I was pleasantly surprised to start this book and discover it was set in my home state of Wisconsin. However, I don't think I'd want to live in the fictional community of Black Harbor which was aptly named thanks to its depressed economy and high rate of crime. Even though this is the author's third book in a series, I had no problem reading it as a stand-alone novel. It was a real page-turner for me. I would compare it to watching a Lifetime movie where I find myself holding my breath in the final moments. Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the author for an advance copy to read and review.

This is the third book in the dark chilling Black Harbor series can be read as stand alone.I was immediately caught up in When I’m dead full of so many twists and turns red herrings that kept me guessing.Hannah Morrissey has written another page turner.#netgalley #st.martins.

This was the first book I have read by Hannah Morrissey. I didn't realize this was the third book in this series but I didn't feel like I missed anything. I will be going back and reading the other two book now. The suspense in this book will keep you on your toes and keep you guessing. I think Hannah did a wonderful job writing this thriller. I highly recommend this book!!


Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for allowing me to read this ARC in advance for my honest opinion.

When Rowan, a medical examiner, and Axel, a detective, are called to a crime scene, they are horrified to discover the victim is their teenage daughters best friend. Then they discover their daughter is missing. Rowan and Axel must race to discover who has taken their daughter, and who is committing the murders of her friends.

After loving The Widowmaker, I had high hopes for this novel, but unfortunately it fell a bit flat for me. I felt like this was a plot we’ve seen many times before, it didn’t feel unique or original at all. This wasn’t a bad book, it’s well written and kept my interest, but it just felt like every other missing persons thriller I’ve read before, and I was a little disappointed.

This book seemed a little confused. The prose in places was gorgeous and incisive, the way a literary novel would be. The murder mystery was cold-blooded and horrific, the way a police procedural would be. The relationships were tangled and complicated, the way a women's fiction novel would be. So what was this book?

The narrative keeps stringing readers along with red herrings and the promise of answers long enough that I stuck with this all the way to the end just to find out what happened to Chloe, but it was really tough to get there. After a while, the lines about Black Harbor being a terrible place started to lose their punch because of how many times we hear them in some variation. I started the book feeling creeped out by the murders but ended up skimming the last three to four chapters just to get the main information, because the descriptions and the characters pondering their lives and the pacing dragged too much.

I also felt like the characters were only halfway developed, which is a shame. Libby is sufficiently spooky until about 2/3 of the way through. Then she seems to snap into "regular secondary character" mode -- why? Reeves Singh never felt real at all; most of what we find out about him is when he's off the page. Axel and Rowan seem the most developed, but, again, they both spend so much time agonizing over everything that it got a little stale after a while.

I also had a lot of questions about how the investigations into the murders was proceeding. There wasn't enough information given on what the police were actually doing to find out what happened to Madison and Sari and where Chloe went. Axel, because he's Chloe's father, gets sidelined for most of the case, so we end up just getting his suppositions and his (understandable) rage at not being allowed to do much. But what is everyone else doing? This one started out strong for me but ultimately just didn't follow through on a lot of the promises it made.

“When I’m Dead” is Hannah Morrissey’s third ‘Black Harbor’ novel. These books can be read as a series, or as standalone novels. This book focuses on a Medical Examiner who is trying to solve the murder of her daughter’s best friend. When she finds out her own daughter Chloe, is missing too, Rowan and her husband have to ask just how well they really know their child. Will they be able to find her in time and save her, or will they fall apart trying?

This has been one of the best books I’ve read all year. I genuinely cannot recommend it enough. This novel is so dynamic and clever that I had to read it in one sitting. I’ll now be anxious awaiting Hannah’s next book because she is such an incredibly talented writer!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur books for the ARC of this story. “When I’m Dead” by Hannah Morrissey is publishing today, on October 31st!

The storyline was super intriguing to me but even then, the story did start out alittle slow. I thought it picked up nicely in the second half and overall ended up enjoying this one! Also perfect that I finished reading this on Halloween🎃 Some of the characters weren’t my favorite but not to the point where it took away from the story.

Medical Examiner Rowan Winthrop and her homicide detective husband Axel, are called to a murder scene during their daughter Chloe’s high school play. Rowan tells her daughter they’re leaving, to which oft-neglected Chloe replies, “you’ll love me more when I’m dead”. It turns out that the victim is a fellow classmate of their daughter, and before the night is over, Chloe will go missing.

