Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
funny
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Light and frothy mystery that tries too hard to be cute
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really liked this book, but I’m deducting points because the mystery didn’t end in a satisfying way. There was so much build up, but things just fell flat and somehow seemed a little implausible at the end. A lot of characters seemed to do a 180 towards the end and acted in ways I don’t really think they would so soon, though it was sweet to see them act that way towards Molly. Otherwise, I really enjoyed diving deeper into Molly’s backstory and how that tied into the bigger mystery at hand. Excited for the next one in this series.
Nita Prose returns to the Regency Grand Hotel with another sparkling cozy-crime caper, and the welcome-back mint this time is a full-length sequel. Our beloved Molly Gray—now promoted to Head Maid—finds her perfectly ordered world overturned when celebrated author J. D. Grimthorpe keels over in the lobby mid-book-launch. One corpse, dozens of fingerprints, and a hotel full of alibis later, Molly’s dust-pan precision and unshakeable moral compass are put through a brand-new spin cycle.
Prose’s gift remains her heroine’s voice: literal, earnest, and somehow both naïve and razor-sharp. Watching Molly interpret social cues (and occasionally miss them entirely) is equal parts charming and revealing; it’s also a clever conduit for deeper topics—class prejudice, childhood neglect, and the ache of grief—handled with admirable gentleness. Supporting characters feel cut from the same snug cloth: kind porter Juan Manuel, prickly yet loyal manager Mr. Snow, plus a few new faces who supply fresh suspects and comic seasoning without tipping the novel into farce.
Plot-wise, Prose keeps the clues coming like room-service hors d’oeuvres—bite-sized, tasty, and easy to digest. Veterans of the genre may peg the culprit before Molly does, but the journey is so breezy you won’t begrudge the predictability. Chapters are short, dialogue snappy, and flashbacks to Molly’s childhood add welcome texture without clogging the narrative vacuum.
Why four stars instead of five? The resolution, while heartfelt, leans a touch tidy, and a late twist strains credibility harder than a hotel bedsheet on laundry day. Still, the reading experience is pure comfort: suspenseful enough to keep pages turning, warm enough to read in one sitting with a mug of something steamy.
If you loved The Maid or simply crave a wholesome whodunit that balances tough themes with genuine kindness, The Mystery Guest is your perfect turndown treat—chocolate on the pillow included.
Prose’s gift remains her heroine’s voice: literal, earnest, and somehow both naïve and razor-sharp. Watching Molly interpret social cues (and occasionally miss them entirely) is equal parts charming and revealing; it’s also a clever conduit for deeper topics—class prejudice, childhood neglect, and the ache of grief—handled with admirable gentleness. Supporting characters feel cut from the same snug cloth: kind porter Juan Manuel, prickly yet loyal manager Mr. Snow, plus a few new faces who supply fresh suspects and comic seasoning without tipping the novel into farce.
Plot-wise, Prose keeps the clues coming like room-service hors d’oeuvres—bite-sized, tasty, and easy to digest. Veterans of the genre may peg the culprit before Molly does, but the journey is so breezy you won’t begrudge the predictability. Chapters are short, dialogue snappy, and flashbacks to Molly’s childhood add welcome texture without clogging the narrative vacuum.
Why four stars instead of five? The resolution, while heartfelt, leans a touch tidy, and a late twist strains credibility harder than a hotel bedsheet on laundry day. Still, the reading experience is pure comfort: suspenseful enough to keep pages turning, warm enough to read in one sitting with a mug of something steamy.
If you loved The Maid or simply crave a wholesome whodunit that balances tough themes with genuine kindness, The Mystery Guest is your perfect turndown treat—chocolate on the pillow included.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5-4 stars. The sequel is better than the first in this series! I enjoyed the back and forth between chapters, from “Before” to present day, so we learn a lot about Gran, Molly, and her mother.
There were a number of small twists, nothing super shocking—Mr Preston’s revelation, Cheryl being involved. But also a couple major twists that I hadn’t seen coming—JDG having a ghost writer.
I did lose count on how many times the author mentions “chaise lounge,” “Fabrege,” and “in perpetuum”—it was a lot! But overall, a fun read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reading copy.
There were a number of small twists, nothing super shocking—Mr Preston’s revelation, Cheryl being involved. But also a couple major twists that I hadn’t seen coming—JDG having a ghost writer.
I did lose count on how many times the author mentions “chaise lounge,” “Fabrege,” and “in perpetuum”—it was a lot! But overall, a fun read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reading copy.