When I’m Dead: by one of my favorite local authors, Hannah Morrissey
Pub Date: Halloween/Oct 31, ‘23

WOWOWOW! I do declare this novel is my favorite from the fictitious Wisconsin town of Black Harbor.

Chloe is a shy girl in school, closed off by parents who choose work over being at home or there when she needs them. Her dad, Axel, is a cop/detective in special crimes, her mom is the local medical examiner. So when there’s crime, and they get calls from the “death phone”, they must both go. Unfortunately, for Chloe, this happens often in the town.

Chloe goes to a wealthy, private school. She’s an aspiring actress and with the help of her drama teacher, she might just get to Juilliard. Once again, unfortunately for her, others don’t take so kindly to her and under the veil of jealousy, spread a vicious rumor. The death phone rings again, this time during one of her performances. Did this rumor lead to her death? We don’t know as she goes missing and we journey along through two classmate’s murders… are they connected? Is it a part of this rumored plot?

Thoroughly researched, I wholeheartedly appreciated the details in this police procedural and teen drama. I loved that (as in her other two BH novels) the town is another character in and of itself. The descriptive colors, smells and sounds are what makes a spooky-season book! And it was made more fun for me this go-around as the plot involves my stomping grounds! It was easy to imagine this playing out :-)

Thank you to #NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this advanced e-copy in exchange for an honest review! Hannah will continue to be an auto-buy author for me. I couldn’t read this one fast enough!

The town of Black Harbor has more than its fair share of homicides and now a young girl has been found dead. While Rowan, the town medical examiner and her husband Axel are investigating, it turns out that their daughter Chloe is also missing. Is the a victim of her best friend’s killer?
I really tried to get into this book but a lot of the story wasn’t plausible and it was hard to be invested in the story.

I love a good thriller that keeps me up way past my bedtime & gets my brain going with theories 😮‍💨 and this one was right up my alley!!

we are BACK in black harbor (which seriously is the most ominous name ever, I’d move in a heartbeat)!! and of course, there’s another gruesome homicide to solve - which also would have me moving out of that town so fast 🥴

this time, the focus is on married couple axel (detective) and rowan (medical examiner) and their missing daughter 😅 and boy did this one take so many twists and turns!!

while I guessed the suspect almost right away, I found it didn’t really matter in the long run because I enjoyed watching how it all played out!! hannah morrisey’s writing is the perfect fast paced thriller vibe!!

and the small town setting was so perfect for this plot! it was a race against time to solve the case before anyone else was harmed

thank you to netgalley and minotaur for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review - this one is perfect for spooky season!!

rating: 3.5 stars
wine pairing: paso robles cabernet sauvignon

On the night of the big High School play Madison is found murdered, and then Chloe is missing. Two best friends in the dark town of Black Harbor. Are these events related? Surely they must be. Husband wife duo Rowan and Axel are on the case but it's murky as Chloe is their daughter. From the premise this sounded quite intriguing but sadly after almost 100 pages in I wasn't invested in any of the characters. Thank you St. Martin's Press for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

Going into this book, I was aware that this is Book #3 in the Black Harbor Series. However, I have not read the first two books prior to this one. Would it have helped my rating or understanding of the book? Maybe. I do feel that this book is just fine as a standalone, and having no prior knowledge of the first two books didn’t affect how I related to any of the characters. This was also a typical crime fiction novel, that had a dark atmosphere and characters.

Our story starts off with Rowan Winthrop, a medical examiner, and her husband Axel, a homicide detective, leaving their daughter’s school play to investigate a murder. While investigating the murder of Madison Caldwell, who was friends with their daughter Chloe, they soon realize when they arrive home from the investigation that their own daughter Chloe is now missing. As Rowan and Axel begin their own investigation into the disappearance of their daughter (and work on the case 🤔), more deaths and secrets are revealed. Who is responsible for the murders and disappearances of the young girls of Black Harbor?

While I did enjoy this book, it seemed longer than what it was. I also had a hard time connecting to Rowan and Axel. Everything about them just seemed so nonchalant… especially when they find out that their daughter is missing. Weird.
There were also a few gruesome scenes in this book, but not enough to classify this as a horror book or make anyone squirm (at least I hope it doesn’t). This book is to be released on October 31, 2023 and I do agree that this would be the perfect October/Halloween read for the spooky season!

Many thanks to Katie Holt for inviting me to view this book from NetGalley! I would also like to thank St.Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this ARC- all opinions are my own.
Publication date: October 31, 2023

“Dead bodies don’t lie.”

