Maureen Johnson delivers another excellent mystery story!

I was worried that I'd miss Stevie Bell, but honestly? I'd love another few Marlowe Wexler stories, too.

Maureen Johnson always writes such wonderfully awkward teenagers and Death at Morning House is no different. The dual mystery (one historical, one modern) returns from Truly Devious, but unlike Stevie, Marlowe isn't a detective, so we the audience get to solve the historical one (unless you're dumb as a post like me and just watch it unfold while falling for every single red herring in the sea).

Morning House feels REAL and I think that's a testament to how well Johnson does at integrating historical research and events into her stories. I want to vacation to the Thousand Islands. Preferably without all the death and murder. The dressing, I can take or leave.

If you liked the Truly Devious\Stevie Bell mysteries, or are just looking for a fast-paced mystery to carry you through the end of the summer, check out Death at Morning House!

** thnx to netgalley for providing an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review**

3.5 Stars

This one is an interesting one. I really, really like Johnson's Truly Devious books and this has a lot of the same elements - parallel stories of past and present mysteries, but the two don't intertwine as neatly as the parallel plots in TD do.

Death at Morning House follows Marlowe as she integrates herself into an existing friend group for the summer (after blowing up her own life). Since it's the same genre, and the same approach and the same vibe of brat pack investigates mystery, it's impossible not to compare this to Truly Devious but Marlowe is <i>not</i> Stevie Bell, which makes the mystery a little less fun to read. She's not super interested in the past mystery about the Ralston family deaths and her interest in the drama surrounding her new friends(?) is self-interest motivated rather than "omg mystery" motivated. These are both normal and relatable - Marlowe is very much a believable teen - but it is a bit different to read a mystery from the POV of a character who isn't obsessed with solving the mystery (very different from Stevie).

The characters have Johnson’s typical style - fun and quirky and very teen. I wish she’d spent a bit more time showing their relationships instead of having various characters tell Marlowe about who loves who and why, but it works given the context of the story.
The mysteries are both pretty straightforward. None of the twists are super twisty (though I also read too many thrillers so they might be more twisty if you’re not always looking for the answer), but they’re still satisfying.

My one big thought is that I think Johnson is trying to comment on eugenics with her past story which is a fascinating choice but she dances around saying the big things. I know it’s YA and not a thinkpiece, but there was definitely room for the modern teens to talk about it. I think Johnson was trying to imply things but I don’t know that she successfully drove the message home. I kept waiting for the big “well yeah, that’s what happens when you’re ___” line, but it never came.

Cw: death, teen death (past), eugenics & racial purity discussions, wild dieting

My partner asked what I enjoy about Maureen Johnson. I love that she will have a place and tell two stories, one current day and the other from the early twentieth century. Morning House has Marlowe (love her!) with her penchant for fire and the Ralstons with their odd family behaviour. This is going to be an easy Reader's Advisory sell for my students.

Split between two different timelines, this book brings together a series of tragic events that unfold on a mysterious island. Each death brings out the evil of the monster that lurks just under the surface of the people we think we know best. Is it jealousy, rage or fear that killed the family members and drove them away from the island? As the author explains the madness, it is clear that the story is doomed to repeat itself unless someone starts to tell the real truth.

I enjoyed this mystery story, but found it a bit slow. I felt like things didn't ramp up until halfway into the book. I also didn't connect well with the main character, but I really liked many of the side characters. I also wasn't super invested with either mystery. I would have preferred to focus on one storyline rather than switching back and forth, as I felt like they weren't connected. This was still a fun read, but would have liked it to be a bit more focused on the characters and one storyline.

Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books/HarperTeen and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC of "Death at Morning House" by Maureen Johnson. As a lover of Johnson's "Truly Devious" series, my expectations for this standalone book were very high. Fortunately, "Death at Morning House" not only met but exceeded those expectations, leaving me wanting additional books in this world.

