Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read an online arc of The Mystery Guest.

I adored The Maid, and its quirky heroine Molly, so was excited to receive early access to this novel. Big shoes to fill since The Maid was one of my favorite books of 2022.

I'm sad to admit, but the sequel did not hold my attention as well as the original. Molly is still as endearing, although the supporting cast is not as engaging in the story which was a shame. I loved Molly's interactions with her Gran, her co-workers and even the Detective in The Maid. Gran's absence in the present is keenly felt. And I truly missed seeing Molly's relationship with Juan Manuel blossom as he is sadly out of town through most of the book.

The 'now" and "then" aspects of the storyline kept the action moving along, but also kept me from getting truly hooked by the plot until more than halfway through the book. It was interesting to get a glimpse into young Molly's life though. The payoff is in a couple of twists that helped the story over the finish line. While the mystery is neatly tied up, I'm hopeful that we will see Molly in new adventures in the near future.

I really enjoyed getting to know Molly in the first book, The Maid. I love her character even more after reading this sequel. It was fun entering the Regency Grand Hotel again. There are some returning characters and some new characters. This novel gives more background to Molly's life growing up. The reader learns more about her relationship with her grandmother (which I love). If you enjoyed The Maid, I think you will really enjoy The Mystery Guest.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for access to an ARC in return for an honest review.

Oh, I do love Molly the Maid. She really does remind me of an adult version of Amelia Bedelia to some extent, and I write that with love. "The Mystery Guest" is the second book in the Molly the Maid series (?) and I hope it's not the last as the mysteries are always tight, interesting, and the characters are fantastic.

"The Mystery Guest" takes place a few years after "The Maid": Molly is crushing it as the Head Maid and she and Juan Manuel are enjoying domestic bliss and have regular dinners with Mr. Preston. All is well...until a famous mystery writer drops dead in the middle of a press conference where he was going to make a major announcement. And naturally, Molly has a connection to the mystery writer and it seems he wasn't a very nice man. So the police, led by Detective Stark, begin coming to the hotel, Molly misinterprets 60% of what's said, and has to deal with Cheryl and Lily the maid-in-training who barely speaks, it's a whole situation.

Another great mystery with a satisfying conclusion. I'm eagerly awaing the next Molly the Maid book and hope Ms. Prose keeps them coming. Thanks to Netgalley for my Advanced Reader Copy.

What a fun, emotional, wholesome mystery. If I’m being honest, I think I may have even enjoyed this slightly more than The Maid, which I loved as well.

Molly is continuing on in her lifelong destiny, as she believes, of being a maid, except now she is the head maid with a new trainee under her wing. Of course, things at the hotel can’t seem to go without a large dash of drama and murder.

I love the snippets of words of wisdom from Gran. This one gives us snippets of Molly and Gran’s backstories with little flashes to the past. This adds depth and understanding to the story and Molly as a character overall.

Great for anyone who enjoyed The Maid, cozy mysteries, locked room mysteries, and quirky characters. I highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the advanced Ebook

I’ll admit - I was a little apprehensive about this one after seeing mixed reviews. But I enjoyed it. I stayed up way too late finishing it.

Molly is back with a maid-in-training Lily. A famous author wants to make an announcement and they are using the Regency hotel to do so. The author dies during the press conference, and Detective Stark is back on the case. Who killed the author and why?

I loved how this one went back and forth between the present and the past. I loved learning more about Molly’s grandmother, and their relationship was so interesting. I really liked the mystery itself, and thought it was a good and satisfying ending.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose is bringing Molly the maid back! If you read The Maid then you will know who I am talking about. This is another whodunnit story at the Regency Grand Hotel. If you like a nice, warm, cozy mystery then settle in and get ready to fly through this one.

Molly is promoted to Head Maid at her hotel and things are going along great. In this book we get to see pieces of her childhood with her Grandmother and how they choose to become maids. Also Molly's mother makes a small appearance so we get a small glimpse inside that dynamic as well.

A renowned author,  J.D. Grimthorpe, is scheduled for tea and a special announcement at the hotel but he suddenly drops dead after having his tea. Was is the tea served by the new maid, Lily, that caused his death? His death unfolds in front of his devoted fan base known as the "LAMB" and a swarm of paparazzi who cause more chaos than the author's missing cue cards, which could reveal the secret topic of his announcement. The murder weapon that might explain how the author was poisoned has also vanished. But with Molly's remarkable ability to notice invisible details that escape everyone else's notice, the killer won't get far!

Regrettably, the detective assigned to the case is none other than Ms. Stark, the very same individual who previously attempted to unjustly incarcerate Molly. In this instance, Ms. Stark is resolute in her determination to carry out her mission. Fortunately, she remains oblivious to the connection between Molly and the deceased. Indeed, Molly harbors a secret—she encountered the author as a child and possesses knowledge that could spark a sensational media uproar if inadvertently disclosed. Now, Molly must unveil the truth before Lily or anyone she holds dear falls victim to a wrongful accusation. Thankfully, Molly's sharp attention to detail places her a few steps ahead of the investigative team.

