Series Name: Molly the Maid # 2
Review By Veronica
The Mystery Guest is another great cozy murder mystery by the talented Nita Prose.
Favourite Quote:
He stopped abruptly. He put one long-fingered hand to his collar in a futile attempt to loosen it. “What I’m trying to say is…” he croaked, but no other words would leave his throat. His mouth opened and closed, and he suddenly seemed very unsteady, swaying more dramatically from side to side in front of the podium. All I could think about was a goldfish I’d once seen jump from its bowl and lie gaping and apoplectic on a pet store floor.
Goodreads Synopsis:
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 tea room 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 case threatens the hotel’s pristine reputation, Molly knows that she alone holds the key to unlocking the killer’s identity. But that key is buried deep in her past—because long ago, she knew J.D. Grimthorpe. Molly must comb her memory for clues, and revisit her childhood and the mysterious Grimthorpe mansion where her dearly departed Gran once worked. With Molly and her colleagues under investigation, she knows she must solve the mystery post-haste. And if there’s one thing she knows for sure, it’s that dirty secrets don’t stay buried forever…
I always struggle with writing reviews for mystery books. How do you gush about a mystery book without giving away any spoilers? That’s the dilemma I am facing right now. There are so many great, amazing, fabulous things about this story that I want to chat about, but I don’t want to give anything away and ruin the surprises that are in store for anyone reading this book. This is the second book in The Molly Maid series. It does read as a stand-alone, and Nita does a wonderful job at bringing readers up to speed with what happened in the first book. But I would highly recommend reading the previous book first because a) it’s a great read, and b) you will have a stronger connection to the characters.
If you are new to The Molly Maid series, there is this wonderful cozy old-time murder mystery feel to this story. There are no gruesome scenes, no violence, and there is little to no swearing in this book. It’s really a good old-fashioned murder mystery. Nita does a fabulous job at crafting an intriguing mystery that has lots of exciting twists and turns. She knows exactly when to reveal clues to help you piece together what happened. In this book, we get flashbacks of Molly’s childhood and get to spend more time with her beloved Gran. It was great to see a younger version of Molly, and I loved how Nita connected Molly’s past with what was understood in the present-day timeline. The mystery itself was well thought out and interesting and kept me questioning. The ending built up beautifully to that final reveal, and I truly enjoyed how everything wrapped up.
Molly is an endearing character who is very socially awkward. Molly is a different mystery main character. She has a very different outlook on the world and lives by the lessons that her Gran taught her. She often blurts out old-time sayings or lines from the housekeeping training handbook. Some people around her often discredit her or think she is dimwitted. But Molly is a different kind of smart, often seeing details that others miss. I always feel that sense of triumph when Molly can outsmart everyone around and piece together all the clues to solve the murder.
The Mystery Guest is a wonderful, cozy mystery read and a book I will read again and again.
