This was a cozy mystery read. I very much enjoyed Molly as a character. She is quirky and intelligent and it was fun to watch her work through clues. The pacing was great. I never felt too bogged down or like I was waiting for something interesting to happen. I also liked that we got a bit more of Molly's backstory. Lilly was a fun new addition to this book. I think that this second book is better than the first!

Molly the Maid is back! Now head maid, she is anticipating her role in a press conference being held by well-known mystery writer J. D. Grimthorpe. But what she doesn’t reveal is her history with the famous author—especially when he drops dead just before his mysterious announcement and it turns out he was murdered.

The second mystery featuring Molly is a dual timeline story showing Molly and her grandmother when Molly was in elementary school. The social commentary in this second book is not as incisive as the first, but it still has teeth at times. #TheMysteryGuest #NetGalley

The Mystery Guest is the second book in Nita Prose's The Maid series. The first book, aptly titled "The Maid", was one of my favorite books of 2022. I absolutely adored Molly Gray, the titular maid of that tome. She was a different sort of heroine, rather awkward but able to set any room to a "pinnacle state of perfection", and she stole my heart. I was excited to get a copy of this follow-up book, but how could it possibly compare to the first? It couldn't...because this book was, if I may be so bold to say, "the pinnacle state of perfection"!

Molly Gray has worked her way up to Head Maid at the 5-star Regency Grand Hotel, and she's extremely proud of that title; she pins her nametag bearing the designation Head Maid right above her heart every working day. Things are almost perfect, until the day when celebrated mystery author J.D. Grimthorpe drops dead on the tea room floor! Molly's nemesis Detective Stark, who previously investigated a murder at the same hotel, comes to investigate this unexpected death. But it soon becomes clear that Grimthorpe was murdered. Suddenly there are suspects all over the place. Could it be Lily, Molly's protégé and maid-in-training? How about Mr. Preston, the hotel's doorman and Molly's dear friend? Perhaps Serena, the author's secretary? And is Molly as innocent as she appears? Molly believes she may hold the key to the identity of the killer, as she and her beloved Gran (may she rest in peace) once worked at the Grimthorpe manor. Molly must revisit her childhood memories and see if they provide a clue as to who murdered the author. Molly knows dirty secrets will not stay buried forever...

Molly is such an usual heroine, and I love her all the more for it; who wants the usual cookie-cutter heroine? Molly grew up being raised by her Gran, whom she loved more than anyone. She takes most things literally...figuratively is not her style. She's come a long way since the first novel; she's now Head Maid (she's even written a handbook for the maids beneath her!) and is in a committed relationship with Juan Manuel, who also works at the hotel. (Unfortunately, Juan is visiting his relatives in Mexico, so he is not actually present until almost the end of the book. He's an absolute sweetheart to his girl!) I was happy to see Mr. Preston the doorman again, though he seems to have a secret or two and Molly becomes suspicious. I really liked maid-in-training Lily; she reminded Molly a lot of herself. Lily was serving tea to Grimthorpe when he died, and she begins to act suspicious also and even more withdrawn than usual. Molly's co-worker Angela is a huge crime podcast buff, and she thinks she and Molly can solve the case. Angela goes so far to tell a group of LAMBS (Ladies Auxiliary Mystery Book Society) who came to see their favorite author Grimthorpe that Molly was a detective! Detective Stark suspected Molly of murder in the previous book, so Molly is definitely skittish around her. However, Molly has really grown; who knew she would be such a good investigator? The storyline moved back and forth from the present to Molly's childhood with Gran, when they worked at the Grimthorpe manor. It wasn't the least bit confusing moving from one period to another. The chapters on Molly's childhood were actually my favorites. You cannot help but love Gran, the biggest influence in Molly's life. Her motivational tidbits to Molly were priceless, such as "Just grab a duster, Buster" and "Deep cleaning gives life meaning". (Definitely not words that I myself abide by, unfortunately!) She definitely shaped the woman Molly becomes. It was an extremely satisfying cozy mystery; I had nary a clue as to the killer's identity until it was revealed! The biggest revelation, however, was Molly's growth. Does she have a different future in store than she had planned? I will definitely catch up with Molly in the next installment; I can't wait!

I received and ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Molly is a delight, with her pride in her job and proper etiquette, she is a feel good character and I was delighted to see her return. This book gives a look at Molly's childhood and her close relationship with her grandmother, while Molly unravels another death in the hotel. This time a world-renowned mystery author, which once again bring Molly in the crosshairs with Detective Stark. Molly's keen eye for detail helps solve the crime and save maid-in-training Lily from being accused of the crime.

It’s a cozy mystery with great characters, and an intriguing ending. I highly recommend!

I received this advance review copy from NetGalley & the publisher for my honest review.

