This book had compelling characters and a storyline that in theory, was super interesting and right in my reading sweet spot. I also have enjoyed the author’s prior books. But this one just didn’t do it for me. I struggled to get into the book, struggled to care about the characters, and struggled to care what happened next.

So for now, I’ll put it down and try again later. I don’t think this is a permanent DNF, but it’s a “let it simmer for a few months” hold on reading.

When I am Dead was the third book from the Black Harbor series. I have not read the first two and even though some other reviews said that this can be read as a stand alone, I beg to disagree. Because there were enough reference to the first two books that made me wished that had I read the first two, I might have a different and more favorable experience. I struggled to finish and that is to say the least.
Rated 2stars. There's a plot, it is written well and I would say maybe this book was just not for me.

The third book in the Black Harbor series brings us back into medical examiner Rowan Winthrop’s world as she investigates the death of her daughter’s best friend. I really want to love this series but am finding that I am not the biggest fan of Hannah Morrissey’s writing style. The storyline is good and the characters are difficult to like but entertaining however the writing falls a little short for me. The good news is each book while tied together in a way can be read as stand alone titles.

Thank you to Netgally, the publishers, and Hannah Morrissey

When I requested this book I was unaware that it was apart of a series, one that requires you to read the previous books for this one to make sense. I am unable to read all the previous books along with this one before the publish date. Therefore, I will rate this a fair 3/5 stars and will adjust the rating and review when I am able to read all the books in the series along with this one.

2.5 stars rounded up. This was a fine police procedural. I didn't read the first two books, but I didn't feel like I was missing anything since this is a standalone. This book felt very repetitive at times. I put it down for a while, picked it back up and felt a little frustrated that I felt the story wasn't really progressing. I tried some of the audiobook, and the narrator for Rowan was almost a little hard for me to understand at times. I felt she didn't enunciate as much as an audiobook narrator should, and I found myself turning the volume up on those chapters to better understand her. I also felt like I couldn't get a good grasp on the city of Black Harbor - with the numbers of murders that apparently happen on a regular basis, it sounded like Gotham City. It didn't feel realistic, and then I had a hard time reconciling it with the expensive private school that the children attended. It just felt like two different worlds and I think we should have either stayed in the crime-ridden environment or made the switch to a wealthy area with fancy private schools.

When I'm Dead was a fast paced mystery thriller. I enjoyed the author's writing style and how despite writing from multiple viewpoints, she developed relatable and memorable characters. I was left guessing for at least half of the book and while I had figured out the person, the reason eluded me until it was revealed. I also loved the dreary and desperate town of Black Harbor. While this is part of a series, I read it as a standalone. I may need to head back to Black Harbor with another book from this series.

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

"You'll love me more when I'm dead."

WOW! What a hauntingly chilling read!

Taking place days leading up to Halloween. This husband/wife crime fighting duo of Black Harbor experience the worst case they will ever encounter. Theirs daughter is missing and her best friend is found dead. No one can be trusted and they will go to the ends of the earth to get their daughter back. Watch out Black Harbor their coming for you!!

A mixture of thrilling suspense, crime procedural and toxic familial drama, Morrissey effortlessly weaves these elements together to create such an immersive story. Entrancing you from the very beginning.

While sleuthing along with these characters your attachments and compassion grows with every turn of the page. These characters are raw, real and relatable.

With atmospheric descriptions that will immedietly transport you to Black Harbor. Where its dark, gloomy and full of crime

There is no way you won't become addicted to finding answers and fly right through these pages

Highly recommend!!

(Even though this is technically the third installment of The Black Harbor series you can totally pick this up as a standalone)

Huge shout out to @netgalley @minotaur_books
@stmartinspress and @hannahmorrisseywriter
for an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honost thoughts and opinions. I loved it so much, I had to get a BOTM edition and I can't wait to see what happens next in Black Harbor 🖤

I ended up liking this one more than I thought I was goin to a one point. I didn't read the other books in the series, but I don't feel like I missed out on the storyline of this book by doing that. It was maybe a little long or repetitive, but the different POVs helped.

Thank you NetGalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for my free and honest review. This novel was one of great anticipation and suspense. Great plot and back story, and intriguing characters. I will definitely read more by this author.

I read "Hello, Transcriber," skipped "The Widowmaker," and thought the premise of "When I'm Dead" sounded amazing. I think I'm trying too hard to enjoy Hannah Morrissey's books. I'm the mother of daughters and even so, something felt off to me with this novel and I could not relate. I thought surely I must almost be finished and found I was only 30% of the way in.

