This author has been hit or miss. This is third book in the series and I enjoyed this one. A couple of twists that I wasn’t expecting. A fairly quick read.

3.5 stars rounded to 4.

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Oh. My. Gosh. This was my first book by this author and I was speechless! It hooked me in from the first chapter and had me glued to my seat! Could not put it down! Can’t wait to read more from this author.

Medical examiner, Rowan Winthorp, is called out on a chilly October evening to investigate the death of her daughter's best friend. Hours later, tragedy hits closer to home when Rowan returns home to find her daughter Chloe missing. As Rowan works alongside her homicide detective husband, Axel, to unearth what really happened to Chloe, she also battles with tragic events from her past.

WHEN I'M DEAD is the third instalment of the Black Harbor series but can absolutely be read as a standalone as each book focuses on a different main character. In WHEN I'M DEAD, we have two main narrators with a few chapters told in other character's perspectives. The two main narrators are Axel and Rowan, alternating between both of their perspectives.

As I've read each of Hannah's books to date, I love how she has main characters that are not typically the main characters in crime thrillers, offering up a unique view point in this genre. I really enjoyed the complex family dynamics shared between Rowan, Axel, and Chloe. Each character is well developed, complex, and interesting, all holding troubled pasts for one reason or another.

I enjoy the dark, creepy, and gritty atmosphere that Hannah develops within WHEN I'M DEAD. Black Harbor is shown to be a city with lots of crime and a difficult day-to-day existence for many; having the story set here adds to the grim and tense atmosphere. The plot was highly suspenseful and intriguing, leaving me guessing and suspicious of everyone until more pointed clues are peppered in to guide me to the grand reveal. The climax of the story was filled with action and had me biting my nails in suspense of what was to come. A superb ending to a great story - can't wait to see what Hannah will write next!

<i>I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, Minotaur Books, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions shared are my own.</i>

Though "When I'm Dead" by Hannah Morrissey is the third book of the "Black Harbor" series, it definitely can be read as a stand-alone novel. I have not read the other two books in the series and I had no trouble following the plot. There were a few what I believed to be passing references to the other books, but these references did not really matter to the events of this book.

This book is great for a reader who wants an easy read to pass a chilly afternoon. The story is interesting, though a bit predictable. Though I figured out the killer very early on in the book (the hints were fairly glaring), I didn't know why the perpetrator did what they (intentionally using the gender neutral pronoun so as not to give anything away) until the very end. The writing style is accessible, though a bit simplistic, and filled with silly clichés such as "If murder were a product, it would be a top import of Black Harbor." At times the language used was so eye-rolling that it detracted from my enjoyment of the book. I also found the parents of the missing child to be a bit too robotic; there wasn't enough true emotion for them to come alive for me.

Overall, I believe fans of police procedurals and mystery thrillers in general, and of Hannah Morrissey specifically, will enjoy this book. It isn't award=winning literature by any stretch of the imagination, but it is entertaining and worth a read. Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

⭐️: 3/5

What starts as an investigation into the death of their daughter’s best friend hits much closer to home for medical examiner Rowan and her husband Axel, when their daughter goes missing hours later. As more and more information comes to light, Rowan and Axel begin questioning how well they actually knew their daughter, all while Rowan is plagued by the sins of her past coming back to bite her.

I guess this one is part of a series, but it seems that all that ties the series together is the town and the police department, since it feels like these characters we’re necessarily introduced as main characters previously, although I could be wrong. Regardless, this one definitely functions as a standalone, with the caveat that some of the resolutions to the previous books in the series may have been spoiled in this one? Anyway, I started reading this ARC, and then BOTM picks came out, and this was one of them, so I was even more excited to dive into it. I love a police procedural with different POVs, so this one seemed really up my alley, since I’m also always looking for more detective thriller series. I ultimately found the interweaving storylines to be a little too disjointed, and the personalities of the main characters were left a little lacking to me. I also was disappointed in how predictable the whole book ended up being, since I like to be surprised by at least a few twists along the way when I’m reading thrillers. It’s fun to guess and be right, but at the same time, I also don’t like it when that happens. Anyway, this one was just ok for me, nothing super special but nothing terribly bad about it either. I may give the previous books a read, just for context, but I’m not sure.

Thank you to @netgalley and the publishers @stmartinspress and @minotaur_books for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for this amazing psychological mystery thriller!

Wow! What a roller coaster. The book had me second guessing myself until the ver end.

The authorvhad me on the edge of my seat. Full if that will keep you guessing to the very end!! Full of so many twists and turns.

This is not my typical gonre, but is thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

Highly recommend.

Reviewed for NetGalley:

A brutal murder of a teenage girl in a small town....with the chief suspect as the girl's best friend.

Lots of interesting twists and turns, told from multiple points of view.. An enjoyable read.

To be fair, I don't normally read this type of novel so the morbid descriptions were difficult for me. It may be the perfect spooky season read for you but I just didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped.

“You’ll love me more when I’m dead” are the last words Rowan Winthorp’s daughter says to her.

