Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC digital copy. I was not compensated for this review and all opinions are my own.

This is a follow-up to The Maid, which I absolutely loved! Molly is a lovable character. I fully appreciate her quirky qualities and her socially awkward innocence.

The minor characters just did not pull me in during this mystery which affected my interest level. While this second book was not as entertaining as the first, I still recommend it and will continue to read more if the series continues.

3.5 out of 5 stars and my respect to the author..

𝙈𝙮 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: 3⭐️

THE VERDICT
I jumped for joy when I received this ARC! I adoreeeddd The Maid. But, heartbreakingly, this one was just too slow burning and had a pretty dull plot. Her quirks were also less adorable in this book, but rather more redundant 🙁

What to Expect:
🕰️ Tons of backstory about Molly growing up with her Gran
👧🏻 Autistic MC - though it’s less quirky in this book than it was in the original
🔪 Famous author murdered at The Regency just as he was about to make an important announcement
🩷 Found family

This is a charming, excellent sequel to “The Maid.” I enjoyed this new story very much and if you loved Molly before, you’ll love her even more after reading “The Mystery Guest.” Plus, all the flashbacks will endear you not only to Molly but also to her precious Gran.

I really loved this book. Molly is so sweet and the mystery was great. I love books that have duel timelines and this book did it perfectly. It has been fun to watch Molly mature, fun whodunit. Book 3 please...

📚 The Mystery Guest
✍ Nita Prose
📖 Fiction / Cozy Mystery
⭐ 3/5

Sitting down with "The Mystery Guest" by Nita Prose is like enjoying a leisurely tea with a good friend. It exudes charm and coziness that beckon you to curl up and savor each page.

In this delightful mystery, bestselling author J.D. Grimthorpe meets an unexpected demise in the elegant tearoom of the Regency Grand Hotel, where Molly Gray serves as the Head Maid. Molly, with her unique perspective on cleanliness and her history with Grimthorpe, takes it upon herself to unravel the secrets surrounding his death and protect the reputation of the beloved hotel. With the help of her endearing co-workers, Molly steps into the role of a mystery solver, navigating the enigmatic world Grimthorpe left behind.

What I loved most about this book was its sheer readability and the sense of relaxation it brought. It embodies the essence of a cozy mystery, with characters working together to solve a murder, all while maintaining an atmosphere that never feels sinister. For those who enjoyed "The Maid," diving deeper into Molly's backstory and her journey into the world of mystery-solving is a treat.

However, it's worth noting that "The Mystery Guest" doesn't offer the kind of heart-pounding suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Instead, it provides a happy and enjoyable reading experience. While it may not be the most gripping mystery, it more than makes up for it with its endearing characters and cozy atmosphere.

In essence, if you're a fan of sweet, likable characters, cozy mysteries featuring neurodivergent individuals, or dual-timeline mysteries, you'll find "The Mystery Guest" a comforting and enjoyable read.

See also: "A Deception Most Deadly," "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time," "The Turn of the Key."

This review aims to provide insight into the book's charm and coziness while acknowledging that it may not be the most intense mystery read. Whether it suits your taste depends on your preference for the lighter side of the genre.

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose, all I have to say is I absolutely adore Molly. Ok, thats not all I have to say really. The Mystery Guest ticks all my cozy, murder mystery boxes and more. Molly the maid might just be my favorite fictional book character ever. Nita please don't let this be the last we see of Molly the maid. We need more Molly!! Thank you for my arc Netgalley. I devoured this book in one day.

Molly the Maid is back! Four years have passed and Molly is now the head maid at the Regency Grand Hotel and she has made a nice life for herself. Then disaster strikes again when a famous author dies at the hotel. With her astute attention to detail, Molly is able to help solve the mystery. I didn’t realize there was going to be a follow up book to The Maid. Wonder if there will be another one ?

