Hannah Morrissey’s When I’m Dead is a gripping psychological thriller that masterfully weaves a haunting murder mystery with an emotional romance subplot. Set in the eerie, tension-filled town of Black Harbor, the novel follows Rowan, a medical examiner, as she becomes entangled in the murder of a high school girl and the disappearance of her own high school daughter. With the chilling atmosphere, unique characters, and unexpected twists, Morrissey crafts a story that keeps readers on edge until the very last page.

One of the novel’s strongest elements is Morrissey’s ability to lead the reader astray when it comes to the identity of the killer. Throughout the story, she expertly plants red herrings and suspicious behavior among multiple characters, making it easy to suspect the wrong person. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, the narrative takes a sharp turn, proving that Morrissey is a master at deception. This misdirection not only keeps the suspense high but also makes the final reveal even more satisfying.

Beyond the murder plotline, the romance between Axel and Rowan adds depth and heart to the novel. Axel, a detective, and Rowan, caught in the chaos of the case & fending off her own demons, navigate their marriage amidst the darkness surrounding them. Their moments together provide a much-needed balance to the novel’s more sinister themes, making their romance an integral part of the story rather than just a subplot.

Overall, When I’m Dead is an outstanding thriller that blends mystery, psychological depth, and romance seamlessly. Morrissey’s writing is atmospheric and immersive, her characters are flawed yet compelling, and the twists are genuinely surprising. Fans of psychological thrillers with a touch of romance will find this book hard to put down.

This book was so suspenseful. It definitely took an unexpected turn. I like how this series focuses on different characters each time.

"When I'm Dead" by Hannah Morrissey is the 3rd book in the "Black Harbor" series. Even if it can be read as a standalone it has some spoilers for the previous books. So if you read the series, you should read the books in order.

I received a complimentary digital copy of the book from St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books via Netgalley. Opinions from this review are completely my own.

In this book, the Black Harbor police investigate the murder of a girl and the disappearance of another. The story is told from multiple POVs:
- Rowan, a medical examiner and Chloe's mother (the missing girl)
- her husband Axel, who is a detective for Black Harbor PD
- Libby, who is Chloe's best friend and neighbour.

I enjoyed this book more than the previous one. Even if we are still dealing with murders, it is not as dark as "The Widowmaker".
During the investigation there is another murder and there are a few suspects, including Chloe. Also, the relationship between Rowan and Axel is not good, especially because they spend a lot of time at work. This also influenced Chloe in a negative way and she found support in her drama teacher and in acting.

This story is engaging and emotional, especially because the victims are teenagers. We have bullying, hidden relationships, secrets from the past, unexpected twists and taxidermy.
As it takes place close to Halloween, there is an added spooky aspect and the fast pace makes it a page turner.

Overall I liked the book, especially because it was not predictable.

When I’m Dead by Hannah Morrissey is a chilling, atmospheric crime thriller that explores the dark underbelly of a small town. The novel follows a complex protagonist, a woman grappling with her own secrets while uncovering others’ hidden truths. Morrissey’s writing is haunting and evocative, drawing readers into a world of mystery, betrayal, and suspense. The plot twists keep you on edge, and the emotional depth of the characters adds a gripping layer to the crime-solving narrative. When I’m Dead is a fast-paced, captivating read perfect for fans of psychological thrillers.

When I initially read this, I hadn’t realized it was part of a series. That said, this is part of a series but was easily understandable as a standalone book. This was a quick, interesting read that I finished in less than 24 hours. The author does a great job of character development.
Looking forward to reading the rest of the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of When I'm Dead by Hannah Morrissey in exchange for my honest review and feedback. When requesting this book, I didn't realize it was in a series but I was totally able to read this without reading the prior books. Found it to be a great read and I will for sure go back and read the earlier books.

Yes because this author just works for me. Suspenseful and thrilling from open to end the story keeps you guessing and leaves you thrilled.

I enjoyed this story - my book club actually read it as our August book last year. It was a great plot, and I actually went back and read the others in the story. They author has a great way of telling a story, and I look forward to more of her books.

I never read the author or the series before, but I'm so glad I picked it up. I enjoyed the writing style so much and the author sucked me into the heartbreak of dealing with a missing daughter suspected of murder. I empathized with the parents' pain over putting their careers first and seemingly missing trouble at home. The suspense was well done as the detective and medical examiner parents race to find their daughter while uncovering her teenage secrets and scandals. There was a bit of a "mean girls" trope that didn't totally work for me, but otherwise I thought the mystery was well done.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* This was a great book, would love to see this as a tv show lol would recommend

It is good to be back in Black Harbor with Hannah Morrissey’s third installment of this series. These books are perfect to read in the dead of winter with the featured chilling weather, derelict small town setting and never ending list of crimes. Between the multiple POVs, short chapters, and suspicion cast on everyone, I was hooked and flying through this one. If you enjoy dark, twisty thrillers then this one is for you!

