I read the second and third installments in the Black Harbor series hoping for Hazel’s return. It was worth the wait. But her return isn’t a happy one, and it’s easy to see why she stayed away. Black Harbor is a dark, dangerous place. Morrissey is so intimately familiar with the world she’s built in the series that the reader is transported fully into its environs. It’s easy to feel the unsettling nature of the city while reading this book so don’t be surprised if you find yourself checking to see if your doors are locked. The strong sense of place has been a strength of the Black Harbor series, and the characters continue to develop as we feel their desire to run away along with their sense of obligation to stay. This internal conflict provides a tension that adds to the story – and the conflict plays out within almost every character. The complicated dynamic of emotions between Hazel and Kole ramps things up even more.

Morrissey is a mystery author that should be considered on any short list of top contemporary voices in the genre. The writing is extraordinary in its descriptiveness, treating emotion and crime scenes with equal realistic detail. Events and actions push the story forward, but the reader is pulled in by the earnestness in which the characters are written.

Note: Morrissey’s novels thus far all feature Black Harbor but can be read as standalones. Readers will benefit from reading the debut “Hello, Transcriber, however.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an early look. The Unlucky Ones will be released on March 25, 2024.

If all you had to do was one bad thing, and you could leave Black Harbor behind forever, would you do it?

The sweltering days leading up to the 4th of July weekend are the least of Sergeant Nikolai Kole’s worries. His latest scene is in the back of a clubhouse hostile to cops—containing a body wrapped in trash bags and doused with bleach.

Inside: Tommy Greenlee, the ex-husband of Hazel…Kole’s former lover.

Even though she left Black Harbor, Hazel has hardly “escaped”. Haunted by memories of the place, she finds herself back—trying to figure out who killed Tommy and why. But, will she be able to make it out, again?

I am a huge fan of the Black Harbor series (please see the mug in this photo 😊) and this book is absolute PERFECTION! The tension between what is happening in Black Harbor and the emotions of its denizens is tautly written. The plot and atmosphere leave the reader on edge, waiting for what could ignite this tinderbox and let everything break loose. The mystery is gripping, and two moments caused me to go “AHHHHHHH!” out loud. (No regrets).

While the prior three books in the series can be read in any order, my recommendation would be to read all three of those books before reading this one. You have some time because The Unlucky Ones releases on March 25, 2025. Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the e-ARC.