A teenager has been murdered in Black Harbor, Michigan. Another teen is missing. The clues seem to point to the missing teen as the murderer, especially when another teen is killed. The parents of the missing teen investigate the murders all while wondering what happened to their daughter. Is she a killer or a victim? The investigation leads to discoveries about the residents of Black Harbor, both teens and adults. The truth is a bit far far-fetched, but it could only happen in a town like Black Harbor.


Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for an e-arc of this book.

I think that I might need to give up on this series. I recognize why some people might like it, but I just cannot connect with the characters or get into the story.

I've been wholly invested in the gritty, wicked world that is Black Harbor since Hannah Morrissey's first novel, HELLO, TRANSCRIBER. In WHEN I'M DEAD, Morrissey expands the Black Harbor universe to introduce Rowan Winthorp and investigator husband Axel, whose lives are upended when their daughter Chloe goes missing right after her best friend is found murdered. Rowan and Axel's proximity to the case complicates matters, but not as much as the discovery that other high school students may be in danger as well.

Featuring Morrissey's signature lush prose and the same breed of dark and twisted plot readers have come to expect from her writing, this thriller -- set around Halloween and with all the requisite late fall vibes -- is one you won't soon forget.

If you read the first two books in this series(Hello,Transcriber & The Widowmaker), you know that Black Harbor is, shall we say, an interesting place. This time, husband and wife, Axel and Rowan, a detective and a medical examiner are investigating the murder of Madison Caldwel. She was a friend of their daughter Chloe(or was she). When Chloe goes missing, they can only think the worst.(IYKYK,Black Harbor isn’t a place where you picture good things happening.)
There are more than a few viable suspects, especially as Axel and Rowan learn how much they didn’t know about their daughter. While they each believe different things about their missing daughter, whatever the truth is, their relationship might never be the same. A page turner, and one that I made very few guesses about the whodunnit and why. The author writes plots that I have so far not been very good at having my final guesses be correct.
The best thing about reading this series? Learning more about the messed up residents of Black Harbor. The worst, wondering when the next book will publish(When I’m Dead publishes in the US on Halloween). Who knows what character the author will focus on next, but I can’t wait to find out.
I really really like this series! 4.5 stars.

As with her other two novels this one is dark and gritty and twisty in ways that are a pinch demented, yet there always seems to be some redeeming factor. The only drawback(s) are the constant reminders of what a terrible, crime-ridden place this is to live - which become a bit tiresome.

Firstly, thank you NetGalley, Hannah Morrissey, and Minotaur Books/St. Martin’s Press for the early access of this book I have been trying to imagine how I’d wait until October to read! Now it’s just the countdown to when I can finally hold the book in my hands!

It’s crazy to me just how much of this book reminded me of home and my life. The suspense was perfectly build by the chapter, and there was no shortage of suspects. The language throughout the mystery sets the scene and helps you picture the town as easily as seeing it on a screen. WHEN I’M DEAD is the third Black Harbor mystery from Morrissey and you know the saying…”good things come in threes” and man oh man is it so true!

You’ll wonder who did it, you’ll try to pin it on every suspect you meet, and it’ll (unfortunately) probably remind you of a high school experience at moments, but the love and humanity of the characters and their fears and insecurities will leave you feeling like you have a new set of friends by the last page. (And will leave you wishing that Morrissey was a real life friend of yours!)

When I'm dead was a book I didn't know how I;d feel about but came out loving. Thank you so much netgalley for letting me read this arc/

This book kept me interested the whole time. It was very hard to put down. The author keeps you guessing the whole time.

A murder mystery in Black Harbor Missouri. A teen goes missing after another teen is murdered. Will Rowan and Axel survive this nightmare and keep their marriage from falling apart… Twists upon sick twisted events happen to cause turmoil between characters in this small town. Everyone is on edge suspecting one another, causing havoc between families, students, teachers and friends.

A hard to put down suspenseful thriller that Hannah Morrissey is known best to tell. She grabs your attention through her descriptions of this dark, gothic-like town with its french creole natives. Never a dull moment, with this creative writing that keeps you wanting more. Escape into a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Although not as intense as the first two in this series, I did enjoy it. One thing I found troubling with the story was how much weight the mom gave to the concept of karma. Not knocking karma in any way, but the way the mom became so neurotic over what happened in the past was a little over the top, especially for something that happened that was clearly not even her fault. But otherwise the storyline was great and I blazed through it. I LOVE this author.

Hannah Morrissey, can we be best friends?

Holy Moly, I knew Morrissey was good, even great but my goodness did she deliver when it comes to her most recent upcoming publication, When I'm Dead.

I don't think I really knew what I was getting into. Bookstagram was buzzing for When I'm Dead before I had personally discovered it myself. My major FOMO kicked in and I knew I had to find out what had everyone up in arms. It was a long shot, I knew how popular Morrissey is but hey Im a cute little ankle biting book blogger, maybe the publisher will pick me!!

Well, thank you.

Now I get to spend every day bragging up until the big release on how I got to read this incredible, sure to be bestseller. My socks were literally knocked off!

The dynamic of characters, the plot, the twist.... just EVERYTHING!!!

I can't stop gushing. I have already pre-ordered quite a few copies for friends. There is no way in heck I will be lending out my own personal copy.

If you want to see what has me in a tizzy, you are going to have to pre-order yourself a copy!

Due out October 31, 2023 ( yes we have ourselves a little halloween scare!) you do not want to miss this one.

Teaser :

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.

