The fourth book in the Black Harbor series, The Unlucky Ones, publishes this month. I wanted to reread the first three books so that I would be sure that I remembered everything that happened in the series. Hello, Transcriber was where it all began and somehow, I never posted a review…… so here goes.
Hazel is a character that just broke my heart. Her husband is shall we say controlling and you can feel fear radiating off of Hazel. She gets a job working for the police department as a transcriber, typing the details of cases. Black Harbor is a dark place. Overrun with crime and the best description to me is that it is a town that will suck out your soul, day after day. That is if it doesn’t kill you.
Hazel is transcribing detective Nikolai Kole’s cases, and she feels an attraction to him, to his voice. When they meet, well, they are drawn to each other. But every minute of pleasure has ramifications. It is Black Harbor after all. Nothing against Kole,I mean Hazel’s story would not have progressed without him. But it was Hazel who kept me glued to the pages.
Is there any chance that this relationship could lead Hazel to a better place? I was hopeful and yet in the back of my mind, I always thought, only bad things win in Black Harbor. I was glued to the pages. A great start to what I hope will be an ongoing series.

"Hello, Transcriber" by Hannah Morrissey is the first book in the "Black Harbor" series.

I received a digital copy of the book from St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books via Netgalley.
Opinions from this review are completely my own.

This is a mystery thriller full of suspense about a police transcriber and aspiring writer.
The story is told only from Hazel's POV and it makes you feel like you in her mind.
I like the writing style, the pace of the action and the twists in the story.

While working as transcriber for the Black Harbor Police, Hazel gets infatuated with detective Nikolai Kole and they have an affair (she is married).
Hazel is a complex character, that goes through a lot. Even if I do not agree with everything she did, I can understand her.
Nikolai is a mysterious character and we only learn about him through the interactions with Hazel.

Overall I enjoyed reading this book and I will continue the series.

This book was just okay for me.

Hello, Transcriber follows Hazel Greenlee, a police transcriber who gets pulled into the investigation of multiple drug overdoses and the search for the elusive drug dealer Candy Man. She begins working with investigator Nikolai Kole who she falls in love with. Hazel's next door neighbor and husbands friend confesses to hiding the body of one of the young boys who overdosed on drugs and Hazel decides not to tell Kole about her personal connection to the case.

I was really excited to read this book because I thought that being about a police transcriber would be really interesting, especially since this is based off Morrissey's real-life experience as a transcriber. While Morrissey's writing was good and she did a wonderful job capturing the dreary atmosphere of Black Harbor, I did not feel that there was much mystery or suspense while reading the book. I also did not like the insta love that Hazel had for Kole and I really wanted to DNF when she engaged in an intimate relationship with Kole (cheating is usually an instant DNF for me). I decided to keep reading because I wanted to see how the book ended. While there were some twists that I did not see coming, I felt a little underwhelmed when it was over.

I have not decided yet, if I will keep reading more from the Black Harbor series. I may give one more book a try since I already own it and see what happens.

Thank you @minotaur_books and @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the #gifted copy.

• Synopsis
Hello, Transcriber follows Hazel, an aspiring author turned police transcriber in one of Wisconsin's most crime ridden cities. Every night she transcribes report after report detailing some horrific events.
The line between professional & personal seems to fade as the voice of Investigator Nikolai Kole reels Hazel in, then she discovers her neighbor is involved in a serious crime. Soon she finds herself way more involved in the investigating process than she ever anticipated.

• My Thoughts
Haunting, gritty, & dark - this debut into the world of Black Harbor had me hooked from the first page. As poetic as it was suspenseful, with lines had me reaching for my highlighter. The atmosphere is chilling & creepy. The author paints a bleak, frozen, melancholic scene I could perfectly imagine.
Hazel was an odd narrator, but I was rooting for her despite of (or maybe because of) her flaws. Plus the transcriber POV was such a unique perspective. If you like a little spice in your thriller (or a little thriller in your spice) this one is definitely for you! I already can't wait to read the next 2 books in the Black Harbor series.

• Read if you like:
- Police Procedurals
- Wintery atmospheric settings
- Morally grey characters
- Awesome audiobook option
- Unique writing with metaphors galore
- Thrillers with a little spice

Wow this had impeccable dark crime fiction vibes. The town, the atmosphere, the characters were just so chilling and I imagine the whole book happening in the twilight, or a too dark room. I often questioned the sanity of the MC Hazel as she seems unconcerned for her own safety, and I loved that. All of the characters seemed unreliable and I had no idea what would happen at the turn of each page. love the transcriber aspect as the narrator and enjoyed the ride. The ending I read before bed and it was A MISTAKE. Loved it and can't wait for more of creepy Black Harbor.

