I remember how impressed I was with Hello Transcriber - the first book in Morrissey's Black Harbor series.

In the first book of this series, young Hazel was unconsciously marking time, waiting to grow into herself as a woman. Tommy Greenlee , her abusive husband, had all but broken her spirit.

It took the catalyst in the form of Nik Kole to shatter the glass encasing Hazel, freeing her to become the woman we finally meet in The Unlucky Ones.

Eight years later, Tommy Greenlee is viciously murdered. Hazel returns from her self-imposed exile in New York on the pretext of needing to find out who had put five bullets into her ex-husband's body. But, really, who was she kidding?

Hazel may have walked away from Nik Kole over eight years ago, but never for a moment, she admitted to herself, was he completely out of her mind or her life.

Ironically, these two star-crossed lovers may not be destined to live another day if the crime bosses who rule Black Harbor have anything to do with it.

The atmosphere of this final (?) installment in the Black Harbor series was dark and foreboding. You could almost see that action-packed, nail-biter ending coming!

This was a highly enjoyable, dark - not to say gloomy - read. Five out of 5 stars for this well-written, slow-paced - that is, until the very end! - novel. My thanks to the author, Hannah Morrissey, her publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

In her fourth installment of the Black Harbor series, Hannah Morrissey delivers a masterful blend of gripping atmosphere, multi-dimensional characters, and a twist-filled, fast-paced plot that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Hazel, the police transcriber introduced in Hello, Transcriber, returns to Black Harbor to investigate the mysterious death of her ex-husband. Her motivations are layered and complex—her unresolved ties to a past abuser still haunt her, yet there’s also the allure of new material for her writing career. And, perhaps most complicated of all, is the pull of Sergeant Nikolai Kole, her former lover.

The Unlucky Ones is a heart-racing thrill ride that’s impeccably paced, keeping readers up late into the night, eager to turn the next page. The conclusion is both unexpected and deeply satisfying, leaving a lasting impact. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a suspenseful, emotional, and thoroughly engaging mystery.

I have never read a book by this author before or any books in this series, but I was quickly sucked into this book. It makes me want to go back and read the other books in this series as well.

In her fourth installment to the Black Harbor series, Hannah Morrissey delivers all the supercharged atmosphere, complex characters and twisty, propulsive plot her readers have come to expect and more. Hazel, the police transcriber from the first installment HELLO, TRANSCRIBER, returns to Black Harbor to find out who killed her ex-husband. Her reasons for returning are complex, her connection to her abuser difficult to completely sever, but, perhaps more complicated is the potential for more material for her writing career. Or maybe she returned because of Sergeant Nikolai Kole, her former lover.

THE UNLUCKY ONES is an immersive, edge of your seat thrill ride, expertly paced and plotted to keep you up late, turning those pages. The ending is both surprising and satisfying. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to St. Martin's Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

DNF at 15%

The writing in this book just really didn't connect with me, and I found that I ultimately did not care about what was happening with the murder. I think unfortunately Hannah Morrissey and her writing might not be for me!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I don't think this author can do any wrong. Every single book by her gets better and better, and this one isn't any different. It left you wanting to not put it down.

Unfortunately I'm not the target audience for this book. I'm more of a romance reader and this was a bit too much for me.

This is the perfect, bittersweet farewell to a city I will inevitably be pulled back to revisit. I loved this. 100% recommend.,

Hannah Morrissey's new Black Harbor novel hits like a shot of whiskey - smooth going down, but burns afterward. It's a story about coming home, except home is a powder keg waiting to explode.

Black Harbor is cooking - both in temperature and crime. A nasty new drug is ripping through the streets, and into this mess walks a police transcriber-turned-novelist, investigating her ex-husband's murder. Bad timing? Maybe. Or maybe it's exactly the right time to uncover the rot beneath the city's surface.

Morrissey writes like she's painting with shadows. Each sentence adds another layer of darkness, another secret waiting to be uncovered. The city itself becomes a character - dangerous, seductive, and impossible to trust. Her characters aren't heroes or villains; they're people carrying their own demons, fighting their own addictions, running from pasts that refuse to stay buried.

You don't need to read the earlier Black Harbor books to dive into this one, but fair warning: this isn't your cozy mystery with tea and crumpets. It's raw, gritty, and pulls no punches. The ending? Let's just say you won't see it coming, but once it hits, you'll realize the clues were there all along, hiding in plain sight.

For readers who like their crime fiction with a side of brass knuckles, The Unlucky Ones delivers. It's the kind of book that reminds you why murder mysteries aren't just about finding the killer - sometimes they're about finding yourself in the darkness.

the underlying plot behind black harbor is corruption and greed - and this one is no exception! surrounding drug cartels and a power struggle in the underworld, investigator kole and hazel must team up again after 8 years to solve the latest whodunnit 🙄

and they are STILL pining after each other, despite the toxic hot mess they got into in HELLO TRANSCRIBER… like you didn’t learn the first time? jesus christ

I think the stories with a focus on the drug underworld don’t really hit right for me 🥴 and I do think it’s because they’re fairly straight forward and only convoluted when the reader is figuring out who belongs to which gang… I wanted more mystery behind it all!!!!

