Death at Morning House

by Maureen Johnson, Katja Körber (Narrator)

Ferienjob mit Mordermittlung

Nachdem Marlowe wegen einer explodierenden Kerze aus Versehen das Haus ihrer Nachbarn niederbrennt und in der ganzen Stadt dafür ausgelacht wird, nimmt sie einen Ferienjob auf einer abgelegenen Insel an. Dort soll sie gemeinsam mit einer Gruppe anderer Teenager Führungen durch eine alte verlassene Villa anbieten. Doch die sommerliche Idylle bleibt nicht lange so sonnig, denn schon bald wirft die Vergangenheit einen düsteren Schatten über die Insel. In den Dreißiger Jahren hat dort ein Arzt mit seinen adoptierten Kindern gelebt, bis sie nach einer Tragödie das Anwesen verlassen haben und nie wieder zurückgekehrt sind. Zunehmend vermischt sich Früher mit Heute, Spekulation mit Verdacht – und die tödlichen Gefahren der Insel sind keineswegs Geschichte.

Spannender Mystery-Thriller von New York Times-Bestsellerautorin Maureen Johnson

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, LGBT, Fiction

11 pages, Audible Audio

First published August 6, 2024

Reviews

[emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

in another life i'd like to be a teen detective.

this particular use of that trope has the same half-historic past and half-mysterious present as maureen johnson's other books, and the same ragtag group of kids in a boarding situation, and the same crime from one hundred years ago and similar present crime unfolding, and the same creepy old estate from yore setting, but there are a few key differences.

1) our protagonist does not set out to do any sort of mystery-solving. this means at the halfway mark, we have no intention of detective work, we have no clues, we have no case. we only even have one creepy happenstance.

2) this is not a series, so both mysteries are solved at about the same time (and, slight spoiler, neither take much actual detective work, if any at all). that is less fun as well.

3) we spend altogether less time with our quirky cast of kids and more time on tragic backstory. 

so while i had a good-adjacent time occasionally, this was definitely not my favorite maureen johnson book.

bottom line: there were the good tropes, there were the bad tropes.

(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know if this standalone may turn into a new series because I mostly connected with most of the characters, including the quirky, smart, and peculiar Marlowe Wexler. The sulking goth girl Riki and the flamboyant, easy-going Van surely resonated with my inner awkwardness, spidey senses, and quirkiness levels.

The two mysteries take place in the same haunted mansion theme, and the quirky young female lead’s attempt to solve the cases might show similarities with the main plot of the Truly Devious series. However, there are differences, starting with the heroines: Truly Devious’s Stevie Bell is more devoted, focused, and socially inadapted, obsessed with detective work while dealing with her own family problems. In contrast, Marlowe in "Death at Morning House" is a sweeter character with more engaging qualities. She’s self-deprecating, shy, queer, a little clumsy, and good-hearted, but her photographic memory and sharp gray cells help her connect the pieces to see the full puzzle.

If you’re a fan of the Truly Devious series, the semi-similar mystery-solving concept may lure you in with more likable characters (thankfully, there’s no character as annoying as Truly Devious’ David in this book)! The intertwined mysteries take us on a journey between tragedies that took place on July 27, 1932, and the present day, where Marlowe is hired to be a tour guide at Morning House. This is the very place where two deaths haunted the past, and another death occurs, resulting in Marlowe replacing one of the tour guides, increasing the tension.

Marlowe’s well-intentioned jest for Akilah, a girl she has a long-time crush on, ends up putting the house into flames, turning her into a pariah! (How could she imagine a $30 candle could explode and cause such a disaster? Poor Marlowe!) When Marlowe gets trapped in her own room, squirming in guilt, and losing her chance with Akilah, a job offer arises as a tour guide on Ralston Island. Here, Morning House has been renovated and opened to tourists after years, where the Ralston Family—a scientist, his ex-celebrity wife, his sister, and seven children—lived in a health-obsessed lifestyle from the 1920s to the 1930s. Tragedies have plagued the family, with little Max drowning at the age of four, and their eldest sister, Clara, jumping from the roof.

