The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose is an entertaining and charming follow-up to the blockbuster hit, The Maid.

I don’t tend to read many books that generate a sequel so it was a nice change of pace to revisit the world of Molly the maid. I quite liked The Maid! It was heartfelt, which again, is not something you usually associate with a murder mystery story. But I thought the author Nita Prose did a great job at painting a full picture of Molly, and I rooted for her the entire time.

Nita Prose brings Molly back into the forefront again with The Mystery Guest. Almost all the favorite character are back, including a lot of past experiences with Molly’s beloved Gran. I found the story entertaining and fun.

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I felt like this book had a lot to live up to with the first one. I think Nita Prose did a great job and delivered a very enjoyable sequel that came close to matching the awesomeness of the first.

While I appreciate the writing style of this book, I did find the premise of the story to be a bit repetitive. This made it hard for me to get into at times and the story felt a little slow as a result. However, I have come to really adore the character Molly. She has a grown a lot since the first book and she is what kept me reading!

This was a fantastic sequel to “The Maid”! I enjoy the author’s humor and wit associated with Molly the maid. Her quirkiness shines through in a way that is funny and endearing. When a well-known author dies during his presentation, Molly’s knack for uncovering the details that others miss shines through. This is a light and entertaining who-dunnit story with a main character that is sure to win your heart!

Molly the Maid is one of my favorite characters in recent publishing. Her earnest nature and frank assessments of life are a treat for the reader. I would consider this novel more of a "cozy mystery" over a straight mystery/thriller. Easy reading for sure, but enjoyable none the less.

In this second installment, Molly has gained some confidence in her life, both professionally and personally. Now as Head Maid, she is back in the middle of a messy murder and determined to clear her name along with many of her co-workers when a famous author is poisoned in the middle of the hotel. Not certain that the proper authorities can do the job fully, she is set on making things right and getting to the bottom of any and all messes. Literally or figuratively.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read this novel.

This was a much anticipated read mostly because it followed the Maid which i loved. . Molly is an intriguing character. I did have trouble following the mystery of the story. This book made me overthink.

I loved The Mystery Guest just as much as I loved The Maid. It was great reuniting with Molly and the people in her life, as well as meeting a bunch of new characters. I especially loved Molly's backstory and taking trips into her past through flashbacks. The mystery at the center of this novel kept me guessing the entire time and I was definitely surprised by the outcome. It was just such a fun and entertaining read overall.

It can be read as a standalone, but it's worth your time to read The Maid first.

Like its predecessor, this novel is perfect for fans of Only Murders in the Building. I look forward to hopefully more books about Molly and all the shenanigans at the hotel in the future.

Movie casting suggestions (some are from my review of The Maid):
Molly: A newcomer, as I don't feel right casting someone famous for this role.
Juan Manuel: Daniel Zovatto
Mr. Preston: Richard Jenkins
Detective Stark: Nia Long
Gran (in flashbacks): Kim Darby
Mr. Grimthorpe: Martin Sheen
Mrs. Grimthorpe: Susan Sullivan
Angela: Monica Barbaro
Lily: Ella Beatty
Cheryl: Amanda Fuller
Beulah: Swoosie Kurtz

4.5 stars - I missed this character so much! While not a completely surprising storyline for the murder itself, I was overjoyed to be re-immersed in the world of Molly the Maid. The character development from the first book was notable but not to the point of losing the characters involved. Very much looking forward to book #3!

Big thanks to NetGalley for the copy!

LOVED!! I want to be friends with Molly, the head maid at the Grand Regency Hotel. I love her mindset, her thought process, and blunt manner in which she views the world and friendships. (My daughter is on the spectrum and my heart gravitates!) anyways…a famous author dies during a press conference at their hotel, groupies are invested, and Molly is under investigation for it.

No spoilers…

I loved it! I followed so closely, loved her backstory with her gran, and rooted for her the whole time!!!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ARC!!

Molly the Maid has my whole heart.

I think I liked this book even more than the first! The way that Molly handled herself in the wake of another mysterious death at her hotel was far different from book one (obviously because she knew more about the process and what was going on). The cast of side characters was so supportive and wholesome and while the big reveal at the very end was not entirely unexpected, it was still done in such a sweet and lovely way.

I read this book pretty quickly and really did not want to put it down! Pacing was good and the mystery had some surprising turns. The dual timeline worked so so well in my opinion with the past timeline really adding another layer of suspense and mystery to the current timeline.

Definitely will be recommending people who enjoy cozy(ish) mysteries pick up both of these books!

This sequel to The Maid was a light and cozy mystery. Just as enjoyable as the second one. The main character is fun and quirky and loveable.

