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Black Harbor #2
The Widowmaker
10 hours, 39 minutes
A wealthy family shrouded in scandal; a detective tasked with solving an impossible cold case; and a woman with a dark past collide in Hannah Morrissey's stunning new Black Harbor mystery, The Widowmaker.
Ever since business mogul Clive Reynolds disappeared twenty years ago, the name "Reynolds" has become synonymous with "murder" and "mystery." And now, lured by a cryptic note, down-on-her-luck photographer Morgan Mori returns home to Black Harbor and into the web of their family secrets and double lives. The same night she photographs the Reynolds holiday get-together, Morgan becomes witness to a homicide of a cop that triggers the discovery of a long-buried clue.
This could finally be the thing to crack open the chilling cold case, and Investigator Ryan Hudson has a chance to prove himself as lead detective. If only he could stop letting his need to solve his partner's recent murder distract him. But as Morgan exposes her own dark demons, could her sordid history be the key to unlocking more than one mystery?
A wealthy family shrouded in scandal; a detective tasked with solving an impossible cold case; and a woman with a dark past collide in Hannah Morrissey's stunning new Black Harbor mystery, The Widowmaker.
Ever since business mogul Clive Reynolds disappeared twenty years ago, the name "Reynolds" has become synonymous with "murder" and "mystery." And now, lured by a cryptic note, down-on-her-luck photographer Morgan Mori returns home to Black Harbor and into the web of their family secrets and double lives. The same night she photographs the Reynolds holiday get-together, Morgan becomes witness to a homicide of a cop that triggers the discovery of a long-buried clue.
This could finally be the thing to crack open the chilling cold case, and Investigator Ryan Hudson has a chance to prove himself as lead detective. If only he could stop letting his need to solve his partner's recent murder distract him. But as Morgan exposes her own dark demons, could her sordid history be the key to unlocking more than one mystery?
304 pages, Hardcover
First published December 6, 2022
402 people are currently reading
43475 people want to read
About the author
Hannah Morrissey
13 books1,215 followersHannah Morrissey is a USA Today bestselling author of the Black Harbor suspense series and other gripping works of crime fiction (coming soon!). Praised for their hauntingly atmospheric settings and gritty Midwestern realism, her novels have helped define a distinct subgenre: Midwestern Noir.
A graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she studied English and Creative Writing, Hannah now lives near Milwaukee with her husband and their three mischievous pugs.
A graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she studied English and Creative Writing, Hannah now lives near Milwaukee with her husband and their three mischievous pugs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 906 reviews
January 22, 2023
This is dark, disturbing, stimulating but you cannot dare to stop reading it! It’s unputdownable!
We’re returning back to Black Harbour, the place we visited before on “Hello Transcriber”, the author’s debut novel.
At first book, town’s legendary villain Candyman finally got what he deserved!
At second book: another town’s unsolved murder mystery emerges out of water. Correction: the fabulous Porsche 930 Turbo: Widowmaker 1978 emerged out of water! That car belonged to Clive Reynolds: the wealthy business mogul who vanished into thin air twenty years ago! They blamed his wife Eleanor after she benefited the insurance money. But they couldn’t find the body or murder weapon to prove that theory!
Two people’s lives intercepted with this twenty years long disappearance story.
Morgan Mori, freelance photographer, inherited a skeleton key that open a secret door which will reveal the secrets of her dark past. She attends Christmas party at Reynolds mansion to photograph the entire family. She flirts with younger son Bennett and at the end of the night, she stops by at a gas station and she becomes prime witness of the homicide of heroic cop Garrison! Before Garrison dies, he tells her “ I found you”! What does it mean? Why was he looking for Morgan?
And Ryan Hudson appears at the crime scene, seeing his best friend dead, finding a ticket to Ruins in his pocket, taking it away without caught by his colleagues.
Ruins is a dark place where monsters disguised in human posts are branded as a punishment for their true identity.
Hudson cannot understand Garrison’s involvement with such a dark place. He interrogates Morgan who kept murmuring the same words: “red threads” during her testimony after the incident. She may have noticed more details that can help them to find the killer.
But Morgan has so many dark secrets about the monster house she’s survived and her connection with the Ruins just like Hudson who has deep secrets that can ruin his entire career. But as he digs out more dirty secrets, he realizes there’s a connection between Garrison’s murder and Clive Reynolds’ disappearance. And all those clues lead him to Morgan. She holds the key to solve the big mysteries!
In this book, Nikolai Kole is back to lead the investigation with Hudson. This time he’s the supporting character and we have dual POVs of Morgan and Hudson: who are tormented, wounded characters to sharpen their survival skills.
Morgan is quick witted, tough, bold, intimidating as Hudson is more sensitive, grieving, overwhelmed, trying to gather his strength to do the right thing. Their relationship is complex. Everything between them happened a little instantly.
Overall: the perpetrator was a little foreseeable from the beginning but the mystery of Reynolds family unfolded satisfyingly.
This was depressing, dark, bleak story and it’s not for everyone but pacing was great and the characters picked my interest! The haunting fog lurking around Black Harbor makes you chilled to the bone. I never say no to another visit to this haunted place.
Im rounding up 4.5 stars to 5 dark, violent, intriguing, heart throbbing stars!
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
We’re returning back to Black Harbour, the place we visited before on “Hello Transcriber”, the author’s debut novel.
At first book, town’s legendary villain Candyman finally got what he deserved!
At second book: another town’s unsolved murder mystery emerges out of water. Correction: the fabulous Porsche 930 Turbo: Widowmaker 1978 emerged out of water! That car belonged to Clive Reynolds: the wealthy business mogul who vanished into thin air twenty years ago! They blamed his wife Eleanor after she benefited the insurance money. But they couldn’t find the body or murder weapon to prove that theory!
Two people’s lives intercepted with this twenty years long disappearance story.
Morgan Mori, freelance photographer, inherited a skeleton key that open a secret door which will reveal the secrets of her dark past. She attends Christmas party at Reynolds mansion to photograph the entire family. She flirts with younger son Bennett and at the end of the night, she stops by at a gas station and she becomes prime witness of the homicide of heroic cop Garrison! Before Garrison dies, he tells her “ I found you”! What does it mean? Why was he looking for Morgan?
And Ryan Hudson appears at the crime scene, seeing his best friend dead, finding a ticket to Ruins in his pocket, taking it away without caught by his colleagues.
Ruins is a dark place where monsters disguised in human posts are branded as a punishment for their true identity.
Hudson cannot understand Garrison’s involvement with such a dark place. He interrogates Morgan who kept murmuring the same words: “red threads” during her testimony after the incident. She may have noticed more details that can help them to find the killer.
But Morgan has so many dark secrets about the monster house she’s survived and her connection with the Ruins just like Hudson who has deep secrets that can ruin his entire career. But as he digs out more dirty secrets, he realizes there’s a connection between Garrison’s murder and Clive Reynolds’ disappearance. And all those clues lead him to Morgan. She holds the key to solve the big mysteries!
In this book, Nikolai Kole is back to lead the investigation with Hudson. This time he’s the supporting character and we have dual POVs of Morgan and Hudson: who are tormented, wounded characters to sharpen their survival skills.
Morgan is quick witted, tough, bold, intimidating as Hudson is more sensitive, grieving, overwhelmed, trying to gather his strength to do the right thing. Their relationship is complex. Everything between them happened a little instantly.
Overall: the perpetrator was a little foreseeable from the beginning but the mystery of Reynolds family unfolded satisfyingly.
This was depressing, dark, bleak story and it’s not for everyone but pacing was great and the characters picked my interest! The haunting fog lurking around Black Harbor makes you chilled to the bone. I never say no to another visit to this haunted place.
Im rounding up 4.5 stars to 5 dark, violent, intriguing, heart throbbing stars!
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
December 7, 2022
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!(U.S.) December 6, 2022
4.5⭐
“My Ruin: All roads lead back to home.”
A cryptic message left for struggling photographer Morgan Mori, at the site of her destroyed workspace in Chicago, leads her back to her hometown, crime-infested Black Harbor, Wisconsin where the “city’s grim atmosphere gnawed on people’s morals”.
