*Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for providing me with this review copy in exchange for my honest review.*

4.5 ⭐ rounded up.

Molly Gray is a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. Since the last book, she has been promoted and has been living happily with Juan Manuel. Life seems to be going well for Molly until a very famous author drops dead in the hotel. Once again, Molly is suspected of murder, along with her other coworkers. Molly may be innocent, but she's not so sure her coworkers are. Follow Molly's journey as she cracks the case wide open.

The first book in this series received much more hate than it deserved just because many people didn't understand, empathize, or even like Molly the maid. I, however, noticed almost immediately that she may have been written to represent someone on the spectrum. I really loved that because many times if someone hears that someone is on the spectrum, they don't picture a functioning adult; I love that this series was able to paint the picture of an adult on the spectrum being fulling functioning and able, just like everyone else.

"Of course, there are plenty of options for a child like Molly, and I'm happy to send you away with pamphlets about the specialists you can hire to deal with her privately."

The scene with Molly's principal when she was a kid was honestly heartbreaking. The phrases 'a child like Molly' and 'deal with her privately' are so cruel but also would have been normal when Molly was a child. There was no time for anyone who was different.

I enjoyed the flashbacks in this book and getting to know Molly's grandma more than just from Molly's thoughts. I wasn't sure how the flashbacks to her childhood would be relevant at first, but they were good for background on the victim.

Molly's relationship, if you can even call it that, with her mother is heartbreaking. During the flashback with her mother, I almost started crying because I could see exactly what was happening, but Molly couldn't. I just wanted to protect her.

I hated that Molly was put in the same position again in this book. As the reader, I knew she wouldn't kill someone, but it seems the detectives always latch onto her as a suspect because she's different. She is such a stickler about rules and is always willing to do what she can to help.

I felt so sad when Mr. Preston kept trying to get Molly to agree to Sunday night dinner even though Juan is on vacation. I kept getting the vibe that something was wrong and he wanted to tell her. Their relationship is so sweet and I am so happy that they have each other.

I didn't know how to feel about Lily most of the book. Though I relate to her in the sense that I am a very quiet person, I was suspicious of her since she was the new girl.

Molly honestly makes a good detective because she pays so much attention to everything that she picks up on things most people don't and can put the pieces together relatively easily. I hope Molly becomes a detective and we continue to get more mysteries with her. I definitely have a soft spot for her.

This was such a fun and quick mystery. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a mystery with less suspense and more of a quaint feel to it. Fingers crossed for more from Molly the Maid (or detective).

When a reclusive author drops dead at a hotel press event, suspicion gets cast on the employees working there. The head maid who has had experience with sordid matters before knows she’ll have to do her best again to make sure the wrong people aren’t accosted for the crime. Author Nita Prose brings back the lovable, dry wit of Molly the Maid in the stellar companion novel, The Mystery Guest.

Molly Gray is head maid at the Regency Grand Hotel, and nothing gives her greater pleasure in life than to put on her uniform and her nametag every morning and work in the most beautiful hotel in the world. It’s been four years since the nasty business of being accused for murder, and Molly is now in her dream job. She’s also become a mentor to Lily, her newest maid-in-training.

News comes that bestselling author J.D. Grimthorpe will be coming to the Regency Grand to make a major announcement, and the hotel staff is in a tizzy. Molly doesn’t care so much about Grimthorpe’s announcement. Her job is to make sure the hotel looks its best every day, and she’ll do so on the day of the press conference as well. She also doesn’t care for Grimthorpe, but that’s because of her personal history with the man that she hasn’t shared with anyone.

On the day of the press event, Molly decides to let Lily take the lead in serving Grimthorpe his tea. The man has demanded his refreshments in a particular way, and Molly is hoping Lily will excel in the challenge as much to bolster her own confidence as to show the world that even a maid-in-training who doesn’t talk very much can rise to the occasion. Within minutes of drinking his tea, however, Grimthorpe drops dead. In the middle of the event. With all eyes on him.

The police swoop in, and all eyes are on Molly once again. The last time a murder happened, Molly went from helpful informant to suspect in short time. Unfortunately, Detective Stark, the same officer who tried to pin the previous murder on Molly, is leading the charge in Grimthorpe’s death too. Once again Stark seems intent on naming Molly or Lily the perpetrator. But Molly knows she didn’t do anything wrong, and neither did Lily. Who, then, could possibly want Grimthorpe dead and why?

As the police start to close in, Molly is determined to solve the case. It doesn’t matter that she sees the world very differently from everyone else. Sometimes that different sight is what it takes to have a clear view of what’s right and wrong. Even when that view involves the painful memories of a younger version of herself and a man in a position of power to ruin everything.

Author Nita Prose settles much more deeply into the voice and character of Molly the Maid in this companion to her 2022 debut hit The Maid. Readers who haven’t met Molly before The Mystery Guest will still be able to enjoy her sarcasm and laser-focused observations of the world in this novel. This book, too, takes readers further into Molly’s past and her relationship with her beloved late grandmother.

