3.75 stars

A short novella about Molly the Maid, a quirky spectrumish woman who has a knack for solving crimes. This one is more of an episode than a mystery involving Molly and her partner Juan. But if you are a fan of Molly and her eccentricities, you will enjoy it.

As usual, some of Molly's co-workers are cruel and thoughtless while others are true friends. But this one is a holiday gift with a very happy ending. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Molly the Maid and the entire Regency Grand Hotel crew are back for a short mystery counting down to Christmas and the staff Secret Santa party. Molly is reminiscing of past holidays with Gran while embracing new memories with her found family, but multiple people - including her love Juan Manuel - are acting strangely. There’s a new mystery and Molly is determined to solve it.
Perfect for fans of The Maid series heading into Christmas. This is a short read and not necessarily the a mystery in line with the past novels, but still a fun read for the holidays that is hard to put down. I read it in one sitting because I couldn’t stop! Molly is truly a gem of a main character.
Thank you to Random House Ballantine for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I will never tire of reading about Molly the maid! I hope the author has many more of her adventures coming. Sweet Christmas read.

Cute novella with Molly. The Maid series is as always a mystery and fun to read. I love the flashbacks to Gran and the relationship that they had.

Molly Gray the Maid is back in a holiday tale sure to melt your heart. Shorter than the previous titles, "The Maid" and "the Mystery Guest" the "Mistletoe Mystery" still features Molly's quirky take on the world and all of her friends and co-workers from the hotel. When her true love, Juan Manuel is seen leaving the hotel room of a beautiful woman, Molly begins to doubt his love for her and her own self-worth. Is it something she said? Something she did? Not realizing all along that the big mystery here is not what Juan Manuel's been doing sneaking around, but what he is planning for Molly's Christmas surprise. Reader's will quickly determine what Juan Manuel's surprise is, but true to form, Molly remains totally clueless until the big day.
A Sweet holiday treat for Molly the Maid's fans.

Molly, the maid, is such a likeable person. I have loved every book so far. This one is a great Christmas story that focuses on Molly, her friends and the hotel. I love her truth and her desire to always do the right thing.

I think I would’ve enjoyed this more in audiobook formatting, but it was good and quick nonetheless. I love Molly’s no-nonsense nativity and the fact that she just COULDN'T figure out that she was eventually getting engaged. Even I was a little suspicious of Juan Manuel.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

I love Nita Prose Maid Novellas series. Tne main character is corky and attentive. Her character makes this series enjoyable! This read was an easy, enjoyable holiday; what is going on? Type of book. Not the best in the series but a fun short read!

This was such a quick and fun read. I've read "The Maid" and "The Mystery Guest" and it was nice to visit with Molly and company for this quick Christmas caper with a dash of romance.. It was a charming addition to Nina Prose's series. The Mistletoe Mystery" by Nita Prose is a delightful holiday read!

There is a lot of holiday festiveness mixed with charming cosy mystery including a few red herrings to keep the suspense high. It was nice to see the holidays through Molly's child-like eyes. It's nice to see her happy and faring well after all the drama of the first two books.

This is the perfect feel-good holiday read! Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine/PenguinRandomHouse for an early look!

I didn’t realize this was a novella when I requested it from NetGalley, but it’s cute for a short work of fiction. I think you’d have to have read at least the first book in the series to understand how Molly isn’t good at reading social cues because what is to her a big mystery is not mysterious at all to the reader. The details of the behavior of her love, Juan Manuel, aren’t entirely clear, but overall how it’s going to end is. In that way it’s not as fun as the first two books in the series when there is a mystery for both Molly and the reader.

NetGalley provided an advance copy of this short work, which RELEASES SEPTEMBER 17, 2024.

The Mistletoe Mystery is a lovely novella set in December amid all of the holiday festivities. It was a bit different than the first two novels of the series-more lighthearted overall, but with just as many confusable movements for the loveable Molly the maid. This book took a different turn in that the reader is able to almost immediately guess what the mystery will be. However, the real fun along the way is wondering when Molly will guess what is going on! There are many mishaps that confuse Molly! This book was a joy to read and a nice insight into more of Molly's life.

I recently started reading Nita Prose's Molly Maid series and was excited to hear about "The Mistletoe Mystery" a new holiday themed novella. The narrator's voice allows me to read the series quickly and find the joy in seeing Molly's relationships evolve over the novels. This novella contains some spoilers from the second book in the series, if a reader is concerned about being surprised. I found myself waiting for Molly to reveal that she was playing along during the story since the outcome was easily guessed by the reader in this tale, but the narrator was surprised by the resolution of the plot. I would recommend this light read novella for those who enjoy the series.

