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Molly the Maid #2
The Mystery Guest
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller (2024)Molly Gray is not like anyone else. With her flair for cleaning and proper etiquette, she has risen through the ranks of the glorious five-star Regency Grand Hotel to become the esteemed Head Maid. But just as her life reaches a pinnacle state of perfection, her world is turned upside down when J. D. Grimthorpe, the world-renowned mystery author, drops dead—very dead—on the hotel’s tearoom floor.
When Detective Stark, Molly’s old foe, investigates the author’s unexpected demise, it becomes clear that this death was murder most foul. Suspects abound, and everyone wants to know: Who killed J. D. Grimthorpe? Was it Lily, the new Maid-in-Training? Or was it Serena, the author’s secretary? Could Mr. Preston, the hotel’s beloved doorman, be hiding something? And is Molly really as innocent as she seems?
As the high-profile death threatens the hotel’s pristine reputation, Molly knows she alone holds the key to unlocking the killer’s identity. But that key is buried deep in her past, as long ago, she knew J. D. Grimthorpe. Molly begins to comb her memory for clues, revisiting her childhood and the mysterious Grimthorpe mansion where she and her dearly departed Gran once worked side by side. With the entire hotel under investigation, Molly must solve the mystery posthaste. Because if there’s one thing she knows for sure, it’s that secrets don’t stay buried forever.
When Detective Stark, Molly’s old foe, investigates the author’s unexpected demise, it becomes clear that this death was murder most foul. Suspects abound, and everyone wants to know: Who killed J. D. Grimthorpe? Was it Lily, the new Maid-in-Training? Or was it Serena, the author’s secretary? Could Mr. Preston, the hotel’s beloved doorman, be hiding something? And is Molly really as innocent as she seems?
As the high-profile death threatens the hotel’s pristine reputation, Molly knows she alone holds the key to unlocking the killer’s identity. But that key is buried deep in her past, as long ago, she knew J. D. Grimthorpe. Molly begins to comb her memory for clues, revisiting her childhood and the mysterious Grimthorpe mansion where she and her dearly departed Gran once worked side by side. With the entire hotel under investigation, Molly must solve the mystery posthaste. Because if there’s one thing she knows for sure, it’s that secrets don’t stay buried forever.
293 pages, Hardcover
First published November 28, 2023
7063 people are currently reading
221925 people want to read
About the author
Nita Prose
18 books7,907 followersNITA PROSE is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Mystery Guest and The Maid, which has sold more than two million copies worldwide. A Good Morning America Book Club pick, The Maid won the Ned Kelly Award for International Crime Fiction, the Fingerprint Award for Debut Book of the Year, the Anthony Award for Best First Novel, and the Barry Award for Best First Mystery. The Maid was also an Edgar Award finalist for Best Novel. Visit Nita at nitaprose.com or on Instagram and X @NitaProse.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 15,817 reviews
January 1, 2025
Well, I didn't expect Molly the Maid to make a return, but as a devoted fan of the character, I welcomed her with open arms to delve into her latest whodunit adventure. I must honestly admit that this book leans more towards providing us with a cozy mystery vibe, and the dark comedy and intelligent, twisty mystery elements are somewhat diminished in this story. However, on the positive side, we are treated to more glimpses of Molly's childhood, offering us a closer look at her relationship with her grandmother, the reasons behind these women choosing to become maids, and the absence of other family members in Molly's life.
In this installment, we witness Molly's remarkable ability to notice invisible details that escape everyone else's notice. Her detective skills continue to sharpen without conscious effort, helping her solve the mysteries she encounters. It's truly gratifying to see her rise to the position of head maid, assembling her own team, which includes the introverted Lily, a young woman she takes under her wing, recognizing a bit of her old self in her. Molly is stronger than ever, echoing her grandmother's wisdom, happily involved with Juan, and forging a friendship with the hotel's beloved doorman, Mr. Preston. Life seems to be settling down after the scandalous murder investigation at the Regency Grand Hotel. After all, lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place, does it? Unfortunately, it does.
The renowned mystery author, J. D. Grimpthorhe, decides to hold a life-altering press conference at the famous tea room of the hotel. However, the course of his life takes an unexpected turn when he suddenly drops dead after sipping his honey tea, possibly served by the new maid, Lily. His demise unfolds in front of his devoted fan base known as "LAMB" and a swarm of paparazzi who cause more chaos than the author's missing cue cards, which could reveal the secret topic of his announcement. The murder weapon that might explain how the author was poisoned has also vanished.
Unfortunately, the assigned detective on the case is none other than Ms. Stark, the same woman who once tried to wrongfully put Molly behind bars. This time, she's determined to see her mission through. Fortunately, she remains unaware of the connection between Molly and the deceased. Yes, Molly has a secret! She had met the author as a child and possesses knowledge that could create a media frenzy if inadvertently revealed. Now, she must uncover the truth before Lily or anyone she cares about gets wrongly accused. Thankfully, Molly's keen eye for detail puts her a few steps ahead of the detectives.
Overall, the implication that Molly may join the ranks of crime-solving intrigued me. I never say no to Molly's detective adventures. Although this installment may not be as sharp and entertaining as the first book, it remains an easy-to-read, riveting, and intriguing story that I highly recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine for providing me with a digital review copy of this fantastic book in exchange for my honest opinions.
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In this installment, we witness Molly's remarkable ability to notice invisible details that escape everyone else's notice. Her detective skills continue to sharpen without conscious effort, helping her solve the mysteries she encounters. It's truly gratifying to see her rise to the position of head maid, assembling her own team, which includes the introverted Lily, a young woman she takes under her wing, recognizing a bit of her old self in her. Molly is stronger than ever, echoing her grandmother's wisdom, happily involved with Juan, and forging a friendship with the hotel's beloved doorman, Mr. Preston. Life seems to be settling down after the scandalous murder investigation at the Regency Grand Hotel. After all, lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place, does it? Unfortunately, it does.
The renowned mystery author, J. D. Grimpthorhe, decides to hold a life-altering press conference at the famous tea room of the hotel. However, the course of his life takes an unexpected turn when he suddenly drops dead after sipping his honey tea, possibly served by the new maid, Lily. His demise unfolds in front of his devoted fan base known as "LAMB" and a swarm of paparazzi who cause more chaos than the author's missing cue cards, which could reveal the secret topic of his announcement. The murder weapon that might explain how the author was poisoned has also vanished.
Unfortunately, the assigned detective on the case is none other than Ms. Stark, the same woman who once tried to wrongfully put Molly behind bars. This time, she's determined to see her mission through. Fortunately, she remains unaware of the connection between Molly and the deceased. Yes, Molly has a secret! She had met the author as a child and possesses knowledge that could create a media frenzy if inadvertently revealed. Now, she must uncover the truth before Lily or anyone she cares about gets wrongly accused. Thankfully, Molly's keen eye for detail puts her a few steps ahead of the detectives.
Overall, the implication that Molly may join the ranks of crime-solving intrigued me. I never say no to Molly's detective adventures. Although this installment may not be as sharp and entertaining as the first book, it remains an easy-to-read, riveting, and intriguing story that I highly recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine for providing me with a digital review copy of this fantastic book in exchange for my honest opinions.
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August 2, 2023
I really enjoyed “The Maid” but I didn’t know that it would be the beginning of a series!
At any rate I am a little conflicted about this one so I’m going to go with my PROS and CONS review:
PROS:
We already know the main character well. Molly has grown in confidence since the first book – which is great to see. She relishes her role as Head Maid!!
Knowing how she struggled to understand things when she first started, Molly is kind, attentive and helpful to the new maid, Lily.
Detective Start is also back. We see that her attitude towards Molly has changed since she solved the murder in the last book. Her character has also grown and we get to know her a little better. “I regret that I underestimated you, Stark says.” “Most people underestimate me”, states Molly with renewed self esteem.
Molly remembers the guest speaker, “award winning author J.D. Grimthorpe”. When Molly was very young she worked with her Gran at his mansion as the maid.
Her thoughts on this backstory added to our understanding of how Molly was as child and how she came to live with her grandmother. We also learn some secrets about the visiting author!!
CONS:
There was a lot of repetition of the things that Gran told Molly. She recites them constantly in her mind to the reader. In the first book it was fresh and new but in this one it grew a bit tiresome.
There were two mysteries to solve in this novel, interesting but easy to figure out!
Molly’s true love Juan Manual is MIA in this book as he is away visiting relatives in Mexico. I would have enjoyed the book more with this character present.
I thought this book was definitely a cozy mystery, easy to read and entertaining. I’m hoping that if there is another book the author will place the mystery in a different setting. This was hinted at towards the end of the book.
I can recommend this as a quick cozy read but I advise everyone to read “The Maid” first to understand all of the connections between the characters!
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley . It was my pleasure to read and review this title.
At any rate I am a little conflicted about this one so I’m going to go with my PROS and CONS review:
PROS:
We already know the main character well. Molly has grown in confidence since the first book – which is great to see. She relishes her role as Head Maid!!
Knowing how she struggled to understand things when she first started, Molly is kind, attentive and helpful to the new maid, Lily.
Detective Start is also back. We see that her attitude towards Molly has changed since she solved the murder in the last book. Her character has also grown and we get to know her a little better. “I regret that I underestimated you, Stark says.” “Most people underestimate me”, states Molly with renewed self esteem.
Molly remembers the guest speaker, “award winning author J.D. Grimthorpe”. When Molly was very young she worked with her Gran at his mansion as the maid.
Her thoughts on this backstory added to our understanding of how Molly was as child and how she came to live with her grandmother. We also learn some secrets about the visiting author!!
CONS:
There was a lot of repetition of the things that Gran told Molly. She recites them constantly in her mind to the reader. In the first book it was fresh and new but in this one it grew a bit tiresome.