Readers get to see how Molly’s neurodivergence set her apart in her childhood and how her gran reassured and loved her through the challenges of the world seeing her as somehow incomplete. Prose doesn’t allow Gran’s benevolence to make her untouchable, however. It’s clear Gran struggles with raising Molly and the choices she has to make to keep Molly safe. That Molly is looking back at these memories with clear perspective as an adult understanding the complete picture makes the recollections that much more bittersweet.

Those who have read the first book will be delighted at the return of several secondary characters, leaving them clamoring for more scenes with everyone. Prose gives just enough information to reassure readers that all is well with Molly’s friends and that they’re just as stalwart as always. Reading The Maid isn’t a prerequisite for reading The Mystery Guest, but those who have read both will enjoy a more rounded experience.

The book also hints, albeit subtly, at another Molly the Maid offering in the future. If so, that novel will only add to the wonderfully rich world Nita Prose has built into her first two books. Those looking for a mystery with a wry, witty, other-abled protagonist will definitely want to pick this one up.

Great sequel to book number 1. Kept me on my toes the entire time. Quick read- I love the connection between the two books! Molly is my favorite person!

Loved seeing Molly the Maid again! She’s such a fresh of breath air with her honesty, simplicity and smarts. It was a perfect cozy mystery that gave me more of a personal story about Molly. There’s not much to say, except I can’t wait how the future amateur sleuth fares in new waters.

Thank you to the publisher and PRH audio for my review copy. A favorite cozy series!

I loved The Maid so I was very excited to read The Mystery Guest! The Mystery Guest is the second installment in the Molly the Maid series that follows Molly and her maid experience at the Regency Grand Hotel. A famous writer, JD Grimthorpe, is visiting the hotel for a surprise announcement when he suddenly collapses as he is giving his speech. Although reluctant at first because the last incident at the hotel had her pinned as the top suspect, she helps out the detective solve the murder case.

I loved going back to the Regency Grand Hotel and reading about Molly and her quirky personality. Molly is a great and enjoyable character and it was heartwarming to read about her past and her relationship with her Gran (but I was missing her bf Juan!) . On the other hand though, the mystery/whodunit aspect of this book was quite lacking in my opinion. There was no major twist or anything that really surprised me. It was pretty easy to guess the who was involved.

Overall I would rate this book a 3.5/5 stars as I thought it was a quick and easy, cozy read - just wouldn't recommend it to someone who is looking for more of a true mystery/thriller.


Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

We’re back in the luxurious Grand Regency Hotel alongside our favorite maid, Molly Gray. A world renowned author, J.D. Grimthorpe, is making his debut inside the tearoom of the hotel to make a huge announcement. He’s onstage, sipping his tea from the tea cart that Molly prepared, and right before he makes his announcement…he drops to the floor and dies. Molly, and the rest of the hotel staff, are stunned to see yet another death happen inside the hotel walls. Once again, Molly is the one to blame for his death.

This was a cozy mystery that brings the hotel staff together to investigate the death of the author before Detective Stark blames Molly for the murder. Molly is keeping a secret from the investigation, but she’s afraid that her relationship with the author will make matters worse.

I was delighted when we took a dive into Molly’s past, back when her Gran was still alive and working for J.D. Grimthorpe. I loved that the hotel staff treated Molly with more respect in this book than in The Maid, but was deeply saddened that Juan Manuel was away visiting his mother and wasn’t apart of the book until the very end.

Molly the Maid is back in another delightful, charming and cozy mystery. As always, Molly is such a quirky and endearing character. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and found it entertaining and a fun and easy read, which is honestly perfect for this time of year.

The mystery itself was interesting enough, but wasn’t really anything that knocked my socks off, but Molly as a character, and the look we get into her backstory, are really what made this book.

As for how this one compares to the first in the series, The Maid, I don’t remember enough about the first to be able to say with I liked better, but I did enjoy both. I think it’s safe to say, if you enjoyed the first, it’s definitely worth picking this one up.

Molly is back!

Thank goodness. 2023 needs her quirky and heartfelt ways. The Mystery Guest is a solid second installment following, The Maid. It’s filled with coziness, clues, and humor.

This is a cozy mystery. You will not find intense and fast-paced action. You will not find a crime that is complex.

What you will find (and love):

-Amazing character work (please read The Maid first)
-Dual timelines that connect to mystery
-More details for characters who didn’t get as much page time in the first book

I loved every minute!

Thank you Random House for my gifted copy.

I love these characters so much! So glad to have them back in my life! Molly and her grandmother are two of my favorite characters and their love is so sweet. This adventure was even better than the first, don’t skip this one!

I absolutely loved The Maid so when I got the ARC for The Mystery Guest I was elated! This book starts out a few years after The Maid ended and Molly runs the maids at the hotel. When a mystery writer guest dies during a conference st the hotel, she is sucked right in and imagine our surprise that she met him years earlier but it was a bad meeting so now Molly has motivation and is once again a suspect in his murder.

Molly the Maid returns in this sequel to 2022’s THE MAID. When a famous mystery author falls dead seconds before making an important announcement at the Regency Grand, Molly again takes on the role of sleuth—this time diving deep into her childhood to uncover secrets that may just help her crack the case.