This book started off really slow, and remained that way until maybe the last quarter of the book. Rather than focusing on the investigation which would have propelled the narrative, the chapters instead alternate between the POV of the characters themselves, where they each have secrets that aren’t especially compelling, were repetitive, and added almost nothing to the storyline.

This is the first series I’ve ever read out of order, but I don’t believe that was an issue, and this can fully be read as a stand-alone, as they all take place within the same town and revolve around investigations within the Black Harbor Police Department. It wasn’t my favorite, but it takes place in the week leading up to Halloween, which coincidentally is the same time I was reading it, and I enjoyed its sinister fall vibes. 2.5 stars

Minotaur Books via NetGalley kindly provided me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this read!! I loved reading from the perspective of the parents of a missing/accused/dead murder suspect/victim (lol). The entire book, you don’t know whether Chloe is dead or alive, victim or murderer and I realllllllly liked that. I changed my mind about ten times!

The investigation unravels, seen through the eyes of Chloe’s very busy parents; a medical examiner mother and a criminal investigator father. As the story develops, the reader will have an ever growing list of suspects and that list even includes Chloe herself! With a host of other suspicious & quirky characters, it will truly keep you guessing! What a fun ride.

I highly suggest you add this one to your #TBR for October 31, when it releases everywhere. Perfect for a fall mystery; and it reads like a criminal minds episode. Loved that show!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

First of all I didn't know this book was part of a series. I should look into the books more before requesting. But I think this book can be read as a standalone and I wasn't lost at all.

This was my first time reading Hannah Morrissey's book and I didn't mind the read. That being said, I wasn't really captivated to this book. I got kind of annoyed with the constantly repeating that Black Harbor is a terrible town of and if you grew up there, you wanted to leave right after high school. You could of just said it periodically, instead of like every chapter. Communication could of resolved some of the arguments, but I also get Axel and Rowan were in a high stressed situation of losing their daughter. I was interested in the side characters, especially Libby. I really want to know what's going through her head to do some of the things she does.

I guessed who the murderer is right away and connected the dots when the person was mentioned. It was pretty easy knowing who it was with the clues. It was a fun read nearing Halloween. It did drag on a little bit at the end. I will have to go back and read the other 2 books in the series to get more of what happened with other Characters and Black Harbor.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for this arc, in exchange for an honest review.

When I'm Dead is the third book in the Black Harbor series. This is the second book in the series I have read. This book can be a stand-alone read.

Rowan and her husband Axle are at the school play where their daughter Chloe is the lead. While sitting in the audience, they get a call that a young girl has been murdered. Unfortunately, Axle and Rowan are called out frequently when something like this happens. Rowan finds Chloe and tells her they have to leave and why. Chloe is disappointed and replies "You'll love me more when I'm dead."

Medical Examiner Rowan Winthorp investigates the death of her daughter’s best friend. Later, Rowan discovers her daughter, Chloe, is gone. Rowan believes karma has finally found her.

This is a deeply dark but extremely riveting story the grips the reader from the first page. This takes place at the local high school where the typical belittling, cruelty and bullying takes place. It is the perfect backdrop for a mystery. There are lots of suspects to choose from, rarely do we see a good kid as they all have something to hide. I really enjoyed this story with its dark subject matter. It was a good story to read on Halloween.

The perfect Halloween read!

We're back in Black Harbor and there's another murder to solve. This time when Axel (homicide detective) and Rowan (medical examiner) arrive at the scene, they find the body of their teenage daughter's best friend, or who they thought was her best friend. Hannah's writing is always so perfect for setting up the usually gruesome scene in your head. And I love that we still got that glimpse of previous characters from the town in this one.

It's fast paced and will keep you guessing who the killer is and also questioning yourself for liking something so dark.

I think this is my favorite so far in the Black Harbor world! I'd love it if we got the chance to visit again!

Like the previous two in the series, it’s set in Black Harbor; a place that feels like a punishment.

It opens with a macabre murder of a teenage girl (her teeth left scattered in the wind). Shortly after, another cannot be found. To add to the pile, the missing is the daughter of a local police officer and medical examiner. As they investigate (serious conflict issues) and the body count grows, they know that their daughter has likely succumbed to the same fate or is involved in its doing. Neither appealing.

The book has no shortage of crime or twisted residents, and @hannahmorrisseywriter explores each one. She excels at painting a vivid and creepy tableau. The quirks and oddities of the Black Harbor characters make for a constant flow of red herrings that keep the reader engaged as they stand witness to the hunt of the killer.