As Marlowe sets foot in the place, she senses the eeriness as if the ghosts of the family still haunt it. Most of her new friends seem friendly, except for Riki, who gives off suspicious vibes and is obsessed with finding out the Ralston history. Her new boss, Belinda Henson, tries to finish her book about the dark mystery of the place and acts as if she wants Marlowe to spy on the other guides from an outsider's perspective. Then, another tragic incident occurs, putting Marlowe’s life at risk as she keeps digging for the truth. Could she gather the pieces of the puzzle to find the bridge that unites past and present incidents? Could there be a dangerous killer around them who might do anything to keep their secret safe?

Overall, it’s an entertaining, fast-paced, smartly executed YA mystery that I highly recommend! I also loved to see Marlowe back for the later installments!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Children Books/HarperTeen for sharing this unputdownable Maureen Johnson’s new standalone with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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[Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme) · Rating 4 out of 5]

So somehow I missed out on the hype surrounding Maureen Johnson’s Truly Devious series. I know. I know. Now, though, after finishing Death at Morning House, I promise to rectify that misstep ASAP. After all, thanks to a finely layered plot, deliciously dark humor, and some truly addictive characters, I just couldn’t get enough of Ms. Johnson’s fabulous locked room whodunnit—times two. Complete with an evocative setting and dual storylines bracketing nearly a century, there wasn’t a thing missing as I inhaled page after page.

The characters, as I’ve mentioned, were amazing. They were also—in a word—fun. If this book was proof positive of how well this author can bring to life teenagers and their not quite adult behaviors, then I’m 100% won over. And despite it having been quite a while since I was one myself, their faulty logic and overly brave actions were nailed, in my humble opinion. Marlowe, though, was easily my favorite. Realistically flawed yet also a dynamite main character as she sniffed out the truth, she was everything I wanted and more in this YA tale of mystery and suspense.

Stuffed to the brim with deftly obscured clues, rising unease, and head-snapping twists, it was the prose that guaranteed that this was a winner from beginning to end. Coming across as though Marlowe was speaking directly to me, it was both familiar and complex. The latter was likely down to the dual timelines and multiple POVs. And while I can easily see this one appealing to almost any teen, it also worked just as well for this far from teenage adult. Utterly original, I can only hope that it too will turn into a series. So come one, come all, this is one unputdownable mystery you’re definitely going to want to solve right along with Marlowe. Rating of 4.5 stars.

SYNOPSIS:

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?

Maybe this job isn’t such a gift after all. Morning House has a horrific secret that’s been buried for decades, and now the person who brought her here is missing.

All it takes is one clue to set off a catastrophic chain of events. One small detail, just like a spark, could burn it all down—if someone doesn’t bury Marlowe first.

Thank you to Maureen Johnson, Harper Teen, and MBC Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: August 6, 2024

Trigger warning: getting drugged, house fire, mention of: death of a friend, drowning

[S.K. Ali]

Is this the sixth Truly Devious book? It better be? Because we need you to clear up THAT ending of Nine Liars, Maureen? P.S. if it isn't clear: I LOVE STEVIE BELL WITH ALL MY HEART

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars , rounded up for representation. I enjoyed Johnson's "Death at Morning House" and really loved the protagonist, Marlowe -she's kinda nerdy & shy, and that house fire was NOT her fault! This story is a lot like the author's "Truly Devious" (Stevie Bell) series, minus a certain really annoying character. It also follows a dual-timeline structure - current & 1932 when there were two suspicious deaths in the weird & super-healthy Ralston family's "Morning House", set on one of upper New York state's Thousand Islands (dressing, anyone?). Two mysteries will be explained, but there was a bit of slowness in the middle. If this becomes a new series, though, I'll be down for the next installment.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every time, Maureen Johnson captures my interest and holds it through to the very end of the book. She is skilled at bringing many mystery tropes from both film and literary history to life in a way that is entertaining, novel, and thrilling. I will read anything she writes!!