Back home, Morgan is hired by the wealthy and influential Reynolds family to photograph the family Christmas party. The Reynolds family has its share of mystery and scandal surrounding them, ever since Clive Reynolds, disappeared twenty years ago without a trace. Everyone suspected his wife Eleanor of killing him for a hefty insurance payout - a crime that was not proven. However, Morgan finds the Reynolds family to be pleasant and welcoming. After the party, Morgan, stops at a gas station and witnesses a cop being shot to death by a masked assailant. The cop, Brix Garrison, before drawing his last breath seems to recognize Morgan, which perplexes her. Morgan remains haunted by her horrific childhood characterized by abandonment, unimaginable abuse and trauma before being rescued by the police when she was eight years old and eventually being adopted by the Mori family when she was ten. Her experiences have left scars and have had a significant impact on her adult life. Someone, who knows details about her past and present life, is taunting her with messages that are indicative of a secret from her traumatic childhood.
When Clive Reynold’s Porsche, which was reported missing ten days before he disappeared twenty years ago, is recovered from the bottom of a lake with a dead body in it, Investigator Ryan Hudson of the BHPD is assigned to look into the cold case. He is also covertly looking into the murder of his friend and former partner - the murder Morgan witnessed- despite being told to stay away from the investigation.
As the story progresses, both Morgan and Ryan find themselves tangled in a complicated and dangerous web of dark secrets, lies, deception and murder.
Hannah Morrissey knows how to create atmospheric settings. With its consistent pacing, intriguing plot and interesting characters, The Widowmaker by Hannah Morrissey is dark, intense and gritty. The narrative is shared from the perspectives of Morgan and Ryan in alternating chapters. Though I did kind of guess the identity of the culprit halfway in, the intricately plotted story kept me turning pages to follow how all the missing pieces of the puzzle came together in the end and I was not disappointed with the twists and turns along the way! The story is a perfect balance between complex psychological thriller and police procedural. However, even though I liked both Morgan and Ryan, I feel that the relationship between them needn’t have gotten so personal so quickly. But I’m willing to overlook that one given that it did not detract from the overall reading experience. Hannah Morrissey’s impressive debut novel, "Hello, Transcriber" was also intense and dark, but with "The Widowmaker", Hannah Morrissey has firmly established herself as a must-read author for me. (Sergeant Nikolai Kole, from "Hello, Transcriber" plays a supporting role in this novel, proving to be an ally to Ryan. Please note that it is not necessary to read Hello, Transcriber to follow this story. This is perfectly readable as a standalone novel as there is virtually no overlap.)
Thank You, Hannah Morrissey, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This book is due to be released on December 6, 2022.
P.S. : Please note that this is not an easy read. Those triggered by graphic descriptions of violence and abuse (especially involving children) might find some parts to be quite disturbing.
December 7, 2022
***HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY***
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Child abuse including pedophilia, the descriptions of their actions made my stomach turn. There are also present violent crimes that are graphically described.
Morgan Mori is a young woman with a dark past. She has been working as a freelance photographer and trying to establish a business.
When she gets a call from the most prestigious family in Black Harbor she jumps at the chance for more work. Eleanor, the matriarch of this large family, wants her to do a photo shoot of their elaborate Christmas party.
This visit and further interactions will set the stage for a very complicated storyline. There is a lot going on and I found that I had to listen for a long period of time to keep all of the characters and subplots straight in my mind.
Notes from the blurb include :
“Ever since business mogul Clive Reynolds disappeared twenty years ago, the name "Reynolds" has become synonymous with "murder" and "mystery." And now, lured by a cryptic note, down-on-her-luck photographer Morgan Mori returns home to Black Harbor and into the web of their family secrets and double lives. The same night she photographs the Reynolds holiday get-together, Morgan becomes witness to a homicide of a cop that triggers the discovery of a long-buried clue.
This could finally be the evidence to crack open the chilling cold case, and Investigator Ryan Hudson has a chance to prove himself as lead detective. If only he could stop letting his need to solve his partner's recent murder distract him. But as Morgan exposes her own dark demons, could her sordid history be the key to unlocking more than one mystery”
This novel is well written, but I did find it to be repetitive in some parts. I think I would have enjoyed the physical book more because I have read other reviews that stated there are author’s notes that add to the story.
Had I known the novel would include the above mentioned triggers I would have probably skipped this one.
The narrators were very good and I thought the voices matched the characters very well.
I received a copy of the audiobook from the publisher, St. Martin’s press, through NetGalley.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Child abuse including pedophilia, the descriptions of their actions made my stomach turn. There are also present violent crimes that are graphically described.
Morgan Mori is a young woman with a dark past. She has been working as a freelance photographer and trying to establish a business.
When she gets a call from the most prestigious family in Black Harbor she jumps at the chance for more work. Eleanor, the matriarch of this large family, wants her to do a photo shoot of their elaborate Christmas party.
This visit and further interactions will set the stage for a very complicated storyline. There is a lot going on and I found that I had to listen for a long period of time to keep all of the characters and subplots straight in my mind.
Notes from the blurb include :
“Ever since business mogul Clive Reynolds disappeared twenty years ago, the name "Reynolds" has become synonymous with "murder" and "mystery." And now, lured by a cryptic note, down-on-her-luck photographer Morgan Mori returns home to Black Harbor and into the web of their family secrets and double lives. The same night she photographs the Reynolds holiday get-together, Morgan becomes witness to a homicide of a cop that triggers the discovery of a long-buried clue.
This could finally be the evidence to crack open the chilling cold case, and Investigator Ryan Hudson has a chance to prove himself as lead detective. If only he could stop letting his need to solve his partner's recent murder distract him. But as Morgan exposes her own dark demons, could her sordid history be the key to unlocking more than one mystery”
This novel is well written, but I did find it to be repetitive in some parts. I think I would have enjoyed the physical book more because I have read other reviews that stated there are author’s notes that add to the story.
Had I known the novel would include the above mentioned triggers I would have probably skipped this one.
The narrators were very good and I thought the voices matched the characters very well.
I received a copy of the audiobook from the publisher, St. Martin’s press, through NetGalley.
February 4, 2023
3.5🌟
This is a book I tried so hard to love. While there were moments I was all in, I did have a few bumps along the way.
I initially started this book as an audio but quickly realized it just wasn’t going to work. In the past, I’ve had difficulty connecting with this narrator.
So I quickly grabbed a digital copy to complete my read.
The two principal characters are Morgan Mori and inspector Ryan Hudson.
With Morgan, I always felt was missing critical parts of her personality that made her real. So as a result I could never warm up to her.
As for Hudson, I loved his character. An inspector who lacked respect from his department. He resembled an IT tech rather than a detective.🤓 Of course, looks can be deceiving.
Perhaps it was his personal struggles that really made him feel real.
The storyline itself was a bit complex and at times I had difficulty following along. But I was determined to see it through to the end.
At a point about midway I realized it was book 2 of a series. And no, I didn’t read book one.😑Hmmm… perhaps that’s why I lacked some connection?🤷🏻♀️
Overall, there are many positive reviews so please take a look at those!
A buddy read with Susanne that worked out better for her as she always enjoys this narrator.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio
This is a book I tried so hard to love. While there were moments I was all in, I did have a few bumps along the way.
I initially started this book as an audio but quickly realized it just wasn’t going to work. In the past, I’ve had difficulty connecting with this narrator.
So I quickly grabbed a digital copy to complete my read.
The two principal characters are Morgan Mori and inspector Ryan Hudson.
With Morgan, I always felt was missing critical parts of her personality that made her real. So as a result I could never warm up to her.
As for Hudson, I loved his character. An inspector who lacked respect from his department. He resembled an IT tech rather than a detective.🤓 Of course, looks can be deceiving.
Perhaps it was his personal struggles that really made him feel real.
The storyline itself was a bit complex and at times I had difficulty following along. But I was determined to see it through to the end.
At a point about midway I realized it was book 2 of a series. And no, I didn’t read book one.😑Hmmm… perhaps that’s why I lacked some connection?🤷🏻♀️
Overall, there are many positive reviews so please take a look at those!
A buddy read with Susanne that worked out better for her as she always enjoys this narrator.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio
October 16, 2022
I’d been a big fan of Hello, Transcriber, Morrissey’s debut. But I struggled to engage with this one. Morgan gets a cryptic note, along with an old key, that brings her back home. She’s a photographer and has been hired to capture the Christmas party of the town’s rich family, the Reynolds. Their patriarch, Clive, went missing twenty years ago. On her way home, she stops at a convenience store and witnesses a policeman killed.
