Member Reviews

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Black Harbor is a place no one should live. The crime rate is so high! Despite that I love reading about this town. At the center of this story is a mother’s guilt for leaving her daughter to go to work. An enjoyable read that will keep you hooked.

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When I'm Dead is quite the page-turner. The third in the Black Harbor series, this one follows Medical Examiner Rowan and her detective husband. The book opens with them at a crime scene where their daughter's best friend was murdered, and when they arrive home, they realize their daughter is missing.

The book is fast-paced and kept me on the edge of my seat. I plowed through it in nearly one sitting because I wanted to know what happened. It's twisty and kept me guessing until the end. All of the books in the Black Harbor series can be read as standalones, however, I liked that Morrissey brought back in various characters or mentions of previous book storylines.

I've enjoyed all of the books in the series so far, and When I'm Dead has definitely been my favorite.

Thank you, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5/5 stars

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This is the 3rd starring in a series Medical Examiner Rowan Winthorp in Black Harbor, Wisconsin on the shore of Lake Michigan.

It opens on a crime scene, especially hard for Rowan as the strangled corpse is that of her daughter Chloe's best friend Madison Caldwell. She and her husband were both called in as Axel is a homicide detective. They're still staggering from this blow when Chloe goes missing.

Tension increases when Chloe becomes a suspect in Madison's murder. The story ends on a violent confrontation with the killer.

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This was fine. Lacked the oomph that I’m used to with great thrillers. That said, this was my favorite of the series.

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On a bone-chilling October night, Medical Examiner Rowan Winthorp investigates the death of her daughter’s best friend. Hours later, the tragedy hits even closer to home when she makes a devastating discovery—her daughter, Chloe, is gone. But, not without a trace. A morbid mosaic of clues forces Rowan and her husband to question how deeply they really knew their daughter. As they work closely to peel back the layers of this case, they begin to unearth disturbing details about Chloe and her secret transgressions…details that threaten to tear them apart. Amidst the noise of navigating her newfound grief and reconciling the sins of her past, an undeniable fact rings true for Rowan: karma has finally come to collect. Third in a series this can read as a stand-alone but there are a few parts of the book that were confusing and I feel if I had read the previous books I would have understood better. But this book kept me guessing until the end and now I will go back and read the previous books.

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This is a gripping and dark psychological thriller that I could not put down. The author had me suspecting everybody!!! I didn't know who to believe she kept you guessing!!! This is my first Hannah Morrissey book and when I chose this book I didn't know it was book three of the Black Harbor series but can be read as a standalone. Get ready for a wild ride with some creepy vibes!!! Thank you Netgalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my review.

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Chloe is missing and her detective father and ME mother are beside themselves with fear and guilt. Both fear they have put their jobs before their daughter and karma has come to take her from them. After investigating the murder of her best friend, there are questions about Chloe and her involvement. The parents must take a deep dive into the life of their daughter and all the secrets that hide there. Will they find Chloe in time or will it be too late?

I didn't know this was the third book in a series. It can be read as a stand alone, but now I want to go back and read the others!

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This is the third book in the series. I haven’t read the other books and I felt like I had a good handle on what was happening. This book is told from multiple POVs. It was easy to differentiate between the various points of view. This had a few twists and turns that I didn’t expect.

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I did not realize this was the third part of a series until after I had downloaded it. I planned on reading the first two before reviewing this one, but never got around to it. I read most of this book, but stopped around the 75% mark. I just didn’t understand quite a bit (and I wonder if it’s because it was from cases in the first two books?) and it just seemed so redundant. It wasn’t realistic (not that it has to be, but it was weird for me).

Overall, I just didn’t care enough about the story to continue. I know that there are a ton of people who LOVED this book and that I am in the minority. I just didn’t want to continue.

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Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for the copy of this eARC for my honest review. All ratings and any reviews are opinions of my own.

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I didn’t know this was book 3 of a series but honestly it doesn’t matter if you start with this book! I am going to go back and read the first two because I liked the story! I enjoy a mystery and this one kept me guessing! I enjoyed Medical Examiner Rowan and her commitment to finding the truth.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and like I said I will be reading the other books in this series!

Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of this work in exchange for my honest review!

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Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

📚 **Book Review: "When I'm Dead" by Hannah Morrissey**
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this eARC.

"When I'm Dead" is the 3rd installment in the gripping Black Harbor series by acclaimed author Hannah Morrissey. While it's part of a series, it can be read as a standalone novel.

The story unfolds on a bone-chilling October night, when Medical Examiner Rowan Winthorp investigates the death of her daughter's best friend. But tragedy strikes even closer to home when Rowan discovers that her own daughter, Chloe, is missing. As Rowan peels back the layers of this case, she unearths disturbing secrets about Chloe, leading her to question how well she truly knew her daughter. Amid grief and past sins, karma comes knocking, and Rowan must confront the consequences.

What I Loved:

- Morrissey masterfully creates a creepy and haunting atmosphere in Black Harbor, Wisconsin. The cold nights, secrets lurking in shadows, and bone-chilling tension add to the suspense.

- The plot keeps you guessing until the very end. Unexpected twists and red herrings make this a wild ride.

- Rowan's grief and inner turmoil are palpable. Her determination to uncover the truth drives the narrative.

- The story alternates between Rowan and other characters, providing fresh insights.

Why Not 5 Stars?

- While the pacing is generally excellent, there were moments when it slowed down.
- Some secondary characters could have been more fleshed out.

"When I'm Dead" is a dark and emotionally compelling thriller. Morrissey weaves a web of secrets, lies, and hidden transgressions, leaving readers questioning their own perceptions. If you enjoy psychological mysteries with atmospheric settings, this book is a must-read.

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I absolutely loved this one! This is book 3 in the Black Harbor series…you do not need to read them in order. Each book can be read as a standalone.

After reading When I’m Dead, I immediately read book 1. Hannah Morrissey has written a very suspenseful and twisty novel. Teenage girls ending up dead, missing, and secrets…so, so good.

I highly recommend this on to anyone looking for a quick read. This one will keep you on your toes for sure!

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Gritty, suspenseful, and so good. Complex characters that will draw you in as you try to solve the mystery.

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This was my first read in the Black Harbor series, but I understand they do not need to be read in order. This book was a guessing game and kept me on the edge of my seat. We are introduced to Rowan and Alex, a medical examiner and detective. While investigating the death of their daughter's best friend, they are thrust into trying to find their missing daughter. I will be checking out the other books in this series!

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First off a big thank you to the publisher as well as to the author and NetGalley for the invite, as well as Introducing Metolius a new series as well as a new author , will I did like the story, there was times I felt a bit lost because I couldn't understand who the characters was , and that because I never read the first 2 books in this series . But I did understand what was going on. But I will say this is a series you need to read in order .

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