The Unlucky Ones by Hannah Morrissey
Pub Date: 3/25/25
Format: ebook
Rating: 4 Stars!

And back to Black Harbor we go! There is something about these characters and this setting that sucks me in right away. A gritty crime ridden town, an intriguing hierarchy of criminals, and a little romance side plot? Don't mind if I do!

I read the first Black Harbor book before reading The Unlucky Ones (I skipped 2 and 3 due to lack of time but will definitely go back) and I am so glad I did! There is a lot of backstory and lore in book one that makes this book pack a much heavier punch. I was so excited to see where Hazel and Kole were eight years later as we race alongside the task force to see what led to Hazel's ex husband's demise.

As with the first book, there are a lot of wild characters and a lot of tension. There are moments where I wanted to shake Hazel to have some common sense and was afraid, as Kole says, she was going to play a stupid game and win a stupid prize. I probably should have seen the big twist coming but Morrissey kept me so distracted I actually was shocked.

The ending of this book did feel a bit rushed and with it sitting at just around 300 pages, I feel like we could have had a bit of a more cohesive ending. However, I still had a ton of fun with this thriller and will definitely continue with the series.

Big thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the advanced ebook in exchange for my honest opinion!

It is taking everything in me to finish this book. The writing is good. It’s just endlessly long and kind of drab. Maybe someday I will reread it and like it more but at this point I will not continue the series. Nothing wrong with the writing. I just could care less about anything that happens. I think it’s more of a me problem than a situation with the author.

It is a detective novel about murder and solving it. Someday I will reread this and probably enjoy it.

This is, by far, my favorite book in this series!
We see the reemergence of Hazel and Kole as they team up to try to solve the murder of Hazel’s ex husband. Honestly, I loved how rocky their dynamic was from the get go. With the amount of time that passed it would have been unbelievable if they immediately picked up where they left off, no matter what they still felt for each other.
There was so much mystery and intrigue throughout the book that I could not put it down and absolutely flew through it! It honestly felt like I was reading a few episodes of Mayor of Kingstown but told from the PDs perspective of things and I love that.

This is the fourth book in the Black Harbor series. However, you can still read and enjoy this story even without having read the other books.

This story starts with a murder. The victim is found partially wrapped in garbage bags, with several gunshot wounds and bleach splashed all over. Things would be somewhat unremarkable but their victim is Tommy Greenlee, who is Hazel's ex-husband. He wasn't winning any awards for being a great guy so there are several avenues to look at.

One thing I loved about this book was the more technical and procedural aspects of this story. If you are someone who enjoys shows like CSI or Criminal Minds, I could see you enjoying this story. There is a certain grit that the author conveys so convincingly that I felt like I was in Black Harbor along with the characters.

I would highly recommend this book. The story grabbed my attention and didn't let go once. It was dark, tense, and riveting from start to finish.

It was great to be Black Harbor and to see Hazel and Kole reconnect 8 years later from Hello, Transcriber. Black Harbor continues to be a big focal point in the story and it's still dark and gritty.

Hazel returns when her ex husband is found dead. Kole is investigating the murder and there's lots of mystery with his dead that brings up other deaths.

I enjoyed the pacing of the story and seeing Hazel and Kole's attraction reignite.

Though you can read this as a standalone, I do recommend at least reading Hello, Transcriber to give you backstory on both of the characters as well as the town.

Angela Dawe and Robb Moreira did a great job with the narration and bringing in the darkness of the town.

Thank you @minotaur_books @macmillan.audio for a copy of this thriller.

The Unlucky Ones by Hannah Morrissey is my second read by this author and my second in the Black Harbor series, I did not start at the beginning. I do believe these books can each be read as a standalone, though they all focus on the same investigator and are set in the same town.

I just could not get into this one for some reason. I felt that it lagged a bit. That being said, I think this book is a good read for people who enjoy police procedurals and darker crime stories or books by Julia Heaberlin.

The Unlucky Ones by Hannah Morrissey is a suspenseful crime thriller that offers a glimpse into a dark, mysterious world filled with flawed characters and morally ambiguous decisions. Set in a gritty urban environment, the story follows a detective investigating a series of disturbing events, all while battling personal demons.