I definitely enjoyed this book just as much as the first. I welcomed back the characters that I got to know in the first book and got to meet a few new ones in this book. The whodunnit genre is always a win for me. And the hotel was of course it's own familiar character to return to. If you liked the first book, you should pick this one up also.

A special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine for providing me with a digital review copy of this fantastic book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Molly, the maid, was such a fun, quirky character that I loved in The Maid, the first installment in this series. I couldn’t get enough of her and her story and was so thrilled when the author announced there would be another book featuring Molly. However, this one didn’t work for me as well as the first. I still enjoyed reading about Molly, and getting a lot more back story about her grandmother and her, but the mystery part wasn't as well done, in my opinion. It seemed so far fetched and so many different people and parts were involved, that made it difficult for me to keep everyone straight and really connect with anyone. It was still a fun read and I would read another book about Molly if Prose releases one.

Molly Gray is an ideal person to be head maid at the beautiful Regency Grand Hotel. Her attention to detail, honesty and patience in teaching others makes her heads above the rest and a valuable asset. Molly and the staff are setting up for a VIP Press Conference for bestselling author J. D. Grimthorpe who has a very important announcement. The announcement doesn't happen because Grimthorpe dies. Could this be another murder at the Regency Grand? Detective Stark is on the case and has a few suspects on the Regency Grand staff.

Molly is determined to investigate this murder with the aid of her Regency Grand friends. She wants to protect the hotel while proving the innocence of staff members under suspicion.

This tale is delightfully and artfully told. Prose uses a dual timeline to show Molly's childhood as well as important details regarding Grimthorpe's background.

There are many enjoyable surprises in The Mystery Guest, one of which is the development of Stark's character.

I'm eager to see how the suggestions offered for Molly are expanded in what I hope is a third Molly book.

I will be recommending this book.

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

I was so incredibly excited for this book. I love Molly’s quirky character and was thrilled to have more of her. Molly returned with all of her endearing qualities, but the storyline missed the mark for me. The climax and conclusion seemed rushed and incomplete and left me wondering exactly how the mystery was solved. I would love to read another book about Molly, as I still Love her character, but it like to see a more thorough, logical storyline.

I loved <i>The Maid</i> and was glad to re-immerse myself in that world. This is also the part where I need to admit that while reading this is vacillated between loving Molly and finding her quirks to be far too annoying to enjoy. Ultimately, I decided that I'd love her enough to give this five stars, but I'm reserving the right to lower the rating for any future books.

The mystery itself also allows is a real glimpse into Molly's past: her childhood where she is a smart child who doesn't fit in with her class so the school wants to hold her back a year, and the start of her cleaning career with her grandmother. There was one disappointing moment (no spoilers!) at the author signing, but otherwise the flashbacks were interesting insights into the child who became the Head Maid. In addition to the mystery and helping solve it, Molly got more information about her family (which, again, no spoilers).

By the end of the book, there are a couple of ways this could go and I'm interested in seeing how her character develops.

eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.

Molly Gray, I know you're not real, but I would totally buy you dinner at Olive Garden!

Extremely happy that Molly the Maid has her own series. Loved THE MYSTERY GUEST as much, if not more, than THE MAID. Seeing the world and picking apart the mystery through Molly's eyes is a joy, not just because I like her so much, but also because it helps me understand the way different types of brains think and perceive what's happening around them. I'll be first in line for every new book in the Molly the Maid series!

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! Thank you also very much to Nita Prose for writing this series.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free advance e-reader copy of The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book, the second featuring Molly the Maid and her experiences at the Regency Grand hotel. In this followup to The Maid, the brilliant novel introducing Molly, the hotel is yet again the site of a murder, and this time the deceased is a famous author about to reveal a shocking secret. The book follows Molly and, in alternating chapters, we learn more about her childhood and her relationship with her beloved Gran. The book features some new characters and some beloved old friends, and makes the point that when we jump to conclusions about people, it just makes an ASS out of U and ME.

While not quite as sparkling as The Maid, I give this one a solid four stars and look forward to Molly’s further adventures. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I loved reading The Maid last year so I was incredibly excited to read The Mystery Guest! And it sure did live up to my expectations! Molly was the sweetest character, and joining her back at her precious hotel was wonderful. It was great being able to experience the story building up from flashbacks and being able to learn more about Molly. Reading about Molly with her grandmother was a sweet part of the story. Overall, I loved it so much and I wouldn't mind reading some more of Molly the Maid.

I loved The Maid. Molly is one of the most original characters I have ever read. I was so excited when I found out that the author wrote another story featuring Molly. I will admit that my expectations were high. I am over the moon to say that this book exceeded my expectations.