Misery (by Stephen King) but make it cozy.

I’m not a fan of cozy mysteries. At all. But I just absolutely adore Molly Gray. And this book was such a fun opportunity to revisit our old friend. While this book does not bring much new to the table, some of the very same, reliable catchphrases included, it was just pure fun all the way through. I will always appreciate these books for speaking to the important roles that we all play, regardless of the societal virtue or stigma associated with those roles. A CEO is no more important to keeping this world turning than a janitor. And this book is a constant reminder that we are all important, we are all valuable, and our roles are all worth something. I do like how this book also shined a light on the frequent abuse that women of “lowlier” positions are often subjected to and the precarious position they are often faced with. Suffer the abuse and keep the lights on or speak out, lose your job, and go hungry?! Not much choice there for a lot of women. And I do not fault the author for not exploring that theme more deeply. This is, after all, a cozy mystery.

I appreciate that a future of potential was given to Molly at the end of this book. But, TBH, I don’t know that I would willingly invest much more time with Molly. I don’t feel like this story was nuanced enough from the first to give me much interest in any future Molly the Maid books. If there were to be a third, I would consider it but I would have to think long and hard about it. Also, the ending of this book was just a little too saccharin for my tastes. But all in all, such a fun (and quick) read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ I enjoyed the storyline and characters from the first book. It kept the reader engaged but I did feel like it got a bit too descriptive and repetitive with the first book with the most new things happening at the end. It wasn’t as interesting or dramatic as The Maid and I think that’s where it lacked.

We are back for book 2 and it’s just as delightful as the first!

Molly has grown and changed a lot in the years since we saw her last but still remains true to who she is! This is the perfect cozy mystery. I loved having flashbacks in this novel and seeing how the pieces of the past and present jigsawed together.

We get to see many of our favorite characters from the previous novels and many new characters as well! I like that the story wasn’t just happening TO Molly this time. Her character takes an active role in solving the mystery on her own. While the Molly of the Maid was too trusting this Molly has a quiet confidence in her as Head Maid and solver of all things mysterious at the Regency Grand.

Pick this one up for a cute and cozy mystery! Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an e-arc!

A wonderful sequel! Great writing and fun characters. So glad I got to read it!

Thank you NetGalley and Nita Prose!

Overall, this novel was okay but I’m not sure I’d recommend it at all, to be honest. I did get through the book very quickly so it has that going for it, but there’s nothing new here, nothing exciting. One of the maids annoys me so much and it baffles me how she hasn’t been fired as her behavior is so unprofessional. Maybe the next book in the series will be better? Who knows because I most likely won’t read it.

A delightful read that earns a solid rating for its charming blend of innocence and intrigue. Set in the grandeur of the Regency Grand Hotel, the city and year remain a mystery, much like the plot itself, which cleverly unfolds through a mix of past and present narratives. Prose’s protagonist, Molly, is refreshingly naive, her quirks endearing as they are portrayed through her unique interpretation, spelling, and rich vocabulary.

The story references old television shows reminiscent of reruns Molly once shared with her grandmother, adding a touch of nostalgia.

As a sequel, “The Mystery Guest” stands strong, providing enough backstory to welcome new readers without confusion. The significant time gap between this and the previous book suggests a new chapter in Molly’s life, inviting readers to unravel the ongoings at this 5-star hotel anew.

Prose’s narrative is a testament to her skillful storytelling, making “The Mystery Guest” a compelling continuation of a beloved series.

Molly is back!!!

I really love this character.
She's so exact in her thinking, which for some may seem complicated but her directness just really does it for me.
Molly is back to solving another murder in the hotel where she works as a maid.
And yes, please suspend all reality as she investigates the crime and also helps the good detective.
We learned a few things about Molly's past and her gran in this one.
I loved the backstory but was also a little sad at times to learn how hard it was for her to fit in socially.
I will absolutely continue to follow this character to the very end

what a satisfying sequel to The Maid. Molly's unique voice and way of looking at things is refreshing and makes me consider the way I view the world. The mystery was top notch and had me guessing. I can't wait for a third installment.

Nita Prose just wrote the perfect character I am absolutely in love with. Reading THE MYSTERY GUEST was like treating myself to a world of a wonderful time that has passed. Molly Gray is simply charming and delightful. The Regency Grand Hotel would be a travel destination for me, especially now that Molly is the HEAD MAID and in charge of the new staff in training.

In this second book, a famous author keels over during an author event at The Regency Grand Hotel. As Detective Stark investigates this very mysterious death, we glean from the story about young Molly and more about Gran and her wonderful advice and idioms for Molly.

I really enjoyed my time with Molly and cannot wait to see more of this series.