HarperCollins wraps up Nita Prose’s ‘pure festive delight’

HarperCollins has bagged the rights to The Mistletoe Mystery, a “charming” festive novella from Nita Prose, continuing the author’s “Molly the maid” series. 

Publishing director Charlotte Brabbin acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, from Madeleine Milburn at the Madeleine Milburn Agency. US rights went to Ballantine and Canadian rights were signed by Penguin. The novella will be published in hardback in October 2024. 

“Molly is back for the holiday season in a playful mystery of pure joy and delight,” said Milburn. “It’s a feast for her fans and new readers alike, celebrating love, kindness and all things festive. Prepare for your heart to melt!”

The synopsis for The Mistletoe Mystery reads: “Molly the maid is counting down the days until the annual Secret Santa gift exchange at the hotel, sweeping and polishing until every surface shines with Christmas cheer. But not all that glitters is gold, and suspicions soon surface that Molly can’t scrub from her mind. Why does her beloved boyfriend Juan Manuel keep telling tales about his whereabouts? Why does it feel like there’s a mystery that needs solving, without any clues? Luckily for Molly there’ll be a very tidy ending, and it’ll be a five-star Christmas at The Regency Grand Hotel.”

Prose said: “I’m so grateful to all the readers out there who’ve embraced my protagonist, Molly Gray, and her gran. I hope they enjoy this holiday mystery, which is a celebration of the season.”

Brabbin added: “Readers absolutely adore Nita Prose’s joyful storytelling, and The Mistletoe Mystery is pure festive delight. It’s been incredible to see the love pouring in for her inimitable heroine, Molly the Maid, and we can’t wait for even more readers to fall for her charms this Christmas.”