Hello my lovely readers. It’s been a summer of thrillers for me this holiday and I’ve loved it. I feel it’s the genre I read the quickest. Today I’m bringing you a review of a book/author I wish I read sooner. I love a YA Thriller and I was missing out. I am also meeting Maureen on Tuesday and I can’t wait. So here is my review of her latest book, Death at Morning House.
Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson Published by HarperTeen on August 6, 2024
Genres: Murder, Mystery, Thriller
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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?
It’s been the Summer of Thrillers for me. This book. This is actually my first of Maureen Johnson books and I loved that I started with her latest book. I didn’t know much apart from a YA Thriller and that other readers love Truly Devious series. But once I’m hooked on one book then I’m hooked for life on the rest of their books. Death at Morning House is a complusive, thrilling, bordering creepy YA thriller that is impossivle to put down. I read three quarters of the book in one sitting. It’s been a while since that happened.
Death follows you when your at Morning House. A mansion on a secluded island, owned by the Ralston’s family. A very idllyic and unique family to say the least. In late July, 1932, two Ralston children died by accident on the same day. Present day, our awkward, yet loveable Marlowe has had a rough start when her first date end is the house being burnt down. She’s known as the firestarter in town and she needs to get out of dodge and this summer employment at Morning House. Little did Marlowe know that she had taken over the dead guy. Marlowe loves a good quiz and loses herself in getting know her peers, Riki, Van, Tom and Liana and the mystery surrounding Morning House.
Maureen Johnson has a way of writing a thriller that I haven’t come across before. She writes a multi-layered mystery that the reader just sinks into. I found myself completely immersed in the mystery and found it hard to resurface until I finished the book. I loved the dual timelines and how each one has a compelling storyline separately but together brings this intricately plotted mystery spanning decades. I could not put this book down – did I mention that? Ha. Across both timelines you get to know two different cast of characters. Whilst you might think that quite overwhelming, which in some mysteries it can be when we think ‘who’s that?’, ‘I don’t remember them.’ but Maureen has a way to make all characters memorable, likeable, and intriguing. They are an air of mystery to each of them that you can’t help but want to delve in to more. I love getting to know the Ralston’s and Riki, Tom, Van and Liana too. I almost wish we had perspective from them in the present day as Maureen is so talented in her writing.
Whilst I feel that I missed out on the hype of the Truly Devious series, in a way I haven’t. I’m excited to read her backlist of thrillers for first time. I feel these are bingeable goodness and I can’t wait. Death at Morning House is compulsive, addictive and deeply immersive mystery that you won’t be able to put down. Maureen Johnson is now one of top YA Thriller authors and I can’t wait to read more. I think this is one of top reads of 2024.
Thank you so much to Nina and Harper360YA for review copy in exchange for a review.
