I love the quirkiness of this series. It makes it a very fun read. This book was not as good as the first book but I still Enjoyed it and was glad there was another in the series.

I absolutely adored the first book and didn’t hesitate to get so more time with Molly’s enduring, quirky character in the second book. This is a wonderful mystery of whodoneit just like the first one except we get a further glimpse into Molly’s background, her gran and why they became maids. I appreciate that her character is different but accepted and considered an asset in the second book. I think it is good reminder to everyone. This is quick, entertaining read, but didn’t have the exciting surprise twist when finding out the “killer” like the first one.

A special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Ballantine for the digital ARC!

I extend my sincere appreciation to NetGalley for providing me with an early copy of this book.

While I hadn't anticipated this sequel, I was very excited to read it. As well as 'The Maid', the 'Mystery Guest' is refreshingly devoid of excessive blood or grime. Instead, it spins a story around a murder, once again putting Molly Gray under the spotlight of suspicion.

Molly is dealing with personal struggles, longing for her grandmother and missing her dear Juan Manuel. Despite usually having Mr. Preston as a close companion, she distances herself from him too, feeling increasingly isolated. The arrival and subsequent murder of J.D. Grimthorpe only serve to stir up memories of Molly's childhood, particularly her strong bond with her grandmother.

Interestingly, I found myself more drawn to understanding Molly herself than solving the murder mystery. In essence, the book goes beyond the typical whodunit, with Molly emerging as the true enigma. In 'The Mystery Guest', readers are given a unique opportunity to get to know Molly better by learning about her family, her past, and her childhood memories. The book delves into her experiences growing up, giving a deeper understanding of who she is as a person. Through these insights, which grabbed my attention and kept me engaged throughout the book, I felt like I became more connected to Molly and her story.

"The Mystery Guest: A Maid Novel" by Nita Prose is a delightful blend of mystery and humor that kept me entertained from beginning to end. Prose's clever storytelling introduces us to the quirky world of maids and hotels, where nothing is quite as it seems. The protagonist, Molly, is endearing and relatable, and her journey to uncover the truth behind a mysterious guest's disappearance is both captivating and amusing.

Prose's writing is sharp and witty, with just the right amount of suspense to keep readers guessing. As Molly delves deeper into the mystery, we're treated to a cast of colorful characters and unexpected twists that add layers of intrigue to the story. "The Mystery Guest" is a charming and entertaining read that I would highly recommend to fans of cozy mysteries and light-hearted fiction.

I struggled getting into this! Just like the first book it took awhile for me to get into the story but I was still interested enough to see where the story was going to go.

Thank you Netgalley, author Nita Prose and Random House Publications for sharing the ARC.

When a famous mystery author dies unexpectedly at the Regency Hotel it’s up to Molly the maid to connect the dots to solve yet another mystery is this sequel book.

I was super excited to read continuing adventures of Molly Maid and it did not disappoint. The unique way of Molly handling problems , her straightforward viewpoint of people and world is endearing, ironical and funny through the whole plot .
I ended up liking this installment better as it gave more background to Molly and her grandmother’s backstory.
Reading alternate chapters of current timeline and Molly’s version of her childhood with her granny that contains elements to connect the current story , I couldn’t turn the pages faster to know it all.
As always this is a cozy mystery with loads of drama and sentiments weaved in it.

Definitely recommend someone who wants to read something light hearted, fresh with a touch of whodunnit.

It’s a 4/5 ⭐️ read for me .

Like a spoonful of clotted cream on top of one of Gran’s freshly baked scones, this follow up to The Maid hits the spot. Molly is back, this time as Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel, caught up in a new mystery. The death of a famous writer has sent the hotel staff into a tizzy, and reluctant detective Molly must figure out who did it before the formidable Det. Spark casts her eye on the hotel employees. Switching between past and present timelines, not only do we learn about Molly’s connection to the deceased writer l, but we also get glimpses into Molly’s childhood with her beloved Gran. Fans of The Maid will enjoy reading this book.

