A teen daughter of parents involved in law enforcement feels ignored. In anger she tells her parents something to the effect of “maybe you’ll pay attention to me when I’m dead” and then goes missing. Parents are frantic and distrusting of each other, mom has dark secret. Nothing groundbreaking but a fine read.

After not enjoying Hello Transcriber as much as I had expected to, The Widowmaker was a huge win - after enjoying it so much, When I'm Dead paled for me a little bit. The story definitely drew me in and was hard to put down, but after awhile there were some repetitive bits that got a little annoying to me, such as Rowan perseverating on karma from a past mistake. The ending wrapped up a bit nearly as well; I wouldn't have expected the survivors to have bounced back from all that trauma so easily.

I really love this series. The multiple POV’s kept the action constantly moving. Black Harbor is an intense, gritty place but going back there always is a treat. This is third in the series and I like to read in order and think the reader benefits more from doing that.

Favorite Quotes:


If there’s one thing she’s actually learned at school, it’s that rumors are like fingerprints: everyone has their own special set, and like it or not, they are part of our identity.

The girl has a lurchiness about her, a furtive expression and andante shrinking inward that suggests she’s always trying to disappear from the space she inhabits. The elephant in the room desperately wishing it were a mouse.

Sometimes, she wonders if finding nothing is worse than finding something.

Teachers shouldn’t be airing their dirty laundry in the classrooms, not like Ms. Allouez, the recently divorced chemistry teacher who allegedly had students destroy her wedding photos over Bunsen burners.

I figured I’d save myself the cost of a divorce. They’re a hundred percent preventable if you don’t get married.

Her heartbeat thrums in her ears. She can feel her temples pounding and she’s convinced that if someone were to look at her dead-on, it would appear as though there’s a pair of Beats headphones screwed to her skull beneath her skin.

How easily madness strips us of who and what we once were. It changes us into something we don’t know how to navigate.


My Review:

This addictive and twisty series has been dark and moody, bewitchingly atmospheric, and brilliantly plotted with barbs of sharp wit, keenly honed insights, and canny as well as uncanny observations. Hannah Morrissey is a special kind of evil genius.

I just finished "When I'm Dead," the third book in the Black Harbor series, and let me tell you, it's a thriller that totally blew my mind. Hannah Morrissey really knows how to weave a dark, twisted tale that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Set in the eerie town of Black Harbor, Wisconsin, this book had me hooked from the get-go with its suspenseful plot, dramatic twists, and a shocker of an ending. Perfect for anyone looking for a little spookiness in their reading list!

The story kicks off on a chilling October night. Rowan, a Medical Examiner, and Axel, a Police Detective, are thrown into a nightmare when they find out their daughter's best friend has been found dead and their own daughter, Chloe, is missing. The last thing Chloe said to her mom was haunting: "You will love me more when I'm dead." From there, the plot thickens as another girl is murdered, and Rowan and Axel are desperate to find out if these cases are connected and if they can save Chloe in time. The tension in their marriage, the understaffed police force, and the dark vibe of Black Harbor all add layers of suspense to the story.

I couldn't put this book down and am already looking forward to the next one in the series. If you're into crime mysteries with a good dose of psychological thriller, this is definitely one to pick up. It's a solid read that's as thrilling as it is emotional, earning a big thumbs-up from me!

Thanks to the publisher for my ARC!

This is the first book I read by Hannah Morrissey, and it was engaging from beginning to end. This suspenseful read had plenty of twists and turns that kept me flipping through the pages into the late hours of the night. Although a bit predictable after a certain point in the book, I have to say that i really enjoyed this read. With both the main POVs working in the crime world, the book had a lot of details pertaining to the profession, and that was a nice addition. Highly recommend for any crime/mystery book/podcast lover.

Thank you to @hannahmorrisseywriter and @minotaur_books for my #gifted copy!

4.5✨
Out October 31st, 2023

It’s so good to be back in Black Harbor, where the bad seems to be never ending! I would hate to live there but love reading about it! I felt the pain of this one, as a parent. The relationships, working, the balance. The quote “ You’ll love me more when I’m dead” literally broke my heart! When I’m Dead is Dark and twisted and with a sense of utter dread that pulls you in harder. I loved that you get new characters but we also get old favorites like Kole! This is a series but you don’t have to read them in any order.

