The Black Harbor series has one of my all time favorite settings. This troubled, cold, crime soaked city is the kind of place I can’t get enough of. Morrissey writes atmosphere so vividly that it clings to you. It’s eerie, heavy, and impossible to shake. She is truly a master of the atmospheric thriller.

The Unlucky Ones is the fourth book in the Black Harbor series. It pulled me right back into that world I fell in love with in Hello, Transcriber (still one of my favorite books ever). Following Hazel and Nikolai Kole was everything. Nikolai is officially one of my favorite characters ever. He’s layered, magnetic, and the kind of presence that stays with you after you close the book. Hazel’s story had me hooked from start to finish, and the two of them together made for such an addictive read.

And can we please get a book about Officer Riley next? I’m begging.

If you haven’t visited Black Harbor yet, do yourself a favor. Just know you might not want to leave.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an early copy!

This is the 4th book in the Black Harbor series and the second book from Morrissey that I have read. I read Hello, Transcriber and it was just okay for me. This book was better, but I could take it or leave it.

Black Harbor is this dark town full of violent crime and drug addiction. A new drug makes it's way onto the scene and Sergeant Nikolai Kole is on the case to find out what this drug is and who is giving it to people and killing them. When a body is found in the back of a clubhouse wrapped in a garbage bag and doused in bleach. Kole knows that something suspicious is going on. The thing is, it is not just any body. The body belongs to Tommy Greenlee, the ex-husband of Hazel, Kole's former lover. Did Hazel have something to do with Tommy's death. It did something even darker occur.

I listened to this book on audio and I felt that the narrator's did a great job. This book is a dark and gritty murder mystery. Morrissey does not shy away from the darkness that comes with a city like Black Harbor and she really makes you feel like you are in this crime-ridden world. I rated this book 3.5 stars out of 5, round up to 4 for this review because I felt like the plot was a little over the top.

Read if you like:
-Police procedurals
-Murder mysteries
-Crime fiction

Thank you @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for the #gifted ALC.

I have heard of Hannah Morrissey and was excited to read her newest book, The Unlucky Ones. Alas, this is one of those times where coming into a series on the fourth book really hindered me. I could see how the characters appeared interesting, and that if I had been reading along through the whole series I might have found the story compelling. But as it was, I struggled to connect with any of the characters or understand the many undercurrents that were hinted at in this book.

I read that Morrissey defines her work as "Midwestern Noir", and I can understand that because the story was very dark and gritty, and frankly, kind of depressing. I also think that Morrissey's stories are meant for a younger, hipper audience than grandmother me.

So in summary, while I can see that this book would definitely appeal to a certain audience, that audience did not include me.

Thank you to Hannah Morrissey and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Favorite Quotes:

Not a lot of good comes out of there, but a lot of bad passes through.

While turning a funeral into a bender isn’t a crime, it is frowned upon, like driving naked or marrying your stepsister.

We always remember our firsts and lasts, don’t we? It’s everything in the middle that ends up in one congealed mess.

He takes that as his cue to get out of the car, skirting around a patch of fake hair flattened to the asphalt like roadkill. Tumbleweave comes with the territory. It’s all fun and games until someone’s wig gets yanked off.

I’ve finally accepted that some feelings are only meant to be felt, not explained.


My Review:

I consistently peruse over a hundred or more books a year and can’t recall but a few storylines from most of them soon after. However, even several years later, this dark and gritty series has stayed with me, far beyond the salient details. Hannah Morrissey has strong word voodoo and has mastered the craft of storytelling. She pulls me into an absorbing vortex with her compelling tales and paints complete and startling movie reels with her descriptive word choices, which are most often simultaneously heart-squeezing, consuming, and brain-tickling. I had been longing for Hazel and Cole to reconnect with each other since the first installment, and had cracked open each new addition to the series with that eager anticipation. Now my fervent hopes are for yet more installments of Ms. Morressey’s addictive missives.

I finished The Unlucky Ones by Hannah Morrissey about a week ago, and I still find myself thinking about it. The atmosphere, the tension, the characters—it all stuck with me in that slow-burn, under-your-skin kind of way.

This is book four in the Black Harbor series, and though it was my first time meeting Hazel and Nikolai Kole (who starred in book one), I never felt lost. Morrissey does a great job weaving their history into the narrative. Hazel, now a successful novelist, is drawn back to the city she escaped when her abusive ex-husband is murdered—and the case pulls her straight back into the orbit of her former lover, Kole. Their chemistry is undeniable, but so is their past. Nothing about their connection is easy.

Black Harbor itself is so vividly drawn—icy, gritty, and filled with secrets. It feels more like a character than a backdrop. There’s a pulse to this place, and Morrissey captures it with precision. The murder mystery is dark and complex, and the emotional stakes run deep. This isn’t just about solving a crime—it’s about reckoning with who you were, who you’ve become, and who you’re willing to be in the face of all that pain.

If you love emotionally tangled mysteries with rich character development, noir vibes, and a strong sense of place, this one should definitely be on your list.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

I've really enjoyed all of the books in the Black Harbor series, and thought The Unlucky Ones was another great book. I loved that the characters from the first book Hello, Transcriber made a return. While slow at times, I thought Morrissey did a great job with the rest of Hazel's story.
Another great book by Hannah Morrissey!

