I started to read this book and immediately told my teenager she would love this book. She read it and as told a few of her friends to read it as well. Needless to say, the book is good and worth the read for a YA book.

I enjoyed this book, but I didn't really get into it as much as I did the Truly Devious series. It felt slow in the beginning. The last few chapters had all the action and I read through them so quickly. I didn't connect with the characters a lot, but if this was a series and had room to grow, I'm sure I would have been more into everyone. All in all, I love a good mystery!

Author Maureen Johnson wrote the Truly Devious series and I was completely obsessed with it, so when Johnson released Death at Morning House, I knew I had to read it.

The story had a really interesting plotline and I was intrigued. I knew we were looking at a really good wanna-be teen detective solving and crime and I knew Johnson could write that well. I felt the mysteries moving along and smoothly enough to keep you wanting to know what is happening.

My only issue with the story was that I found the main character to be extremely annoying. She was not relatable in any way. She was quite a bit obnoxious and obsessive over things and I found her obsession over a girl she went on one date with to be a bit extreme. Now I know teenagers can be that way, but this just seemed a bit much and made her unlikeable. I was happy when she moved on a bit from her feelings for the first girl, but then her inner monologue about obsessing over the new girl was just as obsessive. In real life, I'd recommend therapy.

The fact that I did not like the main character at all made me enjoy this story less. I want to have someone to cheer for or root against and I couldn't do either. She landed somewhere in the middle and I didn't know how to feel about the important stuff because the unimportant stuff was in my way. With that, I did find the twists at the end redeemable and was quite surprised with the ending. I did not really see it coming.

As I said, I love Maureen Johnson, but this book was not my favorite. The ending brought it back to a three stars and this could easily be a five star review with some of what I would consider unnecessary removed. Will I check out the next book from Johnson? Absolutely. She writes unique YA Fiction thrillers that are thouroughly enjoyable and I encourage you to try Death at Morning House yourself and let me know what you think.

I loved reading Johnson's "Death at Morning House." The main character, Marlowe, is relatable—nerdy and shy (the house fire wasn’t her fault!) The story's vibe is similar to the "Truly Devious" but skips the annoying characters. It uses alternative time periods between the present and 1932. Over all I really enjoyed this book.

Very much in the vein of the Truly Devious series but with a new MC and a standalone (for now?). Given my intense dislike of the love interest in the Truly Devious books (and his stubborn persistence in the series) it was nice to have a snappy mystery with a new cast.

A solid but underwhelming read, this standalone mystery features Maureen Johnson’s signature blend of historic and present-day crimes, a boarding school setting, and a creepy old estate. However, unlike her usual teen detectives, the protagonist doesn’t actively investigate, leading to a slow-moving first half with little mystery-solving. With less focus on quirky friendships and more on tragic backstory, the story lacks the engaging detective work that makes her other books so fun. While there were enjoyable moments and familiar tropes, the overall execution fell a bit flat, making this a decent but not standout read.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the dual timelines and the banter like writing style. The last half of the book had me hooked and I couldn’t put it down, and I definitely didn’t see the twist coming at all. I would highly recommend

I love a book that is taut with suspense and keeps you at holding on by the edge of your seat - the twists and sharp turns in this one were great. Was definitely engaged throughout!

Death at Morning House is a chilling and atmospheric mystery that showcases Maureen Johnson’s signature blend of suspense and sharp storytelling. The eerie setting and slow-building tension kept me hooked, and the twists were well-executed. While the pacing lagged in a few spots, the intriguing characters and unsettling mood made up for it. It’s not my favorite of her works, but it’s still an engaging read with plenty of eerie charm. Fans of Johnson’s mysteries will find plenty to enjoy!

After Marlowe experiences an unfortunate fire while house-sitting, she goes on search of a summer job. Morning House is full of mysteries and interesting characters. It's an old 1920s mansion on an island and they give tours. The back story is pretty interesting dealing with the family who lived there and their mysterious deaths. When people start cooking up missing and dead, Marlowe knows she signed up for way more than she bargained.

This book was insane. The amount of times I thought I knew what was going on baffled me. I'd be like, "ohh, okay, yeah" and then the next chapter starts and I immediately was like "oh, no, I don't understand what's happening." I will definitely be looking forward to more of the authors work.

This is a fun standalone mystery from a great YA mystery writer. I loved the setting of the old, beautiful but creepy house, and the slow reveal of what happened in the past as well as in the future worked well. The writing is sharp too; it made me laugh out loud a couple of times. All the characters are fun and the main character in particular is really relatable to anyone who is a teen or who remembers their teenage years.

I love a good Maureen Johnson book! This one did not disappoint! It was suspenseful and had all the twists and turns!

I flew through this one in just a couple of days, which is a rarity for me—especially when the book is nearly 400 pages long! I really enjoyed Marlowe’s perspective, the mix of present and past timeline’s were well done, the mysteries were satisfying and the thought process the characters went through trying to solve them was believable. I also really liked Johnson’s descriptions, there were a lot of unusual metaphors and her humor really landed with me. The driving mystery in the present timeline doesn’t kick off until the 50% mark. From that point the pace just skyrockets, each chapter is faster than the last.

