I was a big fan of the Maid, so I have been looking forward to this sequel.

It did not disappoint. Molly is as wonderful as always, and I enjoyed the way that the past was weaved with the future.

I really hope for more from this series. I could read about Molly for years to come.

An ARC was provided by NetGalley and Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.

I was a little surprised to see a sequel to the maid being released, I thought it was a pretty strong stand alone but I was interested in the characters to see where this would go. We continue to follow Molly as she is now head maid, and has taken maid-in-training Lily under her wing. There is another murder at the hotel and it’s up to Molly to ensure that no detail goes unnoticed.
In The Maid I really enjoyed the found family aspect but those characters were not featured heavily in this novel. The vibes are very cosy and it’s nice to continue Mollys story and get a little more of her background, but the mystery wasn’t as exciting. The “twists” were easy to figure out and I just wasn’t as invested this time. I think you’ll enjoy this if you are character and vibe focused.

Thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Random House Canada, and Nita Prose for this e-ARC (my first!) that I chose to read and review

What a lovely book! I enjoyed The Maid quite a lot so I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy this much since cozy mystery isn’t my usual cup of tea but Nita Prose has surprised me again. I adore Molly and love so many of the characters in these books so much. It was a super quick read and I will definitely be picking up the next one!

The Maid was a delightful read . This book not so much. The quotes from Gran were a novelty in the first book but in this book repetitive and annoying at times. Molly is always going be Molly as that is her personality. I was fine with her . A second book about her was not needed. The book’s mystery component was okay but Molly’s uniqueness , charm and quirkiness was not enjoyable in this book.

This is such a fun series! Molly is so quirky and loveable. I really enjoyed getting back inside Molly’s world and getting a sneak peak into her past but the best part of this book was trying to solve the mystery of who killed Mr. Gimthorpe. If you like cozy mysteries, you’ll enjoy this book.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

In “The Mystery Guest” we are reintroduced to the remarkable Molly Gray, now the esteemed Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. The narrative takes an unexpected turn when world-renowned mystery author J.D. Grimthorpe is found dead, and Molly finds herself entwined in solving the murder.

Prose skillfully weaves dual timelines, unraveling Molly’s past connection with Grimthorpe while keeping the present mystery engaging. The strong character development shines through, portraying Molly as a unique, intelligent, and resilient woman who has overcome past traumas.

The book, a sequel in the “Molly The Maid” series, works seamlessly as a standalone, allowing readers to dive into Molly’s world even if they haven’t read the first installment. The author successfully captures Molly’s growth, both professionally as the Head Maid and personally in her relationships with others.

The special bond between Molly and her late grandmother adds a heartwarming layer to the story, creating a rich emotional depth. The use of dual timelines enhances the narrative, providing insight into Molly’s past and the mysterious Grimthorpe mansion.

The resolution of the mystery is satisfying, and the reveal at the ending of the book hints at the possibility of a third book in the series. I would certainly add it to my reading list. Prose excels not only in crafting a compelling mystery but also in showcasing Molly as a character that holds the reader’s interest.

The audiobook format, narrated by Lauren Ambrose, adds another dimension to Molly’s character. Ambrose’s excellent performance enhances the uniqueness of Molly, making the audiobook an equally enjoyable experience.

In “The Mystery Guest,” Nita Prose delivers a captivating mystery with a strong, relatable protagonist. The combination of engaging storytelling, well-developed characters, and a touch of nostalgia for readers familiar with Molly’s journey makes this book a delightful addition to the series.

Nita Prose's writing style is unique and unlike anything I've read. As someone who doesn't really enjoy mysteries or thrillers, I was hesitant to read the maid However, her writing combines the perfect amount of coziness, page-turner qualities and keeps you guessing. She keeps you hanging onto every word and makes you love each unique character. The Mystery Guest is the perfect cozy autumn read!

Thank you to Net Galley and Penguin Random House for the ARC of this book!

The second book in the Molly the Maid series follows Molly Gray, an eccentric maid with a dedication to cleanliness and proper etiquette. Recently appointed Head Maid, Molly is in high spirits about where her life is headed. That is until world renowned Author J.D. Grimthorpe drops dead at the hotel, moments before his big, largely anticipated announcement. Molly once again becomes the subject of investigation, but everyone is hiding something, from the newest maid, Lily, to the sweet doorman, Mr. Preston. Molly has the answers to this gruesome puzzle, but they lay buried in her past, back to when she knew Mr. Grimthorpe as a child.

