Nita Prose’s The Mystery Guest is the second novel in the Molly the Maid series. The first novel, simply titled The Maid, introduces the protagonist, Molly Gray. The Maid became an international best-seller and won multiple awards, including the Ned Kelly Award for International Crime Fiction, the Fingerprint Award for Debut Novel of the Year, the Anthony Award for Best First Novel, and the Barry Award for Best First Mystery.

The first two installments of the series fit comfortably in the cozy mystery genre, in which the protagonists are amateur sleuths, and any violence or sexually explicit events generally occur “offstage.” However, Prose’s novel stands out because protagonist Molly Gray’s unique way of thinking helps her to become a talented detective even as her quirky mannerisms hinder her socially. While speculation about Molly’s neurotype abounds, Prose has declined to confirm Molly’s diagnosis as a neurodivergent individual and states instead that Molly’s struggle with belonging is universal; the author’s themes often revolve around this topic. While Molly sees and remembers small details that are instrumental in identifying the killer, her difficulty with reading human behavior and her literal interpretations of conversations often create misunderstandings and conflicts.