Death at Morning House had all the ingredients for a creepy, murder-filled thriller: a mysterious mansion on an isolated island, a history of unexplained deaths, and a protagonist with a questionable fire-starting track record. It sounds like the perfect setup for a suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat read, right? Well, sort of.

Let’s start with what works. The setting is spot on—Morning House is the kind of place that practically oozes atmosphere. You can almost feel the chill in the air and hear the creaks of the old mansion as Marlowe wanders through its halls. Maureen Johnson knows how to build a world that feels both enchanting and eerie, and she does a great job pulling you into the island’s dark history.

But then there’s the relationship drama. Oh boy. For a book that promises a murder mystery, we spend an awful lot of time on Marlowe’s romantic woes. Look, I get it—teen relationships are complicated, and Marlowe’s situation with Akilah is relatable. But when you’ve got a house with a body count and a history of people dying under mysterious circumstances, I was hoping for a bit more focus on the creepy murders and a bit less on whether Marlowe was going to get a second date.

The mystery itself is intriguing, but it often feels like it’s playing second fiddle to the drama. I wanted more of those spine-tingling moments where you’re not sure if a ghost is going to jump out or if another tragic accident is about to happen. Instead, we get a lot of internal monologues about relationships, which, while well-written, can be a little distracting when you’re in the mood for a good old-fashioned whodunit.

So, three stars it is. If you’re a fan of Maureen Johnson’s style and you enjoy a bit of romance mixed in with your mystery, you’ll probably love this one. But if you’re like me and came for the creepy murders, you might find yourself skimming through the relationship drama, wishing for more of those eerie, hair-raising moments that Death at Morning House could have delivered in spades.

2.5 Stars from someone who loved the Truly Devious book series - this book had a whole host of unlikeable characters in a tedious plot line. Not for me.

Marlowe Wexler fell in love with a girl. They went on their first date and it ended in a fire. Marlowe thinking she lost everything fell into a depression until her teacher told her about Morning House. She decided to join until she found out she is taking place of a dead guy. Now Marlowe is on the case.

This book was fantastic! I enjoyed the story and characters. I did get a little confused and had to go back a few times. But the mystery was great, I did fail at solving the mystery before the end of the book. Which is okay, I’m enjoyed the adventure!

Thank you so much Maureen Johnson, the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book! I can’t wait to see what comes next from Maureen

Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson is a fun and intriguing YA mystery that offers more than just a surface-level whodunit. The story follows Marlowe Wexler, a clumsy girl who accidentally sets a cabin on fire with a candle during her first date — setting the tone for a summer full of mishaps. Everything rolls downhill from there, including her ownpersonal hygiene habits. Despite her less-than-stellar start, Marlowe lands a summer job giving tours at the historic Ralston House. There, she finds herself surrounded by the wealthy teens of the Thousand Islands, but soon realizes that the shadows of past tragedies still loom large. As Marlowe uncovers the dark secrets of the Ralston family, she must race against time to avoid becoming the next victim of the curse.

What I loved most about this book is how it tackles deeper themes like family trauma, systemic racism, and mental illness, all while keeping the mystery engaging. The dual timelines add an extra layer of intrigue, providing two mysteries to unravel. While the pacing was a bit slow at times, it matched the languid days of summer, even if some points felt a bit repetitive. The rich atmosphere and well-developed characters, paired with perfectly placed bits of humor, made this book an enjoyable read. If you’re looking for something different and thought-provoking to dive into this summer, Death at Morning House is a great choice!

As a longtime reader of Maureen Johnson books, I'm a huge fan of the Truly Devious series. So I was a bit disappointed when I discovered that Death at Morning House wasn't the sixth book in the popular series. Then I “met” Marlowe Wexler on the page and that all changed!

Sure, Marlowe and Stevie have some things in common— Their urge to solve mysteries and their quirky nervousness, to start— but this new MC really breathes fresh life into a fresh mystery! Marlowe is clever and observant with a heaping teaspoon of awkward. Unlike Stevie, she's not trying to dive headlong into a mystery. Instead, she finds herself thrust into a summer job where the mystery unfolds around her after an attempt to impress a girl she likes goes horribly, HORRIBLY wrong. Marlowe could be any one of us. Who wouldn't want to do some digging into the mysterious decades-old deaths at their place of work to distract themselves from a life-altering social faux pas, after all?