Wow. Wow. Wow.
This was such a fun and twisty read. I genuinely could not wait to read it every time I got home. (Is there any better feeling?) This was my first book from Nita Prose and I will definitely be tracking back to read the first book in the series. (Good news if you're like me and haven't read the first, this one still reads beautifully and does not the spoil the first in the series!) Molly has all the charm and quirk that a main character should posses, you will ache for the lonely child who was outcast and laugh along with the adult and her quick jabs. I loved getting read from her perspective as a child, it really added a special element to the story along with the necessary information to get the mystery solved. If you're looking for an easy to pick up and easy to love story - this is it!

I just love Molly the Maid SO much! This book was so endearing and the dual timeline led to some great reveals. I did enjoy the first book more, but I thought this was a great sequel!

Molly the Maid is back and there’s been another murder in the hotel! Molly has a personal connection to the deceased and we get to travel back in time to her childhood to uncover the story.

I love the Molly character, she is so endearing. This is a fun, easy read that’ll keep you turning the pages!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the advanced copy. Comes out November 28, 2023!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada, Viking for a copy of "The Mystery Guest" in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is book 2 in the Molly the Maid series. It is helpful to the reader to have read the first book for background stories. Molly has become the Head Maid at the five-star boutique Regency Grand Hotel and one of their VIP guests is found dead on the newly restored tearoom’s floor. The VIP that is on the ground was to make an announcement, but the reader will never know because JD Grimthorpe is dead before he says a word. How will this effect the hotel's stellar reputation?? There is no shortage of suspects: Lily, the new maid-in-training; Serena, the author’s own secretary or possibly Mr. Preston, the hotel doorman?

I like the old-world charm of the tearoom, the elegance of a time gone by.

What was Molly’s Gran’s connection to the Grimthorpe’s? The story loops back to tell her past when she worked for them at their mansion. There are many references to Gran’s wisdom and quotes that she used.

Was Mr. Grimthorpe killed by who the reader thinks it will be? Or does the author take a totally different avenue. Molly is a fun, energetic character who brings some whimsy to the story. She's spunky with a knack for solving mysteries.

I thoroughly enjoyed Nita Prose's latest follow-up to her debut novel, The Maid.

The Mystery Guest is a light-hearted mystery involving many of our favourite characters from her first novel along with Molly's new maid-in-training, Lily. Together they will solve the mystery of a new death that occurred in the Regency Grand Hotel.

I particulary enjoyed how we learned about Molly's past and how it shapes who she is today. I loved how the storyline kept moving from the present to the past providing the connection Molly had to the victim.

This is an easy to read, highly entertaining, cozy mystery well read while partaking of some tea in a porcelain cup!

With thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the gifted ARC, for which it was my pleasure to offer my review.

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose is the second in the delicious Molly the Maid series. What a series this is! After falling in love with the first sentence in the first book I knew this was going to wonderful, too. There's just something special about the wholesomeness, touch of quirky naivete and gorgeous writing which cause it to shiine. Yet it is far beyond "fluff".

What joy to learn more about Molly Gray, now proud Head Maid of the elegant boutique Regency Grand Hotel. She loves her job and it shows. Molly is training a new and very shy maid and when an author prac;tically dies under their noses, they are dismayed to be under suspicion. But Molly's ingenuity and wonderful mind take on the task of tracking a killer.

In particular, I really enjoyed the glimpses into Molly's childhood and how her cleaning passion and eccentricities make Molly...Molly. Her beloved Gran died a few years prior but still inspires with her humour, ethic and feistiness. We all need a form of Gran in our lives.

If you enjoy gentle mysteries written with originality and verve, this series is unmissable. Fully immerse yourself and enjoy every moment.

My sincere thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this enchanting novel. I look forward to number three!

