i received this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion and review. i’ve read all three Black Harbor books and this one was by far the best in my opinion. It grabbed my attention more than the rest and reminded me of a criminal minds episode.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was very well written, I liked the characters so it was easy to follow along and see how they were able to piece things together.

This was my first read in the Black Harbor series and now I will have to go back and read the others! This story is told in alternating chapters from the viewpoints of Rowan, a medical examiner as well as the missing girl's mother, Axel, a homicide detective and missing girl's father, and Libby, the girl next door who is an overweight, frequently bullied classmate. A few trigger warnings - Graphic death scenes, autopsies, explicit sex, and bullying. Thanks NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC that will be released October 31, 2023! #netgalley #whenimdead

When I’m Dead by Hannah Morrissey – Black Harbor has a crime problem or more to the point, is experiencing a killing spree. Detective Axel Winthorp and his wife, Medical Examiner Rowan Winthorp, are spending more time with the dead than they are with their daughter Chloe. Leaves rip from their branches and behind them, the lake throws punches at the half-sunk peers. The wind is bullish and sharp, biting at patches of exposed skin. Tendrils of hair slash across her face. This is it - a do or die moment. Bring her daughter home, or die trying. Life isn't worth living without Chloe. She's witnessed that first hand these past days that she has been missing. You'll love me more when I'm dead. Oh no, darling girl. I need you beside me, breathing, laughing, just simply being. That is what Rowan will tell her daughter Chloe if she is lucky enough to speak to her again, if her words don't fall on deaf, dead ears. Morrissey weaves together an exciting tale of small-town psyche, teenage troubles and murder.

Absolutely loved every second of this book. My expectations were blown out of the water and I felt myself not putting it down for long before I needed to pick it back up and read more.

Once I picked this up I couldn’t put it down! The story was so well written. There’s a lot going on between all the different characters but it’s still so organized and flows nicely. The twist and murders were creepy but so much so that I would classify this as a horror. So glad I read this and will be looking more into this author’s other works.
Thanks to Net Galley for allowing me to read this before it’s release.

One October night, Medical Examiner Rowan Winthorp, is called out to investigate the death of a young girl who turns out to be her daughter, Chloe's, best friend. Hours later she learns that Chloe never made it home from her school play.

As more of Chloe's friends, or ex friends as Rowan soon learns, wind up dead, it starts looking like Chloe may be the murderer.

As Rowan and her husband try to come to grips with the fact that Chloe may be dead, or a murderer, the strain on their marriage gets worse. Rowan is determined to find out what happened and prove that Chloe is not a murderer, despite the evidence that says otherwise.

This is a great book, and I definitely didn't see the ending coming. Highly recommend!

Thanks netgalley for this book. I was introduced to a series that I will become addicted to, no doubt. It was my first one to read and though it's not the first, I was not confused so I'm assuming it is a standalone series but after the writing and characters and the creative plot, I will go back and start a collection of them all. As a mother, this is terrifying to imagine and I was on the edge of my seat throughout the whole book. Did not put it down at all. Life was on hold until I completed it. Amazing job!

When I’m Dead centers around medical examiner Rowan Winthrop. Rowan is investigating the murder of her daughter's best friend when soon after she realizes that her daughter Chloe is missing. Dark secrets soon emerge and Rowan realizes she may not know her daughter as well as she thought. The deeper Rowan digs, the sinister secrets Chloe had hidden, threaten to tear the family apart.

This is my first read by the author and I’m kicking myself for not picking up her work sooner! This suspenseful, and dark story is everything I want in a murder mystery. It’s a high-stakes thriller filled with complex characters set in a chilling atmosphere. There are a few

When I’m Dead is book 3 in the Black Harbor series but can be read as a stand-alone. As soon as I finished this one, I rushed to get the first two books. I absolutely cannot wait to read more by the author!

When I’m Dead by Hannah Morrisey will be available on October 31. Many thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the gifted copy!

“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.”

I absolutely devoured this book! It had me hooked from the beginning. I loved all the twists and turns and it kept me on my toes. This book is part of a series but I had no issues reading it as a standalone. I can’t wait to go and read the first two in the series.

I loved the character development and Morrissey had a way to really draw you in. These characters are raw, real, and disturbing.

The story is told from a few different viewpoints - mainly alternating between Rowan and her husband Alex, but occasionally a chapter is told from the point of view of Libby, the girl next door. You think you know where the story is heading, but it gets more complex as you continue reading.

This is a great spooky read! It will be perfect for Fall and spooky season. Publication date is on Halloween! 👻

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Hannah Morrissey’s latest Black Harbor novel (#3) WHEN I’M DEAD is a deliciously, dark psychological thriller that had me hooked from the very first page.
As Rowan Winthrop and her husband, Axel are called away from their daughter, Chloe’s big performance to investigate the discovery of a young female corpse, Chloe replies, “You’ll love me when I’m dead.” Rowan believes that she’ll have time to make it up to Chloe. When she and Axel arrive at the scene, they discover that the body is that of a classmate and former friend of Chloe’s. Then Chloe herself disappears, and another body turns up. As Rowan and the Axel investigate, rumors, lies and secrets begin to surface, making them, realize that there was a bunch of Chloe‘s life of which they weren’t even aware. Classmates, boyfriends, trusted adults, and even a weird taxidermy teacher may all be hiding secrets and lies. While Rowan and Axel appear to be of different minds as to whether Chloe is still alive, Rowan can’t help but believe that karma has truly come around for her due to a mistake in her past.
I love any book with rumors, lies, secrets, and whispers between classes. This is my first Black Harbor novel, but I can’t wait to delve into the first two which will very shortly be on my to be read pile. Great Job!

