3.5 stars ---

We return to Black Harbor for a new crime and a new set of characters. I was disappointed by Hello, Transcriber but wanted to give this second crime novel a shot. It is not at all connected to the events of the first book, other than sharing one character.

This book is definitely haunting and gritty -- with an emotionally charged plot filled with many less than savory characters. Some parts still felt disorganized and unclear (for example, one of the characters describes having her phone stolen in one paragraph and then one page later describes a text she received on her phone....) but I was able to connect to the characters and the plot easier this go around than with Hello, Transcriber. I think this author is still finding her stride but I will continue to be along for the ride!

Having read the author’s debut, “Hello, Transcriber”, I was excited to read her latest. It is adult subject matter, dark and explicit, might be sensitive to some. It’s not necessary to have read the first.
This second mystery is again set in the frigid Lake Michigan area at Black Harbor. The small town has little to offer and while most can’t wait to escape, Morgan has come home. It’s just before Christmas time and she’s running from a troubled past. Morgan has dark demons, she’s starting over again. An unplanned detour to grab a candy bar and put gas in the tank puts her in the midst of a robbery and ends with a murdered officer.
The slain officer, Garrison, wasn’t just his partner, he was Investigator Ryan Hudson’s best friend. Procedure dictates Hudson not be involved in the murder investigation but, that doesn’t deter him. The chapters alternate between the main characters, Morgan and Hudson, as their paths cross and a twenty year old cold case resurfaces.
A fire destroyed Morgan’s former house, all she has left are horrible memories and a blackened key with a note referencing The Ruins. She’d bought a professional camera and is scheduled at the Reynolds wealthy mansion for a shoot at the family’s holiday gathering. Both her car and the camera equipment was stolen during the robbery. All her photos are gone.
The Reynolds family is large and full of their own secrets. The public perception has Eleanor Reynolds pegged a black widow. Her husband, Clive, disappeared twenty years ago, everyone thinks she got away with murder. Hudson follows some clues from his dead partner’s notes and gets sucked into a twisted murder plot. Is Clive really dead, or alive enjoying freedom from responsibilities? Is the wife, her new boyfriend, or the grown children suspects or grieving heirs? Millions can be a big motivator.
All the while Hudson keeps interviewing Morgan about his partner’s murder. She is holding back more then he can imagine. Morgan isn’t the most likable character. Sometimes she’s a victim and then an angry, vindictive, rage filled, revenge seeking lost soul. At times I was sympathetic of her circumstances, then I was appalled and disgusted. Hudson is drawn to her, but fighting his own demons and unbearable loss and pain.
There were quite a few unexpected twists, the plot was deep and filled with very well drawn characters. It should challenge your perception of people, certainly gave me pause, even when it was hard to read. The author dug deep to write this story.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance digital copy of “The Widowmaker” by Hannah Morrissey and to Minotaur Books. These are my honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily.

Just Awesome!
If you read Hello, Transcriber, you will immediately recognize Morrissey's writing style, gritty situations,
dysfunctional relationships, claustrophobic ---- but a steady hypnotic beat as the protagonist/s push forward. Nik Kole returns to the story as well as a bonus!

In The Widowmaker, Morgan Mori and Detective Ryan Hudson both narrow in on suspects for mysterious events and murderous activities that surround them. Set in Black Harbour again, there is sense of defeat, decay and almost complete anarchy in the town that Morgan has returned to, the same town the Ryan protects. Ryan is trying hard to be the best police detective he can be when his best friend is murdered at a gas station they had been surveilling. Before he become embroiled in the case, he is quickly assigned to a cold case that may turn out to be connected. This case however, seems to involve Morgan, who was at the scene when the policeman is murdered. Before his death he indicates that he seems to know her, which sends her spiralling.

Before long, everything begins to connect in this story and as each block slides into place you cannot avoid the sense of foreboding. If you like noir and gritty mysteries, complicated and broken heroes or just want an electric thriller that could stop your heart, The Widowmaker is for you!


#STMartin #HannahMorrissey #Minotaur #TheWidowmaker #HelloTranscriber

The writing is superb. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat. The characters development is outstanding. If you like psychological thrillers, this one is for you. So many plot twists, you won’t be able to put this book down. Adding the author to my must read books.

4.5⭐

“My Ruin: All roads lead back to home.”

A cryptic message left for struggling photographer Morgan Mori, at the site of her destroyed workspace in Chicago, leads her back to her hometown, crime-infested Black Harbor, Wisconsin where the “city’s grim atmosphere gnawed on people’s morals”.

Back home, Morgan is hired by the wealthy and influential Reynolds family to photograph the family Christmas party. The Reynolds family has its share of mystery and scandal surrounding them, ever since Clive Reynolds, disappeared twenty years ago without a trace. Everyone suspected his wife Eleanor of killing him for a hefty insurance payout - a crime that was not proven. However, Morgan finds the Reynolds family to be pleasant and welcoming. After the party, Morgan, stops at a gas station and witnesses a cop being shot to death by a masked assailant. The cop, Brix Garrison, before drawing his last breath seems to recognize her, which perplexes her. Morgan remains haunted by her horrific childhood characterized by abandonment, unimaginable abuse and trauma before being rescued by the police when she was eight years old and eventually being adopted by the Mori family when she was ten , Her experiences have left scars and have had a significant impact on her adult life. Someone, who knows details about her past and present life, is taunting her with messages that are indicative of a secret from her traumatic childhood.

