I was incredibly surprised but delighted to see Molly the Maid was getting her own sequel, and though I think this book is tranquil as far as thrillers go, it's such a cozy comfort read. Molly's world itself is a lovely escape - everything is tea and biscuits, revisiting literary heroes and (of course) Columbo reruns... classics that never go out style and often feel like a warm blanket on a cold and rainy day.

I think what I appreciate so much about Molly as a character is her no-nonsense approach to detective work - her confidence in herself, even when faced with the confusion of neurotypical adversity, is inspiring in its own way. She's steadfast to herself and her grandmother's wisdoms, and this usually works out in her favor (and lends to some hilarious interactions where she puts people in their place re: genuine manners and respect to the individual). She truly is the reason to read the series.

Though the sequel is on par with book #1 - very similar pacing and plot points - if you enjoy low stake mysteries where the getting to the whodunnit part is pretty linear, this series is perfect for you!

Thank you Ballantine books and Net Galley for the earc. This book follows Molly the Maid from the previous novel and yet another mystery that she must solve due to her unique detective skills. While working, a famous author drops dead during a VIP announcement event, causing Molly to be accused once again when murder is suspected. Molly uses her talent of noticing strange details to help solve the mystery and we also get a backstory on Molly’s own childhood and her connection to the case. This book was so quick to read that I read it in like a day or so. I flew through it and it was so fun, especially since Molly is quite the character. The ending was very satisfying and ended with such a pleasant surprise. It didn’t give me a 5 star feeling or anything but so much about this book was amazing and really fun. I would definitely read another sequel if it came out, even if it’s from lily’s perspective.

Another novel centered around Molly the Maid?? Yes please! In The Mystery Guest, Molly finds herself in the center of yet another murder at The Regency Grand Hotel. What seems straightforward in the beginning of the book morphs into a journey through both present time and the past, as we learn of Molly's connection to the author J.D. Grimthorpe. The dual timelines were written beautifully, with plenty of Easter Eggs and clues hid along the way. I greatly enjoyed this cozy mystery and would highly recommend it to anyone who also loved The Maid.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy!

The Mystery Guest is the second novel in the Molly the Maid series. While the book could be read as a standalone, I would highly recommend reading The Maid first.

Molly is the head maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. Her eye for detail and focus on perfection have led her to the elevated role, for which she is quite proud. Her perfect like seemingly comes to a screeching halt when famous author, J.D. Grimthorpe, falls over dead in the middle of the Regency Grand Hotel tea room. Was it murder? Who would have wanted to kill Mr. Grimthorpe?

On a journey to find the truth, we meet many interesting characters along the way, including members of the LAMBS--a fan club for J.D. Grimthorpe. We also get to learn more about Molly's childhood and some secret are revealed. This was a great novel!

4 out of 5 stars.

The Mystery Guest is the second in a maid novel series by Nina Prose. Following the exploits of Molly Gray now the head maid at the Regency Grand, "a five star boutique hotel."

Once again Molly pushes her well stocked maid's trolley which she calls "a portable sanitation miracle", through the rooms as she brings them all back to clean order. Molly knows she sees things differently and since her grandmother has passed on, she relies on her boy friend, Juan for giving her a clear perspective.

This time Molly gets involved in the murder of J. D. Grimthorpe, the world-renowned mystery author, when he drops dead on the hotel's tea room floor. In an effort to clear both her name and the name of Lily, her new maid in training, she steps in to assist in solving the mystery. Molly may have more information about the case than she is letting on.

She works once again with Detective Stark looking at and interviewing the multiple suspects. Is it Serena the author's secretary, or Mr. Preston, her friend and the hotel's beloved doorman? With a few misdirections Molly and Detective Stark will uncover the culprit and clean up the mess.

***This review, expressing my honest opinion, is voluntary, and I extend my gratitude to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books and NetGalley for providing the ARC of "The Mystery Guest.***

Embracing her newfound role as Head Maid at the esteemed Regency Grand Hotel, Molly basks in the pride she knows her grandmother would feel. The anticipation is palpable as the hotel readies for an opulent gathering in their freshly renovated tea room. However, the air of excitement takes an unexpected turn to dismay when the celebrated author J.D. Grimthorpe collapses during his speech at the event.

