Thank you to Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for the copies to review.

Unlike Hazel, I was more than happy to be back in Black Harbor again, as this is one of my most favorite series. In fact, I think this might be the best book yet. Hazel has left Black Harbor for good, which no one does, but then her ex-husband is murdered, which means she returns once again to help solve who was behind it. This was excellent, the audio is narrated by the fabulous Angela Dawe and Robb Moreira, and I listened to it in a day just devouring this one. I love this series, the setting, the characters and the plot, basically everything, and if you haven’t read this yet then you really should fix that now.

The Unlucky Ones by Hannah Morrissey is the fourth installment in the Black Harbor series. While each of the books could be read on their own, I'd definitely recommend reading the first book, Hello Transcriber, before reading The Unlucky Ones. It adds much more depth to both the characters and the overall plot.

When Hazel's ex-husband, Tommy Greenlee, is found murdered—his body wrapped in garbage bags and doused in bleach—she's drawn back to Black Harbor after eight years away.

Reuniting with Sergeant Nikolai Kole, her former lover now leading the investigation, they confront a city where violent crime and a new drug epidemic have reached alarming heights.

As they delve deeper, Hazel and Kole uncover a web of corruption and deceit, forcing them to question their own past decisions and the true nature of those around them.

I was fortunate to both read and listen to this and really enjoy the differences the formats provide book enthusiasts. The narrator did a wonderful job bringing the characters, tone, and setting to life!

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Hannah Morrissey for the opportunity to listen to this ahead of its proposed release date of March 25, 2025.

ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏʙᴏᴏᴋ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ || THE UNLUCKY ONES [thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for my #gifted digital and audio copies!]

Title: The Unlucky Ones
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Format: audio + digital
Star Rating: ★★★★☆
Narrator: Angela Dawe + Robb Moreira
Narration: ★★★★☆

ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ:
As Black Harbor’s crime rate and temperatures hit record highs, Sergeant Nikolai Kole responds to a brutal murder—only to find the victim is Tommy Greenlee, the ex-husband of his former lover, Hazel.

Drawn back to the city after eight years, Hazel is determined to uncover who killed Tommy and why. Forced into an uneasy truce, she and Kole dig into Black Harbor’s darkest secrets. But as they get closer to the truth—and each other—they risk being consumed by the city’s violence and their own haunting past.

ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:
This was an EXCELLENT return to Black Harbor, if I do say so myself. And I’m just saying that because the romance reader in me NEEDED a better conclusion for Kole and Hazel’s love story. 😂

I really enjoyed the cast of characters in this one (both old - which there were a lot - and new) and all of the callbacks to HELLO, TRANSCRIBER.

The crime in this one took a lot of turns and took a bit of brain power to keep up, but I really enjoyed watching all of the puzzle pieces line up (while Kole & Hazel also lined up, if you catch my drift).

I would recommend this one if you’ve visited Black Harbor before & are itching for more dark, gritty crimes!

🎧: While I am deeply grateful to my bookclub for warning me about the gruesome details in the beginning of this novel so I didn’t listen to the first half of the book (I watch a lot of crime TV shows, but I don’t think I could have handled listening to the discovery of Tommy’s body), the audiobook was very well done! I loved that it was dual narration and being able to listen into each MCs head. Highly recommend if you are like me and prefer your thriller in audiobook form!

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
Dark Crime
Police Procedurals
Small Town Stories
Unlikely Romance
Constant Twists & Turns

ᴅᴇᴛᴀɪʟꜱ:
GR: 4.08
# of Pages/Hours: 304 / 09:39
Pub Date: March 25, 2025

I listened to the audiobook of this one and I enjoyed the narrators a lot. They did a good job making each main character come to life. The story itself was good, but it didn’t grip me. I realize that with all that is going on in the world I may be having a more difficult time than normal to sink into fictional worlds so this might be more me than this book. Hazel hears the news that her ex-husband is dead and it draws her back to the town she thought she would never return to. But Black Harbor hasn’t changed and it is the same cesspool of crime. As Hazel tries to figure out what happened she runs into a man she thought she had left behind when she scrambled to leave Black Harbor. The story was decent although I wasn’t super into the romance. Overall I gave this one 3.5 stars. I would give another one in this series a try, the writing was good and the characters were interesting.

As a Milwaukee-area native, I always enjoy revisiting Hannah Morrissey's Black Harbor series. The Unlucky Ones is the fourth installment in the series and revisits the main characters from the first book, Hello, Transcriber.

📖: After her ex-husband is found murdered, Hazel returns to Black Harbor for the first time in eight years to find out what happened. Who was out to get her ex, Tommy, and are there signs pointing to Hazel? One of the main investigators is her former flame, Nikolai Kole.

🤝: This may be a good fit if you enjoy:
- a little romance in your mysteries
- dark, gritty settings and characters
- Mayor of Kingstown vibes (series starring Jeremy Renner)

💭: This is the first Black Harbor book that takes place in the thick Wisconsin summer, and the suffocating air was like it's own character. It's amazing how the town evolved through this shift. (Not in a good way!) As usual, Morrissey's writing was immersive and uniquely unsettling.

