I wanted to love this book so much, I loved the premise, the cover is gorgeous, and the other books I've read by Hannah Morrissey were books I really enjoyed.

This book though, there's so much about it that I just can't in good conscience not talk about them.

Firstly let's talk about Rowan and Axel, their relationship is just unbelievable, their grief of having a missing daughter is non-existent, and the constant complaints about being in that town got to be exhausting after a while.

Let's move on to things that are hard to swallow, firstly a police officer and medical examiner being involved in a case that potentially has connections to their missing daughter, in what world is that not a conflict of interest?

Next, we have this expensive private school that has a teacher who has a very interesting back story where his ex-wife is concerned, where there are rumors of a teacher and student having an affair and no parents are called, and then there's the whole idea of taxidermy as an elective.

Now let's get into the fat shaming that runs rampant in this book, if there was one character I felt for it was Libby, I mean seriously, her parents have put her through mental trauma that will take years to undo if it's even possible.

Now for what I did like, and this might be a tad controversial but I figured out who the killer was early into the book and it made reading the book and seeing the little clues unfold a lot of fun and I found myself looking forward to them.

The author's voice, the storytelling, the actual structure of the story, and the number of characters, I will say that lately, I've read a lot of books that had either too many or not enough characters and this had a nice blend.

I have to say I went back and forth on how to rate this one, and overall I have to go with three stars, for as many things as there were that just didn't work for me there were things I enjoyed and had fun with, which seems really strange to say when considering the subject of this book. I also appreciate when a part of a series can be read as a stand alone and this one definitely can.

Thank you to St.Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this E-Book, I have voluntarily read and reviewed it and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Okay but how is this the first book I’ve read from this author?! This book was certifiably insane. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book quite so twisty and demented. I really have now words to describe this book which I spent two night reading past a normal sleeping time.

This is one book that you will for sure not be able to stop reading because you just need to know what the heck is going on. I swear, at one point you think you’re going insane wondering who the killer actually is & trust me when I say.. you so will not expect the ending to this book!

If you are looking for a book to binge - this is it! I am a huge fan of the previous book The Widowmaker. When I'm Dead did not disappoint!
I love the characters - Rowan, an ME, investigates the death of a close friend's daughter. When Rowan's daughter goes missing, Rowan and her husband question everything.
Plot driven to the end - great read!

This is one of the best books I’ve read and an amazing pick for book of the month I was so happy I got an advance copy so thank you so much

A riveting non stop suspenseful ride. Chloe’s parents must leave her play during intermission because a body has been discovered and it’s Chloe’s best friend. When she arrives home Rowen discovers her daughter Chloe hasn’t. Has she been murdered by the same killer, or is she the killer?

Thank you Netgalley, Minotaur Books and author Hannah Morrissey for a copy of both eARC and physical ARC for an opportunity to write a review.

✍🏼 My Thoughts
My second book from the Black Harbor universe and this first 60% of it I read it on my kindle, and the rest of it was a read-along. I enjoyed the multiple POVs and the story was easy to follow. What I love the most about this author is her exquisite writing — very atmospheric and really taps into the nature of each character that I get to understand the importance of their part in the story. I enjoyed the build-up of the story until the end. I want more of her books! And for those who are wondering by the way, you don’t need to read the other two books. This can be a stand alone novel and it only mentions some characters in passing that it’s not truly relevant to the actual book. It was only mentioned for the reason that they’re in the same community, Black Harbor. When I’m Dead is out now!

I really enjoyed this one. From the end of the first chapter I was hooked, and couldn’t put it down.

I needed to know what happened.

It was thrilling, and mysterious. Exactly what I was looking for in a thriller.

I definitely want to read more from this author!

An ARC was provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press Minotaur Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by Hannah Morrissey - 4.5 stars!

Black Harbor is a bleak, dying industrial town. The job becomes personal when medical examiner Rowen discovers that her teenage daughter's friend has been killed. Then things turn worse when her daughter, Chloe, is missing. Together with her husband, Axel, a Black Harbor detective, they search for Chloe but their differing opinions may tear the family further apart.

