When I'm Dead is the 3rd book in a series, which I did not know until I started to post this review. I am not sure if that affects my opinion in any way. I found the book to be OK. I guessed the murderer, which isn't always a bad thing. I agree with other reviewers that there were too many things that were a bit unrealistic, such as a father (cop) that's allowed to work on a case that involves his missing daughter who may or may not be the murderer. Same with the mother, who is the medical examiner. She shouldn't be allowed anywhere near any of the bodies since her family is so close to the case. Also, taxidermy class at a private school? Very strange!

Thank you to the author, publishers, and also to NetGalley for a complimentary digital copy of WHEN I'M DEAD. All views are mine.

Three (or more) things I loved:

1. Nice moody atmosphere actually feels cold and gives me goosebumps, more than once!

Three (or less) things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. It doesn't seem likely these two parents would be allowed to work on their daughter's disappearance in any case.

2. I'm really struck by how unimpressive this book is for me. That's always a style problem, with me. In this case, the sentences all sound the same and certain images and ideas repeat over and over. This could be and probably is foreshadowing, but I'm distracted with all the repetition.

3. The ending is unfittingly preposterous.

Rating: 👮👮‍♀️ cop parents
Recommend? Not really...
Finished: Nov 2 '23
Format: Digital copy, Kindle, NetGalley, SMPI
Read this book if you like:
🛴 character driven books
🔪 thrillers
🫥 missing person
🌫 moody stories

More twists than a pretzel in this. You will be hooked from the start and guessing until the end. Also while this is in a series it is 100% readable and enjoyable completely as a stand alone so don’t feel like you have to commit to the previous books first.

Hannah Morrissey's 'When I'm Dead' plunges the reader into the chilling depths of book three in the Black Harbor mystery series, intertwining the raw emotion of a family tragedy with a gripping crime narrative. The story opens on a bone-chilling October night, introducing us to Medical Examiner Rowan Winthorp as she grapples with the death of her daughter’s friend and the subsequent disappearance of her own daughter, Chloe.

Morrissey masterfully crafts a tale that is as much a poignant reflection on the complexities of teenage life as it is a compelling crime drama. The book delves deep into the themes of parental responsibility, the hidden lives of teenagers, and the heart-wrenching consequences of secrets kept and judgments misplaced.

The narrative is skillfully woven, offering an insightful look into the police procedural and the personal lives of those involved in solving the crime. Morrissey's writing style is fluid and engaging, making the book a fast-paced read that is both thrilling and emotionally resonant.

What sets this novel apart is its ability to not just tell a mystery, but to also explore the emotional undercurrents of its characters. The journey of Rowan and her husband, as they unravel the layers of Chloe’s secret life, is filled with suspense and heartache, highlighting the often unseen side of familial relationships and teenage rebellion.

I enjoyed this story but felt like it really dragged. The ending was very captivating and I wish more of those details were throughout the whole book.

4 solid stars

Though this is one book of three in a series, you do not need to read the first two. I have not read the first two (but I plan to) and I did not feel lost in the story.

The mystery was well written and there were enough moving parts that I was trying to connect the dots. Nothing seemed over the top or underdone. This truly was a well written mystery.

Both of our main characters are flawed, but that is what made them likable. They were not these perfect people, but together they were so good. I loved how at a moment they were divided due to what was happening in their daughter's case. Yet you knew they still loved each other deeply.

Well written and fast paced. Highly recommend, as I mentioned above, I plan on reading the first two books!

I was immersed from the start. I have a friend that kept telling me I needed to read this series but I drugged my feet. I should not have. And I will be reading the back books in the Blackwater series. This is book 3, but I had no trouble following the story jumping in here.

A girl goes missing and I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out whether she was alive, kidnapped or left on her own accord. The author weaves quite a story with the twists that kept me on my toes and the edge of my seat. As the story progresses and the facts slowly emerge, there is no shortage of suspects and the parents learn a lot about their daughter.

The title is a haunting nod to the story as Chloe’s last words before she went missing was You’ll love me more when I’m dead. A reference to her father who is a detective and her mother who is a medical examiner.

Everyone had secrets and each one kept changing my thoughts on what happened.

This is a great book for crime lovers who gravitate to complex stories.

*I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for my honest review.*

Rowan is a medical examiner and her husband Axel is a detective. They are pulled out of their daughter's performance in the high school musical to investigate a dead girl who turns out to be the daughter's best friend. When they return home from the crime scene, Rowan realizes that the daughter is missing.

I thought this was a good novel and premise, but some things didn't sit well with me. There was a lot of blame that Rowan put onto herself for losing a patient over 15 years ago, but I felt like that was more of a distraction from the murder and the missing daughter. And there was not a lot of actually searching for the missing daughter. There was a lot of investigating the murder and subsequent happenings, but no search parties, etc. I guess since the victim and daughter knew each other, they were looking into both, but the focus just seemed a little off to me considering.

This was part of a series but sufficient as a stand alone. I would continue reading the series to see what happens with Rowan and Axel next.

DNF this after trying multiple times to get through the audiobook. The hard copy wad not much better. Im disappointed

"When I'm Dead: A Black Harbor Novel" by Hannah Morrissey is a compelling mystery that weaves a complex narrative, drawing readers into the enigmatic world of Black Harbor. Morrissey exhibits a talent for crafting a suspenseful tale filled with intricate characters and a well-constructed plot.