Ryan Hudson was the cop’s partner and is determined to find the killer, even though it’s not his case. His actual investigation is the cold case of Clive Reynold’s car from 20 years ago being found at the bottom of a lake, with a dead body inside. As is always the case with this kind of books, everything eventually comes together.
The story volleys between the two main characters and goes back and forth in time. Both have secrets and the twists come as we learn more and more about what each is hiding. It’s a very dark story, with serious child abuse which could be a trigger for some folks.
My problem was that I never connected with either character. And while there were some decent plot twists, I found the story overly complicated and unbelievable.
I listened to most of this. While I usually like Xe Sands, this time I struggled with her deep voice, especially when in the car. There were times it sounded like she had a mouth full of gravel. I switched to reading the ending and it made a big difference in being able to track the players and action.
My thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of this audiobook.
Ryan Hudson was the cop’s partner and is determined to find the killer, even though it’s not his case. His actual investigation is the cold case of Clive Reynold’s car from 20 years ago being found at the bottom of a lake, with a dead body inside. As is always the case with this kind of books, everything eventually comes together.
The story volleys between the two main characters and goes back and forth in time. Both have secrets and the twists come as we learn more and more about what each is hiding. It’s a very dark story, with serious child abuse which could be a trigger for some folks.
My problem was that I never connected with either character. And while there were some decent plot twists, I found the story overly complicated and unbelievable.
I listened to most of this. While I usually like Xe Sands, this time I struggled with her deep voice, especially when in the car. There were times it sounded like she had a mouth full of gravel. I switched to reading the ending and it made a big difference in being able to track the players and action.
My thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of this audiobook.
October 28, 2022
Morgan Mori is thrilled when she is contacted by the wealthy and powerful Reynolds family to photograph their Christmas party. Coming back to her hometown, Morgan is looking forward to working and making a name for herself. The Reynolds family is shrouded in mystery and scandal after Clive Reynolds went missing twenty years earlier.
The same night she photographs the party, she witnesses a police officer being killed. The investigation into the murder turns up a "buried" clue. Investigator Ryan Hudson is tasked with solving the cold case of the missing mogul but also wants to solve the case of who killed his partner. Are the cases connected?
There is more than one mystery in this book. Morgan also has a past and secrets. But she is not alone, Ryan has a secret himself. Both characters search for answers as the tension mounts.
I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator. This book is atmospheric, dark, and captivating. I was all in, trying to do my own super sleuthing to solve the case(s). There are some things in this book which might be triggers for some.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
The same night she photographs the party, she witnesses a police officer being killed. The investigation into the murder turns up a "buried" clue. Investigator Ryan Hudson is tasked with solving the cold case of the missing mogul but also wants to solve the case of who killed his partner. Are the cases connected?
There is more than one mystery in this book. Morgan also has a past and secrets. But she is not alone, Ryan has a secret himself. Both characters search for answers as the tension mounts.
I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator. This book is atmospheric, dark, and captivating. I was all in, trying to do my own super sleuthing to solve the case(s). There are some things in this book which might be triggers for some.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
October 25, 2024
3.5 stars
Photographer Morgan Mori - who grew up in a rough area of Black Harbor, Michigan - had a hard life before she was adopted at the age of ten. Thus Morgan is reluctant to return to Black Harbor, but is drawn back when she's sent a mysterious key with a note reading MR. Morgan is determined to discover what the key opens, and tries it on various locks around Black Harbor.
Meanwhile, Morgan accepts a job taking pictures of the Christmas gala thrown by the wealthy Reynolds' family of Black Harbor.
The Reynolds' have been notorious for decades, ever since patriarch Clive Reynolds disappeared twenty years ago. Clive's wife Eleanor, who collected on an eleven-million-dollar life insurance policy, was suspected of murdering her husband, but Clive's body was never found and no one was ever arrested.
While Morgan is snapping photos at the Christmas bash she makes a connection with the Reynolds' son, Bennett, and they go for a drink after the party.
Later, when Morgan stops for gas and a candy bar at a convenience store.....
.....she witnesses an attempted robbery and the shooting of a cop named Brix Garrison.
Garrison's police partner and best friend, Investigator Ryan Hudson, is devastated by his pal's death.
However, since Hudson is too close to the victim, he's ordered to stay out of the investigation. Instead, Hudson is assigned to the cold case of Clive Reynolds. It seems Clive's car, a 1978 Porsche called 'The Widowmaker', was just recovered from a lake....with a body inside. Clive had reported the car stolen, and collected insurance money.
1978 Porsche Widowmaker
Hudson digs into the Clive Reynolds files, but can't stop himself from poking into Garrison's murder as well. Thus Hudson interviews Morgan Mori again and again, trying to glean information about the robbery and shooting. Eventually, Hudson concludes that Garrison's death is connected with Clive Reynolds' disappearance, and he tries to connect the dots.
While the police investigations are proceeding, Morgan is drawn into the lives of the Reynolds clan, who have taken a shine to her. The Reynolds' even give Morgan an expensive Christmas gift and invite her to join them for a few days at their vacation cabin.
The story is told from the alternating points of view of Morgan Mori and Ryan Hudson, and some shocking secrets are revealed.
I enjoyed the book but found the finale to be a little over-complicated and hard to believe. Still, this is a compelling thriller, recommended to fans of the genre.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by by Adam Verner and Xe Sands, who did a good job.
Thanks to Netgalley, Hannah Morrissey and Macmillan Audio for copy of the book.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
September 26, 2024
3.5⭐
Genre ~ police procedural
Series ~ Black Harbor #2
Others in the series ~ Hello, Transcriber
Setting ~ Wisconsin
Publication date ~ December 6, 2022
Publisher ~ Minotaur Books
Est Page Count ~ 296 (45 chapters)
Audio length ~ 10 hours 39 minutes
Narrator ~ Adam Verner, Xe Sands
POV ~ dual 3rd
Featuring ~ cold case, murder, child abuse, pedophilia
Morgan is a photographer back in her hometown. After taking pictures of the Reynolds family she stops off at a gas station and witnesses a cop gunned down.
That cop was Investigator Ryan Hudson's partner. He's desperate to find the killer, but it's not his case to investigate. Then a Porsche owned by Clive Reynolds, a man who has been missing for 20 years, was pulled from the lake and he's assigned to the case.
Morgan and Ryan work together on the intertwined cases and I liked them together. Overall, I found it to be fast paced and chilling at times, and not just because it was winter in the blustery Wisconsin. There are some pretty dark elements referred to.
Series notes:
Sargent Kole from Hello, Transcriber makes quite a few appearances, but I don't feel like reading book 1 was really necessary to this story. I enjoyed this book much more than that one.
I was able to listen to a copy as well.
Narration notes:
I'm not quite sure how old Hudson is, but the narrator gave off a young, rookie sounding vibe, but I'm pretty sure he's not new to the force. Morgan's narrator did fine, but I was not feeling her voice for the character.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Genre ~ police procedural
Series ~ Black Harbor #2
Others in the series ~ Hello, Transcriber
Setting ~ Wisconsin
Publication date ~ December 6, 2022
Publisher ~ Minotaur Books
Est Page Count ~ 296 (45 chapters)
Audio length ~ 10 hours 39 minutes
Narrator ~ Adam Verner, Xe Sands
POV ~ dual 3rd
Featuring ~ cold case, murder, child abuse, pedophilia
Morgan is a photographer back in her hometown. After taking pictures of the Reynolds family she stops off at a gas station and witnesses a cop gunned down.
That cop was Investigator Ryan Hudson's partner. He's desperate to find the killer, but it's not his case to investigate. Then a Porsche owned by Clive Reynolds, a man who has been missing for 20 years, was pulled from the lake and he's assigned to the case.
Morgan and Ryan work together on the intertwined cases and I liked them together. Overall, I found it to be fast paced and chilling at times, and not just because it was winter in the blustery Wisconsin. There are some pretty dark elements referred to.
Series notes:
Sargent Kole from Hello, Transcriber makes quite a few appearances, but I don't feel like reading book 1 was really necessary to this story. I enjoyed this book much more than that one.
I was able to listen to a copy as well.