I love this Black Harbor series and it's getting better as it goes! But each book focuses on a different group of people in town, with just a few mentions carrying over, so it's a great stand-alone read as well. The atmosphere of the town adds to all the mystery, and the author keeps the tension high throughout. I did feel for the parents - they are both devoted to their jobs, which takes them away from family at the most inconvenient of times. Morrissey also captured the teenage viewpoint and the mean girl attitude that can devastate their targets. I can't wait to read more in this series!

Teen life is complicated…for the teens and their parents. When one girl is found murdered and the daughter of the medical examiner and a policeman is missing, the town is on edge.This was a strong suspense novel told from multiple perspectives. With several legitimate suspects and possible explanations of what happened, it was hard to put this one down!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this book.

This is book #3 in the Black Harbor series but can certainly be read as a standalone. This was my first read in the series and I cannot wait to go back to read the first two.

At her daughters school event, Medical Examiner Rowan Winthorp is called in for the death of her daughters best friend. When she comes home that night, her own daughter is missing. Are the two events connected? What is going on?

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and the author for my ARC !

3.5 ⭐
I didn't realize this was book 3 in a series but it worked just as well as a stand alone! The characters were crafted and written well, with dimension and good foundations. I found myself really getting into the story and enjoying myself.

Axel is the town's detective and Rowan, his wife, is the medical examiner. They are called away from their daughter's play to investigate a murder. When arriving back home they realize that their daughter is missing. Can the dead girl, who was their daughter's friend, and their missing daughter Chloe have a connection. The more they try to find her, the more clues surface and they do not like what the are beginning to suspect.
I thank the author, publisher and Netgalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A tense police procedural, When I'm Dead is a definite page-turner. The characters are well-developed; nuanced and multidimensional. The latest in a fantastic series, I look forward to the next Black Harbor mystery.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5! I absolutely love the Black Harbor series but what I love even more is Hannah's dark and twisty little mind that comes up with these fantastic ideas. While this technically the third book in the series, I do think they could be read as a stand alone as they don't spoil any of the other plots. I definitely think this is the darkest in the series so far in my opinion, and I will never look at taxidermy the same way...

Thank you so much Minotaur Books and Hannah Morrissey for my review copy! Published 10/31 so if you don't get a copy at this point you're really just doing yourself a disservice.

This is book 3 in a series. I haven't read the others, but this worked fine as a standalone.

Rowan is a medical examiner and her husband Axel is a detective in Black Harbor. They are attending their daughter's play but are called out to investigate a murder. Turns out it was their daughter's best friend. Much later when they get home, they find Chloe, their daughter, not home and apparently missing.

As they investigate, they start to suspect and question everyone, even the possibility that Chloe could be involved in the murder.

This one was twisty and gruesome at times. I found myself suspecting different people. When the killer is revealed I was like OF COURSE! But it was a wild ride getting there.

I had both an eARC and ALC so I got through this one quickly. Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for the ARC and ALC in exchange for my honest review.

This is book 3 in the Black Harbor series. It’s about Rowan, who is the Medical Examiner and her husband Axl, who is a Homicide Detective. Their daughter’s friend is found murdered and then their daughter goes missing.
As always, this author’s writing is dark and raw. It’s another great installment of this series.

A twisty enough thriller. Loved the backdrop of Halloween and the dive into the characters of the parents here. I'll continue to read the next in the series. Black Harbor is certainly a depressing place - I'll be rooting for everyone trying to get out!

When I first started this book, I completely forgot that this was part of the series and it just makes me want to go back and enjoy the series again. A good book that keeps you engaged!

Wow! This is the third of the Black Harbor novels and, while I have enjoyed them all, this one is my favorite. I was gripped from the start of this story and could not stop reading. It’s chilling and eerie, dreadful and haunting, and filled with suspense. The descriptors so detailed, I felt as if I was part of this story. Great twists that kept me enthralled until the last page. Fantastic!

Now this was a thriller. Teenager Madison is found dead and her best friend Chloe is missing. Chloe’s parents race to find out what happened to their daughter and her friend.

This book had me on edge the entire time! I thought si knew who the murderer was multiple times, but I was far off. I didn’t see that ending coming at all. I loved the multiple point of views that were used to give a fuller picture. I could have done without some of the graphic descriptions of murder victims remains. Overall, I’d rate this one a 4.5⭐️