Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

When I’m Dead by Hannah Morrissey is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into themes of obsession, betrayal, and the dark side of small-town life. The story follows the enigmatic character of Hazel, a woman with a troubled past who becomes embroiled in a series of mysterious deaths that shake her community. Morrissey’s writing is atmospheric and tense, skillfully building suspense as secrets unfold and the lines between truth and deception blur. The intricate plot, combined with well-drawn characters and a haunting backdrop, creates a compelling narrative that keeps readers guessing until the very end. It’s a chilling and immersive read for fans of psychological suspense and mysteries.

There is just something missing from this book. I'm not sure what it is, but the twist was not surprising.

How well do we really know our teenagers? This book tells us, not really. They keep secrets from us, and sometimes those secrets can put them in jeopardy, or keep them from rescue. I personally wouldn't raise a child in a town so deadly as Black Harbor, but that's another subject. Well-written, terrific pacing... the ending was a bit of a let-down. The ending I'd envisioned might have worked better.

This is the third book in the Black Harbor series and when it was sent to me as an early copy to review, I didn’t realize I would be jumping into an already established series. However, I feel like I was able to step right in and not miss much from the previous two books. I think Morrissey was able to capture the immense amount of pain of parents who find that their daughter, Chloe has gone missing after discovering that her best friend has been murdered. Rowan, a medical examiner and Alex, a local detective are not only involved in solving the case but are fully immersed because they don’t know if their daughter may have had something to do with her best friend’s death. Rowan and Alex begin to have differing opinions of their daughter and her possible involvement, which begins to tear their marriage apart. Morrissey was able to write in a way that touches on what the parents are experiencing during the time Chloe is missing but also the fact that they didn’t know all that was going on in their child’s life. This made Rowan and Alex more real/relatable in my opinion because most parents don’t know the ins and outs of their child’s life. I felt the book started off slow and picked up its pace as they began to uncover more information. I don’t think the ending was too predictable, but I was able to start putting together the pieces the closer I got to the end. I don’t know how the previous books compare to this one, but I’m definitely willing to check them out.

I never read the first two books in the series, but thought I would jump in on book three since I was approved for the next one. I really thought that this would be the perfect mystery to read during spooky season since it published around this time last year. I wanted to love it, but it fell flat for me.

The author used too many descriptive words that weren’t necessarily needed sprinkled throughout the story. I found myself thinking “can we get to the point of the book because I’m about to DNF.” I stuck with it, but didn’t enjoy the characters or the rushed ending. The story was built up around Chloe’s disappearance, then a fight ensued and it was over.

In all the mystery books I’ve read, some research was done beforehand about investigating crime scenes and police procedurals and I could tell that none of that was done here and it just left me with more questions than answers.

I’ll definitely be reading the next book in hopes of some clarification and to learn more about Black Harbor.

This was very slow burn. It was difficult to get into. I didn’t relate to any of the characters or find myself invested in the mystery. I saw this is part of a series, so maybe it would have been better had I read the other books first!

I liked this book. I didn't read the other in the series, but felt like it did fine as a stand alone.
wasn't my favorite book, but I liked the plot and it was suspenseful. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good mystery thriller.

Massive thanks to both NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the ARC copy of Morrissey's latest!

I have really enjoyed the Black Harbor series and Morrissey's writing. I think she has a great talent for bringing a punch to her story and her characters and I really appreciate that in a book. It helps make it not feel as boring and keeps me engaged.
Really love the twist in this one & wish there were more Black Harbor books coming!!

Thank you for an ARC of this book! I didn't realize there were 2 other books in the series, so I had to read those first just because I'm that way. A good read and overall a good one for spooky season.

This was a pretty quick read, and for the most part enjoyable. I figured out early on, once the character was first introduced, who the murderer was. That really didn't take away from the story as a whole and I still ended up enjoying it.

I sincerely appreciate the review of copy from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Haunting Small-Town Mystery

When I’m Dead by Hannah Morrissey is a gripping mystery novel set in the eerie town of Black Harbor. The story begins on a chilling October night when Medical Examiner Rowan Winthorp is called to investigate the murder of her daughter's best friend, Madison. The tragedy escalates when Rowan discovers that her own daughter, Chloe, is missing. As Rowan and her husband, Detective Axel Winthorp, delve deeper into the investigation, they uncover a series of disturbing clues and grisly secrets that suggest the presence of a serial killer in their midst. The plot unfolds through the dual perspectives of Rowan and Axel, offering a poignant and intense exploration of their contrasting reactions to these harrowing circumstances.