This book was not it for me. It was really hard for me to ignore the fact that there is no way these parents would be allowed to stay on the investigation. The story itself could be really good, but I figured out the ending really early on so I got to the point I wanted this book to be over. I really did not like the parents, they didn't feel like they were well developed characters to have such a huge part of the storyline. Parts of the book felt repetitive and boring. I did enjoy the first 2 books in this series but this can be read as a stand alone. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.

Entering this book as the third installment in the Black Harbor Series, I acknowledge my lack of familiarity with the preceding two books. While it might have enhanced my experience, I find this book functions well as a standalone. The crime fiction narrative unfolds with Rowan Winthrop, a medical examiner, and her husband Axel, a homicide detective, investigating the murder of their daughter's friend, Madison Caldwell. As Chloe, their own daughter, goes missing, they delve into a mystery involving more deaths and secrets in Black Harbor. Despite my overall enjoyment, the book felt lengthy, and I struggled to connect with the seemingly nonchalant protagonists, Rowan and Axel. The narrative contains some gruesome scenes, making it the perfect spooky season read!

When I'm Dead is the 3rd book in the Black Harbor series, this was also a new author for me. I believe that this could be read as a stand alone book, yet having read the previous books would give you a better understanding of the town and the characters in the book. I found this to be a suspenseful and creepy story line, in one of my favorite genres. I would definitely recommend this book to others.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Minotaur Books, and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

I didn't read the first two books in this series and didn't feel like that was a problem as this story stands on it's own.

Two parents are trying to continue doing their jobs as a detective and medical examiner but it's pretty difficult when the case you're working on is related to your own missing teenage daughter. They also have opposite viewpoints on the case and guilt over placing their jobs before family and it’s tearing their marriage apart. The story moves very quickly and I enjoyed this dark, twisty, suspenseful thriller.

A compelling who-done-it, When I'm Dead will suck you into a dark race to determine who is guilty, while solidly dispersing suspicion on just about everyone up to the final conclusion. Worth your time - a nice balance of thriller, mystery, police procedural, and family complexity.

When I'm Dead by Hannah Morrissey is a great read. Overall it was 4.5 stars. I liked seeing the characters grow and overcome a tragedy.

Rowan is the towns medical examiner and her husband Axel are called to the scene of a murder of a teenage girl in the middle of her daughter, Chloe's headlining performance in her school play. Later that night Chloe does not make it home. Rowen and Axel do all they can to find their daughter while also coming to terms with their own demons and short comings.

Thank you NetGalley for my copy of the book. All opinions are my own. #HannahMorrissey #WhenImDead #NetGalley #StMartinsPress

When I’m Dead is the third book in the Black Harbor series and can be read as a standalone. This was my first book by Hannah Morrissey and it’s made me want to go back and read this series from the beginning. This story is gritty and raw as it follows parents of a missing teen who happens to be a police detective and medical examiner and are investigating the murder of their daughter’s friend.

Rowen and Axel are called out of their daughter’s play to investigate the death of a young girl they are in for a shock when they realize who the victim is. When they return home to check on their daughter, they discover that she is missing and the more they uncover the more they start to realize they might not know their daughter as well as they thought or her friends. This story is fast paced and alternates between three different POVs- Rowen, Axel and Libby their neighbor’s teenager daughter.

In my opinion I think Axel’s POV was the most impactful for the story and from the first appearance of the killer it was pretty obvious to me but it didn’t deter me from the story because I wanted to see how the rest of the investigation unraveled.

Thank you publishers and netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

This plot and everything going on was ridiculously unrealistic. This is just something that would never happen in real life... the lady doing the autopsy on her daughter's bestfriend and the husband being an investigator. Just too far fetched for me

Having enjoyed the first two books in author Hannah Morrissey’s Black Harbor series, I was eager to read her latest offering. When I’m Dead by Hannah Morrissey is a suspenseful read with plenty of surprises to keep you engaged. Though the ending wasn’t completely unpredictable after a point, there is a lot to like about how the plot is structured. I will admit to having not enjoyed this installment as much as the previous books. With both Rowan and Axel involved in the investigation, the professional/procedural aspect takes precedence over their personal lives, which makes it difficult to connect with them as individuals whose daughter is missing. I also felt that Rowan’s guilt over an incident from her past was an unnecessary plot point, though it does add to the drama. The atmospheric vibe felt a tad forced ( set close to Halloween to emphasize the eerie vibe, unlike her other novels where the crime-infested town and its darkness was better woven into the plot) in this story and I’m not a fan of the “mean girls” trope which took up way too much space in the narrative and did detract from my overall reading experience. However, there is no doubt that Morrissey knows how to craft a dark, twisty, suspenseful thriller and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.