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Black Harbor #3
When I'm Dead
One girl murdered. Another one missing. And a medical examiner desperate to uncover the truth in the latest Black Harbor mystery by acclaimed author Hannah Morrissey.
On a bone-chilling October night, Medical Examiner Rowan Winthorp investigates the death of her daughter’s best friend. Hours later, the tragedy hits even closer to home when she makes a devastating discovery—her daughter, Chloe, is gone. But, not without a trace.
A morbid mosaic of clues forces Rowan and her husband to question how deeply they really knew their daughter. As they work closely to peel back the layers of this case, they begin to unearth disturbing details about Chloe and her secret transgressions…details that threaten to tear them apart.
Amidst the noise of navigating her newfound grief and reconciling the sins of her past, an undeniable fact rings true for Rowan: karma has finally come to collect.
On a bone-chilling October night, Medical Examiner Rowan Winthorp investigates the death of her daughter’s best friend. Hours later, the tragedy hits even closer to home when she makes a devastating discovery—her daughter, Chloe, is gone. But, not without a trace.
A morbid mosaic of clues forces Rowan and her husband to question how deeply they really knew their daughter. As they work closely to peel back the layers of this case, they begin to unearth disturbing details about Chloe and her secret transgressions…details that threaten to tear them apart.
Amidst the noise of navigating her newfound grief and reconciling the sins of her past, an undeniable fact rings true for Rowan: karma has finally come to collect.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published October 31, 2023
About the author
Hannah Morrissey
6 books1,009 followersHannah Morrissey is the author of the Black Harbor suspense series which includes HELLO, TRANSCRIBER, THE WIDOWMAKER, and WHEN I'M DEAD, and a fourth installment coming in March 2025. SCREAM CITY, her first standalone suspense will be published in 2026.
A three-decade survivor of Wisconsin winters, Hannah enjoys putting her characters (and readers) in bone-chilling atmospheres that permeate beyond the page. Naturally, her books have carved out their own sub-genre of “Midwestern Noir.” She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and three pugs.
A three-decade survivor of Wisconsin winters, Hannah enjoys putting her characters (and readers) in bone-chilling atmospheres that permeate beyond the page. Naturally, her books have carved out their own sub-genre of “Midwestern Noir.” She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and three pugs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,204 reviews
October 29, 2023
The Black Harbor series has become an obsession for me, as each new installment surpasses my expectations. The author has a remarkable talent for introducing fresh, complex characters who are intricately woven into the fabric of the story. With every twist and turn, the mysteries become more gripping, and my heart races with anticipation from the very first page until the stunning conclusion.
In this latest psychological thriller of the series, we are introduced to Rowan Winthrop, a city medical examiner whose life is intertwined with her husband, Alex, a detective in the BHPD. Their demanding professions have created a tight schedule, leaving little room for rest or relaxation. However, their lives take a terrifying turn when Rowan finds herself at a crime scene involving a young girl—none other than Chloe, her daughter's best friend. To Rowan's horror, she realizes that Chloe has not returned home after a school play, and the chilling realization dawns upon her that she must navigate the treacherous path of a dangerous killer while desperately searching for her own daughter's abductors. As the investigation deepens, Rowan and her husband uncover disturbing secrets about Chloe that shake the very foundation of their existence. Could it be possible that the daughter they thought they knew was nothing more than a facade?
The guessing game the author masterfully orchestrates keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Each chapter adds layers of complexity, as potential culprits emerge and suspicion shifts. The pressure intensifies, tightening its grip around us as we become more entangled in the web of the story. Just when we believe we have unraveled the truth, the climax hits with an unexpected force, leaving us in awe of the author's skillful storytelling. The jaw-dropping conclusion leaves us stunned, contemplating the profound impact of the events that unfolded.
As a devoted fan of crime thrillers, I find immense satisfaction in the intense and claustrophobic atmosphere created by the author. The realistic characterization allows us to empathize with Rowan's desperate search for her daughter and her emotional turmoil as she unearths shocking revelations. The carefully crafted pacing ensures that the narrative maintains a relentless momentum, propelling us forward with each turn of the page.
I express my deepest gratitude to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for generously providing me with a digital review copy of this chilling thriller. It has been an absolute pleasure to delve into the world of the Black Harbor series and experience the author's exceptional storytelling. I eagerly await the opportunity to immerse myself in future installments, as my hunger for more of these enthralling tales grows stronger with each book.
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In this latest psychological thriller of the series, we are introduced to Rowan Winthrop, a city medical examiner whose life is intertwined with her husband, Alex, a detective in the BHPD. Their demanding professions have created a tight schedule, leaving little room for rest or relaxation. However, their lives take a terrifying turn when Rowan finds herself at a crime scene involving a young girl—none other than Chloe, her daughter's best friend. To Rowan's horror, she realizes that Chloe has not returned home after a school play, and the chilling realization dawns upon her that she must navigate the treacherous path of a dangerous killer while desperately searching for her own daughter's abductors. As the investigation deepens, Rowan and her husband uncover disturbing secrets about Chloe that shake the very foundation of their existence. Could it be possible that the daughter they thought they knew was nothing more than a facade?
The guessing game the author masterfully orchestrates keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Each chapter adds layers of complexity, as potential culprits emerge and suspicion shifts. The pressure intensifies, tightening its grip around us as we become more entangled in the web of the story. Just when we believe we have unraveled the truth, the climax hits with an unexpected force, leaving us in awe of the author's skillful storytelling. The jaw-dropping conclusion leaves us stunned, contemplating the profound impact of the events that unfolded.
As a devoted fan of crime thrillers, I find immense satisfaction in the intense and claustrophobic atmosphere created by the author. The realistic characterization allows us to empathize with Rowan's desperate search for her daughter and her emotional turmoil as she unearths shocking revelations. The carefully crafted pacing ensures that the narrative maintains a relentless momentum, propelling us forward with each turn of the page.
I express my deepest gratitude to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for generously providing me with a digital review copy of this chilling thriller. It has been an absolute pleasure to delve into the world of the Black Harbor series and experience the author's exceptional storytelling. I eagerly await the opportunity to immerse myself in future installments, as my hunger for more of these enthralling tales grows stronger with each book.
medium.com
September 23, 2023
“You’ll love me more when I’m dead. Chloe’s last words ring in her head like tinnitus.”
When I’m Dead is the third in the Black Harbor series and it’s another well done thriller. It’s dark, tense and chilling.
Morrissey has perfectly captured the hell of two parents dealing with a missing daughter - a daughter that might have actually killed her best friend. It doesn’t help that both parents are involved in the case - the father as a detective and the mother as a medical examiner. The two hold opposite viewpoints and it’s tearing the marriage apart. It also doesn’t help that both parents feel a huge amount of guilt over placing jobs before family.
Morrissey has also captured what it’s like to be a teenager - the jealousies, the meanness and the unwillingness to be truthful with adults.
The book moves at a fast pace without sacrificing character development. I was swept up in this story and couldn’t wait to see how it would play out. Be forewarned, there are several gruesome scenes.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for an advance copy of this book.
When I’m Dead is the third in the Black Harbor series and it’s another well done thriller. It’s dark, tense and chilling.
Morrissey has perfectly captured the hell of two parents dealing with a missing daughter - a daughter that might have actually killed her best friend. It doesn’t help that both parents are involved in the case - the father as a detective and the mother as a medical examiner. The two hold opposite viewpoints and it’s tearing the marriage apart. It also doesn’t help that both parents feel a huge amount of guilt over placing jobs before family.
Morrissey has also captured what it’s like to be a teenager - the jealousies, the meanness and the unwillingness to be truthful with adults.
The book moves at a fast pace without sacrificing character development. I was swept up in this story and couldn’t wait to see how it would play out. Be forewarned, there are several gruesome scenes.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for an advance copy of this book.
December 9, 2023
On the night of their teenage daughter Chole’s school play Medical Examiner Rowan Winthorp and her husband Axel, an investigator with the Black Harbor Police Department, are called away to a crime scene involving a dead teenager. Madison Caldwell, their daughter’s best friend, is found brutally murdered and on the same night, Chloe does not return home after her school play and she is presumed to be a suspect in Maison’s death.
“You’ll love me more when I’m dead.”
As Rowan and Axel search for Chloe, the deep dive into their daughter's life reveals plenty of teenage drama, rivalry, scandalous rumors, and secrets. How well did they know their own daughter? When another of Chloe’s classmates is found murdered, it becomes evident that someone is targeting Chloe’s friends. Is Chloe alive? Will she be one of the killer’s next victims, or is she behind the murders? Can they find her before it is too late?
