As someone who has been mildly obsessed with the Black Harbor series, I was thrilled to see the latest installment available on NetGalley. Having read the third book first (When I'm Dead), I was immediately drawn to Sergeant Nikolai Kole and his emotional ties to a mysterious woman whose presence haunted him, notably in the form of a friendship bracelet with her name hanging from his police vehicle's rearview mirror. My love for this dark, captivating world only grew with each book, and I couldn't wait to dive deeper into the mysteries of Black Harbor—and, of course, the complicated relationship between Nik and Hazel.

And let me tell you, this book did not disappoint. For a lover of slow-burn romance intertwined with gripping mystery and suspense, this book hit all the right notes. I got exactly what I was hoping for: a story that balanced thrilling crime-solving with those emotional moments I've come to crave.

There’s so much that happens in this book, and it’s difficult to talk about without giving away spoilers. However, what I can say is that Hannah Morrissey continues to build a world that feels like both a terrifying and oddly comforting place to return to. The atmosphere is gritty and dark, but there’s something about it—whether it’s the characters or the world they inhabit—that draws me back every time. Nik and his loyal team feel like old friends, and seeing familiar faces like Medical Examiner Rowan Winthorp made me feel like I was stepping back into the world I love.

One of the major highlights of the book is the return of Hazel, the woman who has held such a tight grip on Nik’s heart for years. Their reunion, though bittersweet, was everything I hoped it would be—despite the dangerous and complicated circumstances they find themselves in. Hazel’s reappearance isn’t just a plot device for a romantic reunion; it’s integral to the mystery at hand. Her quest to find out who killed her ex-husband, combined with Nik’s own doubts, adds layers of tension and emotional depth. The trauma Hazel endured as Tommy’s wife is skillfully explored by Morrissey, and even though some of Hazel’s decisions may frustrate you, you can’t help but understand the reasons behind them.

As expected from Morrissey, the twists in this book will leave you gasping, especially one particular revelation toward the end that had me exclaiming, "WTF?!" out loud. This author has a knack for keeping readers on their toes, effortlessly weaving suspense and mystery throughout the story. I never try to predict the outcome of a thriller—honestly, I leave that to the author—and Morrissey delivers brilliantly, taking readers on a wild ride through crime scenes, desperate situations, and moments of fleeting hope.

But beyond the mystery and romance, what really makes The Unlucky Ones stand out is the way Morrissey balances the darkness with moments of unexpected tenderness. The brotherly bond between Nik and his team is so well-developed, and even small touches—like Hudson giving Hazel material for a new book (hello, Widowmaker)—add layers of depth and emotion to the narrative. The strength of Riley as a character also shines through, as she continues to kick butt and defy anyone who tries to take advantage of her. And of course, I couldn’t forget the bit of closure for Axel, especially regarding the "bunnies" situation. These small but significant moments of character growth and closure were the icing on the cake.

Ultimately, this book gave me everything I wanted: mystery, romance, complex characters, and a world I never want to leave. If you’re a fan of the Black Harbor series or you love a good thriller with emotional stakes, you’ll be just as hooked as I was. I’m already eagerly awaiting what comes next.

So well written! The city of Black Harbor and the Forge River bridge are as much characters in this series as Hazel, Nik and his police associates are. They are complicated characters figuring out their relationships to each other and to the city.

The mystery in this series served well to further the relationship between hazel and nic as well as to give solid standings for continuing plots to be set in Black Harbor. I look forward to reading further entries in this darkly
Atmospheric series.

Thank you to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this preview of the next entry in the Black Harbor series.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for this arc. I received this book in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are entirely my own.

This book takes place in the span of five days when Hazel comes back to Black Harbor to find out who killed her ex husband Tommy and why. Hazel is now an author who wrote a book about the candy man and comes back to Black Harbor in order to find some new material to write about. Nik, her lover, finds out that’s she is back in town and finds her in her old home with a gun she had hidden that Tommy bought her since Tommy was shot to death but she didn’t kill him. Hazel helps Nik find out what happened and solve Tommy’s death and help get Xombie of the street and kill Buddha who took over from Hades after he was arrested. Nik finally learns the truth about his brother Evan’s death and that he was murdered in order to keep the mafia happy. Hazel decides to stay in Black Harbor for a while after Buddha is killled and to work on her new book. This book was so good but I had to take small breaks throughout to read it in chunks because of everything going on. I didn’t want the book to end. This is my second book of the series that I’ve read and cannot wait for book 5. Keep these books coming

The Black Harbor series continue to be everything I wanted.

Hazel and Kole are back! What else do I need? This book was an amazing come back for both of these characters.

