The Mystery Guest DEALS
The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose is the second book in the Molly the Maid mystery series. Published in 2023, this novel was nominated for the Readers’ Favorite Mystery & Thriller (2024) in the Goodreads Choice Awards.
Book 1, titled The Maid, was a great hit with amazing reviews, so I had high hopes when Molly the Maid returned, and I was not disappointed.
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The Mystery Guest Summary
Molly is the Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. She has a passion for cleaning and order, but struggles with reading social cues. The hotel is hosting an exclusive event for the famous author, J. D. Grimthorpe, who is planning to make a big announcement to his fans. Just as the event begins, J. D. Grimthorpe drops dead right in the grand tea room.
It appears that the author may have died of unnatural causes. With this new suspicious death at the Regency Grand Hotel, Detective Stark is back to investigate. Molly is once again in the middle of a murder investigation. A young maid-in-training, Lily, who reminds Molly of herself, is one of the prime suspects in the murder.
As it turns out, Molly knew Grimthorpe as a child. She used to go with her Gran to help clean Grimthorpe’s mansion. Molly thinks back to her time at the Grimthorpe mansion to help solve the mystery of his murder.
Despite her naivete in social situations, Molly has remarkable attention to detail. An especially useful skill to have when investigating a murder. Will Molly be able to help Detective Stark find the culprit and prevent her friends from being wrongfully accused?
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Strengths
You don’t need to have read the first book to read this one. But with such glowing reviews, you most likely will want to read the award-winning first book, too! This novel is narrated in Molly’s point of view from the current time and from the point of view of a young Molly from when her Gran was still alive.
It really fleshes out Molly’s life since her childhood and gives the reader great insights into her character.
Deep cleaning gives life meaning.
Weaknesses
There was a lot of repetition of the proverbs, idioms, and other advice that Molly’s Gran used to share with her; however, this is part of Molly’s character quirk, so you just have to get used to it.
There wasn’t much about Molly’s boyfriend, Juan, in this book. Although they live together, Juan was away visiting his family in Mexico. It would have been nice to learn something more about him besides knowing that he’s a devoted boyfriend.
Treat others the way you wish to be treated. We’re all the same in different ways. Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.
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Key Themes And Takeaways
While in the first book, Molly is still grieving the loss of her Gran, in this second installment, we see a lot of growth in Molly. She is becoming more confident as an independent woman, which was lovely to see.
The book never specifies if Molly, the maid, is neurodivergent or on the spectrum; however, her mannerisms and characteristics do suggest that there is something different about Molly. She is exceptionally competent, and we see people treating her either kindly or unkindly.
I love that it’s the main character who is neurodivergent rather than a side character. This is really amazing in terms of representation. This book shows that regardless of our differences, everyone should be treated with kindness and respect.
Verdict
If you’re looking for a cosy mystery, this is the book for you. I’d recommend both books 1 and 2. Book 3 just came out this year, and it’s on my TBR already.
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The Review
The Mystery Guest
If you’re looking for a cosy mystery, this is the book for you
PROS
- Neurodivergence representation
- Interesting characters
- Good pacing
CONS
- Repetitive speech
- Not much romance
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