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.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest book in the Black Harbor series by Hannah Morrissey, with the audiobook perfectly narrated by Angela Dawe and Robb Moreira. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Detective Nik Kole finds a dead body in a clubhouse wrapped in bags and doused in bleach. But things take a turn when the body is identified as Tommy Greenlee, the ex-husband of Hazel and Kole's ex-lover. Hazel returns to Black Harbor to find out how killed Tommy, only to find that people are looking to her as a suspect.

I think this series keeps getting better – I’d definitely recommend starting from the beginning, but there’s enough info to enjoy as a standalone as well. But what I really enjoy in this series is how the characters all repeat, but sometimes in major roles and other times in minor roles in the various books. The main character from Hello, Transcriber is back as a main character in this book, so we get to see how things have changed for her, as well as her relationship with Detective Nik Kole. Plus, some previous storylines come to a resolution. This storyline mirrors the town of Black Harbor – gritty and dark – delving more into the seedy drug world tearing up the town. Morrissey's writing and the narration brings this town to life. Wonderful series!

📚Review: The Unlucky Ones 🎲
“You play stupid games, you win stupid prizes” Let me start by saying this Swiftie loved that this phrase was used a couple times in this book. 🫶🏻 I also want to say that I really enjoyed this book! It was fun and fast paced.
This book is the 4th book of the Black Harbor Series. And although it’s the 4the book, you could read this one as a stand alone. There are references to the other books and characters, but it doesn’t really matter much if you haven’t read any of the other books.
In this book, Hazel is back. She is a former police transcriber turned novelist, that has returned to Black Harbor to solve the murder of her ex husband. Hazel works with Kole, another returning character to the series. Hazel and Kole were old lovers trying to solve this murder while trying to deny feelings they still have for each other.
This book was so good. It was a fast paced, page turning, murder investigation that leaves you on the edge of your seat trying to find out what happened and who committed this horrific crime. What another great installment of this Black Harbor Series. Seems like there may be another coming with the way it ended too.
I listened to the audiobook for this one which was fantastic! The narrators did such a great job!! This was a thrilling ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars for me!! I would recommend this book to anyone especially those who love true crime investigations. This book is for you.

Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for this early audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Pub Date: Is tomorrow! 3/25/2025. So be sure to get your copy then.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for the copies to review.

Unlike Hazel, I was more than happy to be back in Black Harbor again, as this is one of my most favorite series. In fact, I think this might be the best book yet. Hazel has left Black Harbor for good, which no one does, but then her ex-husband is murdered, which means she returns once again to help solve who was behind it. This was excellent, the audio is narrated by the fabulous Angela Dawe and Robb Moreira, and I listened to it in a day just devouring this one. I love this series, the setting, the characters and the plot, basically everything, and if you haven’t read this yet then you really should fix that now.

The Unlucky Ones by Hannah Morrissey is the fourth installment in the Black Harbor series. While each of the books could be read on their own, I'd definitely recommend reading the first book, Hello Transcriber, before reading The Unlucky Ones. It adds much more depth to both the characters and the overall plot.

When Hazel's ex-husband, Tommy Greenlee, is found murdered—his body wrapped in garbage bags and doused in bleach—she's drawn back to Black Harbor after eight years away.

Reuniting with Sergeant Nikolai Kole, her former lover now leading the investigation, they confront a city where violent crime and a new drug epidemic have reached alarming heights.

As they delve deeper, Hazel and Kole uncover a web of corruption and deceit, forcing them to question their own past decisions and the true nature of those around them.

I was fortunate to both read and listen to this and really enjoy the differences the formats provide book enthusiasts. The narrator did a wonderful job bringing the characters, tone, and setting to life!

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Hannah Morrissey for the opportunity to listen to this ahead of its proposed release date of March 25, 2025.

ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏʙᴏᴏᴋ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ || THE UNLUCKY ONES [thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for my #gifted digital and audio copies!]

Title: The Unlucky Ones
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Format: audio + digital
Star Rating: ★★★★☆
Narrator: Angela Dawe + Robb Moreira
Narration: ★★★★☆

ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ:
As Black Harbor’s crime rate and temperatures hit record highs, Sergeant Nikolai Kole responds to a brutal murder—only to find the victim is Tommy Greenlee, the ex-husband of his former lover, Hazel.