One of the notable strengths of the novel is Morrissey's ability to develop a rich and atmospheric setting in Black Harbor, creating a backdrop that adds depth to the unfolding mystery. The characters are carefully fleshed out, and the plot unfolds with a balance of suspenseful moments and gradual revelations, keeping readers invested in the storyline.

However, readers familiar with the mystery genre may encounter some familiar elements in the plot, and the pacing could occasionally feel uneven, affecting the overall rhythm of the narrative. Despite these minor considerations, Morrissey's storytelling prowess shines through, delivering a satisfying mystery experience.

In summary, "When I'm Dead" is a noteworthy addition to the mystery genre, offering a captivating story with well-crafted characters and a compelling setting. Morrissey's ability to create an immersive atmosphere and maintain suspense makes it an engaging choice for fans of mystery novels. While some aspects may align with genre conventions, the novel distinguishes itself with its unique narrative and the intricacies of Black Harbor.

I haven't read the previous books in this series but it was easy to pick this one up as a standalone read. A medical examiner and a detective make for quite an interesting story premise. Rowan & Axel are investigating the death of Madison who attended school with their daughter Chloe. Chloe goes missing after a school play and Rowan & Axel must find her. Perhaps I may have been more invested in the characters if I'd read the previous books but I personally didn't have a much of a connection to the characters.
A decent read & good story overall. It was easy to figure out no real plot twist or surprises here which is my reason for the 3 star review.

There’s an audience for every book, but I don’t think I was the right audience for this one. For me this was extra slow and I found myself picking up and putting this book back down…… over a month. I’m not saying this was bad at all, I still loved the creepy dark atmosphere and returning to Black Harbor. Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for my advanced copy of this book.

When I'm Dead is the first book that I have read from Hannah Morrissey. I thought this book was fine but my main problem is that I found I had to suspend belief here and that was extremely hard for me to do. There is no way that the two parents who worked in law enforcement would EVER have been allowed to work the crime scene of their daughter disappearing. Conflict of interest is written all of this and I just couldn't get past that.

So while the mystery was decent, I just couldn't believe any of it.

I still gave this book 3 stars as I had an decent time reading it.

A big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read an early copy.

The Halloween vibes in this one are perfection. It’s creepy but not scary, so it’s perfect for fans of mystery, thriller and police procedural books.

When you really vibe with an author’s work, high expectations can be dangerous. But this book still managed to blow me away. I’ve been a big fan of Hannah’s since her 2021, debut, and “When I’m Dead” is my favorite work of hers yet.

“When I’m Dead” is about a medical examiner and homicide detective who are married. The book opens as they are investigating the murder of their daughter’s best friend; within hours, their daughter is missing too.

This one truly has it all: murder, a marriage at a crossroads, borderline gross medical details, nitty gritty crime writing. The character development is SO RICH. The pacing is perfection. It is a 2023 favorite of mine, and I’ll be recommending it to anyone who asks for the rest of the year. It would be a great intro to crime fiction if you’ve never read the genre — but it might set your expectations too high!

The third book in the Black Harbor series by Hannah Morrissey, When I'm Dead is a thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. It can be read as a standalone. Trigger warning: this book deals with the murder of teenagers. It is a police procedural following a medical examiner and her detective husband trying to solve the brutal murder of one teenager and then another, along with their missing daughter. It is a gripping read for parents struggling with raising children, teenagers being especially vulnerable. A well-written book if you can get past the trigger warnings. I do recommend it to the proper audience.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

I loveeeeed this book so much. The twists & turns kept me guessing throughout the entire thing. And had me holding my breath for the last 20%. This was one of my favorite thrillers of fall 2023. Thanks so much, Netgalley!

Very suspenseful and kept me on the edge of my seat. I love it when a story keeps me guessing. Well done.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC. I'm definitely late to the party on this one. This was a great thriller, full of suspense that keeps you guessing. I'll remember this one for sure!

This was a REALLY good thriller! I was engaged the entire time and didn't see a lot of the twists coming. Loved it!

Holy cow, this was my last book of 2023 and it did not disappoint.

I'll start by saying that this novel is the 3rd in the Black Harbor series, which I've never read before. It can absolutely be read as a standalone, you won't feel like you're missing out on anything.

That said, this book took me on a TRIP.

Do you ever read a book in which you just can't figure out what's going on? And you're one of those people that isn't fooled very easily, so when you find a book like this, you just cannot put it down. That's this book for me. Normally, it's relatively easy for me to figure out what's going on, but every time I thought I had the ending nailed down, something else would happen and I'd be right back at square one again.

People are keeping secrets in Black Harbor, and all of those secrets will slowly come out. But not before more people lose their lives, and not before havoc is raised in this small, dead-end town.

I loved how this author built up the characters, and even though they all had their flaws, I couldn't help but want them to end up okay in the end. And even though Chloe obviously had a lot of problems and was keeping a lot of secrets, I desperately wanted her to be alive. I didn't want my hopes dashed.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait to find out what else the author has in store. You'll want to get your hands on this book.