Title: The Mystery Guest (Molly the Maid #2)
Author: Nita Prose
Genre: Mystery, Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Publication Date: November 2023
Format: Hardcover
Length:  293 pages

Read if you like: murder mystery, bookish plot elements, cozy mysteries, unreliable narrators, quirky and awkward FMC, invisible jobs

Rating: 

I’m typically not a mystery reader, but wow, do I ever love the Molly the Maid series. I picked up the first book at my local library primarily because it was available immediately, but this cozy mystery series has quickly stolen my heart. 

To me, this second installment was as solid as the first. It had all the endearing and awkward authenticity that I loved about Molly, with an even juicier and more interesting plot that unfolded in ways that surprised me. I loved stepping back into Molly’s world and thoroughly enjoyed seeing her character grow and evolve even more than in book one.

This is such a comfort series for me at this point, I can’t wait to continue on with the next book.

The Book Synopsis: The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose

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.

The Review

Another utterly enjoyable book in the coziest mystery series, I am just completely entranced with these stories.

I wasn’t sure where Molly the maid’s story would go from here, given the relatively straightforward who-dunnit that was wrapped up with a bow in book one, but I LOVED where Prose brought the story this time. We got to see another murder mystery evolve, it was bookish in nature (which is one of my very favourite plot elements), and it tied in beautifully with Molly and her life in interesting and surprising ways. I felt like this one unfolded even more smoothly than the first book, and I loved watching all the pieces fall together. 

Molly also became even more endearing in this novel, a real feat in my opinion. I love how she’s come to own herself, and the happiness and acceptance that she’s managed to find in this story. She’s increasingly leaning into her strengths and is more able to acknowledge shortcomings or gaps, but she’s no longer paralyzed by them. I would read many, many books with her as the central character. She’s so wonderfully unique, and I just love watching her adventures.

While there’s a certain suspense that kept me on my toes, ultimately, it’s the way Prose has created the coziest of vibes that is keeping me coming back for more in this series. Molly the Maid has become a fast favourite of mine to just snuggle up with on my couch. 

This was so wonderfully fun, it was an easy 5 star read for me.