Wow! Just wow! Five huge stars for what is now my favorite entry into the Black Harbor series. This book exceeded my expectations, and my expectations were already very high. This one will be on my “best of” list for 2025.

Black Harbor is known for its crime. That is never in question. This time around, the city’s drug problem is officially at an untenable level. Detective Nikolai Kole and crew are back to investigate the murder of Tommy Greenlee. If that name sounds familiar, it is because he was in the first book of the series, Hello, Transcriber. Tommy’s ex-wife, Hazel returns for some answers. To say that I was excited for her return would be an understatement. Her entrance in this one was perfect too.

This book is gritty, violent, and heartbreaking - just as you would expect from a Black Harbor book. It was also incredibly human. The thing that really surprised me about this was the weather. Readers are used to the brutal cold and desolation of this area. This time around, we have the heat of July. This somehow made Black Harbor even more brutal. Black Harbor is its own character, and it lives up to its reputation again. This series truly gets better with each installment.

I read both the book and listened to the audiobook for this one. The narrators - Angela Dawe and Robb Moreira - are incredible. I could not put this one down or stop listening!

And that ending! I’ve already reread it 10 times.

Now, when is the next book?

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read this fantastic book! I highly recommend this entire series. This one is out on March 25 - preorder it now!

I didn't read books 2 and 3 in this series...but lucky me, this book picked up with the characters from Hello Transcriber! Nothing unlucky about that!. I love how these characters evolved over the 8 years apart, and how maybe they were both just in limbo that whole time. The audio version is spectacular!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

The Transcriber is back with a bloody vengeance. Based on a main character from book 1 in the Black Harbor series, Hazel has returned when her ex-husband, Tommy, is found dead. Hazel is confused about a lot of things, not the least of which is why she would return. The answer might be found in the complexities of spousal abuse. Though Hazel is now a successful writer on the East Coast, she is compelled to return to Black Harbor to finally put her past behind her.

Investigating the death of Tommy is Hazel's ex-lover, Sergeant Nick Kole. Reconnecting through the murder of her husband, it appears that Hazel may be next of the list of the body count. Can love be sustained within the context of Black Harbor?

Once again Morrissey shows she is a writer of gritty stuff. Great details of the newest drug, Zombie, and its appearance in black harbor and how that might be related to the recent deaths. I loved being reacquainted with past characters both good and evil. Black Harbor itself continues to be a dark, foreboding locale perfect for the moody atmosphere that is ever present. Having the deadly river be dry due to the extreme heat and drought shows the progression of the writer's pulse on what is happening around the town that impacts the characters.

All in all, another great outing for readers that want a darker series with an atmospheric backdrop and a touch of romance.

Thank you to St.Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for access to an early electronic copy via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

The Unlucky Ones is a dark and twisted compelling read that is well plotted .

Hazel returns to Black Harbor to help solve her ex husbands brutal murder.

She meets up with Nik Kole who is on the case and they are desperatley trying to solve the case.

Its not that simple .

Black Harbor is aptly named, it has a darkness full of crime and corruption with dark secrets.

Hannah Morrisey does another remarkable job of taking the reader on an unforgetable journey that makes you want more.

Although The Unlucky Ones is Book 4 , you can read it as a stand alone but I highly recommend you read the first three books in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the privilege of reading and reviewing The Unlucky Ones.

I haven’t read any of the other books in this series, and was really glad they can be read as standalones, because this was a good one! At first, I thought there were way too many characters introduced, but the author does a pretty good job keeping the reader on track with who is who; and ultimately, it made for a great “whodunnit.” My jaw literally dropped at the twist. I thought I knew who it was, but I was definitely wrong! It was written wonderful, very engaging. I read it in just a few hours!

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

Good series. Good characters. Dark and twisty stories. Quick read. What now could you ask for? Hello, Transcriber was my favorite of the Black Harbor books. So seeing Hazel and Kole again was a treat.

Hazel finally escaped Tommy's abuse after eight years so why did she come back?

Because Tommy was dead? Will she be accused of the murder?

Hazel vowed to never return, but she needs to find the revolver that has her prints on and is registered to her.

The reader follows the police as they find brutally murdered people with lottery tickets in their pocket. It is a lottery ticket that is sold nowhere.

What can the ticket mean?

THE UNLUCKY ONES was pretty brutal and the fourth book in the series.

It wasn't a favorite for me because of the grizzly scenes, but would be a good fit for those who like police procedure and crime scene themes. 3/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

"The Unlucky Ones" is the fourth novel in the Black Harbor series. In this exciting police procedural, readers are reintroduced to Hazel Greenlee, a police transcriber-turned-novelist, who returns to Black Harbor, Wisconsin, when her ex-husband, Tommy is murdered. Investigating the case is none other than Sergeant Nikolai Kole, Hazel's former lover.

Once again, Hannah Morrissey has written a captivating, unputdownable thriller. I really enjoyed the last book in the series, "When I'm Dead," but I loved this one even more. Each book follows different members of the Black Harbor Police Department, and I loved that this book brought back Hazel and Kole from the first novel in the series, "Hello, Transcriber." The main characters from the other books also made appearances throughout, which was fun. The other books worked better as standalone novels, but I think you should read the rest of the series before diving into this one.

