Nita Prose once again takes us into the world of quirky Molly Gray in her followup novel, “The Mystery Guest,” which takes place four years after Molly finds a dead body in “The Maid.”
Now Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel, Molly is tasked with setting up a special VIP Announcement by a famous mystery writer. But when he suddenly drops dead before he can make his special announcement, Molly is once again put under suspicion and must work together with Detective Stark to get to the bottom of his untimely death.
We also learn more about Molly’s past and her life with her beloved Gran — and a childhood connection to the dead author.
Told as a constant narrative provided by Molly in both the present and her past, “The Mystery Guest” is a fun read filled with several twists and turns, constantly offering perspective into Molly and her unique frame of mind and her personality — very particular, keenly observant yet socially awkward.
Once again, Prose delights us with lovely and intriguing characters, including the delightfully plucky Molly, a caring doorman and a new maid-in-training who needs a little prompting. She also fills her story with several good themes, like sometimes what we view as weaknesses are actually strengths; there is always a reason to offer kindness; there is always reason to find hope and to shine light in the dark; and there is value in everything and everyone (“One must look beyond the surface to see true value in anything”).
One disclaimer, “The Mystery Guest,” which is due out Nov. 28, does occasionally contain some swearing.
Five stars out of five.
Ballantine Books provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.
“The Mystery Guest” (Molly the Maid series, #2) by Nita Prose