I did love seeing the whole gang together again though, and I do hope hannah morrisey continues this series (with less focus on hades and buddha pls)

thank you to netgalley and minotaur books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

rating: 3 stars
wine pairing: primitivo zinfandel

This is the second Hannah Morrisey book I've read and also the second I've read in the Black Harbor series.
I do like the background this book gives into the underworld of Black Harbor, although so many characters can get confusing at times.
And of course, the two main characters are just made for each other, even if it takes them a while to realize it.
Can't wait for the next Black Harbor book. Now to read 1 and 2 from this series.

I love Hannah Morrissey's writing. Hello, Transcriber hooked me from the first couple of sentences. I don't care if I was reading a recipe by her, she would find a way to make it interesting. Her books are like American Nordic Noir. Excellent character developments and well-paced plots. As with all series books, I find them to get a bit repetitive, but Morrissey manages to inject new and interesting elements into her books that make them unique and not feel so serial. The Unlucky Ones is dark and gritty, and does not disappoint, I always find myself rooting for Hazel.

Every book in this series has been an atmospheric, edge of your seat read.

This is an auto-buy author for me, her books read like I am on the set of an action packed TV Crime Drama. From start to finish she pulls me into the story and I feel like I am working right alongside the lead characters to solve the Mystery. Her writing style is really immersive and engaging.

As long as this series continues I'll definitely be reading and recommending it!

Thank you Hannah Morrissey, Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book!

"The Unlucky Ones" by Hannah Morrissey is a gripping thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The plot is intriguing, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making it easy to get invested in their stories. However, I found the pacing to be a bit uneven at times, with some parts dragging on while others felt rushed. Additionally, the ending, while surprising, felt a bit abrupt and left some loose ends. Overall, it's a solid read for fans of the genre, but it could have been more polished in its execution.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC!

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this read. This was my first experience with Hannah’s work, and even though I haven't explored any of the previous books in the series, I didn't feel like I was missing anything. For me, it stood out as a strong standalone novel. The murder mystery was well-crafted, and I appreciated the multiple connections leading to the conclusion, which made the story more engaging and captivating. It kept me curious about the final outcome. My only minor issue was that it felt a bit repetitive at times, often reiterating details from earlier chapters. However, given that it was framed as an ongoing investigation, it still made sense within the narrative.

I look forward to reading more from this author!

💥 Pub Date: 3/25/2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

• thriller x police procedural
• moody atmosphere
• gritty, rough characters

The common thread throughout this series is raw characters in gruesome storylines. I did like how we are typically in Black Harbor in the dead of winter, but The Unlucky Ones takes us to a sweltering 4th of July. These books are well-written and captivating. This is book four in the series, so be sure to start with Hello, Transcriber!

🗣 Thank you to netgalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review this book via gifted eARC! All opinions are honest and my own.

Overall I enjoyed this read. This was my first read of Hannah and even though I havent read any of the prior books in this series, I did not feel like I was missing out on anything. For me, this read was a great stand-alone. I thought the murder mystery aspect was well done and I liked that there were multiple connections to the final end. it made the story more interesting and captivating for me as a reader, it kept me engaged and wondering what the final result would be. I liked the characters and the midwest background, as a WI resident myself, reading a book by a local author was great. I think my only qualm with this was that it felt repetitive at times, often recapping the same things from a prior chapter. However, because it was served as an ongoing investigation in the story, it did work.

I look forward to reading other books from this author!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Reluctant Detective
Romantic Subplot
Kingpin Drug Operation

Hannah Morrissey's "The Unlucky Ones" is a really good crime thriller, all about family drama and drug dealing, and my rating is more based on my preference than the book itself. It drags a bit sometimes, but the characters and story are pretty great. The ending left me wanting more, but it's a solid read for anyone who likes crime thrillers!!

3.5 stars, rounded down
The Unlucky Ones is the fourth in the Black Harbor series and the two main characters from the first book (Hello, Transcriber) return front and center. Tommy Greenlee is found dead from multiple gunshots in an after hours club. The murder investigation falls to Nik Kole. Nik has the distinction of having had an affair with Greenlee’s now ex-wife. Hazel, who moved away, returns to Black Harbor, determined to find out what happened to her ex. Kole and Hazel are again drawn to each other, but there’s a big lack of trust on both sides.
Morrissey has once again crafted a dark, enigmatic story. There are multiple horrific scenes. Her writing is atmospheric and paints a complete picture of this town on the verge of igniting. “This is Black Harbor. Things only trend one way. Down. Unless you’re talking about violent crime, then that’s definitely up.” The characters are fully drawn and contrasting POVs keep the storyline moving forward at a brisk pace. Towards the end, there is one totally improbable plot device which soured me somewhat on the story. There is also the obligatory main character doing a really stupid thing.
I think this would work best if you’ve read Hello, Transcriber but you don’t need to have read books two and three.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

Hello Transcriber was my least favorite of the Black Harbor books, it was fine but Books 2 and 3 were excellent. This one is pretty good too -- it T takes you back to Hazel and Kole from the first book, pulls in some of the threads from books 2 and 3 and really continues to build up the character of Black Harbor as well. Definitely not a place I'd like to live!