Narration notes:
I'm not quite sure how old Hudson is, but the narrator gave off a young, rookie sounding vibe, but I'm pretty sure he's not new to the force. Morgan's narrator did fine, but I was not feeling her voice for the character.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
December 6, 2022
The Widowmaker audiobook by Hannah Morrissey
Narrated by Adam Verner and Xe Sands
(***Review*** 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)
The Widowmaker audiobook sent me into a tailspin of epic proportions. Psychological thriller fans won't want to miss this phenomenal mystery!
The plot alternates between photographer Morgan Mori and Detective Ryan Hudson. Morgan receives a key that is a cryptic clue to her past. She is perplexed, but determined to figure out the mystery. Investigator Ryan Hudson lost a dear friend and colleague in the line of duty. Is there a disturbing connection between Morgan and Ryan?
If you enjoy a baffling mystery, this audiobook is for you. It is deep and suspenseful. Throughout the book, the narrative voices transport you into the story. This is a totally mind-bending novel that sticks with you for a long time. I enjoyed it so much that I plan to listen to it again. A compelling mystery such as The Widowmaker ticks off all my boxes.
The Widowmaker audiobook is available on December 6th.
Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for sharing this outstanding audiobook with me. I love every minute of this edge-of-your-seat thriller! It is my first book by Hannah Morrissey and I am hooked!
#TheWidowmaker #audiobooks #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #readingcommunity #Books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #Audible #newtobookstagram #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra #Bookishcom #trending #bestsellingbooks #b
Narrated by Adam Verner and Xe Sands
(***Review*** 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)
The Widowmaker audiobook sent me into a tailspin of epic proportions. Psychological thriller fans won't want to miss this phenomenal mystery!
The plot alternates between photographer Morgan Mori and Detective Ryan Hudson. Morgan receives a key that is a cryptic clue to her past. She is perplexed, but determined to figure out the mystery. Investigator Ryan Hudson lost a dear friend and colleague in the line of duty. Is there a disturbing connection between Morgan and Ryan?
If you enjoy a baffling mystery, this audiobook is for you. It is deep and suspenseful. Throughout the book, the narrative voices transport you into the story. This is a totally mind-bending novel that sticks with you for a long time. I enjoyed it so much that I plan to listen to it again. A compelling mystery such as The Widowmaker ticks off all my boxes.
The Widowmaker audiobook is available on December 6th.
Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for sharing this outstanding audiobook with me. I love every minute of this edge-of-your-seat thriller! It is my first book by Hannah Morrissey and I am hooked!
#TheWidowmaker #audiobooks #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #readingcommunity #Books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #Audible #newtobookstagram #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra #Bookishcom #trending #bestsellingbooks #b
November 30, 2022
Maybe it's not always a good idea to go home. Morgan Mori, after receiving a strange note returns to Black Harbor, and being a photographer, she is hired to photograph the infamous Reynold's family celebration. This family has a bit of a reputation ever since Clive Reynolds, their wealthy ancestor, had disappeared twenty years previously.
On the way to the celebration, she witnesses a policeman being murdered and the policeman, Ryan Hudson, had been assigned to the Clive Reynold's cold case. He also becomes involved in the current death of his partner, the policeman who Morgan had seen being murdered at the convenience store.
Both Morgan and Ryan have secrets that they try to hide, but as the story emerges, their secrets are soon to be revealed.
This was a complicated thriller, with a dark theme in which alternate chapters are devoted to Morgan and Ryan. There are a few scenes which may disturb some, but overall this was a worthwhile story with lots of twists down the winding road to its solution.
Thanks to Hannah Morrissey, Macmillion Audio, and NetGalley for the ability to listen to this story narrated by Adam Verner; Xe Sands due out December 6, 2022
On the way to the celebration, she witnesses a policeman being murdered and the policeman, Ryan Hudson, had been assigned to the Clive Reynold's cold case. He also becomes involved in the current death of his partner, the policeman who Morgan had seen being murdered at the convenience store.
Both Morgan and Ryan have secrets that they try to hide, but as the story emerges, their secrets are soon to be revealed.
This was a complicated thriller, with a dark theme in which alternate chapters are devoted to Morgan and Ryan. There are a few scenes which may disturb some, but overall this was a worthwhile story with lots of twists down the winding road to its solution.
Thanks to Hannah Morrissey, Macmillion Audio, and NetGalley for the ability to listen to this story narrated by Adam Verner; Xe Sands due out December 6, 2022
July 24, 2023
4.5 Stars
I wasn't sure about this book at the beginning.
Morgan revisits Black Harbor for a photo shoot, but she has alterior motives.
She is coming back to see the Reynolds family.
Hudson, who's a police detective, suddenly finds out his partner has been killed.
As the story unravels, we learn about the Reynolds family, and things aren't good.
This ended up being a good thriller
I wasn't sure about this book at the beginning.
Morgan revisits Black Harbor for a photo shoot, but she has alterior motives.
She is coming back to see the Reynolds family.
Hudson, who's a police detective, suddenly finds out his partner has been killed.
As the story unravels, we learn about the Reynolds family, and things aren't good.
This ended up being a good thriller
September 9, 2025
If you know me then you know I love a book that gives me all the dark and messed up vibes. Add in a reluctant return home + mysteries in the past and present + chilling atmosphere + investigation + deliciously flawed, but resilient characters and you get THE WIDOWMAKER by HANNAH MORRISSEY.
This book is the epitome of atmospheric and delivers on the bleak, frozen, chilling December days in Black Harbor, Wisconsin, as well as on the bleak reality of this crime-ridden town. This is juxtaposed against the wealth and privilege of the Reynolds family, whose patriarch Clive Reynolds disappeared 20 years ago. Suspicions fell to his family, but the case never solved..
Enter Investigator Ryan Hudson who is put on the cold case as an attempted distraction to dealing with his partner's recent murder. Hudson’s path crosses with Morgan Mori, a photographer hired to document the Reynolds family’s holiday party. Yet as Morgan tries to leave her past behind she finds herself pulled into the cold case and entrenched in the Reynoldses’ mysterious past.
This is a book that continued to pull me back to the page. It made me uncomfortable. Evoked anger and pain. It gave me moments to rejoice. It brought me to tears. It had me feverishly reading to the final pages. And can you tell…I loved it!
The authenticity of HANNAH MORRISSEY’S depiction of police investigation and the police family is due in part to her time as a police transcriber and I could feel the power and pain of this story through her words. (And PS - if you haven’t already read her debut HELLO, TRANSCRIBER go do that!)
HANNAH MORRISSEY’S writing and stories remind me of Tana French in that we get sharp, authentic police procedural + such deep exploration of our characters, their inner workings, their relationships and how their pasts inform their present motivations, actions and decisions. There is messiness and darkness and what I find to be truly recognizable, human moments in these characters. They may not always make the best decisions or say and do the “right” things but we understand them. And we see the consequences of their choices even if they do not always end well. Or go as planned. But they always serve the character and make sense to the story.
And like the Dublin Murder Squad series, the BLACK HARBOR MYSTERIES allow you to start with either book. You will see some character crossover (love that!) but a new character takes the lead in each story. I love books that take place in the same universe and truly cannot wait to read the next one….the only problem will be having to wait patiently until 2023!
Massive thanks to @minotaur_books, @hannahmorrisseywriter and @netgalley for the eARC of the book which will be out this Tuesday, December 6th. You don’t want to miss it!
This book is the epitome of atmospheric and delivers on the bleak, frozen, chilling December days in Black Harbor, Wisconsin, as well as on the bleak reality of this crime-ridden town. This is juxtaposed against the wealth and privilege of the Reynolds family, whose patriarch Clive Reynolds disappeared 20 years ago. Suspicions fell to his family, but the case never solved..
Enter Investigator Ryan Hudson who is put on the cold case as an attempted distraction to dealing with his partner's recent murder. Hudson’s path crosses with Morgan Mori, a photographer hired to document the Reynolds family’s holiday party. Yet as Morgan tries to leave her past behind she finds herself pulled into the cold case and entrenched in the Reynoldses’ mysterious past.
This is a book that continued to pull me back to the page. It made me uncomfortable. Evoked anger and pain. It gave me moments to rejoice. It brought me to tears. It had me feverishly reading to the final pages. And can you tell…I loved it!
