The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

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 tea room 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 case 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—because 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 post-haste. If there's one thing Molly knows for sure, it's that dirty secrets don't stay buried forever...

My Opinion

If you have read The Maid then you will have been waiting for this sequel, and it lived up to all of my expectations. Molly once again finds herself at the centre of a murder investigation when a guest at the hotel drops dead during a speech. Will Molly be able to help find the killer's identity?

Molly is such a wonderful character that it was a delight to return to her world. This was a book that I struggled to put down - I finished it over the course of a day.

Rating 4/5

The pacing and storytelling kept me clued to the pages from start to end. I would definitely be recommending this book.

Molly is back with a new adventure in the hotel. Continuing from her last adventure, Molly helps when another mystery shocks the hotel. Supported by old friends and new characters, this is equally as fun, intelligent and comforting as the first instalment. I'd definitely recommend.

Oh boy, where do I start with the Mystery Guest? I liked the first outing with Molly, The Maid, but when I discovered that there was going to be a sequel, I was very hesitant over the announcement. To me, the Maid felt really good and fairly solid as a stand-alone and, because of this, I couldn’t see how the sequel would work.

Set around four years after the events of The Maid, Molly is now Head Maid at the Regency Hotel and the hotel is about to open its new Tearoom with a reclusive author doing a press conference. But when the author falls dead before he could announce his news, Molly finds her trying to figure out what is happening at the hotel.

Like with the Maid, this is a fun, easy read and I whizzed through.

However, this didn’t reach the heights of the Molly’s first outing.

Now, I know I am in the minority here. But as I read this, I kept thinking to myself “This feels unnecessary” and I could never get away from that feeling.

Also, the Mystery Guest never felt like a sequel to the Maid. Yes, there is a four year gap between The Maid and The Mystery Guest and the characters have grown and changed (I liked how people get Molly and respect her now unlike in the first), but it didn’t feel like the same author wrote both books.

Maybe it was because we had two dual timelines happening in this and it leans more into the Cosy murder mystery aspect while away from the biting dark humour of the first, but there was a disconnect between the two books.

Like I said earlier, I know I am in the minority and that really bums me out as I like Molly, but I don’t think I will be picking up her third outing (at the moment, this seems to be a rumour, nothing confirmed).

Absolutely loved this one!

It was such a good sequel to The Maid! I really enjoyed seeing more of Molly (now head maid) and the gang. She is such a fun main character, shes very quirky but lovable!

I actually think I preferred this one to the first one based on the storyline!

Full review on Instagram!

I really hope Nita keeps writing more books about Molly the Maid!

I received a review copy of this book from Harper Collins, UK, via NetGalley for which my thanks.

It’s not the backbreaking labor, the demanding guests, or the cleaning chemicals that present the greatest danger. It’s the assumption that maids are delinquents, murderers, and thieves: the maid is always to blame.

Molly the maid is back for her second outing and this time far more confident and secure both of her place in the scheme of things and also in the people that are around her (there are still the adversaries, of course, but she has ones who love and support). In this book we see her faced with another murder, one which her skills and temperament can look better into than the ‘ordinary’ police and also one which takes her back to her past, revealing some secrets and also relooking at her early life.

It is five years from when we last met her and now Molly is head maid at the Regency Grand with all the others under her charge including former nemesis Cheryl. She’s also living with her boyfriend Juan who is away visiting family in Mexico while Mr Preston, the doorman continues to look out for her. The hotel is preparing for a grand event: a famous but reclusive mystery writer Mr Grimthorpe is holding a rare public meeting where he is to make a surprise announcement and Molly and her charges, among them maid-in-training Lily, reticent but a good worker, are tasked with the preparations. With the renovated facilities in the hall ready to be shown off and all the arrangements taken care of meticulously by her, she can hardly wait for the event to unfold. But of course, it goes differently than imagined as just before the grand announcement, Grimthorpe takes a few sips of his tea and falls down—dead. Suspicion unsurprisingly falls on Lily but she remains silent saying little in her defence. Molly’s observation and attention to detail comes in handy to help detectives recreate the scene, the detective in-charge being none other than Detective Stark who we’d met on the previous case. But Molly’s friend Angela who also works at the Regency Grand wants to go in deeper and actually investigate the crime and despite Molly’s apprehensions and protest pulls her right in, even making her out to be a ‘undercover detective’ to a group of Grimthorpe fans in the hotel for the event (much to Molly’s discomfort).

The murder also evokes in Molly memories of the past, a time when she was still a child and her grandma was alive. We learn much about their life together, the hardships and struggles but constant optimism amidst it, how Molly decided to become a maid and along the way, many secrets and revelations about the past including some we don’t see coming. But even more than that, the past also has a connection with current events and we see how that leads Molly to ‘see’ things others can’t.