Medical Examiner Rowan works closely with her husband Axel, a Homicide Detective, to investigate the death of their daughter’s best friend. In the midst of this tragedy, they discover that their daughter Chloe is gone. Disturbing details of her life begin to surface. How well do they know their daughter and her circle of “friends?” Karma has come back to collect for Rowan’s past sins. In order to find their daughter, they must hunt down a killer.

Hannah Morrissey is the QUEEN of Midwestern Goth fiction. 🫡👏🏽 She’s written another dark, gritty thriller with all the medical and police procedural aspects that I’m obsessed with. 🤝🏽 The Crime-risen town of Black Harbor is so vivid through her atmospheric and ominously descriptive writing. The characters are flawed, complex and so well-crafted. I learned more than I ever expected about Taxidermy 😵 and I didn’t hate it. #knowledge 🤣

**This is THEE Halloween season read**
If you enjoyed Hello, Transcriber and The Widowmaker (*top tier thriller), then there’s no doubt you’ll love being back in Black Harbor!

Fans of the series *Bates Motel* will get a kick out of this plot line.

Thank you @minotaurbooks and @netgally for my gifted copies!

This book was so good! It was a fun, multi-perspective, twisty thriller and I loved reading it! I didn’t figure out who the killer was until almost 2/3 of the way through, that’s definitely unusual for me. Normally I feel like most mysteries are predictable, but she had me fully engaged and wondering most of the way into the story. She is a fantastic writer and I can’t wait for more stories from her!

I did not start with the first book in this series, I went straight to this one (I’ll be purchasing the widowmaker after this though).
This hooked me from the beginning. I didn’t read the synopsis, I just read some great reviews! Going into books is just my thing and I’m always pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the multiple POV, especially towards the end when a surprise view is thrown in. I did NOT expect the ending. I thought I had it all figured out, but LOL I was way wrong.
I look forward to reading more from this author!
Thank you netgalley and Minotaur for this eARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my copy of When I'm Dead by Hannah Morrissey.

Well that was a whole roller coaster right there. Told in three POVs, (Rowan, Axel and Libby), the whole murder disappearance at Black Harbor was told. Not gonna lie, I didn't know that this was part of a series but after seeing other reviews I can definitely say you can read this as a standalone. I think it was only mentioned a couple of times about the previous books but it didn't hinder my enjoyment of this.

I really enjoyed this one a lot. I think it was definitely fast paced. There's no dull moments and the way everything unfolded was so well done. The writing was fantastic! I enjoyed Axel's POV the most as I found Rowan annoying and Libby was pretty sus from the beginning. I know I should not judge since I am not a mom but Rowan's chapters were all about her and how it's karma unlike Axel's where it's all about his desperation to find Chloe. I did find it very fascinating seeing the POVs of both parents. And that reveal though? Totally unexpected! It didn't even go on my radar. I love a good reveal especially when it is totally unexpected.

After reading this, I will for sure check out the first two books of this series. Definitely recommend this for a fast paced thriller!

Again, thanks to Net Galley for providing me with an eBook version of this wonderful thriller for my honest review. This book like the other in the series I read, kept me on the edge of my seat, but moved much better. I just could not put it down. Another story in the crime ridden fictional town of Black Harbor, Wisconsin involving several young girls being murdered, and one kidnapping possible murder. Why, how, who are all involved in solving this heinous crime. The first half of the book is more like a young adult mystery since the crime involved all teenagers and how they think. But once the plot was revealed, solving the whodunit was very intriguing and more for the adult world. Understanding Chloe, Rowan, Axel, Madison, and the rest of the characters provided a great deal of thought requiring one to remember one’s cover is never what is really inside.
Go for it and thanks to Net Galley again.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Hannah Morrissey, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

In a series that is both impactful and full of mystery, Hannah Morrissey continues with another chilling story set in Black Harbor, Wisconsin. A new murder, new protagonists, but the same small-town feel fills this third novel. Morrissey effectively paints yet another angle of the town’s goings-on, where a killer is targeting teenage girls and fueled by rumours that keep the community buzzing.

The shrill phone call on a chilly night can only mean one thing for Medical Examiner Rowan Winthorp; a body awaits her. Rowan and her husband, Black Habor PD Detective Axel Winthorp, are forced to investigate the death of their daughter’s best friend. Madison Caldwell is found on a path, her teeth knocked out, with few clues as to who might have done it. It is only hours later that everything hits home when Chloe Winthorp fails to turn up at home. Is the killer targeting their next victim?