The authenticity of HANNAH MORRISSEY’S depiction of police investigation and the police family is due in part to her time as a police transcriber and I could feel the power and pain of this story through her words. (And PS - if you haven’t already read her debut HELLO, TRANSCRIBER go do that!)
HANNAH MORRISSEY’S writing and stories remind me of Tana French in that we get sharp, authentic police procedural + such deep exploration of our characters, their inner workings, their relationships and how their pasts inform their present motivations, actions and decisions. There is messiness and darkness and what I find to be truly recognizable, human moments in these characters. They may not always make the best decisions or say and do the “right” things but we understand them. And we see the consequences of their choices even if they do not always end well. Or go as planned. But they always serve the character and make sense to the story.
And like the Dublin Murder Squad series, the BLACK HARBOR MYSTERIES allow you to start with either book. You will see some character crossover (love that!) but a new character takes the lead in each story. I love books that take place in the same universe and truly cannot wait to read the next one….the only problem will be having to wait patiently until 2023!
Massive thanks to @minotaur_books, @hannahmorrisseywriter and @netgalley for the eARC of the book which will be out this Tuesday, December 6th. You don’t want to miss it!
November 11, 2022
Hannah Morrissey created such a massive buzz when she jumped onto the crime fiction scene last year with her debut novel, HELLO, TRANSCRIBER; so obviously I knew that I needed to read her upcoming release, THE WIDOWMAKER. Everyone worries about book 2 and how it'll be received, and I'm here to tell you that Morrissey doesn't just provide you with a great next installment in her crime fiction venture, but knocks it out of the park.
THE WIDOWMAKER takes place in the same town as her previous novel, Black Harbor, but can easily be read as a standalone. I'm actually going to be a bit vague here because I think the synopsis gives a bit too much for you. The story focuses on photographer Morgan Mori witnessing a fallen policer officer after a heist goes wrong. After being interviewed by Investigator Ryan Hudson, the two forge a path to try and uncover who would be accountable for this crime. As the two venture together on this journey and investigate, this murder is linked to a cold case forgotten years ago and a wealthy family that is the talk of Black Harbor. How are these three factions linked together?
This book is DARK! Just imagine what trigger warnings there could be when it comes to procedural novels. If you want to find out what triggers there could be, feel free to message me. This slow burn procedural really uses Black Harbor as a backdrop. I loved how Morgan and Hudson's characters joined together in the most "odd couple" of ways. This book dives into family secrets and dark pasts, and I think those kinds of stories are the ones I've been leaning towards this year a lot. If you enjoy Lars Kepler or Meg Gardiner, THE WIDOWMAKER delivers ten-fold.
THE WIDOWMAKER takes place in the same town as her previous novel, Black Harbor, but can easily be read as a standalone. I'm actually going to be a bit vague here because I think the synopsis gives a bit too much for you. The story focuses on photographer Morgan Mori witnessing a fallen policer officer after a heist goes wrong. After being interviewed by Investigator Ryan Hudson, the two forge a path to try and uncover who would be accountable for this crime. As the two venture together on this journey and investigate, this murder is linked to a cold case forgotten years ago and a wealthy family that is the talk of Black Harbor. How are these three factions linked together?
This book is DARK! Just imagine what trigger warnings there could be when it comes to procedural novels. If you want to find out what triggers there could be, feel free to message me. This slow burn procedural really uses Black Harbor as a backdrop. I loved how Morgan and Hudson's characters joined together in the most "odd couple" of ways. This book dives into family secrets and dark pasts, and I think those kinds of stories are the ones I've been leaning towards this year a lot. If you enjoy Lars Kepler or Meg Gardiner, THE WIDOWMAKER delivers ten-fold.
April 22, 2023
Hannah Morrissey returns with another story set in the fictional community of Black Harbor. While locals have been shocked with crime in the past, what they discover now has many concerned and highly tense, right around Christmas. When Morgan Mori returns to Black Harbor, she’s pulled into the middle of two mysteries as she tries to put the pieces of her life back together. This chilling story follows her and a cop, both digging for truths and running into proverbial walls. As Morrissey delves deeper, she takes many of her characters along for a ride like no other.
Clive Reynolds disappeared two decades ago from the small community of Black Harbor. A business tycoon and well-known to many, Reynolds’ disappearance was once quite the talk, but has since fizzled away. However, the name has long been associated with murder and criminal activity, as people tried to piece together what happened. Interest resumed when the vehicle Clive was driving is found with a body inside, buried in a body of water. All this, as the Christmas holidays inch closer.
Morgan Mori has come back to Black Harbor in hopes of putting her life back together. A down and out photographer, Morgan is invited to snap photos at the Reynolds’ Christmas party, in hopes of jump-starting her business. While she has a great time and hopes to impress, it is on the ride home that Morgan witnesses a cop being murdered while she fills up with gas. This crime and the fallout leave her stunned while offering some potential insight in the Reynolds matter.
With the cold case gaining new life and a cop killer on the loose, Investigator Ryan Hudson seeks to make a name for himself within the PD, new to the role. While Hudson tries his best, the periphery is full of distractions and leaves him unable to properly concentrate. Liaising with Morgan, Hudson gets some pieces he needs, but it only takes him deeper down a rabbit hole and into a new level of confusion. Will he be able to solve the case before things go cold once more? A great piece by Hannah Morrissey that left me wondering until the final page turn.
I discovered the work of Hannah Morrissey awhile ago and was quite impressed. The writing is strong and the story kept me on my toes throughout. In her return, things are just as eventful and I was left wondering until the very end. A strong foundation guides the piece along and kept me wanting to know a little more, as I sought to discover what was going on at every turn. Strong characters build throughout and new faces allowed me to feel as though there would be constant change as things progressed. A need for multiple plot twists kept me in tune with everything that was going on, lessening the need for me to dream up events to hold my attention. I was happy to return to Black Harbor and am eager to see there is another book on the way. Hannah Morrissey has a knack for writing and I will be back again soon.
Kudos, Madam Morrissey, for a great psychological thriller i did not even see coming.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Clive Reynolds disappeared two decades ago from the small community of Black Harbor. A business tycoon and well-known to many, Reynolds’ disappearance was once quite the talk, but has since fizzled away. However, the name has long been associated with murder and criminal activity, as people tried to piece together what happened. Interest resumed when the vehicle Clive was driving is found with a body inside, buried in a body of water. All this, as the Christmas holidays inch closer.
Morgan Mori has come back to Black Harbor in hopes of putting her life back together. A down and out photographer, Morgan is invited to snap photos at the Reynolds’ Christmas party, in hopes of jump-starting her business. While she has a great time and hopes to impress, it is on the ride home that Morgan witnesses a cop being murdered while she fills up with gas. This crime and the fallout leave her stunned while offering some potential insight in the Reynolds matter.
With the cold case gaining new life and a cop killer on the loose, Investigator Ryan Hudson seeks to make a name for himself within the PD, new to the role. While Hudson tries his best, the periphery is full of distractions and leaves him unable to properly concentrate. Liaising with Morgan, Hudson gets some pieces he needs, but it only takes him deeper down a rabbit hole and into a new level of confusion. Will he be able to solve the case before things go cold once more? A great piece by Hannah Morrissey that left me wondering until the final page turn.
I discovered the work of Hannah Morrissey awhile ago and was quite impressed. The writing is strong and the story kept me on my toes throughout. In her return, things are just as eventful and I was left wondering until the very end. A strong foundation guides the piece along and kept me wanting to know a little more, as I sought to discover what was going on at every turn. Strong characters build throughout and new faces allowed me to feel as though there would be constant change as things progressed. A need for multiple plot twists kept me in tune with everything that was going on, lessening the need for me to dream up events to hold my attention. I was happy to return to Black Harbor and am eager to see there is another book on the way. Hannah Morrissey has a knack for writing and I will be back again soon.
Kudos, Madam Morrissey, for a great psychological thriller i did not even see coming.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
November 9, 2023
4.25- 4.5 Stars
So many twists and turns!
As an avid reader of mystery and thrillers, it's so rare to find a mystery/thriller novel where you have no idea where the story is heading.
If you're looking for a dark mystery/thriller, then look no further.
***I would like to thank NetGalley, Hannah Morrissey (the author), and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me an ARC to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
So many twists and turns!
As an avid reader of mystery and thrillers, it's so rare to find a mystery/thriller novel where you have no idea where the story is heading.