Having enjoyed the first two books in author Hannah Morrissey’s Black Harbor series, I was eager to read her latest offering. When I’m Dead by Hannah Morrissey is a suspenseful read with plenty of surprises to keep you engaged. Though the ending wasn’t completely unpredictable after a point, there is a lot to like about how the plot is structured. I will admit to having not enjoyed this installment as much as the previous books. With both Rowan and Axel involved in the investigation, the professional/procedural aspect takes precedence over their personal lives, which makes it difficult to connect with them as individuals whose daughter is missing. I also felt that Rowan’s guilt over an incident from her past was an unnecessary plot point, though it does add to the drama. The atmospheric vibe felt a tad forced ( set close to Halloween to emphasize the eerie vibe, unlike her other novels where the crime-infested town and its darkness was better woven into the plot) in this story and I’m not a fan of the “mean girls” trope which took up way too much space in the narrative and did detract from my overall reading experience. However, there is no doubt that Morrissey knows how to craft a dark, twisty, suspenseful thriller and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Even though this is the third book in the series , it can be read as a standalone.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the digital review copy o this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. When I’m Dead was published on October 31, 2023.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
“You’ll love me more when I’m dead.”
As Rowan and Axel search for Chloe, the deep dive into their daughter's life reveals plenty of teenage drama, rivalry, scandalous rumors, and secrets. How well did they know their own daughter? When another of Chloe’s classmates is found murdered, it becomes evident that someone is targeting Chloe’s friends. Is Chloe alive? Will she be one of the killer’s next victims, or is she behind the murders? Can they find her before it is too late?
Having enjoyed the first two books in author Hannah Morrissey’s Black Harbor series, I was eager to read her latest offering. When I’m Dead by Hannah Morrissey is a suspenseful read with plenty of surprises to keep you engaged. Though the ending wasn’t completely unpredictable after a point, there is a lot to like about how the plot is structured. I will admit to having not enjoyed this installment as much as the previous books. With both Rowan and Axel involved in the investigation, the professional/procedural aspect takes precedence over their personal lives, which makes it difficult to connect with them as individuals whose daughter is missing. I also felt that Rowan’s guilt over an incident from her past was an unnecessary plot point, though it does add to the drama. The atmospheric vibe felt a tad forced ( set close to Halloween to emphasize the eerie vibe, unlike her other novels where the crime-infested town and its darkness was better woven into the plot) in this story and I’m not a fan of the “mean girls” trope which took up way too much space in the narrative and did detract from my overall reading experience. However, there is no doubt that Morrissey knows how to craft a dark, twisty, suspenseful thriller and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Even though this is the third book in the series , it can be read as a standalone.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the digital review copy o this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. When I’m Dead was published on October 31, 2023.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
September 23, 2023
Going into this book, I was aware that this is Book #3 in the Black Harbor Series. However, I have not read the first two books prior to this one. Would it have helped my rating or understanding of the book? Maybe. I do feel that this book is just fine as a standalone, and having no prior knowledge of the first two books didn’t affect how I related to any of the characters. This was also a typical crime fiction novel, that had a dark atmosphere and characters.
Our story starts off with Rowan Winthrop, a medical examiner, and her husband Axel, a homicide detective, leaving their daughter’s school play to investigate a murder. While investigating the murder of Madison Caldwell, who was friends with their daughter Chloe, they soon realize when they arrive home from the investigation that their own daughter Chloe is now missing. As Rowan and Axel begin their own investigation into the disappearance of their daughter (and work on the case 🤔), more deaths and secrets are revealed. Who is responsible for the murders and disappearances of the young girls of Black Harbor?
While I did enjoy this book, it seemed longer than what it was. I also had a hard time connecting to Rowan and Axel. Everything about them just seemed so nonchalant… especially when they find out that their daughter is missing. Weird.
There were also a few gruesome scenes in this book, but not enough to classify this as a horror book or make anyone squirm (at least I hope it doesn’t). This book is to be released on October 31, 2023 and I do agree that this would be the perfect October/Halloween read for the spooky season!
Many thanks to Katie Holt for inviting me to view this book from NetGalley! I would also like to thank St.Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this ARC- all opinions are my own.
Publication date: October 31, 2023
Our story starts off with Rowan Winthrop, a medical examiner, and her husband Axel, a homicide detective, leaving their daughter’s school play to investigate a murder. While investigating the murder of Madison Caldwell, who was friends with their daughter Chloe, they soon realize when they arrive home from the investigation that their own daughter Chloe is now missing. As Rowan and Axel begin their own investigation into the disappearance of their daughter (and work on the case 🤔), more deaths and secrets are revealed. Who is responsible for the murders and disappearances of the young girls of Black Harbor?
While I did enjoy this book, it seemed longer than what it was. I also had a hard time connecting to Rowan and Axel. Everything about them just seemed so nonchalant… especially when they find out that their daughter is missing. Weird.
There were also a few gruesome scenes in this book, but not enough to classify this as a horror book or make anyone squirm (at least I hope it doesn’t). This book is to be released on October 31, 2023 and I do agree that this would be the perfect October/Halloween read for the spooky season!
Many thanks to Katie Holt for inviting me to view this book from NetGalley! I would also like to thank St.Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this ARC- all opinions are my own.
Publication date: October 31, 2023
October 9, 2023
Oh, boy…
This is entertaining. Definitely entertaining. Yup. I’m running out of good things to say.
So, the book defies logic. It’s an everything but the kitchen sink plot in a world where cops can investigate the disappearance of their own kid, medical examiners can autopsy a murder victim they know (who is frenemies with their missing daughter), and where high school kids apparently regularly take taxidermy courses where they can practice on their own dead pets. But…it’s supposed to be our perfectly ordinary world!
There must have been hundreds of times when I was reading this when I simply exclaimed, “No. Did not happen.” The author never, ever got me to believe in their world or their characters.
I finished the book just to see what unbelievable thing would happen next – and boy, there were a lot of them!
I don’t mind brain candy and popcorn reads. In fact, my tired brain loves them. I just want the author to…try.
• ARC via Publisher
This is entertaining. Definitely entertaining. Yup. I’m running out of good things to say.
So, the book defies logic. It’s an everything but the kitchen sink plot in a world where cops can investigate the disappearance of their own kid, medical examiners can autopsy a murder victim they know (who is frenemies with their missing daughter), and where high school kids apparently regularly take taxidermy courses where they can practice on their own dead pets. But…it’s supposed to be our perfectly ordinary world!
There must have been hundreds of times when I was reading this when I simply exclaimed, “No. Did not happen.” The author never, ever got me to believe in their world or their characters.
I finished the book just to see what unbelievable thing would happen next – and boy, there were a lot of them!
I don’t mind brain candy and popcorn reads. In fact, my tired brain loves them. I just want the author to…try.
• ARC via Publisher
November 13, 2023
3.5 Stars
*Can be read as a standalone.*
Medical Examiner Rowan and her detective husband, Axel, were summoned last minute to investigate the untimely death of Madison, a classmate of their daughter. Even though their daughter's school play was at the same time, they had no choice but to abandon it to attend to the case. However, tragedy struck when their daughter Chloe disappeared after the school play. The search for their daughter is now a race against the clock. They must find her before it is too late.
It has been a year since I read the second novel, so I essentially approached the novel as a standalone and found it to be easily comprehensible. The plot was intriguing, however, I couldn't build a connection with any of the characters. Further, I was able to anticipate the culprit. Overall, not my favorite by this author, but it was still an entertaining read.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Hannah Morrissey, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for graciously sending me the E-Book to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
*Can be read as a standalone.*
Medical Examiner Rowan and her detective husband, Axel, were summoned last minute to investigate the untimely death of Madison, a classmate of their daughter. Even though their daughter's school play was at the same time, they had no choice but to abandon it to attend to the case. However, tragedy struck when their daughter Chloe disappeared after the school play. The search for their daughter is now a race against the clock. They must find her before it is too late.
It has been a year since I read the second novel, so I essentially approached the novel as a standalone and found it to be easily comprehensible. The plot was intriguing, however, I couldn't build a connection with any of the characters. Further, I was able to anticipate the culprit. Overall, not my favorite by this author, but it was still an entertaining read.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Hannah Morrissey, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for graciously sending me the E-Book to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
November 14, 2023
After not liking Hello, Transcriber, I skipped the second Black Harbor book but thought I'd give this one a try because I really like stories of missing people. I wanted to connect with it, but unfortunately I did not.
This book features police detective/medical examiner husband and wife Alex and Rowan, who are called out to a murder scene at the end of their daughter Chloe's high school play. The murdered girl is one of Chloe's best friends, or so Alex and Rowan thought, but this ends up to be not exactly true. When they return home, they discover that Chloe is missing. As they frantically search for their daughter, secrets come to light about her and those around her.
As was my complaint with the first book in this series, the author tries way, way too hard to make the setting creepy and atmospheric. We are supposed to get a feel of a cursed, dark town and so many of the choices of the characters fly right in the face of that (they let their kids walk alone in the dark along a walking path, most of these teens are wholly unsupervised even after their classmates turn up dead, etc). And there are so many things that are just too much of a suspension of disbelief. There is NO WAY Alex and Rowan would be at all involved with this case in any way, but here they are, right in the middle of it. And a taxidermy class in high school? Who does that?
The identity of the villain is pretty obvious, the clues are dropped in like huge explosions to the reader like "hey, this is a bizarre thing, there must be something wrong about this but in case you missed it I will talk about it a couple more times." Plus it got SO tedious with Rowan thinking that everything wrong was karma due to a death she supposedly caused so many years before, as well as them holding serious resentment for the fact that they were "stuck" in Black Harbor. I could understand if their jobs were specific to the area, but a police detective and a doctor are employable elsewhere. These are not such low paying careers that they are truly stuck and that was super annoying to read over and over.