When I’m Dead stands out as a compelling and thought-provoking mystery that combines a haunting atmosphere with a deeply emotional narrative. Its strengths lie in the well-crafted characters, intricate plot, and Morrissey's evocative writing style. While some readers might find the dark and moody tone overwhelming, it is precisely this atmosphere that makes the novel so gripping and memorable. Overall, When I’m Dead is a must-read for fans of mystery and psychological thrillers who appreciate a well-told story that delves into the depths of human fear and resilience.

This was such a pleasant surprise! I read another book by this author a year or so ago, and I was not much of a fan. So I wasn’t looking forward to reading this one and kept procrastinating.

Anyway, I enjoyed this one a lot more. It started off strong, and the storyline kept getting better. I thought the killer was pretty obvious, but I still enjoyed reading about the motivation and the backstory.

This would’ve been a 5 star read, except I felt it was a bit too long. I think the story would’ve had a bigger impact and been even more captivating if some pieces had been cut out.

If you’re in the mood for a police procedural, you should give this one a try.

Thank you to Minotaur Books for my gifted copy!

While this is the third thriller in this series, this is the first I've read of the Black Harbor series. Honestly, at first this book made me angry and I didn't want to finish. But I kept going and am glad I did. The characters are flawed, and their biases are glaringly obvious throughout the novel. However, this allows for more suspense to build, as well as a twist to jump up and bite you. The build to the twist was there, but only if you knew what you were looking for. At the end I was able to put everything together, but the suspense was worth it.

A young girl is killed and another is missing. Rowan and Axel are investigating the murder but with their daughter missing they have to wonder, is she involved? This is a police procedural story but with a twist of the main investigators being personally involved. There is a lot of drama and family issues in this story, and the whole neighborhood is brought into the drama. Well written with lots of twists and turns.

Looking for your next fall read? This is the one! This thriller is built with some twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Definitely recommend!

If you are looking for a mystery / suspense upper YA you’ve definitely found it here. This is book three in the series of four. These are all stand alones in the series, but you do have some overlap if you read in order. This was definitely a quick page turner trying to figure out who and how before the author reveals it all.

I didn't realize that this was a third in a series, but I was able to get absorbed in it very quickly. Now I can't wait to go back and read the other two!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this review copy

This was a chilling and atmospheric thriller that delves into the dark side of small-town secrets. The story revolves around a woman who, after her sister’s mysterious death, uncovers unsettling truths about their community and herself. Morrissey's evocative prose and tense pacing create a gripping narrative filled with twists and psychological depth. The novel’s exploration of grief and hidden darkness makes for a compelling read, offering both suspense and emotional resonance.

Rowan and her husband, Axel, both work for the police department in Black Harbor where crime is a 24/7 activity. Crimes are a dime a dozen in this town and law enforcement can't keep up. As one could imagine, that means these two don't have much free time as a medical examiner and a detective. One the evening of their daughter's school play, they receive a call requesting their presence at a crime scene immediately - a teenage girl has been found dead. Hours later, they come home to find their own teenage daughter missing...

When I'm Dead has definitely been my favorite title in the Black Harbor series. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading this. I enjoyed it so much I couldn't put it down! The author kept me guessing for the most part, but I found certain things to be predictable. However, I didn't guess who the killer was until it was perfectly set up to have no other option.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Hanna Morrissey for an advanced copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

I ordered this as my book of the month to have a hard copy after receiving a copy from NetGalley. It took me awhile to start because I didn’t realize it was third in a series and I just dislike jumping into the middle of a series. This book works as a stand-alone but I’d prefer to have read 1&2 first. This is a good read as a crime fiction but far fetched. The beginning will have you intrigued but ultimately it’s long and drawn out with a lot of unnecessary information. Great concept but needed better execution! 2.5 rounded up.

Two murdered girls and one missing from the same town/neighborhood. The parents of the missing girl are a coroner and a detective. This story takes you through the investigation process and the emotions behind solving the crime when a loved one is involved.

This was a quick easy read with lots of layers to it. Reading it as a mom of teen girls had me a little unnerved. There are some really crazy people in this world. I found it was well written and a very interesting read.