I have to say that I truly adored the main character.. Marlowe, the endearingly awkward lead character, finds herself sucked into a significant drama involving her buddy group while working as a summer employee in a funeral house.

The two timelines—one set in the era of prohibition and the other in contemporary times—were superbly combined to create an outstanding murder mystery! In addition to giving the story more depth, this narrative decision keeps readers on the edge of their seats as they solve the mystery with the protagonists.

I was captivated by the mystery around what transpired and was eager to learn more, and it did not let me down! There are enough turns and twists in this well-written mystery to keep readers guessing. There is tension and dangers on Marlowe's path to discovering the truth since every clue she finds gets her one step closer to revealing the fatal mysteries of the estate.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to everyone who like YA mysteries and thrillers.

[Brend · Rating 3 out of 5]

All of these stars are for the past timeline. They had to go an ruin it by adding an uninteresting present time mystery as a main thing.

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,

[Starr ❇✌❇ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.2
*Review to come*

"a YA contemporary mystery novel about a girl who finds herself in a house with a terrible secret and becomes obsessed by the place, the people, and the romance of it all—and ends up finding the darkness at its core."

MAUREEN. You can't keep doing this to me!
Update COVER??

[kimberly ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

i actually really liked this one! started off rocky but really picked up

[niyya نية]

Back up folks, Maureen is coming for a book tour in August and I'm ready to interrogate her
-------
Gasp. How dare you fool me into getting excited for the next Truly Devious? How could she just start something else without getting rid of damage control? WHAT.
#JusticeForStevieBell #JusticeForTheTrulyDeviousFans #JusticeForMe
--------
I better get compensation for the ending of Nine Liars🤨

[Kimberly R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marlowe Wexler gets a job as a tour guide at Morning House an abandoned mansion built in the 1920’s that saw many strange deaths. Dr. Henson who hired her up and disappears and Marlowe suspects foul play.
This was a great read with many interesting characters. Thanks NetGalley and Harper Collin’s Children’s Books for this eARC that will be released August 6, 2024!

[Amina · Rating 2 out of 5]

✰ 2.5 stars ✰

“This is the hard part about telling stories—you can’t tell everything. You have to select what’s relevant and shape the story around the facts, or at least around the facts as you want them to be.”

An intriguing premise, but a weak execution that had my first Maureen Johnson prove to be a rather disappointing one. 😞 But the striking positive of Death at Morning House was this: after the halfway mark, I could not put it down. It became a competitive race between me and the characters to see who would figure out first the real culprit behind the occurrences taking place at Morning House. Honestly, there was not a moment where I wanted to take a breather and stop; that was compulsive reading, which I applaud for that feeling alone. 👏🏻

The story is executed in two timelines - the past of 1932, where a devastating tragedy claims two of the lives of the Raltson family, and the present, where our protagonist, Marlowe, to escape her own personal tragedy of accidental misfortune of her own undoing, comes to work at Morning House as a tour guide - the very home of which the tragedy took place.

The start is very compelling 👍🏻👍🏻; the author richly weaves this unique premise of the past with this strange family that had their own unique upbringing that made you feel that not everything was as black and white and perfect as they hoped people would see. The present had its own intriguing mystery that slowly came to light while Marlowe was there; as the characters introduced themselves and interwove their past history into her life, Marlowe gets the sense that something is amiss. 😟 'That there is a danger, but the danger is pretending to be something else. There is something that you don’t want to be around, and the need to go.' The writing skillfully delivers a very tightly-knit and claustrophobic vibe to its setting, that really heightened that feeling; one of unease and unrest and almost a haunted feeling that prevailed over the house, despite it not being one.

“I tell myself that the dominos were already set up before I got there— they only needed that little push to set them all going on their terrible track.

But there I was, the unknowing, necessary finger, flicking the first one into motion.”