I listened to this as an audiobook and in general, I enjoy a multi cast narration, but in this case the narrator for Rowan (Xe Sands) mumbled so much it was difficult to understand her. I'm going to put her on my narration avoid list in the future.
Overall, I think this series is definitely not for me. Many people enjoy the writing and the creepy atmosphere, so if the story appeals to you give it a try.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
This book features police detective/medical examiner husband and wife Alex and Rowan, who are called out to a murder scene at the end of their daughter Chloe's high school play. The murdered girl is one of Chloe's best friends, or so Alex and Rowan thought, but this ends up to be not exactly true. When they return home, they discover that Chloe is missing. As they frantically search for their daughter, secrets come to light about her and those around her.
As was my complaint with the first book in this series, the author tries way, way too hard to make the setting creepy and atmospheric. We are supposed to get a feel of a cursed, dark town and so many of the choices of the characters fly right in the face of that (they let their kids walk alone in the dark along a walking path, most of these teens are wholly unsupervised even after their classmates turn up dead, etc). And there are so many things that are just too much of a suspension of disbelief. There is NO WAY Alex and Rowan would be at all involved with this case in any way, but here they are, right in the middle of it. And a taxidermy class in high school? Who does that?
The identity of the villain is pretty obvious, the clues are dropped in like huge explosions to the reader like "hey, this is a bizarre thing, there must be something wrong about this but in case you missed it I will talk about it a couple more times." Plus it got SO tedious with Rowan thinking that everything wrong was karma due to a death she supposedly caused so many years before, as well as them holding serious resentment for the fact that they were "stuck" in Black Harbor. I could understand if their jobs were specific to the area, but a police detective and a doctor are employable elsewhere. These are not such low paying careers that they are truly stuck and that was super annoying to read over and over.
I listened to this as an audiobook and in general, I enjoy a multi cast narration, but in this case the narrator for Rowan (Xe Sands) mumbled so much it was difficult to understand her. I'm going to put her on my narration avoid list in the future.
Overall, I think this series is definitely not for me. Many people enjoy the writing and the creepy atmosphere, so if the story appeals to you give it a try.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
November 12, 2023
A police detective and medical examiner who are a married couple find themselves at the heart of a murder investigation of their daughter’s friend. The daughter has become closed off and difficult lately and signs are pointing to her involvement. Now she’s missing and her last words to her mother were, “You’ll love me more when I’m dead.”
Well here we are again and I’m very salty that I spent money on this tripe. What in the world was the author, publisher and editor thinking? This may win as the worst book I’ve read in 2023 and it had some stiff competition from She Started It, The Chateau and The Intern.
In what universe would a police force allow parents to run an investigation that their daughter was implicated? The dialogue here is so cheesy and the “wise antidotes” sprinkled liberally throughout were cliched and often laugh out loud funny. Even if I could have gotten past all of that yuck, the “teeth sucking” pushed me right over the edge.
Now let’s get to the narration. Usually I love a multicast, but it was horrific here. The voice actor for Rowan mumbled and whispered so much that I needed to constantly adjust the volume. Then the voice actor for Axel decided to do the same thing. I thought the voice actor for Libby was fine, but when I heard her voice on my very next audiobook, I screamed. So apparently not.
Shockingly (or maybe not since two of the three books I mentioned earlier were their picks) this was a Book of the Month selection.
As always no two people read the same book, so mileage may vary on this book. I do not recommend.
Well here we are again and I’m very salty that I spent money on this tripe. What in the world was the author, publisher and editor thinking? This may win as the worst book I’ve read in 2023 and it had some stiff competition from She Started It, The Chateau and The Intern.
In what universe would a police force allow parents to run an investigation that their daughter was implicated? The dialogue here is so cheesy and the “wise antidotes” sprinkled liberally throughout were cliched and often laugh out loud funny. Even if I could have gotten past all of that yuck, the “teeth sucking” pushed me right over the edge.
Now let’s get to the narration. Usually I love a multicast, but it was horrific here. The voice actor for Rowan mumbled and whispered so much that I needed to constantly adjust the volume. Then the voice actor for Axel decided to do the same thing. I thought the voice actor for Libby was fine, but when I heard her voice on my very next audiobook, I screamed. So apparently not.
Shockingly (or maybe not since two of the three books I mentioned earlier were their picks) this was a Book of the Month selection.
As always no two people read the same book, so mileage may vary on this book. I do not recommend.
November 28, 2023
Medical examiner Rowan Winthrop and her husband Axel are seated at the high school play "Beetlejuice" where their daughter (Chloe) has the starring role when both their work phones ring alerting both of them to a crime scene which they must immediately respond.
Chloe is devastated and begs her mom not to go but duty calls and Rowan is the only medical examiner in Black Harbor so she doesn't have a choice in not responding to a death scene. Rowan finds the dead body happens to be Chloe's best friend and she is shaken to her core when she sees the horrific violence that was done to this fifteen year old girl.
Later when Rowan and Axel arrive home they find Chloe missing and can't understand what could have happened to her. Did she run away or has someone taken her just like her friend. As time passes the couple realize that they didn't know their daughter as well as they thought. Chloe was the keeper of many secrets and unknown to them a very unhappy child.
As the investigation continues for both girls, they find many signs that Chloe could have been involved with her friend's murder especially when another fifteen year old's murdered body is found with similar brutal characteristics.
Black Harbor has always been known for a certain darkness concerning many violent crimes over the years but two vicious murders and possibly another is more than outrageous and more will occur if they don't find Chloe (hopefully alive) or the murderer soon!
Who is this teen predator that is stalking and killing these beautiful girls from the same high school and why now?
This was a most engaging and emotional crime/mystery/drama involving young teenagers and their secrets that they keep from their parents and loved ones. Sad to see that many teens don't have enough supervision and are left with too much time being alone and the consequences that could occur since they aren't old enough to have or use sound judgment in many if their decisions and the possible consequences that could happen. Frightening to think how many children are probably left alone in our real world because of so many working parents who are trying to make ends meet. So scary and sad! This book was an interesting, behind the scenes police procedural that took the reader into their difficult personal lives.
This also was a fast, intriguing read since the book was so well written and I look forward to reading more books from author "Hannah Morrissey" in the future.
I want to thank the publisher "St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital copy and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given a rating of 4 VICIOUS AND DEPRESSINGLY GOOD 🌟🌟🌟🌟 STARS!!
Chloe is devastated and begs her mom not to go but duty calls and Rowan is the only medical examiner in Black Harbor so she doesn't have a choice in not responding to a death scene. Rowan finds the dead body happens to be Chloe's best friend and she is shaken to her core when she sees the horrific violence that was done to this fifteen year old girl.
Later when Rowan and Axel arrive home they find Chloe missing and can't understand what could have happened to her. Did she run away or has someone taken her just like her friend. As time passes the couple realize that they didn't know their daughter as well as they thought. Chloe was the keeper of many secrets and unknown to them a very unhappy child.
As the investigation continues for both girls, they find many signs that Chloe could have been involved with her friend's murder especially when another fifteen year old's murdered body is found with similar brutal characteristics.
Black Harbor has always been known for a certain darkness concerning many violent crimes over the years but two vicious murders and possibly another is more than outrageous and more will occur if they don't find Chloe (hopefully alive) or the murderer soon!
Who is this teen predator that is stalking and killing these beautiful girls from the same high school and why now?
This was a most engaging and emotional crime/mystery/drama involving young teenagers and their secrets that they keep from their parents and loved ones. Sad to see that many teens don't have enough supervision and are left with too much time being alone and the consequences that could occur since they aren't old enough to have or use sound judgment in many if their decisions and the possible consequences that could happen. Frightening to think how many children are probably left alone in our real world because of so many working parents who are trying to make ends meet. So scary and sad! This book was an interesting, behind the scenes police procedural that took the reader into their difficult personal lives.
This also was a fast, intriguing read since the book was so well written and I look forward to reading more books from author "Hannah Morrissey" in the future.
I want to thank the publisher "St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital copy and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given a rating of 4 VICIOUS AND DEPRESSINGLY GOOD 🌟🌟🌟🌟 STARS!!
November 20, 2024
One friend is missing and the other has been found dead. A small town reels with past events that may play into if more teenage girls are going to end up if the medical examiner and the police dont catch the culprit quick!
Solid 4 stars!!!!
Solid 4 stars!!!!
July 3, 2023
One girl missing. One girl dead.
Will the body count stop there?
Is someone seeking vengeance?
I really enjoyed this highly charged suspenseful murder mystery and couldn't put it down. It is the third book in the Black Harbor series by this author, but it can definitely be read as a successful standalone.
