Molly the Maid is back and she’s all grown up! Three and a half years has passed and she now holds the lofty position of Head Maid at the illustrious 5 star Regency Grand Hotel where ‘cleaning gives her life meaning’ and her driving force is to return guests rooms to a ‘state of perfection’.

Molly’s career is going well, as is her relationship with Juan (sadly missing from this book as he’s visiting family in Mexico). Everything is just tickety-boo in Molly’s life, that is, until she has a bad day, the worst day she has had in roughly 4 years. A famous author, Mr J.D. Grimthorpe, due to make an announcement to his adoring fans, drops dead in the Regency Grand’s newly refurbished tea room straight after being served tea by Lily (Molly’s Maid-in-Training). This is of course where stuff ‘hits the fan’ and all the staff become potential suspects including Molly who knew Mr Grimthorpe from her younger days when her beloved Gran was his Maid. Molly deals with this, as she does everything in her life ‘when in doubt, clean inside and out’, not to mention ‘keeping her eyes as peeled as her Bananas’.

In this, the second of the Molly the Maid series we learn a bit more of Molly and her Gran’s backstories, which fleshes out both characters and provides a bit of detail around some of the challenges Molly faced in her childhood. I loved spending more time in Molly’s world, she truly has a unique voice.

I highly recommend both the ‘Mystery Guest’ and ‘The Maid’ equally and would go so far as to suggest you find your favourite comfy chair, make yourself a cup of tea in your bestest cup and stir it with a real silver spoon ‘which makes a pleasing tinkling sound against the porcelain’ - basically cosy on up and enjoy.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Maybe if I'd read The Maid first I might have enjoyed this book more. The writing style just didn't work for me so it was a DNF.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Another brilliant book about Molly the Maid.
I loved the first book and this one is just as good.
Molly is now Head Maid at The Regency Hotel and still takes pride in her work.
When a famous author books the tea room to make an announcement, the last thing anyone expects is murder.
Molly’s insight into his death is initially dismissed by the Detectives, but soon they realise she has a keen eye for detail and sees things others miss.
This is a brilliant mystery thriller and I can’t wait to find out what’s next for Molly.
Thanks to Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I throughly enjoyed this latest book from Nita. Such wo nderful writing and so clever. I loved the way the mystery unfolded gently and sedately. The characters were so well thought out, a real pleasure to read. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I found this book so easy to follow on from after reading the first book. I felt really connected to the main characters and that made it really heartwarming to continue reading on this story. Would recommend!

Molly is Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel, a job she takes very seriously. When one of their VIP guests dies in suspicious circumstances, Molly and Maid-in-training Lily find themselves in the sights of the police. Can Molly's observant nature help solve the mystery, and clear their names?

I didn't realise this was a second book, but found it worked very well as a standalone. I loved Molly and her quirks of character, and the supporting cast were wonderful too - Mr Preston and Angela were my favourites. A great cosy mystery, and I'll definitely look out for the previous book.

Sequels to a well loved book are tricky. I enjoyed this and I think fans of book one will as well. However for me it didn't hit the same level as the first book. As we've already had Molly's backstory having a second backstory didn't quite fit as well, and also she couldn't develop as a character the same way as in the first novel. I would've liked some greater depth to the new characters too. Good fun though and a sweet read.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the first book with Molly the maid but struggled with this one slightly. It was a cosy mystery which was easy to read but I felt it lacked something. I would recommend the first book is read before this one to enjoy it more

What a delight to return to the world of the Regency Grand Hotel and Molly Grey who has now been promoted to Head Maid. Set in duel timelines the book takes us back to Mollys childhood with her beloved grandmother and to a new suspicious death in the hotel. All the old characters return and we meet Lily a new maid in training who Molly has taken under her wing. Although this could probably be read as a stand alone I think it would be more enjoyable if you read the books in order. I really enjoyed how Mollys character has grown over the two novels and how her friendships have grown and flourished. A wonderful cosy mystery that was a joy to curl up with and devour. I hope there will be more in the series. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this novel in return for an honest review

It is lovely to catch back up with Molly, now head maid at her beloved Regency Grand Hotel and right in the thick of it, when a well-known author holds a press conference in the new tea room. In the run-up to the event, they have been teasing that 'secrets will be told', but unfortunately, it doesn't go to plan and Molly once again finds herself at the centre of a police investigation.

This was a great 'cosy mystery', very easy to read and kept me guessing right to the reveal.
I really liked Molly in book 1 and she has grown as a character here. I appreciated the glimpses into her back story, finding out more about her childhood and family life. I love the relationships she has, especially with Lily and Mr Preston, but it does have a whole cast of great characters, including the hotel which is a character all of its own.

