I love Molly Gray. She is such a unique and interesting character that is so well developed in this story.

Molly the head maid works at an esteemed hotel that an infamous murder occurred at a year ago. (She was a suspect of course). She just got back to a normal routine when distinguished author, J.D. Grimthorpe drops dead right before he is about to make an important career statement in the hotel’s Grand Tea Room. Will Molly be suspected for this murder, yet again?

Sequels are shunned in the literary world, unless it’s some fantasy series or saga that is highly hyped. For me, this sequel stood up well to the first. It was well-paced, immensely entertaining, and pretty funny in parts. I might have even liked it more than the first!

This gets 4 stars from me! I love a cozy whodunnit with genuine characters and a hint of peril. I wonder if Nita Prose is planning another installment? I honestly love how this one ended and would hope to refrain from going too far. However, I will always pick up something with Nita Prose’s name on it.

A great thank you goes out to Nita Prose, Random House Publishing-Ballantine, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Things at the Regency Grand Hotel are better than ever. Molly Gray has been promoted to Head Maid, haven't you heard?

On the day of what is surely to be a VIP event for the ages, renowned mystery author J.D. Grimthorpe drops dead right on the tea room floor. As suspicion swirls around his mysterious and untimely death, the Regency Grand and its maids once again find themselves at the subject of an investigation. But as Molly Gray knows all too well, there's likely more than meets he eye to J.D. Grimthorpe's demise--after all, she always says that when you assume, you make an a-s-s out of u and me.

Endearing, quirky, and cozy as ever, the beloved cast of "The Maid" is back, with a few notable additions to the ensemble. And while it was near-impossible not to fall head-over-heels in love with Molly and the surprisingly profound story of "The Maid," I regret to report the "The Mystery Guest" relied too much on familiarity and not nearly enough on ingenuity. Simply put, this cozy mystery was more one-dimensional than whimsical; it relied very much on what now feels like a tired blueprint from "The Maid" without introducing enough newness or character development to keep the story fresh.

Altogether a pleasant read, "The Mystery Guest" may strike a pleasant chord with "The Maid's" biggest fans, but wasn't remarkable enough to leave the the emotional impression I was hoping for.

“ Loose lips sink ships…”

Personal review: Molly the Maid is back with a whole new mess to uncover and a whole new mystery to solve in this sequel to Nina Prose’ The Maid! I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy from Random House and NetGalley and dug in immediately, although The Maid came out more than a year ago, it was so easy to slide back into life with Molly at the Regency Grand Hotel. The one aspect I loved was that Juan Manuel was away on a trip to visit family the entire novel, leaving Molly in the spotlight, because we know Nita could have made them a dynamic duo, but I loved the feminist power and independence of Molly on her own. This book involved the mystery of a famous author dropping dead at the hotel, and Molly’s unknown connection from childhood. In this dual timeline novel, we learn more about Molly and Gran’s early life and how she moved to love cleanliness. Containing many of the characters from the debut novel, I adored all aspects of this one!

Synopsis: Molly Gray is not like anyone else. With her flair for cleaning and proper etiquette, she has risen through the ranks of the glorious five-star Regency Grand Hotel to become the esteemed Head Maid. But just as her life reaches a pinnacle state of perfection, her world is turned upside down when J.D. Grimthorpe, the world-renowned mystery author, drops dead—very dead—on the hotel’s tea room floor.

When Detective Stark, Molly's old foe, investigates the author’s unexpected demise, it becomes clear that this death was murder most foul. Suspects abound, and everyone wants to know: who killed J.D. Grimthorpe?

I loved Prose's debut, The Maid, and was excited for another installment! Sadly, I did not enjoy The Mystery Guest nearly as much as its predecessor. The writing and the main character are quirky and fun, but I think one book was enough for me personally. In The Maid, all of Molly and Gran's sayings are fresh and unique. I quickly tired of hearing the same Molly-isms over and over... and over. It felt repetitive and silly.

The mystery was fine and I really think true cozy mystery fans will enjoy this one. It was sweet and fun and while I personally didn't enjoy the book, I'll definitely be recommending it enthusiastically to the right audience.

