If by chance you are on the hunt for a cosy mystery with a well thought out plot, beautiful setting and interesting characters, then stop everything – I have found it! The Mystery Guest (2023) by Nita Prose is all these things and more, it’s a pure delight.

Our protagonist Molly the Maid works at the prestigious Regency Grand Hotel. When we met her in the first book, The Maid (2022) (which I reviewed in this blog a few months back), she was having a rough time and living quite a lonely experience. Her life looks quite different in this sequel. She is thriving in her promotion to Head Maid and happy in her relationships with those close to her, particularly someone special. However, another mysterious death at the hotel brings mayhem to Molly’s world and she is embroiled in the the drama of following the clues to deduce what happened and who is responsible. There are many possible suspects and Molly and her co-workers are eager to solve the mystery.

Do I Need to Read The Maid First?

This is a good time to pause and say that I think you could easily enjoy this book on its own, but it is far more satisfying to read The Maid first and then The Mystery Guest. I read a quote from Nita Prose where she shared her worry that the sequel would not measure up to the original book. She didn’t need to be concerned though (IMO), as this one is just as brilliant. Even though both books are wonderful and have fabulous who-dun-it mysteries, I truly enjoyed this one the most. What works so well is that the story builds further on Molly’s life so it doesn’t so much feel like a sequel, instead it just adds more depth to the story, flowing seamlessly from one book to the the other. I liked the connection between the past and present as Molly recounted her childhood memories and we gradually understand how this fits with the current mystery.

Another lovely part of the story is getting to know Flora, Molly’s gran, even though she has passed away some years ago. Molly’s memories bring life to her gran’s story and their relationship was beautiful. Flora was a wonderful parent figure to Molly, teaching her to seek out the good in life and how to navigate the complexities of this world. While it isn’t explicitly stated, it is implied from Molly’s words, behaviour and perceptions that she is neurodivergent, possibly autistic. I wonder how other readers respond to her character? Many of my family members are neurodiverse so I am cautious about protagonists who are stereotypical in their depiction of autism. However, this series feels like an invitation into Molly’s world and it felt authentic to me, but I would be curious to hear how other readers feel. Many other characters in the book reflect back to Molly how much they value and appreciate her in such a positive way, genuinely enjoying her integrity and insightful way of seeing things.

Finally, the setting of the Regency Grand Hotel is perfect for a who-dun-it tale. Its old fashioned luxury gives the vibe of a classic mystery novel but with a modern slant. As I’m sure you can tell, I highly recommend The Mystery Guest. It is less likely to appeal if you prefer a fast paced action story or gruesome thriller, but if gentle character driven who-dun-its are your style, then definitely give this one a go.