The Mystery Guest The Mystery Guest (Molly the Maid, #2) by Nita Prose is a follow-up book to The Maid (Molly the Maid, #1) by Nita Prose. Molly is a "quirky" on the spectrum maid who loves cleaning and notices even the minuet of details. This novel reads like an Agatha Christie whodunit, down to the limited suspect pool and fingers pointing to all the suspects! This can be a standalone novel, however I feel you will get more from the novel if you know Molly's history, her endearing eccentricities and her mannerisms. Easy, fast and fun read!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher in return for my honest review.

Molly the maid is back. And she's as endearing as ever. I truly cozied up with this cozy mystery and read it while sipping my tea, under my reading blanket with my two cats curled up on my lap. It was a vibe. One I highly recommend, just as I recommend returning to the world of this unlikely sleuth. If you haven't read the first book in the series, The Maid, I would suggest you do so because the two books are quite closely connected and make more sense when read in order.

This time around Molly's excitement at hosting a fancy tea event at which a famous crime writer is supposed to make a mysterious announcement, quickly turns to another crime solving adventure as the said writer ends up dead. In a parallel storyline we find out more about Molly's childhood and her relationship with her grandmother and honestly I couldn't get enough of this part of the story. I wholeheartedly hope that her grandma will find her way into the future stories about Molly as well.

I admit I am partial to neurodiverse protagonists. Molly's ability to perceive things others miss and inability to understand things others tend to easily understand makes for a more interesting storyline.
If you are a fan of cozy mysteries with unusual protagonists you will most definitely enjoy this one. I cannot wait to find out what kind of adventures book 3 brings. And I loved the hints about potential future storyline that were happening at the end of this book.

A huge thank you to Penguin Random House Canada & netgalley for gifting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review! I will be hounding you for the next one!

I was so surprised when I heard that The Maid was getting a sequel but I was impressed by this one! Molly was definitely more likable here than she was in The Maid. I remember being so frustrated with her during that one but in this she was so good. Love how confident she has become since the last book. I love that we got the past timeline of her childhood with her grandma. Knowing more of Molly's background was such a good addition to this story. Nita Prose's writing style is so easy to follow & get into. I would've enjoyed it more if the mystery was something shocking. Some parts of the story felt a little repetitive when she was talking about her gran's wisdom. Other than those things, it's a very easy, interesting read. I recommend reading The Maid before reading this one!

Thank you to Netgalley & Penguin Random House Canada for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I would like to first thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this book. Now honestly I almost dnfd this book, I really really wanted to and I have rarely ever done that for a book. Gran is wayyy to prevalent in the very beginning (I did not realize this was a second book, I haven't read the first and I honestly don't think you need to, to read this one) I have gathered throughout read it the characters entire life revolves around Gran's influences and that's great but my gosh some of those times could have stopped being brought up, as well as her boyfriends first name would have just been fine using. The only reason I didn't end up dnfing the book was because I had been offered this opportunity and that was not fair at all to everyone who gave it to me. On that note by about page 90, I did actually want to keep reading. However a book should not need almost 100 pages before you actually felt interested. The ending you're able to put together well before the ending as well, which honestly was extremely sweet and what she needed. However it felt massively shoved in there, and probably should have been something the author added in their previous book not this one. I get that it "had" to happen because it "kind of pertained" to the story line but it was really out of place at the end. Super sweet made me happy for the character but it shouldn't have needed these events for it to be told, it just made it feel like you needed to add something good at the end because the author was stuck on how to do it and that's what they came up with. It works because I understand but it doesn't work at the same time.

What a delightfully fun sequel to The Maid!

The world of the Regency Grand pulled me right back in from the very first chapter. Molly and the eclectic cast of characters are all so loveable.

The twists were not obvious and kept me on my toes, guessing until the very end!

I hope we get to return to this world, posthaste!

Excellent read. I enjoyed it more then the first one even. I have never read a book from a Nerodivergent point of view. I personally can relate to the main character with her socially awkwardness and her inability to understand things like everyone else. I love that there will more then likely be more molly Maid books in the future

Another intersting book by Nita Prose. Molly is again hercharming self and lo and behold involved in another mystery. This time the guest, J.D.Grimthorpe, is a writer who is somewhat of a recluse, while he is speaking about his latest book at Molly's hotel, he drops dead right at the lecturn in front of his audience. See how the unflappably honest Molly solves the mystery.

I must say, Molly is a favourite character. Honest to her core, she cannot tell a lie. BTW, J.D. Grimthorpe is from Molly's past. Hmm.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Penguin House for allowing me to meet the delightful Molly.

A fantastic follow-up to The Maid! Molly, now Head Maid of the illustrious Regency Grand Hotel, comes face to face with another mysterious death, one that is directly tied to her past! With flashbacks from Molly's past and returning characters from the first book, this standalone sequel is an enjoyable mystery on its own but enjoyed even more by having read The Maid first.