Those who have read ’The Maid’ will be familiar with Molly the Maid from that story. Molly still has her quirky ways, the same as then, but she has learned some things in the time that has followed. She has a boyfriend who has temporarily gone to visit his parents and siblings, and she has gained some confidence in herself, as well. But underneath it all, she is still delightfully herself, if perhaps not quite as naive as she was.

This shares parts of her life when she was a child, as well. A child that didn’t fit in at her school, and so her mother, a maid, has her come with her to her work for the wife of a well-known author who, she has been told, must never be disturbed. Molly is also given chores to do, as well, but she is also given time to spend reading. One day, as she is searching for books, she somewhat accidentally meets the husband/author and he introduces himself to her, and they form a bond when he realizes how well she reads, and how much he enjoys her company.

In her job as a Maid, she knows that soon this author will be appearing at the Regency Grand, to speak about his newest book, and she must get everything in tip-top shape for this occasion as they are expecting a rather large crowd that will attend.

What happens next is unexpected, but soon becomes a newsworthy event, leaving all of this author’s fans in shock, as well as Molly, who is determined to discover the truth.

Molly is not quite like anyone else. She has a flair for a good cleaning and proper etiquette and has risen to the Head Maid position at the Regency Grand Hotel. But all good things have pitfalls, and Molly is soon faced with one when a world-renowned mystery author drops dead in the hotel’s tea room.

When Detective Stark is assigned the case, Molly can’t help but feel desperate based on their past. With too many suspects, Molly is determined to get to the bottom of this. Turns out, Molly holds the key to the killer’s identity.

I absolutely fell in love with Molly in the first book of this series, so couldn’t wait to read more about her. I enjoyed how this book gave us glimpses into Molly’s childhood. It was so interesting to read about her upbringing and what shaped her into the woman she currently is. I was a little sad that Juan was missing from this book until the very end. He’s such a dynamic partner for Molly that I want more of them together. This book is full of fantastic writing, there is so much wit and clever elements. Even though Gran has passed, she still had a presence in this book that was beautiful. I continue to love the relationship that Molly and Gran had. The reveal at the end of this one was a lot of fun, and really tied things together.

I cannot wait for the third book. There is a big surprise waiting for readers at the end of this one, and I personally can’t wait for it to come to fruition.

Thank you so much to Ballantine Books, the author, and Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I am not usually one who goes to reach for the sequel to a novel I enjoyed. I never want to ruin the first book. I adored the story of Molly and her Gran in The Maid, and when I got an advanced copy of The Mystery Guest, I knew I had to hear what these awesome characters were up to once again. Nita Prose has done it again! Molly is BACK and is better than ever. This delightfully cozy mystery has reunited me with all my favorite characters. It sucked me in from the start and was an incredibly satisfying read to the very end. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy. I’ll be recommending this for sure.

I love Molly the Maid! I didn’t think this book was as good as the first, but sequels seldom are. I liked seeing the growth Molly has made. It was fun to read and learn more about Molly’s childhood. Juan Manuel was on a trip during the book and I missed reading about him and Molly. The murder mystery part was good. The LAMBS brought some comedy to the book.

I really enjoyed The Maid so I was excited to read The Mystery Guest. I loved Molly's character in The Maid and I was excited to read more of her story. I was so happy that we got a glimpse into her past and her grandmother's past. While this is a thriller, I find it to be more of a cute fun read. The thriller/mystery aspect of this book is not the best. It is pretty predictable with a lack of twist an turns. If you go into it looking for a cute read, you will enjoy it way more than if you are looking for a suspense-filled thriller. At times, I felt this book was a little too similar to The Maid. I actually found myself enjoying the chapters on Molly's past more than the present. Overall, a very entertaining and enjoyable read. 3.5 stars.

I truly could not have been more excited to get approved for and start reading this sequel to one of my favorite reads of the last two years, The Maid. Molly is one of my absolute favorite fictional characters, and I was really grateful to get another book with her!