Marlowe works and lives on the island with a group of teens who grew up together, though their overall closeness seems to be in question these days. While they all have distinct personalities and traits, I appreciate that they didn't feel quite as much like caricatures as the Truly Devious characters can sometimes feel. I really struggle with one TD character, but I really enjoyed this whole lineup. They have drama and secrets that only seem to be exacerbated by their isolated setting and its gruesome past, sometimes putting Marlowe in compromising positions. Of the group, Riki was very favorite because of her excellent socks and her important role in unraveling the secrets of a seemingly cursed mansion alongside Marlowe. My second favorite character was Van, for his *immaculate vibes.*

The novel flirts with the romantic storyline, starting with Marlowe’s massive crush on her co-worker Akilah and their budding relationship, which was all going so well before the incident. While there's always a potential for romance, it's not a super strong element. This was actually very refreshing to me, because some mysteries get too bogged down with interpersonal drama. There are sweet, charming moments, but they don't overpower the actual plot.

But wait, there's more! Death at Morning House is a dual timeline story! That means that on top of Marlowe's misadventures, we get the point of point-of-view of the Ralston children, mainly Clara, as you discover the tragedies that befell the family in the 1930s. The Ralston patriarch was a scientist and famed eugenicist who raised his children to an unreasonably strict standard. This POV is a little more subdued as we explore the lives of children trapped under the thumb of a dangerous ideology, yet still aching to impress their celebrated father. It’s not as fun as Marlowe’s POV, but it's heartbreaking and captivating in it's own right. I think the conclusion to this timeline's drama was even more satisfying than the conclusion to the modern story, but I loved both.

My subgenre of choice has been described as “murder-y,” so I've consumed a lot of mysteries ranging from predictable slogs to riveting puzzles. Thankfully, Death at Morning House is certainly one of the latter. There are hints, if you're looking for them, but Johnson remains a master of doling out answers in small batches and planting red herrings. Even if one of the reveals was among my theories, it certainly wasn't the only one.

Death at Morning House takes a loveable, chaotic protagonist, summer camp vibes gone sideways, and an old-fashioned mystery among the obscenely wealthy to create something this is fresh but still distinctly Maureen Johnson. if you love her books, run, don't walk to snag your copy!

Definitely adding this to my classroom and list for the next book club at the library. Maureen Johnson has a great way of writing a thriller that immediately draws you in and never lets back up. She weaves words together so beautifully. I loved the character progression we see in this book. All the twist had me trying to speed up because I just couldn't stop. Love love love

I should have done more research on this book before requesting it…sadly, I am not the market audience for this one.

This book is a ride through two different time periods dancing with the same house.

I love it when young adult books are written with realistic characters, and this story doesn't disappoint in character development, unruly emotions, and romantic drama found in the lives of teens. Chef's kiss, so well done. The way Marlowe leads us through present day, addressing the audience, calling herself out, all of it, adds so much to the story.

We bounce from present day, to the 1930s throughout the story. The progression of these two stories blend together seamlessly. Displaying the uneasy and villainous behavior of the residents throughout the story. For most of the book, no one is trustworthy, they all have motives, and secrets. Death happens at Morning House, but why? Is the house cursed, or just the place it happened?

The ending unravels with no stone left unturned. Surprises for each timeline, and they both get wrapped up perfectly. I had my doubts about the culprits throughout the story, and was surprised by the twist at the end. But looking back at the story, it was there all along. The best kind of twist. My only question is, do we get more of Marlowe and the gang? Because yes please!

You'll enjoy this read if you enjoy complex plots, with layers that connect the past to the present.

Maureen Johnson has long been one of my favorite authors, and Death at Morning House is yet another example of why I love her work. This book is a perfect blend of everything she does so well, from her skillful use of dual timelines to her richly atmospheric settings.

