Another Black Harbor book from Hannah Morrissey that I really enjoyed! This is book 4 in the series but only the second one I’ve read. I loved the main characters, Hazel and Nikolai Kole. Kole is the police sergeant and Hazel is a police transcriber turned novelist who has since moved on from Black Harbor. Hazel and Kole used to have a secret relationship while she was married to Tommy Greenlee and living in Black Harbor. Now Tommy is dead and Hazel is back to try to figure out why. Hazel and Kole must work together to solve this murder as the stakes quickly get higher the deeper they get, uncovering drugs, guns, and dangerous people. The Unlucky Ones was a great read! This has all the elements of a police procedural along with characters that I felt a connection with. I really liked the narrators for this book too! I will be reading more of the Black Harbor series and anxiously awaiting another!

Rounded up because the audio was done well, the story was bingeable, and it propelled the series forward appropriately. I didn't think anything was incredibly special about it overall but I was still addicted! Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan audio for the ARC 🥰

3.5 (rounded up)

So, here’s the thing—I made a rookie mistake. I requested an ARC of The Unlucky Ones (Book 4 of this series) before realizing it was book FOUR in the Black Harbor series. Gahhh! Cue frantic backtracking and binge-reading to catch up. Now that I’ve powered through the series, let me save you the trouble: Start at book one. You could technically read them as standalones, but trust me, the characters reappear, and book four ties back to book one in a way that makes reading in order totally worth it.

Set in the crime-infested, drug-fueled city of Black Harbor, Wisconsin, these books are dark, atmospheric, and gritty—so much so that the city itself feels like an extra character. It’s the kind of place where you don’t walk alone at night, and if you do, well… good luck.

Full disclosure: police procedural mysteries aren’t usually my thing. I lean more toward the juicy, drama-filled thrillers, and while this series didn’t give me that level of excitement, I can see why crime fiction fans would love it. The writing is solid, the cases seemed compelling, and I could see it being adapted into a TV series.

Now, specifically about book four—The Unlucky Ones. This one brings us back to Hazel and Kole from ‘The Transcriber’, and I loved seeing their messy dynamic again. It’s a great follow-up for that duo, though The Transcriber is probably still my favorite of the bunch.

As for the audiobook, I wasn’t sold on the narration at first—I worried it might be too monotone. But as the story unfolded, it actually fit the eerie, brooding atmosphere of the book. Kind of like the voiceover in a gritty crime film.

If you’re into detective murder mysteries with a dark, immersive setting, give this series a go. If you, like me, prefer your thrillers dripping with scandal and jaw-dropping twists, you might not be as hooked. Either way, Black Harbor is a city you won’t forget—whether you want to or not.

Thank you Macmillan Audio, Net Galley and Hannah Morrissey for this advance listen copy in exchange for my honest review.

It’s a yes for me especially if you have read the others.

DeAnn @deannsdailyriot

I'm so grateful to @hannahmorrisseywriter, @minotaur_books, @stmartinspress, and @macmillan.audio for the gifted e-book and ALC.

This series has been fantastic, and Hazel's return to Black Harbor is a welcome addition. The town's dark underbelly is still fascinating, and the romance adds a awesome touch that I love. The audio narration is excellent, bringing the characters to life in a way that's hard to put down. If you're a fan of crime thrillers with a little romance here and there, you won't want to miss this one! Or any of this series really, you can't go wrong!

Loved the narrators of this book, but I wasn’t as invested in the story as I hoped to be. It was good, but I found myself bored at many parts in the story. I will try another of her books!

The Unlucky Ones is the fourth book in Hannah Morrissey’s gritty Black Harbor series, but it’s the first one that revisits characters from a previous book. This one takes place eight years after the events of Hello, Transcriber, the first book in this loosely connected series, and we get to revisit the main characters in that book, Hazel Greenlee (the former titular police transcriber), and detective Nikolai Kole, who had a short affair back then.

Black Harbor is a bleak city in Wisconsin, right on Lake Michigan. It is known as the highest crime city in Wisconsin and has huge drug and gang problems, among other issues.

Hazel fled Black Harbor and became a writer, fulfilling one of her dreams. When Hazel’s abusive ex-husband is murdered, she decides to come back to Black Harbor to find out what happened and why. This is that story.