I think it would work as a standalone, but reading the first book would be beneficial. Highly recommend if you like your mysteries on the cosy side with great characters!

"The Mystery Guest," the second instalment in the Molly the Maid Series by Nita Prose, is a delightful dive back into the world of Molly Gray. Like its predecessor, this book earns 5 out of 5 stars for its charming blend of mystery and warmth.

With her blend of innocence, protectiveness, and cleverness, Molly's character steals the show once again. Prose has created a protagonist who is not just a maid but a symbol of purity and intelligence in a world often marred by complexity and deceit. Her neurodiversity adds a refreshing and insightful dimension to her interactions, making her a truly unique and endearing figure in contemporary fiction.

A standout aspect of the novel is Molly's evolving relationships, particularly with the doorman and Detective Stark. These interactions, tinged with a love-hate dynamic, offer a nuanced look at how Molly navigates the world around her. In these exchanges, we see her grow, learn, and display her innate cleverness while staying true to her core values.

The book wraps up with a feel-good factor that's hard to miss. Without delving into spoilers, it's safe to say that the ending teases the possibility of more adventures for Molly. The hint of her stepping beyond her role as a maid and into new horizons is tempting, leaving readers eagerly awaiting the next chapter in her journey.

Nita Prose has once again demonstrated a knack for creating a world as intriguing as it is comforting. "The Mystery Guest" is not just a mystery novel; it's a story of growth, understanding, and the endless possibilities that life offers. One can only hope that Prose continues Molly's story, for not doing so would leave a gap in the hearts of those who have come to love the world she has created.

"The Mystery Guest" is a book that simultaneously delights and warms the heart. It's a testament to the power of simple kindness and intelligence in a complicated world. This book is a journey worth embarking on for fans of Molly and newcomers alike.

I absolutely adored the first book about Molly Gray ‘The Maid’ and probably bored everyone to death talking about it so you can imagine excited I was to read this and I wasn’t disappointed. It was another cosy mystery/contemporary fiction book with the same wonderful narrative and told from Molly’s POV but in two timelines. Following her beloved grandmother‘s death, Molly is living in the same apartment with her boyfriend, and she has been promoted to Head Maid at the Regency Grand hotel. I was captivated by the book exactly as I was with the previous one, I started reading it 10 o’clock at night and didn’t put it down until the last page!

Briefly, Molly has taken new maid in training, Lily, under her wing and together they are preparing for an exciting event at the hotel. A famous mystery writer has hired the grand tea room to make an announcement. However, just minutes after stepping onto the podium, he falls down, dead. Her nemesis Detective Stark is in charge of the case, and Molly is keeping a secret from everybody. She knew the writer from her childhood. Can Molly use her skills of observation to help solve the case?

I loved the dual timeline, both stories equally engaging. I did really enjoy the before story when Molly and her Gran were cleaning house for a reclusive author and his wife. Molly is such an amazing character. I genuinely love everything about her and it’s great to see how she is evolving. Still naive, but maybe not quite so much, still trusting, but maybe not quite so much and still totally endearing. The murder is almost secondary to Molly’s story but it was well done and I didn’t guess the outcome. A perfectly paced, brilliantly written and very entertaining read and I do hope we are going to see more of Molly.

How wonderful to be back at The Regency Grand Hotel with my favourite maid, Molly! I literally read this book in a day as I couldn’t put it down. A duel timeline story takes us between the present day and the mysterious murder of famous author J D Grimthorpe and Molly’s childhood with her beloved Gran. Packed with a host of familiar characters from the first book and some great new ones, Molly needs her wits about her to once again prove to Detective Stark that it’s not always the maid who did it. Lots of twists and plenty of clues to follow, it was great to see Molly really come into her own and play to her strengths. I really enjoyed the ending and hope we’re going to see Molly in action again soon!
If you enjoy a cosy murder mystery then I can’t recommend the Molly the Maid series highly enough.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Harper Collins for an arc in exchange for a review.

I enjoyed book one very much and was looking forward to this one.

In this book we learn of not only Mollys past but also her Grandmother who brought her up, and the connection to a very lovely old gentleman who attends at the hotel that Mollys a maid at.

Molly is now Head Maid and has greater responsibilities she’s also written rules for other maids to not only abide by but also learn from.

Eggs feature in this plot.
A Fabergé egg and a bad egg.

A library.
An author.
And lots of secrets and lies.

