Nita Prose Books in Order (Updated February 22, 2026)

Nita Prose writes the Molly the Maid mysteries: a cozy-leaning series with one central protagonist and a clear progression. Order matters because Molly’s relationships, work life, and personal history accumulate across books.

Your quickest way in: pick the vibe

• Meet Molly from the beginning (best first read): The Maid
• You want a faster “case-first” sequel feel: The Mystery Guest (but it lands better after book 1)
• You want a seasonal, short extra: The Mistletoe Mystery (best after book 2)
• You want the newest full-length story: The Maid’s Secret (best after books 1-2)

One-character series, one simple rule

This is not a “multiple detectives” world or a set of standalones. It’s a single lead character series.

• Main novels: read in order for the cleanest character arc.
• Novella: a short, optional stop that fits between the novels.

---

Molly the Maid series (publication order, with one line per book)

1. The Maid (2022): Molly Gray, a hotel maid who likes rules and routine, is pulled into a murder investigation at the Regency Grand.
2. The Mystery Guest (2023): A renowned guest arrives at the hotel and trouble follows, pushing Molly into another case that builds on her growth from book one.
3. The Mistletoe Mystery: A Maid Novella (2024): A holiday-time mystery at the Regency Grand that works best as a light interlude after book two.
4. The Maid’s Secret (2025): An art-related crime lands at the hotel and forces Molly to confront what she’s been keeping private, best read after the earlier books.

Format note: The Maid’s Secret was released in 2025 in several formats, with later paperback scheduling in some markets/editions.

---

Recommended reading order (the version most readers want)

1. The Maid
2. The Mystery Guest
3. (Optional) The Mistletoe Mystery
4. The Maid’s Secret

---

FAQs

Do I have to read these in order?
If you care about Molly’s personal arc, yes. The mysteries can be followed on their own, but the emotional context lands better in sequence.

Where does the novella go?
Read The Mistletoe Mystery after The Mystery Guest and before The Maid’s Secret, or skip it entirely without losing the main storyline.

Are there any other Nita Prose novels outside Molly the Maid?
As of February 22, 2026, the published fiction catalogue is centered on the Molly the Maid titles listed above.