I knew this was going to be a five-star read after the first chapter. I was completely hooked and could not put it down. The author does not hold back on the realities of crime, especially drug use and gang violence. Her vivid descriptions of crime-ridden Black Harbor and its residents will leave you feeling uneasy. The pacing was excellent, and I enjoyed the dual POVs of Kole and Hazel. As a former prosecutor, I sometimes struggle with police procedurals, but this one was so well-done. A pulse-pounding page-turner that I highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a big Hannah Morrissey fan. Loved her previous books and this one was no exception. I was hooked from beginning to end. It’s the perfect page turner that I will recommend to all my book pals.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for allowing me to read this ebook early.This is book #4 in the Black Harbor series.This is technically part of a series, but it serves well as a standalone. I enjoyed the premise of this story and the range of characters.

Definitely a dark and gritty thriller. I enjoyed the main character, Hazel and her determination to return to the depressing Black Harbor, seeking to find out just what happened to Tommy. The pacing was perfect, I felt engaged, but it did not feel too rushed.

This was my first by Hannah Morrissey, I am looking forward to reading her others!

Thank you NetGalley, all opinions are my own

So funny story I didn't realize this was a series before I clicked read but i'm glad I did because I will be reading the rest of the series. I loved the main characters search for answers and this book could go hand in hand with a Karin Slaughter style novel with how its written like a movie. i thoroughly enjoyed this and will be reading everything in Hannah's backlist.

🧟‍♂️🧟‍♂️🧟‍♂️🧟‍♂️🧟‍♂️ / 5

THE UNLUCKY ONES by Hannah Morrissey

thank you to @netgalley and @minotaur_books for early access to the e-ARC as well as a physical ARC in exchange for an honest review

quick thoughts:
⭐️ 5/5
💀 Hazel returns to Black Harbor after her ex-husband is found dead
🕵🏻‍♀️ Midwestern noir crime fiction
✍🏼 dual POV, short chapters
👀 dark atmosphere, morally ambiguous characters
👍🏼 would recommend to thriller lovers!

oh, this was such an amazing trip back to Black Harbor. i’m so happy i had the e-ARC version because i kept picking up my Kindle to highlight excerpts—i’ll never shut up about Hannah’s writing, so don’t ask 🙃

🎶 “when our fingers touch, i feel my way back home”

every time i embark on a new adventure into this world, i feel at home—and this trip back to Black Harbor was no exception. i adored all the references to the first three books in the series, and i was so happy that Hazel came back! as per usual, this story had everything, BUT it had me wiping away tears as i finished it!? hello? 🥺 if you want to learn more about why i love Black Harbor, please check out my recent “currently reading” post 🖤

THE UNLUCKY ONES publishes March 25, so click the link in my bio to pre-order today—and don’t forget to submit your proof-of-purchase form to receive a Hazel bracelet (this link is also in my bio) 😎

Book Title: The Unlucky Ones
Series: Black Harbor #4
Author: Hannah Morrissey
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press ~ Minotaur Books
Genre: Thriller
Pub Date: March 25, 2025
My Rating: 3.6 stars
Pages; 304

Here I am again saying ‘Hello’ to transcriber Hazel Greenlee,
In this the fourth book in the Black Harbor series. Hazel is back helping solve her ex-husband Tommy’s brutal murder-which took place at “The Mineshaft’ a placed that acts like bar but is a notorious hangout for dealers and crime lords.
Nikolai Kole is the lead investigator who finds his body - if you read any of the earlier stories you know Nik and Hazel have history.

Black Harbor is in no way a nice place to live - story isn’t close to a ‘Cozy Mystery but one where gruesome things happen and nasty language is norm. - So will Hazel stay and will there be Book #5 - Read on

When I finished reading "Hello, Transcriber|" first in this series my comment was - it had me at ‘Hello”!
I also read the Book #2 "The Widowmaker" - which I liked even more; but book #3 " When I’m Dead" was the best!
Needless to say I was looking forward to #4!

Want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press ~ Minotaur Books for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for March 25, 2025.

The Unlucky Ones is a dark, gritty murder mystery set in the underbelly of a city that reeks of drugs and rot. But within the pages, a romance tries to bloom between two past lovers. Morrissey teases us with a bit of lightness to offset the ugly.

This is the 4th book that I've read and loved by this author. I find her writing to be immersive and the storylines to be suspenseful and well plotted.
It was interesting revisiting Hazel and Kole and watching the progression of their relationship and all the goings on in Black Harbor.
I look forward to reading all future books by Hannah and will add them all to my keeper shelfves.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC..

Nikolai Kole and his team have been called to investigate a body found in the bathroom of a clubhouse known to be a hangout for murderers. It is determined to be the body of Tommy Greenlee. Tommy's death, however, also draws in someone from Nik's past. Hazel is Tommy's ex-wife and Nik's ex-lover. Hazel proves useful in helping to put the pieces of the puzzle together in the case. Together they must figure out the clues before someone else shows up dead.

There’s no doubt that Morrissey is the queen of Midwestern Noir and Black Harbor is at its center.

This end to the series ties up things perfectly, both case wise and relationship wise.

Hazel and Kole have always been an interesting duo to follow and the Kole’s detectives round out the crew. Behind Black Harbor and all of its cases is an issue found in many Midwestern towns and to see a crew work these cases has been entertaining.

3.5/5 rounded up to 4

This newest installment of the Black Harbor series sees Hazel returning to Black Harbor after the murder of her abusive ex-husband. It is his murder that draws her back but she knew she'd have to return eventually to deal with all the unresolved issues she left behind. She quickly gets pulled into the case of who killed her ex and why, almost losing her own life to find the truth.