A good mystery that really kept me going. This is a great weekend read to escape in. Thanks for the opportunity to read as I thoroughly enjoyed.

Molly the maid is back!! I loved The maid and was bit apprehensive about this book. I loved it so much that I was afraid the second could only tarnish the character and the book a bit for me. But this is so good. I loved everything about it.

I loved The Maid. I thought Molly was a great new voice. I was excited to see that Molly was brought back for a second book. However, I struggled a little getting into this book. I didn’t like how the detective treated Molly and it gave me the ick. Molly is and always will be one of my favorite characters but this one didn’t completely work for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book!
I love how Molly’s character evolved and is not portrayed as she was on the first book.

I deeply enjoyed getting a closer look at Molly’s life and how her childhood formed her character as well as her relationship with her grandma.

Molly is back at the Regency Grand Hotel as the head maid when she’s thrown into some crazy mess once again. Famous author J.D. Grimthorpe has a big announcement to make, but he shocks everyone when he drops dead before even starting his speech. Molly now has to figure out who killed J.D. while also dredging up some history from her childhood. This book took me on a wild ride by switching from past and present to bring the story together. There were some twist that I completely didn’t expect while there were some things that I found a little predictable. Overall, I enjoyed the story and was glad this was my first ARC.

Molly the Maid, still charming and overly literal, is back in The Mystery Guest, sequel to The Maid. Now she is the Head Maid and there has been another murder at the Regency Hotel. Famous reclusive author JD Grimthorpe is scheduled to make a special announcement in the newly redecorated Grand Tearoom. But as he sips his tea, brewed specially for him by new maid Lily, he drops dead in front of the packed room of his devoted fan club followers. Officer Stark once again investigates and, once again, Molly is a suspect. Molly is always good at keeping secrets and a big one is that she knew JD Grimthorpe when she was a child. Her beloved grandmother was the Grimthorpe’s maid and Molly met him several times under very different circumstances. Her memories will help Officer Stark with the case and her devotion to her job will help solve it.

Molly Gray is nothing but delightful. Her behavior may be neurodivergent but her dedication to her work and her loyalty to her friends endears her to readers. The Mystery Guest has a multilayered plot with a behind the scenes look at the workings of a hotel. Familiar characters return. While Juan Manuel is visiting his mother in Mexico, Cheryl is still trying to push boundaries and Officer Stark is as obnoxious as ever, missing all the clues Molly sees. The Mystery Guest is unique, entertaining and in a class of its own. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Nita Prose for this ARC.

Molly the maid is back! Taking place a few years after the first novel, Molly is now the Regency Grand’s head maid and is in charge of its biggest event yet: teatime with mystery author JD Grimthorpe. But when the author drops dead at the start of the speech, the hunt for the killer is on and there’s more than one rat. The novel also pivots between the present day investigation and Molly’s own childhood history with Grimthorpe, himself, and her beloved gran. Many of the first novel’s favorites return for The Mystery Guest including sweet Mr. Preston, salty Cheryl, and a quick cameo by her beau Juan Manuel. I loved returning to this series and found the sequel even better.
Thank you to Random House Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This comes out 11/28!

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose

Molly the maid and the Regency Grand are back with a whole new murder. Molly is stepping out of her comfort zone for the Grand Opening of the Regency Grand tearoom. She made sure the room is just so for the special event—a special announcement by mystery author J. D. Grimthorpe to his biggest fans. Unfortunately before he makes his announcement he falls to the floor dead. Barmaid Angela is a true crime expert so she enlists Molly in interviewing some of those fans which include the Ladies Auxiliary Mystery Book Society (known as the LAMBS). Molly’s definitely not his biggest fan since her Gran worked at Mr. Grimthorpe’s house and Molly met him when she was young. Inspector Stark is back as is doorman Mr. Preston. Of course Molly’s attention to detail solves the crime.