Drawn back to the city after eight years, Hazel is determined to uncover who killed Tommy and why. Forced into an uneasy truce, she and Kole dig into Black Harbor’s darkest secrets. But as they get closer to the truth—and each other—they risk being consumed by the city’s violence and their own haunting past.

ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:
This was an EXCELLENT return to Black Harbor, if I do say so myself. And I’m just saying that because the romance reader in me NEEDED a better conclusion for Kole and Hazel’s love story. 😂

I really enjoyed the cast of characters in this one (both old - which there were a lot - and new) and all of the callbacks to HELLO, TRANSCRIBER.

The crime in this one took a lot of turns and took a bit of brain power to keep up, but I really enjoyed watching all of the puzzle pieces line up (while Kole & Hazel also lined up, if you catch my drift).

I would recommend this one if you’ve visited Black Harbor before & are itching for more dark, gritty crimes!

🎧: While I am deeply grateful to my bookclub for warning me about the gruesome details in the beginning of this novel so I didn’t listen to the first half of the book (I watch a lot of crime TV shows, but I don’t think I could have handled listening to the discovery of Tommy’s body), the audiobook was very well done! I loved that it was dual narration and being able to listen into each MCs head. Highly recommend if you are like me and prefer your thriller in audiobook form!

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
Dark Crime
Police Procedurals
Small Town Stories
Unlikely Romance
Constant Twists & Turns

ᴅᴇᴛᴀɪʟꜱ:
GR: 4.08
# of Pages/Hours: 304 / 09:39
Pub Date: March 25, 2025

I listened to the audiobook of this one and I enjoyed the narrators a lot. They did a good job making each main character come to life. The story itself was good, but it didn’t grip me. I realize that with all that is going on in the world I may be having a more difficult time than normal to sink into fictional worlds so this might be more me than this book. Hazel hears the news that her ex-husband is dead and it draws her back to the town she thought she would never return to. But Black Harbor hasn’t changed and it is the same cesspool of crime. As Hazel tries to figure out what happened she runs into a man she thought she had left behind when she scrambled to leave Black Harbor. The story was decent although I wasn’t super into the romance. Overall I gave this one 3.5 stars. I would give another one in this series a try, the writing was good and the characters were interesting.

As a Milwaukee-area native, I always enjoy revisiting Hannah Morrissey's Black Harbor series. The Unlucky Ones is the fourth installment in the series and revisits the main characters from the first book, Hello, Transcriber.

📖: After her ex-husband is found murdered, Hazel returns to Black Harbor for the first time in eight years to find out what happened. Who was out to get her ex, Tommy, and are there signs pointing to Hazel? One of the main investigators is her former flame, Nikolai Kole.

🤝: This may be a good fit if you enjoy:
- a little romance in your mysteries
- dark, gritty settings and characters
- Mayor of Kingstown vibes (series starring Jeremy Renner)

💭: This is the first Black Harbor book that takes place in the thick Wisconsin summer, and the suffocating air was like it's own character. It's amazing how the town evolved through this shift. (Not in a good way!) As usual, Morrissey's writing was immersive and uniquely unsettling.

I really enjoyed the dynamics between Hazel and Kole in Hello, Transcriber, so knowing the characters would be back in The Unlucky Ones made me so happy! Do I wish there was a little more romance? YES, but there was a lot of stuff happening to distract them with all of the murder, drugs, and sketchy suspects.

While the other BH books are considered standalones, I think having the background of the first three books was helpful in this one, especially when it came to Kole and Hazel. Had I only read The Unlucky Ones, I don't feel like I would have known them well enough to care about their relationship. It focused more on the murder and larger problems concerning Black Harbor.