Fast paced, intense and suspenseful, book #4 will take you on a wild journey. Investigating murders, unfolding the clues, it was clever, entertaining, and very satisfying.

Thank you so much Minotaur Books, Hannah Morrissey for my #gifted ARC, and @netgalley for my eARC.

Highly Recommended!!

The Unlucky Ones is book four in a series and probably best read as part of the series. This is the first book I’ve read in the series and maybe put me at a disadvantage. The book is dark and gritty with drugs and crime galore. Despite all the rave reviews I just found this book as okay. Maybe missing the first book kept me from connecting to the characters but I didn’t find Nic or Hazel very likable characters. Told in alternating viewpoints, Hazel returns to Black Harbor to figure out who killed her abusive ex and winds up back in a relationship with the cop she cheated on her ex with. The whodunnit wasn’t a big shocker and the bad guys are all pretty shady and believable. The story is just okay but I’m sure the people who raved about the first books would enjoy this one. My voluntary, unbiased, and non-mandatory review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

I gave this book 3 stars. The story line was very slow moving and it took me awhile to read. The twists didn’t really come until towards the end of the book.

Well I can say for certain that Hannah Morrissey knows how to write a dark setting and some gruesome details. I enjoyed going back to Black Harbor and meeting new characters and the plot overall had me hooked, but I did think that there were multiple plot holes in this story. Hazel jumps right into the investigation of her husbands murder with the Black Harbor Police Department which confused me immediately since she is not an investigator or officer. I also was very confused with the almost ten characters that are mentioned in this book and each one plays a pretty important role in the mystery of her husband's death. I tried to keep in mind that this is book 4 of the Black Harbor series and I did not read the first two books, so I'm sure that would have helped me with some of the background story. Overall, I still plan to read Hannah's other books and I did still enjoy this one but not as much as When I'm Dead!

Thanks NetGalley and Saint Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. You really need to make sure that you’ve read the first book in this series to truly appreciate this one. In fact, there are references to all of the books in this one. I really liked the return of Hazel and the building of a relationship that started in an earlier book. There was definitely an unexpected twist in this one, which I always appreciate. I love a good action scene and Morrissey always gives you this. This was a quick read, with quite a few characters who you had to remember, while also recalling their relationships with each other. Definitely check out this book when it’s released in March 2025.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of The Unlucky Ones by Hannah Morrissey
This was a great novel, I thoroughly enjoyed it. This is the 4th novel in the series, I read the 3rd. As far as I'm concerned they can be read as stand-alones.
This is told from 2 character perspectives, Hazel and Kole. This story wraps up things from previous novels in the series
In this book, I loved the plot and the writing style, I was hooked from the beginning. The story was told really well. The characters were well developed and described and had awesome personalities.
I will definitely watch for more books by this author

This was thrilling and fun and I was here for it! I had no idea what to believe the whole way through. An epic suspense novel.

I did not realize that this was part of a series. However, it can be read as a standalone. I have heard good things about her trillers and saw she had one chosen for Book of the Month. This was a good thriller! I will go back and read her others in this series!

I loveeeee Hannah’s writing! She creates a suspenseful atmosphere while keeping you on the edge of your seat to keep reading

I read the second and third installments in the Black Harbor series hoping for Hazel’s return. It was worth the wait. But her return isn’t a happy one, and it’s easy to see why she stayed away. Black Harbor is a dark, dangerous place. Morrissey is so intimately familiar with the world she’s built in the series that the reader is transported fully into its environs. It’s easy to feel the unsettling nature of the city while reading this book so don’t be surprised if you find yourself checking to see if your doors are locked. The strong sense of place has been a strength of the Black Harbor series, and the characters continue to develop as we feel their desire to run away along with their sense of obligation to stay. This internal conflict provides a tension that adds to the story – and the conflict plays out within almost every character. The complicated dynamic of emotions between Hazel and Kole ramps things up even more.

Morrissey is a mystery author that should be considered on any short list of top contemporary voices in the genre. The writing is extraordinary in its descriptiveness, treating emotion and crime scenes with equal realistic detail. Events and actions push the story forward, but the reader is pulled in by the earnestness in which the characters are written.

Note: Morrissey’s novels thus far all feature Black Harbor but can be read as standalones. Readers will benefit from reading the debut “Hello, Transcriber, however.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an early look. The Unlucky Ones will be released on March 25, 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This is the fourth book in the Black Harbor series. I have not read the previous books but this book would be fine as a stand alone.
Hazel returns to Black Harbor after an eight year absence. Her ex husband has been murdered. Her former lover Kole is investigating the murder.
The characterization of the main two characters is well developed in this dark crime novel. As it is a book that takes place in a criminal police investigation, I was not surprised to find vulgar language. I don’t like it but it is part of the environment that is depicted in this book.
The storyline is very strong and engaging. I look forward to reading the backstories that lead up to this book.