Much like Molly’s first adventure, I really loved this book—perhaps even a tad more than that because here unlike that book where Molly was diffident and hounded (arousing sympathy and even anger in the reader), she is far more confident and more than holds her own. Her voice and perspective though are unchanged and the author does get us to see that, as well as how ‘ordinary’ people view the same actions, Molly consequently having to bear much unfair treatment. On the other hand, she is much more perceptive than others might credit her with being and also manages to use others’ preconceptions to her advantage as well (usually to do some good for others).

I enjoyed the chapters focusing on the past and Molly’s childhood from which one is able to learn more about her and her life so far as also about her Gran who did her best for her. Once again, in these episodes we see (as much as in the present) how the world is unable to either accept or accommodate difference, something especially apparent in Molly’s schooling experiences. Yet for Molly, in the present at least things have changed, with more than one person not only acknowledging but also appreciating her talents and character.

The mystery element was also rather enjoyable in this one; there are plenty of suspicious events immediately after Grimthorpe’s death from vital objects going missing to people, both strange and known, seemingly up to dubious doings, the women of Grimthorpe’s ‘fan club’ lurking around hoping to dig up something and Lily intent on keeping mum. Ultimately it is Molly’s past and present (as also her Gran’s words of wisdom) that help her get things straight and get to answers that others mightn’t be able to, winning her an unexpected admirer as well.

Without being too spoilery, I liked the ending especially in that it leaves possible paths open to where the series may head, but leaving us assured that whatever this may be, we will have the same Molly to follow!

Prose is a brilliant writer and well-deserves the accolades she’s received as a true heir to Christie. Her cleverly conceived novel brims with intrigue, humour, and verve. A joy.

#themysteryguest is the second book featuring Molly who is now working as Head Maid in the Grand Regency Hotel.
This book features a crime writer J D Grimthorpe and Molly is immersed quickly right in the centre of the action when a crime occurs. Detective Stark is also back and the part of the book that I really loved was the dual timeline which shares Gran and Molly's life together and how the past is linked with the present. I also enjoyed Molly's interaction with Lily the new maid, it was very sweet and kind.
Funny, sad and gripping this book was a great cosy crime with twists and turns that I did not expect.
I really enjoyed reading it!
#themysteryguest #themysteryguestreadalong
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I really enjoyed The Mystery Guest and it felt great to be back in the world of Molly the Maid and The Regency Hotel. It had the same charm as The Maid and I loved the development of Molly as a character.
In typical whodunit style, the author laid plenty of red herrings that had me guessing at who the murderer was until it was revealed. I also liked how the use of differing timelines allowed for the backstory to be told and I enjoyed witnessing a younger Molly and the relationship she had with her Gran.

I had a hunch about the revelation towards the end of the book but I hope this can make way for a third book. I'd love more Molly in the future!

This is the second book in the Molly the Maid series. The characters are the same but there is a new mystery to uncover. Crime author J.D. Grimthorpe has dropped dead just before he is supposed to make a big announcement at the Regency Grand Hotel in front of all his fans and staff at the hotel. The story flips from the present to Molly’s past when she was a little girl and knew J.D. Grimthorpe. Diving deep into Molly’s past she unlocks revelations that lead to solving the mystery of the author’s death.

This was a fast-paced, entertaining cosy mystery. It had quite a straightforward plot but was supplemented with loveable characters and their journeys, particularly Molly’s. The two timelines keep the story interesting. The writing is engaging, witty and heartwarming. I loved how Molly’s Gran still lives on as though she is an active character with her nuggets of wisdom.

It gave me Only Murders in the Building meets Magpie Murders vibes.

A feel-good bingeworthy and addictive mystery that will keep you guessing.

Brilliant cosy mystery, very engaging and hugely enjoyable. A well written main character whose autistic traits are clear, positive, properly explained and integral to the storyline. I think you need to read the first book in order to fully appreciate this one, I thoroughly enjoyed both. We learn more about Molly's past and how her beloved Gran shaped her childhood, plus how her early experiences at the Grimthorpe manor influenced her career at the Regency Grand Hotel. A lot of heart and a great read! I hope there is more to come.

I loved Molly’s story in book 1, her character really struck with me as her social awkwardness and autistic traits really made me feel for her and of course the situation she found herself in. So I was really keen when a follow up was announced.

