Intoxicating, gritty and elegant, this haunting murder mystery had me gripped from the start and featured everything I love in a thriller: gothic vibes, teenage angst, twists galore, and the agony and emotion of a compelling mother-daughter relationship.

The story starts with a bang with one teenage girl murdered. Then Rowan Winthrope, the town’s medical examiner, and her husband, Axel, a homicide detective, realize their daughter Chloe is missing. And is a prime suspect in the girl’s murder.

Wildly original, this dark and twisted tale is not to be missed.

Okay, this one was good! I knew the description sounded great and it lived up to it.

It was thrilling and creepy and kept me turning pages. Everything you could want in a book like this.

Another page turner coming in hot. With parents as a medical examiner and detective respectively, one could not imagine Chloe living a normal teenage life. When Chloe lands the lead in her school play, a girl turns up dead and Chloe’s parents are on the case; missing her play. It’s at this point, Chloe goes missing. A series of events following point the finger in different directions regarding the supposed killer while Rowan (Chloe’s mom, medical examiner) and Axel (Chloe’s dad, detective) fight to separate themselves as parents and in their professional roles. I finished this book rather quickly and was not shocked with the ending however I didn’t discover the killer until later on in the read.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I'm Dead is the third mystery in the Black Harbor series. I have not read the previous two books, and this did not hinder my understanding or enjoyment of the book in any way. One thing that becomes immediately clear, Black Harbor is a place that people want to leave, want to escape from. Bad things happen in the town and there is a dark and menacing atmosphere that hangs over it.

Thus, we are not surprised to find a murdered young woman on the opening pages of the book. Rowan Winthrop, Black Harbor's medical examineer, and her husband Axel, who is a detective, are often involved in the same cases. Such is the situation when they are both called to the scene of a murder. Rowan realizes that the murdered girl is a friend of her daughter Chloe, or at least at one time they were friends. Chloe is starring in her school play, and both her parents are called away because of the murder. This is an all to common occurrence in Chloe's life. When her parents eventually return from their gruesome work, they find that their daughter never made it home.

The rest of the book is chasing down leads to try to find their daughter, with another murder or two along the way. their are suspects a plenty, and I was kept on the edge of my seat trying to determine who the killer was. The conclusion was satisfying, and I enjoyed reading this book.

Thanks to NetGalley, Hannah Morrissey, and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an entertaining thriller where it starts with a murder.

Rowan is a medical examiner and Axel is detective. They are both at a high school musical where their daughter, Chloe, is the lead. Unexpectedly they both must leave to go to a crime scene, a crime scene where their daughter’s best friend is the victim. Later when they return home, Chloe is missing. Did she run away, did something happen to her, or did she have something to do with her best friend’s death?

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this one. Told via multiple points of view of a cast of complex characters. The suspense made it difficult to put down. It kept me guessing what really happened to Chloe and who was responsible for her best friend’s death. I loved all the twists and the ending. This one is perfect for those who enjoy true crime.

Unfortunately, I won't post any reviews on my social profiles or GoodReads as the story did not work for me.

When I'm Dead is the 3rd book in a series, which I did not know until I started to post this review. I am not sure if that affects my opinion in any way. I found the book to be OK. I guessed the murderer, which isn't always a bad thing. I agree with other reviewers that there were too many things that were a bit unrealistic, such as a father (cop) that's allowed to work on a case that involves his missing daughter who may or may not be the murderer. Same with the mother, who is the medical examiner. She shouldn't be allowed anywhere near any of the bodies since her family is so close to the case. Also, taxidermy class at a private school? Very strange!

Thank you to the author, publishers, and also to NetGalley for a complimentary digital copy of WHEN I'M DEAD. All views are mine.

Three (or more) things I loved:

1. Nice moody atmosphere actually feels cold and gives me goosebumps, more than once!

Three (or less) things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. It doesn't seem likely these two parents would be allowed to work on their daughter's disappearance in any case.

2. I'm really struck by how unimpressive this book is for me. That's always a style problem, with me. In this case, the sentences all sound the same and certain images and ideas repeat over and over. This could be and probably is foreshadowing, but I'm distracted with all the repetition.

3. The ending is unfittingly preposterous.

Rating: 👮👮‍♀️ cop parents
Recommend? Not really...
Finished: Nov 2 '23
Format: Digital copy, Kindle, NetGalley, SMPI
Read this book if you like:
🛴 character driven books
🔪 thrillers
🫥 missing person
🌫 moody stories

More twists than a pretzel in this. You will be hooked from the start and guessing until the end. Also while this is in a series it is 100% readable and enjoyable completely as a stand alone so don’t feel like you have to commit to the previous books first.

Hannah Morrissey's 'When I'm Dead' plunges the reader into the chilling depths of book three in the Black Harbor mystery series, intertwining the raw emotion of a family tragedy with a gripping crime narrative. The story opens on a bone-chilling October night, introducing us to Medical Examiner Rowan Winthorp as she grapples with the death of her daughter’s friend and the subsequent disappearance of her own daughter, Chloe.

Morrissey masterfully crafts a tale that is as much a poignant reflection on the complexities of teenage life as it is a compelling crime drama. The book delves deep into the themes of parental responsibility, the hidden lives of teenagers, and the heart-wrenching consequences of secrets kept and judgments misplaced.

The narrative is skillfully woven, offering an insightful look into the police procedural and the personal lives of those involved in solving the crime. Morrissey's writing style is fluid and engaging, making the book a fast-paced read that is both thrilling and emotionally resonant.

What sets this novel apart is its ability to not just tell a mystery, but to also explore the emotional undercurrents of its characters. The journey of Rowan and her husband, as they unravel the layers of Chloe’s secret life, is filled with suspense and heartache, highlighting the often unseen side of familial relationships and teenage rebellion.