There were two mysteries to solve in this novel, interesting but easy to figure out!
Molly’s true love Juan Manual is MIA in this book as he is away visiting relatives in Mexico. I would have enjoyed the book more with this character present.
I thought this book was definitely a cozy mystery, easy to read and entertaining. I’m hoping that if there is another book the author will place the mystery in a different setting. This was hinted at towards the end of the book.
I can recommend this as a quick cozy read but I advise everyone to read “The Maid” first to understand all of the connections between the characters!
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley . It was my pleasure to read and review this title.
November 29, 2023
4.5 ⭐️ AVAILABLE NOW!
AS DELIGHTFUL AS THE TINKLING SOUND A SILVER SPOON MAKES AS IT TAPS AGAINST A REGENCY GRAND TEA CUP. 🫖☕️
It’s been seven and a half years since Molly Gray was a “maid in training” at the Regency Grand Hotel, but she has held the title of “HEAD MAID” for three and a half years now, proudly wearing that name tag right above her heart.
Not only has she written a manual of standards for the maids, and been put in charge of training the new staff-including “Lily” (a quiet misunderstood girl who reminds her of her younger self) but she has also been tasked with overseeing a VERY special event in the 5 star boutique hotels newly refurbished tea room.
J.D. Grimthorpe, the International best-selling and award winning author of twenty novels including “The Maid in the Mansion” and “The Mystery Guest” will make a rare public appearance to make a mysterious announcement to fifty-five VIP guests, including the LAMBS-(Ladies Auxiliary Mystery Book Society members) who have booked the 4th floor of the elegant hotel.
Would he be announcing that he has written a new book-or that he has written his last?
It turns out-he has “most definitely” written his last, as he drops dead before he can read his cue cards, after sipping the tea, just served by our newly hired maid, Lily.
Now, the entire staff is under suspicion for MURDER-and it isn’t going to help Molly’s cause when Detective Stark learns that Molly had met the reclusive author when she was just a young girl who used to accompany her Gran to his mansion, where she worked as a maid.
Fortunately, Molly still remembers all of her Grans advice-the proverbs and idioms that the two lived their lives by.
The story unfolds with chapters from both the present day mystery and chapters from BEFORE-when Molly was that small girl. The BEFORE chapters had a magical quality to them, almost “Wizard of Oz” like, with an ordinary man hiding behind a bookcase this time, instead of a curtain, but instilling fear in all! I really enjoyed meeting young Molly this way.
Though the motive for this murder was a bit suspect-I did enjoy catching up with Molly again, but if her story continues, I hope it DOESN'T do so in the manner suggested!
And here’s what I had to say about “The Maid” (Molly the Maid #1):
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Thank You to Ballantine Books for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review.
AS DELIGHTFUL AS THE TINKLING SOUND A SILVER SPOON MAKES AS IT TAPS AGAINST A REGENCY GRAND TEA CUP. 🫖☕️
It’s been seven and a half years since Molly Gray was a “maid in training” at the Regency Grand Hotel, but she has held the title of “HEAD MAID” for three and a half years now, proudly wearing that name tag right above her heart.
Not only has she written a manual of standards for the maids, and been put in charge of training the new staff-including “Lily” (a quiet misunderstood girl who reminds her of her younger self) but she has also been tasked with overseeing a VERY special event in the 5 star boutique hotels newly refurbished tea room.
J.D. Grimthorpe, the International best-selling and award winning author of twenty novels including “The Maid in the Mansion” and “The Mystery Guest” will make a rare public appearance to make a mysterious announcement to fifty-five VIP guests, including the LAMBS-(Ladies Auxiliary Mystery Book Society members) who have booked the 4th floor of the elegant hotel.
Would he be announcing that he has written a new book-or that he has written his last?
It turns out-he has “most definitely” written his last, as he drops dead before he can read his cue cards, after sipping the tea, just served by our newly hired maid, Lily.
Now, the entire staff is under suspicion for MURDER-and it isn’t going to help Molly’s cause when Detective Stark learns that Molly had met the reclusive author when she was just a young girl who used to accompany her Gran to his mansion, where she worked as a maid.
Fortunately, Molly still remembers all of her Grans advice-the proverbs and idioms that the two lived their lives by.
The story unfolds with chapters from both the present day mystery and chapters from BEFORE-when Molly was that small girl. The BEFORE chapters had a magical quality to them, almost “Wizard of Oz” like, with an ordinary man hiding behind a bookcase this time, instead of a curtain, but instilling fear in all! I really enjoyed meeting young Molly this way.
Though the motive for this murder was a bit suspect-I did enjoy catching up with Molly again, but if her story continues, I hope it DOESN'T do so in the manner suggested!
And here’s what I had to say about “The Maid” (Molly the Maid #1):
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Thank You to Ballantine Books for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review.
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August 2, 2024amelia bedelia ass thriller
October 29, 2023
Everyone’s favorite maid is back!🙌💗
Molly has just been promoted to the position of Head Maid of the Regency Grand Hotel. Her grandma would be so proud of her!
With a high-end gathering scheduled in their newly renovated tea room, the staff are giddy with excitement. But it all comes crashing down when famous author J.D. Grimthorpe collapses during his speech at the affair.
Now, once again, Molly must assist Detective Stark to solve a murder. Perhaps our un-believer detective will be a bit more open to Molly’s special skills this time around!
I just love Molly. Her pure unadulterated innocence is so refreshing in this day and age.
The storyline takes us back to a young Molly, growing up with her grandmother. And how she came to embrace her true calling…that of being a maid.
This is a delightful, lite mystery, sure to have you smiling throughout! This is book two of the series but can easily stand on its own. I do suggest starting at the beginning just for the simple joy of getting to better know Miss Molly!
So pour yourself a spot of tea in your best china cup ,☕️ little pinkie out, and sit back and enjoy this read!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Ballantine
Molly has just been promoted to the position of Head Maid of the Regency Grand Hotel. Her grandma would be so proud of her!
With a high-end gathering scheduled in their newly renovated tea room, the staff are giddy with excitement. But it all comes crashing down when famous author J.D. Grimthorpe collapses during his speech at the affair.
Now, once again, Molly must assist Detective Stark to solve a murder. Perhaps our un-believer detective will be a bit more open to Molly’s special skills this time around!
I just love Molly. Her pure unadulterated innocence is so refreshing in this day and age.
The storyline takes us back to a young Molly, growing up with her grandmother. And how she came to embrace her true calling…that of being a maid.
This is a delightful, lite mystery, sure to have you smiling throughout! This is book two of the series but can easily stand on its own. I do suggest starting at the beginning just for the simple joy of getting to better know Miss Molly!
So pour yourself a spot of tea in your best china cup ,☕️ little pinkie out, and sit back and enjoy this read!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Ballantine
December 3, 2023
Molly Gray, now Head Maid of the 5-star Regency Grand Hotel, definitely knows her way around cleaning, because once again she’s swept my heart away!
In The Mystery Guest, book # 2 of the Molly the Maid series by Nita Prose, Molly is back at it, leading her team of maids to restore rooms to a “state of perfection”. It’s a job that she takes very seriously and she’ll settle for nothing less than the best for guests in her care - a quality she learned from her beloved Gran, whose words of wisdom still guide Molly years after her death.
This time around the hotel is hosting an exclusive gathering for VIP guests of famous author and well-known curmudgeon, J.D. Grimthorpe. Among those in attendance are his personal secretary, Serena Sharpe, members of his fan club the LAMBS (Ladies Auxiliary Mystery Book Society), Molly and her new maid-in-training, meek and mild Lily, who is responsible for serving Mr. Grimthorpe his tea.
When Mr. Grimthorpe takes to the stage, he promises a major announcement to those watching with rapt attention. What could this news be? Unfortunately, it remains a mystery when their beloved author drops dead in front of them!
With a new suspicious death within the walls of the Regency Grand Hotel, Detective Stark (who should be called Detective Snark) is back to investigate when it’s discovered that Grimthorpe was murdered. When it comes out that Molly spent time in Grimthorpe’s mansion as a child when her Gran worked as a maid for him, Molly once again finds herself on Stark’s list of potential suspects. Luckily, she’s not afraid one bit. She’s too busy doing her own investigation!
Will Molly clean house of the criminal responsible for Mr. Grimthorpe’s murder? One thing is certain: she’ll approach this with the same order and precision that she uses in all aspects of her life. Just as she would leave no bed unmade and no object unpolished, she will leave no stone unturned in her pursuit of the truth!
I enjoyed the first book and found Molly such a likable and quirky character, but I liked this one even more! Chapters following the current investigation intermingle with chapters from Molly’s past with her Gran in Grimthorpe mansion. I loved the look into the past and seeing Molly’s special relationship with her Gran fleshed out more. I also loved seeing who Molly was as a child and how her experiences formed her. She overcame so much, and you can see why she’s so resilient! I’m curious for the new direction the ending suggests for Molly and the series.
I listened to this on audio, wonderfully narrated by Lauren Ambrose, while reading along on my Kindle. It’s a great book in either format, and bonus if you can do both! You can read this as a standalone, but I recommend reading The Maid first, so you can get to know Molly even better. It’s a fun mystery with great characters, old and new, and a satisfying ending. I highly recommend it!
★★★★ ½
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, NetGalley and author Nita Prose for this digital ARC to honestly review. It’s now available.
In The Mystery Guest, book # 2 of the Molly the Maid series by Nita Prose, Molly is back at it, leading her team of maids to restore rooms to a “state of perfection”. It’s a job that she takes very seriously and she’ll settle for nothing less than the best for guests in her care - a quality she learned from her beloved Gran, whose words of wisdom still guide Molly years after her death.