3.5⭐️

It has been over three years since we met last Molly Gray, who is now Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel – a badge she wears with pride. But Molly has been having a difficult day (to put it mildly !). The hotel had been hosting a VIP event and everything needed to be for the VIP guest, award-winning mystery writer J. D. Grimthorpe and the fifty-odd invitees - a task Molly and her trainee Lily approached with much diligence. The reclusive author had chosen the venue to make a rare public appearance to make an important announcement. But when the author drops dead just as he begins the session, Molly finds herself once again in the middle of another murder investigation headed by none other than Detective Stark – someone whom Molly isn’t too happy to see again. Evidence indicates that the author did not die of natural causes, and the suspect list includes Grimethorpe’s associates and the hotel guests and staff. We follow Molly as she uses her unique methods of analyzing the situation in the hope of finding the culprit and protecting her friends and the reputation of the hotel.

Having enjoyed The Maid , I was eager to read The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose. The story is presented from Molly’s first-person PoV over dual timelines – the present day in the aftermath of Grimthorpe’s death and Molly’s memories from when she was ten years old. I love Molly and her unique worldview. I also enjoyed getting to know more about her childhood and her relationship with her late grandmother, who doted on her and whose words of wisdom have guided Molly through much adversity. However, I wasn’t quite taken with the mystery angle and thought that the narrative suffered from considerable repetitiveness. The final reveal and the identity of the killer and the motive behind the murder were a tad underwhelming after the interesting buildup with plenty of red herrings and secrets along the way. One aspect concerning Molly’s family history and the surprise revelation at the end felt contrived and unnecessary.

This is a light, cozy read with plenty of heart and humor and while I did not dislike it, I wasn’t as taken with it as I had hoped. Having said that, I won’t give up on the series just yet because Molly is an endearing protagonist and I look forward to meeting her again in the future.

I would recommend reading The Maid before The Mystery Guest for a better understanding of the main characters.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Molly Gray is back in another cozy mystery at her beloved hotel. She is accompanied by her beloved crew of coworkers, and equipped with her unique powers of perception. This time, however, readers are treated to a look into Molly’s past as she races to uncover the truth about an untimely death at the hotel. While I found some of the connections between the backstory and the current crime to be a bit of a reach, the book was fun and I would definitely read a third in this series. Thank you for the gifted ARC!

I enjoyed the first novel and didn't think the author could pull this off but book 2 is even BETTER than the first.

If you love mysteries or cozy mysteries, you do not want to miss Molly the Maid series. FMC and secondary characters are endearing. Dialogues are smart and hilarious. The pacing is perfect.

In book 2, the death of a famous author is the center of mystery. Of course, you need a clever maid to help solve the murder. I love that there are more stories with her gran through flashbacks.

Highly recommend this delightful series, but now I'm sad I'll have to wait another year for the next.

4/5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. Molly is yet again facing another serious situation. A famous author who was about to release a statement suddenly dies. The story follows the characters as they try to solve it.

If you liked the maid, I think you will enjoy this book as well.

What a lovely return to this series with the lovable Molly the Maid. Although this is the second book in the series it can definitely be read as a standalone novel. I love the cozy, whodunnit feeling, while Molly fights the prejudice of being a little different. It’s a great reading experience and I’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t enjoy this book even just a little bit.

This is the second in the Molly the Maid series, and it did not disappoint. Molly is such a unique main character, smart but socially awkward. When the murder of a mystery writer occurs in the hotel Molly works in, the investigation opens up a chapter in Molly’s past which gives the reader more insight into her character. Detective Stark is back, underestimating Molly until she realizes that the details Molly sees will help solve the case. Well written, with a great story line and appealing characters, I highly recommend this book. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Molly Gray, now Head Maid of the 5-star Regency Grand Hotel, definitely knows her way around cleaning, because once again she’s swept my heart away!

In The Mystery Guest, book # 2 of the Molly the Maid series by Nita Prose, Molly is back at it, leading her team of maids to restore rooms to a “state of perfection”. It’s a job that she takes very seriously and she’ll settle for nothing less than the best for guests in her care - a quality she learned from her beloved Gran, whose words of wisdom still guide Molly years after her death.

This time around the hotel is hosting an exclusive gathering for VIP guests of famous author and well-known curmudgeon, J.D. Grimthorpe. Among those in attendance are his personal secretary, Serena Sharpe, members of his fan club the LAMBS (Ladies Auxiliary Mystery Book Society), Molly and her new maid-in-training, meek and mild Lily, who is responsible for serving Mr. Grimthorpe his tea.

When Mr. Grimthorpe takes to the stage, he promises a major announcement to those watching with rapt attention. What could this news be? Unfortunately, it remains a mystery when their beloved author drops dead in front of them!