Black Harbor is HEATING UP as Hazel and Kole reunite in this action-packed, dark crime procedural that had me on the edge of my seat!

Hazel (Police transcriber-turned-author) returns to Black Harbor after 8 years to help solve the brutal murder of her ex-husband Tommy. Of course, the lead detective on the case is her ex-lover Kole. Agreeing to work together, they unearth the town's deepest, darkest secrets...

Atmospheric.
Dark.
Gritty.
Suspenseful.

THE UNLUCKY ONES packs so much crime, drugs, and corruption on the pages. You can feel the tension of the grim small town. These characters are vile; just downright deplorable. There are detailed, vivid murder scenes are depicted so read with caution if you're squeamish.

While this can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the first 3 books in the series, particularly Hello, Transcriber in order to fully understand the dynamic between Hazel and Kole.

Petition to bring this story to the big screen...it reads like an action movie!

If all you had to do was one bad thing, and you could leave Black Harbor behind forever, would you do it?

The sweltering days leading up to the 4th of July weekend are the least of Sergeant Nikolai Kole’s worries. His latest scene is in the back of a clubhouse hostile to cops—containing a body wrapped in trash bags and doused with bleach.

Inside: Tommy Greenlee, the ex-husband of Hazel…Kole’s former lover.

Even though she left Black Harbor, Hazel has hardly “escaped”. Haunted by memories of the place, she finds herself back—trying to figure out who killed Tommy and why. But, will she be able to make it out, again?

I am a huge fan of the Black Harbor series (please see the mug in this photo 😊) and this book is absolute PERFECTION! The tension between what is happening in Black Harbor and the emotions of its denizens is tautly written. The plot and atmosphere leave the reader on edge, waiting for what could ignite this tinderbox and let everything break loose. The mystery is gripping, and two moments caused me to go “AHHHHHHH!” out loud. (No regrets).

While the prior three books in the series can be read in any order, my recommendation would be to read all three of those books before reading this one. You have some time because The Unlucky Ones releases on March 25, 2025. Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the e-ARC.

I really enjoyed this book, this is one of my favorite series and I hope it continues. Hazel, the former transcriber for the Black Harbor police, left the area after the events in the first book, she is now returning after finding out her ex-husband, Tommy, has been killed, she wants to make sure she's not implicated in his murder, though she wasn't there when it happened. Tommy was a real miserable person, and he took his misery out on Hazel, frequently abusing her verbally and physically. Hazel had also been involved with the Sergeant of the police Nikolai (Nik) Kole, and left him when she left the area. Doesn't take long though for them to connect, she's busy searching the duplex Tommy and her lived in, looking for the gun registered to her, hoping it's still there, when Nik shows up and catches her in the act. There are a lot of moving parts in this story, Nik is investigating Tommy's murder, which took place in a members only club, he is also aware there is a deadly drug making the rounds in the area, one that has no antidote. Nik also has a confidential informant that he believes knows more than she's letting on and with Hazel back, he's distracted. I would highly recommend though I would suggest reading the others first but I think it could be read as a stand a lone as well. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Minotaur books for the ARC.

I have been (im)patiently waiting for Hazel to return to Black Harbor, and this one was well worth the wait. While the fourth, and possibly last in the Black Harbor series, this is the only one where I think you would benefit from reading the other ones first. At least, read Hello, Transcriber. Put that one on your Holiday TBR so you are ready for this one when it comes out in March 2025.

Morrissey has the ability to craft extremely atmospheric, dark and gritty novels. You can feel, see and smell all the things in this one. While I am from Wisconsin and familiar with the area where she draws her inspiration, the way she writes is phenomenal and puts you right in the action. The tension is palpable, and it seems like you are on the streets, and the slums, of Black Harbor experiencing it first-hand.

Also, the way she weaves together storylines is simply incredible. Everyone is important from their backstory to their own connections. Reconnecting with all the characters from the other books was an element I didn’t realize I needed.

Lastly, I truly appreciate the struggles Hazel faces because they are so real. For someone that has faced emotional and physical abuse, her trust issues are legit and well explored along the main storyline. You can’t help but love Kole and cheer for him to protect her – from herself and the crime that surrounds them.

I am obsessed with Black Harbor, so don’t miss this one. It will be one of your top reads in 2025 – trust me!

I didn't realize this book was part of a series when I requested it, but I read it anyway. It seems it can be read as a standalone. It was a great book, and makes me want to read the others in the series.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

The Unlucky Ones but I was lucky to read this book! Amazing book, great job! I really enjoyed it! Such an interesting book.