Set against the backdrop of a touristy island notorious for its dark history, "Death at Morning House" presents a riveting who-done-it mystery that unfolds across split timelines. This narrative choice not only adds depth to the story but also keeps readers on the edge of their seats as they piece together the mystery alongside the characters.

"Death at Morning House" is a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries and those who enjoy a well-crafted, engaging story. Add to your TBR and you wont be disappointed.

Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books for the opportunity to read an early copy of Death at Morning House! Death at Morning House is released on August 6th.

If you're a high school librarian, you'll want to order this title for your Mystery and Suspense section. If you're a middle school librarian wondering if this title will be suitable for your age group, I think this is a YA title that you should read before determining if it is suitable for your older students.

Without spoiling the ending, this is a great recommendation for any student who says they like listening to podcasts but haven't found a book they like yet. While my ultimate book recommendation with podcasts is still Sadie by Courtney Summers, this one takes a different approach with a winning narrative structure for reluctant readers.

Death at Morning House is a captivating and thrilling stand-alone YA novel that perfectly balances humor, mystery, and a touch of danger. Known for her Truly Devious series, the author brings her signature wit and knack for suspense to this new adventure, making it a must-read for fans of young adult mysteries.
Marlowe Wexler is a relatable and endearing protagonist whose summer starts off with a literal bang when her date night goes up in flames—quite literally. Her reputation as an "accidental arsonist" leaves her scrambling for a new job, which she finds at the eerie and enigmatic Morning House. The mansion, set on an island and steeped in 1920s history, provides a rich and atmospheric backdrop for the unfolding drama.
The job seems simple enough: give tours, talk about the mansion's stained glass, nut cutlets, and Prohibition-era history. But Marlowe quickly discovers that Morning House is hiding a dark secret. The deaths associated with the mansion and the mysterious disappearance of her employer plunge her into a spine-tingling investigation that keeps you guessing until the very end.
The author excels at creating a suspenseful and immersive setting. The mansion's history and its creepy, abandoned ambiance add layers of intrigue and tension to the story. Marlowe’s wit and humor provide a perfect counterbalance to the darker elements, making the novel both engaging and enjoyable.
The mystery is well-crafted, with enough twists and turns to keep readers on their toes. Marlowe's journey to uncover the truth is filled with suspense and danger, as each clue she uncovers brings her closer to unraveling the mansion’s deadly secrets. The pacing is spot-on, with each chapter building anticipation and excitement.
Overall, Death at Morning House is a gripping mystery that showcases the author's talent for creating engaging, smart, and witty YA fiction. It’s a thrilling ride that keeps you hooked from start to finish, making it a highly recommended read for anyone looking for a clever and chilling summer adventure.

Maureen Johnson is BACK! Death at Morning House is a stand alone mystery novel about an accidental arsonist who gets a job giving tours at an abandoned mansion from the 30s that has its own unsolved mysteries.

First I’d like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for the e-ARC. It’s always a pleasure to read Johnson’s work and I was so stoked to get my hands on this one.

While Johnson’s mysteries always hit for me, her characters are one reason why I always come back. Unfortunately, the present day characters in this book weren’t vibing with me as much as her others in the Truly, Devious series. They didn’t feel as fleshed out as I’d like, and I honestly only liked two of them. I found myself drawn more to the characters from the 30s (but maybe that’s because I wanted to get to the bottom of the story).

I loved the setting for this book and would love to see more of the coastal town that’s sort of Canada sort of America.

All in all, if you’re a fan of Truly, Devious I’d say you would enjoy the ride that Death at Morning House takes you on. Maybe we’ll get another book later on? Maybe a crossover with Stevie Bell? I’d love to see it.

3.5/5 stars.

4/5

Thank you for the advanced copy!! I will post this same review to my Goodreads account.

I am so glad to have Maureen Johnson’s writing back in my life. This YA whodunnit was incredibly fun, fast-paced, and exactly what I needed in a novel. I loved the main character - Marlowe’s personality is truly what made this such an enjoyable read. Her wit along the way was not too much or too over the top like I’ve experienced with other strong-personality MCs. I also loved the queer representation, alternating timelines, and Johnson’s ability to puzzle piece everything together for her readers. My only misgiving for 5 full stars is the random way things played out with Marlowe being sent to Morning House and being positioned to solve the cases… it makes for a great YA story, but as a seasoned reader it just didn’t click for me.