Marvellously done! I had reservations when I read Proses's first novel, didn't feel another one along the same lines would be any great enjoyment, but Prose's second book is extremely well done. It's fun and exciting, and Molly comes alive in a way she didn't in her first incarnation in The Maid. Here, there was less of a struggle , in fact, no evidence of one at all, to point out Molly's "differentness". Instead, we have a fully fleshed out complex person in our heroine, and an exciting tale to boot! Highly recommended.

Thanks to Penguin Random House Canada for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Molly the maid is now Molly the Head Maid at the Regency Grand, a five-star boutique hotel. Her life is going wonderfully, sticking to her beloved routine. As the hotel prepares for a special event: the one and only, author J.D. Grimthorpe has chosen the Regency Grand Tearoom for a special announcement. As Grimthorpe steps in front of everyone, he takes a sip out of his teacup and drops dead. Everyone is now trying to solve the mystery surrounding his death and what he was about to announce.

I really enjoyed this one! I found it done so well. The book brings us back to the Regency Grand four years later, with Molly who is thriving. The hotel is still full of her loyal and not so loyal coworkers and new characters are introduced! The book was built on dual timelines, one being the present with the death of J.D. Grimthorpe and the past where Molly was just a child and being raised by her Gran, who was also a Maid. I found myself really enjoying Molly’s character in this one. I think I would even say the second novel is my favourite out of the series now! I am really happy I was able to advance read this one- definitely recommend reading it!

✵𝖬𝖺𝗇𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗄𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝖭𝖾𝗍𝗀𝖺𝗅𝗅𝖾𝗒，𝖯𝖾𝗇𝗀𝗎𝗂𝗇 𝖱𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗈𝗆 𝖧𝗈𝗎𝗌𝖾 𝖢𝖺𝗇𝖺𝖽𝖺 ＆ 𝖭𝗂𝗍𝖺 𝖯𝗋𝗈𝗌𝖾 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗀𝗂𝖿𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗆𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖠𝖽𝗏𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾𝖽 𝖱𝖾𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋’𝗌 𝖢𝗈𝗉𝗒 𝗂𝗇 𝖾𝗑𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗀𝖾 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗆𝗒 𝗁𝗈𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝗋𝖾𝗏𝗂𝖾𝗐✵

This book was incredibly well written. While I didn’t read the first book in this series I was able to get through the second without any problems. This kept me on the edge of my seat reading wondering constantly what was going to happen next. Definitely will recommend this to my bookish friends to read in the future. Now off to read the first one!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Mystery Guest was absolute perfection. Molly’s sayings and quirks were exactly what I needed. Her mantras/sayings regarding her cleaning methods never get old.

Nita Prose’s first novel managed to get me out of a long pandemic reading slump, so to be able to read this ARC was thrilling.

Nita Prose’s novels will be an auto read, and thankful when I find new Canadian authors creating amazing novels.

I give this cozy murder mystery a 5 out of 5.

Thank you to the author, Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for a review.

I received this book from Netgalley as an ARC. Follow up from previous book The Maid. While this was a quick read I just wasn’t that invested. With the first book all of Molly’s quirks were fresh and new. In second book (if you’ve read first) I found them to be repetitive. Book didn’t wow me but wasn’t a great read.

Another great Molly Maid book! Molly is snappy and funny. She fully admits she is a bit out of step with those around her. In some ways it makes her so much more aware of how pieces fit together. At other times, not so much. And she is the first one to admit that.

I love the bits of backstory where we learn about Molly's gran, and about how Molly views herself. Through her observations, we receive clues Molly isn't aware she is passing on. Clues very important to those bits where Molly admits she doesn't understand. But she still sees. Just doesn't figure those certain clues.

Definitely eagerly awaiting more from Molly, that's for sure!

After reading the Maid, I found myself missing Molly and her crew, and was happy to stumble across the sequel.

Though Molly returned to solve another murder case, I felt she’d lost her initial charm from the first novel, whether that be a show of her character development or otherwise. I missed her expected comments and never ending confidence.

I found the mystery was easy to follow but it was interesting to dive into Molly’s past and to have a return of her grandmother in that way. As someone who doesn’t normally enjoy a past/current POV read, I was inching to explore Molly’s relationship with the deceased.

Overall, this novel was easy yet fun exploration into Molly’s story and an interesting end for her character. I wonder what we may see next for our detective maid.