It's been a while since I devoured a book as fast as I did this one. I was sucked in from page 1 and didn't want to put it down. The perfect psychological thriller, the characters are well-developed and I found myself truly invested in their lives and outcomes. The story follows Rowan, a medical examiner, and her husband Axel, a local detective, who have found that their daughter, Chloe, is missing following a school play, and even more frightening, two of her friends turn up dead at the same time. I couldn't even imagine what it would be like as a mother going through this, with no answers, my daughter missing, and her friends brutally murdered. Written in alternating views, the author builds suspense with each passing chapter, never once giving me even the slightest inkling of who was guilty. I love a thriller that leaves me guessing the entire time and Hannah Morrissey did that masterfully. This is my second Black Harbor book and I can't wait to see what Hannah comes up with next!

When I’m Dead by Hannah Morrissey
Publishing Date - 10/31/23
Rating (5/5) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you Netgalley and St Martin’s Press - Minotaur Books for this eARC. When I’m Dead is the third in the Black Harbor Series. Highly recommend this thriller ; it will keep you on the edge of your seat and keep you guessing until the very end! I couldn’t put it down. Can’t wait until the next one in the series!! A perfect Halloween 🎃 read!

(Scheduled for release Tuesday, 3 October, at Stronghold Too on Substack, and subsequently on Medium, Goodreads, Portable Soup blog, and elsewhere)

Hannah Morrissey has taken the haunted-house theme a step further; she’s created an entire haunted city, inhabited not by the dead but by dead hopes and dreams.

I was offered the opportunity by her publisher to review the third book in Morrissey’s Black Harbor mystery-cum-police procedural series, and had to pause to listen to the first two before I felt qualified to discuss it. I would recommend doing that, because the world she’s created is best appreciated if you know its geography and demographics. Black Harbor the city isn’t just the place where all the action occurs; it’s an integral character where the inhabitants seem destined to live Thoreau’s “lives of quiet desperation”.

So, in this latest study of life in her dying Rust Belt city, two characters who have appeared in the earlier books become the focals in the worst way possible—their 15-year-old daughter disappears the same night one of her classmates is brutally murdered, her last words to them “You’ll love me more when I’m dead”. As the investigation proceeds, both Alex and Rowan Winthorp discover they didn’t know Chloe nearly as well as they thought, which will likely come as no surprise to many parents of adolescents.

Morrissey as a wonderful skill at providing the reader with just enough information about pivotal characters to trigger the assumption we know just what kind of people we’re seeing. Then, as we’re comfortably settled into that assumption, she tosses in something that shatters that comfort. Hers are characters to be discovered, the way we learn about new people we meet, not slotted into convenient pigeonholes. And none of them, it turns out, ever seems to be who they initially presented as.

She achieves this with a wonderfully spare touch with descriptive detail, applied only when it enhances either our sense of a character or lets us see that those characters see and feel. It takes a gifted writer to restrain the desire to wallow in words when it comes to description, and Morrissey has that gift.

As the search for both the killer and the missing-and-presumed-also-dead Chloe advances, the characters chase one red herring after another, often because of their own personal biases rather than because there’s evidence to support the pursuit. Disconnection from what’s really going on around them leads the investigators in all kinds of misdirection, to the point it’s a wonder the crimes are solved. And maybe they aren’t—not really.

If, as Christopher Lasch predicted, we have come to live in a culture of narcissism, Morrissey’s characters could serve as prime examples of it. It makes one of her main actors, Chloe’s friend Libby Lucas the perennial high school outsider, seem like one of the few normal people in the entire town.

Black Harbor is a terminally-ill city where no one seems to want to live but where most of the inhabitants are paralyzed at the thought of leaving, and those who have escaped seem always drawn back to meet their past. A city whose primary, and now defunct, industry was a tannery, where the high school offers an elective in taxidermy, seems tailor-made to draw in people trying to create something new from a past they want dead. It was a theme in the first two books, and it continues in this one.

I’m delighted to have met Hannah Morrissey, whose style and ability to take a genre that all too often seems to be churned out using cookie cutters and turn it into not just a fascinating puzzle for readers to solve but a sharp look at who people are, and why, is stunning. I don’t think I’d want to live in her town, but she makes the occasional visit to solve a mystery or three worth the trip. I will confess this excursion felt a little personal—one of the murder victims has a backpack like one I used to have.

This new book isn’t out yet, although it’s available for preorder, so if you missed books 1 and 2—Hello,Transcriber and The Widowmaker—you have time to catch up. I highly recommend doing so, then grab a copy of When I Die as soon as you can.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. Hannah Morrissey is the supreme dark thriller writer! This is the 3rd book of her Black Harbor series and each one is better than the last. Relatable characters, believable plot, and twists that will make you gasp out loud!