This time around the hotel is hosting an exclusive gathering for VIP guests of famous author and well-known curmudgeon, J.D. Grimthorpe. Among those in attendance are his personal secretary, Serena Sharpe, members of his fan club the LAMBS (Ladies Auxiliary Mystery Book Society), Molly and her new maid-in-training, meek and mild Lily, who is responsible for serving Mr. Grimthorpe his tea.
When Mr. Grimthorpe takes to the stage, he promises a major announcement to those watching with rapt attention. What could this news be? Unfortunately, it remains a mystery when their beloved author drops dead in front of them!
With a new suspicious death within the walls of the Regency Grand Hotel, Detective Stark (who should be called Detective Snark) is back to investigate when it’s discovered that Grimthorpe was murdered. When it comes out that Molly spent time in Grimthorpe’s mansion as a child when her Gran worked as a maid for him, Molly once again finds herself on Stark’s list of potential suspects. Luckily, she’s not afraid one bit. She’s too busy doing her own investigation!
Will Molly clean house of the criminal responsible for Mr. Grimthorpe’s murder? One thing is certain: she’ll approach this with the same order and precision that she uses in all aspects of her life. Just as she would leave no bed unmade and no object unpolished, she will leave no stone unturned in her pursuit of the truth!
I enjoyed the first book and found Molly such a likable and quirky character, but I liked this one even more! Chapters following the current investigation intermingle with chapters from Molly’s past with her Gran in Grimthorpe mansion. I loved the look into the past and seeing Molly’s special relationship with her Gran fleshed out more. I also loved seeing who Molly was as a child and how her experiences formed her. She overcame so much, and you can see why she’s so resilient! I’m curious for the new direction the ending suggests for Molly and the series.
I listened to this on audio, wonderfully narrated by Lauren Ambrose, while reading along on my Kindle. It’s a great book in either format, and bonus if you can do both! You can read this as a standalone, but I recommend reading The Maid first, so you can get to know Molly even better. It’s a fun mystery with great characters, old and new, and a satisfying ending. I highly recommend it!
★★★★ ½
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, NetGalley and author Nita Prose for this digital ARC to honestly review. It’s now available.
January 28, 2024
This was an anticipated read, since I loved the maid. Molly is an interesting character considering her trouble with reading social cues and somewhat rigid thinking, so I enjoyed meeting her again. At some point however I had a hard time with the mystery part. Molly solving the crime and being first a suspect before being encouraged to help them, made my head spin and not in a good way.
May 3, 2025
Reading Molly's POV made me want to lobotomize myself 🧍🏻
November 30, 2023
Amazing audiobook!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE Molly. 💖🧹🫖✨
I enjoyed the first novel and didn't think the author could pull this off but book 2 is even BETTER than the first.
If you love mysteries or cozy mysteries, you do not want to miss Molly the Maid series. FMC and secondary characters are endearing. Dialogues are smart and hilarious. The pacing is perfect.
In book 2, the death of a famous author is the center of mystery. Of course, you need a clever maid to help solve the murder. I love that there are more stories with her gran through flashbacks.
Highly recommend this delightful series, but now I'm sad I'll have to wait another year for the next.
I enjoyed the first novel and didn't think the author could pull this off but book 2 is even BETTER than the first.
If you love mysteries or cozy mysteries, you do not want to miss Molly the Maid series. FMC and secondary characters are endearing. Dialogues are smart and hilarious. The pacing is perfect.
In book 2, the death of a famous author is the center of mystery. Of course, you need a clever maid to help solve the murder. I love that there are more stories with her gran through flashbacks.
Highly recommend this delightful series, but now I'm sad I'll have to wait another year for the next.
October 3, 2023
Molly the Maid #2.
Yes, Molly is back and she is now Head Maid at the five-star boutique Regency Grand Hotel and has been for three and a half years, where to her shock and horror a VIP guest drops dead on the tearoom floor. As Molly‘s friend Angela puts it, the doodah has hit the fan, only she’s less polite! It’s the day when reclusive and irritable award-winning author of over 200 books, J D Grimthorpe, is to make an important announcement in the newly restored tearoom. What will his statement be? Well, will we ever know as it’s Grimthorpe that has hit the deck, stone cold dead before he can speak and panic ensues. Molly‘s nemesis, Detective Stark investigates, oh dear.
I love Molly as a character, she is extremely memorable with lovely, old-fashioned turns of phrase and acute observational skills detecting things others miss. As ever there’s the influence of her beloved Gran whose love of Molly is a joy to behold. I enjoy just about everything that makes her uniquely Molly. I like how the storyline flows back to Molly‘s past to when her Gran works for the Grimthorpe‘s. The less said about this husband and wife team the better, I’ll leave that “pleasure “ for future readers. We get to know Gran much better in this book and it shines a spotlight on Molly‘s early life which is very illuminating. A big grrrrr in the direction of Ms Cripps, her teacher, what a failure she is. Thank heavens Molly has wonderful Gran.
As with the first book, this is extremely well written with plenty of clever and witty elements to it. The dialogue is terrific with some making you laugh, others cross and some which breaks your heart. I love the fairytale element (we’re talking Grimm here, not Disney) which is very strong in Part One with one character represented in “to perfection“. There are lots of smart inclusions and illusions, especially when young Molly is in the Grimthorpe mansion, in particular, those that involve great expectations. It flows really well between the past and the present with knowledge gaps being filled seamlessly.
Whilst there are plenty of twists just as in book one they don’t wow me in quite the same way as that does, though one gets a big thumbs up and helps to explain much. I wonder too if we get to many of Gran’s pearls of wisdom?? I’m also somewhat underwhelmed with the big reveal and the unmasking of the perpetrator and I never entirely buy into this aspect of the story line. However, I do thoroughly enjoy the Christiesque notes which are bang on. If as I suspect there will be a third book with a new direction for Molly, I question whether I really want it??? I’d say quit while you are well and truly ahead but what do I know!!
Overall, it’s undoubtedly a really good book despite some of my reservations and it’s very easy to read and highly entertaining. It has all the elements you want in a cozy mystery and Molly is quite simply fabulous.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, Harper Fiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Yes, Molly is back and she is now Head Maid at the five-star boutique Regency Grand Hotel and has been for three and a half years, where to her shock and horror a VIP guest drops dead on the tearoom floor. As Molly‘s friend Angela puts it, the doodah has hit the fan, only she’s less polite! It’s the day when reclusive and irritable award-winning author of over 200 books, J D Grimthorpe, is to make an important announcement in the newly restored tearoom. What will his statement be? Well, will we ever know as it’s Grimthorpe that has hit the deck, stone cold dead before he can speak and panic ensues. Molly‘s nemesis, Detective Stark investigates, oh dear.
I love Molly as a character, she is extremely memorable with lovely, old-fashioned turns of phrase and acute observational skills detecting things others miss. As ever there’s the influence of her beloved Gran whose love of Molly is a joy to behold. I enjoy just about everything that makes her uniquely Molly. I like how the storyline flows back to Molly‘s past to when her Gran works for the Grimthorpe‘s. The less said about this husband and wife team the better, I’ll leave that “pleasure “ for future readers. We get to know Gran much better in this book and it shines a spotlight on Molly‘s early life which is very illuminating. A big grrrrr in the direction of Ms Cripps, her teacher, what a failure she is. Thank heavens Molly has wonderful Gran.
As with the first book, this is extremely well written with plenty of clever and witty elements to it. The dialogue is terrific with some making you laugh, others cross and some which breaks your heart. I love the fairytale element (we’re talking Grimm here, not Disney) which is very strong in Part One with one character represented in “to perfection“. There are lots of smart inclusions and illusions, especially when young Molly is in the Grimthorpe mansion, in particular, those that involve great expectations. It flows really well between the past and the present with knowledge gaps being filled seamlessly.
Whilst there are plenty of twists just as in book one they don’t wow me in quite the same way as that does, though one gets a big thumbs up and helps to explain much. I wonder too if we get to many of Gran’s pearls of wisdom?? I’m also somewhat underwhelmed with the big reveal and the unmasking of the perpetrator and I never entirely buy into this aspect of the story line. However, I do thoroughly enjoy the Christiesque notes which are bang on. If as I suspect there will be a third book with a new direction for Molly, I question whether I really want it??? I’d say quit while you are well and truly ahead but what do I know!!
Overall, it’s undoubtedly a really good book despite some of my reservations and it’s very easy to read and highly entertaining. It has all the elements you want in a cozy mystery and Molly is quite simply fabulous.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, Harper Fiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
December 12, 2023
3.5⭐️
It has been over three years since we met last Molly Gray, who is now Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel – a badge she wears with pride. But Molly has been having a difficult day (to put it mildly !). The hotel had been hosting a VIP event and everything needed to be for the VIP guest, award-winning mystery writer J. D. Grimthorpe and the fifty-odd invitees - a task Molly and her trainee Lily approached with much diligence. The reclusive author had chosen the venue to make a rare public appearance to make an important announcement. But when the author drops dead just as he begins the session, Molly finds herself once again in the middle of another murder investigation headed by none other than Detective Stark – someone whom Molly isn’t too happy to see again. Evidence indicates that the author did not die of natural causes, and the suspect list includes Grimethorpe’s associates and the hotel guests and staff. We follow Molly as she uses her unique methods of analyzing the situation in the hope of finding the culprit and protecting her friends and the reputation of the hotel.
Having enjoyed The Maid , I was eager to read The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose. The story is presented from Molly’s first-person PoV over dual timelines – the present day in the aftermath of Grimthorpe’s death and Molly’s memories from when she was ten years old. I love Molly and her unique worldview. I also enjoyed getting to know more about her childhood and her relationship with her late grandmother, who doted on her and whose words of wisdom have guided Molly through much adversity. However, I wasn’t quite taken with the mystery angle and thought that the narrative suffered from considerable repetitiveness. The final reveal and the identity of the killer and the motive behind the murder were a tad underwhelming after the interesting buildup with plenty of red herrings and secrets along the way. One aspect concerning Molly’s family history and the surprise revelation at the end felt contrived and unnecessary.