Let's talk about Marlowe. Marlowe was fun, smart and a bit of an oddball with her self-deprecating view of herself, but she kept you invested in her. She had this refreshing style of narrating that made you sympathize and empathize with her emotions all at once. Grappling with her lost chance at having the girl of her dreams, she's simply trying to survive her time on an island with strangers and somehow feel a bit more valued about herself. So, when she's suddenly thrown into her own mix of danger and fear and another staggering case of the fiery flames, then I don't blame her for trying to do whatever she can to make it through another day. 😢 And she really is a good person who somehow has bad luck following her; she has a kindness to her that made it fun to see her try and work out whether the ghosts of Morning House still lingered in the shadows of the halls.

I wasn't quite prepared for the deadly mystery of the present, though; the hidden secret could have been a compelling interest, enough, had the story not veered towards the deathly events of the now. And I think that is where it faltered; for that premise has been done before - numerous times. It lacked creativity and originality and made for a rather tiresome and purposeless endeavor, especially since we did not have enough time to develop the cast's personalities and backgrounds. While not entirely flat, it was all rather - generic. Like, my heart did not ache for any of them. I liked Riki and Marlowe's interactions, though; they were - not exactly a team, but she was the one who saw most eye-to-eye with Marlowe. The outcast of her own peers who understood a little where Marlowe was coming from and was willing to help her out - even for her own gain. 🥺

Yet, there is much to be said about the past scenes that totally made it feel less like a mystery and more like a bedtime story.

“But they had not been idle remarks. They were the key to everything, and she had missed their meaning.”

When I read a mystery - I want to solve the mystery; I don't want it handed to me on a silver platter. I want to solve it alongside the characters. And sadly, this was the very case, here. 🤦🏻‍♀️ It becomes very clear from the get-go what exactly went down; it's hard not to infer what the motive was behind the murder, which dimmed any thought or speculation into that aspect. I mean, yes, I agree that it is the past and we need someone to confirm the real reason behind what happened, but to have it so blatantly explained - forthright?? Where is the thrill of anticipation? Where is the sense of unease? Where is the heightened tension? 😩

There was so much potential to paint out the details of how the murder took place, rather than literally handing it to us! And it felt so sad that death seemed to just follow the family afterwards; in a roundabout way, I feel that there is a slight connection that the author was leaning towards. How it was really just a happening of misfortune that led to their deaths, much like Marlowe's own misgivings. But, I can't overlook that disgruntled and unsatisfied feeling that wormed its way into my heart, as I read the past perspectives. 😕 It made it seem like such lazy writing that I could not even feel as satisfied as those who needed everything to be revealed to them. I did not even need that closing chapter to figure out what really went down with one of the family members.

It is a shame because the idea of the Ralston family had promise; they were by-products of a very unusual father, with an upbringing that essentially devised who and why they felt they had to behave in a certain way and how that would eventually destroy them. 😟 And initially, when we take into account the final revelations of the past - it really does prove the point that they had more in common than they thought. If it had been just a little bit more fleshed out, rather than everything just relayed to us - I would have felt more of its impact. There were so many interesting facets to their dynamic that if it had not switched perspectives so haphazardly, it would have been interesting to see how it would have really played out.

“Nothing freakish about it, and nothing wrong with freaks. People love, have always loved, dark shit. And this place has a good story.”

If I were to divide the narratives, then the present definitely had slightly a bit more of a grip than the past; and it has to do with the simple fact that the characters had to figure out something there. Being told what exactly happened in the past, even to satiate one's own curiosity could have been approached in a much more convincing and engaging manner. 😮‍💨 The only redeeming factor that I can think of is that there really was no other way to tell us what really happened. But, at the time while reading, it just lost all steam and momentum as the details of the events were literally told to me - and I had already surmised most of what really happened, so --- Not a very compelling mystery, after all. 😔

[Suzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This feels like a repetition of Truly Devious only island-edition. The story would have worked better if it either focused solely on the Ralston family because they were simply fascinating or it was actually Stevie solving another mystery (that would have made more sense than yet another girl in yet another house where again!! murder was committed)