The story unfolds via two points of view, Hazel’s and Nik’s. (The audiobook uses two narrators, which I loved.) Seeing them try to reconnect after eight years apart, dancing around their former connection, formed part of the book. Getting to know Nik’s partners in his violent crimes task force was another highlight. I could imagine the atmosphere in Black Harbor leading up to July 4th, which they knew would come with a few deaths. I can’t imagine living in such a depressingly bleak place, but Nik is tied to it and doesn’t picture himself leaving anytime soon.

There were several gang members that I had trouble keeping straight, but I powered through that issue and just kept reading/listening.

In addition to this book reaching back to the first book in the series, there’s a mention or two of the Reynolds family, who featured in book two, The Widowmaker, so perhaps Morrissey intends to revisit that story in a future book. Who knows?

Recommended for readers who don’t mind a gritty police procedural, with some violent scenes.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook and to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The Unlucky Ones is a raw, gritty murder mystery set in Black Harbor, a city drowning in crime, corruption, and decay. With vivid, immersive descriptions, Morrissey pulls readers straight into the underbelly of a city that reeks of drugs and desperation without shying away.. But within this bleak landscape, she also weaves an electrifying police procedural and a slow-burning romance between two people with a complicated past.

Black Harbor has violent crime at an all-time high, a deadly new drug is spreading through the streets, and the murder scene Sergeant Nikolai Kole is called to is bleak. A body—wrapped in garbage bags and doused in bleach—lies in the back of a clubhouse. The body of Tommy Greenlee, the ex-husband of Kole’s former lover, Hazel. And the killer? They left behind a chilling calling card.

After eight years away, Hazel is drawn back to Black Harbor, unable to ignore the ghosts of her past. She needs answers—who killed Tommy, and why? But returning means stepping back into Kole’s orbit, and their relationship was never simple. They used each other before. Could they do it again?

As the city grows more volatile, Hazel and Kole form a fragile truce, determined to uncover Black Harbor’s deepest, darkest secrets—even if it means confronting their own.

What Worked for Me
-Dark, Gritty Atmosphere: Morrissey’s depiction of Black Harbor is disturbingly vivid. The city feels alive, pulsing with crime and corruption, making it the perfect setting for a haunting murder mystery.

-Headline-Worthy Plot: The murder at the heart of this story is gripping and layered with twists. It’s a police procedural that keeps you engaged, weaving in complex relationships, hidden motives, and shocking discoveries.

-Complex, Flawed Characters: The novel is packed with characters who are morally ambiguous and deeply human. Nikolai Kole is a standout—tough, sharp, and carrying his own burdens. Hazel’s journey is equally compelling as she navigates the wreckage of her past.

-A Touch of Romance: While the focus is on crime and mystery, the tension between Kole and Hazel adds a compelling emotional layer. Morrissey teases us with brief moments of lightness, a flicker of warmth in an otherwise grim world. I'm glad it wasn't allowed to take over the story this time.

What Could Have Been Better
-Unrelenting Darkness: While the gritty realism adds to the novel’s authenticity, the sheer bleakness of Black Harbor might not be for everyone. It’s relentless, which can make the story feel emotionally heavy at times.

-Some Characters Lacked Depth: While Kole and Hazel were well-developed, a few side characters felt more like plot devices than fully fleshed-out individuals.

The Unlucky Ones is an intense, immersive read that will suck you in and make you feel like you're walking the streets of Black Harbor, chasing down leads alongside its characters. If you love dark, vividly depicted crime fiction with a strong procedural element, this book is for you. Each installment in the Black Harbor series has been better than the last, and this one is no exception.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Hannah Morrissey, and Macmillion audio for the audiobook. This was a gripping detective mystery filled with twists and turns that kept me engaged throughout. A thoroughly enjoyable listen narrated by Angela Dawe and Robb Moreira!

