I loved this book! This is such a great series. I feel like I’m visiting Gotham city when I read it. I hope we get more books!

This series had me at “Hello, Transcriber” and got better and better with “The Widowmaker” and “When I’m Dead.” So when I saw that Hazel (the transcriber now turned author) would be returning to Black Harbor in “The Unlucky Ones,” I knew I didn’t want to miss it. While each of the first three installments can easily be read as a standalone book, I think “The Unlucky Ones” reads best if you at least read “Hello, Transcriber” to understand Hazel and Nik’s backstory.

So I’m sad to say that “The Unlucky Ones” left me underwhelmed. The town of Black Harbor hasn’t changed, it’s gritty, dangerous, and drug infested. In case you forgot, you’ll be reminded of it over and over as you turn the pages. This installment’s plot dives deep into Black Harbor’s drug underworld, but I struggled to connect with or care about any of the unsympathetic players in the drug game. The motive is no huge mystery – it’s all about drugs: who has them, who sells them, and who will kill for them. Most disappointingly, the forbidden zing of electricity between Hazel and Nik that made “Hello, Transcriber” so compelling is mostly missing here.

That’s not to say this is a bad book. Hannah Morrissey still shows her prowess for writing “Midwestern noir” and I love the way she turns a phrase, but this plot is kind of lackluster compared to the earlier books in the series. It took me a week to get through this book, and for someone who reads 15+ books per month, that’s saying something. Fans of the Black Harbor series will still want to read this one, but it might not be your favorite.

I love this series so much. It's dark and gritty and realistic. In this entry in the series, Hazel the transcriber from the first book, returns to Black Harbor after the death of her ex-husband. Hazel reconnects with police detective Nik Kole to investigate the murder and confront the unresolved feelings she had when she left Black Harbor the first time, as they face danger from drug dealers and other unsavory characters in the notorious town. She made it out of Black Harbor once; will she make it out again?

Reading the author's acknowledgements at the end of the book, she states this might be the last book in the series. I will miss Black Harbor, but will continue to look forward to other novels by Hannah Morrissey.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher St. Martin's Press/Minotaur for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

It's been eight years since Hazel left her husband, lover, and Black Harbor. But now she's back to figure out who killed her ex-husband.

This is a signature Hannah Morrisey story with complicated characters and a gritty setting. I loved meeting Kole and Hazel again.

I seem to be in the minority on this one. This was a big miss for me. I loved BLack Harbor #3. Was hoping to love this one. Maybe I needed to read the other two books of the series. I think I read book one and could not finish. I heard other readers say this could be read as a stand alone novel, but I think the context could be helpful.

Hazel from book one, returns to Black Harbor to solve her ex-husband’s murder. Black Harbor is depicted as a bleak, depressing place full of crime. Both books I have read have mentioned that it is a place of misery that few escape but there is never any explanation of why or exploration of this.
Why is it a high crime area?

I didn’t connect to any of the characters. The two main characters had a past relationship. Hazel cheated on her husband with the police detective years ago. Infidelity plot points never a favorite for me. A big chunk of the mystery resolves around drugs and the illegal activities involved in selling drugs. Another big no for me. I just don’t find drug plots interesting.

