Title: The Mystery Guest
Author: Nita Prose
Publication: November 8, 2023
Publisher: Ballatine Books
Genre: Thrillers, Domestic Thriller
Pages: 304
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SYNOPSIS: (From Goodreads)
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 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 begins to comb her memory for clues, revisiting her childhood and the mysterious Grimthorpe mansion where she and her dearly departed Gran once worked side by side. With the entire hotel under investigation, Molly must solve the mystery post-haste. If there’s one thing Molly knows for sure, it’s that dirty secrets don’t stay buried forever…
REVIEW:
**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I love Molly from The Maid and was so excited this series was going to continue. The Mystery Guest did not disappoint! We got more of Molly in charge and a ton of twists to this cozy mystery.
Nita Prose writes some of the best cozy mysteries you will ever read. They keep you guessing without any gore or language. Prose’s Molly is such an interesting character and you just cannot help but keep turning the pages as she tries to figure out what is going on in her favorite place at the hotel. This specific mystery added a personal spin to Molly’s life and it was so nice seeing flashbacks in her young childhood and with her grandmother. I feel like this added so much to our building relationship with Molly the Maid and how she became the woman she is. This was a great add on to this already fantastic story.
I do not have a single complaint about this story. From the first page to the very last you are left guessing on what happened and who was involved. The way Molly’s thoughts play out in the book is incredibly interesting to read because of her unique mind. I also really enjoyed watching her grow as a leader and really take charge and stand up for herself in many ways. I cannot wait to read the next one and see what Molly does next!