Nita Prose’s debut mystery, The Maid, was a hit, nominated for six awards, and winner of The Ned Kelly Award for Best International Crime Novel. While I liked it, I liked The Mystery Guest even more, the book that marks the return of Molly Gray.

Three years after her previous adventure, Molly is Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel, a five-star boutique hotel. She was in charge of setting up the Grand Tearoom for its first event. J.D. Grimthorpe, the bestselling author of over twenty books, is to appear in the tearoom to make a public announcement. The author is a recluse who seldom appears in public. The media and Grimthorpe’s rabid group of fans crowd the room. Molly has everything in place, and has trained the new maid, Lily, to provide the tea cart with everything Grimthorpe wants. But, Grimthorpe surprises everyone by going to the cart and adding extra honey. When he drops dead just before his grand announcement, everyone crowds the stage. Molly has the presence of mind to remove Lily from the terrifying scene. But, people remember who served the tea.

And, Molly’s nemesis, Detective Stack, hasn’t forgotten her previous run-ins with the maid. She suspects everyone from Molly and Lily to Serena Sharpe, Grimthorpe’s personal secretary, to Mr. Preston, the doorman at the hotel. But, Molly’s memories of the past may hold the key to the murder.

Molly was just a girl when she first met J.D. Grimthorpe at Grimthorpe mansion. She wasn’t a normal student, and Molly’s Gran was forced to remove her from school, and take her to work with her. At the time, Gran was the maid at the mansion, working for Mrs. Grimthorpe. But, there were rules, and Molly broke them. In doing so, she met the reclusive author, and discovered some of the secrets of the house. Those secrets are important in uncovering the truth about J.D. Grimthorpe’s murder.

Perhaps I’m used to Molly’s way of thinking after the first book. She doesn’t notice what others do. “I notice the wrong things at the wrong time.” Maybe that’s why I enjoyed The Mystery Guest more than The Maid. When Prose brings back Molly, Mr. Preston, and other familiar characters, it’s a return of an interesting cast. The author says The Mystery Guest is not a sequel. I hope she writes more non-sequels about Molly Gray in the future.

Nita Prose’s website is https://www.nitaprose.com/

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose. Ballantine Books, 2023. ISBN 9780593356180 (hardcover), 304p.

FTC Full Disclosure – The publisher sent a review copy without any promises of a review.