I loved the back and forth between time periods to get the true background of the author and her relationship with her maid in training Lily. I also enjoyed that a mystery book group was part of the story since I run one myself. My only quibble is that Molly no longer has so much of the social awkwardness as she once did. I thought this was an excellent follow up to The Maid and a great sophomore effort. Four out of five stars.

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Mystery
Representation: Main character is on the spectrum, racial diversity is on the periphery

It is not absolutely essential to read THE MAID before reading THE MYSTERY GUEST, but I think you'll enjoy more if you have. I was more aware of the novel using flashbacks—but I enjoyed how this kept Molly's grandmother on the scene.

I enjoyed seeing how Molly earned respect within her community. In this book, there's less of Molly misunderstanding subtext in conversations. She's helping another maid navigate these complexities.

And of course there is murder. I was a little disappointed that the police officer over the investigation still misread Molly so terribly, however, by the end, I was very satisfied with this relationship/situation. I thought the solution was clever, and I didn't see it coming (though I wasn't trying to solve it as much as work through what Molly was experiencing). There's an element of a mystery within a mystery.

In the first book, there was a jaw-dropping revelation. Seriously, I was gobsmacked. In this one, there's another revelation, but it didn't have the same impact on me. (But how could you pull that off twice in the same series? So, this is an observation rather than a criticism.

I recommend this book for all mystery readers.

Happy reading!

I loved Prose's first book, The Maid. I found myself instantly a mother figure to Molly. I wanted to take care of her and shield her from the world. Molly is back, and she has been promoted! She is now head maid at the hotel. The book starts with a bang----a well-known author dies just as he's getting ready to make a big reveal during an author talk at the hotel. During flashbacks, we learn an interesting connection between Molly and this author. This follow-up title has the same spirit and suspense as The Maid. I hope Molly Gray will be an ongoing character and series for Ms. Prose. Another great one!

What was endearing in the first book becomes overdone in this second in the series. The oft repeated aphorisms about life and cleaning push our dear Molly the Maid into Amelia Bedelia territory. Otherwise, a simple cozy mystery that starts an interesting series with a potential "twist" coming in the next book.

The adventures of Molly the Maid continue in this charming sequel to The Maid. I really enjoyed the backstory into Molly's childhood with her Gran. It endeared me to her character even more, knowing how she was raised and the past experiences she endured. I love her uniqueness and all of her quirks. The mystery side of things moved pretty slow, and I would have liked to have a little more action than was written. This didn't sway me from wanting to finish the book though. The story was interesting, well told, and I had a fun time reading it. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed for another Molly book in the future.

Thank you to the author, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and NetGalley for granting me digital access in exchange for my honest review!

I really enjoyed the Maid, and this was such a fun return to Molly and her world. Its fun and I enjoyed it, but it won't stick with me as much as the first one. I still highly recommend for people who enjoyed the Maid.

Unexpectedly, Molly the Maid returns in her latest mystery, drawing me in as a devoted fan. This time, the story leans more towards a cozy mystery feel, exploring Molly's past while showcasing her evolving detective skills as she faces a shocking murder. Despite being less gripping than the first book, it remains a captivating and recommended read.

3.5 stars for The Mystery Guest, the sequel to The Maid.

The Mystery Guest is set 4 years after the events of The Maid. Molly is enjoying her role as Head Maid and preparing for a VIP event being held at the hotel for famous mystery author J.D. Grimthorpe. Unfortunately, before J.D. Grimthorpe can make his big announcement, he collapses and is pronounced dead. This is not Molly's first time interacting with Grimthorpe. This book alternates between the present time solving the murder and the past when Molly and her Gran first knew Grimthorpe. I enjoyed the dual timeline that revealed more of Molly and Gran. I enjoyed getting to see more of Angela, Mr. Preston, and Detective Stark again!

I really enjoyed The Maid, but this wasn't quite as good in my opinion. A lot of the fun and quirky sayings were repeated from the first book and I thought the book was slow until about 75% in. I also thought that some of the characters were unrealistically nasty and caricature-like (specifically Molly's teacher and Mrs. Grimthorpe).

