Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose Narrator: Lauren Ambrose
Series: Molly the Maid #2.5
Published by Penguin Audio on October 1, 2024
Genres: Mystery
Length: 2 hours, 38 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
Molly Gray has always loved the holidays. When Molly was a child, her gran went to great lengths to make the season merry and bright, full of cherished traditions. The first few Christmases without Gran were hard on Molly, but this year, her beloved boyfriend and fellow festive spirit, Juan Manuel, is intent on making the season Molly’s most joyful yet.
But when a Secret Santa gift exchange at the Regency Grand Hotel raises questions about who Molly can and cannot trust, she dives headfirst into solving her most consequential—and personal—mystery yet. Molly has a bad feeling about things, and she starts to wonder: has she yet again mistaken a frog for a prince?
I love the Molly the Maid series. Molly is unique and so hard-working and positive. Her practical attitude and hard work, along with honesty have seen her promoted to head maid. She has developed personal relationships with staff, her boss, Mr. Preston (her grandfather and her boyfriend, Juan Manuel.
In The Mistletoe Mystery, we are coming up on the holiday season. Juan has continued a tradition of her grandmother’s, an advent gift for each of the 24 days before Christmas. They are small things, hand-made, inexpensive or thrifted. But they are precious to them. Molly works on her own gifts for her found family.
The mystery here is why Juan is so tired and he is gone sometimes. For these reasons, Molly starts to wonder about their relationship and can’t imagine her life without Juan. She worries she is not enough for him. Molly ponders all the advice her grandmother gave her.
The story is more a character study than a mystery. I have enjoyed watching Molly learn and grow her relationships and the happiness in her life.
Narration:
The narrator has continued throughout the series and I always appreciate that continuity. Her distinct voices for the characters feel very appropriate. Her performance was enjoyable and kept me in the story. I was able to listen comfortably at 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Nita Prose
Nita Prose is the author of THE MAID, which has sold more than 1 million copies worldwide and was published in over forty countries. A #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestseller and a Good Morning America Book Club pick, THE MAID won the Ned Kelly Award for International Crime Fiction and was an Edgar Award finalist. Her second novel, THE MYSTERY GUEST, publishes in November 2023 in North America (January 2024 in the UK). Prose lives in Toronto, Canada, in a house that is moderately clean.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 24-COYER
Another series I can’t wait to start!
Molly is a joy. I hope you love it.
I love that there is a shorter story in this series revolving around Christmas.
I like it too. A lot of authors seem to do this and it expands their characters or sometimes a side character, between the main books.
Sounds cute. I remember your review of the series and it sounds like one I’d enjoy. Thanks!
I think you really would enjoy this one. Molly is such a great character.
Reminds me of the way Anne Perry did her Christmas novellas as a side to the series and they were small mysteries many times. This is another series I really want to hit at some point.
I really enjoy this series. This one is the same characters as the main series. That’s more like the way Kelley Armstrong does it with the annual holiday novellas for A Stitch in Time series. I LOVE the Anne Perry Christmas ones. They connect to different ones of her series.
Love this series and I thought this novella was a sweet story. Can’t wait for the next one!
I really enjoy this series and Molly!
It’s always a treat to find a Christmas version of a favourite series. I’ve just bought the first book in this series and look forward to tucking in – thank you for your lovely review:).
You should love it. Molly is an amazing character.
I should read an Xmas mystery myself.
I enjoyed this but it is better within the series I think and each book has a mystery. Some that are more standalone are Anne Perry’s Christmas mysteries. I love them.