This story is told in alternating chapters from the viewpoints of Rowan, a medical examiner as well as the missing girl's mother, Axel, a homicide detective and missing girl's father, and Libby, the girl next door who is an overweight, frequently bullied classmate. The suspense of this novel grows and grows like a small snowball rolled from the top of a hill and I soon began to suspect almost everyone of murder. The superb writing made me feel the raw emotions of the characters; the desperation of the parents to find their daughter at all costs and the fear of the neighbor girl. An economically struggling town and lead up to Halloween also adds a dark atmospheric touch to this thriller. There is a lot going on in this story, but ultimately the tense hunt for the killer builds to an exciting crescendo and a climactic ending.
Trigger warning: Graphic death scenes, autopsies, explicit sex, and bullying.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for giving me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Will the body count stop there?
Is someone seeking vengeance?
I really enjoyed this highly charged suspenseful murder mystery and couldn't put it down. It is the third book in the Black Harbor series by this author, but it can definitely be read as a successful standalone.
This story is told in alternating chapters from the viewpoints of Rowan, a medical examiner as well as the missing girl's mother, Axel, a homicide detective and missing girl's father, and Libby, the girl next door who is an overweight, frequently bullied classmate. The suspense of this novel grows and grows like a small snowball rolled from the top of a hill and I soon began to suspect almost everyone of murder. The superb writing made me feel the raw emotions of the characters; the desperation of the parents to find their daughter at all costs and the fear of the neighbor girl. An economically struggling town and lead up to Halloween also adds a dark atmospheric touch to this thriller. There is a lot going on in this story, but ultimately the tense hunt for the killer builds to an exciting crescendo and a climactic ending.
Trigger warning: Graphic death scenes, autopsies, explicit sex, and bullying.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for giving me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2023
Rowan and Axels teenage daughter Chloe goes missing and her friend is murdered in this creepy Black Harbor town. Many twists and turns in this gothic like thriller.
Thanks NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC that will be released October 31, 2023!
Thanks NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC that will be released October 31, 2023!
October 14, 2023
Wow. Where to start?
At first I was intrigued, but unfortunately that did not last long. Here are my notes for the author:
1) Please put down the thesaurus! Some of the word choices in here (cataractous, perspicacity, andante, etc) did nothing but take me out of the story because almost no one (especially an average 15yo girl?) uses these words.
2) I get that all autopsies are probably similar, but the same. exact. sentence. WORD FOR WORD was used in both scenes. And afterward the same exact question was asked during both, after which the person who answered did the same exact thing!! Like!! Did you like the scene so much you had to throw it in twice, or was this just poorly edited?? Because I'll tell ya, when you use the phrase "rectus abdominis" you better believe that's going to stick out in a reader's mind, and the rest of that sentence better not be the exact same as it was the first time I read it!!
3) All of the characters felt so dramatic. Just over-the-top reactions to the smallest details. And I know their daughter was missing, but living in Axel's head with his irrational anger and jumping to conclusions was awful, not to mention made him a terrible investigator. Also Rowan with her constant loop of feeling guilty and believing karma was out to get her... Please. Way too repetitive. Eventually I just started skimming her parts for the dialogue. And then Libby was just WEIRD. Excessively so. I mean, who mouths along when other people are talking? Pretty sure not even people who are trying to actually read lips do that.
4) The reveal of who the killer was going to be was glaringly obvious. I will admit that I didn't link him to his earlier scene (no spoilers) but come on.
5) There were a few parts (I wish I had made notes so I had examples) where it felt like everything was being spelled out, like I wasn't believed to be smart enough to figure them out on my own. Your readers aren't stupid, Hannah. Give us the benefit of the doubt.
6) Final complaint: WHY did Rowan's whole attitude toward the town change? Because of what happened, suddenly that place she's spent the whole book hating and wanting to get away from and threatening to leave now feels like home?? WHY. HOW. PLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND.
Okay I'm done. This was not a good time and I would not recommend it, but y'all do you. lol On to bigger and hopefully better things!
2 stars.
At first I was intrigued, but unfortunately that did not last long. Here are my notes for the author:
1) Please put down the thesaurus! Some of the word choices in here (cataractous, perspicacity, andante, etc) did nothing but take me out of the story because almost no one (especially an average 15yo girl?) uses these words.
2) I get that all autopsies are probably similar, but the same. exact. sentence. WORD FOR WORD was used in both scenes. And afterward the same exact question was asked during both, after which the person who answered did the same exact thing!! Like!! Did you like the scene so much you had to throw it in twice, or was this just poorly edited?? Because I'll tell ya, when you use the phrase "rectus abdominis" you better believe that's going to stick out in a reader's mind, and the rest of that sentence better not be the exact same as it was the first time I read it!!
3) All of the characters felt so dramatic. Just over-the-top reactions to the smallest details. And I know their daughter was missing, but living in Axel's head with his irrational anger and jumping to conclusions was awful, not to mention made him a terrible investigator. Also Rowan with her constant loop of feeling guilty and believing karma was out to get her... Please. Way too repetitive. Eventually I just started skimming her parts for the dialogue. And then Libby was just WEIRD. Excessively so. I mean, who mouths along when other people are talking? Pretty sure not even people who are trying to actually read lips do that.
4) The reveal of who the killer was going to be was glaringly obvious. I will admit that I didn't link him to his earlier scene (no spoilers) but come on.
5) There were a few parts (I wish I had made notes so I had examples) where it felt like everything was being spelled out, like I wasn't believed to be smart enough to figure them out on my own. Your readers aren't stupid, Hannah. Give us the benefit of the doubt.
6) Final complaint: WHY did Rowan's whole attitude toward the town change? Because of what happened, suddenly that place she's spent the whole book hating and wanting to get away from and threatening to leave now feels like home?? WHY. HOW. PLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND.
Okay I'm done. This was not a good time and I would not recommend it, but y'all do you. lol On to bigger and hopefully better things!
2 stars.
October 13, 2023
Ugh, I really want to give this 3 stars, but I just can’t…
There was too much unchallenged bias that left me feeling gross. Particularly regarding weight, attractiveness, and class. If you’re overweight, you must be depressed. If you’re unconventional in appearance, you must be a weird loner with no friends. We’re supposed to be touched when the soccer star talks to the chubby girl. It mentions about 10 times that the government housing is an eye sore for the rest of the town. There’s a moment where our MC realizes that “homeless people are people too”. There’s a character, that has nothing to do with the plot, but for which the author takes time to explain his nickname is “Gordo” which means fat in Portuguese. There’s a scene where a dad feels bad for the mom restricting the daughters diet, so instead of telling the mom to stop being awful, he… sneaks the daughter ice cream?
On top of that, it’s completely implausible that these parents would be allowed to work their own daughter’s missing persons case. Especially when the daughter is a possible suspect in two murders. Conflict of interest? Also, I just do not buy Rowan as a doctor. She is not smart. And Axel and Rowan are solidly upper middle class, a doctor and a detective. Yet, they constantly whine about being stuck in this horrible town just waiting for more tragedy. You’re both highly employable, get a new job and move. Good Lord…
There was too much unchallenged bias that left me feeling gross. Particularly regarding weight, attractiveness, and class. If you’re overweight, you must be depressed. If you’re unconventional in appearance, you must be a weird loner with no friends. We’re supposed to be touched when the soccer star talks to the chubby girl. It mentions about 10 times that the government housing is an eye sore for the rest of the town. There’s a moment where our MC realizes that “homeless people are people too”. There’s a character, that has nothing to do with the plot, but for which the author takes time to explain his nickname is “Gordo” which means fat in Portuguese. There’s a scene where a dad feels bad for the mom restricting the daughters diet, so instead of telling the mom to stop being awful, he… sneaks the daughter ice cream?
On top of that, it’s completely implausible that these parents would be allowed to work their own daughter’s missing persons case. Especially when the daughter is a possible suspect in two murders. Conflict of interest? Also, I just do not buy Rowan as a doctor. She is not smart. And Axel and Rowan are solidly upper middle class, a doctor and a detective. Yet, they constantly whine about being stuck in this horrible town just waiting for more tragedy. You’re both highly employable, get a new job and move. Good Lord…
April 22, 2023
A murder mystery in Black Harbor Michigan. A teen goes missing after another teen is murdered. Will Rowan and Axel survive this nightmare and keep their marriage from falling apart… Twists upon sick twisted events happen to cause turmoil between characters in this small town. Everyone is on edge suspecting one another, causing havoc between families, students, teachers and friends.
A hard to put down suspenseful thriller that Hannah Morrissey is known best to tell. She grabs your attention through her descriptions of this dark, gothic-like town with its french creole natives. Never a dull moment, with this creative writing that keeps you wanting more. Escape into a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
A hard to put down suspenseful thriller that Hannah Morrissey is known best to tell. She grabs your attention through her descriptions of this dark, gothic-like town with its french creole natives. Never a dull moment, with this creative writing that keeps you wanting more. Escape into a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
October 20, 2023
“You’ll love me more when I’m dead!”
Their moody teenage daughter’s words now haunt her mother, Rowan, Black Harbor’s medical examiner, and her father, Axel, a Black Harbor homicide detective, as they investigate the brutal murder of one of their daughter's friends.