I will be honest when I say this was absolutely not what I expected. Yes, it’s about a police transcriber, as expected. But wow, it’s more than that. I feel that the main character is somewhat morally grey, which I typically enjoy for my MCs. This definitely kept me guessing!

My reason for four stars is at times the tone was overly melancholic. I did find myself waiting for things to shift a little. But overall, great read! I’ve never read anything quite like it.

This book was not what I expected at all. The action and suspense was a build up rather than in your face which made me want to read more, characters were well rounded. It was slow moving in the beginning but you won't be disappointed at all in the book Will definitely read more from this author

Thanks so much for the review copy, which I’m finally getting to years later. I apologize for the delay! This wasn’t my favorite read and I struggled to connect with the protagonist, so I don’t plan to continue the series. But I appreciate the ARC!

A unique story line that takes a look at the depressing life of a police transcriber for the Black Harbor Police Department. Hazel Greenlee sees no positive in her life, she lives in a dark place that never sees the sun. When she accepts a position as a police transcriber, she decides that writing a book on the countless crimes that she witnesses through her writing will bring her out of her doldrums. Partnering will a police detective as he follows clues into drug related crimes, Hazel dreams of a block buster book but finds herself in danger that she may not be able to come back from.

HELLO, TRANSCRIBER is built in layers as Hazel's life becomes more despondent until she tries to help cath the Candy Man. Hannah Morrissey brings Hazel's life into focus as the walls close in on her. She sees her partnership with Kole as a huge step up but instead faces a hardcore serial killer. A great thriller that will keep you hooked until the end.

After trying to pick up HELLO, TRANSCRIBER a few times, I thought I might give up with this one—but I love a good investigative story! With a plot involving a topic I’m not familiar with (a female police transcriber), I predicted there may be something unique in store.

Initially, the story about the troubled main character with secrets, feels very dark and gritty. I loved the descriptions of the small town this takes place in. There are some suspenseful elements and I was excited to uncover clues to the crime which appeared to be central to the plot. But unfortunately, this story took a crazy turn and essentially became a horrible, trashy romance.

I am giving 3-stars because this book would be decent minus the romantic elements. It was a bit of a page-turner overall, but that and the ominous small town atmosphere were the still the only redeeming aspects.

Thank you to @minotaur_books and @netgalley for my advanced e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Hello transcriber, I’d like a ‘crime’ book without the cringe worthy affair please

I would’ve loved this if it had been more focused on the crime and the transcriber job and less focused on the romance

Favorite Quotes:

His head moves in small jerks, like a robot malfunctioning at the end of its battery life.

Old Will reminds me of a twentieth-century Rip Van Winkle who fell asleep at the end of the Vietnam War only to wake up two decades later in a mosh pit at a Metallica concert.

Clothes lie like deflated bodies, sprawled near his closet as though they’d crawled out of it.

If Shakespeare’s right that all the world’s a stage, then Elle is the leading lady and I am the stagehand who maneuvers the levers for the trapdoors and curtain, a master of smoke and mirrors who ensures each act runs so seamlessly that no one even notices me.

“Do you ever feel like you’re in the wrong story?”… “No,” he says, finally. “But,” his gaze shifts to me, his eyes taking in my cuts and bruises, the hollow thing I’ve become, “why don’t you just write a better one?”

My Review:

I am woefully years behind in my TBR pile and innocently pulled out this little gem to peruse before making my way to the author’s newest release in this series. I had no idea what I was in for but was soon kicking myself for my tardiness and sloth.

I was instantly consumed by Ms. Morrissey’s evocative prose as the first paragraph sucked me into a dark, itchy, and enthralling vortex of a troubled and crumbling community. Her characters were complicated, compelling, and multi-faceted. Each new person introduced brought a unique type of nightmare as they all seemed to be teetering between a train wreck and a dumpster fire. And I couldn’t get enough. Luckily for me, the second and third books are already locked and loaded on my beloved Kindle. The Widowmaker is currently beckoning.

