an good place when The Mystery Guest opens. New challenges abound in this new book by Nita Prose. New characters are introduced and old favorites reappear. Molly continues to evolve and change is this satisfying and enjoyable sequel.

Yes yes yes! Bringing back the characters you loved and a few new you will for sure fall for too. Prose has made yet another modern classic mystery!

Once again, Molly Gray has done it. Piggybacking on Prose's first book, Molly uncovers another villainous crime. The action and fun begins.
I had read Prose's first book but, even without reading it, the reader would be able to enjoy it on its own. If you had read the first book, the characters and plot would be more interesting as a follow-up to the characters' behavior.
Prose has captured the idiosyncrasies and tenor of Gray's character beautifully. This is a fun read from start to finish.

I tried to finish this book but it was too bland and didn't hold my attention. The author painted a full picture of a grandmother whose wisdom has remained with her granddaughter.

I really enjoyed this follow up to Nita Prose's The Maid. I came into it remembering only the very basic plot line of the first book, and while I may have enjoyed it a fraction more if the first was fresh in my mind, I was still able to follow along without issue. For me, the mystery in this book took a backseat to the characters. Molly is just impossible not to love! 3.5 stars. I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group in exchange for a review. Thank you!

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose. Molly returns. For those who enjoyed "The Maid" they will find this a worthy followup. Molly works with her hotel friends and deals with contrary employees., guests and police in order to uncover what happened to a famous author who suddenly died at an event at the hotel. Molly discovers not only what happened but new secrets are exposed about Molly's life.

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose is the follow up to The Maid and it is wonderful! Molly the Maid is back and even more delightful than before! I enjoyed how Nita Prose alternated time lines to slowly unfold the story and bring the mystery to a great conclusion. You could read The Mystery Guest as a stand alone read but you would really miss the depth of the characters and their interactions if you didn't read The Maid first. I hope that there are more Molly the Maid books to follow. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery and sweet characters. Thank you to Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC.

No words! The Maid was one of my favorite reads last year and Nita did it again! The Mystery Guest is such a fun read and has easily made my favorite reads of 2023. SO good. I love following the lives of the characters and it was so fun and twisty around the way. 10/10!

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose is another winner for Molly the maid and her cohorts at the Regency Hotel. Molly's skills and expertise improve in this novel to Head Maid and she proves to be just that with her detective skills as well. More history of Molly's past is revealed as well as her Gran's which make for a unforgettable, endearing novel.