I both liked and disliked this one. Molly has grown significantly, taking on a more active and intentional role in the mystery solving. She has more agency here, and really works to solve the crime. This sequel has a significantly lighter tone and mood than the first book, and felt much more like a traditional cozy mystery.

Yet the mystery itself was very basic, and the writing just isn’t that special. It feels like this was only written because of the success of the first book, which IMO didn’t feel at all like it had series potential. All the same, Molly’s success in this book makes me think she will actually work nicely as a series sleuth.

Overall, I did enjoy this and would recommend it if you enjoyed The Maid. (It works as a standalone, too.)

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

What an excellent follow up to The Maid! Happy to report I enjoyed it just as much as the first book. Molly is such a delight. The audio version of this one is fantastic as well--I flew through this one in less than a day. Thank you to LibroFM and NetGalley for my copy of this book in exchange for my review.

This book was so fun! I didn't know when I requested it that it was actually the second book in the series. I had heard of The Maid, but I thought both books were standalones. It didn't seem to matter much. I didn't feel lost at any point and got a good feeling for the characters without knowing any previous backstory. I loved Molly and enjoyed watching her win people over, in spite of her sometimes blunt and quirky personality. Interesting characters and backstory made this a very unique and entertaining read. I'm looking forward to going back and reading book one and then impatiently waiting for (hopefully) a third installment.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing/Ballantine Books for the advanced review copy.

After the death of Mr. Black, Molly went from an accused-but-innocent maid (who solved the case) to her dream, head maid of the Regency Grand Hotel. Now, as head maid, Molly is training the new staff and preparing for a grand announcement from the acclaimed mystery author, J.D. Grimthorpe. When Mr. Grimthorpe falls down dead prior to his announcement, Molly and her maid-in-training Lily are immediately questioned by Detective Stark. Molly knows both she and Molly are innocent, but she also is not completely forthcoming with Detective Stark about her past with the deceased. It is only through Molly's memories and quirks that she is able to solve the mystery and, once again, clear her name.

I greatly enjoyed The Mystery Guest and would have given it five stars except for the ending. I still can't figure out why Prose chose the murderer. It felt too fast at the end and didn't fit properly for me. I still highly recommend this title and character; Molly is fantastic, and I love how Prose has created her and her world. I hope more Molly is on the way.

After reading the Maid when I saw these was another book featuring Molly the Maid I had to read it. The characters in this book are so different and fun (at times) to read about. I enjoyed another mystery at the boutique hotel that Molly is now the head maid. I really liked reading about her back story with her Gran and her younger years. Another great cozy mystery that keeps you guessing and moves at a quick pace. I think I enjoyed this one more than the first!

This second book by Nita Prose did not have the same impact of her first novel, The Maid. The Mystery Guest,
relied a little too heavily on cliche' characters who could be spotted a mile away. The wealthy, but evil and
souless author, who neither writes his own books nor behaves with any decency, gets murdered. Although the story is a who dunnit, the possible suspects are limited to other cliche'd characters, such as his fan base and hotel personnel. It feels like a pre-programmed and well-worn plot. Aside from wanting this book to be as good as her first book, there was not much else to keep me reading. Unforunately, it did not hold up to its predecessor.

A famous mystery writer, J.D. Grimthorpe, is holding a press conference in the hotel where Molly works as head maid. Unfortunately J.D. drops dead before he can reveal his big secret. Molly met him as a child and now helps Detective Stark making sense of all the clues to find the murderer.

While Molly is still a delightful character she doesn't seem to be as quirky and awkward as she did in The Maid. AS the investigation continues it is revealed that Molly knew the victim as a child and because of her ability to observe she was able to connect all the clues and come up with a killer.

It's not a nail biter kind of mystery but has a good plot, a good mystery and some really interesting characters.

I would recommend this to anyone who has read book 1 and I think you could still enjoy this without having read the first.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Ballantine for providing me with a digital copy.

I really enjoyed this book! I think I liked it even better than the first one! It has everything from your quirky character that is unapologetically herself to murder.
Molly the Maid is now head maid. Her dream come true. Four years ago she found Mr, Black dead in his bed. Today she is serving tea for a famous author when he suddenly drops dead. When her maid in training gets the blame she has to start asking questions. The problem is the author is a blast from her past. How is she connected to the author? Will Molly figure out the mystery?

This is the sequel to The Maid. We follow Molly, the maid, at Regency Grand Hotel. When JD Grimthorpe, a mystery author, dies in the hotel’s tearoom right before an important announcement, Molly joins Detective Spark to help investigate the crime.

I had so much fun being back at the RGH with Molly, Mr. Snow, and Mr. Preston. This story is told in dual timelines and we learn more about Molly’s childhood. If you enjoyed The Maid, I highly recommend checking out the sequel!

Thank you to Netgalley and Publishers for giving me a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Molly is at it again, bringing readers the perfect combination of suspense and humor through a cozy mystery.
This adventure brings all the characters we grew to love in the first novel, and allows Molly's growth to shine. I enjoyed the alternating timelines of this story, as it provided more insight into Molly's upbringing, which made her even more loveable. Another fantastic story, with a satisfying end!