Not knowing what they would face when they were paged during a family outing, they arranged for Chloe to get a ride home from the theatre with a neighbour. Little did they know that while they were investigating Chloe’s murder, their daughter would assertively head home alone and end up a reported missing teenager.
A parent’s worst nightmare.
Even worse for parents in the know - someone is targeting Black Harbour teenagers. Who is it? Why target the vulnerable? Is there a pattern?
Morrissey seems to have upped her game with this one. The visceral read features a spooky October setting, complete with a haunted house, eerie fall evenings, a desperate town, a darker and grittier look at death and murder investigation, a tense look at characters' shady pasts, and multiple shocking twists. Several times I had to put the book aside and pick up something lighter. Morrissey is definitely the go-to author if you are looking for an atmospheric murder mystery and crime thriller. Her ability to craft twists that you won’t see coming is stellar and relying on her career to shape plot and characters offers authenticity, thereby increasing anxiety. It’s as if readers are standing alongside the characters and sensing their desperation and pain.
“Only in a place like Black Harbor is the line for the morgue longer than the queue for a Chick-fil-A drive-thru. Too many bodies, not enough of them warm.”
Congratulations on a fantastic cover!
I was gifted this copy by St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Their moody teenage daughter’s words now haunt her mother, Rowan, Black Harbor’s medical examiner, and her father, Axel, a Black Harbor homicide detective, as they investigate the brutal murder of one of their daughter's friends.
Not knowing what they would face when they were paged during a family outing, they arranged for Chloe to get a ride home from the theatre with a neighbour. Little did they know that while they were investigating Chloe’s murder, their daughter would assertively head home alone and end up a reported missing teenager.
A parent’s worst nightmare.
Even worse for parents in the know - someone is targeting Black Harbour teenagers. Who is it? Why target the vulnerable? Is there a pattern?
Morrissey seems to have upped her game with this one. The visceral read features a spooky October setting, complete with a haunted house, eerie fall evenings, a desperate town, a darker and grittier look at death and murder investigation, a tense look at characters' shady pasts, and multiple shocking twists. Several times I had to put the book aside and pick up something lighter. Morrissey is definitely the go-to author if you are looking for an atmospheric murder mystery and crime thriller. Her ability to craft twists that you won’t see coming is stellar and relying on her career to shape plot and characters offers authenticity, thereby increasing anxiety. It’s as if readers are standing alongside the characters and sensing their desperation and pain.
“Only in a place like Black Harbor is the line for the morgue longer than the queue for a Chick-fil-A drive-thru. Too many bodies, not enough of them warm.”
Congratulations on a fantastic cover!
I was gifted this copy by St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
August 27, 2023
This book started off really slowly for me, and failed to pickup enough where I could really enjoy it. The story was a good concept, but I felt absolutely zero emotion from the characters about *ahem* their own daughter being missing? The investigation seemed to go in circles, and then suddenly we were reading a sex scene between the couple *ahem* amidst their daughter still being missing?? The emotion expressed by the characters didn’t match the situations. It just gave me a funky reading experience. Overall I wouldn’t discourage you from reading this book, but if it’s not on your radar already I wouldn’t add it.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
September 9, 2023
My introduction to Hannah Morrissey's taut, descriptive prose was in HELLO, TRANSCRIBER, the first book in the Black Harbor series. WHEN I'M DEAD is book three, and I'm delighted to say the author's raised her game to yet another level rendering a gripping, highly atmospheric story sure to keep readers up late burning through pages. Strap in for this one, and I advise you to leave the lights on!
WHEN I'M DEAD is a gripping, domestic crime story concentrated around a family in crisis. Rowan, the town medical examiner, and husband Axel, a homicide detective, have demanding professions that command their attention at a moment's notice much to the chagrin and resentment of their moody teenage daughter Chloe. When her parents are called away in the middle of her performance in the school play, they leave Chloe with another thoughtless, impulsive apology and instructions to get a ride home with their neighbor. Heartbroken and in tears over them choosing work over her yet again, Chloe chooses to walk home alone in the dark not realizing her parents are investigating the brutal murder of one of Chloe's friends. Rowan arrives home later expecting to find her daughter asleep, but Chloe is nowhere to be found. It's apparent she never made it home. Someone is murdering teenagers . . . is Chloe a victim? Rowan recalls her daughter's last words to her as they left her crying in the theatre - "you'll love me more when I'm dead." A premonition or warning? They have one dead girl and another missing and as readers soon learn, Rowan has dark secrets of her own. Has her past come calling?
Dark, gritty and highly visual, WHEN I'M DEAD unfolds through multiple points of view via alternating chapters which are riveting. The narrators include Rowan, Axel and Libby, the next-door neighbor's socially awkward daughter who is bullied at school. Morrissey sets the perfect spooky scene with Halloween approaching, haunted houses, and falling blood red leaves adding to a dark tone of malice suffocating a fading, rundown town many people dream of escaping one day. The pace escalates steadily as accusations surface about Chloe and her friends implicating their involvement in some unsavory activities, leaving her parents shell shocked and wondering if they ever knew their daughter at all. The author does an excellent job keeping readers off-kilter by shifting focus to several red herrings as the list of suspects is ever changing. The characters are complex and believable, having little trouble earning readers' empathy with their increasing anxiety and desperation. Morrissey is proving to be an expert at creating highly atmospheric scenes that threaten to swallow characters and readers up as they maneuver all the dark twists and turns on the way to the shocking climatic ending. I'll admit to having the killer on my radar but was never one hundred percent sure until the big reveal.
WHEN I'M DEAD is a well-crafted, heart pounding thriller sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats. The author's ability to strand characters and readers in super creepy, haunting scenes sets off warning bells that increase as the story progresses. Fans of highly atmospheric crime thrillers are going to love this one.
Many thanks to Minotaur Books for an advanced reading copy of this title which is scheduled for release on Oct. 31, 2023. This is a great read for Halloween! All opinions expressed are my own. This review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and is now available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews.
WHEN I'M DEAD is a gripping, domestic crime story concentrated around a family in crisis. Rowan, the town medical examiner, and husband Axel, a homicide detective, have demanding professions that command their attention at a moment's notice much to the chagrin and resentment of their moody teenage daughter Chloe. When her parents are called away in the middle of her performance in the school play, they leave Chloe with another thoughtless, impulsive apology and instructions to get a ride home with their neighbor. Heartbroken and in tears over them choosing work over her yet again, Chloe chooses to walk home alone in the dark not realizing her parents are investigating the brutal murder of one of Chloe's friends. Rowan arrives home later expecting to find her daughter asleep, but Chloe is nowhere to be found. It's apparent she never made it home. Someone is murdering teenagers . . . is Chloe a victim? Rowan recalls her daughter's last words to her as they left her crying in the theatre - "you'll love me more when I'm dead." A premonition or warning? They have one dead girl and another missing and as readers soon learn, Rowan has dark secrets of her own. Has her past come calling?
Dark, gritty and highly visual, WHEN I'M DEAD unfolds through multiple points of view via alternating chapters which are riveting. The narrators include Rowan, Axel and Libby, the next-door neighbor's socially awkward daughter who is bullied at school. Morrissey sets the perfect spooky scene with Halloween approaching, haunted houses, and falling blood red leaves adding to a dark tone of malice suffocating a fading, rundown town many people dream of escaping one day. The pace escalates steadily as accusations surface about Chloe and her friends implicating their involvement in some unsavory activities, leaving her parents shell shocked and wondering if they ever knew their daughter at all. The author does an excellent job keeping readers off-kilter by shifting focus to several red herrings as the list of suspects is ever changing. The characters are complex and believable, having little trouble earning readers' empathy with their increasing anxiety and desperation. Morrissey is proving to be an expert at creating highly atmospheric scenes that threaten to swallow characters and readers up as they maneuver all the dark twists and turns on the way to the shocking climatic ending. I'll admit to having the killer on my radar but was never one hundred percent sure until the big reveal.
WHEN I'M DEAD is a well-crafted, heart pounding thriller sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats. The author's ability to strand characters and readers in super creepy, haunting scenes sets off warning bells that increase as the story progresses. Fans of highly atmospheric crime thrillers are going to love this one.
Many thanks to Minotaur Books for an advanced reading copy of this title which is scheduled for release on Oct. 31, 2023. This is a great read for Halloween! All opinions expressed are my own. This review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and is now available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews.
September 21, 2023
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Hannah Morrissey, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
In a series that is both impactful and full of mystery, Hannah Morrissey continues with another chilling story set in Black Harbor, Wisconsin. A new murder, new protagonists, but the same small-town feel fills this third novel. Morrissey effectively paints yet another angle of the town’s goings-on, where a killer is targeting teenage girls and fueled by rumours that keep the community buzzing.
The shrill phone call on a chilly night can only mean one thing for Medical Examiner Rowan Winthorp; a body awaits her. Rowan and her husband, Black Habor PD Detective Axel Winthorp, are forced to investigate the death of their daughter’s best friend. Madison Caldwell is found on a path, her teeth knocked out, with few clues as to who might have done it. It is only hours later that everything hits home when Chloe Winthorp fails to turn up at home. Is the killer targeting their next victim?