This is a light, cozy read with plenty of heart and humor and while I did not dislike it, I wasn’t as taken with it as I had hoped. Having said that, I won’t give up on the series just yet because Molly is an endearing protagonist and I look forward to meeting her again in the future.
I would recommend reading The Maid before The Mystery Guest for a better understanding of the main characters.
Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The Mystery Guest was published on November 28, 2023.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
It has been over three years since we met last Molly Gray, who is now Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel – a badge she wears with pride. But Molly has been having a difficult day (to put it mildly !). The hotel had been hosting a VIP event and everything needed to be for the VIP guest, award-winning mystery writer J. D. Grimthorpe and the fifty-odd invitees - a task Molly and her trainee Lily approached with much diligence. The reclusive author had chosen the venue to make a rare public appearance to make an important announcement. But when the author drops dead just as he begins the session, Molly finds herself once again in the middle of another murder investigation headed by none other than Detective Stark – someone whom Molly isn’t too happy to see again. Evidence indicates that the author did not die of natural causes, and the suspect list includes Grimethorpe’s associates and the hotel guests and staff. We follow Molly as she uses her unique methods of analyzing the situation in the hope of finding the culprit and protecting her friends and the reputation of the hotel.
Having enjoyed The Maid , I was eager to read The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose. The story is presented from Molly’s first-person PoV over dual timelines – the present day in the aftermath of Grimthorpe’s death and Molly’s memories from when she was ten years old. I love Molly and her unique worldview. I also enjoyed getting to know more about her childhood and her relationship with her late grandmother, who doted on her and whose words of wisdom have guided Molly through much adversity. However, I wasn’t quite taken with the mystery angle and thought that the narrative suffered from considerable repetitiveness. The final reveal and the identity of the killer and the motive behind the murder were a tad underwhelming after the interesting buildup with plenty of red herrings and secrets along the way. One aspect concerning Molly’s family history and the surprise revelation at the end felt contrived and unnecessary.
This is a light, cozy read with plenty of heart and humor and while I did not dislike it, I wasn’t as taken with it as I had hoped. Having said that, I won’t give up on the series just yet because Molly is an endearing protagonist and I look forward to meeting her again in the future.
I would recommend reading The Maid before The Mystery Guest for a better understanding of the main characters.
Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The Mystery Guest was published on November 28, 2023.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
January 9, 2024
Fantastic Audio 🩷 I'm def a Molly fan!
I listened to Molly the Maid #2 and enjoyed being back at the Regency Grand Hotel 🏨where another guest kicks the bucket! Oops, this may start affecting their rep! Can we get some PR going here! 😂
I loved the "bookish" themed plot that featured a best selling author, book references, a mansion with a library, a mystery fan club, devoted secretary and more!
Such an easy and entertaining listen without having to overthink anything. I was in the perfect mood for this cozy read. We are reminded of Gran's "Sun is shining, birds are chirping" attitude and the wonderful memories that Molly has of her. Plus, those Columbo episodes they watched together seem to be paying off! Will someone be caught red-handed?
Highly recommend if you enjoyed book one (we get to know the characters better and the cleaning rhymes are back)! 🧹🧼🫧
Already looking forward to the next installment and whats ahead for Molly and the crew! Might Molly take us on a new path?!
Thanks Libby for the audio! Published on Nov 28,2023
I listened to Molly the Maid #2 and enjoyed being back at the Regency Grand Hotel 🏨where another guest kicks the bucket! Oops, this may start affecting their rep! Can we get some PR going here! 😂
I loved the "bookish" themed plot that featured a best selling author, book references, a mansion with a library, a mystery fan club, devoted secretary and more!
Such an easy and entertaining listen without having to overthink anything. I was in the perfect mood for this cozy read. We are reminded of Gran's "Sun is shining, birds are chirping" attitude and the wonderful memories that Molly has of her. Plus, those Columbo episodes they watched together seem to be paying off! Will someone be caught red-handed?
Highly recommend if you enjoyed book one (we get to know the characters better and the cleaning rhymes are back)! 🧹🧼🫧
Already looking forward to the next installment and whats ahead for Molly and the crew! Might Molly take us on a new path?!
Thanks Libby for the audio! Published on Nov 28,2023
November 29, 2023
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
Good golly, Miss Molly!
The Mystery Guest is the second installment in the cozy mystery series about Molly the maid. Molly is is such an endearing character and really shines in book two!
It has been four years since hotel guest Mr. Black died on Molly’s watch. Since then, she has been promoted to Head Maid of the Regency Grand Hotel, leading her own team of maids to clean everything back to a state of perfection.
It is a big day, as bestselling mystery author J. D. Grimthorpe is set to make a very important announcement in the hotel’s Grand Tearoom. Unfortunately, his speech is cut short when he drops dead before he can share the news.
Another murder in the Regency Grand Hotel?! Detective Stark is back on the case and once again suspects Molly of wrongdoing. However, Molly is determined to solve this case herself, as she knows more about the victim than she admits.
Another trip to Olive Garden and another murder! In The Mystery Guest, Molly matures into a competent, responsible, and respectable woman. I really enjoyed watching her growth and newfound leadership. Once again, Molly proves that the she is the smartest person in the room. Prose very cleverly weaves Molly’s past into the the narrative and captivates the reader with her background. While the mystery is somewhat predictable, the heartwarming conclusion will give you happy chills. I hope there will be a Book Three and we will get to see more from Molly!
4.5/5 stars rounded up
Expected publication date: 11/28/23
Thank you to NetGalley, Edelweiss, and Ballantine Books for the ARC of The Mystery Guest in exchange for an honest review.
Good golly, Miss Molly!
The Mystery Guest is the second installment in the cozy mystery series about Molly the maid. Molly is is such an endearing character and really shines in book two!
It has been four years since hotel guest Mr. Black died on Molly’s watch. Since then, she has been promoted to Head Maid of the Regency Grand Hotel, leading her own team of maids to clean everything back to a state of perfection.
It is a big day, as bestselling mystery author J. D. Grimthorpe is set to make a very important announcement in the hotel’s Grand Tearoom. Unfortunately, his speech is cut short when he drops dead before he can share the news.
Another murder in the Regency Grand Hotel?! Detective Stark is back on the case and once again suspects Molly of wrongdoing. However, Molly is determined to solve this case herself, as she knows more about the victim than she admits.
Another trip to Olive Garden and another murder! In The Mystery Guest, Molly matures into a competent, responsible, and respectable woman. I really enjoyed watching her growth and newfound leadership. Once again, Molly proves that the she is the smartest person in the room. Prose very cleverly weaves Molly’s past into the the narrative and captivates the reader with her background. While the mystery is somewhat predictable, the heartwarming conclusion will give you happy chills. I hope there will be a Book Three and we will get to see more from Molly!
4.5/5 stars rounded up
Expected publication date: 11/28/23
Thank you to NetGalley, Edelweiss, and Ballantine Books for the ARC of The Mystery Guest in exchange for an honest review.
October 12, 2023
I needed another dose of Molly the Maid! Molly is back again, now head maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. And she’s diligently training Lily. When acclaimed author J. D. Grimthorpe picks the Regency for a big announcement, everyone is thrilled. But then he drops dead just as he begins his talk. And the investigation will prove it wasn’t just a health issue. There are plenty of suspects, including some of Molly’s friends. Prose throws in enough red herrings to keep the plot moving at a steady pace.
While Gran is no longer alive, Molly evokes her wisdom on a regular basis. “To err once is human, to err twice is idiotic.” Molly and witticisms like these kept a smile on my face throughout the book.
The book goes back and forth in time between now and Molly’s childhood when her Gran worked for Grimthorpe. The dual storylines work very well together. It gives additional insights into Molly’s youth and her Gran’s personality.
This should definitely not be read out of order. Make sure to read The Maid first so you can appreciate Molly’s growing confidence.
And my favorite quote in the book:
“What do you call it when there’s truth in a story but it’s not a fact?”, I ask.
His face morphs. All the hard lines soften. All the pain dissolves. For the first time ever, he looks giddy and happy and light.
“A novel,” he replies. “You call it a novel.”
There’s plenty of truth in this story. And the ending was perfect. I can only hope there’s a third book to the series.
My thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for an advance copy of this book.
While Gran is no longer alive, Molly evokes her wisdom on a regular basis. “To err once is human, to err twice is idiotic.” Molly and witticisms like these kept a smile on my face throughout the book.
The book goes back and forth in time between now and Molly’s childhood when her Gran worked for Grimthorpe. The dual storylines work very well together. It gives additional insights into Molly’s youth and her Gran’s personality.
This should definitely not be read out of order. Make sure to read The Maid first so you can appreciate Molly’s growing confidence.
And my favorite quote in the book:
“What do you call it when there’s truth in a story but it’s not a fact?”, I ask.
His face morphs. All the hard lines soften. All the pain dissolves. For the first time ever, he looks giddy and happy and light.
“A novel,” he replies. “You call it a novel.”
There’s plenty of truth in this story. And the ending was perfect. I can only hope there’s a third book to the series.
My thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for an advance copy of this book.
September 13, 2023
The coziest of murder mysteries set in a posh New York City hotel wrapped in an 'Amelia Bedelia-like' guile and charm. This book is so good I ignored people for three days!! I finished The Mystery Guest a few days ago, and I've been trying ever since to write this review.. I felt stagnated in the BEST way. How could anything else be this satisfying ya know??