This was dark. I like dark but was bored with this one. The mystery just never captured my interest.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Mar. 25, 2025
Sergeant Nikolai Kole is called to the scene of a grisly crime- a man has been shot dead, his body left covered in a garbage bag and left on the toilet. Further investigation reveals the dead man to be Tommy Greenlee, the ex-husband of Kole’s former lover, Hazel. Although Hazel swore she’d never return to the drug-fueled, poverty-ridden town of Black Harbour, desperate to start a new life in New York and leave her past, and Kole, behind, she knows she has to return to Black Harbour. Hazel needs to find out who killed Tommy because she may be next.
“The Unlucky Ones” is the fourth novel in Hannah Morrissey’s “Black Harbour” series. Although I have read the other novels that belong to this series, I can say with some certainty that it is not necessary to do so in order to keep up with the plot. Like most police procedurals, “Ones” has an independent storyline and, although the characters have appeared in the previous books, their relationships are written so that a newcomer can easily keep pace.
“Ones” is narrated by the protagonists, Kole and Hazel, although it is made clear that Hazel is the lead, as she narrates her chapters in the first person, whereas Kole tells his story in the second person. Both of them have equally complicated relationships with just about everyone they meet so it is obvious that they are perfect for each other, which is why they keep circling back to one another like vultures over prey. This aspect of their personalities is what will draw readers to them, making both Kole and Hazel flawed but charming.
The ending wraps up only this storyline, but it is evident that the two protagonists have much more to uncover, especially when it comes to their romantic situation. As for “Ones”, the crime is solved in an extremely satisfying way, after pages of exciting police investigations into bad guy drug dens and stolen guns. “Ones” is chock full of action and suspense, with a minuscule amount of romance sprinkled in (just the way I like it).
Morrissey’s fourth novel is taut and gripping, marking her as one to watch in the police procedural/mystery genre. So much thanks for the chance to follow along with Kole and Hazel and I look forward to the fifth installment.

Dark, Gritty, Atmospheric.

In this series' fourth installment, Hazel Greenlee returns to the crime-ridden underbelly of Black Harbor after her ex-husband Tommy is found murdered. Hazel’s sordid history with Tommy places her directly in the crosshairs as a prime suspect. On a quest to remove all suspicion and clear her name, Hazel finds herself on the defense and back in the orbit of sultry detective Nikolai Kole. With sufficient backstory highlights, this new mystery, and the bittersweet infatuation between Nik and Hazel . . . this novel can be enjoyed as a standalone novel.

I recommend this book for those who enjoy visiting Black Harbor, moody murder mysteries, police procedurals, and slow-burn romance.

I thank NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of The Unlucky Ones for my unbiased evaluation.  3 stars

Nothing makes me happier than a return trip to the cesspool of Black Harbor, and when I found out Hazel and Kole would be in this one... !!!!!!!!!!!

I absolutely love Hannah Morrissey, and this is officially my second-favorite of the series (my heart will always be owned by Hello, Transcriber). Dark and emotional and twisty and all of the things. READ THIS! (But def read at least Hello first)

This series is addictive and this one was no different. The books make you feel so many different things, happy, icky, sad, hopeful. Hannah Morrissey will be an autobuy author, she can do no wrong.

Thank you so much to Minotaur for the gifted ARC!

I love Hannah and the dark and brooding city of Black Harbor and always look forward to a trip back there, especially as a Wisconsin resident!

I really love these characters and I really enjoyed that we got to spend more time with them in a deeper capacity in book #4!

While I thought the plot itself was exciting and fun as always, it was a welcomed change to spend a little more time on the personal lives of the characters and it actually made me appreciate the book more! Hazel and Kole 4EVA!

As far as the audiobook itself, I thought Angela did a great job capturing the nitty gritty vibes of Black Harbor!

Thank you to Minotaur Books and Hannah Morrissey for the ARC!

If you have been following this series from the beginning (and if you haven’t, you need to check it out - it’s SO good!), you will be thrilled to see Hazel return to Black Harbor! Though she returned to find out what happened to her ex-husband, it’s Kole who she is happy to see. Even though it’s been eight years, their chemistry is still there - they fight it at first, given the circumstances but their easy flow is still the same. Hazel, though, is so much stronger than when we first met her - I loved seeing her stand up for herself and living a life she loved (even though one part - or one person - was missing) for the last eight years. In a town as dark as Black Harbor, it was so comforting to see familiar characters and enjoy the little Easter eggs to past stories.

Hannah Morrissey has such an evocative writing style, her words painting vivid, beautiful pictures. She truly brought the entire town to life, and in this latest installment, brought things full circle. My favorite book of the series yet!

”The Unlucky Ones” releases March 25, 2025. This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

Book 4 of the Black Harbor Series
Pub Date : 3/25/25
★★★★☆ 4.5/5 stars rounded up!