I was so excited to get back into the story of Molly the Maid and her antics at the Regency Grand Hotel!

Molly is back and just as quirky and lovable as ever, but now with a few more years of experience in live without Gran. When famous author J.D. Grimthorpe is drops dead inside her hotel, Molly is forced into yet another mystery that needs to be solved to return the reputation of the hotel to a state of perfection. And even better yet, this mystery brings us deep into the past of Molly and Gran for us to see where it all began.

I really enjoyed being back with Molly and seeing her grow throughout the two books. The mystery of this one was maybe not as thrilling as the first, but I actually enjoyed the more slow burn mystery of the past just as much. I appreciated getting a bit deeper into how Molly became the maid she is, as well as her connection to Gran while also solving the mystery of what happened to Mr. Grimthorpe. While this one was honestly a bit slower, I still found it to be quite enjoyable, but admittedly maybe slightly less than the first.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Nita Prose did it again with this book. I really enjoyed the first book but I think this one might be my favorite. Molly is such a great character and makes it so easy to get sucked into her story. I really enjoyed the twists in this story. All in all this was an enjoyable and comfortable read, tending towards being a cozy, but is definitely a good read. I would recommend this book,

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

3.5 stars! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Molly’s next journey into the daily life of a maid at the Regency Hotel! Molly’s personality makes for a fun twist on your standard cozy mystery story and I enjoy seeing how her mind will help the story unfold.

I absolutely adore these characters! And I actually love the way this book took place 4 years after the events in the first one. It was like catching up with old friends.
Molly is such a enjoyable main character. She's one of the few I can read without getting annoyed at any moment. The Mystery Guest allowed us to also look into her past, which created a better picture of who she is now. I truly hope Nita Prose continues with this series. Honestly, Cheryl is the only character I can't stand.

This book was an excellent sequel to The Maid. Molly is still as quirky as ever and with a new situation. I loved watching her character develop throughout both books as well as this book answering a few questions we were left with from book one. Wonderfully written and an easy read!

Molly the maid is back! The author did a wonderful job at sticking true to Molly's character, personality, and speech habits.

If you liked the first book you will probably like the second. There is more to Molly's story.

There is a bit of a repetitive theme due to the protagonist quirks that get a little tiresome as the reader, but it's a quick cozy with a double mystery which is nice.

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose is a fun cozy mystery featuring Molly the maid, a girl who is on the spectrum and can not read emotion in faces. The Mystery Guest is the second book in the Molly the Maid series, the first book was simply called The Maid. Molly Gray is a fun character who is so sweet and disciplined, yet this is the second time she has dealt with and been accused of murder. This time the murder is a little more personal with Molly having met the victim when she was a child. The title The Mystery Guest could be taken as an unexpected guest, but in this book, it refers to a mystery writer who is a guest at Molly's hotel. The mystery is set up very well with a lot of suspects you have to root through to get to the killer and the motive. I did not pick the killer in the end, I thought the novel was going differently. I was moderately satisfied with who the killer was at the end. This story is told the same way as The Maid where we go back and forth from the present to a flashback to the past. The pace of the novel was good and constant not too fast and not too slow. The humor was spread throughout the novel and usually was one of Molly's sayings at an inappropriate time, which sometimes made the humor dark and I love it. The characters are what makes this novel special, Molly and her Gran's relationship has been a highlight of the series, the new character Lily makes a big impact towards the end, and Cheryl you love to hate. The ending was satisfying it remained surprising and heartfelt with a possible new beginning for Molly the maid. The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose was published on November 28, 2023, by Ballantine Books.

Plot Summary: Four years after the first murder, Mr Grimthorpe is a famed mystery writer visiting the Regency Grand Hotel where Molly the maid works. Mr. Grimthorpe is set to make a big announcement. But before Mr. Grimthorpe can make that announcement he drops dead in the tea room, right next to Molly the maid, and her new maid in training Lily. Because of all the uproar, his speech with the very important announcement was stolen, along with the poison container. Police think it is an inside job with a worker at the hotel, and who is the one person who was directly involved with the last murder at the hotel, but Molly the maid. We find out through flashbacks that Molly knew the victim had a reason to hate him.