While this can be read as a standalone, I think it is best enjoyed in order. This is definitely a cozy and quick read perfect for cozy day.

Thank you to NetGallery and Ballantine Books for the eARC!

Molly the Maid is back, our very own grown up Amelia Bedelia, who is neurodivergent and very literal. While there is another murder at the hotel where she works and once again employees are suspects, what is special about this book is the second timeline. We go back in time to Molly's youth and uncover more details about her life and how she grew up. We also learn more about how her gran cared for her and the incredible love they had for each other. It is this backstory that really grabs you and also makes you more aware of how challenging her life has been. The book also provides a moral lesson showing how hard it is to gain acceptance when you are different, and we all need to be more understanding. We also need to not ASSuME things about other people. Molly is no fool and murders at her hotel can't be solved without her. It was a delight to revisit Molly's world. I don't know if there will be more Molly books, but if there are, I will be reading them.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an advance copy. My opinion is my own.

📖 ARC REVIEW 📖

Thank you @randomhouse for an early copy of The Mystery Guest by @nitaprose. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 🤍

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Release date: November 28th, 2023

Blurb: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/157062582-the-mystery-guest?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=m3YAAW54yM&rank=1

🛑Read on with caution; review may contain spoilers🛑

The Mystery Guest is the sequel to The Maid that I didn’t know I wanted to read. It’s so much more entertaining and heartwarming than the first novel! 🥹 This novel is more than just a mystery. I loved the more in-depth perspective The Mystery Guest gives on Molly’s childhood, and how much love and care her grandmother, Flora, has given and provided for her throughout the years, how much she sacrificed for Molly.

The mystery surrounding J.D. Grimthorpe, the author who suddenly falls to his death at his special announcement event at the hotel, was very well written. It highlighted how much the suspect isn’t who they seem to be, and how even the underestimated staff at the hotel, especially Molly, were able to help piece together what happened during the event and who the suspect of the author’s murder was. I also gave us an unlikely alliance between Detective Stark and Molly, as Stark admits she underestimated her and began to trust her instincts.

The Mystery Guest is a really good follow-up to the first novel! If you’ve read The Maid, you’ll surely enjoy this sequel and would want to pick this one up when it releases on November 28th! I hope there will be more books coming in the series! 🤞🏻

The second book in the Molly the Maid series builds on one of the most likable characters in fiction today. Readers that enjoyed the first novel, The Maid, will not want to miss The Mystery Guest. This book delves further into Molly’s background and childhood, dividing the text into alternating chapters for the current mystery and for Molly’s history. With less humor in Molly’s interactions and internal dialogue, some readers may not enjoy this novel as much as the first, but there’s still plenty of insight into Molly’s thought processes and interpretation of the the actions of those around her. Obviously on the spectrum, Molly serves as a great role model and demonstrates that, even though her actions may seem odd to others, her genuine, straightforward approach to life is often more successful than those with the ability to interact “normally.” Recommended.

The Mystery Guest is book two in the Molly the Maid series by Nita Prose. As a huge fan of The Maid, I was super excited to get my hands on the advance copy of the sequel. I'm thrilled to report that it truly does not disappoint. Within just a few pages I was back in the world of Molly and her very literal mind. With this book, we learn a bit more about Molly's childhood and her special relationship with her Gran. Young Molly reminded me quite a bit of Anne Shirley with her overactive imagination. Detective Stark is another great character who had me chuckling as I tore through the pages. Highly recommend picking this book up! Read and enjoy!

I really enjoyed The Maid so of course I had to find out what Molly Gray has been up to lately. Promoted to head maid at the Regency Grand Hotel and happily paired off with Juan Manuel, Molly is drawn into a new mystery when famous mystery author J.D. Grimthorpe (such a great name) drops dead during an author event at the hotel. We learn much more about Molly’s past in this novel, and discovering the identity of the killer is an enjoyable and compelling journey. It’s cashmere-socks level cozy and a great fall read! 🍂

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with a review copy!

Release date: November 2023 🗓️