As the clues begin piling up, Rowan and Axel begin to see a possible theory. With Chloe scorned by many—including Madison—for getting the lead in the school play, there are rumors that she is sleeping with the drama teacher. Black Habor is small, so talk moves swiftly and many begin whispering about the possibility that Chloe is not as innocent as some would think. These rumors drive a wedge between Rowan and Axel, who must stay calm outwardly as their lives are coming apart.
With a long-ago event in Rowan’s life leaving her to wonder if this is karma, a neighbour might hold the key to knowing the truth about the killings, the murdeter, and Chloe herself. Still missing, Rowan and Axel can only hope that they will get answers soon and find some justice, as the bodies continue to mount. A great addition to a series that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.
Hannah Morrissey has done well with this series, using the setting—Black Harbor, Wisconsin—as a commonality, rather than protagonists. Morrissey explores different aspects of the town and its residents, painting a dark and macabre picture of those who live and work within its parameters. A strong narrative base helps fuel a great story. Told from a number of perspectives, the story comes to life effectively through the eyes of multiple characters. Those same characters are well-established and provide new and interesting sides of the community’s make up. Each of the three books has placed its focus on different people, with a few repetitive names and roles. In a story that is wrapped in a veil of mystery, the plot development is key, as Morrissey crafts a chilling set of twists before revealing the truth and leaving the reader gasping. There is something about Morrissey’s writing that has me hooked and wanting more. Black Habor is both eerie and inviting for the interested reader. Let’s hope Hannah Morrissey has more to offer soon.
Kudos, Madam Morrissey, for a chilling tale that keeps building the Black Harbor theme effectively.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
In a series that is both impactful and full of mystery, Hannah Morrissey continues with another chilling story set in Black Harbor, Wisconsin. A new murder, new protagonists, but the same small-town feel fills this third novel. Morrissey effectively paints yet another angle of the town’s goings-on, where a killer is targeting teenage girls and fueled by rumours that keep the community buzzing.
The shrill phone call on a chilly night can only mean one thing for Medical Examiner Rowan Winthorp; a body awaits her. Rowan and her husband, Black Habor PD Detective Axel Winthorp, are forced to investigate the death of their daughter’s best friend. Madison Caldwell is found on a path, her teeth knocked out, with few clues as to who might have done it. It is only hours later that everything hits home when Chloe Winthorp fails to turn up at home. Is the killer targeting their next victim?
As the clues begin piling up, Rowan and Axel begin to see a possible theory. With Chloe scorned by many—including Madison—for getting the lead in the school play, there are rumors that she is sleeping with the drama teacher. Black Habor is small, so talk moves swiftly and many begin whispering about the possibility that Chloe is not as innocent as some would think. These rumors drive a wedge between Rowan and Axel, who must stay calm outwardly as their lives are coming apart.
With a long-ago event in Rowan’s life leaving her to wonder if this is karma, a neighbour might hold the key to knowing the truth about the killings, the murdeter, and Chloe herself. Still missing, Rowan and Axel can only hope that they will get answers soon and find some justice, as the bodies continue to mount. A great addition to a series that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.
Hannah Morrissey has done well with this series, using the setting—Black Harbor, Wisconsin—as a commonality, rather than protagonists. Morrissey explores different aspects of the town and its residents, painting a dark and macabre picture of those who live and work within its parameters. A strong narrative base helps fuel a great story. Told from a number of perspectives, the story comes to life effectively through the eyes of multiple characters. Those same characters are well-established and provide new and interesting sides of the community’s make up. Each of the three books has placed its focus on different people, with a few repetitive names and roles. In a story that is wrapped in a veil of mystery, the plot development is key, as Morrissey crafts a chilling set of twists before revealing the truth and leaving the reader gasping. There is something about Morrissey’s writing that has me hooked and wanting more. Black Habor is both eerie and inviting for the interested reader. Let’s hope Hannah Morrissey has more to offer soon.
Kudos, Madam Morrissey, for a chilling tale that keeps building the Black Harbor theme effectively.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
August 29, 2023
I struggled with this one - I wanted to like it, but there were some things that made that hard for me. One was the way that the town is the most dangerous, crime-ridden, terrible place, but all these rich people are letting their kids wander around a dark forest alone at any time of day or night? It was hard to see the town as a place where these people all lived alongside all of the ways that it was described as terrible. If this was a book about poorer people who had no choices, or about criminals ,it would have been a little easier to swallow, but as it stood, this part just didn’t work for me. The other thing I didn’t love was how heavy-handed the author was with the clues about the killer - they just kept getting piled on, one after the other, to the point where you wondered how these people could be detectives and not see what was going on - and with how much the teenagers kept secret in the face of violent murders. Yes, teenagers don’t want to talk to adults, but if their classmates are being killed like this, I think they’d be a bit more open to talking it through. With all of this, it was hard to like the characters or find the story really believable, so ultimately this one was a miss for me. I did finish it, though, so it at least kept me entertained enough to want to get to the end (and I am one to abandon books, so that says something).
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review
October 30, 2023
“When I’m Dead” is the third book in the loosely linked Black Harbor series by Hannah Morrissey. This one involves a couple of mysterious attacks on teen girls and the disappearance of another, all of whom seem to have been “frenemies” of a sort. Mean Girls vibe! What’s behind it all?
To make matters worse, the father of the missing girl is a detective with the Black Harbor Police and the mother is the city’s medical examiner, which adds a layer of tension and complexity to the investigation. Apparently the Black Harbor Police Department is so short-staffed that they actually allow the father to participate in the investigation! I was very surprised at that and I’m not sure how realistic that would be, but at least they tried to make sure that he always had another police office with him.
This would be a great seasonal read, as there is a lot of Halloween-related atmosphere.
FYI for those who worry about books in a series: this one is fully able to be read as a standalone. There’s not much that links the three books other than that they all take place in Black Harbor, Wisconsin.
I loved the previous book in the series, The Widowmaker, but for some reason, I just didn’t get into this one as much. Since I was sent a physical ARC, my husband also read it and he liked it more than I did, so maybe mine is a minority opinion.
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
To make matters worse, the father of the missing girl is a detective with the Black Harbor Police and the mother is the city’s medical examiner, which adds a layer of tension and complexity to the investigation. Apparently the Black Harbor Police Department is so short-staffed that they actually allow the father to participate in the investigation! I was very surprised at that and I’m not sure how realistic that would be, but at least they tried to make sure that he always had another police office with him.
This would be a great seasonal read, as there is a lot of Halloween-related atmosphere.
FYI for those who worry about books in a series: this one is fully able to be read as a standalone. There’s not much that links the three books other than that they all take place in Black Harbor, Wisconsin.
I loved the previous book in the series, The Widowmaker, but for some reason, I just didn’t get into this one as much. Since I was sent a physical ARC, my husband also read it and he liked it more than I did, so maybe mine is a minority opinion.
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
August 4, 2023
Fab plot with great pacing and execution.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don’t usually choose a murder suspense book because of the mystery portion. I choose the book because it may be heavier on the police procedural portion.
That means I’m usually pretty picky about the stories that I do select to read and review. But I also get both sides of the story, which to me enhances the thrill.
It has to be a strong writer that can give us both sides with clarity and precision, which to me enhances the story all the way around.
When I’m Dead was a tough choice for me to make when it came to deciding whether I was going to read it or not. Books dealing with child crimes I usually pass on, but this one was different due to the medical examiner storyline aspect.
Heavy on the crime, the gruesome discoveries are quite detailed, and the story focused on the personal side of the victims. So it was a little light on the police procedural portion I was looking for, but the author certainly spared no expense when it came to details of the scene, the suspects, and the back stories that come out during the hunt for the perpetrator.
This is the first time I have read this author, and she brings us a fabulous plot with great pacing and wonderful execution of the story. She keeps you on the edge of your seat as they dive in trying to find the who and the why these crimes and devastating deaths are occurring in their neighborhood.
With detailed descriptions, gritty visualization, and plenty of drama and twists to keep you completely engaged, When I’m Dead is a mystery and suspense story with a great twist at the end. Definitely, one to read over and over to catch all of the details.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
full review - https://amidlifewife.com/when-im-dead...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don’t usually choose a murder suspense book because of the mystery portion. I choose the book because it may be heavier on the police procedural portion.
That means I’m usually pretty picky about the stories that I do select to read and review. But I also get both sides of the story, which to me enhances the thrill.
It has to be a strong writer that can give us both sides with clarity and precision, which to me enhances the story all the way around.
When I’m Dead was a tough choice for me to make when it came to deciding whether I was going to read it or not. Books dealing with child crimes I usually pass on, but this one was different due to the medical examiner storyline aspect.
Heavy on the crime, the gruesome discoveries are quite detailed, and the story focused on the personal side of the victims. So it was a little light on the police procedural portion I was looking for, but the author certainly spared no expense when it came to details of the scene, the suspects, and the back stories that come out during the hunt for the perpetrator.
This is the first time I have read this author, and she brings us a fabulous plot with great pacing and wonderful execution of the story. She keeps you on the edge of your seat as they dive in trying to find the who and the why these crimes and devastating deaths are occurring in their neighborhood.
