A review by abbeyroad1410
The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was a fun who-done-it though I must admit I preferred The Maid to its sequel.
The Molly in this novel is very different from the Molly in the prior novel. Her quirks seem toned down, though much of that could be due to her gain in confidence. Since the last novel, she has been promoted to head maid and appears to have a lot of authority at the hotel. This version of Molly is very likeable and keeps her original charm; however, I feel like her toned down quirks make the character less unique.
One thing that is quite enjoyable about this novel is the flashbacks in time. I think these work very well, especially since the novels goal is to connect Molly to the plot in a personal way that allows her to solve the mystery and gives viable alternatives to the murderer. At times, I think the flashback subplot is more gripping than the original novel. It is nice to get this context to Molly's character and it expands the background of the murder victim. 
The end of the novel is fairly well-done
though I must admit the revelation that Mr. Preston is Molly's grandfather makes limited sense to me. Though it had previously been revealed that he and Flora had a relationship, I didn't feel there was anything connecting him to Molly biologically. Also, it fees like something that should have been explored when he was a major part of the last book
. The murderer was predictable but not too predictable. The ending dragged a bit but not in a way that I wished to put the book down.
Overall, I was very happy with this sequel, I simply prefer the Maid for his more unique characterization of the lead.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings