This book was okay for me. Brought back all your favorite characters from The Maid and is a semi sequel. I don’t know if we really needed a sequel which I think why this book was just okay for me. Another mystery and a quick read. So if you liked the characters and wanted to read more then this book is for you. There are a lot of chapters told in the past with Molly and Gran which I did enjoy so that part was delightful.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC! Out 11/28

Excuse me as I gather myself and wipe my weepy eyes! Nita Prose does it again, just like the Maid, the Mystery Guest absolutely warmed my heart. Molly is one of my favorite characters that have existed in fiction. She’s so special and someone you just want to envelope in a hug!

There has been another death at the Regency Grand, an infamous author. The story takes us through the investigation, as well as into the past where we learn about Molly’s connection to the author. The relationship between Molly and her grandma is so beautiful, and it was such a treat to learn more about that bond, despite all the heartbroken tribulations they endured. I loved everything about this book, and the ending 🥹🥹🥹🥹

Could I love a character more than Molly? Nope probably not! We first meet Molly in
The Maid where she finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery. Well this story Molly finds herself fully immersed in another mystery. The ever renowned author J.D Grimthorpe is about to reveal a secret to the press when he drops dead in the hotel where she holds the ‘Head Maid’ title.
Who did it? And what was the motive?

A very cozy mystery and I enjoyed it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you @netgalley @randomhouse for this arc.

I absolutely loved The Maid, and with The Mystery Guest, I was thrilled to be back with pure at heart Molly at the Regency Grand Hotel. With a charming first person perspective and lively characters, The Mystery Guest is another winner from Nita Prose..

Molly the maid is quickly becoming one of my favorite characters! I love her personality and love how the book showcases her neurodiversity. Juan Manuel was visiting family in Mexico for this book. That was kind of disappointing. I wanted to see their story grow further.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed this sequel!! I love following Molly along on her adventures and it is such a cozy mystery that has so much heart but isn’t too fluffy (if that makes sense) I enjoyed The Maid a bit more but this was a strong sequel and I hope we get more stories from Molly and the gang!

What a fantastic tale! It teaches us to never underestimate anyone as it can result in failure in the end. The story revolves around Molly, a maid, who, with the help of her friends, solves a murder case and uncovers the monsters disguised as humans. The plot is full of twists and turns, making it a great mystery. The main goal is to prevent the loss of human lives, and Molly manages to catch a thief but still gives them a chance to reform. This highlights how Molly is a better person than many individuals in real life. I highly recommend this book to everyone.i

The Mystery Guest was a great follow-up to The Maid! Do you need to have read The Maid prior to starting this one? Not necessarily, but I don't think you'd get as much enjoyment out of The Mystery Guest if you skip it.

The mystery Molly is trying to solve takes a bit of a backseat so that we can get more of her memories working alongside her Gran as a child. If the series continues, I really hope we get more flashback chapters of Gran as she sounds like someone I wish I knew in real life.

If you loved Molly's character in The Maid, you will absolutely love The Mystery Guest!

Oh, Molly! I read the first and second in this series back to back and enjoyed quirky Molly the most. While it reads similar to Agatha Christie, it’s lively and spunky and I couldn’t help but cheer for my favorite maid! A great read if you’re a fan of this genre!

An excellent addition to the Molly the Maid series. Molly must solve a mystery when a popular author is murdered on the hotel premises where she works. Molly’s secret ties to the author make her a suspect. Molly’s quirky character is endearing and her personality drives the plot. The cozy-type mystery was solid and fun to read.

Molly the maid is back and Nita Prose does it again! This is definitely my favorite light and semi funny murder mystery of the year!

Huge thank you to Ballantine Books for providing me with an advance copy to read!

Very much enjoyed reading this book. Loved book #1 and this one did not disappoint. I loved all the characters, and it was a quick and easy read. Also - the ending was perfect!

Molly The Maid is back and she’s even better than she was in the first book! Molly has more confidence in herself now and she’s been promoted to Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel, which gives her a huge amount of pride.

The story involves a famous mystery author who has arranged to make a special announcement at the hotel’s beautiful tea room. Unfortunately he drops dead right before he can reveal the secret he was going to reveal. Is it murder or a heart attack or something like that? Molly gets involved.

It turns out that Molly knew the author a little bit when she was young and her grandmother (her “gran”) worked as a maid in his mansion. We get a lot of Molly’s (and her grans) back story in this one, with the chapters labeled either “now” or “before, so you are never lost as to what’s happening and when.

