THE MYSTERY GUEST
*****
NITA PROSE
A new mess.A new mystery.Molly the maid returns . . .
Molly Gray wears her Head Maid badge proudly for every shift at the Regency Grand Hotel, plumping pillows, sweeping up the guests’ secrets, silently restoring rooms to a state of perfection.
But when a renowned guest – a famous mystery writer – drops very dead in the grand tea room, Molly has an unusual clean-up on her hands.
As rumours and suspicion swirl in the hotel corridors, it’s clear there’s grime lurking beneath the gilt. And Molly knows that she alone holds the key to the mystery. But unlocking it means thinking about the past, about Gran, and everything else she’s kept tidied away in her memory for so long.
Because Molly knew the dead guest once upon a time – and he knew her . . .
MY REVIEW
*****
Molly the Maid first captured our hearts in Nita Prose’s book The Maid, which was a Kindig Gem for me for 2022. She’s socially awkward and obsessed with routine, yet with her idioms and phrases she’s heartwarming and instantly likeable which is what made the first book such a success.
Molly is back in the second book – The Mystery Guest which I’m sure will be a hit for 2024 reading. Although I didn’t quite find it as good as the original, The Mystery Guest was still a solid 5 star read for me. When a famous writer drops dead in the Regency Grand Hotel’s newly renovated tearoom during a guest lecture, it’s up to Molly to discover the truth.
This book also alternates between the present day and flashbacks from Molly’s childhood, when she visited the home of the writer. Both points of view are well-paced, and I was thoroughly engaged with both sides. There are quite a few strands to the plot, and I didn’t actually guess the conclusion until right at the very end! Molly is just as endearing as ever, and I enjoyed the glimpse into her childhood as well. I like how you see everything from her eyes and as a reader sometimes understand situations much better or faster than Molly does as she struggles with social convention.
Overall The Mystery Guest is a solid read and a great start to anyone’s 2024 reading list – if you loved The Maid, it’s highly recommended and I hope there’s a third in the series! Thank you to NetGalley & Harper Collins UK – Harper Fiction for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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