THIS is what I wanted from The Maid. THIS story is more of what I was expecting from the first book. When I read the synopsis for The Maid, I thought the seemingly autistic-coded Molly would be an intriguing way to narrate a murder mystery, but unfortunately the execution fell flat for me. In the first book I was definitely expecting that Molly, being able to fly under the radar and be "invisible" as a maid, in addition to her extremely good observation skills, would help the police uncover what exactly happened...that did not happen. BUT THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS BOOK! And I was so glad for it!

Although this novel is classed as a standalone, I really recommend reading The Maid before reading this as the flashbacks and background information garnered in this book definitely make more of an impact having already known Molly from the first book.

The execution of this was very similar to the first book, in writing style and in the way the mystery was solved, almost formulaic. I definitely did appreciate the small character developments in Molly compared to the first book, and I did think they were quite realistic for her character. I loved seeing her grow and change in ways that benefitted her; she learned to stand up for herself! That was so great to see! I also loved seeing all the same characters, although I would have loved to have seen more of Juan; I'm not exactly sure why he was away for the duration of this novel. Mr. Preston was lovely, and I absolutely love the relationship he and Molly have in this book. I also really liked the new faces, Lily and Angela, who helped bring some new spice to Molly's life.

I really enjoyed the flashbacks to Molly's childhood with her Gran. But unfortunately, the mystery and the execution of the whodunit fell flat....again. I don't know if it's just the simplistic way Molly narrates how the mystery is solved or what, but the whole thing just felt almost childlike. I think the detective just seems like a total dolt who accuses people left and right without any evidence, and the way Molly figures things out is too easy. The mystery is definitely not something to write home about and was very easy to predict, even for someone like me who never guesses what happens... I had the same issues with the mystery in the first book and I shouldn't have had higher expectations for this book. I did like the content of this mystery plotline more, especially as it strongly intersected with Molly's past, which made it feel more relevant and less random. I would definitely class this as cozy mystery and not expect more from it than that. If you like cozy mysteries, this will be right up your alley!

The *twist* that I thought was MAYBE being alluded to in the first book was, very unfortunately, quashed in the first few chapters of this book. I thought SPOILERS FOR THE MAID <spoiler> that maybe Molly was an unreliable narrator and had actually killed the victim in the first book, the same way we were explicitly told she had helped her Gran pass on. </spoiler> SPOILERS OVER That possible twist was quite a large redeeming factor for me for the first book, and I was extremely interested to see if that would be expanded upon in the sequel... it was not. It would have been a very unexpected twist, so I found it quite unfortunate that that theory of mine did not pan out.

Overall, I did enjoy this novel more than the first in the series (2.5 stars for The Maid, 3 stars for The Mystery Guest), but it still had some large faults, mostly in the execution of the mystery, that pulled me out of the story and felt too simplistic to me. But I did enjoy it as it was a quick, cozy read. If you like cozy mysteries, definitely give this one a try (but read The Maid first!).

*I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Immediately following The Maid, I picked up The Mystery Guest. I think because I read them together and didn’t allow time for anticipation of the second book, I did like The Maid a bit better than The Mystery Guest. However, it was nice to be back with Molly and the hotel staff, new and old, for another book. Reading them back to back really allowed me to see the progression of Molly’s character. She is so much more confident in this book. Molly is still working at the Regency Grand Hotel, but now as the Head Maid. And she has hired and is training Lily, the new Maid-in-Training.
This time, a famous author dies at the hotel just as he is about to reveal a big secret. His death is declared a murder and Molly is, once again, under suspicion and has to work with her friends to find the real killer. I think the frustrating thing with this book was that it still seems like so many people don’t understand that Molly is neurodivergent, especially Detective Stark. The Detective seems unnecessarily mean to Molly. I was left wondering, why is the Detective so sure Molly had something to do with this murder when she was wrong about it last time?
In this book, we get more details from Molly’s childhood and we get to meet her grandmother in flashbacks. I love that Molly wants to be just like her grandmother, even though her grandmother knows that Molly can do better than being a maid. Molly’s grandmother is doing the best she can to provide for Molly even when it’s clearly not easy, which is so touching, but also sad.
I would definitely read another book about Molly and it seems like Nita Prose left the door open for that possibility.

This was a really fun, cozy mystery with lovable characters, a smart plot and a few quick twists. This is the second Molly Maid story and while I think you should read the first one (The Maid) for better enjoyment and understanding of the characters, you can read this as a standalone. Quick and easy to get through, I finished this in one sitting. Unlike some other more cozy mysteries, this was just the right length. It never dragged or lacked information. The reader is given just enough to draw their own conclusions and try to solve the case before Molly does. (And certainly before the detective does, which is my biggest gripe about the novel. She's truly horrendous at her job 😂) I really liked that this one had dual timelines. It added a lot of backstory and emotion that was lacking in the first novel. The pacing throughout was perfect, especially the way it swapped between present and past to keep you interested in both story lines. The twists were solid and never convoluted and while you may figure them out before hand, I didn't find this took away from the story. I do wish there was more focus on character development, especially the side characters but because this was very low-stakes it wasn't a big loss.