When the Black Harbor medical examiner is called away to investigate the death of her daughter’s best friend, it causes her to leave her daughter Chloe’s school play. Between Rowan and her police officer husband Axel, one or both of them is always having to go when duty calls, leaving Chloe lonely and feeling forgotten. But on this night, while Rowan and Axel are at the crime scene, Chloe also goes missing. Now Rowan and Axel are at a race against the clock to find their daughter. They will stop at nothing, following any lead even if it causes them to questions everything they thought they knew.

Man, it was good to be back in Black Harbor!! The town itself is practically a character in Hannah Morrissey’s books. Once again, she skillfully weaves a mystery set against the backdrop of a dark town. The spookiness of Black Harbor radiates off the pages along with the desperation Rowan and Axel felt. Rowan was so tortured by her past and my heart broke for her; I just wanted her to get her daughter back. I related a lot to Libby, the neighbor’s daughter who was a bit of a loner. Told from multiple perspectives, the story unfolded bit by bit and I felt like each character added something new to it. Although this is book 3 set in Black Harbor, “When I’m Dead” can definitely be read as a stand-alone! As a long-time fan though, it was fun for me to catch the Easter eggs and references to previous characters and their stories. Thanks to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC!

“When I’m Dead” releases October 32, 2023. This review will be shared to my Instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly.

On a chilly October night, Medical Examiner Rowan Winthorp and her husband Alex, a detective for the Black Harbor Police Department, are called away to investigate the murder of a young girl who just happens to be their daughter’s school friend. Hours later when they arrive home, they discover that their daughter Chloe is missing! The panic that ensues and the disturbing clues that are uncovered lead them to a case that is truly unsettling. As more bizarre deaths are discovered, the town of Black Harbor is rattled, and more and more people become suspects.

This was a great tale of mystery and suspense. There were twists and turns that led authorities to suspect first one person and then another. The unsettling conclusion was a twist that blindsided the whole town, and I loved it. This is the third installment of the Black Harbor Mystery series but easily could be read as a stand-alone. I recommend this suspenseful thriller.

I would like to thank NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books and Hannah Morrissey for generously providing me with a digital review copy of this thriller and to experience this author’s exceptional storytelling in exchange for my honest review.

You'll Love Me More When I'm Dead" those words haunt Rowan after her daughter goes missing, and they replay in her mind. Chloe goes missing the same night her friend is found murdered. It is a twisted tale of loneliness, regret, heart ache and at the root, love and what it can do to us.

This book had my heart and mind racing the whole time. So many suspects, such a dark town. The ending was wild.

The story is a must read for true crime thriller lovers.

This is my first novel by Hannah, will not be my last. Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinpress for my advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

A wonderful, twisty, true crime novel that doesn't surprise you, but entertains you none the less.
I'll dive right in to the positives with this book. I was pulled in immediately and quickly became obsessed. The characters felt complex, distinct and interesting for a reader. I didn't expect the ending, but also I wasn't surprised. The title was clever and the 'phrase' the daughter says that created the title was extra clever. It had all the gross, crime situations we want.
I know this is part of a series, but I think it's a fine enough stand alone book. I didn't feel like I was missing out any the past or not part of the 'inside' jokes (ha).
A little into the cons I noticed and I'll go back to the title.... As I said, clever. I wish the author would have spent time really hitting 'you'll only love me when I'm dead' home for me. Maybe have an unrelated murder that interrupted Chloe's life at first to hit it home and THEN dive into the story. Devil's advocate, then we wouldn't have had such a 'wow' beginning that pulled me in instantly. The ending didn't really do it for me, the big reveal did nothing. Sex scene was weird, unnecessary. Yet, I was still pulled in.
A very entertaining book and Morrissey put herself on my radar now.

This is quite the creepy serial killer book and an excellent choice for spooky season.
I'm not gonna lie, it sounded a little too gruesome for me when I initially read the premise. And when I realized it was book 3 of a series, I was even more apprehensive.
But this certainly doesn't read like a series I'd need any specific background for and through the killing of teen girls and discover of their bodies was rough to read about, When I'm Dead isn't too gruesome.
I certainly didn't see the killer coming and I was entirely wrapped up in the drama of these bratty teens and the detective storyline. This book examines childhood friendships and relationships with parents along side the efforts to find a serial killer in town and it's all done well. The October timeline is perfect as well.
One star removed because the middle dragged a bit for me- just a pacing thing- and I felt endlessly uncomfortable that the missing girls parents were both professionally involved in her case. As a truecrime consumer, I worried about the ramifications. But overall, an excellent murder mystery.

This was an excellent read. I could not put it down. It was such a page turner. Definitely recommend!

