This is the fourth book in the Black Harbor series and it did not disappoint! I really enjoyed the chemistry between Kole and Hazel in The Transcriber and to see it come back in The Unlucky Ones makes my heart happy! Kole has always been my favorite character in this series. I think this one was well written, like the previous three. If the author ends the series now, I feel like she finished all the characters in a good way.

I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery in this book! It kept me on my toes with so many questions arising throughout the story. The suspense was palpable, and I found myself eager to piece together the clues alongside the characters.

The characters were well-developed and engaging, each bringing their own unique perspective to the investigation. I became invested in their journeys and the relationships that unfolded as they worked to solve the case.

Resolving the murder of a young victim was an intricate puzzle, and the way the author unfolded the clues was both clever and satisfying. Overall, this was a fantastic read that combined suspense and great character work perfectly. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good mystery!

I read Hello Transcriber and absolutely loved it, so I was so excited to revisit Blackharbor and catch up with Kole and Hazel! This one keeps you on your toes as the mystery deepens and you realize there’s so much more to Tommy’s murder. I loved the ending and how their story is tied up, but hope to see them again in Hannah’s other books!

THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING. This was everything I wanted and needed. I could not hold back starting this book so many months before release when I saw that THE TRANSCRIBER RETURNS TO BLACK HARBOR.

I have no chill about this book, none at all. It was perfect. Buy it, read it, obsess with me.

Seeing all the major characters from the previous BH books was a reunion I didn't know I needed. The references to past cases, the bonds between the characters, the unspoken and unfinished business. YES. Okay yes the story was bleak and awful and kept unraveling to reveal the deepest darkest secrets, which is what made it amazing. The pacing was perfect, the back and forth between Hazel (her past, her motivation, her determination to be strong and savy) and Kole (broken and determined, caught between so many different webs of secrets and crimes). No spoilers but it was shocking in the best ways and ensnares the reader right away.

I NEED MORE OF BLACK HARBOR PLEASSSSSSE. Who do I bribe to make this happen?!

The unlucky ones by Hannah morrisey

This is the 4th book in a series, to which I did not know however it was an interesting book that follows the life of Hazel Greenlaw who is a transcriber whose husband was brutally murdered in a town called black harbor.

Nik Kole is working the case and has an obvious connection to Hazel. However the big draw for me here was the town itself that has something called a railroad bridge that people go to, to plunge to their deaths. This book was interesting and just fell a little short in the intrigue I was hoping for.

I enjoyed it and will look for more books from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martins press for this Arc.

Hazel shows back up in her hometown, Black Harbor to help solve the brutal murder of her ex-husband. However, the people haven't changed as Hazel remembers they're still dark and twisted. Returning to Back Harbor for Hazel also means seeing Kole who will be leading the task force, who she hasn't seen since she left years prior and happens to be her former lover. As Kole, Hazel and his team make their way trying to solve this murder more bodies are showing up dead, they find just as many new questions as they do answers. Will Kole and Hazel be able to work together to solve these murders or will their feeling re-surface? These murders seem to be connected to the Forge Bridge but what is the connection?!?

Hannah Morrissey does a great job with her writing, and making you feel like you're there with the characters, walking with them, in the car at the crime scene. She really sets the scene.

This is the 4th book in the Black Harbor series

Publication Date March 24, 2024

Thank you to NetGalley, Hannah Morrissey, St Martin's Press for this ARC

This book was just okay to me. It was a bit unrealistic, and there was a lot of uncomfortable feelings towards the ex. Like if the main character had truly moved on, the ex would not be spoken of in the ways that she did, even indirectly. I think the mystery was lacking and was predictabl;e


Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

It seems like forever since I read The Transcriber, (it was well worth the wait!) and I can’t overemphasize how ecstatic I was for Hazel to be back in Black Harbor. Not that I want to visit there anytime soon with the miserable weather and a community losing the war in drugs. The author sets the stage with a gritty location and a plot you can’t wait to unravel. Hazel ran to NY years ago, leaving a controlling, abusive husband in her past. Now he’s dead and her need to know why clouds her judgement. She made her own mistakes when she sought solace with Sergeant Nikolai Kole, so she left. Hazel pursued her writing career and penned a successful novel loosely based on Black Harbor. Her return will dredge up everything she’s put in the past. Not everyone is happy about her coming back now. Kole is just another damaged soul trying to keep his small place in the world safe. He’s never dealt with the loss of his brother. He’s fighting an ever growing battle with gangs, criminals and deadly drugs. He has a good team of Investigators but it’s small compared to the network of drugs infiltrating Black Harbor. He’s bitter about how Hazel so abruptly ran away. Now they’ll come face to face over a murder. Can they find their way back to trusting each other? Or will Hazel become another statistic being nosy and disregarding the dangerous forces behind the chaos. I’ve read all of the series but you could read as a standalone. I hope the author has much more in store for Hazel and Kole in the future.
Minotaur Books, St. Martin’s Publishing (via NetGalley) provided an Advance Reader Copy of “The Unlucky Ones” (Black Harbor #4) by Hannah Morrissey, publication expected 03/25/2025. These are my honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Hannah Morrissey’s “The Unlucky Ones” is a masterful addition to the wonderful Black Harbor series, each entry to this series left me wanting more!

This novel is a testament to Morrissey’s talent for crafting intricate plots and deeply flawed, yet compelling characters.

Set in the hauntingly vivid town of Black Harbor, the story follows Detective Hazel Greenlee as she navigates a labyrinth of secrets and lies to solve a chilling murder case. The victim, a local artist with a troubled past, is found dead under mysterious circumstances, and Hazel must untangle a web of deceit that implicates some of the town’s most prominent figures.