First, I would like to thank NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I read the first book of Hannah's, Hello Transcriber, and I absolutely loved it! Knowing that this was the third book in the series bummed me out because I had not read the second one. However, I jumped in with both feet! I am so glad that I did. As I suspected, it did not disappoint.
If one of my children ever told me, "You'll love me more when I'm dead," it would crush me. Chloe's parents had grueling jobs, one as a coroner, the other as a homicide detective. So they were always on call, missed important events, and left her alone A LOT.
When Chloe's parents discover she is not only missing but could have killed her best friends, their hell is only beginning. Hannah has captured not only the horror the parents feel at this revelation but also the different views that they each have. The father, looking at the evidence, and the mother, as the medical examiner, prove almost too much for their marriage. Hannah also perfectly ( in my opinion) captures the turmoil of the teenagers: The jealousy, fear of being honest with adults, and how cruel they can be to one another.

If I’m being completely honest, I didn’t love this book for the first 50-70% of it. It felt solidly “average” for a thriller and there were a lot of moving pieces that didn’t seem to work together. That said, the ending legitimately surprised me and made it all a much more enjoyable read. I still feel like parts of the story were unnecessary but overall pretty good.

Teenagers harassing each other, but murdering each other?

It was the night of the school play.

Rowan and Axel’s daughter had the lead role in the play, but had to leave because of a murder. Rowan was a medical examiner and Axle was a detective.

When they arrived on the scene, they realized the dead teenager, Madison, was a friend of their daughter Chloe.

It got worse as the night went on because Chloe never came home and was considered as a suspect in the grisly death.

Rowan was beside herself and thinks this is karma because of what she did years ago.

That definitely peaked my interest. Wonder what she did?

The days got worse as they couldn't find any clues as to who was the murderer and as they found another brutal murder of one of the friends of Madison and Chloe.

The story is gripping and a bit gorey, but one you won't want to put down or perhaps be able to figure out.

I had one person in mind the whole time.

Will you figure it out?

The characters and their lives grow on you as you hope for the best. 4/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Although I have not read the first two books in this series, I had no problem jumping into this story. Via alternating POV's we learn about a missing girl and a murder-- and for me, everyone was a suspect! This book brought suspense to new heights, the writing was emotional and gripping, and the climactic ending was perfect. There were a few moments that felt a little slow, but overall I felt the pacing was good and the ending satisfying!

Chloe lives in Black Harbor, WI with her detective father and medical examiner mother. Anytime there is a death in town (which seems to be a lot), Chloe is mad at her parents and feels very alone. When her parents leave her big high school play before the end, her last words to them are “You’ll love me more when I’m dead.” That night, Chloe goes missing and her best friend is found murdered. Can her parents figure out who is killing young girls from the high school and find Chloe before she becomes the next victim?

This was my first Hannah Morrissey/Black Harbor book, so I don’t have anything else to compare this to. I did like it a lot, and I thought the ending was great. I could have done with less of the thoughts from high schoolers and their drama, but since they were the main characters/victims in this story it made sense.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the eARC!

When I’m Dead jumped right into the story and kept it moving. The teenage characters of Libby and Chloe were especially well drawn. The depiction of Chloe especially used beautiful imagery. The mystery was tight and suspenseful with a satisfying ending. This might be because I haven’t read the previous two in the series, but I found it hard to understand why people stayed in Black Harbor. But I loved the creepy atmosphere. All in all, I would read more of this series.

When I’m Dead is the third book in the Black Harbor series by Hannah Morrissey. It’s a dark, gritty, atmospheric mystery about a teen who goes missing following on the heels of a teen found murdered.

The tension in this novel is explicit and the turmoil between characters is unsettling. In fact, it seems to be a plot point unto itself creating havoc as the plot unfolds. This story will keep you guessing at each twist and turn and through the multiple points of view we get various angles of this thrilling story. It definitely has some graphic scenes, but it’s compelling without a doubt. It can be read as a stand-alone, but is more impactful when read in order, in my opinion. Dive into the dark world of Black Harbor and be prepared to be captivated.

This book is a bit darker than what I would normally read, but I’m so glad I did! I devoured it in less than two days and couldn’t wait to read it when I wasn’t! This author is new to me and I will definitely be checking out her other books. If you like a good mystery that has every possible component- this is the book for you! Please make sure to check trigger warnings if you have concerns or ask me for more info!

It is the perfect Halloween book and you’ll definitely want to add it to your TBR to grab on its publication date if 10/31/23!

Big thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this early!

What an interesting concept. One that made me take a small step back as a parent and really think about presence in my kid’s life as she gets older. This book is full of twists and turns. It is really well written, and the murder is not plainly obvious. Telling the book from the different people’s perspectives perfectly builds on the tension and leads to a smooth conclusion. Readers are going to get lost in this fast-paced mystery.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy.

Like a train wreck; you won’t be able to look away.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

First of all, this is the third book in a series, but I was completely fine reading it as a stand alone.

Coming out now, is the perfect release for this story because it’s so creepy. Titled perfectly, this is the story of a detective and his wife, a medical examiner, who are called to a murder scene during their daughter’s play. Their daughter tells them, “you’ll love me more when I’m dead,” and by the time they get home their daughter is missing.

