Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I had a great time! This author wrote one of my favorite YA mystery/thriller series, the Truly Devious series, so when this book was announced, I was excited! I'm happy to say that I loved this one too.

The author does a fantastic job writing books with two decent storylines that eventually connect in a fun way. The story never feels jarring when it switches from one timeline to the next. It all flows very well!

I am so glad that the author made the main character queer in this book. She had great rep in the Truly Devious series with the side characters but its great when its the MC!

Highly recommend this book, just dive in and have fun!

I loved the Truly Devious series so was excited to pick this up. Unfortunately it wasn’t a favorite as it was really slow building up the story, and when the mystery finally hit it was resolved too quickly. The pacing was off for me and I wasn’t invested in any of the characters so it was a bit disappointing.

Maureen Johnson holds a special place in my YA loving heart. So I was super excited to get approved to read this one! I was pleasantly surprised by how easily this sucked me in. A past and present timeline gave the reader two different stories to follow along that flowed seamlessly. I enjoyed the FMC and her quirks. I liked how there were multiple mysteries going on but none of them took away from each other. This was a solid YA mystery with multiple POVs, suspects galore, missing people and a tinge of teenage angst and romance.

Maureen Johnson has always (since around 2014 or 15 when I discovered her books, so it just seems like always) been a go-to author for me because of her reliability in constructing a story and a quirkiness that I find pleasing. Her latest, Death at Morning House, is no different. Here we have Marlowe Wexler whose biggest plan for the summer is to work at her summer job with her crush, Akilah, and see what happens. What happens is that on her first date with Akilah, a special candle she bought of Akilah’s favorite scent explodes and almost completely burns down the lake home that Marlowe is supposed to be care-taking. Needless to say, the summer is no longer going to go the way Marlowe planned. Instead, she finds herself as a tour guide for a famous house on an island in the Hudson River where a tragedy once occurred in the early 1930’s. While the mystery of the tragedy is intriguing, so too is the dynamic among the local teens who are working on the island with Marlowe especially when she finds out why she was hired at the last minute.

By now, Maureen Johnson is quite adept at the twisty mystery. In this case, we have not only the current mysteries, one disappearance and one accident, but we also have the one from 1932, which was also perceived as a tragic accident. You might guess that none of these accidents are really accidents. While I did guess the perpetrator of the current scenario (although Johnson threw in a momentary glitch that had me doubt my choice), the 1932 mystery is a mystery for sure that has a satisfying although disturbing conclusion. I don’t think I’d be reaching to say that the perpetrators of the non-accidents have a similar vibe.

I enjoyed reading about the characters, quietly observant, awkward Marlowe who has a photographic memory and a big heart; seemingly prickly goth-girl, Riki; ebullient Van; and bubbly April amongst others. The characters from the 1930s were also interesting and I could have easily read more about them, although that tinge of tragedy was dark.

All said, another enjoyable entry in Johnson’s canon. If this were to become a series, I would happily read more.

Many thanks to Harper Teen and Netgalley for sending me a copy.

What a wild ride of a story. And I'm very surprised to not have an author's note or information regarding her choice of setting in the Thousand Islands and along the St. Lawrence because I'm assuming she's taken liberties with the story of Boldt Castle on Heart Island-- the man began building this extravagant house and more before his wife died. He left it unfinished and never returned to the island. Kids in particular would boat over and completely vandalized the upper floors (which are still like that as a nod to the history) including graffiti. It's opulent. But if you take boat trip you can also hear the stories of the Prohibition era rum runners and so much more that's been added to the ambience of this story.

All that aside, Johnson creates the spookiest mystery that includes a man of importance who believe in eugenics and who "adopted" a handful of children. They keep strict schedules and diets. A wife is added to the mix and they have a child. That child drowns, another falls off a balcony. That was in 1932. But then there's a contemporary story of Marlowe who is going to be a tour guide at Morning House and the death and mysteries compound. As a standalone, it hit all the right notes though a few of the red herrings and side stories didn't mesh overall, but I can move past it.

Really the setting (for me) is what made it, second is the situation with its rich, dark historical vibes.

I was lucky enough to go to a Murder Mystery party with Maureen Johnson last month and received a copy of this book from the publisher there. It didn’t affect my review, but it was VERY cool.