I'm taken aback by how WONDERFUL this book is. Somewhere between reminding me of my favorite books from childhood (the Amelia Bedlia books) and the murder mysteries I love now is Nita Prose's latest, The Mystery Guest.
THOUGHTS:
- Alternating points of view and in-depth character studies had me completely immersed in this read. Small things you might miss, characters who seem innocuous at first, motivations too complex for one timeline.. All of it was fantastic. I don't say very often that I want to hug a book to my chest - but hug my iPad I did when I was done reading this.
- Pacing and reveal of crucial plot details was immaculate. Just when I was trying to understand what was happening at a particular turn, some kernel would drop into place and flick on that mental light switch. If you have a long commute - this would be the book I'd recommend, and already have to many of my fellow workmates.
NOTES:
- Would be an epic audiobook because the characters are easily identifiable
- Non-Romance (Truly) - Talks about other long-ago romances, but there aren't any romantic elements on page between main characters
**Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
Find Me On Instagram 🦋 || More Bookish Thoughts & Reviews Here 🖤
I'm taken aback by how WONDERFUL this book is. Somewhere between reminding me of my favorite books from childhood (the Amelia Bedlia books) and the murder mysteries I love now is Nita Prose's latest, The Mystery Guest.
THOUGHTS:
- Alternating points of view and in-depth character studies had me completely immersed in this read. Small things you might miss, characters who seem innocuous at first, motivations too complex for one timeline.. All of it was fantastic. I don't say very often that I want to hug a book to my chest - but hug my iPad I did when I was done reading this.
- Pacing and reveal of crucial plot details was immaculate. Just when I was trying to understand what was happening at a particular turn, some kernel would drop into place and flick on that mental light switch. If you have a long commute - this would be the book I'd recommend, and already have to many of my fellow workmates.
NOTES:
- Would be an epic audiobook because the characters are easily identifiable
- Non-Romance (Truly) - Talks about other long-ago romances, but there aren't any romantic elements on page between main characters
**Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
Find Me On Instagram 🦋 || More Bookish Thoughts & Reviews Here 🖤
May 11, 2025
In a Nutshell: Molly the Maid is back in this second novel of the series. The mystery isn’t as tricky as in the first book, but the proceedings are still enticing. You will enjoy this more if you read it as a character-oriented drama than as a murder mystery. Though this book can work as a standalone, this series is best read in order.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
I had read the first book of this series, ‘The Maid’, and was blown away by this wonderful character named Molly. The second book continues her character arc well. But will this book work well for you? I’d say it's all about having the right expectations, about knowing what you want from this story. I didn't want a murder mystery when I picked this novel up. I just wanted to meet Molly again and know her more intimately. In this sense, this book is an easy winner.
Bookish Yays:
🍽️ Molly. Still as literal as ever. Still as biased towards the ones she loves. Still as clueless about social mores. Still a fascinating and well-sketched character!
🍽️ It is good to see several beloved characters from the first book return in this sequel. There is a strong continuity in their character arcs, though the plot is almost standalone.
🍽️ Though Molly’s Gran is long dead, her epigrams are still a part of Molly’s thoughts. These evergreen instructions and principles offer a good code of conduct to live by, both to Molly and to us readers.
🍽️ One thing I distinctly remember liking about the first book is that the author hadn’t assigned any tag to Molly’s flawed social meter. (I also remember many reviewers taking it upon themselves to label Molly variously as neurodivergent, autistic, having ADHD, “on the spectrum”… as if you can be socially awkward only if you have a malfunctioning brain or a developmental disorder! 🙄) I appreciate the author’s not succumbing to the pressure and forcibly assigning a tag to Molly’s behaviour. Molly is still her charming-old (LOL!) socially-inept self and still without any label, thereby enabling us to see her as a person and not as a medical condition.
🍽️ The writing is quite fast-paced. It is easy to complete this almost-300-page book within a few hours.
🍽️ The title is quite clever, fitting the book in multiple ways.
🍽️ Thanks to Molly’s old-fashioned morals and learning, the book contains fabulous vocabulary. I love reading novels where even the individual words heighten the overall experience.
🍽️ Plenty of dark humour, partly thanks to Molly and partly because of the LAMBs. (Read the book to know more about this caprine reference. I shall not bleat out any spoilers!)
🍽️ The two timelines – Molly’s childhood years and the present murder mystery – are both interesting and hold their own. At the same time, the first has a bearing on the other. It is a rare case when both timelines are needed by the core plot and are equally well-used.
🍽️ Having read the first book, I knew what to expect from this “mystery.” The book isn't about the crime itself but about Molly's view of the crime and the aftermath, so I wasn’t looking for a traditional murder mystery or a police procedural. That said, there IS a mystery in the book, and while it is not unguessable, it is fairly satisfying. Best of all, no infodump ending despite its being akin to a cozy mystery. (Those who pick the book wanting a traditional murder mystery might not enjoy it as much.)
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🛎️ The writing is a bit repetitive, especially in the first half. I am not sure if this is because of Molly's personality trait (she tends to obsess over an issue until she’s sorted it all out in her head) or an editorial issue. Given that the author is an editorial director at S&S Canada, it’s probably the former. But one part where the repetition got to me was in the behaviour of Lily, the new maid-in-training. All her communication barriers got on my nerves after a point.
🛎️ I wanted more of Juan Manuel in the story, and to see the growth of his relationship with his-opposite-in-every-way Molly. As three years have passed since the events of the first book, they are already in a settled place romantically, and we do see glimpses of their strong bond, but it isn’t enough. Perhaps in the next book?
Bookish Nays:
🔪 The surprise reveal at the end was not needed at all. It felt forced.
🔪 Teensy complaint, but this annoyed me a bit as it was mentioned so often! Every maid, including Molly, seems to be pinning their identity tag “above the heart”. The heart is at the centre of the rib cage! Uniform name tags are pinned either to the left or the right, not in between! It’s quite possible that Molly didn’t know the correct location of the heart, but given her prodigious observation skills and her love for reading, the chances of this are low.
All in all, no major issues. I knew what I wanted from the book, and it delivered on almost all those factors. Other than the repetition and the final twist, I had no major problem with the novel. The “mystery” isn’t as twisty as in the first book, but is still engrossing.
The events of the two books are in a linear timeline, and Molly’s personality is established clearly in the first novel. Thus, better to read the books in order so that you know Molly and her nature well.
The ending hints that there might be a change in venue for the next book. I do love the hotel setting, but if Molly’s story “checks out” of the Regency Grand, I look forward to the new location and book.
Definitely recommended, not necessarily as a murder mystery but as a character-oriented drama with cozy-mystery elements.
4.25 stars.
My thanks to HarperCollins UK and Harper Fiction for providing the DRC of “The Mystery Guest” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Four years after the events of Book One, Molly is still working at the Regency Grand boutique hotel in New York, now as the Head Maid. She is still focussed on maintaining things to a state of perfection. Her personal life is also going well with her beau Juan Manuel.
Just as the Regency Grand is set to host a high-profile event that will hopefully help it brush away the shadows of the old murder case, there is yet another death in the hotel. J.D. Grimthorpe, the world-renowned mystery author, drops dead on the tearoom floor just before making his big announcement. It soon becomes clear that his death was not from natural causes. Molly’s old nemesis Detective Stark is a part of the investigation, and yet again, her eye of suspicion falls on Molly and her new assistant, a timid maid-in-training named Lily. Is Molly innocent, especially considering what we know of her from the first novel?
The story comes to us in Molly’s first-person perspective.
I had read the first book of this series, ‘The Maid’, and was blown away by this wonderful character named Molly. The second book continues her character arc well. But will this book work well for you? I’d say it's all about having the right expectations, about knowing what you want from this story. I didn't want a murder mystery when I picked this novel up. I just wanted to meet Molly again and know her more intimately. In this sense, this book is an easy winner.
Bookish Yays:
🍽️ Molly. Still as literal as ever. Still as biased towards the ones she loves. Still as clueless about social mores. Still a fascinating and well-sketched character!
🍽️ It is good to see several beloved characters from the first book return in this sequel. There is a strong continuity in their character arcs, though the plot is almost standalone.
🍽️ Though Molly’s Gran is long dead, her epigrams are still a part of Molly’s thoughts. These evergreen instructions and principles offer a good code of conduct to live by, both to Molly and to us readers.
🍽️ One thing I distinctly remember liking about the first book is that the author hadn’t assigned any tag to Molly’s flawed social meter. (I also remember many reviewers taking it upon themselves to label Molly variously as neurodivergent, autistic, having ADHD, “on the spectrum”… as if you can be socially awkward only if you have a malfunctioning brain or a developmental disorder! 🙄) I appreciate the author’s not succumbing to the pressure and forcibly assigning a tag to Molly’s behaviour. Molly is still her charming-old (LOL!) socially-inept self and still without any label, thereby enabling us to see her as a person and not as a medical condition.
🍽️ The writing is quite fast-paced. It is easy to complete this almost-300-page book within a few hours.
🍽️ The title is quite clever, fitting the book in multiple ways.
🍽️ Thanks to Molly’s old-fashioned morals and learning, the book contains fabulous vocabulary. I love reading novels where even the individual words heighten the overall experience.
🍽️ Plenty of dark humour, partly thanks to Molly and partly because of the LAMBs. (Read the book to know more about this caprine reference. I shall not bleat out any spoilers!)
🍽️ The two timelines – Molly’s childhood years and the present murder mystery – are both interesting and hold their own. At the same time, the first has a bearing on the other. It is a rare case when both timelines are needed by the core plot and are equally well-used.