Ultimately, I would recommend this novel to those who have also enjoyed the Truly Devious series, who need a fun dual-timeline mystery, and who order a side of Thousand Island dressing when dining at the Cheesecake Factory… just make sure not to hold your copy too close to any open flames!

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperTeen for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I am a HUGE Maureen Johnson fan and love the Truly Devious series. I was a bit apprehensive when I found out her next book was a stand alone mystery but that it was for nothing. I really enjoyed Death at Morning House. I found the characters to be quirky but different from the Truly Devious characters. It felt fresh. I like that she splices a case from the past with events from the present that create one long timeline. I thought Marlowe could be a bit annoying as a narrator but that has to do with the fact that the character is a teenager.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND PUBLISHER FOR THIS ADVANCE REVIEW COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW
It's been a month since I've been forcing myself to read this book. I am giving up, 100 pages in, and can't relate or connect to anything.

This was one I couldn’t put down, and I can’t wait to have a physical copy to hold! I’m writing this review at 12:13 in the morning because it was too tense to not finish before bed. Death At Morning House has all the things I love about the Stevie Bell series, and all the things I love about crime dramas, and its queer AF (and since I read this during Pride Month, the queerness of this one is appreciated). Marlowe Wexler, our weird and wonderful protagonist, wouldn’t be out of place hanging out and solving crimes with Dr. Spencer Reid & the BAU of Criminal Minds, or the Detectives of Manhattan SVU, except for the fact that she’s a teenager just trying to make some money on her summer break.

Marlowe Wexler is the kind of funky little lesbian I would’ve had a crush on in high school (if I’d been out to myself then, let alone anyone else). She’s a little anxious, kind of a loner, but whip smart and secretly hilarious. She’s a great narrator, and a shockingly good detective, which is shocking mostly because she didn’t set out to spend her last summer before college solving a murder. Marlowe and her found family (yes, they qualify. How could you not, after what they went through together?) remind me of my high school friends, and they’re absolutely the kind of people I would’ve loved to read about when I was a teenage book nerd.

I don’t see this one spinning off into a series, the way the Stevie Bell novels are, but I would be delighted to be wrong about that. Maureen Johnson has been one of my favorite authors since I was her target audience, and even though I’m a whole adult, I look forward to every new chapter she writes. I would have loved this story when I was 16 just as much as I love it as a woman in her 30s.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ½ (there really should be a ½ star emoji for things like this, but you just have to work with what you’ve got)

DNF. I didn't realize the book was LGBTQ+ and that is just not my reading style. I thought Marlowe was a boy name. *sheepish* Many apologies to the author and the publisher, but thank you for giving me a chance! I know many people will love this book, it's just not for me.

4.25
Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy of this book!
Maureen Johnson has a way wiht YA mysteries. I enjoy the flipping between two different timelines similar to the Truly Devious series. Marlowe was an enjoyable character most of the time. I really liked Van as a character and wanted to know Riki better.
The 1930s timeline was interesting. The father gave me the same vibe as the dad from Umbrella Academy without the supernatural stuff.
Overall this book was enjoyable. I was a little confused at some of the descriptions of locations and how the basement/playhouse connected.

Like the pool and bathroom was together and the tourist used the same? I orginally thought that the bathrooms were like against the wall from one another but maybe not based on the end of the book and what happened and the additional location there.

Thanks to Net Galley and Harper Collins for the ARC!

Death at Morning House is a twisty, YA mystery with thrills and surprises you never expect. Marlowe needs a summer job after a fiery end to her school (pun intended). She’s offered a tour guide position on a nearby island, to show tourists Morning House, a home of grandiose, mystery, and death. Marlowe meets a series of quirky characters on the island. The more time she spends at the house, she soon realizes that the house has many secrets. Before the wealthy family left the house, there were two accidental deaths at the house. Soon, Marlowe realizes there are more mysteries to solve than she bargained for.

