Reviews - Ein mysteriöser Gast: Zimmermädchen Molly Gray ermittelt

6.19k reviews for:

Ein mysteriöser Gast: Zimmermädchen Molly Gray ermittelt

Nita Prose

3.77 AVERAGE

kqueary's review against another edition

4.0

lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

seraphjewel's review against another edition

2.0

I'm starting to think that cozy mysteries are just not my genre. I can't suspend my disbelief enough to accept that these unqualified people are solving crimes--and sometimes the cops are totally okay with this. The worst of it is that in order for the cozy to work, the actual cops are often depicted as beyond incompetent. I thought the first book was great, but it didn't really focus on the mystery aspect that much. This one is trying more to be a mystery, and I think after the first one did such a good job of "little guy standing up to people of power" that the conclusion of this one was really disappointing.

Once again, I don't feel qualified to discuss Molly's neurodivergence. However, the way the author portrays it in this book really bothers me. This story is taking place in modern day--everyone has cell phones and such. But the way Molly is treated makes the book feel like it's from the past. The scene with her in school was one of the many times I almost stopped reading. Special education classes were a thing when I was in school, and I'm assuming Molly was enrolled around the same time period. I also found it hard to believe she would be held back a year based on social skills. I know public school can suck, but I was bullied and the school ALWAYS sided with me. So for Molly to be the victim of bullying and the school to shrug it off like "kids will be kids" was unbelievable.

Then there's Cheryl. I was shocked to read the woman was still working at the hotel after all she did in the last book. But to have her still employed after all she did in this book? Are you kidding me? For all the sayings Molly likes to repeat, you'd think she'd remember this one: "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." Detective Stark was treated in a similar way. It was like the events of the last book involving these two characters were forgotten. Stark treated Molly the exact same way in this one up until the very end when she realized--again--she judged Molly wrong. Why didn't this lesson stick the first time?

There were some other things that felt unnecessary. I was sorely missing Juan Manuel in this book. They got together at the end of the first book, but he was absent throughout this whole thing. It would have been much better seeing them interacting as a couple through this book! Mr. Preston's reveal was dragged out for absolutely no reason. I'm sure most readers figured out his connection to Molly at the end of book one, so I don't get why the author kept stalling the reveal. There is also a moment where Molly is completely out of character, and a bit hypocritical. I won't detail because of spoilers, but let's just say she scolds someone for doing something she did in the last book.

The mystery itself was okay. I liked all the evidence, though again it would've been nice if the police did any part of their job rather than immediately accusing the hotel staff. I found the killer to be very disappointing after the last time. It was such a standard motive, especially considering all the stuff that was revealed about the author.

I'm not sure yet if I would read more books should this series continue. I will say that this felt like a weak follow-up.