4/5 ⭐️

Maureen Johnson delivers another captivating mystery in Death at Morning House, a novel that skillfully intertwines a present-day investigation with a haunting 1930s backstory. Set in the atmospheric backdrop of a deserted mansion in the Thousand Islands, the story follows Marlowe Wexler, whose accidental arson has not only torched her dating prospects but also led her to a new job giving tours at the eerie Morning House. However, what starts as a low-risk gig quickly spirals into a chilling mystery when Marlowe uncovers the house's dark secrets and a series of deaths linked to its past.

Fans of Johnson’s Truly Devious series will find much to love here. The dual timelines are handled expertly, with the 1930s chapters providing just enough intrigue without overshadowing the main plot. The historical context adds depth to the mystery, and the Ralston family’s secrets unfold with a blend of suspense and subtle social commentary that reflects the era’s complexities.

Marlowe is an engaging protagonist whose witty, relatable voice keeps the story moving at a brisk pace. The setting of Morning House is vividly described, adding an almost tangible sense of foreboding to the narrative. While the mystery builds beautifully, leading to some intense and gripping moments, the conclusion of the modern-day storyline falls a bit flat. The motivations behind the antagonist’s actions feel underdeveloped, which slightly detracts from an otherwise thrilling ride. However, the locked-room interrogation scene where Marlowe pieces together the puzzle is a standout, showcasing Johnson's talent for crafting tense, character-driven moments.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I became a Maureen fan after devouring the devious series. Sucked me right in. Morning house did no less. I really liked how the main story was from early1900s and the present day story about the weird Ralston family deaths went alongside it. What was unex9ecred is was the so called family secret that was only a secret to 1 of them. Perhaps frowned upon but considering the time period perhaps necessary. Of course the murders and mysterious empty death house is the perfect set up for some teen main characters. I didn't take particular liking to any of them. They each had their place, purpose and designated role. Murder mystery hidden inside a family secret with another mystery. Very good read. Good paced with little boring filler paragraphs. Recommend this book.

If you love Maureen Johnson’s Truly Devious, you will love Death at Morning House. The story is set in the Thousand Islands at a spooky old mansion. We get two POV’s, present day with our main character Marlowe and with the houses original occupants in the 1930’s. Like Truly Devious, there are mysteries to solve in both timelines. Unlike Stevie Bell, Marlowe is not so concerned with solving them.

Can a house really hold secrets? Sure it can, especially at morning house! Thank you to netgalley, HarperCollins Children’s Books and of course Mayree. Johnson for an ARC of Death at Morning House in exchange for my honest review

TLDR; 4.25/5 stars, enjoyed the ride, but the end was a bit of a letdown.

Okay so this is exactly the type of book I love but don’t actually read that often and it is the first book that I have stayed up past midnight to finish in years honestly. I was instantly hooked and found Marlowe to be a really interesting voice. The setting of Morning House was also so interesting and provocative that I couldn’t wait to keep reading. I normally struggle with dual timeline books set in vastly different time periods but the 1930s chapters were short enough that they were actually really valuable and interesting and did not take me away from the main story. I also fully didn’t know where it was going to go without being unbelievable which is the best combination. I loved the lead up to the ending but the ending itself was a bit of a letdown. The 1930s storyline ending was really good but the main story ending was… meh? I didn’t feel like I understood the villains motivations at all, however the locked room interrogation that Marlowe does to piece it all together was super entertaining. Overall, I really really enjoyed this and would recommend, even with my thoughts on the ending.

After a date gone wrong our main character escapes for the summer by going to work at an estate with a dark history.

I love the Truly Devious series and had a lot of hope for this stand alone because of it! I think my expectations might have been too high, because this ended up letting me down. Maureen Johnson did a great job writing the past and present timelines in a way the flowed together but once it came to solving the mystery I didn't feel invested. I didn't care about it being solved which is difficult when reading this genre. The other part that is equally important to me, I didn't love the main character. I found her annoying and always always focusing on romantic interests instead of working on the case!!!

Looking back this one was just forgettable and shruggable in the end.

thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review!

Johnson continues her talent at writing mysteries with a venture outside the Truly Devious series.
After an accident, Marlowe decides to leave it all behind and work on a semi isolated island. After meeting her new coworkers, she comes across two mysteries, the mysterious death of her coworker's friend, and a current disappearance. The mysteries in the current time almost parallels the deaths at the Morning House that occurred in the 30s. The slow buildup to the mysteries can be a drag for some, but I found the characters to be vivid enough to carry the story along until we hit the third act, where things really kick off and revelations begin. Some where easy to guess, while some genuinely shocked me. The dual timelines was expertly executed here, making for an engaging story.

i usually don’t like books with a past and present timeline, but the past timeline in this book was chocked full of drama and intrigue which was a pleasant surprise! and of course this book has a very interesting murder mystery and an atmospheric setting in a spooky mansion.

thank you to netgalley and harpercollins for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

If you're looking for a classic mystery with a plucky teenage sleuth like Truly Devious, this book might disappoint, but I enjoyed it overall. I always like to see how mysteries slowly unfold, whether the protagonist is actively trying to deduce everything or not. I do wish the Morning House deaths were more connected to the present-day ones; that would've really helped tie everything together. I also have a bone to pick with authors of obviously lesbian characters who refuse to use the word "lesbian" (or even "gay") to describe them. If Chris can be described as bi on the page, there's no reason why Marlowe can't be referred to as a lesbian.