After the Devious series and its wonderful characters I was unsure if this new group would be as good. Maureen did it and now there are two great groups of young detectives out there for us all to follow. This book was a wonderful read.

This book was told past and present. Present is a house with a mysterious past and the present is a group of young people working as tour guides. The main character is Marlowe Wexler and I'm sure given the opportunity Marlowe could give Stevie Bell a run for her money on solving anything.

I loved all the characters both past and present and the story held my interest from the first page to the last. Maureen again has constructed a strong and diverse cast that I look forward to reading more of in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Teen for the advanced E-copy in exchange for my honest reviews.

I really like that this story started with such a bang. The immediate fire at the house she's house-sitting with her crush is something that is unforgettable. Also, the idea of being basically trapped on an island with probably someone who is a murderer is such a classic story. I really enjoyed it and have recommended it to those looking for a solid mystery.

Maureen Johnson does not disappoint! This was another great book and she is now on my always-read list! I can't wait to read her next book! This was a wild ride and I was totally here for it.

#DeathatMorningHouse
#NetGalley

Maureen Johnson is an incredible mystery writer. I loved every book I have read of theirs and I can't wait to read the next one.

To be honest I found myself a little disappointed by this book. I typically love Maureen Johnson (I loved truly devious) but this one fell flat for me. I was riddled with second hand embarrassment and felt like the book really dragged on when it didn’t need to. I didn’t hate it by any means, but I didn’t love it.

Hi Again!

I am a huge Maureen Johnson fan. I have read nearly all of their books, and the Truly Devious series is one of my top favorite reads of all time. So anytime Maureen puts out a new mystery book you can bet I need it. I pre-order it, and constantly try to read stuff about it online. If you have never read any of the Truly Devious series, go and do that right now. So when I heard about Death at Morning House, I already knew I was in. This is another mystery series but not with our beloved Stevie and crew. However, I was still more than willing to give it a try. Before we dive into the review I would like to give a massive thank you for the ARC copy of this book, in exchange for my honest opinions. I absolutely devoured this book and I am more than ready for another mystery!

SPOILERS AHEAD

Marlowe lives with her parents and is a typical high schooler for the most part. She attends school, has a part-time job, and looks after a nearby family friend’s home when they are in the city and working, she also happens to have a crush. Marlowe decides to take a big leap and ask her crush out. Marlowe decides to take her crush to the house she looks after. She is sure it will be fine and they will not be doing anything bad, illegal or that would get you in trouble. Marlowe sets the house up and even lights a candle. However, this candle backfires on Marlowe as it starts a fire that burns down the whole house and metaphorically Marlowe’s life with it. Now her parents are not happy with her, her crush is not really even speaking to her and she is going to have to go work at Morning House for the summer (which is a bit of a ways away from home). Now Marlowe is headed to work there for the summer where she knows no one including the other kids her age working there. She has researched the place and the original owning family as well as the misfortunes that befell them. Marlowe also learned that they were an odd family with a strict schedule. The father believed heavily in eugenics and had adopted 6 children, he brought them here to his home and raised them with the help of his sister.

Eventually, the children would get older and he would send them to a nice school where the children would learn that the rest of the world is much different than they are. Their father also marries a younger woman and they have 1 child together, who is a complete nightmare. They all hate him but no one will admit it to their father or aunt. He is clearly the favorite and acts like a very spoiled brat. One day, the family has a day that is very out of routine for them, and the youngest child is found dead. Shortly after one of the older sisters jumped off her balcony. This does not seem like a coincidence but these deaths were a long time ago.

Now the house is only open for the summer and people can come for tours. After this summer a new owner will be coming to take over the home and it will never be the same again. Once Marlowe arrives and gets settled in things quickly tip upside down as she begins to learn more about her new co-workers, the adult on the island, and the large rift that has formed between everyone. Marlowe learns the rift was caused by the death of the other person who should have been here and that they were a friend of everyone and even had some romantic relationships within the group. Things are very up and down with the group but one morning the adult who invited Marlowe to the island and who was in charge goes missing. The police are called but there are no signs and a storm is brewing. Now Marlowe may or may not be trapped on the island with a murderer and the answers to what really happened to the family that originally owned the house.

I really enjoyed this mystery. I read through it pretty quickly (as I do with all of Maureen’s books) because I wanted to know the ending, I needed to know the ending. I had my thoughts and suspicions but I was definitely wrong. I really liked the professor and I was honestly surprised at their disappearance and death. I also enjoyed the setting change in this book, the island and the small town they would visit as well as the house. The playhouse they stay in felt like it had a weird murder whimsy to it and the whole thing helped set a great atmospheric vibe for the story. I am beyond excited for the next mystery by Maureen (and I really really still need more of Stevie’s story).

Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars (deserves many more)

***Thank you so much for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest opinions.