I loved that the town in these books is as much of a character as the humans. When I'm Dead is a suspenseful and heartfelt entry into the Black Harbor series that will keep you turning the page to see where the story goes next.

I wanted to like this, but there were way too many hiccups along the way. The story and the characters felt unbelievable to me. I wouldn't advise against reading this book if someone's interested in it, though.

I struggled with this one - I wanted to like it, but there were some things that made that hard for me. One was the way that the town is the most dangerous, crime-ridden, terrible place, but all these rich people are letting their kids wander around a dark forest alone at any time of day or night? It was hard to see the town as a place where these people all lived alongside all of the ways that it was described as terrible. If this was a book about poorer people who had no choices, or about criminals ,it would have been a little easier to swallow, but as it stood, this part just didn’t work for me. The other thing I didn’t love was how heavy-handed the author was with the clues about the killer - they just kept getting piled on, one after the other, to the point where you wondered how these people could be detectives and not see what was going on - and with how much the teenagers kept secret in the face of violent murders. Yes, teenagers don’t want to talk to adults, but if their classmates are being killed like this, I think they’d be a bit more open to talking it through. With all of this, it was hard to like the characters or find the story really believable, so ultimately this one was a miss for me. I did finish it, though, so it at least kept me entertained enough to want to get to the end (and I am one to abandon books, so that says something).

One teenage girl is murdered and the daughter of a detective and medical examiner goes missing in the eerie town of Black Harbor. Follow Rowan and Axel as they work to solve the mystery of their daughters disappearance and her friends murder.

When I’m Dead is the third book in Hannah Morrissey’s Black Harbor series. While this book can be read as a standalone, I’m interested in what other chaos has gone on in Black Harbor and plan to read the other two!

While I didn’t absolutely love this book, it kept my interest and had a twist that I did not see coming. I enjoyed the dynamic between Rowan and Axel and loved how the author was able to weave breadcrumbs throughout this story.

If you enjoy crime/psychological thrillers and want to learn the ins and outs of a creepy Wisconsin town, When I’m Dead is for you!

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this ARC!

This book started off really slowly for me, and failed to pickup enough where I could really enjoy it. The story was a good concept, but I felt absolutely zero emotion from the characters about *ahem* their own daughter being missing? The investigation seemed to go in circles, and then suddenly we were reading a sex scene between the couple *ahem* amidst their daughter still being missing?? The emotion expressed by the characters didn’t match the situations. It just gave me a funky reading experience. Overall I wouldn’t discourage you from reading this book, but if it’s not on your radar already I wouldn’t add it.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC

I received “When I’m Dead as an ARC from NetGalley. This is the 3rd book in the series, but my first novel by Hannah Morrissey. I think I would’ve benefited from having read the first two but honestly, I was able to pick up on the back story pretty well.

This is a page turner that hooks you from the very beginning. This book was written very well and was very fast paced. The tension and suspense in this story builds throughout and does not let up until the very last sentence. I thoroughly enjoyed this read!

Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and Hannah Morrissey for an advanced reader's copy.

This is a fast paced cat and mouse thriller that is easy to get into! The action begins right away with a murder that quickly evolves to a complex crime spree. I enjoyed the layers of learning about our protagonists as they try to solve a crime with a massive personal stake. If you’re looking for a dark thriller, look no further!

When I'm Dead is a masterfully crafted novel that seamlessly weaves together themes of love, loss, regret, and revenge. Hannah Morrissey's writing is both captivating and evocative, pulling me in from the very first page. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking a thrilling and thought-provoking tale that will stay with them long after they've turned the final page.

First of all, I love the cover! The storyline was pretty intriguing but it unfortunately did not grab me as much as I thought it would.

Thanks for the opportunity to read this ARC

Honestly I loved this book so much!! The description was so interesting and so was the book!! It did not disappoint.

Thank you NetGalley for the read. One girl is missing and one has met a terrible fate. Dark, atmospheric and creepy. This is a law enforcement-based thrill, murder mystery with a relentless pursuit of truth. This was my first Hannah Morissey book. I did find it a little challenging to keep picking it up but am glad I finished. I am intrigued now to read the first 2.

Rowan Winthorp is the town Medical Examiner, married to a policeman, with a daughter going through some things. When Rowan is called to the scene of a murder, she is shocked to see her daughter’s best friend.

She is more shocked when she discovers her daughter, Chloe, is now missing.

As the clues unfold, they realize they may not even know their own daughter. Unraveling lies, secrets, and very disturbing things about what their daughter has been up to.

Rowan, however, has her own secret past and it would seem like it has come calling.

NetGalley/ St. Martin’s Press, October 31, 2023

When one of Chloe’s, their daughter’s, classmates is murdered, police detective Alex and medical examiner Rowan are called to the grisly scene. When they return home, they realize that Chloe is missing. As the investigation unfolds, they learn that Chloe had been the victim of social media shaming by the deceased; could Chloe be involved in the crime.? Meanwhile, a secret from Rowan’s past haunts her into thinking it may karma.

The third in the Black Harbor series; each book has independent characters, so this works as a standalone.

Morrissey paints a gritty picture of Black Harbor, a town that most people want to leave. The approach of Halloween, a haunted house and falling leaves from the giant red sugar maple add to the atmosphere. Told from different POVs, there are twists and turns in this macabre story. There are quite a few red herrings here and although I identified the culprit as soon as (s)he was introduced, the twist at the end was unexpected. There are a few sub themes here that ignite third rail emotions. Some police procedures were questionable, but that didn’t take away from the overall story.


Thanks to #netgalley and @stmartinspress #Minotaur for the ARC.

TW: Gruesome details, child murders

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC copy of this book to read and review. All of these comments are my own.