Marlowe Wexler has a near photographic memory, a crush on her gorgeous co-worker Akilah Jones, and about the worst first date story of all time. When a kindly neighbor gives her the chance to leave town for the summer and lick her emotional wounds while working on one of the nearby Thousand Islands, she takes it.

Morning House is the name of the mansion built on Ralston Island where an eccentric physician, his glamorous wife and their seven children lived on a strict regimen of diet and exercise in the early 1900s. Then disaster struck, causing the survivors to flee the place as if cursed. Now the entire complex has been purchased and restored, and is being opened to the public under the watchful eye of Dr Belinda Henson. She’s hired a cadre of local teenagers to live on the premises and oversee the public tours while she works on a book about the Ralston family and their tragedies.

Marlowe is happy enough to join the teenaged crew, who mostly do their best to welcome her into their once tightly knit friend circle. As she learns the ropes of both her job and her new friends’ tangled history, she discovers that not everyone believes the official story of what happened to the island’s former occupants. While discussing a book about the legend of the Princes In The Tower and the subsequent vilification of Richard III, one of the other teenagers posits its connection to the more recent tragedy:

QUOTE
[“]What if the stories are all bullshit, made up by his enemies and then passed along through history. Because that’s what history is–passed-down stories, documents. And people choose the story they like the best a lot of the time.”

“What,” I said, “are you talking about?”

Riki let out a frustrated grumble, but focused. “The official story has always been that Max Ralston snuck out when his nurse was napping and drowned, and then [his eldest sister] Clara died of grief. But there’s always been a local story as well. People around town always wondered about what went down at Morning House. These two kids die, then the family immediately skips town and never comes back. Some people thought that another family member killed Max.”
END QUOTE

Rumor even has it that treasure is buried on the island, which is riddled with hidey-holes and secret passageways that are as much a legacy of bootleggers passing through the area as of the idiosyncratic mind of Dr Philip Ralston, the family’s patriarch. Marlowe herself isn’t too bothered by the peculiarities of the place, until she realizes that the deaths of the Ralstons aren’t the only ones haunting the people currently living there. As she finds herself unwittingly embroiled in solving murders old and new, she’ll find her own life threatened as a desperate killer seeks to keep their awful secrets buried with the unspeaking dead.

Maureen Johnson has a knack for writing vibrant teenage characters who feel like real people, whether they’re contemporary or historical. While the insecure but well-meaning Marlowe was definitely my favorite character here, I also had a soft spot for Clara, whose struggles against the confining rules of her family lead her to some pretty dark places. I kept drawing parallels between the teenagers of the present-day story with the young Ralstons, and overall found it a fulfilling exercise. Ms Johnson knows how to plot and pace her twist-filled novels perfectly, such that I only figured out whodunnit a little before Marlowe did.

I also loved how the author seamlessly includes historical controversies that still cast a long shadow over the present day. Upon arriving at Morning House, Marlowe isn’t fully cognizant of its obscure and often unhappy past, saying to Dr Henson:

QUOTE
“You must be glad they saved it,” I said. “All this history.”

I said this as an offhand remark–something you do to punctuate a conversation. Like “nice to meet you” or “have a good day” or “this concludes my TED Talk.” I wasn’t thinking much of anything aside from that the view was nice, I missed Akilah, and I wondered how many nights in a row I could just eat hot dogs until everyone else here dismissed me as a dirtbag. So I was confused when Dr. Henson said, “No, not really.”

“No?”

“No. That’s not how history works. We don’t save every monument just because it’s big or because it’s there. Lots of things are big, lots of things are there. Some things should be allowed to fall down.”
END QUOTE

Full of wisdom, charm and a perhaps surprising amount of action, this vividly written murder mystery is a terrific standalone novel that is my favorite so far of the author’s oeuvre. In addition to the excellent representation of diversity throughout, it’s got a sweet and entirely realistic love story. I honestly wouldn’t mind if this were the start of a series featuring Marlowe and her friends, who are engaging and smart and feel like people I’d love to spend more time around.

dnf @ 36%!!!

i love & enjoy maureen johnson’s books so much, but this book lost my interest very early on and i couldn’t convince myself to keep reading it. maybe later on i might try again!