I’ve always been a fan of the boarding school setting, but the old mansion turned tourist spot in this novel was a refreshing and intriguing deviation. It added an extra layer of mystery and charm to the story, making the setting almost a character in itself.

The beginning of the book struck a perfect balance between heartbreaking and hilarious, capturing the essence of what it feels like to be a teenager. That emotional resonance is something Johnson excels at, making the characters feel real and relatable.

As always, Maureen’s knack for weaving together an old and new mystery kept me utterly engaged. The dual timelines and the unfolding of both mysteries were handled with such finesse that I found it nearly impossible to put the book down. It’s that combination of suspense and emotional depth that keeps me coming back to her novels time and time again.

Thank you Netgalley, Maureen Johnson, and Harper Collins Children's Books for the ebook. I really enjoyed this book from the very beginning. The main character Marlowe is quirky and shy and had me laughing out loud at parts and just in my feels for her. Her whole world was turned upside down and she took a chance to get away in the creepy and intriguing Morning House. I loved how the chapters went into what happened at the Morning House all those years before. Once Marlowe gets there and things start going wild and crazy! So many twists and turns and many great characters!

Maureen Johnson tries her Truly Devious formula of a dual timeline + gothic cold case + LGBTQ characters in this new YA mystery and comes up with a twisty page-turner.

Johnson's new heroine, Marlowe is having a rough summer. She has her first girlfriend, first kiss and first accidental arson and then she lands a gig on an island giving tours at a super creepy historical mansion. Soon she finds herself with multiple murder mysteries to solve in both the past and present and an eclectic cast of suspects.

If you like large family drama, creepy isolated settings, summer camp vibes, and snooping around murder mansions - this is your book. As Marlowe works to solve the mysteries of the mansion and the secrets her new group of tour guide friends she gains some desperately needed self-confidence. I was kind of surprised on how the budding romance between Marlowe and Riki ended up, but not disappointed.

Go along for the ride with Marlowe on this one, it's one intriguing trip!

There was something about this book that didn't do it for me. I can't exactly put my finger on it. It might be the fact that there's a lot of background information about Morning House and the Ralston family.

I have a lot of questions that weren't really answered. Why would someone just let a teenager take care of their house without really a set of rules? Why was Marlowe hired for the job instead of someone local?

The whole idea of both stories seemed like a stretch for me. I think I would have enjoyed the book more if Marlowe and Riki worked to figure out what happened in the past without the other storyline (the death of Chris).

I guess I was just hoping for more out of this book. It took until about halfway through for some action to happen in the story. Overall, I give it three stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. Death at Morning House is out now.

Thank you Netgalley for the e-ARC!

Petrichor. Weirdly enough I could smell it throughout the entire book. I love the smell of rain the same way I loved this story. I couldn’t stop reading which led to me finishing it in one sitting.

Death at Morning House starts with a long unrequited crush, a cheesecake factory and a house fire. It also starts with 6 peculiar children, yoghurt and swimming. Both of them are mysteries, with people who aren’t what they seem. Both are lit by fire, although its sparks had already been in the air.

I cannot describe how much I liked this book, so much that I tried reading slower to make it seem longer. I loved the characters, especially Marlowe and Clara. I found them very similar in sense of determination and intelligence, but most importantly in bravery. I thought they were quite well written, not only their characters but also their interactions. While the stories balanced each other, they both held the same weight and were written with the same importance. I was quite a fan of the perspective switching, and found it tastefully done.

In conclusion, Death at Morning House was definitely a 5 star read for me. This author’s works have been recommended to me multiple times and I’m glad I finally gave one of them a go. In the same manner, I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read!

I loved Johnson's Truly Devious series and had high hopes for this book. It didn't disappoint. I enjoyed the dual stories and getting to know characters from both parts of the story. Overall I had a lot of fun reading this book. It wasn't too serious and there was some humor injected into the book. I appreciated that the love story didn't take center stage, a nice subplot. I would recommend to those who like YA mysteries and an absolute must for those who enjoyed Truly Devious.

