The Mystery Guest
The Mystery Guest (Molly the Maid #2)
By: Nita Prose
“It underscored just how hazardous a maid’s work can be. 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.”
When I first read The Maid by Nita Prose I was underwhelmed because the hype created expectations that weren’t necessarily met. I think I enjoyed this book better because I went into it knowing what it would be like.
It was still a mystery I didn’t have completely solved, though parts of it were predictable. This series is not one to read for hard-hitting thrills and chills. Its brand is ‘endearing and mysterious.’ Molly Gray is a person you just love. Her attention to obscure or random details makes her an excellent help while solving a crime in the middle of her domain.
The Mystery Guest is a continuation of Molly’s story, a few years after the first book. She has advanced to Head Maid and takes her job very seriously.
The Regency Grand Hotel unfortunately finds itself the center of another crime. If this series continues this hotel may not make it because they won’t have any guests due to its killer reputation. (Although Prose hints at a possible solution to that by the end of the book which is fun to think about happening.)
“World-renowned, bestselling, and award-winning author J.D. Grimthorpe… was set to make a big important announcement in our recently restored Grand Tearoom.”
But as he stood to make his announcement he only got a few words out “I’ve been keeping a secret, one that will no doubt surprise you” before he dropped dead.
When the cause of death is discovered, the maids are again at the top of the suspect list. The same detective from the first book is back on the scene. She begins antagonistic towards Molly but soon they work together to figure out who Grimthorpe’s killer was.
What adds another layer to this story is that Grimthorpe is no stranger to Molly.
So we flip back and forth between present day and the past when Molly’s grandmother worked at Grimthorpe’s mansion, eventually bringing Molly there to work with her.
These flashbacks flesh out the character of Grimthorpe and who may want him dead, after all, he was “a bit of a troll, with a temperament that ranges from melancholic to diabolic.”
Molly’s gran had to be part of the story, so even though she has passed, this helps keep her as a prominent character, informing the reader on a variety of things as we learn more about her. It also brings more context to the character of Molly and her upbringing.
The end wraps up nicely with a delightful surprise and a new potential avenue of exploration for the character of Molly Gray.
The connection point of this book to another book I recently read is the infamous Fabrege egg. If you want to read another book with such an item, check out Colleen Coble’s book Fragile Designs where a real Fabrege egg entangles characters with the Russian mob.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book and this series. They are cozy and feel-good mysteries that create interesting plots with likeable characters and a bit of humor sprinkled in.
This book has significantly less reviews than the first book which is too bad. Sometimes books that get really popular inevitably come with inflated expectations and leave people let down, giving up without giving the author another chance with less pressure. But both books are worth reading. Just come into it with the right mindset and you’ll enjoy it!
[Content Advisory: 0 f-words; 5 s-words; no sexual content]
**Received an ARC via NetGalley**
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