Molly, our favorite maid and head housekeeper at the Regency Grand Hotel, is looking forward to Christmas. The Regency Grand is decorated and full of the holiday spirit. Also, she will be spending this Christmas with Manuel, her sweet boyfriend. But, people at the hotel are acting strangely. Is this about the secret Santa party? Why does ii appear like her loved ones are sneaking around? Who can she trust? She needs to get to the bottom of this.

The Mistletoe Mystery
by Nita Prose
Pub Date: October 1, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Molly the Maid has a whole new mystery to solve in this heartwarming novella from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid and The Mystery Guest.
The Mistletoe Mystery gives us a heartwarming story based around two of our favorite characters that serves as a great Christmastime read. Any fan of Molly the Maid should give this novella a read this coming holiday season.
While some might view this novella as a departure from the original series, The Mistletoe Mystery offers a refreshing break from any higher stakes mystery we might see in The Maid or The Mystery Guest. It serves as a perfect seasonal short story that captures the essence of Christmas magic and reminds us of the power of love during the special time of year.

The Mistletoe Mystery captivated us by its enchanting storyline filled with red herrings and the usual wonderful characters created by Prose. The heartwarming moments, surprises and mystery leaves a lasting impression on any fan of this series.

Reading this was Christmas in July! I absolutely loved it!

"The Mistletoe Mystery" by Nita Prose is a delightful holiday read! This charming follow-up to the bestselling novels "The Maid" and "The Mystery Guest" brings back the endearing protagonist Molly Gray for a festive adventure filled with mystery, romance, and the true spirit of Christmas.

Prose's writing shines as she weaves a tale that perfectly balances cozy holiday charm with intriguing suspense. The author expertly captures the magic of the season through Molly's eyes, evoking nostalgic memories of cherished traditions while also exploring the complexities of trust and relationships. And who doesn't love Molly?

What truly sets this book apart is the depth of character development. Molly's growth throughout the story is both touching and relatable, as she navigates the challenges of love, friendship, and self-discovery.

"The Mistletoe Mystery" is more than just a holiday whodunit with a little romance thrown in. Nita Prose does it again with her unique cast of characters.

Don't read the series out of order to avoid spoilers!

I was so excited that this short novella of the Maid series. This books makes you think you have it figured out and then second guessing yourself. I enjoyed seeing Molly and Juan and the author letting us see inside their heads a bit. I highly recommend this title. Thank You Net Galley for the ARC. #NitaProse #Mollythemaid #TheMistletoeMystery #NetGalley

I’ve been a fan of Molly the Maid and Nita Prose from the very beginning. (She’s always reminded me of Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory - one of my favorite TV shows). This novella wraps up a lot of things and offers the reader a satisfying happily-ever-after for Molly and her one true love, Juan Manuel. Although it’s very predictable, and I saw the ending coming from a mile away, it still brought a huge smile to my face. I hope Nita decides to write a new book giving us a glimpse into Molly and Juan Manuel’s marriage and (I hope) parenthood. If you love Molly the Maid, then you’ll enjoy this quick little read. Recommended.

This was a cute way to finish off my back to back reading of The Maid series, but I can’t help but think I would be disappointed if I had spent actual money to read this novella. It was a classic Christmas-time add on to the series and Molly and Juan Manuel are in the holiday spirit. While it was nice to get I know them and their relationship a little bit more, overall it was cheesy and nothing happened - technically there was one major event, but anyone with more social cue reading abilities than Molly would figure it out by the second page. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and bit of Christmas in July!

A big thanks for the advanced readmvia NetGalley and the publisher!

First, this is a lightband fun novella, not a full-length novel, perfect for festive gatherings where a reader may be regularly interrupted. The reader catches up with Molly and Juan Manuel during the holidays after Book 2. Except Juan Manuel is acting funny! Molly must get to the bottom of this!

<spoiler>No bodies, but a mystery nonetheless! I think a neurotypical will quickly spot what's going on, but I love Molly's neurospiciness and the explanation of everything. 

Overall, a simple and quick read. I am happy the author did this as its own standalone bit so we will (hopefully) get back to full murder-mysteries and can simply reference this instead of overcomplicating future plots!</spoiler>

I enjoyed reading the first two books in this mystery series, and this latest installment is no exception. Molly, the endearing protagonist, continues to charm with her quirky misunderstandings and cautious approach to trust, shaped by a past filled with disappointments. Her relationship with Juan, her kind and sweet boyfriend, is central to the plot. The story delves into whether Juan is truly the blessing Molly hopes for or if he has ulterior motives. Molly's struggle to trust, rooted in her reliance on her precious Gran, adds depth and emotional resonance to this engaging mystery.