In TMG Molly has matured and grown in confidence - she’s now head maid with a lot of responsibility, and a staff to manage. But she’s once again at the centre of a murder mystery as a world renowned author suddenly dies at a publicity event held at the hotel and she’s determined to prove one of her maids, Lily, was not the murderer. This is when her gifts of seeing the small detail, and putting the clues together (when they don’t even seem to be clues at all) really come to the forefront.

Whilst she’s trying to prove Lily’s innocence, we also see flashbacks to Molly’s childhood and her interactions with her beloved Gran- these are just beautiful. Gran was such an amazing maternal figure in her life, and you see the extent of the challenges faced by their little family unit. You also see more into her mind - I loved seeing her happy palace. We also get to see more of the supporting figures in her life - Angela had such a funny sense of humour, and Mr Preston was as ever a supporting and reassuring presence in Molly’s life.

Molly is such a memorable character. I’ve loved following her through these books. And the way that book 2 ended was such a great way to finish the story and leave the door open for so much more for her. The sky’s the limit!

Thanks to the team at Harper Fiction, Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read this review copy.

I can't resist a good cosy crime/mystery book, and really enjoyed the first book 'The Maid'. I'm pleased this has been made into a series as I really love the main character, Molly, and the different ways she looks at the world. In this story we have another murder that needs investigating - and I loved that the murder victim was... a mystery author! There's a whole cast of characters under suspicion and we also get to visit Molly's childhood to discover more about the illusive writer and who may want him dead.

This was a joyful read and I recommend it if you're looking for something light and fun (especially if you loved the first book!). I probably won't pick up the next book however, unless there's a major change of scenery, as it did become quite repetitive towards the end.

I am a huge fan of the Maid so I was excited to get a pre read copy of this book! Thank you Netgalley. I still love the character Molly and her quirky ways, it was interesting to learn more about her as a child and her background, I couldn’t put this book down with the twists and turns.

Molly the Maid is back for another cosy crime. If you enjoyed The Maid, the second book has very much the same vibe, Molly is her same unique self but is more accepting of who she is than she was in book 1. She is Head Maid and has Lily, a new Maid-in-Training- under her wing.

One day, esteemed and reclusive crime writer R Grimethorpe has booked to reveal a big secret to his army of LAMBS, a flock of mainly middle-aged women who worship everything he does. But just before the announcement i made, he drops down dead in the middle of the room. Was it innocent or foul play?

The present-day story is interspersed with flashbacks to Molly's childhood with her beloved Gran; the chapters of her past life help to flesh out Molly as a character and show how she has developed into the woman that she is today.

Its an easy read cosy crime with no gore or blood; some of the big reveals maybe weren't that much of a shock, but very entertaining to read.

3.5 rounded up.

I absolutely loved The Maid when I read it 2 years ago so I couldn’t wait to get back to Molly.
I found this one rather slow to get into and not as fast paced as I found The Maid. I still really enjoyed reading about Molly and love her quirky and unique character. She really took Lily under her wing which was lovely to read about. This book has a dual timeline and I particularly enjoyed the ‘before’ sections. In my opinion much more of a cosy crime than a thriller this time around but still the who did it element.

3.75 stars
As a fan of The Maid, I was really excited to see where the story would go next in The Mystery Guest. However, I have to admit, I struggled a bit to get into this.
I will say, I liked getting to see Molly's childhood, as well as more of her relationship with her beloved gran and I always looked forward to those chapters in particular.
I also think that the portrayal of someone who is neurodivergent was done well again.
This was definitely more of a cosy mystery than the first book and I thought the reveals and twists were just okay, instead of blowing me away.
I would still be interested in reading more from this series though, as I think Molly is an interesting character.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I think I loved this more than the first! I loved finding out about Molly’s childhood! It was great to see the roles within the hotel changing and how people underestimated her!

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose is the second book in a series following on from The Maid. Both novels feature Molly Gray, now head maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. When a famous author suddenly drops dead at the Regency Grand just before making an important announcement, Molly becomes involved in the murder investigation. With her quirky ways and attention to detail, she is an invaluable help but also hides secrets from her past.
I’ve found both the books original and fun. They highlight the skills that can come with being neurodivergent in a positive and creative way and provide a mystery narrative that keeps you guessing.

The Mystery Guest is the second instalment in this series, I haven’t read the first but can definitely say it can be read as a stand-alone.
Molly is head maid at the Regency Grand Hotel and takes her job very seriously, she has had a varied life growing up and looks at life a little different to some of us. The book is dual timelined and works well as it lets us understand Molly a lot more and what her childhood was like. There is a murder at the hotel and it was good writing how Mollys past intertwined with the present.
This is a light and easy read with a good storyline that I read in a day.
I would like to thank Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.