I'm really glad that Molly is back, this was quite enjoyable cozy mystery and I'm looking forward to the next one. Thank you for the advance copy, much appreciated!

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose is the sequel to ‘The Maid’ which was one of my top five reads of last year. I jumped for joy when I got the arc for this and immediately started reading it. In The Mystery Guest, we follow Molly Gray as she once again must deal with a murder that happened in the hotel she works at and loves. This time a famous author has been murdered right before he is set to make an announcement. However, Molly has some ties with this author, but you will have to read it yourself to find out what those ties are.

Molly is one of my favourite characters to read about, and I am so happy we get a deeper dive into her past and upbringing in the book. It helps the readers understand how Molly was raised and how some of her personality bloomed from childhood. We also get to find out more about Mr. Preston who I personally love so much, I want him to be happy. I didn’t figure out who the killer was because I was so absorbed in learning about each of the characters, so when it was revealed, I was hooked and loved how it turned out. I hope we get to see more of Molly and her friends!

If you like:
-Murder mystery you can solve
-Amazing characters you don’t see in many novels
-A quirky and lovable main character

You will love this book! Check out The Maid and The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose!

Trigger Warnings include: Mentions of sexual assault, Murder, Alcoholism

A cozy murder mystery with our favourite maid and her sweet-as-honey colleagues from the Grand Regency Hotel.

If you liked the first book in this series, The Maid, then you'll be happy to be back with our lovable characters in the familiar walls of the hotel they all work in. This time we're in the hotel's tearoom, where a famous, but reclusive, murder mystery author is about to make an announcement. But before he can make the announcement he drops dead on stage and chaos ensues. Little does anyone realize, Molly and her gran had previously worked as maids within this author's house. The book bounces between past and present as Molly puts clues together to uncover who is responsible for the death.

As with The Maid, what makes this book truly special are the cast of characters working within the hotel. Molly is now Head Maid and is responsible for a new hire who may have secrets of her own. Mr. Preston, the front door valet, is still looking out for Molly in his paternal way, but also has something he needs to reveal. Angela is the bartender at the hotel restaurant and is not one to shy away from drama or rumours. All together the cast of familiar characters kept me turning the page to the very end.

What I really liked about The Maid (book #1) were all the twists and turns. I was hoping for that familiar dizzying maze of 'ah hah!', however The Mystery Guest is more like an onion, where Molly peels back layer after layer until the centre is revealed.

This book is best read in your home library while drinking tea and listening to the familiar tatta-tat-tat of typewriter keys from down the hall. If a secret door in the library opens, be ware of who is inside.

**The Mystery Guest comes out November 28, 2023**

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this copy in exchange for an honest review

Molly the maid is back at it again as we are warmly re-embraced into the staff and charm of the Regency Grand Hotel. Four years have passed since the events of The Maid so while references are made about what had occurred then, this can be read as a stand-alone.

For a five star hotel, yet another unfortunate murder has occurred on the premises of this fine establishment, right after they were fixing their reputation again from the last gnarly incident. This time, it’s a reclusive mystery novelist who was about to make a big announcement if not for his untimely demise.

I loved being back in Molly’s perspective as she’s hurled back into another murder investigation. While I know people’s frustrations from book 1 sometimes stemmed from the lack of explicit acknowledgment where Molly stood on the spectrum, personally it doesn’t take away from the story if she was officially diagnosed or not. For her character and the additional backstory we see in this book, if she was on the spectrum, i don’t think they had the means to get a proper diagnosis so Molly herself may not have a word to describe how she’s different from others. She knows she is but she works hard to read other people to live and function among them. And perhaps her ability to remember details the rest of us find irrelevant makes her the perfect amateur sleuth out there, albeit begrudgingly.

The cast of characters brings old friends I loved from book 1 (I love you, Mr. Preston!) and new ones alike. There was less Juan Miguel in this books, to the point he wasn’t even a secondary character, but I liked that the romance subplot wasn’t huge at all. There was no second book misunderstanding breakup or anything. This was purely a solid cozy mystery and I was all for that. I’m not normally a cozy mystery reader – I need that intense thrill of suspense to drive me forward – but Nita Prose continues to surprise me with her ability to make me love this world she’s created that’s more hopeful than most mysteries I read.

