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The Mistletoe Mystery
Nita Prose
128 pages
Ballantine Books
October 1, 2024
The reader should know that this is a novella, not a full length novel. In our busy lives, that could be a good thing. I rarely read novellas for some reason but since I read the first two in the Molly the Maid series, it was a foregone conclusion that I would read this. I really like the main character, Molly, the maid.
If you are looking for a true murder mystery, then look elsewhere. There is no murder here. This is really more of a light and sweet book about Molly who is a socially awkward maid who recently lost her mother but found love with Juan, who works at the same hotel, as a chef. I have always loved Molly; it is hard not to root for her. Although it is never stated, Molly is autistic. She has trouble reading social cues. She is fixated on order. I think the author conveys Molly with compassion. This nice little novella fills in some of the blanks and is a true feel-good book in the theme of the season. But, despite the name, it is no mystery. The “mystery” here is about whether Molly’s boyfriend, Juan, is someone she can trust and whether he is the right man for her. Given that this is a Christmas book, the reader should be able to guess how this will come out.
Even though this is a Christmas book, I would advise the reader to read these books in order because, especially since this is a novella and is shorter, I think it is better as something to prepare us for the next installment. I think that things will also make more sense.
This is a good read, though don’t expect the depth of the previous two novels, that really were mysteries.
Thanks to Random House-Ballantine and NetGalley for providing me with this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
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