Another excellent instalment in one of my favorite murder mystery series to date. I love the strong female lead in this book and the latest has her returning to the town she fled to face dark secrets and figure out who killed her ex. Returning characters and sexual tension abound as well as great surprise twists I didn't see coming. This was good on audio too and perfect for fans of authors like Karin Slaughter. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

This is the fourth book in the Black Harbor series and it’s a pulse-racing thriller! Packed full of compelling characters with a gripping ending that is sure to please all psychological thriller lovers‼️
It’s absolutely a great standalone read but why not enjoy the first three as well ?
Loved the dual narrators and the foul language 😅
Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity to read this complimentary advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The unlucky ones.
I didn’t know what I was getting into visiting Black Harbor. Hannah Morrissey takes us along with her officer Cade as he investigates the ex husband of a former lover. He’s hesitant to question her until absolutely necessary.

Unbeknownst to him, Hazel returns to Black Harbor to find out for herself what happened to her ex husband. It’s almost as though she needs to see it to believe he’s gone. She’s looking for answers. And closure.

One doesn’t simply leave Black Harbor. And if you are on the police force? You give your life for keys to the city. Or the city takes it.

I knew this was the middle of a series of books when I started it, but I hadn’t read the former novels. While I could see that a backstory obviously existed for the characters, enough was explained during the story for this to work as a standalone.

I enjoyed the story line. The names were a bit confusing with some referring to the same characters by their last names and some by their first names.

This book ended with me to adding the other 3 to my TBR list.

Thank you to @hannahmorrisseywriter , @macmillan.audio @netgalley Angela Dawe and Robb Moriera for giving me the opportunity to listen to the audio book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed another trip into the world of Black Harbor with its sense of danger and interesting law enforcement. This book featured the multiple POVS of Sergeant Cole and his former lover and former transcriber, Hazel. Hazel returned to town after her ex-husband's murder and found herself in danger from an unknown source as she tried to work out who the murderer was. Cole was on the case, forcing them to cross paths, and things heated up between them again as they did when they had an affair together years earlier. Both characters had a dark backstory and trauma in their pasts that made the current storyline richer as their storylines merged and the truth revealed itself. Fans of crime thrillers will love this book.

I am speechless (and emotional) after finishing! The Unlucky Ones has truly cinched my love of Hannah Morrissey's writing - which is the same thing I have now said about each of the four books in her Black Harbor series.

Where do I even start? Because there is no way I can properly convey how much I loved it!

This one is the seedy underbelly of Black Harbor.
This one is everything.

Kole is a constant throughout this series, with the other characters orbiting around him. He's been lurking in the background, and up until now, we've only ever seen him from an outside vantage point; finally, we are rewarded with a perspective all his own. Morrissey is fantastic at character development, as Kole is exactly who I anticipated him to be. His outside persona and inside monologue are simply one in the same. (Although I will say he's matured a lot since we first met.)

And Hazel? I love and adore her with all my heart. Forever.

After eight (book) years, I am so happy that Hazel and Kole have found themselves taking up the same space once again.

This is where I give a standing ovation for this audiobook! (And, I'll admit I was apprehensive about it!) My love of Angela Dawe's voice simply has no limit, but it was Robb Moreira's version of Kole that drove this one home for me! Finally, we get to hear Kole from his own perspective and in his own voice rather than hearing it through other characters (and their narrators). Although Moreira's voice isn't exactly the same as that original voice Dawe created for Kole, it is perfect! Moreira's assertive breathiness was the perfect choice, matching and complimenting Dawe's voice and narration flawlessly. Kudos to whomever selected Moreira! And even with all that being said... I'm so happy that this ending, this epilogue was from the perspective it was; it felt like a complete loop, giving a bit of solace to the wounds incurred along the way.

If this is, in fact, the end, it was one hell of a ride! And I can't wait to read whatever Morrissey comes up with next!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary copies to read and review.

Hazel’s BACK!!! After reading Hello, Transcriber I have been wanting more time with Hazel and Cole and this was such a good follow-up. Black Harbor is not a setting for the faint of heart but I gobbled this on up. If you are like me and love dark, atmospheric thrillers you won’t want to miss this one! While each book in the Black Harbor series is an interconnected standalone, I highly recommend that you read Hello, Transcriber first.

While I eyeball read most of the book, I did listen to a few chapters on audiobooks. Angela Dawe and Robb Moreira did a fantastic job with the narration and either option is a great way to digest this fantastic dark read!