🍽️ Having read the first book, I knew what to expect from this “mystery.” The book isn't about the crime itself but about Molly's view of the crime and the aftermath, so I wasn’t looking for a traditional murder mystery or a police procedural. That said, there IS a mystery in the book, and while it is not unguessable, it is fairly satisfying. Best of all, no infodump ending despite its being akin to a cozy mystery. (Those who pick the book wanting a traditional murder mystery might not enjoy it as much.)
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🛎️ The writing is a bit repetitive, especially in the first half. I am not sure if this is because of Molly's personality trait (she tends to obsess over an issue until she’s sorted it all out in her head) or an editorial issue. Given that the author is an editorial director at S&S Canada, it’s probably the former. But one part where the repetition got to me was in the behaviour of Lily, the new maid-in-training. All her communication barriers got on my nerves after a point.
🛎️ I wanted more of Juan Manuel in the story, and to see the growth of his relationship with his-opposite-in-every-way Molly. As three years have passed since the events of the first book, they are already in a settled place romantically, and we do see glimpses of their strong bond, but it isn’t enough. Perhaps in the next book?
Bookish Nays:
🔪 The surprise reveal at the end was not needed at all. It felt forced.
🔪 Teensy complaint, but this annoyed me a bit as it was mentioned so often! Every maid, including Molly, seems to be pinning their identity tag “above the heart”. The heart is at the centre of the rib cage! Uniform name tags are pinned either to the left or the right, not in between! It’s quite possible that Molly didn’t know the correct location of the heart, but given her prodigious observation skills and her love for reading, the chances of this are low.
All in all, no major issues. I knew what I wanted from the book, and it delivered on almost all those factors. Other than the repetition and the final twist, I had no major problem with the novel. The “mystery” isn’t as twisty as in the first book, but is still engrossing.
The events of the two books are in a linear timeline, and Molly’s personality is established clearly in the first novel. Thus, better to read the books in order so that you know Molly and her nature well.
The ending hints that there might be a change in venue for the next book. I do love the hotel setting, but if Molly’s story “checks out” of the Regency Grand, I look forward to the new location and book.
Definitely recommended, not necessarily as a murder mystery but as a character-oriented drama with cozy-mystery elements.
4.25 stars.
My thanks to HarperCollins UK and Harper Fiction for providing the DRC of “The Mystery Guest” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
October 16, 2023
Sleuthing with Heart: 'The Mystery Guest' Delivers Cozy Mystery Magic.
Book Information
“The Mystery Guest” by Nita Prose is a 304-page cozyish mystery novel with an expected publication date of November 28, 2023. Thank you to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book for review.
Summary
Molly Gray stands out from the crowd with her exceptional cleaning skills and impeccable manners, earning her the prestigious position of Head Maid at the luxurious Regency Grand Hotel. However, her perfect world takes a shocking twist when the renowned mystery author, J.D. Grimthorpe, drops dead in the hotel's tea room, and Detective Stark, her old adversary, launches a murder investigation. As suspicions cast a wide net, questions arise about who could have killed Grimthorpe. Could it be the new Maid-in-Training, Lily, or the author's secretary, Serena? Even the beloved doorman, Mr. Preston, is under scrutiny. Amidst the turmoil, Molly realizes she may hold the key to solving the mystery in her past connection to Grimthorpe.
My Thoughts
Nita Prose's "The Mystery Guest" proves to be a delightful sequel to her debut novel, "The Maid." I initially had doubts about whether a follow-up could capture the charm of the original, but this book managed to exceed my expectations. If 'The Maid' was the appetizer, 'The Mystery Guest' is the delicious main course that leaves readers hungry for more. It's a fun and fast-paced read that is both clever and witty, offering a feel-good mystery with a cozy touch.
One of the highlights of this book is the return of many beloved characters from the first installment. It's a welcome reunion that adds depth to the story. Since the first book, the protagonist, Molly, has shown remarkable growth and potential for more, making her an even more engaging character.
The story is built around two interconnecting timelines, which adds intrigue and keeps readers engaged. Exploring Molly's background and childhood, as well as her interactions with her Gran, offers valuable insights into her as a person. Introducing young Molly was a clever move by the author to further enrich her character.
As someone who has dedicated over two decades to working on behalf of people with disabilities and is the father of children with autism, I appreciate when books portray characters with disabilities in a positive light. Nita Prose's portrayal of a neurodivergent person and the challenges (and advantages) faced by such individuals and their families is sensitive and well-executed, avoiding stereotypical clichés. Her ability to capture moments in the life of a person with a disability is commendable.
Prose's writing is top-notch, and she excels in bringing out Molly's uniqueness. The unlikely pairing that develops late in the book is a highlight for me, showcasing Prose's skill in managing character growth and changes in attitude.
Lastly, the heartwarming conclusion is so moving that you might find yourself reaching for "a tissue for your issue."
This is a charming and clever page-turner that will steal your heart.
Recommendation
"The Mystery Guest" is a well-crafted and thoroughly enjoyable mystery that not only maintains the charm of its predecessor but also adds depth and heart to the series. If you enjoyed the original, you will enjoy this one too. A must-read for mystery lovers and those seeking a feel-good tale of hope and intrigue. Highly recommended.
Rating
4 Restored to a State of Perfection Stars
Book Information
“The Mystery Guest” by Nita Prose is a 304-page cozyish mystery novel with an expected publication date of November 28, 2023. Thank you to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book for review.
Summary
Molly Gray stands out from the crowd with her exceptional cleaning skills and impeccable manners, earning her the prestigious position of Head Maid at the luxurious Regency Grand Hotel. However, her perfect world takes a shocking twist when the renowned mystery author, J.D. Grimthorpe, drops dead in the hotel's tea room, and Detective Stark, her old adversary, launches a murder investigation. As suspicions cast a wide net, questions arise about who could have killed Grimthorpe. Could it be the new Maid-in-Training, Lily, or the author's secretary, Serena? Even the beloved doorman, Mr. Preston, is under scrutiny. Amidst the turmoil, Molly realizes she may hold the key to solving the mystery in her past connection to Grimthorpe.
My Thoughts
Nita Prose's "The Mystery Guest" proves to be a delightful sequel to her debut novel, "The Maid." I initially had doubts about whether a follow-up could capture the charm of the original, but this book managed to exceed my expectations. If 'The Maid' was the appetizer, 'The Mystery Guest' is the delicious main course that leaves readers hungry for more. It's a fun and fast-paced read that is both clever and witty, offering a feel-good mystery with a cozy touch.
One of the highlights of this book is the return of many beloved characters from the first installment. It's a welcome reunion that adds depth to the story. Since the first book, the protagonist, Molly, has shown remarkable growth and potential for more, making her an even more engaging character.
The story is built around two interconnecting timelines, which adds intrigue and keeps readers engaged. Exploring Molly's background and childhood, as well as her interactions with her Gran, offers valuable insights into her as a person. Introducing young Molly was a clever move by the author to further enrich her character.
As someone who has dedicated over two decades to working on behalf of people with disabilities and is the father of children with autism, I appreciate when books portray characters with disabilities in a positive light. Nita Prose's portrayal of a neurodivergent person and the challenges (and advantages) faced by such individuals and their families is sensitive and well-executed, avoiding stereotypical clichés. Her ability to capture moments in the life of a person with a disability is commendable.
Prose's writing is top-notch, and she excels in bringing out Molly's uniqueness. The unlikely pairing that develops late in the book is a highlight for me, showcasing Prose's skill in managing character growth and changes in attitude.
Lastly, the heartwarming conclusion is so moving that you might find yourself reaching for "a tissue for your issue."
This is a charming and clever page-turner that will steal your heart.
Recommendation
"The Mystery Guest" is a well-crafted and thoroughly enjoyable mystery that not only maintains the charm of its predecessor but also adds depth and heart to the series. If you enjoyed the original, you will enjoy this one too. A must-read for mystery lovers and those seeking a feel-good tale of hope and intrigue. Highly recommended.
Rating
4 Restored to a State of Perfection Stars
February 14, 2024
3.5🌟
Well I am in a quandary of how to write this review did I love it … no did I like it… I am still wondering to myself, Molly is more confident in this second book & yes she is more skilled at working out the clues to a brilliant literary authors murder Mr JD Grimthorps demise on the outside everybody loved him but he had an alter ego nobody knew about not even his wife!!
There were so many suspects the list was a mile long, it was a quick read that I got through but there were annoying repetitious dialogue with Molly & her gran then if I hear the Columbo reference one more time I will vomit 🤮 so to wrap up it was enjoyable due to the quick ness of the trope but how long this series will go I have no clue reccomended if you like repetiveness you won’t be disappointed just was a bit of a letdown I am an outlier again but it’s just my POV.
Well I am in a quandary of how to write this review did I love it … no did I like it… I am still wondering to myself, Molly is more confident in this second book & yes she is more skilled at working out the clues to a brilliant literary authors murder Mr JD Grimthorps demise on the outside everybody loved him but he had an alter ego nobody knew about not even his wife!!
There were so many suspects the list was a mile long, it was a quick read that I got through but there were annoying repetitious dialogue with Molly & her gran then if I hear the Columbo reference one more time I will vomit 🤮 so to wrap up it was enjoyable due to the quick ness of the trope but how long this series will go I have no clue reccomended if you like repetiveness you won’t be disappointed just was a bit of a letdown I am an outlier again but it’s just my POV.
November 4, 2023
I went into this with the same belief as I did the first one - that sure, whatever, it’ll be a light hearted okay time. I’d give it a 3 star and call it a day. Never to think of it again…NO! Nita Prose got me AGAIN. The audacity I have to have underestimated her twice in a row.
This is a cozy mystery which is far from my favorite genre. So, a 4 star for me might very well be a glowing 5 star for you.
I just adore Molly. And Mr. Preston! Five star man. A gentleman and a scholar. I also ended up really liking Detective Stark, which is a shock to me, lemme tell ya.