Once more, Molly finds herself aiding Detective Stark in unraveling the intricate threads of a murder mystery. Will the discerning detective finally embrace Molly's unique skills this time? Molly's unblemished innocence remains a refreshing beacon in today's complex world.

The narrative gracefully navigates through Molly's past, delving into her youth and the formative years spent with her grandmother, as she wholeheartedly embraces the true calling of being a maid. This delightful and whimsical mystery serves as a constant source of joy, guaranteeing a smile from beginning to end. While this is the second installment in a series, it stands independently; nonetheless, starting from the beginning is recommended for the sheer pleasure of acquainting oneself with the endearing Miss Molly.

I love Molly the maid but this did not hit the same as the maid! I actually didn’t really like the nonlinear timeline in this instance as I felt like it was taking away from the mystery in the present day. With that said… I’ll read whatever Nita Prose writes!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy
of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited when I discovered Nita Prose was writing a second book. Her first novel, The Maid, was one of my favorite books for the entire year when it was published in 2022. It was everything I could have asked for in a book. A unique protagonist, well drawn and believable characters, perfect pacing, a top notch mystery, and a satisfying ending that I never saw coming. I read so many books, and to be lucky enough to pick one up that was so unexpected was such a great pleasure.

Going into The Mystery Guest, I was a little trepidatious. Could Nita Prose top what she pulled off with The Maid? I wasn’t sure, but I went into it thinking if was at least half as good, it would still be a fantastic book.

Having just finished the last few pages of The Mystery Guest, I can confirm this: the sequel is every bit as enjoyable as The Maid! I’m not going to give anything away, because spoiling such a rare book would be a crime. So instead, I’ll tell you that I enjoyed every page of this book from the first to the last. Thank you Nita, for reminding me exactly why I love reading so much. Opening the pages of a good novel transports you to a new world and lets you go on so many adventures. It was so fun to go on another journey with Molly. I eagerly await another book from you in the future.

Having read The Maid, I was super excited for the second book in this series! I found Molly’s quirks endearing in the first book and although I loved to see her progress into a much more confident person in this book, her quirks started to lose their charm and got on my nerves slightly. I also found it difficult to stay engaged with the murder mystery of the world famous author Mr. Grimthorpe. It was relatively easy to figure out the culprit and I didn’t care much about the new characters that were introduced. I did enjoy the descriptions of Mr. Grimthorpe’s extravagant mansion and, of course, the Regency Grand Hotel. I would’ve liked this book more if there was a better plot twist. Overall, I enjoyed the book as a leisurely cozy mystery, however it’s not one of my favorites. Thank you to Nita Prose, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy so I can provide an honest review.

QUICK TAKE: It's fun, but forgettable. probably a book that didn't need a sequel, though one of the few books where the flashbacks were more entertaining and interesting than the current day storyline, which was kinda snoozy tbh.

I love this book. Molly is at it again. Molly is my favorite character I think ever, she has her own way of looking at things and I love it. I also love how Nita writes things vague, meaning you can take this story and make it your own. Using your own imagination to see how the story goes. This second book of the maid series follows Molly as she is thrown into another investigation when a famous author drops dead at an event at the hotel. This book had me turning the pages and couldn't wait to see how it played out. I hope there's more Molly in my future.

What a wonderful follow up to The Maid! I really enjoyed the timeline jumps and getting a good picture of our main character's past. I also really enjoyed our main character being able to take another under her wing.

I really enjoyed this follow up to The Maid. I really enjoy Molly as a character. I love her for her nuances and her representation. I don't think this book was as strong as the first book, but the story was still great, it was a quick read, and I am very much looking for and hoping for the next one!