👀I am already looking forward to the fourth instalment of the series. While I recommend reading the books in order, they can be read as a standalone.

💥 HAPPY PUB DAY!

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5

• thriller/police procedural
• multiple POV
• great red herrings

A perfect 🎃 Halloween 🎃 read! Welcome back to Black Harbor... such a creepy, chilling town. I enjoyed the characters (so fun seeing characters from the other two books in this series!) and the plot was fast paced. The story was dark & I loved it!

🗣️ Thank you to @netgalley and St Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review this book via gifted eARC! All opinions are honest and my own.

I have not read the first two books in this series. I don't think that mattered, though. We get a pretty good sense of who everyone is and what role they play in this community. I was hooked from the first page, but then I hit the 60-70% mark, and it felt like the story was dragging.

Rowan & Axel have busy lives in this crime filled town as a medical examiner and a detective, causing them to miss out on moments with their daughter, Chloe. Chloe has been distant and changed in recent weeks, saying she was "method acting" by getting into her character. The night Chloe disappears is the same night one of her best friends is murdered. It's a race against time to find Chloe, but as time goes on, rumors are come to light, and another best friend murdered everyone begins to question whether Chloe is the killer or will she be the next victim.

Thank you, Netgalley and Minotaur Books, for the e-ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to @netgalley & @macmillan.audio & @stmartinspress @minotaur_books for the ebook and audio arcs!

This was my first ever @hannahmorrisseywriter book and I was not disappointed! It is #3 in the Black Harbor universe, but can definitely be read as a stand alone.

I loved the dark vibes and it being set around Halloween! I started the physical of this, but ended on audio, which had a full cast. 🤌🤌 My favorite. And all narrators were excellent!

I will absolutely be going back and reading the previous two books!

Oh man, I needed a crime thriller to deliver and this delivered. A Halloween pub date is perfection for this one! There definitely are some unrealistic parts to this (high school taxidermy?) but I was so engrossed that it didn't matter. The killer wasn’t shocking but the elements surrounding them were so it was an enjoyable ending. Listed as a third, this isn’t a series. These books are in the same universe (re: town) but you don’t need to read any in order for it to make sense. I still haven’t read HELLO, TRANSCRIBER so that’s on my immediate TBR.

A wonderful thriller where you are guessing until the end. Missing high school girls and a police officer personally involved. Wonderfully plotted and the characters come to life off the page. A thrill of a read!

Goodness! This book needs to be read with the lights on and maybe someone in the room to keep you company as your read. The mystery of murdered girls and one who has disappeared is a deep and complex one, with lots of red herrings and false trails. Medical examiner Rowan Winthorp is beside herself when her daughter Chloe disappears and then two other girls are found murdered. Her husband Axel doesn’t help her fears when he expresses his opinion that Chloe could be responsible for the murders. Oh, my! The plot continues to thicken and become a maze of guesses about who could have killed the girls and if Chloe is dead or alive. The characterization is perfection, with an overworked detective (Axel), an overwrought mom and so many possible suspects that I had to keep reading to find out who, what and why. Although this is the third book in the Black Harbor series, it is the first one that I have read and I assure you that it can be enjoyed as a standalone (although now I want to go back and read the others). This is an atmospheric novel, creepy and eerie as well as dark and edgy. It is a compulsive and edgy page-turner that had me intrigued with the multiple layers to the story and the intense drama that continued to unfold. The story is terrifyingly brilliant and the characters are realistically flawed if not altogether likable since their personalities are as complicated as the plot. Well written and fascinating whodunit!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I also purchased my own copy to add to my library. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

There is nothing better than a good thriller. I am new to this series and to Hannah Morrissey so I was not sure what to expect. I was not disappointed. When I’m Dead is a thriller that kept me wanting to read and figure out who dun it. The clues piled on and I was led in so many different directions that I just kept guessing.

The characters were realistic, with the high school students being students, the teachers being teachers, and the parents being parents. I liked the fact that they interacted in ways that were true to who they were, making the story even more real. Chloe’s parents were both very involved in finding Chloe (it is their jobs) and I liked that they stayed within protocol for the most part but showed the stress of not knowing what was happening with their daughter.

I am excited to see what happens next in Black Harbor and would recommend this series.

Thank you Minotaur Books for a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.