What I Liked: Molly and her Gran's relationship told in the flashbacks was the highlight of the last novel and this one as well. There is so much love and understanding between them it is infectious. I love Molly's sayings that were passed down from her Gran, and how they are sometimes said at the wrong time. I loved Molly going undercover saying she's a detective pretending to be a maid. I liked Molly and Lily's relationship and how Molly sees something that most do not. I loved that Cheryl is demoted from the last novel and that she gets even more of a comeuppance in this story. She has it coming, you really love to hate her character. I loved where Molly's character left off with a decision to make, I'm ready for the next chapter in Molly's life.

What I Disliked: It took me a little bit to get used to how far Molly has come since The Maid her character doesn't have as hard of a time understanding not reading into emotion. The mystery story was good but not great, The Maid had a stronger mystery.

Recommendation: This is a fun cozy mystery with some great characters. I do not read enough cozy mysteries but I really enjoy the adventures of Molly the maid, and I think you will too. If you like heartwarming stories with a hint of dark humor then The Mystery Guest is for you.

I rated: The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose 4 out of 5 stars. So far Nita Prose has only written two books but I'm ready to read her next story.

Thank you Net Galley for a copy of the book for me to review.
This is the sequel to The Maid, were taken back to The Regency Hotel with Molly and another death at the hotel. I loved hearing how Molly and Juan had progressed in their relationship, I liked having Mr. Preston back as well. There were some areas of the book that seemed a little redundant from the first book but the story was pleasant and entertaining. Nita Prose was still able to have some twists in the plot and surprise you in the end. There are lines in the book that lead me to believe there will be another Molly the Maid book in this series.

Oh Molly! I adore her and her Gran’s little life verses. Yes, they are a tad repetitive but they seriously make you think about your own life. It was a fun and quick paced read that you will definitely enjoy.

This murder mystery was set in the same hotel that Molly is now the head maid in. She returns being the same smart and outspoken person she was in the precious book. Her mind is extraordinary in seeing the things others such as a certain detective, seem to miss. We learn about her past, her Gran’s past and more about Mr. Preston. You will love how it all tides at the end yet leaving room for Molly to solve another mystery.

Molly the maid absolutely never disappoints! She is the most lovable character and these books bring me so much joy.

This book was the coziest mystery that kept me on my toes but also made me feel relaxed and at ease. I was always excited to pick this book up and had to try my hardest not to fly through it. Molly is so one of a kind and I wish I could be her friend in real life!!

This book made me laugh out loud countless times and I can’t recommend it enough!

Yay! Molly is back! I enjoyed this one. There were plenty of twists but they didn’t quite “wow” me like I would have liked. I liked that it was a fun, quick read!

Molly is back with a new job title and another mysterious death at the Regency Grand on her watch. While we love Molly in all of her social awkwardness, don’t let the prim and proper demeanor fool you; Molly doesn’t miss a thing. I read this book in one day and was satisfied that all crumbs were dusted up and no thread was left hanging. There is no better surname for the author Nita, because her “prose” has made her one of my favorite new writers and I can’t wait to see what happens next for Molly. Thank you Nita Prose and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC.

This book didn’t disappoint can’t wait to see what Molly the Maid gets up to next. This second book in the Molly the Maid series follows Molly now head maid as she helps uncover the mystery of the murder of a famous mystery novelist. This book had a very classic mystery vibe to it with the quirks and observations of Molly. In this book we also get some backstory of Molly as a child with her grandmother which were some of my favorite parts of the book. If you were a fan of the first book this one will not disappoint! I really enjoy Anita Proses writing it’s fast paced and entertaining, I could not put it down. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.