I was happy to be back with Miss Molly. She is such a lovable character. While I know sequels are hard to write and therefore go in with lower expectations, I definitely don't think this book lived up to the first. The murder mystery was good, not great. I did enjoy her memories of the past with her gram but that didn't make up for the issues with this book for me.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley but right after I did, I realized that I had never read the first book in the series, The Maid. I meant to but never got to it. Fortunately, I was able to get it from the library. It was a light, easy read that I enjoyed. I was expecting this book to be more of the same. However, I was pleased to find that there was a good deal more substance to it. This is not to say that The Maid was bad (I did give it four stars). The Mystery Guest was more "seasoned" and there was a good deal more to Molly than her awkwardness with people. The story was more complex but so were the characters. Molly had a love interest (more on that in a minute). She kept her trademark awkwardness but the author deepened her character and made her multidimensional. In the first book, the focus was on her Asperger's (never stated but I assume) and her job. Here, she is so much more.
About perhaps the only criticism I have is that her love interest was sent away at the beginning of the book and comes back later on. It would be interesting to see Molly with him. But maybe the author is going to reveal that in the next book.

Nita Prose does it again!! 👏🏻

I loved the first book so I was super excited for The Mystery Guest!! Molly is such an endearing character and I love how literal she is. She just makes me so happy!

Molly, now Head Maid, and her maid in training Lily are getting prepared for an exclusive gathering for the mystery writer JD Grimthorpe. They are responsible for serving him his tea. He promised a major announcement, but before he could get the words out, he dropped dead right in front of hotel staff, his secretary, and a group of ladies called the LAMBS (Ladies Auxillary Mystery Book Society).

With yet another suspicious death within the hotel, Detective Stark is back and I remembered why I didn’t like her in the first book (but y’all, she totally redeems herself in The Mystery Guest!!) Stark immediately suspects many different people— Lily, Serena, and even Mr. Preston was under scrutiny! When she learns that Molly spent time in the Grimthorpe Mansion as a child with her Gran, Molly was also suspected. This time, she isn’t nervous and she takes the investigating into her own hands! No stone will be left unturned while Molly gets to the bottom of this mystery, just as she keeps every room in a state of perfection!

Oh— and Cheryl is still terrible. That is all I have to say about her 🙄

I loved the past and present timelines. It was so fun getting a peek into Molly’s childhood and how it all connected with the events of her adult life! Molly had so much growth from the first book to now and it was so nice getting to see that change in her as she investigated and gained more and more confidence.

Also, that heartwarming conclusion was not what I was expecting and it made the entire book for me! Get your tissues ready!

Overall, this was everything I needed in a book! The mystery, the coziness, and the heartwarming ending. It was just pure perfection!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Nita Prose!!

I loved The Maid so I was so excited to see it became a series! I absolutely love cozy mysteries and this one did not disappoint. I really connected with the characters and I found it to be a super fast read. If we get a third in the series, I'll definitely pick it up!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!

Another great story featuring Molly the Maid and her quirky sayings! I loved the first book and this one is just as good! I can't wait to read more from this author and hopefully read a third book featuring Molly! Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.

In the same vein as its predecessor book, The Maid, The Mystery Guest delivers on charming atmosphere, sweet characters, and a satisfying resolution. Lovers of Molly will appreciate that this book digs further into her backstory. The intrigue in this book is of a different type than the first book, but it was a fun read nonetheless!

This fun sequel to last year's The Maid finds our favorite hotel maid Molly once again investigating a suspicious death at the hotel where she works. This book is set 4 years after The Maid, and Molly is in a much better place in her life - but then a famous author drops dead at a book event at the hotel. And since it turns out Molly knew him as a child when her Gran worked at his house, the present day story is also interspersed with flashbacks to Molly's childhood.

I have to say, I enjoyed this one even more than The Maid. I enjoyed the story in The Maid, I just had a few issues with how Molly was portrayed and how horribly she was treated by the other characters in that one. This time, I didn't feel those same issues, and was just able to enjoy both the mystery and Molly's extremely quirky way of looking at the world and her rhyming phrases. I definitely would not read this without reading The Maid first, but if you enjoyed that one I'm sure you'll enjoy this one too.