Wow, this story grabs you by the throat and never lets go until the final page! The dark, menacing atmosphere of the depressed lakeside town of Black Harbor makes a perfect backdrop for the action as each murder increases the claustrophobic horror of the small community, straining the friendships between schoolmates, neighbors, and coworkers. The main characters, Rowan and Axel, must deal with the heavy burden of guilt and fear that follows the killing of their teenage daughter's student persecutors and her own disappearance after her parents are called away from her starring performance in a school production. The toll that Chloe's disappearance and the murders of her schoolmates take on her investigator parents and their marriage builds the story's tension as they race to catch a murderer who always seems to be one step ahead. The story's twists are skillfully plotted as suspicion falls first on one character and then another, and the gradual revelation of each character's secrets and motivations is paced perfectly, propelling the action through to the explosive conclusion.

Thank you, NetGalley and Minotaur Books, for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this book for review.

“You’ll love me more when I’m Dead.” - Chloe

One girl was found dead, and another girl was missing. "When I'm Dead" is a chilling tale that strikes a nerve with parents, vividly portrayed through the characters of Rowan and Axel, the missing girl's parents. What sets this book apart is that the main protagonists have demanding jobs that consume their time 24/7, leaving their daughter to fend for herself. The guilt of prioritizing work over their child is palpable.

I particularly enjoyed the alternating points of view between Rowan and Axel. As they face the immense pressure of finding their daughter and uncovering the truth behind the murders, their relationship begins to crumble, adding depth to their characters.

The story is a gripping psychological mystery thriller, filled with clever misdirection and unexpected twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It delves into the darkest corners of fear, resonating deeply with the anxieties of motherhood.

Thank you @minotaur_books @hannahmorrisseywriter for the #gifted copy of this book!

Dare I say this is Hannah’s best yet? There. I said it! 💃 It is! I really enjoyed this book! This is the 3rd book in her Black Harbor series and I think what I love most about Hannah’s writing is it makes me feel the dark, gritty, cold, vacant city streets, abandoned houses vibe. Nice and murdery. 🤌🏻 Just how I like it. Her books are extraordinary atmospheric and I eat all of those details up!

I know Black Harbor is a fictional city BUT being that Hannah is local to me I feel I can truly envision some of the areas by us making it feel real. As if I know exactly where she’s taking about. Just another crime ridden city. Eek! Why else did I love this story? The roles that these parents played. One medical examiner and one investigator. I don’t want to give spoilers but let’s just say I loved their differing viewpoints about their daughters disappearance in a city that doesn’t sleep and crime is always happening. I could feel Rowan’s stress and frantic need to race against the clock! I love this series and cannot wait to see what happens next!

When I'm Dead is the 3rd book in the (Black Harbor, Series) but can be read as a standalone. It's a psychological thriller with complex characters that fit in well with the story.

After reading book 3 in the series I definitely will read books 1 and 2!

When I'm Dead will be released October 31, 2023, just in time for Halloween the spooky season!

Synopsis:

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.

Many thanks to #Netgalley and #MinotaurBooks for giving me an E-ARC of this book.

Welcome back to Black Harbor! Safe to say it’s a deliciously dark place to read about, but I’m not sure I’d want to live there.


I do however love to live between the pages of a HANNAH MORRISSEY book & WHEN I’M DEAD had me from the start.

The central character of the series is Black Harbor, a place ripe with all kinds of crime. I love a police investigation especially when it’s not afraid of going to a gritty place.

WHEN I’M DEAD opens with the news of a teenage girl’s murder. Medical Examiner, Rowan Winthrop, is called to the scene and learns the girl is her daughter Chloe’s best friend. Also on the scene is Homicide Detective + Rowan’s husband, Axel.

The murder itself is shocking. But the nightmare really begins when Rowan tries to call Chloe. She doesn’t answer her phone. She’s not at the neighbor’s house. And when Rowan takes off running for their home she finds Chloe’s bedroom empty - and the window open.

What are the odds that one girl would be murdered and another disappears on the same night? Rowan and Axel feverishly try to find Chloe and track down a killer. Battling grief and fear, they can’t stop their minds from going to the darkest of places about who their daughter is, where she is and what she is capable of doing.

This book centers around complex family dynamics and is filled with darkness + desolation + desperation (love 🖤). I was gripped by the writing, the story and the characters. Unraveling secrets and finding clues. Following evidence and chasing down leads. This town is no stranger to terrible things and is haunted by its grim history.

You can absolutely jump into this book first. Plus it’s set in October so hello, perfect timing! And when you’re done I’d highly suggest going back to read the first two books. There’s one character who is a through-line for the books, whose part varies in each book (from big to supporting). For me part of the fun is reading all the books and seeing the references and call backs to the different stories.

Huge thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur & St. Martin’s Press for the eARC. Can’t wait for my preorder to take its place on my shelf!

I cannot believe that I could have enjoyed a book in this series MORE than The Widowmaker, but Hannah Morrissey gets better and better with each book!

This one pulled me in from the get go, whereas the first two books in this series were a bit more of a slow burn. I loved the character dynamics, the intensity of fear for the potential loss of a child, but also the fear of what that child could actually be capable of.

Morrissey is quickly mastering the art of mystery and intrigue, not participating in blatant foreshadowing, but instead letting the ambiance of the story lull you into a sense of security only to bash you over the head!

Just absolutely obsessed!