This book, at the heart, is a great mystery. The author weaves clues throughout the story but you can’t pick them up until you’ve finished the book. The plot twists in this book slap you in the face. If you’re looking for a great mystery set in a spooky house, you’ve found it! Expected August 6th, 2024.

I always enjoy this author. Shades of London is my favorite series by this author. This read is good but not quite as good as Shades of London. I will continue reading this author.
Thanks so much for the chance to read this book and I’m looking forward to reading more.

I have read all of Maureen Johnson's other books, and this one follows her characteristic writing style of creating a dark, atmospheric mystery. The novel is told in alternating timelines, fluctuating between the time of the tragedy at Morning House in 1932 and the present day. Johnson's description of the Morning House is so lush and detailed that the reader will be transported into this picturesque locale. Our protagonist, Marlowe, agrees to be a tour guide at the tragedy-stricken Morning House to get away from her relationship troubles and reputation as a firebug. Tourists flock to Morning House to gawk at the location where two of the Ralstons died, but Marlowe stumbles across another mystery. Marlowe learns that she is replacing the sixth in a group of friends who died in an accident at a prom afterparty. Together with the mysterious Liani, sturdy Tom, chatty Alice, easygoing Van, and enigmatic Riki, Marlowe throws herself into being a tour guide and forgetting her former woes. She can't help but feel that there is something else is going on, and that feeling comes to a head when their supervisor, Dr. Hensen, turns up missing. The reader will be eager to follow along with Marlowe as she unravels the threads of the present, as well as watch the Ralstons' past unfold. I felt like both storylines would leave off on "cliffhangers" - I was excited to find out where each story was going, and I couldn't put the book down! YA Mystery lovers will definitely enjoy Death at Morning House!

Readers of Maureen Johnson's earlier books will find this to be very similar to her earlier works. Teenagers are on an island in the Thousand Island region of Upstate New York for their summer job, acting as tour guides of the mansion. An alternating timeline follows the an eccentric doctor (who happens to be a fan of eugenics, boo) with 6 adopted teenagers and a young son. We learn early on that the young son and one of the daughters died at the house. In alternating timelines, the Morning House remains the centerpiece of the book.

It takes awhile for the action to pick up in this book, it's a slow build.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy via NetGalley.

“I’m Marlowe Wexler and I’m fine.”
In Death at Morning House, we meet Marlowe Wexler. A teenager who insists that her name is much cooler than she’ll ever be, she’s trying to survive the summer working alongside her crush and driving under the speed limit in her Smart Car. When an accident sends her to a different job a few weeks into summer, she’s thrust into the myth and mystery of the Ralston family. In 1932, two of the seven Ralston children died on the same day. Both were ruled as accidents, but there seems to be more to the story. While giving tours of the expansive house, Marlowe might uncover some lost family secrets.
Atmosphere is key in this new mystery from Maureen Johnson. As a huge fan of her previous works, part of the draw is always the setting. She’s set books everywhere from the streets of London to an elite private school in Vermont. This one didn’t disappoint. Morning House: a huge, sprawling abandoned mansion from the 1930s located on a remote island just between the US and Canada. I found myself wanting to explore the halls of Morning House even when I had to put the book down. From the playhouse to the stained-glass dome to the creepy basement passages, all of it made me want to visit this fictional house and take one of the tours myself!
The Ralston mystery itself is twisty and juicy, but there might be more than one mystery to be solved on the island, especially when Morning House is involved. The dual timeline chapters immersed me into the lives of both the Ralston children in the 30s and Marlowe in the present. With her trademark humor and wit, Johnson has created a delightful cast of characters that I’d love to see again somehow. Closing this book felt like saying goodbye to summer camp friends. This was a perfect summertime mystery and I can’t wait for everyone to add it to their reading lists!
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the advance e-reader copy in exchange for an honest review!