If you're looking for a dark mystery/thriller, then look no further.
***I would like to thank NetGalley, Hannah Morrissey (the author), and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me an ARC to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
December 2, 2022
The description of this one sounded interesting to me, so I picked it up even though I haven't read the first book in the series. This second Black Harbor book was no problem to read as a stand alone, and I found it to be rather dark and disturbing (made for a good story though).
The plot was well developed and pacing was good. I didn't want to put it down. I enjoyed the mystery of the wealthy Reynolds family and I found Morgan Moi intriguing. The search for what the skeleton key would open kept my attention. The characters were interesting and I enjoyed the revelations as the secrets were revealed.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on December 6, 2022.
The plot was well developed and pacing was good. I didn't want to put it down. I enjoyed the mystery of the wealthy Reynolds family and I found Morgan Moi intriguing. The search for what the skeleton key would open kept my attention. The characters were interesting and I enjoyed the revelations as the secrets were revealed.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on December 6, 2022.
November 11, 2022
A damaged young woman is hired by a wealthy family to photograph their Christmas celebration and they seem to take an inordinate interest in her. A somewhat unorthodox policeman is handed a cold case involving this family when all he wants to do is solve the murder of his former partner. All of them are harboring secrets.
I’m not sure how I feel about this book. It was an engrossing, fast paced read. Told from two POVs with a bit of a complex plot, many elements were a little too unbelievable for me. This is the second book I have read in the last month involving very wealthy families behaving badly; I thought both were a bit over the top.
If you enjoy a dark mystery/thriller and are willing to put aside disbelief, this may be a good choice.
Trigger warning: childhood sexual abuse.
Thanks to #netgallely and #stmartinspress #minotaurbooks for the ARC.
I’m not sure how I feel about this book. It was an engrossing, fast paced read. Told from two POVs with a bit of a complex plot, many elements were a little too unbelievable for me. This is the second book I have read in the last month involving very wealthy families behaving badly; I thought both were a bit over the top.
If you enjoy a dark mystery/thriller and are willing to put aside disbelief, this may be a good choice.
Trigger warning: childhood sexual abuse.
Thanks to #netgallely and #stmartinspress #minotaurbooks for the ARC.
November 28, 2022
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: December 6, 2022
Twenty years ago, billionaire Clive Reynolds mysteriously disappeared. His family assumed he was dead and the police assumed he had run off, but when his 1978 Porsche is found in a nearby lake with a dead body in its passenger seat (a dead body that does not belong to Clive Reynolds), the Reynolds family is thrust back into the spotlight. Detective Ryan Hudson, determined to prove himself amongst his colleagues, is asked to investigate, in part to take his mind off the death of his former partner and close friend. Then Morgan Mori shows up, with a skeleton key and a cryptic note, and Hudson is convinced she is connected to the Reynolds case, although Morgan swears she is simply an employee. As it all begins to unwind, the Reynolds family secrets are brought to light, and Morgan and Ryan are both fighting to find the truth- and to stay alive.
“The Widowmaker” by Hannah Morrissey has a little bit of everything- billionaire family secrets, police investigations, illegitimate children, and pedophilia and child abuse and, of course, murder. Every chapter is full of twists, turns and it is difficult to put this novel down. That being said, this novel is one you have to pay close attention to, as the characters are plentiful and the plot is intense, but it is still every bit as enjoyable as it is complex.
“Widowmaker” is told mostly from Morgan’s viewpoint, in a slow burn, cryptic way. We know something horrible happened to Morgan in her past, and as the truth is slowly peeled back, she endears herself to the reader and I rooted from her from the start. She has a Lisbeth Salander vibe to her, which I adored. Hudson too is a likable and relatable character, and the Reynolds clan is exactly as you’d expect from entitled high society (that is to say, exceptionally phony with a few rotten characters in the group).
I am new to Morrissey, but I have heard great things about her work, especially her debut, “Hello, Transcriber”. Apparently “Widowmaker” takes place in the same town as Morrissey’s premiere novel, but, even being unfamiliar as of yet with “Transcriber”, I did not feel lost or confused. It seems unnecessary to read one novel in order to keep up with the other, but I may go back and read “Transcriber” to see what I missed, all the same.
Morrissey’s “Widowmaker” has some intense subject matter, and is not at all an easy read, but it is gripping and suspenseful, and utterly delightful. It may not be for every reader, but it is definitely a powerful novel that will touch all the right emotional chords.
Expected publication date: December 6, 2022
Twenty years ago, billionaire Clive Reynolds mysteriously disappeared. His family assumed he was dead and the police assumed he had run off, but when his 1978 Porsche is found in a nearby lake with a dead body in its passenger seat (a dead body that does not belong to Clive Reynolds), the Reynolds family is thrust back into the spotlight. Detective Ryan Hudson, determined to prove himself amongst his colleagues, is asked to investigate, in part to take his mind off the death of his former partner and close friend. Then Morgan Mori shows up, with a skeleton key and a cryptic note, and Hudson is convinced she is connected to the Reynolds case, although Morgan swears she is simply an employee. As it all begins to unwind, the Reynolds family secrets are brought to light, and Morgan and Ryan are both fighting to find the truth- and to stay alive.
“The Widowmaker” by Hannah Morrissey has a little bit of everything- billionaire family secrets, police investigations, illegitimate children, and pedophilia and child abuse and, of course, murder. Every chapter is full of twists, turns and it is difficult to put this novel down. That being said, this novel is one you have to pay close attention to, as the characters are plentiful and the plot is intense, but it is still every bit as enjoyable as it is complex.
“Widowmaker” is told mostly from Morgan’s viewpoint, in a slow burn, cryptic way. We know something horrible happened to Morgan in her past, and as the truth is slowly peeled back, she endears herself to the reader and I rooted from her from the start. She has a Lisbeth Salander vibe to her, which I adored. Hudson too is a likable and relatable character, and the Reynolds clan is exactly as you’d expect from entitled high society (that is to say, exceptionally phony with a few rotten characters in the group).
I am new to Morrissey, but I have heard great things about her work, especially her debut, “Hello, Transcriber”. Apparently “Widowmaker” takes place in the same town as Morrissey’s premiere novel, but, even being unfamiliar as of yet with “Transcriber”, I did not feel lost or confused. It seems unnecessary to read one novel in order to keep up with the other, but I may go back and read “Transcriber” to see what I missed, all the same.
Morrissey’s “Widowmaker” has some intense subject matter, and is not at all an easy read, but it is gripping and suspenseful, and utterly delightful. It may not be for every reader, but it is definitely a powerful novel that will touch all the right emotional chords.
September 29, 2022
Are you looking for a book that is deep, dark, and full of secrets, then this book is definitely it! This was a wild ride with plenty of hints to Morrissey’s debut, Hello, Transcriber. So many mysteries, lies, dark secrets, that will leave you unraveling. Portions of the book made me cringe as the topics were difficult to listen to. If you like police procedural or thriller genre this book needs to be added to your TBR.
I listened to this as a audiobook and the narrators, Xe Sands and Adam Verner, both did an amazing job and their voices created an atmospheric environment! Xe Sands is one of my all time favorite narrators!
***** Many thanks to St Martins Press, Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and Hannah Morrissey for the #gifted copy as it was provided to me in turn for my honest opinion.
I listened to this as a audiobook and the narrators, Xe Sands and Adam Verner, both did an amazing job and their voices created an atmospheric environment! Xe Sands is one of my all time favorite narrators!
***** Many thanks to St Martins Press, Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and Hannah Morrissey for the #gifted copy as it was provided to me in turn for my honest opinion.
April 5, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. It’s the 2nd book in a series that I’ve enjoyed reading so
I’m going to have to finish this review later I’m falling asleep while trying to write this!!!
I’m going to have to finish this review later I’m falling asleep while trying to write this!!!
December 12, 2022
This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I thought that this book was really good! This is the second book in the Black Harbor series but it works perfectly well as a stand-alone novel since the only connection between the two books is the setting and a few characters. This book juggled a couple of mysteries and I had no idea how anything would turn out in the end. I just love it when a book can keep me guessing and this one had some very surprising moments.