With a new suspicious death within the walls of the Regency Grand Hotel, Detective Stark (who should be called Detective Snark) is back to investigate when it’s discovered that Grimthorpe was murdered. When it comes out that Molly spent time in Grimthorpe’s mansion as a child when her Gran worked as a maid for him, Molly once again finds herself on Stark’s list of potential suspects. Luckily, she’s not afraid one bit. She’s too busy doing her own investigation!

Will Molly clean house of the criminal responsible for Mr. Grimthorpe’s murder? One thing is certain: she’ll approach this with the same order and precision that she uses in all aspects of her life! Just as she would leave no bed unmade and no object unpolished, she will leave no stone unturned in her pursuit of the truth!

I enjoyed the first book and found Molly such a likable and quirky character, but I liked this one even more! Chapters highlighting the current investigation intermingle with chapters from Molly’s past with her Gran in Grimthorpe mansion. I loved the look into the past and seeing Molly’s special relationship with her Gran fleshed out more. I also loved seeing who Molly was as a child and how her experiences formed her. She overcame so much, and you can see why she’s so resilient! I’m curious for the new direction the ending suggests for Molly and the series.

You can read this as a standalone, but I recommend reading The Maid first, so you can get to know Molly even better. It’s a fun mystery with great characters, old and new, and a satisfying ending. I highly recommend it!

★★★★ ½

Another cozy mystery about Maid Molly from author, Nita Prose... sign me up! Just like the first in the series, Molly is a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel and there is a death under suspicious circumstances in need of solving. With this book we get a bit of back story of Molly and her Gran, and the past connects her to the deceased. A recognizable cast of characters and a fast paced storyline make this a fun and easy read for a cold fall afternoon.

Thank you to the publisher and Nita Prose for an eARC of The Mystery Guest. I loved The Maid and enjoyed this follow up novel a lot. The main character Molly is loveable, funny and fun to read. It was a great read and quick to finish.

This book was so good and such a great follow up to the first one in this series. I really enjoyed learning more about Molly by having the flashback chapters. I thought this one had a lot more in it and I enjoyed the story a lot. I definitely enjoyed the first book but this one seemed to flow even better for me. I enjoyed the plot and characters. This one also felt less predictable to me than the first one did. I did predict one of the twists but it didn’t make me enjoy the book any less. I recommend this one

A cozy mystery. Very sweet main character. I liked the backstory and the twists were interesting without going overboard.

The Mystery Guest is the sequel to the Maid which features Molly helping solve mysteries that happen at the hotel where she works.

This one was just as fun as the first book! It was fun to revisit a lot of the characters I enjoyed in the first book. I also really enjoyed the glimpses into Molly’s childhood. This book alternates between present time and the past and this makes the book go by really quickly! I could have easily read it in one sitting if I had had the time!

I love the humor in this series! I would highly recommend to anyone who likes a quick mystery or enjoys quirky characters. I’m eagerly awaiting the next installment!

Thank you Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Molly is back! The Maid by Nita Prose was one of my top reads of 2022, and Molly was a driving force in my reasoning. I was so excited to learn we would get another story with her.

Molly
The Mystery Guest is set a few years after the events of The Maid. Molly is now headmaid, with new responsibilities and opportunities.

As a neurodiverse person, I appreciate that Prose has created a character I find so relatable. Molly shows remarkable growth throughout both books, and Prose handles it in a way that makes Molly's neurodiversity a strength rather than a weakness.

I have seen other readers find Molly's internal monologue overly repetitive, questioning Prose's writing ability and finding it stale. However, I believe Prose uses this to show Molly's echolalia, a common trait among neurodiverse people. I find it gives me a greater understanding of her as a character.

Molly makes these stories for me.

The Side Characters
Many of the side characters from The Maid are back. They add so much to the story. Some readers may be disappointed that a particular character is missing. However, it keeps the story fresh and allows Molly to shine.

The Mysteries
The Mystery Guest has a dual timeline, allowing readers to learn more about Molly's past and giving us more Gran! It also serves to interconnect the two mysteries set out in the book.

I found both mysteries cozy and engaging but predictable and missing the magic of The Maid.

If you love Molly, you will thoroughly enjoy The Mystery Guest.

The Mystery Guest leaves room for new mysteries and Molly's continued adventures. I, for one, can't wait.

I did this video audio, and Lauren Ambrose does a fantastic job bringing Molly to life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group, and Ballantine Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved The Maid! This book was a great follow up to it! I throughly enjoyed reading it and being in the world of Molly the maid again! Her murder mysteries are some of the best.

A sequel that somewhat reached a good expectation. I am very wary about series books because it could make or break what the first book was but this one was good. Maybe I wasn't just too hooked because I know what to expect.

I really enjoyed this Maid Molly Story! She makes me laugh with her wit and different perspectives on the world. I wish my Gram was as cool as hers was. I hope we get more stories like this :)