Truly creepy, a stay up late page-turner… but you might want to leave the light on for this one! When one girl is killed and another girl goes missing, the clock is ticking. Axel and Rowan need to find their daughter Chloe before she becomes the next victim. The story keeps you guessing, and I couldn’t put it down. Well- researched crime details and relatable characters made this suspenseful thriller truly addictive. It kept me on the edge of my seat until the nail-biting final showdown! Loved it! 4.5 stars. Warning- brutal murder descriptions, sex scenes, language. Thank you NetGalley for the digital copy.

Wow, wow, wow!! I love, love, loved this 3rd installment of the Black Harbor series. Hannah Morrissey is a powerhouse that is a force to be reckoned with. I was drawn to the story on page one & did not put it down until the satisfying conclusion. Gripping & suspenseful, bone-chilling & haunting, bleak & shocking, dark & intense. Be prepared….when you open this book you won’t want to put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books & Hannah for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rowan hears the last words her daughter, Chloe said, "You will love me more when I'm dead". After a theater performance at Chloe's school, she vanishes. Her parents, Rowan and Axel are called away on a murder investigation. Rowan is a medical examiner, Axel a detective, who team up with characters from Hannah's other books. When a young girl from Chloe's class is found dead, the parents begin to assume the worse. Is she dead somewhere? Will they find her? Every parents worse nightmare comes to life. Rowan and Axel will be tested and tried in different ways, putting them at odds with each other. Will their marriage come out of this intact?

Hannah killed this book once again. To create a world like Black Harbor for the back drop of multiple books while still telling individual stories each time is beautiful. You get to become more invested with the reappearance of scenes or characters. However, this book still stands on its own. Personal preference, read them all in order of publication and fall in love with the gritty, dark landscape of Black Harbor, Wisconsin.

Thank you Netgalley and Minotaur for the digital copy of this book. No way could I wait until October.

This is a great book I read it in one afternoon while completely forgetting all adult responsibilities. I have not read the two books that come before it. It’s a great standalone story.

Thank you to St Martins Books/ Minotaur Publishing for letting me read My most anticipated thriller of the year early in exchange for review!


This left me speechless. What i love most about Morriseys books is that she leads you down this rabbit hole and you think you know how the story is going to end but you're wrong every time! I loved this book so much. i love the gritty city of Black Harbor and getting to read about it from different situations that happen in the city in each of the books.

I highly recommend When I'm Dead.

The death phone. Like a newborn baby, its intermittent cry indicating a problem that you alone can mollify — demanding your undivided attention. Except, babies are easier aren’t they? They want food, milk, cuddles, or a diaper change. The death phone? It requires YOU. No matter when. No matter where. It beckons until you’re ripped from the presence of those who love you…to tend to someone who doesn’t even know you’re there.

“You’ll love me more when I’m dead.”

Hello again, Black Harbor…

”A sanctuary for some, and Hell for all, Black Harbor waits with open arms for souls looking for a place to hide.”

Axel and Rowan Winthorp, a homicide detective and medical examiner respectively, each have a death phone. So far, they’ve been lucky. They’ve constantly faced death but never someone close. But, this is Black Harbor…it was bound to happen eventually. Today, a girl was murdered. Not long after, their daughter, Chloe, went missing. The murdered girl happens to be her best friend. So begins the frantic and emotional search for clues, answers…and Chloe.

When I’m Dead is everything I hoped it would be: dark, gritty, and twisted. You can read this as a standalone but I promise you will enjoy it more if you read Hello, Transcriber and The Widowmaker first. Hannah delicately incorporates characters and events from these previous works that, when found, feel like a warm hug from an old friend.

Detective Nikolai Kole is BACK in full force and I couldn’t be more excited! Although both previous works were technically procedurals, this one is more so because the main characters are members of the police force/medical examiners office.

I received an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you Hannah Morrissey , Net Galley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for providing a copy of this ARC!

"When I'm Dead" was a fast-paced captivating read. I was immediately pulled into the storyline and read the entire book in one session.

Our MC Rowan goes from investigating the murder of her daughter's best friend to discovering that her own daughter Chloe is missing leaving a trail of disturbing clues behind her. But Chloe isn't the only one with secrets, Rowan's past is catching up with her. This book causes you to question what secrets those closest to you are hiding?

Morrissey’s Black Harbour novels are dark, gritty and full of heart pounding suspense. I look forward to reading more from this author!

Synopsis (It's a fiction book, so it helps…from Netgalley, the provider of the book for me to review.)
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One girl was murdered. Another one is missing. And a medical examiner desperate to uncover the truth in 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.
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Do we really know our kids? Do our kids really know us? This seems to be a theme in books lately and this latest addition to the Black Harbour series covers this topic. The story was well crafted and utterly readable, much like books 1 and 2 in the series. Rowan is a great character to spend time with and I will highly recommend this book and her others to my friends, family, patrons and book clubs..not that I will tell anyone if they really know *ME* at all!
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#shortbutsweetreviews

It’s a bleak October night when M.E. Rowan Winthrop is called to investigate the death of her best friend’s child and when she arrives home, it’s to find that her own daughter, Chloe, is gone. Together with her husband, Rowan begins to sift through the clues about her daughter’s life and they discover some truly disturbing things about their child. It looks like the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree and Rowan may finally be forced to face her own, unpleasant past. Morrissey’s Black Harbour novels are unique, the characters seem more like real people, not just characters constructed for readers to like or empathize with. Highly recommended