This story is told from two different points of view. Ryan Hudson is an investigator with the local police department. He has been assigned the cold case of Clive Reynolds’s disappearance twenty years earlier but he is also desperate to solve the recent murder of his former partner. Morgan Mori is a photographer who is hired to photograph a party for the Reynolds family only to stumble upon a crime at a convenience store on her way home. There is more going on than either Hudson or Morgan can imagine and they may both have a few secrets of their own.
I liked the characters in this book because they kept me guessing until the very end. Hudson and Morgan both had very interesting histories and I liked the unlikely team they formed, along with Seargent Kole. It was really interesting to see the mysteries unravel and I loved it as each piece of the puzzle fell into place. There was plenty of excitement to go around and once I hit the midpoint of the book, I found it almost impossible to set aside.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a very well-done mystery that contained some darker themes. I look forward to reading more of Hannah Morrissey’s work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Minotaur Books.
Initial Thoughts
This was really good! There were a couple of mysteries going on during the book and I had no idea how anything would turn out. It did take me a bit to warm up the characters but I loved that they were able to keep me guessing up to the very end of the story.
I thought that this book was really good! This is the second book in the Black Harbor series but it works perfectly well as a stand-alone novel since the only connection between the two books is the setting and a few characters. This book juggled a couple of mysteries and I had no idea how anything would turn out in the end. I just love it when a book can keep me guessing and this one had some very surprising moments.
This story is told from two different points of view. Ryan Hudson is an investigator with the local police department. He has been assigned the cold case of Clive Reynolds’s disappearance twenty years earlier but he is also desperate to solve the recent murder of his former partner. Morgan Mori is a photographer who is hired to photograph a party for the Reynolds family only to stumble upon a crime at a convenience store on her way home. There is more going on than either Hudson or Morgan can imagine and they may both have a few secrets of their own.
I liked the characters in this book because they kept me guessing until the very end. Hudson and Morgan both had very interesting histories and I liked the unlikely team they formed, along with Seargent Kole. It was really interesting to see the mysteries unravel and I loved it as each piece of the puzzle fell into place. There was plenty of excitement to go around and once I hit the midpoint of the book, I found it almost impossible to set aside.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a very well-done mystery that contained some darker themes. I look forward to reading more of Hannah Morrissey’s work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Minotaur Books.
Initial Thoughts
This was really good! There were a couple of mysteries going on during the book and I had no idea how anything would turn out. It did take me a bit to warm up the characters but I loved that they were able to keep me guessing up to the very end of the story.
October 10, 2022
This is a dark and twisty tale of family secrets. The author pulls you in from the very first chapter, which is a bit mysterious and refers to events in the near past that only get clarified later in the book. The female main character, Morgan, has had a terrible childhood and it has affected her greatly. She is now in her early 30s, trying to make a living as a photographer in her home town. The male main character, Hudson, is a young police investigator with a secret in his past. The action takes place in a dismal city in Wisconsin, somewhere on Lake Michigan, called Black Harbor, in and around Christmas time. Hudson’s former partner, Garrison, is killed and we gradually find out all the links between a 20-year-old cold case involving the Reynolds, the city’s richest family, Hudson, Garrison and Morgan.
Content warning: child abuse/sexual assault in the past
The author has written a previous book that also takes place in Black Harbor but this is not being promoted as a series and I have not read the first book, Hello, Transcriber, although I’m interested enough in it now to track it down.
I listened to the audiobook with my husband on a long car trip and re-read some sections in the ebook in the evenings to make sure I understood what was going on - so perhaps reading this one may be better than listening to it. There are a lot of characters and back story to keep straight. Different chapters are told from the point of view of either Morgan or Hudson, and there were two narrators, one female and one male: Xe Sands and Adam Verner.
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.
Content warning: child abuse/sexual assault in the past
The author has written a previous book that also takes place in Black Harbor but this is not being promoted as a series and I have not read the first book, Hello, Transcriber, although I’m interested enough in it now to track it down.
I listened to the audiobook with my husband on a long car trip and re-read some sections in the ebook in the evenings to make sure I understood what was going on - so perhaps reading this one may be better than listening to it. There are a lot of characters and back story to keep straight. Different chapters are told from the point of view of either Morgan or Hudson, and there were two narrators, one female and one male: Xe Sands and Adam Verner.
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.
September 30, 2022
Morgan Mori, a photographer, receives a key that offers information about her past. She is determined to find out the mystery. Meanwhile, Ryan Hudson, a detective, lost a good friend while on duty and Morgan saw it happen! This story is told in alternating points of view between Morgan and Ryan. Will these two figure out the connection?
This was my first by Hannah Morrissey and it didn't disappoint. It was a very interesting audiobook and some parts were a little harder to listen to based on the topic. I think the author knows how to tell a great story! If you like a good mystery/thriller, pick this one. I'll be looking forward to more books by this author.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my ARC in exchange for my honest review
This review will shared on my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
TW: Child Abuse
This was my first by Hannah Morrissey and it didn't disappoint. It was a very interesting audiobook and some parts were a little harder to listen to based on the topic. I think the author knows how to tell a great story! If you like a good mystery/thriller, pick this one. I'll be looking forward to more books by this author.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my ARC in exchange for my honest review
This review will shared on my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
TW: Child Abuse
April 13, 2023
Book Blog | Bookstagram
You say “harbour” and it will immediately make me wistful for living by the water with a chilled lake breeze, wearing chunky sweaters on the beach and maybe solving a cozy local mystery like I’m Jessica Fucking Fletcher. Someone bring around my pink classic cruiser bike with the basket on the front – I’m picking daisies and pursuing justice!
I need to stop getting high before writing reviews. Things really go off the rails very quickly.
Anyway, this novel has none of those cutesy, cozy things because the vibe is actually super fucking dark. Sorry, J. Fletch.
Morgan Mori is starting over, and in some ways going backwards, as she moves in with her mom and tries to get a new business as a freelance photographer off the ground. She gets a cryptic note with a mysterious key and a job photographing the Christmas party of Black Harbour’s wealthiest family in quick succession. Then there’s a Santa who I really expected to be a pervert, and by the end of the night of her first job, Morgan is witnessing a murder in a convenience store when all she wanted was a Butterfinger.
Morgan was missing some levity and personality in her characterization, so it read to me like something was missing from this novel overall. Just a little spice. Like, I didn’t really care for Morgan one way or the other as an MC, and that’s not what you want. But the plot survives without, propped up by a more complex secondary character in Det. Ryan Hudson.
As for everything else, the novel goes hard to give you atmosphere and twists, and even a sexy moment or two.
You get a dying town, lost cameras, adoption, mysterious keys, lockboxes, stolen cars out of gas, Porches in the lake, cold cases, murdered cops, child abuse, men being perverts because what’s new, gratuitous Fight Club reference, convenience store robberies, grandfather chauffering, flirtatious drinks, missing orbital bones, wealthy people nonsense, family secrets, shady characters, Ambien popping, admit-one tickets, Christmas parties with Santa, film negatives, special K, revenge, branding, blackmail, law-breaking relatives, mother’s disapproval, kitchen sex, bedroom sex, awkward run-ins with your boss, crossing professional lines, Butterfingers, Bart Simpson dolls, private investigation, lakeside McMansions, snowmobiles, informants who don’t inform very well, sleepwalking vibes, so much snow, anonymous notes, hidden notes, dollar-dollar bills, DVD players because those are still a think thank you, axes to the skull, singing like a bird and plane tickets.
The pacing is perfection. There is literally no chunk, no chapter and no scene that didn’t provide something to the plot or the characters. The intricacy of the mystery was layered and can keep you guessing, but it sometimes had an unrealistic vibe – like it was just a little bit weird. A few moments were written too vaguely, and that led to what I call smidgens of confusion. Gonna trade mark that. Like what are you talking about, what fucking place are you at now, Morgan?
The ending was a bit over-complicated, but the depictions of police work in Hudson’s POV seemed legit, not hokey, and that was totally captivating, creating a really good grounded anchor for the more dramatic, wild family stuff that was going on with Morgan.
Intense, gritty, and Christmasy with a dark mystery and some weird vibes that help this novel stand out from the rest, this was an excellent read. With a more vibrant main character (possibly wearing a knit sweater on the beach?) this could have been pure fireworks.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 4 stars
You say “harbour” and it will immediately make me wistful for living by the water with a chilled lake breeze, wearing chunky sweaters on the beach and maybe solving a cozy local mystery like I’m Jessica Fucking Fletcher. Someone bring around my pink classic cruiser bike with the basket on the front – I’m picking daisies and pursuing justice!