Maureen is a mystery magician! While this wasn’t a Truly Devious, I had just as much fun reading it and unraveling the mystery with our new protagonist Marlowe. Who doesn’t love simultaneously solving a hundred year old mystery and a current one?

3.5
I had very high expectations for this because I’m such a Maureen Johnson fan after reading her truly devious series but the magic from that series just didn’t transfer over to this one. I will say the setting was incredible and I was really invested in how that would all play out with how isolated they were, but neither the present timeline or the flashbacks timeline was all that enjoyable to me. Cult leader father was creepy and controlling which was the point but the influence he had on his children was really off putting. Once the big reveal came of why the little boy died and the sisters death was undecided but instead all a messed up interpretation of what the father wanted I was just done. As for the current murder. It just felt incredibly random. I think that’s my issue with this one. The big reveals came out of nowhere and there wasn’t any breadcrumbs to even hint that would be the outcome. Which as someone who enjoys the hunt to figure out who done it in mystery it was really disappointing. Overall I feel like this was a solid ya mystery that could have just used a little more shaping around the end or made some of the details more clear leading up (really dislike when the big bad is a character with minimal screen time, like “who are you again?”). I will give this mad props for capturing so well the gay panic about being surrounded with hot girls and no idea what to do with that information 🤣

Maureen Johnson's latest YA novel is a thrilling blend of mystery and humor, centered around Marlowe Wexler, a teen who stumbles into a chilling mystery while working as a tour guide on a secluded island. After an unfortunate incident involving a fire and a failed date, Marlowe seeks refuge in a seemingly low-risk job at Morning House, a deserted mansion with a dark past.

What begins as a mundane summer gig quickly spirals into a gripping adventure when Marlowe uncovers long-buried secrets and a series of suspicious deaths linked to the mansion. Johnson masterfully balances suspense and wit, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as Marlowe races to solve the mystery before she becomes the next victim. With its clever plot twists and relatable protagonist, this stand-alone novel is a must-read for fans of YA thrillers.

Let me start by saying I am a HUGE Maureen Johnson fan so when I saw this book on Netgalley I crossed my fingers and toes hoping I would get approved. I literally screamed and kicked my feet when I saw I got a copy!

This was easily a 5 star read for me. An abandoned well kept beautiful mansion on an island, murder and a lesbian main character. Yeah. I mean, what more could you really want? This book was SO FREAKING GOOD.

There are multiple different POV’s in this book, which I loved. We have Marlow who is an out cast and after recently setting a house on fire by accident, she found herself needed space from her real life. She takes a job giving tours to “The Morning House” which is this beautiful mansion that is located in the St. Larence Rivers Thousand Islands. Maureen did an amazing job of describing this location that I truly thought it could be real. Which is no surprise because she has done an amazing job in setting descriptions in her other books.

Our other POV is from Clara Ralston from back in 1932. We know she is one of the deaths that occurs at The Morning House but we learn her story and the events that lead to her death. I loved learning about how the crazy Ralston family is that built and lived in the Morning House.
I thought the mystery of the story was great. There was really multiple different stories and deaths in this book, but they blended so well together. I loved this book and I wish there was a second with Marlow.

Was this book bad? No of course not. Was it especially memorable? Not at all. I think this is a good cleanser between books, but it's certainly not a book that I will think about again or that I'm jumping to recommend to anyone. Very much so a mid book

After an accidental fire (that definitely wasn't her fault) Marlowe is relieved when a job opportunity promises to take her far away from her home. Morning House is known for its' tragic backstory and the strange behavior of the family that lived in the house. Morning House will be open for one summer to tours before the island will be privatized by the investors. However, things immediately seem weird to Marlowe and she's determined to get to the bottom of it.
Marlowe was such a fun and quirky main character. She felt really relatable for a girl that age. Maureen Johnson always writes amazing YA Mysteries.

An amazing new standalone adventure by Maureen Johnson!

When Margo Wexler accidentally burns down a house on her first date ever, she is cast as the town pyro. Running away in shame seems like the best course of action, and when a spot opens up as a tour guide at an abandoned mansion from the 20's, she decides to go. Summer at Morning House comes with it's own challenges as mysteries about the former occupants come to light and more recent tragedies are revealed. Margo teams up with a surly ally to find out what is going on at Morning House now and what happened to the Ralston family all those years ago.

A recommended purchase for YA collections in print and audio.

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!