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

This mystery was told in two timelines which I typically enjoy a lot. I did wish they had either only down the historical timeline or had focused more on that one as it was a much more compelling story. Marlowe accidentally burnt down a house during a first date and in her following shame accepted a job as a tour guide for a famous large house on a private island that was abandoned years before after the family hit some horrible luck and had two children die. When Marlowe arrives she realizes that she is a replacement for a young man who died before she got there. As she settles in it is clear they are stuck in their own mystery. In the past the family is so much more interesting even if the father, who adopted 6 children is a big fan of eugenics. I gave this one 3.5 stars rounded up because I really did like the past timeline story. The writing was good and the characters were interesting with some nice quirks I liked.

[hailee · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75***

[Natasha Leighton · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars
A suspenseful and deliciously plot twisty YA Mystery, with an endearingly quirky protagonist I thoroughly enjoyed. Arm chair detectives and Agatha Christie fans (who like to be kept on their toes) definitely need to consider adding this to their TBRs.

Told through two interwoven timelines, that alternates between the POVs of Morning House’s original inhabitants and our present day protagonist, Marlowe. Maureen Johnson cleverly explores two edge-of-your-seat mysteries (occurring almost a century apart) and the complicated bonds of friendships, relationships and family that I found unputdownable.

It was a bit slow to start, but the attention to detail and dearth of clues paired with those atmospheric visuals and a foreboding sense of unease more than made up for it. The pacing did pick up at around 100 page mark and the twists and secrets, once they started, just kept coming!

I really loved Marlowe, who was such a relatable and realistic teenage character. She’s a little awkward (as were most of us at that age) but came off very endearing, that I couldn’t help but want to see her thrive. And to finally flirt/date without it leading to property damage.

There’s a bit of a romance sub plot that I really enjoyed, Marlowe’s dynamics and blossoming friendship with the sharply witty and cynical, Riki was really good and I honestly could read an entire series of these two just attempting to solve crimes (Cold Case style.)

In fact, I liked quite a lot of the supporting cast, who were all intriguing in different ways. With secrets and personal motivations that we learn very little about, I was immediately suspicious of all of them! And, despite my best efforts (and multiple guesses) I wasn’t able to correctly work out either of the big mysteries we encounter, which pleasantly surprised me. I’m definitely gonna have to reread this to fully digest all the little details I missed the first time around.

Overall, an unputdownable and plot twisty, standalone mystery that kept me utterly hooked until the very last page. I can totally see why Johnson is described as the Queen of Mystery — and will be adding all of her back list titles to my TBR as soon as possible. Though do check the TWs.

Also, a huge thank you to Nina Douglas and Harper360YA for the (signed and personalised!) finished copy.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

1 Sentence Summary: It all started with a petrichor scented candle—Marlowe didn’t mean to burn down the house she was house-sitting, but now she needs to find a new summer job and ends up working as a tour guide for Morning House, an abandoned island mansion where two children died mysteriously in the 1920s and where the longer Marlowe stays, the more she becomes convinced that something isn’t right.

My Thoughts: Such a twisty, well written mystery! This is the first book I’ve read by Maureen Johnson, and it was so good. (I want to read Truly Devious now!)

The writing style was fantastic. I loved Marlowe and being inside her head. She was so awkward and relatable, and her inner monologue was so funny. The side characters were all pretty well developed too.

“There is no delete button for real-life conversations, and that is most of my problem.”

Same, Marlowe.

“And we have tons of ice cream from the place in town. There's always ice cream.”

This was deeply reassuring to me, as I lead an ice cream-forward existence.

I also lead an ice cream-forward existence haha.

There were so many twists and turns and the plot was astonishing (in a good way). The book alternates between past and present, which I loved. It was like 2 mysteries in one! I was not expecting that ending, and the big reveal was so satisfying.

Also loved the sapphic representation. And the setting! It was so atmospheric with the islands and the river and the mansion. (I really want to visit the Thousand Islands now. I’ve never heard of it before reading this!)

Overall, a thrilling murder mystery with charming characters that will keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat!