With detailed descriptions, gritty visualization, and plenty of drama and twists to keep you completely engaged, When I’m Dead is a mystery and suspense story with a great twist at the end. Definitely, one to read over and over to catch all of the details.
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* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
full review - https://amidlifewife.com/when-im-dead...
October 6, 2023
Welcome back to Black Harbor! Safe to say it’s a deliciously dark place to read about, but I’m not sure I’d want to live there.
I do however love to live between the pages of a HANNAH MORRISSEY book & WHEN I’M DEAD had me from the start.
The central character of the series is Black Harbor, a place ripe with all kinds of crime. I love a police investigation especially when it’s not afraid of going to a gritty place.
WHEN I’M DEAD opens with the news of a teenage girl’s murder. Medical Examiner, Rowan Winthrop, is called to the scene and learns the girl is her daughter Chloe’s best friend. Also on the scene is Homicide Detective + Rowan’s husband, Axel.
The murder itself is shocking. But the nightmare really begins when Rowan tries to call Chloe. She doesn’t answer her phone. She’s not at the neighbor’s house. And when Rowan takes off running for their home she finds Chloe’s bedroom empty - and the window open.
What are the odds that one girl would be murdered and another disappears on the same night? Rowan and Axel feverishly try to find Chloe and track down a killer. Battling grief and fear, they can’t stop their minds from going to the darkest of places about who their daughter is, where she is and what she is capable of doing.
This book centers around complex family dynamics and is filled with darkness + desolation + desperation (love 🖤). I was gripped by the writing, the story and the characters. Unraveling secrets and finding clues. Following evidence and chasing down leads. This town is no stranger to terrible things and is haunted by its grim history.
You can absolutely jump into this book first. Plus it’s set in October so hello, perfect timing! And when you’re done I’d highly suggest going back to read the first two books. There’s one character who is a through-line for the books, whose part varies in each book (from big to supporting). For me part of the fun is reading all the books and seeing the references and call backs to the different stories.
Huge thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur & St. Martin’s Press for the eARC. Can’t wait for my preorder to take its place on my shelf!
I do however love to live between the pages of a HANNAH MORRISSEY book & WHEN I’M DEAD had me from the start.
The central character of the series is Black Harbor, a place ripe with all kinds of crime. I love a police investigation especially when it’s not afraid of going to a gritty place.
WHEN I’M DEAD opens with the news of a teenage girl’s murder. Medical Examiner, Rowan Winthrop, is called to the scene and learns the girl is her daughter Chloe’s best friend. Also on the scene is Homicide Detective + Rowan’s husband, Axel.
The murder itself is shocking. But the nightmare really begins when Rowan tries to call Chloe. She doesn’t answer her phone. She’s not at the neighbor’s house. And when Rowan takes off running for their home she finds Chloe’s bedroom empty - and the window open.
What are the odds that one girl would be murdered and another disappears on the same night? Rowan and Axel feverishly try to find Chloe and track down a killer. Battling grief and fear, they can’t stop their minds from going to the darkest of places about who their daughter is, where she is and what she is capable of doing.
This book centers around complex family dynamics and is filled with darkness + desolation + desperation (love 🖤). I was gripped by the writing, the story and the characters. Unraveling secrets and finding clues. Following evidence and chasing down leads. This town is no stranger to terrible things and is haunted by its grim history.
You can absolutely jump into this book first. Plus it’s set in October so hello, perfect timing! And when you’re done I’d highly suggest going back to read the first two books. There’s one character who is a through-line for the books, whose part varies in each book (from big to supporting). For me part of the fun is reading all the books and seeing the references and call backs to the different stories.
Huge thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur & St. Martin’s Press for the eARC. Can’t wait for my preorder to take its place on my shelf!
September 9, 2023
I didn’t realize until I finished When I’m Dead that it was #3 in a series. This crime fiction novel worked fine as a stand-alone, however. For those who like crime stories with a touch of gothic atmosphere, this book provides a good storyline with plenty of plot turns and possible suspects. The investigation of the murders of two high school girls and disappearance of another captured my interest and attention. I enjoyed the chapters from the point of view of Libby, a high school friend of the missing girl. And though I had a pretty good inkling of who the culprit was when that person was first introduced, I couldn’t guess the motivation for the crimes.
What I found distracting is the way the author manipulates the atmosphere and plot through obvious statements and implausible scenarios. First, she sets up the dismal creepiness of Black Harbor by continually (I mean, in practically every chapter) telling us how violent, bleak, and crime-ridden the town is; it's so bad everyone wants to find ways to escape. But readers are supposed to take the author’s word for it because we don’t actually see examples of the other crimes and acts of violence that make Black Harbor significantly different from any other small town. The author also wants to make sure we realize that the story takes place in autumn. A person could get pretty lit playing a drinking game based on the number of times she mentions the presence of scarlet (and red and brown) leaves.
Second, the author expects readers to believe that the parents of a missing girl would be professionally involved in the investigation of her disappearance and the murders of her friends. Blatant conflict of interest. Apparently, they must be included because there are so, so many murders in Black Harbor--all the time--and the police force needs everyone they can get. And those parents don’t act the way I would expect from people whose daughter is missing and possibly, quite probably, dead. They seem much more concerned with their marital issues and beating up suspects than they do with actively searching for their little girl.
Despite these distractions, When I'm Dead provides an engaging plot with plenty going on to compel readers to the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press–Minotaur Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book. My review is voluntary and reflects my honest opinion.
What I found distracting is the way the author manipulates the atmosphere and plot through obvious statements and implausible scenarios. First, she sets up the dismal creepiness of Black Harbor by continually (I mean, in practically every chapter) telling us how violent, bleak, and crime-ridden the town is; it's so bad everyone wants to find ways to escape. But readers are supposed to take the author’s word for it because we don’t actually see examples of the other crimes and acts of violence that make Black Harbor significantly different from any other small town. The author also wants to make sure we realize that the story takes place in autumn. A person could get pretty lit playing a drinking game based on the number of times she mentions the presence of scarlet (and red and brown) leaves.
Second, the author expects readers to believe that the parents of a missing girl would be professionally involved in the investigation of her disappearance and the murders of her friends. Blatant conflict of interest. Apparently, they must be included because there are so, so many murders in Black Harbor--all the time--and the police force needs everyone they can get. And those parents don’t act the way I would expect from people whose daughter is missing and possibly, quite probably, dead. They seem much more concerned with their marital issues and beating up suspects than they do with actively searching for their little girl.
Despite these distractions, When I'm Dead provides an engaging plot with plenty going on to compel readers to the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press–Minotaur Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book. My review is voluntary and reflects my honest opinion.
December 13, 2023
This is such a wonderful thriller!! It’s full of twists and turns. As soon as you think you have it figured out…you’re off in a different direction!! The characters are believable and fit together perfectly! I will definitely be reading more books by Hannah Morrissey!!
September 18, 2023
Thank you so much to Minotaur Books and Hannah Morrissey for my copy of this book! It was much anticipated and exactly what I needed. The book is about medical examiner Rowan and her detective husband Axel, and their active jobs in Black Harbor. One night they are both called to the murder of their daughter’s best friend, and hours later they discover their daughter Chloe is also missing. Now Rowan and Axel must question how well they know their daughter and the people in her orbit.
Thoughts: This book was gruesome and chilling and EVERYTHING I wanted. This my first book from Hannah Morrissey and even though this is a series, it was perfect as a stand alone. I read this fast-paced police procedural in a few hours and the story kept me engaged the whole time. I loved the setting of Black Harbor and each point of view was unique and interesting to read. There were lots of great suspects and threads to pull on as the story went along.
However, the reveal was so obvious and the killer was clear from the first time they were mentioned. I loved the tension that built in this book and the police procedural elements, as well as the suspicious characters. Even though I knew exactly what was going to happen, it was a BLAST to read and I loved every minute of it. 4.5 stars for this fun story!
Thoughts: This book was gruesome and chilling and EVERYTHING I wanted. This my first book from Hannah Morrissey and even though this is a series, it was perfect as a stand alone. I read this fast-paced police procedural in a few hours and the story kept me engaged the whole time. I loved the setting of Black Harbor and each point of view was unique and interesting to read. There were lots of great suspects and threads to pull on as the story went along.
However, the reveal was so obvious and the killer was clear from the first time they were mentioned. I loved the tension that built in this book and the police procedural elements, as well as the suspicious characters. Even though I knew exactly what was going to happen, it was a BLAST to read and I loved every minute of it. 4.5 stars for this fun story!
August 14, 2024
One girl is missing, two more brutally murdered. As medical examiner Rowan Winthorp examines the corpse of Madison Caldwell, she recalls memories of her life in Black Harbor. Madison had been Rowan's daughter Chloe's, best friend. Madison had been found strangled. All Rowan's attempts to contact Chloe have failed. Rowan soon realizes that Chloe also is missing.