Death at Morning House was such a highly anticipated read for me! I loved the Stevie Bell/Truly Devious series and this didn’t disappoint. I really enjoy the style of an old mystery being solved in the future, and loved the added present day mysteries. I personally was able to predict some of the ending but the main plot twists I did not see coming! There being multiple mysteries allowed the plot to move forward nicely and we didn’t have to wait for the very end for all the answers. I overall loved the way this wrapped up but I felt like I still had a few lingering questions. I almost wish the epilogue wasn’t included but was able to appreciate the present day crimes being tied up, too. Even though this was YA, I got a good thrill during the ending and flew through the last 30ish%. I’d definitely recommend this, even to young adults, because it didn’t feel too young to me (other than the romance aspects, which were mainly concentrated to the very beginning and end). This was a great story, the writing was wonderful, and I really really enjoyed this.

This was such a thrilling read. I have been reading more YA thrillers lately and I tend to be disappointed by some but this one was so thrilling and it grabbed me from the start.

I enjoyed the two mysteries and finding out how they were related to each other. I really enjoyed everything about this book. I think this is the first book I’ve read by this author and it won’t be the last.

Missed pub date but thanks for the ARC NetGalley!!!

I'm ride or die for Maureen Johnson tbh so the odds of me not liking this were so low. She writes an interesting, compelling mystery! I found both timelines to be interesting but I think the Ralston family mystery was a little bit more gripping personally.

The character work in this was pretty good, and I really enjoyed the real lack of romance there was despite the characters obviously feeling things as the story went on. I was a little worried that Marlowe would just feel like Stevie but I think her voice was distinct enough that there was definitely a clear difference!

Humor was great and the end reveals were satisfying. This one was fun!

I love Maureen Johnson's writing style, especially her use of wit in both dialogue and internal monologue. This plot however, was not my overall favorite of her books. While I am always game for a dual plot/timeline situation, I feel like the present day plot was much weaker than the historical plot line. I wished there had been a stronger tie between the two stories beyond just the setting of Morning House. I think this book will be a well received title for those that are fans of YA mystery. It delivers all the twists, comradery, and explosive climax scene that readers of this genre have come to expect. The unsettling historic characters were definitely the strongest aspect of this story.

After Truly Devious (just the first three, I don't count the others because I hated them) I knew that Maureen Johnson was probably going to be an auto-pick up author for me. I was beyond excited to hear about this new book coming out from her. And I have to say, unlike the last books in the Truly Devious world, this was actually so good. The characters were great, the mystery was compelling and I found that the time-jumpig actually felt good and useful in this story where a lot of stories it just serves to confuse me. I can't wait for more from MJ!

Since I have finished this book I’ve been recommending it to all my teen readers. I already knew I loved Johnson writing from The Vanishing Stair, but I don’t usually read long series. So, this is a perfect combination of her writing in a standalone. I loved the time jump from the present day to the day of the murders. I absolutely could not put this book down until I was finished.

I was really excited for this since I loved the author’s previous books. Maybe my expectations were too high because, unfortunately, this was a bit of a letdown for me. I had a hard time connecting with the characters and the “mysteries.”

For the most part, nothing significant happens during the first half of this book. We basically follow Marlowe, who accidentally sets a house on fire while on a date and then accepts a tour guide job at Morning House to escape the rumors surrounding the accident. That’s pretty much all that happens in the first half of the book. It’s just Marlowe obsessing over her crush, brooding over the fire, and training for her new job. The pace was painfully slow until the 50% mark, when the story finally picks up. But by that point, I didn’t really care about any of the characters. I was a bit curious about how the second storyline would unfold and managed to push through to the end. Overall, it was a bit of a disappointing read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

I hadn’t known anything about Maureen Johnson when I requested this arc. I now can’t wait to scoop up every other book she’s written. Taking place both in the 1930’s and present day Death at Morning House was such a fun and cozy mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed the dialing storylines, and attempting to solve what ended up being three mysteries. I truly wasn’t expecting the who done it to be who it was.

Johnson does an incredible job of immersing the reader in this cast of characters. It feels as though you’re alongside our lovable heroine Marlowe as she does her best to fit in, and solve all the puzzles around her. Marlowe was such a relatable lead with her insecurities, her falling for any girl who smiled her way, and her clumsy attempts so fit in and make friends. The entire ensemble cast was so fun, and the mystery was so well thought out. I truly enjoyed this book so much. As a queer person this representation that just felt normal and not a spectacle was so refreshing. I highly encourage everyone to read this book.

Death at Morning House gives the same thriller-mystery vibes as Johnson's Stevie Bell series, and is just as good.

A queer alleged arsonist gets shipped off for the summer to get away from the rumors, only to find herself the replacement for a tour guide who recently died in suspect circumstances. Working on one of the 1000 Islands in upstate NY, in a mysterious house that's been shut up since the 1930s, with a massive storm coming through the area, Marlowe learns that two children died in this family home, echoing what recently happened.

With two timelines, both involving deaths, Johnson keeps you on your toes and wanting to devour this book.

Definitely recommending for high school library acquisition!