Some of the murder scenes are quite gruesome when described, but I wouldn’t go as far as say this is horror. Be prepared though! If you want a creepy read this one is for you.

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

I haven’t read a thriller in a while, so I was pleasantly surprised by When I’m Dead. On an October night, Rowan Winthrop investigates the murder of her daughter’s best friend, only for her daughter to go missing, and as morbid clues appear, Rowan and her husband Axel are forced to come to terms with how well they knew their daughter. Having the multiple POVs throughout this thriller was so good and the pacing was really strong. I also hadn’t read the other two Black Harbor books, but I think this worked well as a standalone. Having it centered around high school students too added a level of youthful drama to the intense crime scenes and I liked having one of the student’s POVs included as well. There was a depth to the mystery that even though I was able to guess the murderer, I wasn’t mad I figured it out. It is pretty intense in the details at time but it’s a perfect spooky season read, and I’d definitely be curious to pick up the other Black Harbor reads!

Married couple, Rowan, a medical examiner, and Axel, a cop, are working on the case of a local murdered teen when their own daughter goes missing. This is the third in a series of books set in the dismal town of Black Harbor. It is part of a series but can easily be read as a stand-alone.

I was engaged from the start with this taut tale of family secrets. Hannah Morrisey kept me guessing right up to the end with a wide variety of suspects, the story told through multiple POVs.

This is my first book from Ms. Morrisey, and I look forward to reading her past novels and whatever she writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books for this complimentary ARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and Hannah Morrissey for the advanced copy of When I'm Dead in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars rounded up.

Morrissey is certainly cementing herself as a force to be reckoned with in the dark thriller world. I've enjoyed each book of hers more than the last.

This book is told through multiple points of view and I think the author did an excellent job deciding which characters should be the ones to tell the story. I was gripped immediately in chapter one and if life hadn't prevented me from reading it in one sitting I definitely would have.

Suffice to say I cannot wait to see what Morrissey comes up with next! Don't miss When I'm Dead on US bookshelves October 31st!

3.5 stars. I have not read the two previous books in this series, but from what I gather and from having read this one, I think that it can definitely be read as a standalone . . . and an engaging one at that! Axel, a homicide detective, and his wife Rowan, a medical examiner, leave the play that their high school daughter (Chloe) stars in to investigate a murder. The murder happens to be that of one of Chloe's friends, Madison Caldwell, and when Axel and Rowan arrive home, they discover that Chloe is missing. And so the plot progresses to try to learn who murdered Madison and where Chloe might be. Along the way, other murders occur and interesting secrets are revealed.

Although this held my attention, I found that it seemed longer than it was -- perhaps due to a few too many detailed scenes that seem to repeat what the reader already knows or that are just too descriptive. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this novel, and look forward to reading others in this series.

Black Harbor is a town where no one wants to live forever. But when Rowan Winthorp’s daughter, Chloe, grumbles that her mom will love her more when she’s dead, what exactly does she mean?

Black Harbor is the setting of two previous novels by Ms. Morrissey, and it is a gloomy, forbidding town with a high crime rate and vacant, run-down buildings. I previously read the first book in this series, Hello, Transcriber, and enjoyed it. When I'm Dead can most certainly be read as a standalone.

Rowan works for the medical examiner’s office. Her husband, Axel, is a cop. With their long hours spent poring over dead bodies and trying to catch murder suspects, it’s understandable that their only daughter could feel a bit neglected. When she lands a starring role in Beetlejuice, only to have both parents called away to rush to a crime scene on opening night, Chloe is naturally upset. Even more upsetting for everyone is the fact that the murder victim is a teenage girl, a classmate of Chloe’s.

As disturbing as this is, Rowan returns home to find that Chloe has disappeared. The author presents a dilemma: two parents whose professional lives conflict with their personal lives. As I read details of Rowan’s “bedside manner,” I didn’t find her totally convincing as a medical examiner. However, given the circumstances, she should not have been working this case at all. Also, she carries guilt from a long-held secret.

Alex, too, has difficulties. He’s in a more difficult situation, however, because the police department is short-staffed and needs every person available to work. As much as he wants to be in the mix, he needs to be kept away from this case. When details emerge that raise questions about their daughter’s friends and teachers, Alex tries to learn more on his own, against his better judgment. Then, another girl is murdered, and now Rowan and Alex are at odds. Their nerves are frayed, emotions rage, and their fears are all over the place. They strongly disagree about what has become of their daughter. Suddenly, their marriage is in trouble.

Ms. Morrissey presents all sorts of possibilities. But beware of one red herring after another. Any one of them could lead to the murderer or an accomplice. Or not. Even though it was getting late, I found myself saying, “just one more chapter…” There are also some rather gruesome scenes. The outcome – while rather theatrical – seems fitting, all things considered.

I received a digital copy of When I’m Dead in exchange for my unbiased review. My sincere thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and the author. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

4 stars