DEATH AT MORNING HOUSE by Maureen Johnson is designated YA Mystery, but even though I'm decades past YA, I enjoyed living the life of Marlowe, of encountering the mysteries of the past and the present and the reality of escaping from the shame of her real life for a summer being a tour guide and discovering wherever you go, there you are. Curiosity will bring you answers -- and into danger you don't see coming. I enjoyed the voice, the characters figuring out their lives and bonding when there is no easy way to figure out what is going on. An enjoyable summer read -- quick and dual timelines deepening the story -- and for me, the house was a powerful character in and of itself. I received a copy of this book and these thoughts are my own, unbiased opinions.

Thank you HarperCollins Children's Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

This was a really entertaining YA mystery thriller. I really enjoyed it. The setting on an island with a creepy old house was great. I loved the main character. The pacing was great!

My favorite part was the two storylines and honestly I wish there was more on the historical side.

Either way I really enjoyed this, it wasn't too predictable or too young even as an adult reader. It made me remember how fun a YA mystery can be.

4.25/5.00

I love YA mysteries and I particularly love Mauren Johnson’s YA mysteries. So I was thrilled to get an e-galley of Death at Morning House. While similar in tone to the excellent Truly Devious series this is a completely separate story. Which means you can read it right now with no homework.

Marlowe escapes to an island to work for the summer after a truly mortifying date gone wrong. She’s quickly enmeshed in the mystery that surrounds Morning House and the group of teens tasked with running it as a tourist attraction.

This has everything I like. Funny dialogue, historical murders, big spooky houses, SLEUTHING! But it also tackles heavy themes like say eugenics, while still being entertaining. I loved it.

Thanks for the ARC @netgalley

3.75 ⭐ This ya whodunnit story was a bit of a slow burn but I enjoyed the dual POV of past and present. I kind of was really more intrigued in the "past" POV and the mystery part of it kind of felt more of like a storytelling reveal. I felt like I wanted a little more from it as it was building up really well. I think that the book got ultimately intriguing about half way through although each chapter left you wanting to know more because the story was slowly unraveling itself. I enjoyed the characters and the subtle sarcastic humor the author threw in there. The "locked room" mystery style of the present day I enjoyed too! Overall, an enjoyable summer read and I did love the writing. I really can't wait to give the Truly Devious series a try!

Thank you #NetGalley for the arc!

I am a big fan of Maureen’s series “truly devious” so I went into this one with high hopes and was, unfortunately, very disappointed by the outcome.
I love books with dual storylines (past and present) and was excited to read the two murder mysteries taking place in both - but it was all very underwhelming. It started out fine, I was laughing at the dark humor and all, but it all fell very flat as the book went on. It felt like the mystery itself never took place - I was like “it’s been 50% and NOTHING so far”.
Around the 70% mark, when things STARTED to get interesting, the past mystery was resolved in a single sentence and handed out to me. I hated that. I wanted to have SOME thrill to it, but I opened the chapter and was met with “xxx killed xxx”.... bro. I did not read this whole thing for it to be solved like this.
As far as the present mystery goes, I was underwhelmed as well. I wouldn’t say i could've predicted it, but it felt very very boring and confusing. No normal explanation from the “villain”, just the main character making a bunch of assumptions and the murderer going “you don't understand!!!” please….
Also, if you read the truly devious series, you KNOW that she lacked originality there with a choice. Maureen girl you’ve already used that in one of your books WHY AGAIN???
Not a very happy pub day for this one.

This book was unexpectedly good. I have never read anything by Maureen Johnson though I have heard nothing but good things about Truly Devious series. I will be diving into those next.

Who could have known that a simple candle malfunction would lead to solving multiple murders?!

After starting a fire at a home she was housesitting, Marlowe Wexler was sent to Morning House for summer employment. Upon her arrival she finds that there is a sorted past to the property and a dark secret among the other employees of Morning house.

This was very well written, the characters all held their own in moving the plot along, and the whodunit atmosphere was heavy. Just when you think you know who the culprit is, THE HAMMER IS DROPPED!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Maureen Johnson, Harper Teen, and MBC Books for my e-arc. All opinions are my own.