The beginning of this book finds Molly settled where we left her in The Maid. She is more confident, and so proud of her job at the hotel. The hotel is about to host a very famous author and of course, things don't go as planned. I absolutely refuse to give any major plot points or spoilers in this review. There are so many small things that readers of the first book will appreciate in this story.

What I really liked here is that the chapters basically alternate between the past and present. Molly gives us a glimpse into her upbringing, and shows us some of the situations that shaped her life. I love Gran, and it was great to spend time with her.

I need to mention in my review that I am mother of a child on the spectrum. I live with someone who is neurodivergent. Molly is clearly neurodivergent, and I truly appreciate the way that Nita Prose writes her. She also captures the way that people treat Molly and respond to her in a very accurate way. We need to see more characters like Molly in books. I never imagined when I finished The Maid that I would see Molly again. Now, I can't wait to read more of her story. I am grateful for Molly - she is an absolute treasure!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the opportunity to read this book early. I screamed out loud when I got the approval! I shouted praise for The Maid and recommended it to everyone that I know. I will be doing that with this one as well!

Molly the Maid is back in this amazing follow-up to The Maid. Molly is now head maid at the Regency Grand Hotel and keeping all things "polished to perfection." When special guest mystery writer J.D. Grimthorpe is scheduled to make an announcement, tragedy strikes and the Regency Grand Hotel- and each employee- is once again cloaked in suspicion and doubt.

Molly the maid is one of those absolutely unique and quirky characters that I totally LOVE. Although her character has shown growth in this most recent work, her distinct personality and voice remains true. A cozy whodunit told in dual timelines, The Mystery Guest also delves deeper into Molly's upbringing and her beautiful relationship with Gran. Loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing, and Nita Prose for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

GoodReads Review- 11.11.23: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5959404029
Instagram: 11.13.23: https://www.instagram.com/the_books_we_love_/

Molly the Maid is back in THE MYSTERY GUEST, another whodunit mystery by New York Times bestselling author Nita Prose. I have not read the first book, The Maid, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying this novel. The storyline is perfect for bibliophiles and bookstagrammers: a famous author is slated to speak at the Regency Grand, and his fan club, named the LAMBS (Ladies Auxiliary Mystery Book), is waiting to hear his big announcement. Then he drops dead on the tearoom floor.

With a murder to solve, Molly the maid leads the investigation when her maid-in-training finds herself on the suspect list. This story is told in a dual timeline, between the present and Molly’s childhood when Molly’s Gran worked for this same author. The story twists and turns, with almost every character coming under suspicion for the crime.

Readers will love the grandmother and child relationship. It’s a fun, cozy mystery. Toast the scones, steep a pot of tea, and enjoy.

THE MAID was one of my favorite reads of the summer so I was beyond excited to see that there would be a sequel coming out, and of course I was even more excited when I got sent the ARC!

If you loved THE MAID this is a no brainer to pick up. Sadly, I wouldn't really say this is a standalone, it kind of picks up exactly where the last one left off so it's definitely worth reading BOTH of these books.
I love Molly the Maid she is one of the most unique characters I've ever read and she is such a joy to follow. It was definitely a cozy mystery. Nothing too graphic or crazy but a lot of fun to follow the whodunit trail. It was such a fast and easy read and I hope we get to see Molly again!

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Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me an early read of this sweet book! I loved the first in The Maid series and this was a pleasant follow-up! Molly is just the sweetest character ♡

Synopsis: Molly the Maid is back in this follow-up to Prose’s debut novel, The Maid. Molly has been promoted to Head Maid of the Regency Grand Hotel, and life is pretty great. But when a famous author dies under mysterious circumstances at the hotel, everyone is a suspect. And Molly has a past with the author, putting her in a position to be either the number one suspect or the key to solving the case.

Thoughts: I loved The Maid, so I was excited to get more of Molly’s character. She is such a unique protagonist, and I appreciate the neurodivergent representation. This book had flashbacks to Molly’s childhood, and it was great getting to know her better through her past. While this book was missing a bit of the dark comedy and twisty suspense elements of the first, it still held its own with a solid mystery and interesting conclusion. This book leaned a lot more cozy mystery than the first, which is not a bad thing, but it does have a bit of a different vibe. Overall, this was an enjoyable follow-up, and I will be waiting for the next installment! A note on the audio: I had both the digital and audio versions, and while I thought the narrator did a great job, I preferred reading this one.

Read this if you like:
🧽 cozy mysteries
🧽 dual timelines
🧽 neurodivergent main character

Thanks to @netgalley and @ballentine for the advanced copy and to @libro.fm for the audiobook!

Molly is now the head maid at the Regency Hotel. They are having a special guest, a mystery writer who will be making a special announcement. As he's drinking tea he drops dead.
As a fellow Neurodivergent I really enjoyed this book. Molly is one of my favorite characters. The details that Molly sees and her social ineptness are her super powers. I really enjoyed the before with her time cleaning with Gran and her working at the Grimsthorpe mansion. I had a hard time putting this book down and devoured it within a day.