🎧: I started this one with my physical copy, and I loved the short chapters with cliffhanger endings. I transitioned to the audio and thought the narrators were solid.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the early copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Pub Day: 3/25

2.5/5 Overall
4/5 Narration

Based on the synopsis, I thought this book would be right up my alley. But not only is it not up my alley, it’s not on my street, my block—shoot, this might even be in a different state. If you’re someone who enjoys a police procedural with a mix of second-chance romance, this might work for you. Or if you’re into drug bust, grimy city stories, this could also be your thing. For me, I appreciated that the book had dark elements and leaned into being atmospheric, really setting the tone for a city no one would want to live in. But I just couldn’t connect with the story or the characters.

Now, the narration for this audiobook was great. They did a solid job delivering the story, differentiating voices, and bringing the characters to life in a way that I don’t think just reading the book would have done. That being said, I was still very bored. I even did an immersive read with a physical copy alongside the audiobook, but it didn’t help. This will definitely be a book I regift to a friend at a later time.

While I found it boring, I’m sure there are people who will really enjoy it. I saw a lot of reviews mentioning that this book could be read as a standalone, but I personally don’t think it’s strong enough for that. I think readers will enjoy it more if they’ve read the previous books because there’s a lot of history between the characters that, as a standalone reader, I missed the opportunity to connect with.

She'ssss backkkkkk!!! Hazel is back. The Unlucky Ones is book four in the Hello Transcriber Series written by Hannah Morrissey. Hazel is one that was able to leave - she has been living her life in Brooklyn, New York. However she is alerted that her Ex-Husband Tommy Greenlee has been murdered, Hazel is drawn back to the crime ridden town of Black Harbor. Hazel realizes that nothing has changed. It's still ruled by criminals. Kole has not forgotten Hazel. The bracelet that Kole had fished out from the water when Hazel was throwing her personal effects, hangs from his rearview mirror. So toxic to each other, but like opposites ends of a magnet they gravitate to each other.

I love how this book switches back and forth between Hazel and Kole. Hazel tells her portion through first person, and Kole through second person. The stories are woven together flawlessly. Hazel has grown a lot since the first book, But one thing she does not lack is her investigation skills. It becomes clear that whoever took out Tommy, is going to go after Hazel. Kole refuses to let her out of his site. His only choice is to let her assist in the investigation.

The author has thrown in so many twists and turns. Seeing Kole and Hazel back together and all of their demons was a familiar site.
I discovered this author through a podcast when the first story released in 2021. I quickly realized that the authors has a way of drawing you in and taking you on an emotional journey. I devoured this whole book in less then a day. I was determined to find out who had killed Tommy.

One place that I will never visit in person.... Black Harbor. Although, I will read about it all day long.
Special Thanks to the author and publisher for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.

2.5 rounded up to 3. I really enjoyed the tension that lingered between Kole and Hazel. I enjoyed the dual POV as their experiences were drastically different and it was nice to hear things from each MC. I felt like the story with Tommy was really drug out and didn't match the fast pace/intensity of the previous Black Harbor book. Overall, it was just an okay read!

Wow!! This one had my head spinning!
AND, each time I thought I had it all figured out, I was completely wrong!!!! 😮

Kole is a detective in the crime unit in Black Harbor, Wisconsin. Apparently it's a small town (total of 4 detectives) with a huge drug and crime problem...
And, since a man was just discovered, shot multiple times and doused in bleach... it's not stopping any time soon. But, it gets worse, once he finds out just who the victim is...

Hazel is a young woman who used to live in Black Harbor. At the time she was a Police Transcriber...but that was a long time ago...... and, she's one of the only ones who was ever able to leave! She had a bad marriage, and her husband was cruel...but she escaped and made a life for herself in NY. Now, many years later, she is drawn back there...

People are being murdered, and there's a type of a 'calling card' being left with the bodies...
As the Police, and Hazel investigate exactly what is going on, more and more problems/deaths occur... and, if you are like me, you will be shocked.... over and over again!

Drugs. Horrific Murders. Confidential Informants. Rats. Traitors.... and more!

#TheUnluckyOnes (Black Harbor #4) by #HannahMorrissey and narrated nicely by #AngelaDawe and #RobbMoreira.

4 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 for me, happily rounded up to 5!

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.
** Release date is March 25, 2025 so look 👀 for it on shelves next week !! **

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