When Clive Reynold’s Porsche, which was reported missing ten days before he disappeared twenty years ago, is recovered from the bottom of a lake with a dead body in it, Investigator Ryan Hudson of the BHPD is assigned to look into the cold case. He is also covertly looking into the murder of his friend and former partner - the murder Morgan witnessed- despite being told to stay away from the investigation.

As the story progresses, both Morgan and Ryan find themselves tangled in a complicated and dangerous web of dark secrets, lies, deception and murder.

Hannah Morrissey knows how to create atmospheric settings. With its consistent pacing, intriguing plot and interesting characters, "The Widowmaker" by Hannah Morrissey is dark, intense and gritty. The narrative is shared from the perspectives of Morgan and Ryan in alternating chapters. Though I did kind of guess the identity of the culprit halfway in, the intricately plotted story kept me turning pages to follow how all the missing pieces of the puzzle came together in the end and I was not disappointed with the twists and turns along the way! The story is a perfect balance between complex psychological thriller and police procedural. However, even though I liked both Morgan and Ryan, I feel that the relationship between them needn’t have gotten so personal so quickly. But I’m willing to overlook that one given that it did not detract from the overall reading experience. Hannah Morrissey’s impressive debut novel, "Hello, Transcriber" was also intense and dark, but with "The Widowmaker", Hannah Morrissey has firmly established herself as a must-read author for me. (Sergeant Nikolai Kole, from "Hello, Transcriber" plays a supporting role in this novel, proving to be an ally to Ryan. Please note that it is not necessary to read "Hello, Transcriber" to follow this novel. This is perfectly readable as a standalone novel as there is virtually no overlap.)

Thank You, Hannah Morrissey, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This book is due to be released on December 6, 2022.

P.S. : Please note that this is not an easy read. Those triggered by graphic descriptions of violence and abuse (especially involving children) might find some parts quite disturbing .

This is the first book I’ve read by Hannah Morrissey and I’m now a fan!! Can’t wait to read her first book. This mystery hooks you from page one until the end - do not assume you know “who dunnii”.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advance review copy of The Widowmaker. Atmospheric with subject matter in the form of child abuse, it is not always easy to read. Having said that, there was a good mystery to be solved, the disappearance 20 years ago of the head of the wealthy, influential Reynolds family. As the story unfolds, there are plenty of secrets held by members of the Reynolds family and others in this small town. Connections abound and the unraveling of those make for a good story. From Ryan Hudson who is assigned to the cold case and Morgan Mori who is drawn back to her hometown when she receives a note saying “all roads lead back to home” accompanied by a key. As she works at finding what the key unlocks, she gets closer to learning more about her past and her connection to the missing Clive Reynolds. This book releases December 6.

Hannah Morrissey’s debut “Hello, Transcriber” was such a juggernaut. It had everything — murder, intrigue, and a love story. You couldn’t help but wonder if she could bottle lighting a second time with The Widowmaker, but no doubt Morrissey’s not only matched the exigency and intrigue of her debut (if not surpassed it) but has written a sophomore offering that proves she’s not just a one-hit wonder.

Without getting into spoilers, the mystery (set again in Black Harbor, Morrissey’s gothic/noir Michigan city that was introduced in Hello, Transcriber) is gripping. A family drama, a murdered cop and a photographer with a sketchy background round this noir thriller. Some old friends show up too, giving us a sense of familiarity as we delve into the history of Black Harbor. And that photographer? She’s hiding something explosive.

I can’t wait to get a hardback copy of this one. I’ll be purchasing it the day of release. And no doubt, Hannah Morrissey is quickly becoming an auto-buy author for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback. Coming soon: December 6, 2022 - The Widowmaker by Hannah Morrissey!

This book has such a dark and spooky vibe that is perfect for release this winter. Even though I read it in the middle of an Alabama summer, I still felt like I was a part of this freezing Connecticut town watching the story play out firsthand.

The Widowmaker tells the story of Morgan Mori, a struggling photographer that has just moved back home after her business venture quite literally went up in flames. While battling her own personal demons and resurfaced trauma from her childhood, she ends up getting involved with the Reynolds family, who has been in the local news for decades after the family patriarch went missing without a trace.

On the other side of town, we have Investigator Ryan Hudson, who has been assigned to look into the cold case from 20 years ago and see if he can finally get some answers for the Reynolds family. Before he can start investigating, his best friend and partner gets shot and killed at a local gas station and the only witness at the scene is none other than Morgan Mori.

As Hudson begins his hunt for the person that killed his friend, he keeps crossing paths with Morgan, and he realizes that she just might be the missing puzzle piece to solving both of these crimes.