I think Molly Gray is one of my favorite characters of all time, and am thrilled that she's back in this sequel to The Maid. I forgot how delightful and original her character is, I was literally smiling while reading this. It's a quick read that I couldn't put down, because despite Molly's character being the draw to this story, it was propulsive in its own right! A+ and I will read anything Nita Prose writes in the future.

The Mystery Guest is a fun, suspenseful sequel. The storyline is rich and keeps you engaged throughout the book, especially the flashbacks to Molly’s childhood. I did feel however like there was less character development than in The Maid, outside of Molly. Also, there was not enough Juan Manuel! He was my favorite character last time, and he was barely in this novel. However, I loved being inside her head again- she’s such a unique narrator. May there be more books about Molly the Maid in our future! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc.

This was more of a cozy mystery than the first book was for me. I enjoyed seeing more of Molly and her personal development and character arc. I do think the character of Lily was a bit flat or not as developed as she could have been. Overall it was fun to puzzle out who did it and connect all the little tidbits strewn about the pages.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ballentine Books, and Nita Prose for providing me with a free advance edition ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I loved "The Maid" by Nita Prose, in which we first met the unique and quietly redoubtable Molly. This second book in the series, "The Mystery Guest" is even better! The plot is more complex and there is a great deal of character development for all of the main characters. I especially enjoyed learning Gran's backstory! I love the optimistic character of the book. It is definitely a happy read, but no less complex for that.

After a morning spent cleaning the house to perfection, this is the perfect book to sit and read with a cup of tea in a real porcelain teacup with a real silver spoon! It hits the spot (I mean that figuratively, not literally)!

Another fun book featuring everyone's favorite maid. Glad I got an early peek. Will recommend to patrons. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Molly the maid is back in another whodunit. This one started off slow, and at first I thought I was not going to enjoy this book like I did the first one. However, about a quarter of the way through it picked up the pace and it was back to the Molly that I knew. It's a quick read with an enjoyable story.

Since The Maid is one of my favorite books, I was thrilled to be able to read an advance copy of the sequel, thanks to the publisher and Netgalley. I loved The Mystery Guest as much as The Maid. The book alternates between a new murder at the hotel and Molly's backstory. It was very satisfying to be able to better understand Molly's evolution as someone presumably "on the spectrum". I loved reading more about Molly's relationship with her grandmother; she was quite inspirational. Once again, I thought the combination of suspense, humor and quirkiness was perfection. I thoroughly enjoyed everything about the book and can't wait to read more from the author. I highly recommend it!

I didn’t know there would be sequel to Nita Prose's popular mystery, The Maid, but I was delighted to see it offered at NetGalley and thrilled to receive an advance copy. In The Mystery Guest, Molly has had the position of Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel for more than three years. She was instrumental in solving a murder in the hotel when she was a lowly maid, and now she is challenged again when a well-known author collapses before he is able to make an important announcement about his career to a gathering of his fans. When Lily, a maid-in-training, is suspected of poisoning the author, Molly is quick to supply the reluctant police detective with theories and evidence which will hopefully exonerate the young maid.

Everything I loved about the first in the series is present in its sequel, including Molly's constant struggle to interpret social cues while resolutely adhering to and enforcing important rules and maintaining a strong belief in Lily's innocence. There are also many flashbacks to her life with her beloved Gran, who cared for her when her mother could not, taught her how to navigate the world, and--most importantly--believed she could succeed. Other hotel characters are again present--the odious Cheryl, demoted from Head Maid and now reporting to Molly, the supportive doorman, Mr. Preston, fellow employee and boyfriend Juan Manuel, and hotel manager Mr. Snow. The mystery is well designed, and its resolution is complicated by the fact that the victim is widely disliked by those who know him and has a past that is eerily familiar to Molly and her Gran. Part of the fun of The Maid was the thrill of getting to know Molly. It is no longer a novelty in this book, but Molly's further adventures are fun and well worth your time.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine Books for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

In the sequel to Nina Prose's novel The Maid, Molly and the staff of the Regency Hotel again end up tangled up in the suspicious death of a high profile guest- this time, the death of widely acclaimed mystery author J. D. Grimthorpe. As suspicion is cast on Molly and the people she cares about, she must delve into her own past to discover the truth of the author's murder.