As the clues begin piling up, Rowan and Axel begin to see a possible theory. With Chloe scorned by many—including Madison—for getting the lead in the school play, there are rumors that she is sleeping with the drama teacher. Black Habor is small, so talk moves swiftly and many begin whispering about the possibility that Chloe is not as innocent as some would think. These rumors drive a wedge between Rowan and Axel, who must stay calm outwardly as their lives are coming apart.

With a long-ago event in Rowan’s life leaving her to wonder if this is karma, a neighbour might hold the key to knowing the truth about the killings, the murdeter, and Chloe herself. Still missing, Rowan and Axel can only hope that they will get answers soon and find some justice, as the bodies continue to mount. A great addition to a series that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.

Hannah Morrissey has done well with this series, using the setting—Black Harbor, Wisconsin—as a commonality, rather than protagonists. Morrissey explores different aspects of the town and its residents, painting a dark and macabre picture of those who live and work within its parameters. A strong narrative base helps fuel a great story. Told from a number of perspectives, the story comes to life effectively through the eyes of multiple characters. Those same characters are well-established and provide new and interesting sides of the community’s make up. Each of the three books has placed its focus on different people, with a few repetitive names and roles. In a story that is wrapped in a veil of mystery, the plot development is key, as Morrissey crafts a chilling set of twists before revealing the truth and leaving the reader gasping. There is something about Morrissey’s writing that has me hooked and wanting more. Black Habor is both eerie and inviting for the interested reader. Let’s hope Hannah Morrissey has more to offer soon.

Kudos, Madam Morrissey, for a chilling tale that keeps building the Black Harbor theme effectively.

This compelling, atmospheric book takes place in Black Harbor, Wisconsin, where one teenage girl is found dead, and her best friend is missing. The main characters are Rowan, medical examiner, and Axel, married to Rowan and a police detective, and their daughter, Chloe. The story is told seamlessly from the perspectives of several characters. This is book three of a series, and can easily be read as a stand-alone. If you like a quick read and getting lost in a book, this is for you!

One girl dead and one girl missing isn't exactly surprising in Black Harbor, but it still rocks this dark town and the people who live there despite its rough reputation.

***

I am going to caveat that I have not read the first two Black Harbor books, so maybe I am missing something. That being said, WE GET IT. Black Harbor is this dark, dingy town. Which begs the question, why do so many people live there? Enough that there is a private academy? I couldn't even care about the missing Chloe or the dead bodies piling up because we kept getting hit over the head with how common it was in this town.

Let's also talk about Libby. <spoiler>

Libby tortures bugs.
Libby is bullied mercilessly.
Libby receives no repercussions for generally being creepy and weird? Did I miss something there?
All I can say is, Chloe girl, you have been through enough, get away from that girl FAST. </spoiler>

I think I would have enjoyed this book more with less emphasis on how scary this town is and more likeable characters. But I am willing to revisit Black Harbor again!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I'm Dead is the first book I've read by Hannah Morrissey. Although its plot is pretty typical for a mystery/thriller, what makes it better than most is the character development. I was interested in all the characters right from the start and I found them realistic, each not entirely good or bad, with flaws and regrets. The characters kept me engaged through all the "whodunit it", is Chloe dead or alive, how will it turn out? When I'm Dead is a solidly enjoyable story.

n Black Harbor sits a small community known as Belgrave Circle where Medical Examiner Rowan Winthrop and Homicide Detective Axel Winthrop live. Next door lives Marnie the local ICU doctor with her daughter Libby. Madison, a girl that goes to school with Libby and Chloe, lives around the bend a few houses down from them.
…
On the night of Chloe’s Beetlejuice performance Madison was murdered. The call came in during her performance leaving Chloe disappointed that her parents left before her scene. While her parents were working the investigation Chloe was left alone.
…
When I’m Dead is told from the points of view of Rowan, Axel, and Libby. Libby went to school with Chloe and Madison. Except she wasn’t friends with either one of them. She’s considered bizarre by many for her interest in dead animals and taxidermy.
…
As far as police procedures go this one was unique in the way this community handled the investigation. For every person of interest police managed to create a long list of suspects which led them down a rabbit hole of digging into the dirt of the other suspects.
…
It doesn’t seem that this series is interconnected meaning you can read each as a standalone. I’ve read books 2 and 3 and looking back each investigation was conducted by a different character. Hannah Morrisey’s Black Harbor series focuses on the people who live within this small community. Hedelsten Hides & Leather Goods Tanning Company kept this town thriving for many years. Hannah Morrissey guides readers in the direction that she wants suspicion to follow. While this is an easy tactic to distract readers from the real suspect I wasn’t quite on board with the misguided direction. Once the tannery closed a divide was made between low-income and high-income neighborhoods. Rainbow Row was known for its low-income housing. It’s a ghost town with abandoned homes.m
…
It’s not as dark of a read as I had imagined. The cover led me to be believe we were dealing with a monster. I guess everyone’s definition is different. The type of crime certainly leans towards a grotesque individual. Yet the words formulated are not of the violent kind. I’ve read some pretty dark books. This one is mild. With the prologue leading into Halloween with ghouls and ghosts I was hoping for a more atmospheric read. There were no scary creepy vibes. Black Harbor was referred to as a crime-ridden city where crimes happened on a weekly basis, yet the police department suffered cutbacks stockpiling the work on those remaining.
…
Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read When I’m Dead by Hannah Morrissey. This is book three in the Black Harbor series.