This one was going to be a 4-star for me, but I ended up guessing the plot twists, which made it a predictable read. Also, I was NOT crazy about the wildly inappropriate sexual relationship between the Investigator and the star witness of his case. I feel like cops already have a bad rap these days and I don't think that the hero should have slept with a woman who is scared, vulnerable, and recently traumatized after witnessing a murder. ICK to the extreme!

All in all, this book was well-written and well-paced and I was very excited to get to the end to see how Hannah Morrissey would wrap it all up. While the content is very heavy in nature, (trigger warnings: child trafficking / abuse / neglect, sexual assault, gun violence) I would recommend this to a friend.

Thank you again to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press!

A dark, disturbing, intricately-woven tale of two crimes - the 20 year-old disappearance of mogul Clive Reynolds and the present-day murder of a former police officer-turned private investigator. The story is told from the points of view of Morgan, a photographer who was at the Reynolds home documenting their holiday get-together and then witnesses the cop murder, and Ryan Hudson, a police officer who has been investigating the cold case and was the former partner of the murdered cop. Shocking reveals and twists in this tale had me on the edge of my seat. Very well-written and great character development.

Wow!! I don’t have much to say except I LOVED this book. I found it hard to put down. It was enjoyable on every level. The writing was superb, as was the plot and the characters. This book was extremely well written. It was dark, mysterious, and kept me guessing right til the end. The twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat.

I haven’t read anything by this author before, but I will definitely look for more of her work. This is a good I would highly recommend to other readers.

Many thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher for the ARC.

Hannah is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors!! She writes some pretty dark and twisted stories and I honestly love it ! The character development is amazing and though the stories are at times gruesome they are also sadly something that could really happen and she is really just playing in the ugly reality of human potential!
If you like psychological thrillers, mystery’s, murder , true crime or anything in that realm you def should give her books a try!
Trigger warning - pedophila / sexual assault / torture

Never have I ever read a book by this author. This book kept my interest from start to finish. If your looking for dark and disturbing, look no further! Things you couldn't even imagine happen. I was left guessing throughout the whole book the characters of this book have all personality types from dark and mysterious to shy and introverted. Very well thought out and written. Thank you to the author for the ARC to this book.

The synopsis sounded amazing for this book and boy it did not disappoint. This story is something unexpected. I dove in thinking one thing and what I got was something so much better. It is dark and full of suspense. You may think one thing but then comes a twist that has you turning the page wanting more. You should click this book if you are looking for something exciting and unexpected.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books & NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this digital arc

A damaged protagonist discovers the secrets in her past by outwitting a brilliant psychopath who has built an elaborate scheme—waiting decades to exact revenge. The Widowmaker uses the predictable tropes of the genre, but to good effect. There are enough moving parts and clever plot twits to keep you turning the pages.


Thank you St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book.

The writing is enchanting. So descriptive and intricately done, I could feel myself there.
Ending chapters with bombs dropped and making me turn the pages! Just one more chapter, was a lie I would often tell myself!

So happy to be back in Black Harbor! Same setting as debut novel, Hello, Transcriber, but different storyline and characters. So while this is a standalone, I would still suggest reading Hello, Transcriber while you wait for The Widowmaker’s release. Not to better help you understand this book, but because I think it’s one not to be missed!
The Widowmaker has all the things I love in a thriller: intriguing cold case, creepy setting, complex family drama, twisty plot, police procedural, protagonist with a horrific past.. it is dark and disturbing and so well done! I loved the alternating POV from Morgan and Hudson, adding so much depth!

The Widowmaker is a dark, twisty, psychological thriller that was enjoyable from start to finish. Characters Morgan; a photographer with a traumatic and disturbing past and Hunter, a police detective investigate a cold case involving the very wealthy Reynolds family. Deadly family secrets, the murder of a police officer and a host of possible suspects make this a very compelling read. Characters are authentic and relatable. One of the better suspense reads this year. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC copy of this book.

This was such a dark, mysterious, and thrilling read! This being my first by the author, I was impressed with the story and plot she laid out and the subtle twists and reveals she used to connect the two stories together.

There was some really dark and disturbing topics brought up in this story and I’m impressed Morgan was not twisted enough. For someone who experienced so much trauma in her life, I was expecting someone to be more disturbed and still struggling but she had her life more together than one usually would.

Houston was an interesting character and I enjoyed reading how he worked to solve his case but also help Morgan as well. I wish we got more details about Nan because that seemed just tossed in with very little explanation/hint at who she really was.

I think if this was currently out, I’d mark it as one of the best thrillers I’ve read this year so far. It’s a shame this doesn’t publish until December because I’d be buying this for people right now.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for an ARC in exchange for my review!

(I will be posting my review closer to publication on my Instagram)

Special thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my own opinion.

I put in for this book just bythe cover and then it saw the author was from "Hello Transcriber" which ireally liked and she does not disappoint on this story either.

Family drama, a good police detective, a cold case. It was just a great thriller. I highly recommend. Definitely 4 stars!

Loved this book from start to finish. It has characters that you can like and some that you won't, twists that keep you turning the pages to see where they take you and a good ending. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC and letting me leave my opinion.