On the night of their teenage daughter Chole’s school play Medical Examiner Rowan Winthorp and her husband Axel, an investigator with the Black Harbor Police Department, are called away to a crime scene involving a dead teenager. Madison Caldwell, their daughter’s best friend, is found brutally murdered and on the same night, Chloe does not return home after her school play and she is presumed to be a suspect in Maison’s death.

“You’ll love me more when I’m dead.”

As Rowan and Axel search for Chloe, the deep dive into their daughter's life reveals plenty of teenage drama, rivalry, scandalous rumors, and secrets. How well did they know their own daughter? When another of Chloe’s classmates is found murdered, it becomes evident that someone is targeting Chloe’s friends. Is Chloe alive? Will she be one of the killer’s next victims, or is she behind the murders? Can they find her before it is too late?

Having enjoyed the first two books in author Hannah Morrissey’s Black Harbor series, I was eager to read her latest offering. When I’m Dead by Hannah Morrissey is a suspenseful read with plenty of surprises to keep you engaged. Though the ending wasn’t completely unpredictable after a point, there is a lot to like about how the plot is structured. I will admit to having not enjoyed this installment as much as the previous books. With both Rowan and Axel involved in the investigation, the professional/procedural aspect takes precedence over their personal lives, which makes it difficult to connect with them as individuals whose daughter is missing. I also felt that Rowan’s guilt over an incident from her past was an unnecessary plot point, though it does add to the drama. The atmospheric vibe felt a tad forced ( set close to Halloween to emphasize the eerie, vibe, unlike her other novels where the crime-infested town and its darkness was better woven into the plot) in this story and I’m not a fan of the “mean girls” trope which took up way too much space in the narrative and did detract from my overall reading experience. However, there is no doubt that Morrissey knows how to craft a dark, twisty, suspenseful thriller and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Even though this is the third book in the series , it can be read as a standalone.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the digital review copy o this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. When I’m Dead was published on October 31, 2023.

When I’m Dead is the third book in the Black Harbor novel series. The storyline revolves around the murder of one teenage girl and the disappearance of another. The missing girl’s (Chloe) parents are the medical examiner (Rowen) and a police detective (Axel) in Black Harbor. The murdered girl is her “best” friend. As Rowen and Axel investigate the murder, they discover that they don’t really know their daughter as well a they thought they did. Rowen’s past intrudes wears on her as does the last thing Chloe said to her – “You’ll love me more when I’m dead.” I found it odd that the parents of the missing girl were included so closely in the murder/disappearance investigation. I don’t feel that the characters were well developed. It felt like we needed more background. Perhaps that’s because this is the third book in the series??? We should already know the cast of characters??? Although I was intrigued by the description of the book, it wasn’t a book I enjoyed.

Rowan and Axel are often called to crime scenes at a moment’s notice, but this time is different. Their daughter’s best friend was killed and their daughter, Chloe, is missing. They race to figure out what happened in hopes of finding Chloe before it’s too late.

An engaging thriller with underlying storylines that help support the main plot without weighing down.

Thank you to @netgalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

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This was the first book that I have read by this author and I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading more books by Hannah Morrissey.
This book sets place in a small town around Halloween with a husband and wife, Axel the homicide detective and Rowan the Medical Examiner, teaming up to solve the murders of children from their daughter's school, but also trying to figure out the disappearance of their daughter Chloe.
This was an easy fast paced who done it police procedural with so many suspects and different twists and turns through out, I would have never guessed the ending. This book definitely kept me turning the pages to try and figure out what was gonna happen next.
The only negative remark I have about this book is that I wanted more background history of Rowan and her past, I was just antsy to find out, but left me with questions instead. Maybe a book about Rowan's history in the future?? If so, I will definitely read!!!
All in all, I would recommend this book for my Library. Thank you NetGalley and
St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for my advanced copy.