Recommend to: fans of murder mysteries featuring islands, mansions, strange families, fires, and summer storms.

(Warnings: swearing; death)

***
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review

[tee. · Rating 3 out of 5]

marlowe was funny and the story was exciting while it lasted but unfortunately, pretty forgettable. i just know i won't remember details past the whodunits if someone asked me about this book a week from now.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook Rating: 5/5

Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson was such a fun read and proved to me that I need to stop putting off this author's other books. I loved the dual timelines between Marlowe and the Ralston family in 1932 which eventually come together so the reader knows exactly what happened at Morning House. There was so much to uncover, and I loved all of the little clues and twists along the way. Marlowe made me LOL quite a bit, while the Ralston POV was more serious and ominous. Who knew candles could be so dangerous?!

I listened to and loved the audiobook and thought Katherine Littrell did a wonderful job as the narrator. I am a pretty large fan of hers in general, and she did an excellent job with every aspect of her narration here. Death at Morning House is a queer romance and murder mystery all wrapped up in one fast-paced story and thriller readers who love YA are sure to enjoy it. I especially enjoyed the end and the introduction with the articles! Plus, Marlowe's POV gives new meaning to the phrase if you can't be good, be careful. 😉

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Carol · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5

Reading through the perspective of a horny teenage girl made me want to claw my eyes out

[Romie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I, too, want to be a teen detective. I've missed my calling. (4.29)

[✨ jami ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

a little predictable but still overall a fun book - a nice palate cleanser

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

All other Maureen Johnson books had me hooked from the first page, but unfortunately with this one I just found myself not really caring about the story and having to force myself to keep reading. Even at the end I just didn't really care, when the crimes were solved I was just like yeah okay that is a thing that could possibly happen I guess. It wasn't bad or anything but it wasn't really good either imo so I'm pretty disappointed :/

[Fernwehwelten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow-Burn-Jugend-Mystery wäre wohl etwas, mit dem ich das Buch beschreiben würde. Es hat mir definitiv gefallen und mich auch aus meiner Lese- bzw. Hörflaute geholft, doch trotzdem war es ein wenig anders als erwartet.

Ich mochte den generellen Vibe - eine abgelegene Insel, ein verlassenes Herrenhaus und eine Gruppe Jugendliche... Wie könnte mich das nicht catchen? Vor allem, weil Maureen Johnson zugleich einen wirklich flüssigen Schreibstil hat, der mich immer wieder zum Schmunzeln gebracht hat. Marlowe war eine Protagonistin mit einem etwas anderen Touch, einer etwas anderen Denkstruktur, was mir doll gefallen hat und die Story für mich immer wieder erfrischend aufgewirbelt hat.

Auch das Springen zwischen der Vergangenheit und der Gegenwart fand ich klasse, zumal es mir überraschenderweise gar nicht schwer gefallen ist, all die Namen und Charaktere im Kopf zu behalten. Während die Jugendlichen aus der Gegenwart mir zwar zum Teil etwas blass erschienen und ich mir da noch mehr Tiefe & Details gewünscht hätte, hat mich die Familie in der Vergangenheit echt in ihren Bann gezogen. Sie brauchte eine interessante Basis mit sich, die sich im Verlauf des Buchs immer weiter entfaltet hat. Zwar fand ich die Auflösung des Cold Case' zumindest in Teilen recht vorhersehbar, aber ich habe mich nie gelangweilt.

Bei manchen Dingen habe ich ein wenig gestutzt und mich gefragt, wie realistisch sie wohl sind - gerade, weil ich das aber ad hoc nicht klären konnte, hab ich's brav zur Seite geschoben. Außerdem hätte ich mir dann und wann ein wenig mehr Beschreibungen gewünscht, aber schlussendlich habe ich mich einfach weiter von der Geschichte treiben lassen. Wohlgemerkt: Ich konnte mich wirklich treiben lassen. Ich wurde nicht mitgerissen, wie ich es eigentlich eher erwartet habe. Denn over all stand die Spannung für mich tatsächlich doch weniger im Fokus der Geschichte, als ich erwartet habe. Ich dachte, diese Plotpunkte, die zugehörigen Vorkommnisse, würden etwas mehr Raum nehmen.