This is the third installment of the Black Harbor series. This book can be read independently, however I feel you get the full flavor of read after the first two books.

This book details teenagers and their drama. Only in Black Harbor, drama end up in a murder of one girl and another girl missing. But who is responsible? We follow Investigator Axel and his wife Medical Examiner Rowen while they not only deal with their missing daughter as well as investigating the murder of two other teenagers. Are they connected? Is their daughter responsible? Will their marriage survive this life trauma?

This book is another fantastic read, expertly written with colorful detail. Hannah Morrissey is definitely an author to follow!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

I began reading this quite some time ago and after a chapter or two, I put it aside. I was not interested and felt like it was going to be more of a procedural crime novel. I was encouraged by someone in my book club to continue because she really liked it. I'm glad I listened to her. It did get better!

The author did create some interesting characters and was able to lead the reader to consider various scenarios. I even tried to think of some the author didn't suggest. While some of it was rather unbelievable, it is a work of fiction so I was able to overlook that for the greater good of the story.

I liked that the story was told from the perspectives of different characters which gave us some new insights.

Towards the end of the book, I had to keep reading to find out how it is finally resolved. This strong finish always leaves me wanting to give a higher rating. I leave feeling satisfied.

This book was an ARC from St. Martin's Press was provided to me for free by NetGalley and this is my unbiased opinion given voluntarily.

I didn’t realize the book was part of a series and I don’t feel I missed out as the book worked find as a standalone. I didn’t feel engaged with the characters and found myself skipping some chapters to move forward. I’ve read a few books lately that have used the multiple POV format with nuggets dropped here and there alluding to situations that occurred and are leading to a revelation. I have decided I find this format annoying, which is on me and not the author.

Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, and Hannah Morrissey for the eARC.

I wasn't aware of this author prior to getting this book. This book is actually one of a series but thankfully it stands alone as a good read! I will be checking into the other books. Plot twists pull you in and keep you reading to find out what happens next. Thanks for the chance to become acquainted with a new author.

One teenager is found murdered and another did not come home... When I'm Dead sucked me right in from the start. When the Medical Examiner shows up to a crime scene only to find out the victim is her daughter's best friend? 😯 This was my first novel by this author and I loved the page turning twists and turns of Black Harbor's gritty city. Thanks for NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC copy.

I did not know that this book was part of a series until I was done. I will definitely look for the first two books.

This was a page turner. I hated to put it down (so what if dinner is late!) The twists and turns kept me looking for more. The characters were well developed, interesting and flawed.

First, I have to admit that I did not realize this was the third book in the Black Harbor series by Hannah Morrissey. Once I realized, I was worried that the book might not be as good since I hadn't read the first three. I decided to try to read it, and if it wasn't working that I would find the other two and read them and then return to this one. Two things that I realized: 1. You don't need to read the other two for this book to be read, and 2. I NEED to read the other two because this was was so good! I immediately went and bought the other two books as soon as I finished this one, because this one was SO GOOD. 5 stars, definitely recommend to anyone that loves a crime thriller.
One girl is missing and another one dead; the missing girl is the daughter of a police officer and the town's Medical Examiner. The plot is so good and so touching, there are even parts where I teared up (which doesn't happen often, let alone during a thriller), that I could not put it down. Rowan, the medical examiner, has a heartbreaking past, is trying to battle against time to find her daughter, and wondering if this is the karma she deserved. Very well written, and I definitely recommend this to everyone! Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review!

Fab plot with great pacing and execution.
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I don’t usually choose a murder suspense book because of the mystery portion. I choose the book because it may be heavier on the police procedural portion.

That means I’m usually pretty picky about the stories that I do select to read and review. But I also get both sides of the story, which to me enhances the thrill.

It has to be a strong writer that can give us both sides with clarity and precision, which to me enhances the story all the way around.

When I’m Dead was a tough choice for me to make when it came to deciding whether I was going to read it or not. Books dealing with child crimes I usually pass on, but this one was different due to the medical examiner storyline aspect.

Heavy on the crime, the gruesome discoveries are quite detailed, and the story focused on the personal side of the victims. So it was a little light on the police procedural portion I was looking for, but the author certainly spared no expense when it came to details of the scene, the suspects, and the back stories that come out during the hunt for the perpetrator.

This is the first time I have read this author, and she brings us a fabulous plot with great pacing and wonderful execution of the story. She keeps you on the edge of your seat as they dive in trying to find the who and the why these crimes and devastating deaths are occurring in their neighborhood.

With detailed descriptions, gritty visualization, and plenty of drama and twists to keep you completely engaged, When I’m Dead is a mystery and suspense story with a great twist at the end. Definitely, one to read over and over to catch all of the details.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy!

Apparently this is book #3 - but I haven’t read the first two and it works just fine as a stand-alone.
Two girls are found murdered, and a third is missing. Told in multiple POV and I absolutely ate this book up. Read in almost one sitting! I love a good spooky season, murder mystery, whodunnit and this book hit all the points.
I would absolutely recommend!!