I enjoyed this story but felt like it really dragged. The ending was very captivating and I wish more of those details were throughout the whole book.

4 solid stars

Though this is one book of three in a series, you do not need to read the first two. I have not read the first two (but I plan to) and I did not feel lost in the story.

The mystery was well written and there were enough moving parts that I was trying to connect the dots. Nothing seemed over the top or underdone. This truly was a well written mystery.

Both of our main characters are flawed, but that is what made them likable. They were not these perfect people, but together they were so good. I loved how at a moment they were divided due to what was happening in their daughter's case. Yet you knew they still loved each other deeply.

Well written and fast paced. Highly recommend, as I mentioned above, I plan on reading the first two books!

I was immersed from the start. I have a friend that kept telling me I needed to read this series but I drugged my feet. I should not have. And I will be reading the back books in the Blackwater series. This is book 3, but I had no trouble following the story jumping in here.

A girl goes missing and I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out whether she was alive, kidnapped or left on her own accord. The author weaves quite a story with the twists that kept me on my toes and the edge of my seat. As the story progresses and the facts slowly emerge, there is no shortage of suspects and the parents learn a lot about their daughter.

The title is a haunting nod to the story as Chloe’s last words before she went missing was You’ll love me more when I’m dead. A reference to her father who is a detective and her mother who is a medical examiner.

Everyone had secrets and each one kept changing my thoughts on what happened.

This is a great book for crime lovers who gravitate to complex stories.

*I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for my honest review.*

Rowan is a medical examiner and her husband Axel is a detective. They are pulled out of their daughter's performance in the high school musical to investigate a dead girl who turns out to be the daughter's best friend. When they return home from the crime scene, Rowan realizes that the daughter is missing.

I thought this was a good novel and premise, but some things didn't sit well with me. There was a lot of blame that Rowan put onto herself for losing a patient over 15 years ago, but I felt like that was more of a distraction from the murder and the missing daughter. And there was not a lot of actually searching for the missing daughter. There was a lot of investigating the murder and subsequent happenings, but no search parties, etc. I guess since the victim and daughter knew each other, they were looking into both, but the focus just seemed a little off to me considering.

This was part of a series but sufficient as a stand alone. I would continue reading the series to see what happens with Rowan and Axel next.

DNF this after trying multiple times to get through the audiobook. The hard copy wad not much better. Im disappointed

"When I'm Dead: A Black Harbor Novel" by Hannah Morrissey is a compelling mystery that weaves a complex narrative, drawing readers into the enigmatic world of Black Harbor. Morrissey exhibits a talent for crafting a suspenseful tale filled with intricate characters and a well-constructed plot.

One of the notable strengths of the novel is Morrissey's ability to develop a rich and atmospheric setting in Black Harbor, creating a backdrop that adds depth to the unfolding mystery. The characters are carefully fleshed out, and the plot unfolds with a balance of suspenseful moments and gradual revelations, keeping readers invested in the storyline.

However, readers familiar with the mystery genre may encounter some familiar elements in the plot, and the pacing could occasionally feel uneven, affecting the overall rhythm of the narrative. Despite these minor considerations, Morrissey's storytelling prowess shines through, delivering a satisfying mystery experience.

In summary, "When I'm Dead" is a noteworthy addition to the mystery genre, offering a captivating story with well-crafted characters and a compelling setting. Morrissey's ability to create an immersive atmosphere and maintain suspense makes it an engaging choice for fans of mystery novels. While some aspects may align with genre conventions, the novel distinguishes itself with its unique narrative and the intricacies of Black Harbor.

I haven't read the previous books in this series but it was easy to pick this one up as a standalone read. A medical examiner and a detective make for quite an interesting story premise. Rowan & Axel are investigating the death of Madison who attended school with their daughter Chloe. Chloe goes missing after a school play and Rowan & Axel must find her. Perhaps I may have been more invested in the characters if I'd read the previous books but I personally didn't have a much of a connection to the characters.
A decent read & good story overall. It was easy to figure out no real plot twist or surprises here which is my reason for the 3 star review.

There’s an audience for every book, but I don’t think I was the right audience for this one. For me this was extra slow and I found myself picking up and putting this book back down…… over a month. I’m not saying this was bad at all, I still loved the creepy dark atmosphere and returning to Black Harbor. Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for my advanced copy of this book.

When I'm Dead is the first book that I have read from Hannah Morrissey. I thought this book was fine but my main problem is that I found I had to suspend belief here and that was extremely hard for me to do. There is no way that the two parents who worked in law enforcement would EVER have been allowed to work the crime scene of their daughter disappearing. Conflict of interest is written all of this and I just couldn't get past that.

So while the mystery was decent, I just couldn't believe any of it.

I still gave this book 3 stars as I had an decent time reading it.

A big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read an early copy.

The Halloween vibes in this one are perfection. It’s creepy but not scary, so it’s perfect for fans of mystery, thriller and police procedural books.

When you really vibe with an author’s work, high expectations can be dangerous. But this book still managed to blow me away. I’ve been a big fan of Hannah’s since her 2021, debut, and “When I’m Dead” is my favorite work of hers yet.

“When I’m Dead” is about a medical examiner and homicide detective who are married. The book opens as they are investigating the murder of their daughter’s best friend; within hours, their daughter is missing too.

This one truly has it all: murder, a marriage at a crossroads, borderline gross medical details, nitty gritty crime writing. The character development is SO RICH. The pacing is perfection. It is a 2023 favorite of mine, and I’ll be recommending it to anyone who asks for the rest of the year. It would be a great intro to crime fiction if you’ve never read the genre — but it might set your expectations too high!