Morrissey’s writing is atmospheric, capturing the grim tone of the narrative and creating a palpable sense of tension. The plot is engaging, with a steady pace that keeps the reader interested, though at times it can feel somewhat predictable, lacking some of the unexpected twists that make a thriller truly stand out. The character development is solid, but some of the secondary characters feel underdeveloped, which can make it harder to fully connect with everyone in the story.

Overall, The Unlucky Ones is an enjoyable read for fans of the genre, offering a decent mix of mystery and drama. While it might not be groundbreaking, it’s a solid book that delivers on suspense and atmosphere, earning an average 3.5-star rating.

Dark and complex crime thriller.

This is the 4th and probably last in the series set in Black Harbor, a small crime-ridden town on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Hazel Greenlee returns to Black Harbor after her ex husband, Tommy, is killed inside the Mineshaft, a club/bar full of big and small time criminals. Hazel used to work as a transcriber for the local police and that's how she met and fell in love with Sergeant Nikolai Kole of the Black Harbor Police Department. She escaped the town and all the bad memories, became a successful author and was living in New York. Her return changes everything. She's dropped right in during the investigation and insinuates herself back into Nik's life. Murder. Drugs. Gangs. Money. Things go on one way in this town and that is from bad to worse.

I don't know why, but I just didn't get all that involved with this book in the series. Maybe I was tired of Hazel who just seemed like such a wrong choice as a love interest for Nik. She does one stupid thing after another and I don't see her appeal as I didn't care for her character in previous books and even less in this one. Nik was interesting and had a lot of depth considering all that has happened to him. The plot was centered on stolen drugs and the kill or be killed attitude of all the bad actors. Some of the descriptions of torture and murder were quite gory. Some of the things that happened stretched credulity, especially with regard to Hades. The nasty people were very nasty indeed. It was all just quite dismal and depressing to me. I think it ended on the appropriate note so I can say goodbye and close the book on these characters and this place.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book, both provided by the publishers. I enjoyed the voices of both narrators who brought the characters to life and gave the production a good dramatic flair to enhance my enjoyment of the book.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and Netgalley for this ARC. Unfortunately this wasn’t for me. I don’t generally like this type of detective novel writing style, and I ended up DNFing a couple chapters in.

Another dark and creepy story by Hannah Morrissey! Wow what a roller coaster ride. Filled with tension and grit with fabulous characters. Murder, drugs and general mayhem kept me flipping pages long into the night. Disturbing in so many ways.
Thank you NetGalley, Hannah Morrissey and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I’m delighted that the author decided to bring Hazel back to Black Harbor. The chemistry between her and Kole is undeniable. However, the plot fell short of my expectations. It began promisingly but gradually lost its momentum around the halfway point. I suggest reading the first book in the series before delving into this one. While the overall series is not bad, this latest installment didn’t resonate with me personally.

This review is entirely voluntary and reflects my personal opinions.

Really enjoyed this one! I hadn’t read the first books in this series, and I found it easy to keep up with the story line. Just dark enough for my taste 🙌🏼

It kept me on edge throughout, and a lot of twists at the end!

I really loved being back with Kole & Hazel for this installment of the Black Harbor series, but boy does Hazel ever drive me nuts. Her constant jumping to conclusions made it really hard for me to root for her in this one. I’m all about an underdog with a grungy backstory, but she’s a little too I’m-a-victim-and-I’ll-always-be-one to make me believe Kole would really be so in love with her. Dude’s definitely got a damsel in distress complex.
Overall, though, this mystery was good. Lots of drug lingo and gang member names and Dirty Harriett genuinely grossed me out. As per usual, Morrissey paints a dark and twisty picture of this crime-infested town and its grungy characters. All 4 books are tied in nicely with this one, making it feel like a truly excellent edition to the set.
If you’re a fan of this series, you’ll love The Unlucky Ones.
4.5 rounded up because I love how it all tied together.

I have never read any of the previous Black Harbor novels, so I went in with no knowledge of any character's background. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, and I now plan to go back and read the first 3 books in the series.

Hazel comes back to town after her ex-husband is murdered. She needed some sense of closure, but I'm not sure she received it at first. She runs into Nik, her former lover, and discovers there is a lot of unresolved feelings there. He also views her as a suspect. Nik is all Black Harbor, even though it appears to weigh him down mentally. He will never leave the crime-ridden city.

