I liked this book. I didn't read the other in the series, but felt like it did fine as a stand alone.
wasn't my favorite book, but I liked the plot and it was suspenseful. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good mystery thriller.

Massive thanks to both NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the ARC copy of Morrissey's latest!

I have really enjoyed the Black Harbor series and Morrissey's writing. I think she has a great talent for bringing a punch to her story and her characters and I really appreciate that in a book. It helps make it not feel as boring and keeps me engaged.
Really love the twist in this one & wish there were more Black Harbor books coming!!

Thank you for an ARC of this book! I didn't realize there were 2 other books in the series, so I had to read those first just because I'm that way. A good read and overall a good one for spooky season.

This was a pretty quick read, and for the most part enjoyable. I figured out early on, once the character was first introduced, who the murderer was. That really didn't take away from the story as a whole and I still ended up enjoying it.

I sincerely appreciate the review of copy from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Haunting Small-Town Mystery

When I’m Dead by Hannah Morrissey is a gripping mystery novel set in the eerie town of Black Harbor. The story begins on a chilling October night when Medical Examiner Rowan Winthorp is called to investigate the murder of her daughter's best friend, Madison. The tragedy escalates when Rowan discovers that her own daughter, Chloe, is missing. As Rowan and her husband, Detective Axel Winthorp, delve deeper into the investigation, they uncover a series of disturbing clues and grisly secrets that suggest the presence of a serial killer in their midst. The plot unfolds through the dual perspectives of Rowan and Axel, offering a poignant and intense exploration of their contrasting reactions to these harrowing circumstances.

When I’m Dead stands out as a compelling and thought-provoking mystery that combines a haunting atmosphere with a deeply emotional narrative. Its strengths lie in the well-crafted characters, intricate plot, and Morrissey's evocative writing style. While some readers might find the dark and moody tone overwhelming, it is precisely this atmosphere that makes the novel so gripping and memorable. Overall, When I’m Dead is a must-read for fans of mystery and psychological thrillers who appreciate a well-told story that delves into the depths of human fear and resilience.

This was such a pleasant surprise! I read another book by this author a year or so ago, and I was not much of a fan. So I wasn’t looking forward to reading this one and kept procrastinating.

Anyway, I enjoyed this one a lot more. It started off strong, and the storyline kept getting better. I thought the killer was pretty obvious, but I still enjoyed reading about the motivation and the backstory.

This would’ve been a 5 star read, except I felt it was a bit too long. I think the story would’ve had a bigger impact and been even more captivating if some pieces had been cut out.

If you’re in the mood for a police procedural, you should give this one a try.

Thank you to Minotaur Books for my gifted copy!

While this is the third thriller in this series, this is the first I've read of the Black Harbor series. Honestly, at first this book made me angry and I didn't want to finish. But I kept going and am glad I did. The characters are flawed, and their biases are glaringly obvious throughout the novel. However, this allows for more suspense to build, as well as a twist to jump up and bite you. The build to the twist was there, but only if you knew what you were looking for. At the end I was able to put everything together, but the suspense was worth it.

A young girl is killed and another is missing. Rowan and Axel are investigating the murder but with their daughter missing they have to wonder, is she involved? This is a police procedural story but with a twist of the main investigators being personally involved. There is a lot of drama and family issues in this story, and the whole neighborhood is brought into the drama. Well written with lots of twists and turns.

Looking for your next fall read? This is the one! This thriller is built with some twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Definitely recommend!

If you are looking for a mystery / suspense upper YA you’ve definitely found it here. This is book three in the series of four. These are all stand alones in the series, but you do have some overlap if you read in order. This was definitely a quick page turner trying to figure out who and how before the author reveals it all.

I didn't realize that this was a third in a series, but I was able to get absorbed in it very quickly. Now I can't wait to go back and read the other two!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this review copy

This was a chilling and atmospheric thriller that delves into the dark side of small-town secrets. The story revolves around a woman who, after her sister’s mysterious death, uncovers unsettling truths about their community and herself. Morrissey's evocative prose and tense pacing create a gripping narrative filled with twists and psychological depth. The novel’s exploration of grief and hidden darkness makes for a compelling read, offering both suspense and emotional resonance.

Rowan and her husband, Axel, both work for the police department in Black Harbor where crime is a 24/7 activity. Crimes are a dime a dozen in this town and law enforcement can't keep up. As one could imagine, that means these two don't have much free time as a medical examiner and a detective. One the evening of their daughter's school play, they receive a call requesting their presence at a crime scene immediately - a teenage girl has been found dead. Hours later, they come home to find their own teenage daughter missing...

When I'm Dead has definitely been my favorite title in the Black Harbor series. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading this. I enjoyed it so much I couldn't put it down! The author kept me guessing for the most part, but I found certain things to be predictable. However, I didn't guess who the killer was until it was perfectly set up to have no other option.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Hanna Morrissey for an advanced copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

I ordered this as my book of the month to have a hard copy after receiving a copy from NetGalley. It took me awhile to start because I didn’t realize it was third in a series and I just dislike jumping into the middle of a series. This book works as a stand-alone but I’d prefer to have read 1&2 first. This is a good read as a crime fiction but far fetched. The beginning will have you intrigued but ultimately it’s long and drawn out with a lot of unnecessary information. Great concept but needed better execution! 2.5 rounded up.

Two murdered girls and one missing from the same town/neighborhood. The parents of the missing girl are a coroner and a detective. This story takes you through the investigation process and the emotions behind solving the crime when a loved one is involved.

This was a quick easy read with lots of layers to it. Reading it as a mom of teen girls had me a little unnerved. There are some really crazy people in this world. I found it was well written and a very interesting read.

Black Harbor is a place no one should live. The crime rate is so high! Despite that I love reading about this town. At the center of this story is a mother’s guilt for leaving her daughter to go to work. An enjoyable read that will keep you hooked.

When I'm Dead is quite the page-turner. The third in the Black Harbor series, this one follows Medical Examiner Rowan and her detective husband. The book opens with them at a crime scene where their daughter's best friend was murdered, and when they arrive home, they realize their daughter is missing.

The book is fast-paced and kept me on the edge of my seat. I plowed through it in nearly one sitting because I wanted to know what happened. It's twisty and kept me guessing until the end. All of the books in the Black Harbor series can be read as standalones, however, I liked that Morrissey brought back in various characters or mentions of previous book storylines.

I've enjoyed all of the books in the series so far, and When I'm Dead has definitely been my favorite.

Thank you, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5/5 stars

This is the 3rd starring in a series Medical Examiner Rowan Winthorp in Black Harbor, Wisconsin on the shore of Lake Michigan.

It opens on a crime scene, especially hard for Rowan as the strangled corpse is that of her daughter Chloe's best friend Madison Caldwell. She and her husband were both called in as Axel is a homicide detective. They're still staggering from this blow when Chloe goes missing.

Tension increases when Chloe becomes a suspect in Madison's murder. The story ends on a violent confrontation with the killer.

This was fine. Lacked the oomph that I’m used to with great thrillers. That said, this was my favorite of the series.

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. Third in a series this can read as a stand-alone but there are a few parts of the book that were confusing and I feel if I had read the previous books I would have understood better. But this book kept me guessing until the end and now I will go back and read the previous books.