Book Review: Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson

Publisher’s Book Description:

From the bestselling author of the Truly Devious books, Maureen Johnson, comes a new stand-alone YA about a teen who uncovers a mystery while working as a tour guide on an island and must solve it before history repeats itself.

The fire wasn’t Marlowe Wexler’s fault. Dates should be hot, but not hot enough to warrant literal firefighters. Akilah, the girl Marlowe has been in love with for years, will never go out with her again. No one dates an accidental arsonist.

With her house-sitting career up in flames, it seems the universe owes Marlowe a new summer job, and that’s how she ends up at Morning House, a mansion built on an island in the 1920s and abandoned shortly thereafter. It’s easy enough, giving tours. Low risk of fire. High chance of getting bored talking about stained glass and nut cutlets and Prohibition.

Oh, and the deaths. Did anyone mention the deaths?

Karen’s Thoughts:

Though Death at Morning House is not part of the Truly Devious series, fans of said series will not be disappointed. It has a similar cover for a reason; it definitely continues the past and present mystery to be solved format while introducing new characters in a novel that stands alone and separate from Truly Devious.

Death at Morning House is a delight that reminds me so much of Agatha Christie, whom I read myself as a teen. You have a locked room on an island type of mystery, which sophisticated readers will see the parallels to And Then There Were None or Evil Under the Sun (teen Karen’s favorite movie). The slow building intrigue introduces you to a host of characters that you are rooting for, only for you to realize that one of your faves must be the murderer. The shock and betrayal of it all keeps you on your toes as a reader. There are fake out and red herrings, some of which made me gasp with the audacity of it all. I truly could not put this book down and read it in 2 days.

The character development is rich and strong. Marlowe is a compelling character who wrestles with guilt for an event that is used against her later in the novel. But we also get to watch her wrestle with her feelings, learn more about herself and the world around her, and triumph over both past and present events.

There is an interesting discussion about eugenics in the past mystery plot line, which I was not expecting but really appreciate. I have followed Johnson online for years and know that the growing and disturbing discussions of eugenics tied in with incels is a very real threat in modern day online discourse and thought she weaved those ideas into this novel in ways that subtlety but brilliantly tie them to the past while raising awareness about them in the present. Kudos to her for this skillful introduction to a very timely and difficult topic.

Maureen Johnson has never disappointed me as an author, but I think she has really found her sweet spot in writing these novels that combine both a past and present mystery to be solved. Johnson is working towards becoming a modern day Agatha Christie for teen readers, and that’s one of the highest compliments I can give. It’s important to know that she’s knocking it out of the park in both skill and entertainment value. Readers will not be disappointed.

This book came out yesterday, August 6th, and I highly recommend it.

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