The Maid has been one of my favorite books so far this year, and this sequel did not disappoint! Taking place several years after the previous mystery, we get to see how Molly and the crew have developed. Molly continues to have a heart of gold and the unfailing ability to pierce through to the facts of the matter that others avoid or just don't see. Even detective Stark, who has a history of judging a book by its cover, grows as a character. It would have been very easy to leave her as the same static character that she started The Maid as, but we see her continue to change in The Mystery Guest.

As for the actual mystery (NO SPOILERS), I enjoyed the whodunit of the first book more, but The Mystery Guest will leave you guessing until the final moments.

All in all, if you at least somewhat liked the first book, I would definitely recommend the sequel!

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a charming novel. I'm sure I missed some references, having not read The Maid, but the sequel 100% works as a standalone.

Full review to come closer to the date of publication in November.

In “The Mystery Guest,” the second book of Nita Prose’s “The Maid” series, Molly Gray, a maid at the five-star Regency Grand Hotel, finds herself in the midst of another murder mystery. With her flair for cleaning and proper etiquette, Molly has risen through the ranks to become the esteemed Head Maid. But her world is turned upside down when J.D. Grimthorpe, a world-renowned mystery author, drops dead on the hotel’s tea room floor. When Detective Stark, Molly’s old foe, investigates the author’s death, it becomes clear he was murdered. Molly combs her memory for clues, revisiting her childhood and the mysterious Grimthorpe mansion where she and her Gran once worked. With the entire hotel under investigation, it’s up to Molly must solve the mystery and save the hotel’s reputation.

Confession time: I have never read “The Maid,” so I was a little nervous to read “The Mystery Guest.” There were a few references to the first book, but it definitely works as a standalone novel. I loved this book so much that I actually ordered the first book before I had even finished reading it. I always enjoy a twisty thriller, but there’s just nothing better than a cozy whodunit, in my opinion, and that’s exactly what this book was. This was a lighthearted mystery with some laugh-out-loud moments. Molly is an incredible protagonist, and the staff at the Regency Grand Hotel are so lovable and fun. I hope there will be more books in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In the sequel to The Maid by Nita Prose, Molly still works at the Regency Grand Hotel, now as Head Maid. Once again, a murderer is afoot and Molly finds herself in the middle of the chaos. Since she has experienced this very thing in the recent past, she is already acquainted with Detective Stark and the ins and outs of a murder investigation. Only this time, Molly knows the deceased and fears that tidbit of information will land her in hot water yet again. So Molly teams up with her coworkers to try and solve the mystery before someone is falsely accused.

This is a gem of a book. I love Molly’s character, I love how her Gran is still a big part of who she is, and I love how this time we get more background into Molly’s earlier life and why she loves being a maid.

I highly recommend this book. It’s a definite 5-star read for me. You can pick up a copy on November 28, 2023. Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the advanced copy.

I absolutely loved The Maid, and as skeptical as I usually am with sequels, I thought this one was amazing!

I absolutely adore Molly the Maid, and as quirky as she may be, she keeps the story fun and entertaining. Although she always ends up caught up in the middle of very unfortunate situations… she is certainly a good egg.

Overall, I adored the writing, the characters, and the entire storyline- and I am actually hoping for a part 3! Definitely not finished with Mollys stories and exciting to see her next adventure!

This sequel to Maid was just as much fun. Molly is head maid at the same boutique hotel, living with her boy friend, Juan Manuel. There is a famous mystery author staying and his fans are eagerly awaiting his talk in the new tearoom when he will reveal something very surprising. He never gets to the reveal, as while he is sipping his tea, he drops dead on the floor. Molly already knows this author from her childhood and we get insight into her early life with her beloved grandmother. How can you not love Molly?

The Mystery Guest
By Nita Prose
Pub Date Nov 28, 2023
Ballentine
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Molly and her crew are back! I love her as a main character. This is the story of the death of a famous crime author who Molly and her Gran knew and worked for.
This is a charming book and I highly recommend it for readers who need a fresh perspective, Molly is now head maid. I hope there are many more adventures ahead for Molly!
5 stars

The Mystery Guest (Molly the Maid #2) is every bit as good as the first. Being in Molly's world again is such an interesting journey. A worthy sequel!