****Many thanks to Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for the gifted copies.

The fourth book in the “Black Harbor” series, The Unlucky One’s can also be read as a standalone. I had not read the previous stories and did not struggle to know what was going on. The storyline is independent thought the characters recur from previous books.

The police procedural brings Hazel back after years away. The murder of Hazel’s ex-husband, Tommy, brings static for the investigation- being run by Sergeant Kole. This storyline follows the rotting city full of crime that is Black Harbor, the tension and past history of Kole and Hazel, and the murder investigation that seems to get more complicated as they proceed.

Overall, I thought the story was “ok”, giving it 3⭐️. I feel like I’m among the minority and the majority of the people have read all four books. Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for this ALC!

This is my first Hannah Morrissey book. If you're into dark, gritty murder mysterires - this one is for you. This book takes you to Black Harbor - a police procedural - and it's got a wild, twisty plot that keeps you hooked. The suspense is there, enough twists, plenty of drama and surprises. The whole story is super engaging and just when you think you've got it figured out, the author hits you with another twist. A solid read for a crime thriller. Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.

First and foremost, I want to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Publishing/ Minotaur Books and Hannah Morrissey for opportunity to read this ARC.

Black Harbor serves as a dynamic and integral element in this narrative, more so than in previous installments, which seemed unlikely. The city's essence permeates the characters just as much as they influence it. The adage holds true: one can remove the individual from the city, but not the city from the individual. Kole and Hazel become entwined in a series of murders, and each clue they uncover leads to further questions rather than answers. A notable aspect of Hazel's journey is her preparedness for Black Harbor, with her development intricately linked to the bridge. This story serves as a poignant and fitting farewell to a city that continues to captivate. Though departing from Black Harbor might appear final, the urge to revisit Hannah's intricate world-building and the captivating characters of Black Harbor remains strong. This is book #4 in the Black Harbor series. I would highly recommend this series. I can’t wait to see what Hannah Morrissey has in store for us next time. Release date is March 25,2025.

The latest title in the Black Harbor series doesn’t pull any punches. Hazel had escaped Black Harbor and had forged a new life for herself as an author, but when she hears that her ex husband, Tommy is found brutally murdered she is compelled to return and find out what happened. The city was rough before but seems to have gotten worse since she left. Sergeant Nikolai Kole is still there and continues to do whatever he can to keep the darkness at bay by putting criminals behind bars, even if the criminals continue to get worse. Kole and Hazel have a history and both find themselves working together as they uncover the secrets that surround Tommy’s death.

This was a nail biter!! There is no one better than Hannah Morrissey that can create the dark and gritty atmosphere of Black Harbor with her prose and attention to detail . She is so good at setting a scene and developing her characters that you are immersed in this world and so invested. Kole and Hazel have great chemistry and the sexual tension was perfect!! I Loved this and was amazed how she was able to keep everything on track, not missing a beat as the story raced to the action packed ending.

The narration was fantastic!!

5 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for the book #TheUnluckyOnes by #HannahMorrissey. This is the fourth book in the Black Harbor series and it’s beyond words how good it is. I am obsessed with this series!! Hazel has come back to Black Harbor to find out who killed her ex husband, Tommy. Eight years ago, Hazel and Kole, a detective, had started an affair before Hazel took off to pursue a career as a writer. Now that she’s back, will she and Kole pick up where they left off? And can they find out who killed Tommy and the mysterious calling cards being left behind for years?

Black Harbor is a gritty, crime-ridden town that Hazel, a former police transcriber, escaped years ago — along with her abusive ex-husband, Tommy. After his murder, she returns, but is it for answers or to reconnect with her former lover, police sergeant Nikolai Kole? As they dig deeper, the town’s darkest secrets come to light.

Morrissey paints a vivid, atmospheric portrait of a place most long to leave. The story is well-written, with strong character development, though I occasionally found Hazel’s motivations hard to grasp. This fourth installment works well as a standalone, with enough backstory to follow easily.

The audiobook was also a fantastic listen. Angela Dawe, one of my favorites from the Finlay Donovan series, delivers an engaging performance as Hazel, while Robb Moreira brings depth and grit to Kole. Their narration adds another layer of intensity to an already compelling story.