Even though this book is a sequel, there is a lot of information explained from The Maid in the early chapters of this one, so it could totally be picked up and read on its own. I especially liked that in the “Before” chapters we are given glimpses into Molly’s childhood growing up with Gran. Her character has developed so much since the beginning of this series!


This book felt like part mystery, part fantasy- specifically in the chapters that took place during Molly’s childhood. I enjoyed solving the main mystery alongside Molly, and was definitely surprised by a few of the twists thrown in. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Mollys future and really hope there will be a third book in this series!

Thank you so much to the author and Netgalley for my copy to read and honestly review.

It was fun to revisit Molly the maid in this second book, which of course had a new murder. Learning more about Molly as a child was enlightening and the chapters alternated between past and present. There were some great new characters introduced in this sequel- the LAMBS in particular (the Ladies Auxiliary Mystery Book Society members, a fan club of mystery author J.D. Grimthorpe), quirky busybodies that hovered around every corner.

In this second novel, Molly has grown and is better at navigating social interactions and I missed her constant misinterpretations and comical mishaps. I felt this book was missing some of the humor I enjoyed so much in the first book. The mysteries turned out to be fairly predictable. Overall, this was a sweet cozy mystery and I would read another book featuring Molly.

I think I enjoyed this sequel better than the original. Molly seems a bit more self-assured and in place. I hope that the series continues with Molly pursuing other avenues that were hinted at towards the end of the book. The mystery itself wasn't as engaging, kind of a repeat of the previous one but I really enjoyed the parallel stories of Molly's childhood and her experiences with her Gran and other characters in her life at the time. It does give you another interesting look at the complexity of Molly as a character too.

I loved The Maid and at first I was worried it was a one-off, this sequel was harder for me to get into. However, I was pretty quickly swept up by Molly and the Regency Grand crew. The twists and the flashbacks to learn more about Molly and her Gran were fabulous and I hope to hear more from them! Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the advanced copy!

Molly The Maid captured my heart from the very beginning!
I was able to feel her pain when picked on, awkwardness when not understanding the conversation happening around her, and Oh! how she loved her Gran. I would love to have the opportunity to show her what having a true friend is like.

Molly AGAIN becomes a murder suspect. I thought that detective learned her lesson last time but nope! As usual she teaches everyone around her a thing or two, including GRACE!

Fingers crossed that we get to see more of Molly’s life journey 🤩!!

Thank you so much Random House Publishing - Ballentine, Nita Prose, and Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read and honestly review this book.

💭Like having tea with a good friend, The Mystery Guest is charming and delightfully cozy. Once you sit down to read it, you'll want to curl up until you turn the last page.

📚 The Mystery Guest
✍ Nita Prose
📖 fiction/cozy mystery
⭐4/5

➡When bestselling mystery author J.D. Grimthorpe suddenly drops dead in the sparkling tearoom at the Regency Grand Hotel where Molly Gray serves as the Head Maid, she must get to the bottom of what happened to preserve her job and the integrity of the place she loves. With help from an endearing set of co-workers, Molly must leverage her childhood experience with Grimthorpe himself to unravel the secrets of a true man of mystery and find his killer before the hotel's reputation is tarnished forever.
◾
🙏 Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Books (Random House) and Nita Prose for the advanced copy of The Mystery Guest. All opinions are my own.

🎯What I loved: This was so readable and relaxing. To me, it felt like the definition of a cozy mystery. The characters all worked together to solve a murder, but nothing felt sinister. After loving The Maid, it was fun to dive further into Molly's backstory and the origins of her passion for cleanliness as she stepped into the mystery solver role.

