The Widowmaker: A Black Harbor Novel

Hannah Morrissey

Dec 2022 · Black Harbor Novels Book 2 · Macmillan Audio · Narrated by Adam Verner and Xe Sands

About this audiobook

"Narrators Adam Verner and Xe Sands provide each character with a unique voice, ably capturing their grief and deep emotion." - Library Journal

"Listeners who appreciate Morrissey's description and attention to detail will be drawn into this dark, multilayered saga."- AudioFile

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 Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books.

Ratings and reviews

Oof. I’d like to leave it at that, but here are my thoughts for those interested: I listened to The Widowmaker on audio, and I didn’t like either narrator. (Sorry!) Xe Sands, who did Morgan’s part, pitched her voice so low that it sounded strained, forced, unnatural. Neither Sands nor Adam Verner, who narrated Hudson’s part, fit well with the characters’ personalities. Story pacing is quite slow through the first half. I didn’t connect with or care about either character. Despite personal histories that should’ve made me feel all sorts of emotions, I just didn’t. Something happens between Morgan and Hudson at about the 60% point that made me cringe and immediately stop the audio. I considered not finishing because… ick. Onward. The story relied on shock factor and abuse details at the expense of a well structured, interesting plot. Rather than complex, the plot became convoluted, with too many random coincidences that were implausible and bordered on ridiculous. Then we have the true confessions ending, where characters recite all their bad deeds in order as a point of pride or some nonsense, which is clearly for the reader's benefit. But all this is just my opinion. Other readers have loved this one, and you might, as well. *My thanks and apologies to Macmillan Audio for the free download!*

About the author

HANNAH MORRISSEY earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. She grew up on a farm in a small northern town and now lives near Milwaukee with her husband and two pugs. Hello, Transcriber is her debut novel, inspired by her work as a police transcriber.