I need to stop getting high before writing reviews. Things really go off the rails very quickly.
Anyway, this novel has none of those cutesy, cozy things because the vibe is actually super fucking dark. Sorry, J. Fletch.
Morgan Mori is starting over, and in some ways going backwards, as she moves in with her mom and tries to get a new business as a freelance photographer off the ground. She gets a cryptic note with a mysterious key and a job photographing the Christmas party of Black Harbour’s wealthiest family in quick succession. Then there’s a Santa who I really expected to be a pervert, and by the end of the night of her first job, Morgan is witnessing a murder in a convenience store when all she wanted was a Butterfinger.
Morgan was missing some levity and personality in her characterization, so it read to me like something was missing from this novel overall. Just a little spice. Like, I didn’t really care for Morgan one way or the other as an MC, and that’s not what you want. But the plot survives without, propped up by a more complex secondary character in Det. Ryan Hudson.
As for everything else, the novel goes hard to give you atmosphere and twists, and even a sexy moment or two.
You get a dying town, lost cameras, adoption, mysterious keys, lockboxes, stolen cars out of gas, Porches in the lake, cold cases, murdered cops, child abuse, men being perverts because what’s new, gratuitous Fight Club reference, convenience store robberies, grandfather chauffering, flirtatious drinks, missing orbital bones, wealthy people nonsense, family secrets, shady characters, Ambien popping, admit-one tickets, Christmas parties with Santa, film negatives, special K, revenge, branding, blackmail, law-breaking relatives, mother’s disapproval, kitchen sex, bedroom sex, awkward run-ins with your boss, crossing professional lines, Butterfingers, Bart Simpson dolls, private investigation, lakeside McMansions, snowmobiles, informants who don’t inform very well, sleepwalking vibes, so much snow, anonymous notes, hidden notes, dollar-dollar bills, DVD players because those are still a think thank you, axes to the skull, singing like a bird and plane tickets.
The pacing is perfection. There is literally no chunk, no chapter and no scene that didn’t provide something to the plot or the characters. The intricacy of the mystery was layered and can keep you guessing, but it sometimes had an unrealistic vibe – like it was just a little bit weird. A few moments were written too vaguely, and that led to what I call smidgens of confusion. Gonna trade mark that. Like what are you talking about, what fucking place are you at now, Morgan?
The ending was a bit over-complicated, but the depictions of police work in Hudson’s POV seemed legit, not hokey, and that was totally captivating, creating a really good grounded anchor for the more dramatic, wild family stuff that was going on with Morgan.
Intense, gritty, and Christmasy with a dark mystery and some weird vibes that help this novel stand out from the rest, this was an excellent read. With a more vibrant main character (possibly wearing a knit sweater on the beach?) this could have been pure fireworks.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 4 stars
August 27, 2022
Few authors captivate in their storytelling as does Hannah Morrissey. Blazing on the scene with her first novel, Morrissey does us one better with Widowmaker.
What makes these stories so special is not just the great mystery that it presents, though they ARE great. No, the story is really brought along by the realism of the characters, their growth (and sometimes, trauma), and the overarching dark brooding atmosphere that is Black Harbor.
And this one was dark! Hannah keeps up guessing while breathing a real life into her characters that wins us over. I mean, I'd bleed for Morgan... or Hudson equally!
With this amazing Sophmoric release, Morrissey surely cements her spot as one of the preeminent up-and-coming writers of the moment. Keep spinning them out Hannah! The readers are going to love whatever you give us!
My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What makes these stories so special is not just the great mystery that it presents, though they ARE great. No, the story is really brought along by the realism of the characters, their growth (and sometimes, trauma), and the overarching dark brooding atmosphere that is Black Harbor.
And this one was dark! Hannah keeps up guessing while breathing a real life into her characters that wins us over. I mean, I'd bleed for Morgan... or Hudson equally!
With this amazing Sophmoric release, Morrissey surely cements her spot as one of the preeminent up-and-coming writers of the moment. Keep spinning them out Hannah! The readers are going to love whatever you give us!
My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 17, 2022
This is a tense thriller, very atmospheric. It alternates between two main characters, A woman who has been seriously sexually abused and finds her own ways to cope. After losing everything she returns home with some strange clues and strange ties to this wealthy family. The other is a detective, trying to solve the murder of his partner and the cold case of the missing weathy husband. A little slow at times but a satisfying read
August 4, 2024
3 stars
This is book two in the Black Harbor series. Having read Hello, Transcriber, book one, just over one year ago, I was a bit worried I would forget the characters and basics of the series. However that wasn't a problem since this book had all new characters and really the only thing that connected the two books was the location - Black Harbor Wisconsin.
Morgan witnesses the killing of a policeman. That policeman's partner, who just made Detective, takes it hard when his ex-partner is shot. Morgan has just been at a Christmas party taking pictures of the most lucrative family in Black Harbor - the Reynolds. Clive Reynolds has been missing for years and it is now a cold case. When Morgan stops at a convenience store on the way home she sees the policeman's murder, then loses her car to the attacker, along with her camera. She is now involved with both the newly assigned Detective, as a witness to the murder, and also the Reynolds family who has paid her a lot of money for those pictures. So how do the two incidents in this one night connect? Ahhh, that is the mystery.
I like Hannah Morrissey's writing. She keeps you entertained and trying to solve her mysteries. I have the third book of the series When I'm Dead and by the synopsis it appears that it likewise it only connected by again being in Black Harbor Wisconsin.
This is book two in the Black Harbor series. Having read Hello, Transcriber, book one, just over one year ago, I was a bit worried I would forget the characters and basics of the series. However that wasn't a problem since this book had all new characters and really the only thing that connected the two books was the location - Black Harbor Wisconsin.
Morgan witnesses the killing of a policeman. That policeman's partner, who just made Detective, takes it hard when his ex-partner is shot. Morgan has just been at a Christmas party taking pictures of the most lucrative family in Black Harbor - the Reynolds. Clive Reynolds has been missing for years and it is now a cold case. When Morgan stops at a convenience store on the way home she sees the policeman's murder, then loses her car to the attacker, along with her camera. She is now involved with both the newly assigned Detective, as a witness to the murder, and also the Reynolds family who has paid her a lot of money for those pictures. So how do the two incidents in this one night connect? Ahhh, that is the mystery.
I like Hannah Morrissey's writing. She keeps you entertained and trying to solve her mysteries. I have the third book of the series When I'm Dead and by the synopsis it appears that it likewise it only connected by again being in Black Harbor Wisconsin.
August 17, 2022
Not my favorite. It was bleak - to me. And had a disjointed pace. I can't really explain WHY it bothered me so much. The writing style just wasn't for me. I finished the book because I won it from Goodreads and felt duty bound to read and review. I'm sorry I couldn't write a more positive review.
October 25, 2022
Need to sit with my thoughts to see how I felt overall about this one before giving a review.
EDIT:
Ok, I've had time to think about this review. I am settling on four stars. This is a dark, gritty, chilling police procedural read. Filled with lots of secrets and lies that don't stop coming, THE WIDOWMAKER will have you trying to guess all the plot twists again and again.
This book is not for the faint of heart as some of the topics covered are dark and heavy (childhood abuse, some graphic murder scenes).
Overall, this book kept me hooked and entertained and I can't wait to see what Hannah comes out with next!
Thank you, Minotaur Books, for my ARC copy!
EDIT:
Ok, I've had time to think about this review. I am settling on four stars. This is a dark, gritty, chilling police procedural read. Filled with lots of secrets and lies that don't stop coming, THE WIDOWMAKER will have you trying to guess all the plot twists again and again.
This book is not for the faint of heart as some of the topics covered are dark and heavy (childhood abuse, some graphic murder scenes).
Overall, this book kept me hooked and entertained and I can't wait to see what Hannah comes out with next!
Thank you, Minotaur Books, for my ARC copy!
February 19, 2023
Description sounded interesting, but when an author immediately relies on foul language instead of writing ability to convey characters’ emotions, it’s a red flag. If you want to be an author, use your writing ability to convey what characters feel. Don’t take the lazy way out. It cheapens your story and negatively influences your credibility as an author.
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