I really enjoyed the dynamics between Hazel and Kole in Hello, Transcriber, so knowing the characters would be back in The Unlucky Ones made me so happy! Do I wish there was a little more romance? YES, but there was a lot of stuff happening to distract them with all of the murder, drugs, and sketchy suspects.

While the other BH books are considered standalones, I think having the background of the first three books was helpful in this one, especially when it came to Kole and Hazel. Had I only read The Unlucky Ones, I don't feel like I would have known them well enough to care about their relationship. It focused more on the murder and larger problems concerning Black Harbor.

🎧: I started this one with my physical copy, and I loved the short chapters with cliffhanger endings. I transitioned to the audio and thought the narrators were solid.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the early copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Pub Day: 3/25

2.5/5 Overall
4/5 Narration

Based on the synopsis, I thought this book would be right up my alley. But not only is it not up my alley, it’s not on my street, my block—shoot, this might even be in a different state. If you’re someone who enjoys a police procedural with a mix of second-chance romance, this might work for you. Or if you’re into drug bust, grimy city stories, this could also be your thing. For me, I appreciated that the book had dark elements and leaned into being atmospheric, really setting the tone for a city no one would want to live in. But I just couldn’t connect with the story or the characters.

Now, the narration for this audiobook was great. They did a solid job delivering the story, differentiating voices, and bringing the characters to life in a way that I don’t think just reading the book would have done. That being said, I was still very bored. I even did an immersive read with a physical copy alongside the audiobook, but it didn’t help. This will definitely be a book I regift to a friend at a later time.

While I found it boring, I’m sure there are people who will really enjoy it. I saw a lot of reviews mentioning that this book could be read as a standalone, but I personally don’t think it’s strong enough for that. I think readers will enjoy it more if they’ve read the previous books because there’s a lot of history between the characters that, as a standalone reader, I missed the opportunity to connect with.

She'ssss backkkkkk!!! Hazel is back. The Unlucky Ones is book four in the Hello Transcriber Series written by Hannah Morrissey. Hazel is one that was able to leave - she has been living her life in Brooklyn, New York. However she is alerted that her Ex-Husband Tommy Greenlee has been murdered, Hazel is drawn back to the crime ridden town of Black Harbor. Hazel realizes that nothing has changed. It's still ruled by criminals. Kole has not forgotten Hazel. The bracelet that Kole had fished out from the water when Hazel was throwing her personal effects, hangs from his rearview mirror. So toxic to each other, but like opposites ends of a magnet they gravitate to each other.

I love how this book switches back and forth between Hazel and Kole. Hazel tells her portion through first person, and Kole through second person. The stories are woven together flawlessly. Hazel has grown a lot since the first book, But one thing she does not lack is her investigation skills. It becomes clear that whoever took out Tommy, is going to go after Hazel. Kole refuses to let her out of his site. His only choice is to let her assist in the investigation.

The author has thrown in so many twists and turns. Seeing Kole and Hazel back together and all of their demons was a familiar site.
I discovered this author through a podcast when the first story released in 2021. I quickly realized that the authors has a way of drawing you in and taking you on an emotional journey. I devoured this whole book in less then a day. I was determined to find out who had killed Tommy.

One place that I will never visit in person.... Black Harbor. Although, I will read about it all day long.
Special Thanks to the author and publisher for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.

2.5 rounded up to 3. I really enjoyed the tension that lingered between Kole and Hazel. I enjoyed the dual POV as their experiences were drastically different and it was nice to hear things from each MC. I felt like the story with Tommy was really drug out and didn't match the fast pace/intensity of the previous Black Harbor book. Overall, it was just an okay read!

Wow!! This one had my head spinning!
AND, each time I thought I had it all figured out, I was completely wrong!!!! 😮

Kole is a detective in the crime unit in Black Harbor, Wisconsin. Apparently it's a small town (total of 4 detectives) with a huge drug and crime problem...
And, since a man was just discovered, shot multiple times and doused in bleach... it's not stopping any time soon. But, it gets worse, once he finds out just who the victim is...

Hazel is a young woman who used to live in Black Harbor. At the time she was a Police Transcriber...but that was a long time ago...... and, she's one of the only ones who was ever able to leave! She had a bad marriage, and her husband was cruel...but she escaped and made a life for herself in NY. Now, many years later, she is drawn back there...

People are being murdered, and there's a type of a 'calling card' being left with the bodies...
As the Police, and Hazel investigate exactly what is going on, more and more problems/deaths occur... and, if you are like me, you will be shocked.... over and over again!

Drugs. Horrific Murders. Confidential Informants. Rats. Traitors.... and more!

#TheUnluckyOnes (Black Harbor #4) by #HannahMorrissey and narrated nicely by #AngelaDawe and #RobbMoreira.

4 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 for me, happily rounded up to 5!