Morrissey’s writing is evocative and immersive, painting a dark and moody picture of Black Harbor that feels almost like a character in its own right. The town’s eerie atmosphere and the palpable tension add layers of suspense that keep readers hooked. The pacing is expertly managed, with twists and turns that are both surprising and satisfying.

One of the standout features of “The Unlucky Ones” is its character development. Hazel Greenlee is a complex and relatable protagonist, struggling with her own demons while determined to uncover the truth. Her interactions with other characters, including her enigmatic partner and the various suspects, are rich with tension and nuance. Morrissey excels at creating multi-dimensional characters whose motivations and actions are believable and compelling.

The novel also delves into themes of guilt, redemption, and the impact of past traumas, adding emotional depth to the thrilling plot. Morrissey’s exploration of these themes is thoughtful and poignant, making “The Unlucky Ones” MUCH more than an average crime thriller.

For those who enjoy audiobooks, the narration of “The Unlucky Ones” is exceptional, bringing the characters and the eerie setting of Black Harbor to life. The narrator’s performance enhances the suspense and emotional intensity of the story, making it an immersive experience.

“The Unlucky Ones” showcases Hannah Morrissey’s skill in weaving together a compelling narrative with rich character development and a hauntingly atmospheric setting.

This novel is a must-read for fans of the genre and anyone looking for a story that is both thrilling and deeply human. Five stars for a brilliantly crafted and unforgettable read.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!

WOW!!! What a great book!! This one had me hooked from page 1! This was a first for me from this author and I will not be my last? I am a huge fan of thrillers!! This one was a win for me!

It’s so thrilling and I could not put it down!

This is the 4th book in the Black Harbor series. I think my favorite will always be the first one. I loved meeting Hazel for the first time and I just love how she thinks. I was so excited to read more about her in this one.

Hannah Morrissey writes stories so beautifully and detailed. I feel like I’m there walking with the characters. I’m in the car with them. I’m at the crime scene with them. I see everything.

Hannah Morrissey does it again! Not only does she bring the dark and gritty Black Harbor, but also the star-crossed lovers Hazel and Kole back to life in her fourth Black Harbor (BH) novel, "The Unlucky Ones". She continues their story a couple of years down the line after Hazel's ex-husband is found murdered.

One of my favorite things that Morrissey does is create a scene so vivid that it feels that you as the reader are a part of the story (which is terrifying because Black Harbor is not somewhere you want to be!), she uses very colorful figurative language that helps set the mood which can be comical at times and highly serious at others. I feel in terms of detailed graphic content this one is comparable to the third BH novel, "When I'm Dead", so readers be warned. However, that is to be expected when reading a Black Harbor novel as it does dive into this dark city that is honestly comparable to Gotham City. Morrissey does a really good job of creating her subgenre, which she titles, Midwestern Noir, with this book just another example of this.

I felt that reading the first three novels is not 100% necessary because Morrissey is good at adding quick little "peek-a-boo" summaries/characters from past BH stories. However, if you want to truly understand the angst of the relationship between our two main characters then the first novel is A MUST. The story did not feel predictable at all, I made multiple guesses throughout and oftentimes was proved wrong!! This story was full of a lot of plot twists, but it was more reminiscent of the first BH novel, "Hello Transcriber" as it is a thriller with romance mixed in.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC!

The Unlucky Ones is the latest in the series of the Black Harbour; This time the team is faced with the death of Tommy GreenLee who is the ex-husband of head detective Nikolai ex girlfriend Hazel. Tommy's death happens in the cave which is run by one of the local drug lords. Nikolai and his team begin the search for who killed Tommy and why his ex Hazel is back in town after fleeing years ago. Its a great addition to the series. I really enjoy it and the characters.

I love how Hannah Morrissey makes Black Harbor its own character in these books. There’s something for foreboding about the town. I really enjoyed reading about Kole and Hazel again. Love these books!

At heart, The Unlucky Ones is a police procedural - one of my favourite sub-genres. This mystery is very well written, with excellent pacing and well-drawn-out characters. This is the fourth in the Black Harbor Series and I found that it referred back to previous books often, so I recommend reading the first novels before diving into this installment.

It's definitely not against the author, but omg I forgot what I was in for with Black Harbor. Now, to be fair I still haven't got to the first two books in the series like I meant to, but I stand by the author doing us good with making sure we aren't scratching our heads wondering what's going. I have read the one previous to this so I knew about what to expect. But this town is just so...bleak. I definitely need a palate cleanse after this...something happy.

This one is Hannah's best yet! I devoured this one in two sittings and the return of Hazel and her reunion with Nik was everything I wanted. Once again, she perfectly depicts Black Harbor as its own character and the hot heat of the town in Summer added to that.

the black harbor series has got to be the bleakest series i've ever read, although that's not to say i don't like it. who doesn't enjoy wallowing in utter squalor sometimes?

the author's writing is evocative without sacrificing the pacing too much although, of all the books in the series, this one does read a bit slower. perhaps it's due to the fact that it revisits the 2 main characters from the first book in the series which i also felt was a bit slow.

My mistake was I didn’t realize this was part of a series. While it was ok to read as a standalone, I think I would have enjoyed it more if I knew the backstory, because it was alluded to quite a bit. But two people who clearly have a history are thrown back together after a murder. They both are motivated to find answers in their crime-ridden town.

This was a wonderful cop drama/mystery. I couldn't put it down and was consumed by the story!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!