The story moves along at a fairly fast pace. There are two almost equally split timelines, present day with the mystery and Molly’s past when she was around ten years old. Her history and present surprisingly intermingle and I loved slowly learning what pieces were hidden in Molly’s mind that gave greater context to the present mystery. Seeing more of her Gran and their interactions was heartwarming, but I felt there was more insight into who Molly is as a person as we see more of her thoughts as a child in addition to her grown up self. I absolutely adore her as a protagonist which makes this book and series everything. There are not many characters I feel such a connection to even though we’re nothing alike. Leaving the book felt like losing a friend, because Molly was so well described it felt like I knew her by the end. (There’re also so many sayings she and her Gran have that they can fill a book for cheesy lines to remember.)

If you loved The Maid, this one is a beautiful story that is as good as the first, which is always hard to do when the first was already so well written. I wasn’t sure what to expect going in but I can honestly say I never want to leave the Regency Grand and Molly for long. If that means 30 more books featuring this cast and place, I will happily dive into every single one.

Overall Recommendation:
Having thought the sensational novel, The Maid, was a stand-alone, I was delighted to be checking back into the Regency Grand Hotel and following the delightful Molly on another unfortunate incident resulting in a dead man at their fine establishment. This time around, we learn more about Molly’s history alongside her Gran’s, and the cozy mystery factor makes me feel all warm and fuzzy, akin to being wrapped up in the best blanket. This is the perfect fall read and has earned another top spot in my books!

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose, published by Penguin Random House Canada

I absolutely loved this book, I love Molly's character and her quirks and how she talks and acts, I loved learning about her younger days with her grandmother
I was so excited when I saw a sequel to The Maid as I had enjoyed that book a lot more than I thought I would. The author is brilliant with her characters and description of them. I loved the plot, the mystery, and the twists and turns. Molly pulls through and helps to solve the murder that takes place at the hotel she works at. She also learns so much more about her family history. I don't want to give too much away, but if you liked The Maid, you will love this novel also.
Great novel, waiting on the next one!

Book #84 of 2023 📚
The Mystery Guest : A Maid Novel by Nita Prose
Rating : ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Genre : Crime, Murder, Misunderstandings, Past Events


When I hear that an author has written a sequel to their first book I’m very skeptical. Most of the time the book does not live up to the hype it creates before its release…that being said this book was FANTASTIC!

It was very hard to put down - fast paced, beloved characters returning and even questions I had at the end of the first book answered (which I loved).

If you loved “The Maid” be sure to check out “The Mystery Guest”!

This book was an ok read. I much preferred the first one.
If she writes another in this series, I do hope she becomes a cop. I'd like to see how the relationship with her grampa goes.

I enjoyed the book from the very beginning. I loved the wit and the likeability of the characters. The book wrapped up nicely.

3.75 stars
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TW: Death, Murder, Alcoholism, Addiction, Cursing, Rape, Sexual assault, Pregnancy
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The Mystery Guest brings the beloved character Molly (the Maid) into another cozy mystery. Four years have passed since the events of The Maid, Molly is now head maid at the Regency Grand Hotel and has settled into a routine with Juan Manuel, and her weekly dinners with Mr. Preston. What seems like a normal day at the hotel, suddenly turns into everyone's worst nightmare - famed author J.D. Grimthorpe drops dead in the middle of a press conference in the Hotel's newly finished tea room. This death brings back Detective Stark from the first novel, who once again, claims not to understand Molly and her methods.

Although I love Molly, I didn't really think her story needed a sequel. I wanted so much more out of this book, the mystery aspect was alright, but what really brought it all together were the flashbacks of a young Molly interacting with her Gran, we find out that Molly has a connection with the recently deceased J.D. Grimthorpe and the flashbacks tie that plot point all together. I really enjoyed watching Molly piece the murder all together, however, I don't think the plot would have been the same if Molly hadn't grown up going to Grimthorpe Manor. What really let me down was the lack of Juan Manuel, I love the way he interacts with Molly and would have LOVED more scenes of them together, it just so happens that Juan is in Mexico visiting family during the duration of this book.

I really enjoyed the ending as it opens up different possibilities for Molly, I would love to see the next book (because the ending really sets up for one) have Molly exploring different options in life! Also more Juan Manuel!!!!
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I would like to thank NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, The Mystery Guest publishes on: November 28th, 2023.

Molly the maid is back and has received a promotion since the ending of the first book. She is also a much more confident and assertive character.

Molly is thrown back into disaster mode when a famous author making an announcement at the hotel, suddenly drops dead in mysterious circumstances. Molly is once again a suspect and must work towards clearing her name.

This reads like a cozy mystery more so than a thriller. This is actually ok and I enjoyed this story more than the first one. I really enjoyed the backstory as we learn so much more about Molly’s history.

There is a however. There are too many references to Molly’s late Grandmother’s thoughts and sayings. It becomes a bit tiresome if I’m honest. Overall, this is still a great read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the gifted Arc in exchange for an honest review.