Hate Cheryl as per usual but really enjoyed the addition of our Maid in Training, Lily. I like that there’s someone Molly can relate a bit closer to and understand better than others can. Love that for her.
As with the first book, this gets sad out of nowhere and you’re too warm and cozy with the characters to realize how deep you’re in until you’re eyes get misty and you’re like “wait a second, aren’t we solving a crime? I didn’t know I signed up for emotional damage.”
Great read. Super fast read as well. I’ll definitely pick up the next book, if we’re blessed with one.
This is a cozy mystery which is far from my favorite genre. So, a 4 star for me might very well be a glowing 5 star for you.
I just adore Molly. And Mr. Preston! Five star man. A gentleman and a scholar. I also ended up really liking Detective Stark, which is a shock to me, lemme tell ya.
Hate Cheryl as per usual but really enjoyed the addition of our Maid in Training, Lily. I like that there’s someone Molly can relate a bit closer to and understand better than others can. Love that for her.
As with the first book, this gets sad out of nowhere and you’re too warm and cozy with the characters to realize how deep you’re in until you’re eyes get misty and you’re like “wait a second, aren’t we solving a crime? I didn’t know I signed up for emotional damage.”
Great read. Super fast read as well. I’ll definitely pick up the next book, if we’re blessed with one.
October 19, 2023
4+ stars
It was so lovely to spend time with Molly the Maid again!
There is another death at the Regency Grand Hotel.. a renowned author of mystery books is giving a speech in the tearoom of the hotel, takes a couple sips of his tea off the teacart and collapses.. DEAD
There are many suspects including Molly.. again in this book) and other staff and members.
This is a mystery so …🤐
This was a delight…
I love this series and hope there is more to come!
Thank you to Cheri.. her review made me aware of this second book.. I had no idea!
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing
Group for the ARC!
It was so lovely to spend time with Molly the Maid again!
There is another death at the Regency Grand Hotel.. a renowned author of mystery books is giving a speech in the tearoom of the hotel, takes a couple sips of his tea off the teacart and collapses.. DEAD
There are many suspects including Molly.. again in this book) and other staff and members.
This is a mystery so …🤐
This was a delight…
I love this series and hope there is more to come!
Thank you to Cheri.. her review made me aware of this second book.. I had no idea!
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing
Group for the ARC!
December 26, 2024
4+ stars!
Loved this even more than Book 1!
I read Book 1 a few years ago and I loved getting back into Molly’s world. She is a truly unique and endearing character. It is so easy to care for her. She is extremely vulnerable, yet determined. I was invested in her as soon as I reacquainted myself with her on these pages. Molly’s deceased Gran was the biggest influence in her life and, as with Book 1, Molly is often lead by Gran’s wisdoms that have solidified a place in Molly’s head and heart.
This book involves flashbacks to Molly’s childhood with Gran and I thought this was an excellent narrative choice. I enjoyed going back in time to the perspective of nine-year-old Molly, who accompanies her Gran on her job as a maid. These flashbacks provide a spotlight on the most character building years in Molly’s life.
As with Book 1, there is a murder mystery that needs to be solved and Molly finds herself wrapped up in the investigation. While there are charming and cute aspects to this plot (which are often deal breakers for me), the quirkiness and genuineness of Molly had me glued to the pages. She truly is an unforgettable character that I love spending time with!
Halfway through reading this book, I had the pleasure of attending an author event with Nita Prose. This experience was perfectly timed and greatly enhanced my overall reading experience and personal connection to this book. At the event, the author read a blurb from her latest release in this series, and once I heard her voice, it was the voice that I continued hearing as I finished reading this book. The author was an excellent speaker! She gave insight into her writing process, career path, and so much more.
Overall, this was a fantastic follow up in the series and I can’t wait to read The Mistletoe Mystery! Highly recommend!
Thank you to my lovely local library for the physical loan!
Loved this even more than Book 1!
I read Book 1 a few years ago and I loved getting back into Molly’s world. She is a truly unique and endearing character. It is so easy to care for her. She is extremely vulnerable, yet determined. I was invested in her as soon as I reacquainted myself with her on these pages. Molly’s deceased Gran was the biggest influence in her life and, as with Book 1, Molly is often lead by Gran’s wisdoms that have solidified a place in Molly’s head and heart.
This book involves flashbacks to Molly’s childhood with Gran and I thought this was an excellent narrative choice. I enjoyed going back in time to the perspective of nine-year-old Molly, who accompanies her Gran on her job as a maid. These flashbacks provide a spotlight on the most character building years in Molly’s life.
As with Book 1, there is a murder mystery that needs to be solved and Molly finds herself wrapped up in the investigation. While there are charming and cute aspects to this plot (which are often deal breakers for me), the quirkiness and genuineness of Molly had me glued to the pages. She truly is an unforgettable character that I love spending time with!
Halfway through reading this book, I had the pleasure of attending an author event with Nita Prose. This experience was perfectly timed and greatly enhanced my overall reading experience and personal connection to this book. At the event, the author read a blurb from her latest release in this series, and once I heard her voice, it was the voice that I continued hearing as I finished reading this book. The author was an excellent speaker! She gave insight into her writing process, career path, and so much more.
Overall, this was a fantastic follow up in the series and I can’t wait to read The Mistletoe Mystery! Highly recommend!
Thank you to my lovely local library for the physical loan!
January 6, 2024
"Stories are a way to walk a mile in someone else's shoes." Nita Prose
I had great expectations. They were just too high. At least initially. I loved the stories about Molly's childhood but was disappointed by the contemporary murder mystery. It's not that it was unpleasant or boring. In the beginning, it just wasn't as enthralling as I expected. However, when the past met the present in the future, it was all worth the wait. Everything worked out in the end.
I had great expectations. They were just too high. At least initially. I loved the stories about Molly's childhood but was disappointed by the contemporary murder mystery. It's not that it was unpleasant or boring. In the beginning, it just wasn't as enthralling as I expected. However, when the past met the present in the future, it was all worth the wait. Everything worked out in the end.
December 8, 2023
We really are in the SHEIN era of books huh
February 5, 2024
Sophomore blues I guess. This dragged and was not good. And honestly I got sick of Molly as an adult and child. The plot (such as it was) was not complex and very very tedious after a while. Sadly the secondary characters don’t shine as well as they did in book #1.
Full Review:
"The Mystery Guest" follows Head Maid Molly who is preparing to host a very famous author at the Regency Grand Hotel. Molly knows the author and what she knows is not good, but she will still do her job. But when the man ends up dead and the suspects are people at the hotel and that includes a new maid that Molly has taken under her wing, she starts to (badly) investigate.
Well this was for me, a disappointment. I thought book #1 snapped very well and we had some very dark twists/reveals about things and Molly. And this one has made Molly somehow even more obtuse. I think not having her love interest around to just "interpret" for her is what made this book drag more sadly. All of the secondary characters read like very very bad caricatures.
I honestly think Prose flashbacking to Molly as a child is what did me in. It was tedious and it dragged the flow of the book way down. And I just got bored with it. I think if Prose had done a darker reveal with that as she did with book #1 and not devoted whole chapters to it, it would have worked better.
The hotel felt like a character in the last book and sadly this one it's absent. We spend too much time at a mansion (no spoilers) that invited nothing interesting.
The ending lacked a punch. We get another reveal that made zero sense and I decided I didn't care enough to untangle.
Full Review:
"The Mystery Guest" follows Head Maid Molly who is preparing to host a very famous author at the Regency Grand Hotel. Molly knows the author and what she knows is not good, but she will still do her job. But when the man ends up dead and the suspects are people at the hotel and that includes a new maid that Molly has taken under her wing, she starts to (badly) investigate.
Well this was for me, a disappointment. I thought book #1 snapped very well and we had some very dark twists/reveals about things and Molly. And this one has made Molly somehow even more obtuse. I think not having her love interest around to just "interpret" for her is what made this book drag more sadly. All of the secondary characters read like very very bad caricatures.
I honestly think Prose flashbacking to Molly as a child is what did me in. It was tedious and it dragged the flow of the book way down. And I just got bored with it. I think if Prose had done a darker reveal with that as she did with book #1 and not devoted whole chapters to it, it would have worked better.
The hotel felt like a character in the last book and sadly this one it's absent. We spend too much time at a mansion (no spoilers) that invited nothing interesting.
The ending lacked a punch. We get another reveal that made zero sense and I decided I didn't care enough to untangle.
October 31, 2023
This is the follow up to The Maid and in it we find that Molly has moved up in the world and is now Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. She seems a little more 'normal' in this story and has in fact lost a little of the charm of her previously quirky character.
However when there is another murder at the hotel Molly is better prepared than before, and I really enjoyed the scenes where she shows Detective Stark how smart she can be. It is pointed out to her that if she ever wishes for a career other than a maid then police work would be perfect for her.
All in all this was an enjoyable and comfortable read, tending towards being a cosy, but certainly worth reading.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
However when there is another murder at the hotel Molly is better prepared than before, and I really enjoyed the scenes where she shows Detective Stark how smart she can be. It is pointed out to her that if she ever wishes for a career other than a maid then police work would be perfect for her.
All in all this was an enjoyable and comfortable read, tending towards being a cosy, but certainly worth reading.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
November 9, 2023
The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose
Mystery | Cozy Mystery
•Molly is the Head Maid at Regency Grand Hotel. When J.D. Grimthorpe, a mystery author dies on the hotel tea room floor, Molly joins Detective Stark to investigate the unexpected murder. It seems as though everyone has something to hide.
•As if this book could be as good as the first! I definitely read this a lot quicker than I read the first one. This was highly addictive. The end of every chapter left on a cliff hanger and I was invested in Molly's childhood story that it was so easy to continue reading just one more chapter. I think Nita Prose has done a fantastic job with this second book and I didn't she would be able to pull it off but she did.
