Title: Death at Morning House
Author: Maureen Johnson
TW: Talk of eugenics, not the main character.
About this Book: 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.
My Thoughts:
The mortifying situation at the beginning of this book made me need to set it down for a moment and take a walk about the room like I was some sort of Austenian woman. Not Lizzie. One of the background characters who might need a fainting couch. If you get secondhand embarrassment, especially about dating the supposed person of your dreams, be warned.
The mystery taking place in the 20s reminded me of the Lindbergh baby. If you know, you know.
Marlowe (who has a fabulous name) will be familiar to some of you. Or maybe it’s just me because I am an adult now and still awkward af when it comes to situations involving groups of people I don’t know, and dating.
But given the opportunity to go live in a historical mansion for the summer as a teenager, away from parents and people I could leave behind even if I didn’t want to, I would take it in a heartbeat.
I would take it now actually, are there any historical Mansions or Manors in need of staff that pay what I make now? Call me. (Don’t call me, if my phone rings it gets turned off).
She is not Stevie. She is not Pip. She is not a detective, with any real interest in detecting things, which is what makes this book oh-so delicious.
There are two mysteries in this book:
1. In the 1920s, Max, a son of the famous Dr. Ralston drowned, and his sister Clara, who jumped from the roof.
2. In the 2020s, the death of the tour guide Marlowe replaced.
These mysteries feel like they go hand in hand, and are dark, sad and thankfully solved by the end of the novel. The vibes are atmospheric, and the settings easy to picture due to Johnson’s wonderful description of them, as well as her description of events.
This is a great weekend mystery.
Favourite Quotes:
“The jump from someone who can’t be found to someone who is missing is long and short at the same time, because nothing has changed except your perception of the distance.”
“Tyrants and those who ascribe to tyrannical beliefs are always weak at heart because they build their world on fear.”
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