I thought this was a good mystery/crime novel. I think the plot was great but the execution could’ve been a bit better. I don’t feel like the parents reaction to their daughter going missing/possibly dead was realistic. They just didn’t seem very phased about it to me.

I would’ve liked more background as to why Rowan thought Katherine’s death was her fault. At the beginning it seemed like Rowan had this big secret to hide but it was literally nothing and Katherine’s death wasn’t explained, so I’m not seeing the point of that even being in the story.

Overall though I think it was decent novel and enjoyable. Very fast-pace and does keep you guessing.

3 stars!

Thank you so much to Hannah Morrissey, NetGalley, and Macmillan publishers for this ARC of When I’m Dead. I was nervous to read this without reading the first two books in the series but I was able to jump in without feeling like I was missing a huge piece of the plot line. I love the dual POVs, although I know it is a little hard to follow at times. The book was dark and haunting, it kept me anxious throughout the entire thing. I truly was on the edge of my seat. My big complaint is that this story seems to be a BIG conflict of interest so it isn’t very realistic, but it is a fictional novel! I hope to read more from this author in the future.

One girl is missing and another is dead. So many twists and turns. I loved every second of this. It can easily be read as a stand-alone but now I wasn’t to go back and read the other books in the series. Highly recommend!

4⭐️

Medical examiner Rowan Winthorp thought she was loving her worst nightmare when the case she was called to involved her daughters best friend. Her nightmare came true later that evening when she discovered that her daughter, Chloe, never made it home from the school play she was staring in.

As Rowan and her police detective Axel investigate the death of Chloe’s friend, they begin to see parts of their daughter’s life they never knew about, including the vicious rumor mill that went around the high school. All the while, Rowan can’t help but think about the last thing Chloe said to her: “You’ll never me more when I’m dead.”

This was a very standard police procedural that felt like watching an episode of Criminal Minds. I like that we see the struggle of Rowan and Axel wanting to stay involved while knowing there’s only so much they can do while their daughter is the missing person case being investigated. The tension between both Rowan and Axel as well as Chloe and her parents gave a good amount of drama to push the story along.

I do wish there was something a bit bigger to push this past being just another police procedural story but I’m not sure what exactly.

Thank you Netgalley and Minotaur Books for providing this ARC to me!

"When I'm Dead" by Hannah Morrissey takes readers on an unforgettable journey into the heart of mystery, secrets, and the relentless pursuit of truth. With masterful storytelling and a keen sense of emotional depth, Morrissey crafts a gripping narrative that explores the tangled web of human relationships and the haunting forces that drive them.

Set against a bone-chilling October backdrop, the story introduces us to Medical Examiner Rowan Winthorp, who is thrust into a nightmarish investigation after the death of her daughter's best friend. But the chilling enigma deepens when Rowan's own daughter, Chloe, disappears without a trace, leaving behind a trail of cryptic clues that challenge everything Rowan thought she knew.

Morrissey skillfully weaves a complex tapestry of intrigue and emotion as Rowan and her husband are driven to the edge of their understanding. The journey to uncover the truth behind Chloe's secrets is an enthralling one, as the couple must confront the uncomfortable truth that the ones closest to us can harbor the most unexpected mysteries.

The author's portrayal of Rowan's emotional turmoil is both poignant and relatable. As Rowan grapples with the dual burden of grief and the ghosts of her past, the narrative delves deep into themes of redemption and karma. The exploration of these themes adds a layer of complexity that resonates long after the final page is turned.

The plot's intricate twists and turns are expertly orchestrated, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with every revelation. Morrissey's ability to create an atmosphere of suspense and uncertainty contributes to the book's page-turning quality, making it impossible to put down.

But "When I'm Dead" is more than just a mystery; it's a meditation on the intricacies of human nature and the connections that tie us together. Morrissey's characters are richly drawn, their flaws and vulnerabilities adding authenticity to the story's narrative. Rowan's journey to uncover the truth about her daughter ultimately becomes a journey of self-discovery, creating a relatable and compelling narrative arc.

In "When I'm Dead," Hannah Morrissey has crafted a novel that is both a thrilling mystery and a deeply moving exploration of the human psyche. The book's seamless fusion of suspense, emotion, and moral introspection makes it a standout addition to the genre. For those seeking a thought-provoking read that lingers in the mind long after the final sentence, "When I'm Dead" is an absolute must-read.

This is a murder mystery based in the creepy town of Black Harbor, Michigan.

Rowan is a medical examiner and Axel is a homicide detective whose teenage daughter goes missing the same night that another teenage girl is found dead. The girl found dead was their daughters best friend, only clues found during the investigation point to that friendship having dissolved prior to her murder. A third girl is found murdered and all hell breaks loose. Who is the person or persons of interest? Is the missing girl truly missing? Is Karma at work after, playing her hand for something in Rowan’s past?

There is a decent plot, a lot of mystery surrounding the events of the story and some good support characters. You wonder who really did it through most of the book. Overall, a decent read.

I received an advance reader copy and am leaving this review voluntarily.

When I’m dead but Hannah Morrissey Published by Minotaur Books set to be published on Oct 31,2023.
I received this book early for the exchange of a honest review!!
I believe this may be a first of any of this authors books so I haven’t read any others of the series Black Harbor, the book is focused around a husband and wife Axel and Rowan who has a 15 year old daughter. One grave night in October Chloe goes missing and a slew of other events begin to happen including missing and mysterious deaths. It’s a case of who done it that has you guessing until the end. I quickly became very engrossed in this story and had many theories on who may or may not have been responsible but I’m not gonna lie I was kinda far off!! Looking forward to more from this author as well as more from the series!!!
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity o read this early, it definitely did not disappoint!!!