So good! Quick read. Characters are well-rounded, and I need to know more. Clearly can be read as a standalone and not feel lost-- yes, I lacked some history on Nik and Hazel, but not enough I could appreciate the current story.

The Unlucky Ones by Hannah Morrissey is a captivating blend of suspense and mystery. The characters are deeply flawed, making them all the more intriguing as their hidden pasts unravel. With unexpected twists and a relentless pace, The Unlucky Ones is a thrilling read for fans of suspenseful crime fiction.

As you all know, I absolutely love Hannah Morrissey, and absolutely love the Black Harbor series! This was one of my most anticipated reads and it did not disappoint! Then again, Hannah NEVER does🧡

Police transcriber Hazel Greenlee left Black Harbor eight years ago and has a new life in Brooklyn as an author. She thought she had left the crime-ridden city behind her, but when she finds out her ex, Tommy, is dead, she is drawn back to find out who killed him. His body was found in a clubhouse, left in a garbage bag with multiple gunshot wounds and doused in bleach. The lead investigator on the case is none other than her former lover, Nikolai Kole. He and his team are trying to get to the bottom of the murder, but after they find out Hazel is back in town, things really start to heat up. It seems that someone is trying to target her as well. Can Kole find the killer and keep Hazel safe? Will the old flame be ignited again?

I loved everything about this book, especially the fact that Hazel and Kole were back. I loved that there were references to *The Widowmaker* (my very favorite) and that Ryan Hudson even had a small part! This book was a total page-turner! It was dark, gritty, atmospheric, and suspenseful—everything I look for in a thriller! The writing is absolutely amazing, and I was completely lost in the story! It was incredibly entertaining, and I didn't want to put it down! In fact, I read it on my seven-hour flight to London! Black Harbor itself is a character, and to experience it in the summer was quite interesting. I absolutely love being in Black Harbor and cannot wait to return! If you're looking for the perfect crime thriller, look no further, this is it! I HIGHLY recommend this book!

The Unlucky Ones is my favorite book to date in the Black Harbor series! It had all of that dark, atmospheric energy that I loved in the previous books. But, what really elevated it for me was the return of so many characters from previous books! It felt like a reunion of sorts and I was living for it!

I remember loving Hazel in Hello, Transcriber and I was so excited to see her return in this book. I won’t lie, I was also interested to see what happened when she reunited with Nik after all this time apart 👀👀. Would the chemistry still be there? Was that chapter fully closed?! You’ll have to read it to find out for yourself though because I’m not spilling any secrets 🤣.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this e-ARC.

Read if you like:

✨Police procedurals
✨Former lovers with unfinished business
✨Small town crime

Hannah Morrissey delivers another atmospheric thriller with The Unlucky Ones, plunging readers back into the haunting streets of Black Harbor. The tension is razor-sharp as Hazel and Kole navigate a murder that’s as personal as it is chilling. The city itself feels like a living, breathing character—grimy, dangerous, and unrelenting. Morrissey’s writing is immersive, laced with noir-style grit and complex emotions. While the pacing slows at times, the mystery keeps you hooked, and the chemistry between Hazel and Kole crackles with unresolved tension. A gripping, moody read that crime fiction fans will devour.

Thank you Hannah Morrissey, Macmillan Audio, St. Martins Press, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

Book 4 in the Black Harbour series was a wild, twisty, dark journey! This series is so atmospheric. I can picture everything so vividly in this town. Very Gotham.
Hazel and Kole, just 🥹
This is a must trad thriller series. The Unlucky Ones, was fast paced and kept me guessing.

Thank you so much Netgalley, Hannah Morrissey and St Martin's press for the advanced copy in exchange for a fair and honest review!

3.5 ⭐️ This was a detailed police procedural that I enjoyed overall. The characters were well-developed, and the writing made it an easy read. The story primarily revolves around the drug underworld in a small town, but I felt it was lacking in thrill and excitement. Despite this, the writing was so strong that it kept me engaged throughout. While this can be read as a standalone, it’s the fourth book in a series, and I think reading the previous three might have made this one even more enjoyable.