Molly has still got her uniqueness at understanding things and people but she’s grown immensely with more control yet……still says it as it is.

The love of her life doesn’t feature too much in this book as he’s been called to his homeland for family reasons, Molly couldn’t go as she had commitments. They kept in contact though. I notice Molly has more discernible features now and sometimes emits more tact. However, yes she’s still different yet that difference is a great help after all, we all are different in our own way and unique.

I’m a great fan of Molly and her life, her Grandmother too.

The revelation in this book didn’t take me by surprise however I did get the connection wrong.

I’d say this is a tune to a cosy mystery but with different.

I’m not tired of Molly yet, I’d love to see her relationship blossom and maybe even become a mom herself.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book 2.

It's been a hectic time, but having this to read has been an absolute blessing as he once again return to the life of Molly the maid. Seven years since her time as maid-in-training, we see her now as head maid and she has her nan's idioms and proverbs to get her where she needs to go, returning you to that cozy mystery vibe of the first book.

The characters here are well developed, Molly is such a great character and the cast that support and surround her in this book are excellent, particularly for me the addition of Lily in this book as she begins her own training. I really hope we see more of this series with the characters continuing to develop as we see the series grow, I loved returning to them at the end of a very long day.

The plot though not new by any means is executed brilliantly in this book, I would happily read it again just to see what I missed the first time around - and I don't like re-reading mysteries, that's how strongly I appreciate The Mystery Guest. As we see The Mystery Guest become the mystery, this story unfolds perfectly paced and makes you want to turn another page even when you should be asleep (this was very much a me problem with this one, especially near the end!)

Fantastic once again, I hope there's more!

(Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC for honest review).

An intriguing sequel to the brilliant Murder mystery The Maid.
Molly returns as narrator and protagonist, a few years after the events of the first novel. Having now been promoted to Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel, she still prides herself on bringing the rooms back to a state of perfection and has gained confidence over the years.
She also has an unusual eye for detail but sometimes misses what’s obvious to others, meaning she is once again the key to solving a murder on the hotel premises.
This time it is a famous murder mystery writer’s turn to drop dead in the tea room, witnessed by many of his fans patiently awaiting an important announcement he never gets the chance to make.

In this book we see the mystery unfold whilst also enjoying flashbacks to Molly’s youth, getting to know her gran in more detail, and unraveling an unexpected connection between herself and the victim.

I really liked how in this book Molly is essentially the same lovable character as in The Maid, her innocent and earnest ways are ever present, but her naïveté has dissipated somewhat and her voice is more mature, which reflects what she went through and learnt since the last book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel and recommend reading The Maid before this novel to enjoy the full story.

Ah, wonderful. If you’ve read Nita’s The Maid, then a return to Molly is in store. Though it’s been a while since she was a maid-in-training, Molly is now head maid – and you can bet she’s delighted. So delighted… and a bit over zealous, compiling training manuals and simply just training others such as young Lily, who reminds Molly of herself. That said, there’s other work to be done: an award-winning mystery writer is making a rare public appearance and will be treated to an event in the hotel’s newly refurbished tea room. But he dies before he can even enjoy a clotted cream scone, having sipped the tea made by maid Lily. Flashing back to when Molly was a girl and keeping readers up to date on the author’s demise, this was a pleasure to read. Molly is one of those characters you can’t help thinking about.

I was so excited to read this book and I’m delighted to say it delivered everything I had hoped for!

Molly is now the head maid at the hotel and is, quite rightly, incredibly proud of herself. I absolutely adore her one-liners, inherited from her beloved late-grandmother and I loved reading more about her childhood and her school days.

Inevitably, there is a mystery to be solved and so Detective Stark is back, with Molly once again her number one suspect.

A very well written mystery, with brilliant characters and a decent dose of warmth and humour.

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Nita Prose and Harper Collins, for an ARC in return for an honest review.

It's lovely to get reacquainted with Molly again. She's such a loveable character.
This sequel has more of the cosy crime charm with some darker details.
I didn't enjoy this plot as much as the first book but it's still well written.

A delightful follow-up to last year's "The Maid," this cosy mystery surpasses its predecessor. The writing exudes confidence, and the cleverly crafted plot keeps readers engaged. Molly, the charismatic maid, shines as a great character, and her touching backstory growing up with her Gran adds depth to the narrative.

The vivid descriptions of the hotel and well-developed recurring characters, along with the introduction of new ones, contribute to the story's richness. Navigating a twisty course to uncover the murderer, the narrative keeps readers guessing.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.