Feels: save, easy and fast paced mystery
★★★★ 4/5
(Thank you NetGalley for this ARC)
Mystery | Cozy Mystery
•Molly is the Head Maid at Regency Grand Hotel. When J.D. Grimthorpe, a mystery author dies on the hotel tea room floor, Molly joins Detective Stark to investigate the unexpected murder. It seems as though everyone has something to hide.
•As if this book could be as good as the first! I definitely read this a lot quicker than I read the first one. This was highly addictive. The end of every chapter left on a cliff hanger and I was invested in Molly's childhood story that it was so easy to continue reading just one more chapter. I think Nita Prose has done a fantastic job with this second book and I didn't she would be able to pull it off but she did.
Feels: save, easy and fast paced mystery
★★★★ 4/5
(Thank you NetGalley for this ARC)
December 5, 2023
Update 11/28/23: Reposting my review to celebrate that today is publication day!
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for sending me an ARC of The Mystery Guest in exchange for an honest review.
The Mystery Guest takes place about three-and-a-half years after The Maid. Our heroine, Molly Gray, is now the Head Maid at the five-star Regency Grand Hotel. She still has to tolerate her former supervisor Cheryl, but she’s taken the shy Maid-in-Training Lily under her wing. In her personal life, Molly’s now living with her boyfriend Juan Manuel, and she has a weekly dinner with Mr. Preston, the Regency Grand’s long-serving doorman, who she still does not realize is her grandfather. Yes, Molly’s life is pretty close to a “state of perfection.” That is, until a famous author, J.D. Grimthorpe, just dropped dead from a poisoning on the hotel’s tea room floor as he was about to make a mysterious announcement. Once again, Molly is a murder suspect and must try to piece together clues to figure out what really happened.
The Mystery Guest seems to hit similar beats as The Maid, but I actually found it to be quite different. The story is still filtered through Molly’s first person perspective, but she understands far more than in the first book and is a much more reliable narrator. In The Maid, Molly described events opaquely and the reader had to figure out what was really happening. But here, Molly is consistently the first to figure things out, and the reader is along for the ride as Molly tells the other characters. There are a lot of red herrings that you’ll know are red herrings, and I’m not really sure there were enough clues to figure out the mystery, but it’s not a bad mystery.
As with The Maid, your enjoyment of The Mystery Guest will depend largely on how you feel about Molly. She’s still quirky and funny and certainly unique. Once again, the story isn’t exactly the most complicated mystery, but I’m curious to know whether the next book will find Molly still working at the hotel or taking up one of the characters on a job offer in a different line if work. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Recommended.
I’ve always struggled with understanding the true meaning behind people’s words, but I’ve gotten a lot better at reading people, even strangers, which is why I know what you’re thinking.
…
Her eyes are round pools of trepidation. “I’m afraid.”
“I know,” I say. “But why?”
“Because a famous man is dead. Because they always blame the maid. You of all people should know that.”
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for sending me an ARC of The Mystery Guest in exchange for an honest review.
The Mystery Guest takes place about three-and-a-half years after The Maid. Our heroine, Molly Gray, is now the Head Maid at the five-star Regency Grand Hotel. She still has to tolerate her former supervisor Cheryl, but she’s taken the shy Maid-in-Training Lily under her wing. In her personal life, Molly’s now living with her boyfriend Juan Manuel, and she has a weekly dinner with Mr. Preston, the Regency Grand’s long-serving doorman, who she still does not realize is her grandfather. Yes, Molly’s life is pretty close to a “state of perfection.” That is, until a famous author, J.D. Grimthorpe, just dropped dead from a poisoning on the hotel’s tea room floor as he was about to make a mysterious announcement. Once again, Molly is a murder suspect and must try to piece together clues to figure out what really happened.
The Mystery Guest seems to hit similar beats as The Maid, but I actually found it to be quite different. The story is still filtered through Molly’s first person perspective, but she understands far more than in the first book and is a much more reliable narrator. In The Maid, Molly described events opaquely and the reader had to figure out what was really happening. But here, Molly is consistently the first to figure things out, and the reader is along for the ride as Molly tells the other characters. There are a lot of red herrings that you’ll know are red herrings, and I’m not really sure there were enough clues to figure out the mystery, but it’s not a bad mystery.
As with The Maid, your enjoyment of The Mystery Guest will depend largely on how you feel about Molly. She’s still quirky and funny and certainly unique. Once again, the story isn’t exactly the most complicated mystery, but I’m curious to know whether the next book will find Molly still working at the hotel or taking up one of the characters on a job offer in a different line if work. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Recommended.
December 16, 2023
I never though I'd grow up to be a cozy mystery gal but I am becoming more and more of a fan! Book two in the Molly the Maid series, The Mystery Guest takes place a few years after the events of the first book. Molly has been promoted to head maid at the hotel and is training a new employee and things are generally going well for her. Until a famous author drops dead at a news conference at the hotel and everyone fears the staff will take the blame.
I really liked The Maid and was pleasantly surprised we got a second book. The best part about this one was the flashbacks to Molly's childhood and all of the events that led to who she is as a person in the present book. I thought this was a great mystery story, it kept my attention, wasn't confusing, and unfolded really well. I hope we get to read more of Molly the Maid because I can see this becoming a really great series.
Advance listening copy provided by libro.fm
I really liked The Maid and was pleasantly surprised we got a second book. The best part about this one was the flashbacks to Molly's childhood and all of the events that led to who she is as a person in the present book. I thought this was a great mystery story, it kept my attention, wasn't confusing, and unfolded really well. I hope we get to read more of Molly the Maid because I can see this becoming a really great series.
Advance listening copy provided by libro.fm
October 10, 2024
I wanted to read this sequel, because I enjoyed The Maid so much. Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
And…What I realized was…
I didn’t enjoy this one as much.
It just felt a bit juvenile.
Although…I did however, appreciate Molly’s hyper-attentive attention to details, and her single-minded focus as an excellent Head Maid.
“But I’m a maid. My work is to polish guest rooms to perfection. To clean up all the messes people leave behind.”
“Is that so different from what I do? I try to leave the world a cleaner place than I found it,” (Detective) Stark says.
In many ways…I wanted Molly’s voice as the narrator to give voice to the emotions she’s recalling or witnessing as she shares the past or even present moments…
But…It didn’t feel natural. I almost felt like I was being placed in a predictable mystery sitcom.
Even…The ending felt too tidy. Including Mr. Preston. (No spoilers from me.)
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
And…What I realized was…
I didn’t enjoy this one as much.
It just felt a bit juvenile.
Although…I did however, appreciate Molly’s hyper-attentive attention to details, and her single-minded focus as an excellent Head Maid.
“But I’m a maid. My work is to polish guest rooms to perfection. To clean up all the messes people leave behind.”
“Is that so different from what I do? I try to leave the world a cleaner place than I found it,” (Detective) Stark says.
In many ways…I wanted Molly’s voice as the narrator to give voice to the emotions she’s recalling or witnessing as she shares the past or even present moments…
But…It didn’t feel natural. I almost felt like I was being placed in a predictable mystery sitcom.
Even…The ending felt too tidy. Including Mr. Preston. (No spoilers from me.)
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
November 12, 2023
'Sometimes it's the pieces you connect that give the missing one its shape'.
Years after Molly helped solve her first crime at the Regency Grand Hotel, she's still happily working there as Head Maid. Her superior eye for detail makes her the perfect choice to manage the opening of the hotel's new tea room with a VIP event. All is in a 'state of perfection' until the VIP, Mr Grimthorpe, falls down dead in front of the podium. 'The maid always gets the blame' - right? This time things are different, this time Molly actually knows the deceased literary celebrity. In fact, she's spent weeks, as a child, diligently polishing the silver at his house with her Gran. She knows more than what people think but, as Gran says, 'Only fools would jump to conclusions'.
'The Mystery Guest' is a somewhat dual-time story that alternates between Molly's time, as a child, spent at Mr Grimthorpe's house, and solving the current crime. The first few chapters mostly recap the salient points of the first book - enough so that a reader new to the Molly series would be able to pick up the story. While this book is still full of Mollyisms and Gran's idioms, you get a sense that Molly is starting to gain confidence and finding her feet as an independent woman. With that newly found maturity, who knows what Molly will be capable of next?
Anyone who enjoyed book one is sure to enjoy this latest installment. For those who haven't picked up a Molly book yet, but love a cozy mystery, I encourage you to give it a try.
Years after Molly helped solve her first crime at the Regency Grand Hotel, she's still happily working there as Head Maid. Her superior eye for detail makes her the perfect choice to manage the opening of the hotel's new tea room with a VIP event. All is in a 'state of perfection' until the VIP, Mr Grimthorpe, falls down dead in front of the podium. 'The maid always gets the blame' - right? This time things are different, this time Molly actually knows the deceased literary celebrity. In fact, she's spent weeks, as a child, diligently polishing the silver at his house with her Gran. She knows more than what people think but, as Gran says, 'Only fools would jump to conclusions'.
'The Mystery Guest' is a somewhat dual-time story that alternates between Molly's time, as a child, spent at Mr Grimthorpe's house, and solving the current crime. The first few chapters mostly recap the salient points of the first book - enough so that a reader new to the Molly series would be able to pick up the story. While this book is still full of Mollyisms and Gran's idioms, you get a sense that Molly is starting to gain confidence and finding her feet as an independent woman. With that newly found maturity, who knows what Molly will be capable of next?
Anyone who enjoyed book one is sure to enjoy this latest installment. For those who haven't picked up a Molly book yet, but love a cozy mystery, I encourage you to give it a try.
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