🙅‍♀️What I didn't: Like I said, this was ultimately a sweet whodunnit. While it didn't jump off the pages or keep me holding my breath until the final reveal, it was happy and fun.
◾
Read if you love:
*sweet, endearing characters
*cozy mysteries w/ Neurodivergent characters
*dual timeline mysteries
◾
See also: A Deception Most Deadly, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, The Turn of the Key,

The Mystery Guest: A Maid Novel
by Nita Prose

A few years after meeting Molly and company in the first book, we now get to enjoy Molly's words of wisdom in The Mystery Guest. Molly is Head Maid now and she loves her job. She's even written A Maid's Guide and Handbook to Housekeeping, Cleaning, and Maintaining a State of Pinnacle Perfection. The handbook is referred to often (mostly by Molly) and if you memorize it and the sayings in it, you too can sound just like Molly. In fact, her handbook is like an entire language which allows you to communicate through Molly's sayings if you really understand what they mean. Even maid in training, Lily, a young woman who is so shy she can barely speak a word, has learned to attempt communication through Molly's wise words of wisdom (all handed down by Molly's clever and beloved Gran who paved the path to great maid-hood and living by passing down her wisdom to Molly).

Business is going well at the Regency Grand Hotel now that several years have passed since a murder there. They have a beautiful new tea room now and this is where J.D. Grimthorpe, the world-renowned mystery author, has a special announcement he is going to make to his fans. That is, until he drops dead after he is served his tea in front of the adoring crowd, after getting extra honey from the tea cart that poor Lily provided for him. The hunt for the murderer is on!

Detective Stark is back again, so very suspicious of Molly and her weird ways of acting and speaking. But Molly doesn't let Stark get her down, she's grown in self confidence and she has a job to do, to take care of the hotel and her maids. Molly knows more than she is telling and we get wonderful fairytale-ish trips back to the past when Molly and her Gran worked at the Grimthorpe mansion when Molly was a child. There we get to see Grimthorpe in action and get a glimpse of just what those who came into contact with him had to endure. This is not a nice man and it seems there are a huge number of people who might wish him dead.

Molly has a knack for detecting but I don't see her ever giving up her career at the Regency Grand Hotel. I look forward to what comes next for Molly and her friends. She's grown since the first book and has been a great help to the good people around her. As with all cozies, happenings are not realistic but I enjoy them all the same.

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

4.5 ⭐️

AS DELIGHTFUL AS THE TINKLING SOUND A SILVER SPOON MAKES AS IT TAPS AGAINST A REGENCY GRAND TEA CUP. 🫖☕️

It’s been seven and a half years since Molly Gray was a “maid in training” at the Regency Grand Hotel, but she has held the title of”HEAD MAID” for three and a half years now, proudly wearing that name tag right above her heart.

Not only has she written a manual of standards for the maids, and been put in charge of training the new staff-including “Lily” (a quiet misunderstood girl who reminds her of her younger self) but she has also been tasked with overseeing a VERY special event in the 5 star boutique hotels newly refurbished tea room.

J.D. Grimthorpe, the International best-selling and award winning author of twenty novels including “The Maid in the Mansion” and “The Mystery Guest” will make a rare public appearance and make a mysterious announcement to fifty-five VIP guests, including the LAMBS-(Ladies Auxiliary Mystery Book Society members) who have booked the 4th floor of the elegant hotel.

Would he be announcing that he has written a new book-or that he has written his last?

It turns out-he has “most definitely” written his last, as he drops dead before he can read his cue cards, after sipping the tea, just served by our newly hired maid, Lily.

Now, the entire staff is under suspicion for MURDER-and it isn’t going to help Molly’s cause when Detective Stark learns that Molly had met the reclusive author when she was just a young girl who used to accompany her Gran who worked as a maid at his mansion.

Fortunately, Molly still hears her Grans advise in her ear-all of those proverbs and idioms that the two lived their lives by.

The story unfolds with chapters from both the present day mystery and chapters from BEFORE-when Molly was that small girl. The BEFORE chapters had a magical quality to them, almost “Wizard of Oz” like, with an ordinary man hiding behind a bookcase this time, instead of a curtain, but instilling fear in all! I really enjoyed meeting young Molly this way.

Though the motive for this murder was a bit suspect-I did enjoy catching up with Molly again, but if her story continues, I hope it DOESN'T do so in the manner suggested!