I hadn't read the first two books relating to the characters of this small Wisconsin town ...but maybe I should have read them before this one. This story is alive with gruesome twists, strange happenings, and menace seeping from everywhere. There are characters like Libby Lucas...the strange teenager who dabbles in taxidermy and harbors several secrets related to the murder. The same can be said for the neighborhood Casanova, Reeves Singh, who had been Madison’s boyfriend. Alex, Chloe’s father, who is a veteran homicide detective in the Black Harbor Police Department, is angry as he charges into the investigation of his daughter’s disappearance. The investigation takes an unsettling and twisted turn when we learn that Chloe was being bullied by Madison and may have actually had an affair with her drama teacher, Mark Cutler, who by the way is also now missing. Both Rowan and Alex are reflecting more now on the recent changes in Chloe’s personality...changes that they had previously pretty much ignored. Then another teen victim raises the possibility of a serial killer.
The more that Rowan and Axel dig, the more creepy characters are revealed on the pathway to the grisly solution. While the crime subject here packs a chilling and totally believable hit...I wasn't entirely convinced about the high level of anxiety and deep soul-searching of the parents. It seemed to have been how they thought they were expected to behave and feel but totally lacked both the reality and the depth that any parent... or any other normal human being would have felt when confronted with the level of extreme violence that this serial killer displayed.
I hadn't read the first two books relating to the characters of this small Wisconsin town ...but maybe I should have read them before this one. This story is alive with gruesome twists, strange happenings, and menace seeping from everywhere. There are characters like Libby Lucas...the strange teenager who dabbles in taxidermy and harbors several secrets related to the murder. The same can be said for the neighborhood Casanova, Reeves Singh, who had been Madison’s boyfriend. Alex, Chloe’s father, who is a veteran homicide detective in the Black Harbor Police Department, is angry as he charges into the investigation of his daughter’s disappearance. The investigation takes an unsettling and twisted turn when we learn that Chloe was being bullied by Madison and may have actually had an affair with her drama teacher, Mark Cutler, who by the way is also now missing. Both Rowan and Alex are reflecting more now on the recent changes in Chloe’s personality...changes that they had previously pretty much ignored. Then another teen victim raises the possibility of a serial killer.
The more that Rowan and Axel dig, the more creepy characters are revealed on the pathway to the grisly solution. While the crime subject here packs a chilling and totally believable hit...I wasn't entirely convinced about the high level of anxiety and deep soul-searching of the parents. It seemed to have been how they thought they were expected to behave and feel but totally lacked both the reality and the depth that any parent... or any other normal human being would have felt when confronted with the level of extreme violence that this serial killer displayed.
August 22, 2023
When one of Chloe’s, their daughter’s, classmates is murdered, police detective Alex and medical examiner Rowan are called to the grisly scene. When they return home, they realize that Chloe is missing. As the investigation unfolds, they learn that Chloe had been the victim of social media shaming by the deceased; could Chloe be involved in the crime.? Meanwhile, a secret from Rowan’s past haunts her into thinking it may karma.
The third in the Black Harbor series; each book has independent characters, so this works as a standalone.
Morrissey paints a gritty picture of Black Harbor, a town that most people want to leave. The approach of Halloween, a haunted house and falling leaves from the giant red sugar maple add to the atmosphere. Told from different POVs, there are twists and turns in this macabre story. There are quite a few red herrings here and although I identified the culprit as soon as (s)he was introduced, the twist at the end was unexpected. There are a few sub themes here that ignite third rail emotions. Some police procedures were questionable, but that didn’t take away from the overall story.
Thanks to #netgalley and @stmartinspress #Minotaur for the ARC.
TW: Gruesome details, child murders
The third in the Black Harbor series; each book has independent characters, so this works as a standalone.
Morrissey paints a gritty picture of Black Harbor, a town that most people want to leave. The approach of Halloween, a haunted house and falling leaves from the giant red sugar maple add to the atmosphere. Told from different POVs, there are twists and turns in this macabre story. There are quite a few red herrings here and although I identified the culprit as soon as (s)he was introduced, the twist at the end was unexpected. There are a few sub themes here that ignite third rail emotions. Some police procedures were questionable, but that didn’t take away from the overall story.
Thanks to #netgalley and @stmartinspress #Minotaur for the ARC.
TW: Gruesome details, child murders
May 2, 2023
When I'm Dead is Book #3 in Hannah Morrissey's Black Harbor Mysteries
Publish date 10/31/2023 4.5⭐
In the town of Black Harbor one girl is dead and another is missing. Rowan, the town's medical examiner is called to a crime scene only to discover that her daughter's best friend has been murdered. With Rowan's husband investigating the crime, Rowan returns home to check on Chloe but finds her window open and Chloe no where to be found. As the clues begin to pile up Rowan and Axle's relationship becomes strained, and they start to question if they know their daughter at all. Has she been kidnapped? Is she dead? Or has she been taking out her classmates one at a time?
This thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat and keep you guessing until the very end. A suspenseful murder mystery that will have you questioning almost every character. You won't want to put it down.
Thank you Netgalley and St. Marten's Press for this ARC for an honest review.
Publish date 10/31/2023 4.5⭐
In the town of Black Harbor one girl is dead and another is missing. Rowan, the town's medical examiner is called to a crime scene only to discover that her daughter's best friend has been murdered. With Rowan's husband investigating the crime, Rowan returns home to check on Chloe but finds her window open and Chloe no where to be found. As the clues begin to pile up Rowan and Axle's relationship becomes strained, and they start to question if they know their daughter at all. Has she been kidnapped? Is she dead? Or has she been taking out her classmates one at a time?
This thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat and keep you guessing until the very end. A suspenseful murder mystery that will have you questioning almost every character. You won't want to put it down.
Thank you Netgalley and St. Marten's Press for this ARC for an honest review.
September 8, 2023
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: November 7, 2023
“When I'm Dead” is the third novel in the “Black Harbour” series by Hannah Morrissey. In no way do you need to read any of the previous novels in order to follow along (I, myself, have only read this one and its predecessor, “The Widowmaker”) but I recommend doing so all the same.
Medical examiner Rowan Winthorp is used to grisly scenes and dead bodies. But nothing quite prepares her for the chilly night when she discovers the murdered and mutilated body of her daughter’s best friend, butchered and left in a gulley. Things go from bad to worse when Rowan, and her husband, police officer Axel, realize that their daughter, Chloe, is missing. Haunted by a tragic mistake in her past, Rowan wonders if she is finally paying the price for her biggest regret. Has karma come to collect?
Although Rowan and Axel are the main protagonists here, the story has some chapters narrated by various other characters, including Libby, Chloe’s neighbour. As each character is introduced, they provide an interesting viewpoint that makes them a suspect in the police’s eyes- and the readers. The suspense slowly builds as the case unfolds and the ending was both unexpected and believable.
Black Harbour is a town where everyone is (sometimes literally) dying to get out, as the crime rates, specifically murder, skyrocket. As a cold and dying factory town, Morrissey sets the perfect stage for the dead bodies to start piling up. Black Harbour on its own is enough to cover you in goosebumps, and that’s before young women are murdered. It is the ideal location for such dirty deeds, and I was riveted.
“Dead” is addictive, with a well-developed plot and a creepy setting, it pulled me in from the first page. Morrissey’s brilliant coupling of Medical Examiner Rowan and police officer Axel provides a complicated family dynamic to an already entertaining plot. I need to go back and read the first novel in this series (Hello, Transcriber) and you better believe I’ll be watching for more from the Winthorp pair!
Expected publication date: November 7, 2023
“When I'm Dead” is the third novel in the “Black Harbour” series by Hannah Morrissey. In no way do you need to read any of the previous novels in order to follow along (I, myself, have only read this one and its predecessor, “The Widowmaker”) but I recommend doing so all the same.
Medical examiner Rowan Winthorp is used to grisly scenes and dead bodies. But nothing quite prepares her for the chilly night when she discovers the murdered and mutilated body of her daughter’s best friend, butchered and left in a gulley. Things go from bad to worse when Rowan, and her husband, police officer Axel, realize that their daughter, Chloe, is missing. Haunted by a tragic mistake in her past, Rowan wonders if she is finally paying the price for her biggest regret. Has karma come to collect?
Although Rowan and Axel are the main protagonists here, the story has some chapters narrated by various other characters, including Libby, Chloe’s neighbour. As each character is introduced, they provide an interesting viewpoint that makes them a suspect in the police’s eyes- and the readers. The suspense slowly builds as the case unfolds and the ending was both unexpected and believable.
Black Harbour is a town where everyone is (sometimes literally) dying to get out, as the crime rates, specifically murder, skyrocket. As a cold and dying factory town, Morrissey sets the perfect stage for the dead bodies to start piling up. Black Harbour on its own is enough to cover you in goosebumps, and that’s before young women are murdered. It is the ideal location for such dirty deeds, and I was riveted.
“Dead” is addictive, with a well-developed plot and a creepy setting, it pulled me in from the first page. Morrissey’s brilliant coupling of Medical Examiner Rowan and police officer Axel provides a complicated family dynamic to an already entertaining plot. I need to go back and read the first novel in this series (Hello, Transcriber) and you better believe I’ll be watching for more from the Winthorp pair!
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