Molly the Maid has a whole new mystery to solve in this heartwarming novella from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid and The Mystery Guest.
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?
A heartwarming, magical story about the true spirit of the season, The Mistletoe Mystery reminds us that love is the greatest mystery of all
The Mistletoe Mystery is a heartwarming holiday novella and the third installment in the “Molly The Maid” series. The story follows Molly and her boyfriend Juan over the holiday season as they decorate their home and partake in a Secret Santa gift exchange at the Regency Grand Hotel. The story brings a return of all the beloved characters, making it very enjoyable for fans of the series. The novella is very easy to follow and can easily be enjoyed as a standalone.
The story expands upon the relationship between Molly and Juan. As they’ve been living together for two years, they’ve now settled into a routine. Prose depicts their time together as very wholesome with a lot of loving, playful dialogue. There are also flashback scenes with Molly and her late Gran that are very touching. This part of the story is relatable to anyone who’s lost a loved one and finds the holidays more difficult without them.
Contrary to the title, there’s not much of a mystery here, especially compared to the previous books. Molly becomes suspicious when Juan’s behavior becomes strange and he lies about where he’s been on certain occasions. The evidence points to Juan potentially cheating, and Molly mulls the whole situation in her head using her usual ridiculous puns and unique analogies. The ending is very predictable but also suitable for an uplifting Christmas story.
Narrator Lauren Ambrose returns to deliver another wonderful performance of the narrative and characters. Once again, she embodies Molly using a quirky tone infused with humor and charm that’s addictive to listen to. With such great performances, it’s impossible to imagine anyone else voicing this series—let’s hope Ambrose returns for every future book!
Overall, this is a sweet and touching novella that fans of the series will quickly devour. It’s more a story of wholesome romance, holiday traditions, and misunderstandings than one mystery. For those who haven’t read the series, this is a great option to get a feel for the quirky and loveable characters!