"One girl murdered...another one missing...and a medical examiner desperate to uncover the truth in When I'm Dead, the latest Black Harbor mystery by acclaimed author Hannah Morrissey.

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."

I'm getting a distinct Twin Peaks Laura Palmer vibe.

When teenager Madison is found murdered, with her teeth smashed in, and another girl, Chloe, is missing the community is terrified that someone is killing/kidnapping their young girls. Chloe's parents are a detective in town and the medical examiner, and When I'm Dead follows their story as they uncover clues and interview various people who knew Chloe. Shocking twists and a multi-layered story, this is a super enjoyable thriller that's a quick read primarily due to switching frequently between different character perspectives. Highly recommend! Thank you to the publisher for my advanced copy.

🦷🦷🦷🦷🦷 / 5

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! And thank you to Hannah for sending me a physical copy!

When I came home to the physical ARC on my doorstep, I immediately began mentally preparing because I knew this book would consume me. I wanted to devour this story, but I needed to savor every second back in Black Harbor.

Hannah’s writing is like no other, especially in the thriller genre. Her use of literary devices, such as similes/metaphors, imagery, and juxtaposition, is so strategic and unique—it catches you off guard. I often found myself reaching for my Kindle to highlight excerpts that I couldn’t stop thinking about.

If you read her first two books and loved the dark, grungy, gruesome vibes, you’ll definitely love this one! It had all the thrills and twists and more!

It was a unique experience to see things from the perspective of the medical examiner and the investigator because their daughter goes missing shortly after her friend becomes the murder victim in their case.

Once again, I loved the references to the previous books, and the return of Nikolai Kole. And the locket was the perfect choice for a mysterious object that potentially holds secrets, like the skeleton key in THE WIDOWMAKER.

I could literally go on and on, but I’ll leave the writing to Hannah. This is THE perfect book for spooky season, so if you only add one more book to your TBR this fall, please let it be this one!

“You’ll love me more when I’m dead. Chloe’s last words ring in her head like tinnitus.”
When I’m Dead is the third in the Black Harbor series and it’s another well done thriller. It’s dark, tense and chilling.
Morrissey has perfectly captured the hell of two parents dealing with a missing daughter - a daughter that might have actually killed her best friend. It doesn’t help that both parents are involved in the case - the father as a detective and the mother as a medical examiner. The two hold opposite viewpoints and it’s tearing the marriage apart. It also doesn’t help that both parents feel a huge amount of guilt over placing jobs before family.
Morrissey has also captured what it’s like to be a teenager - the jealousies, the meanness and the unwillingness to be truthful with adults.
The book moves at a fast pace without sacrificing character development. I was swept up in this story and couldn’t wait to see how it would play out. Be forewarned, there are several gruesome scenes.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for an advance copy of this book.

Hannah Morrissey was a new author for me. I was given this book from NetGalley to review. When I'm Dead is a chilling murder mystery. Madison is dead. Murdered in a rather gruesome way. Her "best friend" Chloe is missing. Chloe's parents are Axel who is one of the local detectives and Rowan, his wife, who is the local medical examiner. They all live in the small town of Black Harbour. Rowan and Axel are overworked and understaffed in their respective jobs and have been busy. Chloe who is missing was often left on her own, Rowan's next door neighbor Marnie is her best friend. Marnie's daughter Libby is in Chloe's class and while maybe not her friend knows a lot about Chloe and what has really been going on between Chloe and her two best friends Madison and Sari. No one knows if Chloe is alive or dead or if she killed Madison. The only thing Rowan knows is that when she left her daughter in the middle of her performance her daughters last words to her were " You'll love me when I'm dead". Axel and Rowan and the team race to find who the murderer is in this mystery.