The Widowmaker (Black Harbor #2) by Hannah Morrissey

 Another dark, atmospheric tale in the Black Harbor series.

Although this is the second book set in Black Harbor, it is only peripherally related to the debut, so you do not have to read the first before you open this one unless you're like me. I have a thing about reading books in order.

Cold winter in Black Harbor, Minnesota. Morgan Mori has returned home after a fire left her without a place to live and work. She's going to try her luck at photography and manages to get a job taking Christmas pictures of a wealthy local family. Interesting, however, is that this family has a scandal attached as the matriarch is suspected of killing her husband who vanished without a trace over 2- years ago. Then Morgan witnesses the murder of a cop at a convenience store and is drawn into a dark and convoluted mystery that may unlock the secrets of her very sordid past. 

This author has a way with words making the narrative so enticing that before you know it, you've read the book in a single sitting. I just love the way Morrissey strings phrases together. Her characters are so vividly drawn that they leap, fully formed, off the pages. Morgan is a dark horse for sure and the backstory is revealed in bits and pieces as the reader clamors for more detail. I was happy to see a familiar face from the first book -- an investigator from the police department. The plot was clever and it was definitely a great story.

Definitely recommend this one and plan to find the next installment immediately. 

This is the second in a series of companion novels.

Genre - crime thriller, police procedural, mystery

Hello, Transcriber (Black Harbor #1) by Hannah Morrissey

 Atmospheric police procedural is a stunning debut.

An aspiring writer takes a job at the Black Harbor police station to work as a transcriber. Hazel Greenlee is a troubled and introverted woman who is desperate to escape her life. When she becomes part of a murder inquiry and involved with Nik Kole, a detective assigned to the case, she feels that her real story is about to begin. As she writes details of the investigation into the novel she feels might just be her ticket out of Black Harbor, Hazel finds that she will do almost anything to make it real. Unfortunately, everyone lies.

The first thing that I must say about this book is that the writer is incredible. Her command of words makes the prose read like poetry. There are so many good lines within, I marked up the pages like a college student preparing for an exam. Although I didn't care much for the Hazel character, I did find her narrative quite compelling. The whole atmosphere of the town of Black Harbor was a great setting for this type of novel. I did learn a new word that I am dying to use -- hiraeth -- which is a Welsh term for describing a certain type of nostalgia: "longing for somewhere or someone who no longer exists as they were."

I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. I am going to read any future books by this author.

This is the first in a series of novels set in Black Harbor, Wisconsin.

Genre - mystery, police procedural, crime thriller, suspense

The Locked Door by Freida McFadden

 Riveting psychological thriller!

Dr. Nora Davis was 11 years old when she turned her father in to the police. Seems he was a phlebotomist by day and a serial killer by night. He kept his victims in the basement of the family home. Nora has come a long way in the past decade or so and has become a successful general surgeon. She's changed her name and kept the secret of her true identity. No one knows that she is the daughter of Aaron Nierling and he is safely tucked away in prison serving multiple life sentences.

Her lonely but satisfying life disappears on the day she hears that one of her patients has been murdered and mutilated in the same way that her father used as his signature. Suddenly it looks as if someone is trying to frame Nora and she's desperate to find out who is the copycat.

This was excellent writing and quite satisfying. I liked the main character and could empathize with her confusion. There were a couple of times that I thought Nora made bad or dumb decisions, but the narrative had plenty of red herrings to keep me guessing. It's definitely a book that begs to be read in a single sitting as it's hard to put down. This author is fast becoming one of my favorites. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Genre - psychological thriller, serial killer

Murder in the Family by Cara Hunter

 Unique crime mystery that can't be missed!

This was such a fun read! I loved the style and format as it created an immersive experience making the reader feel totally involved in this true crime docudrama. One can review all sorts of different pieces of information such as: photos, reports, maps, emails, text conversations, and best of all -- the transcript of the TV series, Infamous, that is said to be streaming on Netflix. 

The premise: A specially selected group of experts is hired to analyze the evidence surrounding a cold case involving the murder of Luke Ryder in December, 2003. Twenty years have passed and no one was ever charged. Can the team figure out what happened on that winter night? 

This was twisty with a new revelation at every turn. I was able to guess parts of the true crime story but wrong about some aspects. I really enjoyed how the truth unfolded and the way the clever author chose to do it. I think it's best to read this in the shortest sitting possible to keep everything straight and to get the full appreciation of some of the discoveries, coincidences, and surprises. 

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Genre - crime mystery, reads like true crime