Book Review: When I’m Dead by Hannah Morrissey ( Black Harbor #3)

Rating:⭐⭐⭐ 

On the night of their teenage daughter Chole’s school play Medical Examiner Rowan Winthorp and her husband Axel, an investigator with the Black Harbor Police Department, are called away to a crime scene involving a dead teenager. Madison Caldwell, their daughter’s best friend, is found brutally murdered and on the same night, Chloe does not return home after her school play and she is presumed to be a suspect in Maison’s death.

“You’ll love me more when I’m dead.”

As Rowan and Axel search for Chloe, the deep dive into their daughter's life reveals plenty of teenage drama, rivalry, scandalous rumors, and secrets. How well did they know their own daughter? When another of Chloe’s classmates is found murdered, it becomes evident that someone is targeting Chloe’s friends. Is Chloe alive? Will she be one of the killer’s next victims, or is she behind the murders? Can they find her before it is too late?

Having enjoyed the first two books in author Hannah Morrissey’s Black Harbor series, I was eager to read her latest offering. When I’m Dead by Hannah Morrissey is a suspenseful read with plenty of surprises to keep you engaged. Though the ending wasn’t completely unpredictable after a point, there is a lot to like about how the plot is structured. I will admit to having not enjoyed this installment as much as the previous books. With both Rowan and Axel involved in the investigation, the professional/procedural aspect takes precedence over their personal lives, which makes it difficult to connect with them as individuals whose daughter is missing. I also felt that Rowan’s guilt over an incident from her past was an unnecessary plot point, though it does add to the drama. The atmospheric vibe felt a tad forced ( set close to Halloween to emphasize the eerie, vibe, unlike her other novels where the crime-infested town and its darkness was better woven into the plot) in this story and I’m not a fan of the “mean girls” trope which took up way too much space in the narrative and did detract from my overall reading experience. However, there is no doubt that Morrissey knows how to craft a dark, twisty, suspenseful thriller and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Even though this is the third book in the series , it can be read as a standalone.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the digital review copy o this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. When I’m Dead was published on October 31, 2023.