Schlussendlich würde ich wohl sagen: Wer nach Gänsehaut und Spannung sucht, etwas Unheimliches möchte, wird hier nicht ganz auf seine Kosten kommen. Nichtsdestotrotz kriegt man aber eine wirklich unterhaltsame Geschichte!

[Maia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is more of a 3.5 or 3.75 but rounded up because it was queer and out of my extreme affection for Maureen Johnson's murder mysteries. This one introduces a new character, Marlowe, who gets into a spot of trouble with some accidental arson while on a date with the girl of her dreams, and then runs away to an absurd summer job on one of the thousand islands on the St Lawrence River. Marlowe joins a group of five other teens who already all know each other to serve as a tour guide for Morning House, the mansion of a rich doctor and eugenicist who summered with his seven children on the island in the 1920s- that is, until two of them died there. And the island has seen another death, more recently. Marlowe didn't show up to solve crimes, but if she wants to make it home at the end of the summer, she'll have to. Similar in tone to the Truly Devious series, this book was a very easy and fun listen. I wish the eugenics thread had either been cut, or better developed, but Marlowe is a delightful character to follow and if this book gets a sequel I will definitely listen to it.

[Bookishrealm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh...I'm not going to lie to ya'll. This was pretty mid. I haven't been thoroughly impressed by Johnson's works in the past and this one didn't really do much for me either.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for a book club with friends. I found the beginning to be quite entertaining, and things flowed along nicely at first. The MC is self-deprecating, awkward, quirky, funny. The more I read though, the more I saw her characterization as the device doing most of the heavy lifting in place of a clever and well-thought-out mystery. We’ve got a dual timeline with the past told through a couple of different povs, while the present-day pov stays with our MC Marlowe. The cast of characters within both timelines is large, and I don’t think enough time is spent developing all of the characters. There are of course major reveals at the end of the novel, and when I got to them, I was just like, “Who? They did what now? Oh yeah, I remember them…I think? Oh, that’s why they did it? Okay…well…that seems both extreme and contrived.” Not the best reaction towards what are supposed to be shocking reveals.

There’s charm and wit in a lot of Marlowe’s sections and interactions with other characters. There are little clues and red herrings peppered throughout, but I think the story suffers from major fluff that negatively affects the mystery elements. And for me the dual timeline messed with the pacing overall. I’ve been bouncing back and forth between giving this a 2 or a 3. I guess I’ll say 2.5 rounded up to a 3, and I definitely feel like that’s generous. I might change my mind later.

[Aisvarya (Semi-hiatus)]

The first half was a slog but I liked the second half, so conflicted rn! Gonna let it sink for a while before I give the rating!

[Jen (noelle w. ihli's version) · Rating 5 out of 5]

quickest review: i gave up a night of watching GOT with my bf to read this book bc i couldn't stop

more detailed but still quick review:
-great YA mystery for sure, absolutely keeping it on my shelf for when my daughter is older
-full on queer rep
-our MC marlowe was fantastic. i loved being in her head. she was funny and witty and clever and RELATABLE and we love a relatable MC
-i chuckled out loud a couple times
-loved the dual timeline whodunits
-descriptions are beautiful, i could for sure imagine the entire place, and i def want to go to there
-uh i'm a full on dummy bc i did NOT know that thousand island dressing was named after a REAL PLACE?! wow. my geography classes failed me 20+ years ago
-the teen drama is p r e s e n t and i'm here for all the tea about these fictional people
-will recommend this book to anyone who will listen

[Annesha Chanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have given up on Maureen Johnson. Her books are getting progressively worse. Instead of discovering the mystery through clues and such, she just narrates what’s happened. Next to no foreshadowing in the whole book. Nothing happens in the first half. I am finished with her. Not picking up anything else.