april roundup
I am thoroughly enjoying my April reads thus far. I had been anxiously awaiting Maureen Johnson’s latest, Death at Morning House, and am so happy to report it did not disappoint. This was probably the book I was most excited to read, but I also loved The Briar Club and The Brightwood Code. I hadn’t read any Kate Quinn before so I can’t compare it to her earlier works, but her latest makes me want to give them a try. All three are solid selections from great writers.
As always, thank you to NetGalley for providing me with these ARCs.
april roundup
Death at Morning House
Author: Maureen Johnson
Publication Date: 8/6/2024
Things aren’t going great for Marlowe Wexler in Maureen Johnson’s new book Death at Morning House. Her first date with Akilah ended up in literal flames thanks to a faulty candle, and now she’s known for being the town arsonist. To have a fresh start, Marlowe leaves town for the rest of the summer to work at the famous Morning House, not anticipating things are about to take an even stranger turn.
Morning House, a mansion on an island built in the 1920s, was abandoned long ago after two tragic deaths in the family. Marlowe’s job is to lead tours of the mansion, but she soon discovers history is repeating itself – and the history of Morning House is a little more sinister than people realized. It will be up to Marlowe to solve the mystery – and to uncover secrets from the past in the process.
Fans of Johnson’s Truly Devious series will appreciate this book. The style is similar – a small group of teens are thrown together to solve both past and present mysteries. There are time jumps from the main characters to the past mystery, and there is also a little bit of romance thrown in the mix. As is usually the case with Johnson’s works, readers will find positive LGBTQ+ representation.
What makes this book especially enjoyable is the likability of the main character. Marlowe is almost accidentally charming, as she is awkward and quirky but also extremely smart and funny. Her awkwardness is endearing, and it is refreshing to read a book where the protagonist possesses complete self-awareness.
As Truly Devious has worked well as a series, it would be interesting to see if there could be more in store for Marlowe Wexler. It would be fun to see where this loveable character goes next.
This book will be a perfect pick for fans of YA and mysteries.
The Briar Club
Author: Kate Quinn
Publication Date: 7/9/2024
The all-female tenants of Briarwood House in Washington, DC, tend to stick to themselves. The rooms are barebones, their landlady is a tyrant, and McCarthyism has cast a pall on the city, making the desire to socialize low. Then Grace March moves into the smallest available room – more of a closet – and between her charming persona and the weekly dinners she hosts, things slowly begin to change.
The reader is introduced to each boarder through chapters dedicated to their stories, with interwoven vignettes told from the viewpoint of the house itself. Each resident has hidden depths, from a British housewife struggling to keep up a positive façade to the enigmatic Grace herself. Their lives intertwine, culminating in a violent act that threatens to tear them all apart.
Kate Quinn is a master of the historical fiction genre, and fans will be happy with her latest offering. It is a nice change of pace to focus on 1950s America rather than the more popular periods, and the characters are well-developed and interesting. It is obvious how much research she puts into creating her stories, and she also includes a helpful afterward where she addresses any changes she made regarding historical moments and figures.
Quinn does a great job of building tension, as the victims are not revealed until the last section of the book. She mentions this is her post-pandemic novel, one where she wanted to feel lighter and more hopeful, conveying the feeling of gathering around the table and eating and talking. There are even recipes for the dishes the boarders all make for their dinner parties throughout.
Overall, this is a lovely book with a compelling plot and intriguing characters. It would be a great option for a book club – especially if readers take advantage of the recipes provided.
The Brightwood Code
Author: Monica Hesse
Publication Date: 5/14/2024
Edda wants to prove herself as a respectable young woman, which is the reason why she takes a job as a “Hello Girl” on the World War I frontlines. By operating the telephones overseas, she can actively assist in the war by connecting important calls. She finds herself feeling accomplished until a catastrophic event sends her back to Washington, DC, and reeling from the fallout.
At night, Edda operates the phones for American Bell Telephone, and by day she is haunted by the memories of what happened overseas; she cannot forgive herself for a lapse in judgment resulting in the deaths of many men. Now it would appear someone close to her knows where she failed and wants her to repent, and Edda must find a way to right her wrongs. As she tries to make amends, the truth behind what happened boils over, and Edda must come to terms with the real event she has been running from.
The Brightwood Code is an interesting book because the direction it ends up taking feels far from how it begins. What seems to be an intriguing mystery is instead a complex story about processing trauma, and it takes many heartbreaking turns.
This book is well-written and compelling. The subject matter could be challenging for some readers and Edda’s relationship with her family could have been explored more, but overall this is a great piece of historical fiction.
Until next time - cheers and happy reading! Follow me on Instagram for more updates!