✦ 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 :
-dark + atmospheric reads
-crime thrillers
-4th book in a stellar series 🖤
-dual POV
-short, bingable chapters
-fantastic audiobook
-doggy besties

✦ 𝐌𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 :
If you’ve ever asked for a series recommendation, chances are you have heard me rave about The Black Harbor series. These crime thrillers are something really special - dark, atmospheric, & suspenseful. To say I was excited about The Unlucky Ones would be a huge understatement!

I absolutely loved getting to be back in Black Harbor, & back in Hazel & Kole’s orbit. Like all of these books, the writing was so perfectly nuanced - atmospheric & eerie. I loved that you could feel the sweltering summer heat, the drama & tension. The Easter eggs from the previous books were so fun! My only complaint was the ending, but only because I wanted MORE! I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this isn’t the last time we see these characters, I’m always gonna want to come back to Black Harbor 🖤

(The first 3 can be read as standalones, but for this newest chapter in the Black Harbor saga I definitely recommend at least reading Hello, Transcriber first so you can really appreciate the push/pull relationship between Hazel & Kole ❤️‍🔥)

Thanks so much to the Hannah Morrissey, minotaur books, Macmillan audio + netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

☠️ T H R I L L E R T H U R S D A Y review ☠️ featuring “The Unlucky Ones” by Hannah Morrissey!

BOOK REVIEW: 🖤🖤🖤🖤/5

Former police transcriber Hazel Greenlee has made her return back to Black Harbor after 8 years away. Her abusive ex husband Tommy has been murdered and she wants to help solve the case. Hardly anyone ever leaves Black Harbor … and they sure as hell don’t come back. This puts a huge target on Hazel since her ex Tommy was not a good guy and messed with the wrong crowd.

Sergeant Nokolai Kole has been busy with all of Black Harbor’s seedy crime, shocking murder cases and heightened drug trafficking. The worst of the worst lurk around the town as Black Harbor will always be a dangerous, suffocating and dark place.

His latest homicide case involves Tommy Greenlee’s body that is found wrapped in garbage bags, covered in bleach and shot multiple times. Kole knows all too well that bad news travels fast and he may see Hazel sooner than later! But can they look past their differences and work together?? Or does it put them both into more danger??

⚠️ This series is a MUST READ and I do recommend reading HELLO, TRANSCRIBER (book 1) first in order to fully understand the connection between Hazel and Kole in THE UNLUCKY ONES (book 4)!

Black Harbor is such an unsavoury and sketchy setting that reeks of FILTH and DECAY and is beyond ideal for a moody, dark and gritty police procedural! The town sinks its rotten teeth into you as a reader and each razor sharp twist, gruesome death and ugly interaction will send chills up your spine!

Thank you kindly to @hannahmorrisseywriter @minotaur_books @stmartinspress @netgalley for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This book releases on March 25, 2025!

I LOVED this book! I am soo glad Hannah Morrissey decided to bring Hazel back to Black Harbor and bring some closure to her and Cole. And I loved how every one of the Black Harbor stories wove through this one. Such a perfect Midwestern Noir, gritty atmosphere but full of characters you can’t help but love. She writes such amazing twisty mysteries as well that just grip you. And I love all of them!

Note: You don’t have to read all of the Black Harbor novels before this one, but you will want to read Hello, Transcriber.

This is my first book in this series, and I felt quite confused when I started reading because I didn’t realize it was part of a series. I wish I had read at least one other book beforehand to better understand the characters' backgrounds and how this story connects to the others.

The book took some time to capture my interest. The two narratives, presented from different perspectives (third person and first person), were challenging to follow due to their distinct styles. I found myself preferring Kole’s chapters over Hazel’s. I also felt that Hazel and Kole’s relationship was strange. The exploration of the underground drug scene was interesting, as it's not something I typically read about, and the plot moved along quickly. Overall, it was a good story, but I did not love it.

I had access to both the Kindle and audiobook versions, but I listened to almost the entire story. The narrators Angela Dawe and Robb Moreira both did a great job.

Thank you to NetGallery and to Macmillan Audio and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for my copy.

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!