Hazel Greenwood is not in a good place in her life. She is stuck in Black Harbor, Wisconsin, a dark and dingy city. She is in a loveless marriage to Tommy, who spends all his time hunting and fishing and drinking with the occupants of the other side of their duplex. Hazel had thought by now she'd be an author but that didn't work out either.

But she can type and gets a job as a police transcriber, working overnights in the deserted police station. She is good at her job and starts to take interest in the cases she writes up and the detectives that solve them. One in particular, Nick Case, catches her interest and he seems interested in her as well.

Nick is working several deaths. The first is a nine year old boy who overdosed on drugs and was disposed of in a dumpster. He suspects a drug dealer nicknamed The Candy Man and it turns out that Hannah's neighbor, Hank, was the one who put the child in the dumpster although he insists The Candy Man made him do it and he refuses to identify him. Then there is another overdose and then the death of Nick's best informant, a woman he is rumored to be having an affair with. As the deaths pile up and Hannah gets more entangled in the case and in Nick's company, she begins to believe she can solve the case and write a novel that will take her away from this life she hates.

This is a debut novel for Hannah Morrissey. She lives in Wisconsin and was an actual transcriber which lends her work authenticity. The pacing in this novel is spot on and there are twists and turns that keep the reader guessing. Hazel makes every mistake a woman in love can make and it almost costs her the life she wasn't sure she wanted. This book is recommended for mystery readers.

Hello, Transcriber is a dark, gritty, and atmospheric mystery that revolves around a woman who takes a job as a police transcriber. It takes a minute to get into the rhythm of the writing when Hazel is transcribing, but once you get that down, it's smooth sailing. The suspense builds and the author's writing draws you in. I've never read anything quite like this and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

While the title held a lot of promise, it did not deliver. I was mostly bored and didn't care about any of the characters. It was definitely heavier on the romance than a police investigation. (2.75/5)

Hello, Transcriber kept me interested all the way through. The cold, almost depressing setting was incredibly atmospheric and made me feel like I was actually there. I truly enjoyed that aspect of the book. The writing made me feel the struggles the characters were going through and helped me connect to them. I got through the book quickly because I just needed to know what would happen next. I did find the romance aspect overtook the story at times and I would have preferred a little less so that we could focus more on the case. But otherwise, I really enjoyed this book.

I don't know that I can properly articulate how much I loved this book. It brought everything I love about Nordic Noir together with a romance I couldn't he[p but root for. It was gritty, unapologetic, and downright addictive.

I thought Hazel's spiral to obsession over Nikolai Kole was very well written. It wasn't too far fetched or unbelievable. Morrissey was able to bring you to Hazel's level so you could understand it and make you as invested as she was.

The romance didn't take away from the rest of the story. Both sides complemented each other very well, handing out equally jaw-dropping plot twists on both ends.

I didn't know where this would go and for the most part, I let this story take me where it wanted while trying to make a few guesses here and there. I couldn't listen to this one fast enough. There were days where I would stay in my car a little longer just to sneak in a few pages before I had to work.

The Black Harbor series has easily become my favorite crime fiction series and I look forward to reading more!

As a former transcriptionist, this book was so unsettling. I did hope to like it more than I did but it was an enjoyable read.

HELLO, TRANSCRIBER, by Hannah Morrissey, is set in Black Harbor, Wisconsin, wherein Hazel Greenle starts her new job as a transcriber for the police department.

Though the position requires her to sign a non-disclosure agreement, as an inspiring writer, Greenle reflects on the words of wisdom handed down to her from a former College Instructor, ‘Write what you know.’ and so she does.

Greenle soon learns that Black Harbor, though a small town, is filled with Big City crime. As a transcriber, she is privy to secret information about a suspicious death involving a drug dealer known as the Candy Man.

Immersing herself so deeply in the case in search of fodder for her book, Greenle manages to get close to the lead detective, Nikolai Kole, and possibly—the killer.

Love This:

‘Write what you know is shit advice. Because life isn’t like it’s portrayed in books. Most of us aren’t heroes of our own story. We’re not villains, either. Worse, we’re ancillary characters of our own lives, who stand by and watch it crumble with zero power to change what happens on the next page.’

There are several intense moments throughout the book that kept me on my toes, constantly wondering who the killer is—Love It!

Recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press (Minotaur Books), for providing me with an eBook of HELLO, TRANSCRIBER, at the request of an honest review.

I DNF"d at 20%. I could not get into the story at all and was not connecting with any of the characters.