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.
** Release date is March 25, 2025 so look 👀 for it on shelves next week !! **

You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine

Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️

Hannah Morrissey's latest book is The Unlucky Ones - the fourth entry in her Black Harbor series.
We met Hazel in the first book. She was a night transcriber for the police department in Black Harbor. She fled from everything - her lover, her husband, her job, the crime and the pull of the dark water at the bridge. Eight years have passed and Hazel needs answers. But she doesn't know what the questions are. There are a number of characters from book one returning in this latest.

The setting is dark and dangerous. Menacing and gritty. Morrissey has done a wonderful job bringing it to life. Grit lit.

Just as good is the plotting. It could have been ripped from the crime section of the newspaper. But Morrissey puts her own stamp on things. I had no idea what would happen next.

I really, really hope we see Hazel again. And if that's not in the cards - Black Harbor again. A five star listen for me.

The audio version of The Unlucky Ones was performed by Angela Dawe and Robb Moreira. They both created excellent voices that were easily discernable. Moreira's voice has growly tones the fits the character. Dawe's voice is velvety and low, driving the listener to pay attention. Both are easy to understand. They bring the emotions and the action of the plot to life. An excellent presentation of an excellent book. Run time 9 hours and 39 minutes.

4.5/5 rounded up

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy!

Another excellent black harbor mystery! This one was extra fun with so many characters from previous books coming together. While I do think all the books in this series can be read as standalones, this one is definitely better if you have read the previous books! I read the series out of order — 1, 3, 2, 4 (lol) — and think that reading Hello, Transcriber & The Widowmaker especially matter for this book.

As always, Hannah’s writing is so dark and atmospheric, it grips you right away. Being back with Hazel was great, too. I love listening to these on audio and always find it fun to hear “Finlay Donovan” — aka Angela Dawe — narrating a dark character like Hazel. Hannah does a great job of creating mysterious, dark and complicated women in her stories, particularly Hazel! Her relationship with Kole is so… bizarre and yet so powerful.

Like I said, the connection in this one between all the former characters came together to create a wild, well thought-out and inventive mystery. I was truly shocked by some of the webs woven in black harbor, this time around especially!! Can’t wait to chat with the book club and the author this weekend!

The 4th novel in the Black Harbor series has Hazel Greenlee coming back to Black Harbor after she made her escape from her ex-husband and former lover, Nikolai Kole.
Her ex, Tommy, has been murdered and Hazel needs closure. Black Harbor is suffering now more than ever; a new drug on the street, the heat rising and drug lords waging war on each other and the city.
Hazel finds herself caught in the middle of the investigation into Tommy's murder and her feelings for Kole.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this digital audio e-arc.*

Thank you for this book Netgalley. Unfortunately this one just wasn’t for me. I had trouble getting into it and didn’t connect with any of the characters.

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.

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.

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 the audio narration really fit this one well. Other installments in the series didn’t do it for me with the narration and this was excellent!

The Unlucky Ones is a dark thriller that explores trauma, fate, and the consequences of past choices. The story follows a series of tragic deaths in a small town, with eerie similarities that suggest they may not be accidents. As Detective Rowan Winthorpe investigates, she’s forced to confront not only the disturbing truth behind these cases but also her own personal demons.

The premise is gripping and full of potential, and Hannah Morrissey does a great job creating a moody, unsettling atmosphere. That said, the audiobook narration is excellent, bringing the tension and emotional weight of the story to life. The narrator helps elevate the suspense and makes the characters feel more vivid.

If you enjoy slow-burn thrillers this might be a good pick for you!

Hazel has returned to Black Harbor, 8 years after escaping the town! Her ex-husband has been murdered and Kole is investigating the murder. While I typically would say that the order that you read the Black Harbor series in does not matter, however, this book is the exception. You will definitely want to read Hello, Transcriber before reading The Unlucky Ones.

I love @hannahmorrisseywriter’s series and The Unlucky Ones is another fantastic installment in the series. I highly recommend this book and series if you love:
🖤 noir novels
🖤 gritty small town settings
🖤 strong character development
🖤 a sprinkle of romance in a crime thriller
🖤 fast paced, dual POVs
🖤 well narrated audiobooks (especially if you love Angela Dawe’s voice, like I do!)

This book is actually a continuation of the Black Harbor series but was easily read as a stand alone.

We followed Hazel as she returned to Black Harbor following the death of her ex husband whom she fled years ago. To make things more complicated, the Sargent investigating his murder is Kole, Hazels ex lover! This book was full of intrigue, “will they or won’t they”, a little gore, and lots of twists and turns!

Like I said, this is a continuation of the series but I read this as a stand alone and at no point was I confused about the plot. Morrissey did an incredible job with the little refreshers, or explanations for people like me, when there were points relating to previous books in the series.

The narration (I consumed this one in audiobook format) was captivating and definitely animated. Angela Dawe and Robb Moreira did a great job!

This is definitely being added to my list of recommended reads to others!

Thank you again NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC! I always appreciate a chance to check out a book prior to the release and give my honest opinion to readers who may be interested on release day!

Hannah's fourth book was masterfully done and well written. Some of the ways she described Buddha was insane and I loved it! Gave me shivers! Loved the audiobook version! I might go back and re-listen to the first 3.