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

The Unlucky Ones
Hannah Morrissey
Minotaur Books
Available Now!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Woohoo, Hazel is back and I couldn’t be happier! I thoroughly enjoyed diving into this story. From the very first page, I was hooked on what brought Hazel back into the mix, and let me just say... the drama, the darkness, the secrets, it was chef's kiss perfection. Morrissey really knows how to create that gritty, atmospheric vibe that makes Black Harbor feel so hauntingly alive.

The twists kept me on my toes, and I loved watching the layers peel back as the mystery unfolded. Hazel’s voice is as sharp and compelling as ever, and the way she navigates the shadows of this town? Totally captivating. It’s emotional, it’s intense, and it’s just SO GOOD.
If you haven’t already picked up the rest of the Black Harbor series, what are you even doing? This series has it all — moody vibes, complex characters, and just the right amount of tension and grit. You don’t want to miss it.

And do yourself a big favor: go "stalk" Hannah Morrissey's socials to see what she's cooking up next. Trust me, you’ll want to be the first to know. This author is on fire 😁🔥

#TheUnluckyOnes #HannahMorrissey #BlackHarborSeries #CrimeFiction #MysteryBookLovers #DarkThrillers #BookRecommendation #BookReview #MinotaurBooks #ReadMoreBooks

Hazel is back in Black Harbor after her ex-husband is murdered. I was so excited to see Hazel and Cole together again and it was exactly what I had hoped for. Other than Tommy being murdered of course. Although I did have a strong dislike for him after the way he treated Hazel. There was so much tangled up in this one with Tommy’s friend also being murdered and then all the guns missing. I don’t know if this is the last trip to Black Harbor for this author but I truly hope not. I really have enjoyed this whole series.

This was a really good story in that it brought us full circle back to the first book in the series, featuring Hazel and Kole, and it also mentions various elements from the other books as well. I'll admit to not remembering a whole lot from book 1, as it's been quite a while since I read that one, but I think there was enough detail included in this one to help readers recall those events without it being a "previously on" kind of recap, which can bog down the new story in favor of the old one.

As for the overall plot in this one, I figured it out fairly early on and was kind of hoping I wasn't right, or at least only partially right, as the others in this series have kept me on my toes until much closer to the end. However, I do appreciate how it was all laid out and that the detectives had to wait for various bits of information they each knew to be combined with what the others had learned in order to solve the case, which is obviously what happens in real life. All in all, I would definitely recommend this book if you're a fan of the series, and though I hope there are more to come in this world, this also serves as a wrap-up of sorts, which left me satisfied at the end of the final page.

4 stars

**I received a review copy from Netgalley and am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and comments contained within are my own.**

I love this series (even though Kole is apparently blond and doesn't look like Dr. Kovač from ER). I am really eager to see what is next for the whole cast of characters, especially Hazel. One thing I wished was that the other characters that have had books about them previously would have played a larger role in this one. The Unlucky Ones was definitely primarily focused on Hazel and Kole.

This was definitely my favorite out of the series!
I'm glad Hazel came back to Black Harbor!
I love how everything kind of came full circle.
I know I've said this before, but I love how the book throws out a set of suspects, and the real one is kind of the one you least expect.
I also like how the suspect was mentioned in prior books.
I like how the characters are recurring as well.
This was just a great series overall, and I would definitely recommend it!

I absolutely love this series. I skipped book 3 to read this one first because I am obsessed with Kole and Hazel’s relationship! This can easily be read as a stand-alone. This was a dark and twisty mystery that I could not put down.

This is my first time reading Hannah books and this book is very good. This is a Black Harbor series and Hazel Greenlee returns to Black Harbor after her ex husband, Tommy, is killed inside the Mineshaft, a club/bar full of big and small time criminals. Hazel used to work as a transcriber for the local police and that's how she met and fell in love with Sergeant Nikolai Kole of the Black Harbor police dept.

Hazel returns to the town she escaped to help solve the murder of her ex-husband. The town has so many bad memories. And the town has become a hot mess of violence and drugs. Hazel hooks back up with her past policeman lover as they work on solving what happened. The story is interesting. I was entertained.

Where do I even begin, this was diabolical and kept me guessing. I love Hannah's style of writing, she leaves alot to the imagination and it hooked me early on.

The Unlucky Ones delivers a gritty, high-octane thriller steeped in atmosphere and driven by complex relationships. Fans of dark, emotionally charged police procedurals with strong character work will find this fourth installment of the Black Harbour novels compelling. A bit of violence goes a long way.

Another absolute banger from the queen of Black Harbor! I was not at all surprised to love this book - it's a darkly beautiful story of redemption, forward progress, closure, self discovery, and ultimately, love. Hannah is such a wonderful author; I would truly read anything she writes! I loved the Black Harbor series and I am so in love with the way this series came to a close.

Have enjoyed this series and this one was good. Hazel’s ex is murdered and it brings her back where she does not want to be.

Audio was well done and narrators protrayed the characters well.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press for an ARC and Macmillan Audio for an ALC.

I started this series very interested as I'm a medical transcriber for 25 years. I have grown very fond of Hazel's character. The author continues her story seamlessly through each novel. Hazel has vowed to never return to Black Harbor. The town eats everyone alive it seems. When Hazel finds out her ex-husband Tommy has been murdered, she reluctantly goes back. The chemistry between Cole and Hazel is palpable. Will they figure out who killed Tommy and why? Will Hazel get through this without becoming a suspect. The ending is a great twist. I do hope Hannah continues Hazel's story. B