When I’m Dead reeled me in right away with Chloe, a young actress starring in a high school play stands watching her parents, a homicide detective and a medical examiner, leaving her play for yet another homicide. She verbalized that, “You will love me more when I’m dead”. A very prophetic statement it turns out to be.
Black Harbor seems to be a difficult place to live - especially for some of the girls in Chloe’s class. Once Chloe goes missing as well the twists and turns begin. I found her story and Libby’s story very compelling.
I have to admit that I had difficulty connecting with either of her parents throughout this read. I kept thinking “What if…” while reading this story. I did appreciate the ending.
I have not read the first 2 books in the series it may have hampered my understanding of the family dynamics.
Many thanks to Hannah Morrissey, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to read an arc of this recently published book.

When I'm Dead by Hannah Morrissey is a gripping and eerie tale with lots of twists and turns. It's got a mix of all tropes a thriller / mysery fan would enjoy: murder, kidnapping, unsolved cases, and more.

My only issue with this book is that the interpersonal drama starts to become more convoluted. As a reader, I could tell that the plot lines would have no lasting effect on the ending or the final climax. So it started to drag and didn't feel interesting enough to kepe me hooked the whole time.

The ending also lost the emotional impact I was expecting. However, still a fairly engaging thriller!

This is a series however it can also be read as a stand alone. One girl is found murdered and her best friend is now missing! This was written from multiple POVs, which I loved! I loved reading what each character was thinking on who did it or what happened. I seriously did not guess the ending! This book gave me criminal mind vibes and I loved the creepiness of it! I really enjoyed the writing in this book and the description of the town of Black Harbor! You definitely need to give it a try!
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Read this book if you like a criminal procedural, criminal minds, multiple POV, and family secrets/drama!
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
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Thank you @netgalley, @mintourboijs and @hannahmorrisey for this ARC in exchange for my honest review

This was my first Hannah Morrissey book, I wasn't aware it was the third in a series! It definitely works as a stand alone, but I'm sure the previous books would have added more background and context. I'm typically a big fan of books featuring medical examiners as the main character, however can't say I loved When I'm Dead.

It may be because I hadn't read the first books of the series but I just did not care for either Rowan or Axel...they were so unappealing as people. The it's story was fine but nothing groundbreaking. I'd give it 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first book in the A Black Harbor Novel. I didn’t realize it was book 3 in a series when I requested When I’m Dead. However, it wasn’t necessary to read the others first. I plan on going back and reading the other two. The book had many twists and turns and kept me guessing. Thank you #NetGalley, #StMartin’sPress, #HannahMorrisey and #WhenI’mDead:ABlackHarborNovel for the copy for my honest review.

This was my first book to read by this author but it won't be my last! This was a beautifully written novel that evokes so many emotions and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Don't miss out on this one!

I love Black Harbor! This was just as gripping as her previous books, I loved the different POVs as well as just the absolute dread I felt while reading this book. I mean that in the best way! The only reason I’m giving this 4 stars, is I felt Rowan’s reference to something that happened 18 years ago was so irrelevant it just made me not like her. Other than that, I can’t wait for more Black Harbor!

Would recommend for fans off…
🔎 Midwestern settings
🔎 Tana French
🔎 Riverdale (before it went off the tracks)

Hannah Morrissey’s Black Harbor novels have been a pleasant surprise in the crime fiction world over the past few years. They’re gritty and dark but do an excellent job of illustrating how violent crimes affect communities and those tasked with investigating.

When I’m Dead is another excellent entry in the series. It’s focused on medical examiner Rowan and her missing daughter, who’s either a murderer or the next victim. The story is a crime novel through and through, but I liked the elements of family drama that were interspersed. There are multiple POVs throughout the book, which is always something I love in crime fiction, and Morrissey uses these perspectives to weave the mystery in a way that keeps you invested in the story.

While this is the third novel in a series, the Black Harbor books are structured a lot like Tana French’s Dublin Murder Squad series. Characters appear across books with a new one taking the lead each time, but the mysteries themselves are standalones and can be enjoyed without reading in order. There are plenty of Easter eggs who have read the books in order though!

When I’m Dead is out now. Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Okay look I’m not an animal, but I accidently started this series on book three. Of course I’ll head directly to book one.

Had a lot of fun with this one and can’t wait to continue on with this author and the series.