This was a new to me author right when I discovered my love for thrillers instead of just romance books. This was wonderfully written and I cannot wait to read more of her work and share with my audience. Thanks so much for the gifted copy of this one!

This book focuses on Medical Examiner, Rowan Winthorp, investigating the death of her daughter’s best friend. Hours later, tragedy hits even closer to home when she discovers her daughter, Chloe, is missing.

This book had an engaging plot that had good twists and turns leaving you wondering what would happen next. I was torn on the rating of this one for two reasons. One - I didn’t like was the fat shaming. There was just too much of it. Two - there was no way the parents would have been allowed to work their own daughter’s disappearance. It might have been better if they were doing a behind the scenes investigation on their own. There wasn’t much believability to it.

I did enjoy the authors writing style and character development, so I will be going back to read the rest in the series. This just might not have been the book for me…

I want to thank NetGalley, Hannah Morrissey and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for the e-ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are honest, my own and left voluntarily.

Thank you for the correction! Here’s an updated review:

When I’m Dead by Hannah Morrissey is a gripping and atmospheric thriller that combines a chilling murder mystery with a poignant exploration of trauma and resilience. The story follows Hazel, a court reporter haunted by her past, who becomes entangled in a shocking crime that unearths buried secrets in her small town. Morrissey’s writing is dark and immersive, masterfully capturing the eerie tension of the setting and the emotional weight of Hazel’s journey. The plot unfolds with expertly timed twists, keeping the reader on edge while delving into themes of survival and identity. With its sharp prose, complex characters, and a haunting sense of dread, When I’m Dead is a compelling read that will keep you hooked until the very last page.

Hannah Morrissey has outdone herself with When I’m Dead, delivering a gripping, emotionally charged addition to the Black Harbor series. This book stands out as my favorite so far, blending a chilling mystery with deeply personal stakes that kept me hooked from start to finish.

Rowan Winthorp, the medical examiner at the heart of the story, is a compelling protagonist. The way Morrissey weaves her professional detachment with the unraveling grief of a mother is masterful. The dual tragedies—her daughter’s best friend’s murder and her own daughter’s disappearance—create a relentless pace, while the mosaic of clues keeps the reader guessing.

The exploration of Rowan’s past adds depth, painting a picture of how even the strongest family bonds can strain under the weight of buried secrets. Morrissey’s atmospheric writing and the multiple perspectives bring Black Harbor to life once again, and the haunting imagery makes this a perfect read for a cold, dark evening.

The only reason I’m giving it four instead of five stars is that I figured out early on who was behind everything, and I found it far fetched that Axel and Rowan would be allowed to investigate when their missing daughter was a suspect. However, the emotional payoff and satisfying conclusion more than make up for it. When I’m Dead is a must-read for fans of dark mysteries and is a standout in an already stellar series.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley & St. Martin’s Press for an eARC of When I’m Dead by Hannah Morrissey! I waited FAR too long to read the Black Harbor novels, but once I started I absolutely couldn’t stop. These can all be read standalone but I highly recommend to immerse yourself into the BHPD and buckle up for a wild ride.

This one takes a different turn and follows a younger set of main characters - High school girls. One is murdered, another is missing, and the medical examiner is the mother of the missing teenager. Right before Halloween, Rowan investigates the death of her daughter’s best friend. But now, her own daughter, Chloe, is missing. Rowan and her husband, a BH LEO, begins questioning how well they really know their daughter - And could she be responsible for what is happening?

Morrissey has a way of chilling you to the core with her words. HIGHLY recommend this one, but not for the faint of heart!

I was really hoping this series would be for me but it is proving to just not be. I dont know why i just can not get into it.

Hannah Morrissey is basically the epitome of gritty. It’s gritty and raw but so freaking fab.

Rowan and Alex were interesting characters to lead with this installment. I didn’t hate them, but I also didn’t love them. They were meh.

But what I did and will always love are the wild twists and turns we went on to make sure we were left stunned into silence as we flipped to the last chapter.

This is the third book in the Black Harbor series, which I've been enjoying so far and wanted to continue. Black Harbor is a gritty town with a lot of crime and deaths, and the mood of the book fits the feel of the city. This one was my favorite out of the series so far.

The book centers around Rowan and Axel, a medical examiner and detective for Black Harbor. The night of their teenage daughter, Chloe's, Beetlejuice show, they get called out early to attend to a murder. Sometime that same night, Chloe disappears. Rowan and Axel know that there is a connection between the murder and Chloe being gone, but it might be a connection that they don't want to make.

I really enjoyed the overall plot of this book. I was interested in what was going on and how Chloe's disappearance was connected to the murders of her classmates. There were also some really great (and creepy) red herrings in this one that kept me interested.

The climax at the end fell a little flat for me, which is why this wasn't quite a five star. The "why" of the whodunnit didn't resonate with me that well.

I'm still interested in this series and plan to continue reading. I recommend this for readers who like dark, gritty crime novels.

Great fun read! Kept my attention the whole time, very interesting plot and wrapped up well at the end despite it being sad. Can’t wait to read more by this author.