Molly is what we would call neurodivergent. She is rather lacking in interpreting social cues (although she’s getting better at it!) and is usually quite literal. It brings to mind the children’s books about Amelia Bedelia.

I love how the author highlights the importance of these “invisible” jobs and the pride that many of these workers take in their work. Nothing delights Molly as much as a perfectly made bed or a perfectly polished piece of silver.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to Random House for my copy of The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose. This is book two in the Molly the Maid series and it was such a fun sequel.

I listened to this on audio and I feel the audio helps bring alive these books! I thought this book was fun and I liked seeing more of Molly's backstory.
I'm curious if there will be a third book based on the ending!

Lauren Ambrose is a great narrator and the audiobook is just over 8 hours. I recommend reading The Maid before reading this one.

I enjoyed The Maid and was excited to read the sequel. To be honest, I don't think a sequel was necessary. This was a quick read, but it wasn't as engaging or dramatic as The Maid. It dragged a little for me. However, I enjoyed learning more about Molly and how she came to be a maid. Overall, this was an okay read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, for the E-ARC

All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

3.5 stars! Molly has evolved a bit from the first book but is still her quirky self. Some of the mystery is figure-out-able but it was still a quick, fun read for me. I enjoyed the intertwining of bits of the backstory from Book 1 into this one, including the fact Molly is 'on the spectrum'.

I absolutely adored this book! I read it only a day and a half. It was an easy fun read. I enjoyed it even better than the Maid. Molly is one of my all time favorite characters.

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose

Molly the Maid is such a memorable unique voice so when I saw this book I thrilled to revisit her and her world. I work in hotels so I love this setting and the inter workings of the hotel are so well thought through and accurate.

This time we are a few years from the murder in her hotel and she is the head maid onboarding a new team and doing a fab job at that. There is a famous author, Mr Grimthorpe, staying at her hotel and when he drops dead before a major speech all eyes are back on the staff and Molly. The book goes back and forth from present to before when Molly and Gran (my favorite character!) are cleaning a mansion for work and it turns out to be this author. Molly and Grimthorpe had a sort of relationship back then but he didn’t remember her at the hotel. Now that he’s dead she needs to take it upon herself to again clear her name and anyone she trusts.

My favorite part of this one is the before times and the drama of the mansion and Grimthorpe couple. Gran is such a steadfast beautiful character and so understanding and loving. Loved returned to this story and these characters.

Molly Gray stands out from the crowd, a unique individual known for her exceptional skills in cleaning and proper etiquette. Her ascent through the ranks of the illustrious five-star Regency Grand Hotel culminates in her prestigious role as Head Maid. However, just as Molly's life achieves a pinnacle of perfection, the tranquillity is shattered when J.D. Grimthorpe, a world-renowned mystery author, meets a sudden and dead end on the hotel's tea room floor.

Detective Stark, an old adversary of Molly, takes charge of investigating the author's unexpected demise, revealing that this death was a murder most foul. The narrative unfolds through alternating timelines—present-day events and glimpses into Molly's childhood when her Gran worked for Grimthorpe. The intertwining storylines complement each other seamlessly, offering additional insights into Molly's youth and her Gran's character. Notably, the chapters set in the past resonated more strongly with me than those in the present.

I would recommend that you read the first book first before starting this one. It's essential to start with "The Maid" to appreciate Molly's growth and increasing confidence fully. The novel promises a captivating blend of mystery, nostalgia, and character development, with Molly's unique journey at the forefront.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose is I think the second book in the series with The Maid being book one. I love this book and I can’t wait to go back and read The Maid. I couldn’t put this book down.

Molly is a maid and she works at the Regency Grand Hotel as the Head Maid. Molly has hired a maid in training named Lily. Molly is happy in her life living with her boyfriend Juan Manuel.

It’s been quiet at the Regency Grand, four years have passed since the last murder has happened. JD Grimthorpe wants to make a big announcement and decided to hold a press conference at the Regency Grand. Before he can make his announcement he is found dead. It has been ruled a murder and Detective Stark is back investigating the murder. Now is a case of who did it and with Molly being to one that holds the key to solve the murder.

I really enjoyed this murder mystery and it was such an enjoyable read. I love the way Nita has written Mollys character as obsessive, a lil quirky, and fun. I cannot wait to dive into the Maid!! I give this book 4.5 stars. Thank you to Ballantine Books, Nita Prose and NetGalley for letting me read the ARC in exchange for my thoughts and opinions.