WHEN I’M DEAD, the third entry in Hannah Morrissey’s Black Harbor series, is a near-perfect thriller. Medical examiner Rowan Winthorp and her homicide detective husband, Axel, are about to experience the worst nightmare of their lives.

When Rowan’s teen daughter, Chloe, says to her, “You’ll love me more when I’m dead,”she had no idea how prophetic those words would become. A body is discovered, and Rowan is horrified to learn that the victim is Chloe’s best friend, Madison Caldwell. Not only does it appear that she was strangled, Madison’s death coincides with Chloe’s disappearance following her performance as the female lead in her high school production of “Beetlejuice The Musical.”

"Hannah Morrissey does a terrific job of literary subterfuge with plenty of red herrings and new details emerging with each passing chapter."

Rowan and Axel suddenly see their lives spinning wildly out of control, while the town of Black Harbor speaks of a sick serial killer targeting high school girls.

Morrissey focuses on various characters throughout the novel, but the most telling and vital events seem to revolve around Rowan. The only problem is that she is not a very positive person and is sure that Chloe is dead. On the flip side, Axel has a strong feeling that his daughter may be the killer and is presently on the run.

These fears are reinforced when another girl, Marisa, turns up dead. Axel and Black Harbor’s police department learn that Madison and Marisa, in a fit of jealousy, posted a set-up photo on social media of Chloe’s T-shirt sticking out of a bag belonging to her drama teacher, Mark Cutler. Rumors followed, linking Chloe and Mark in a sordid tryst, which might have been enough for Chloe to seek revenge.

The story is also told from the point of view of Libby, a teen neighbor of the Winthorps and Chloe’s school chum. Libby is made to look quite suspicious here, either as a murder suspect or someone who knows more than she’s letting on. However, things really get interesting when the police question Mark.

Hannah Morrissey does a terrific job of literary subterfuge with plenty of red herrings and new details emerging with each passing chapter. The overall effect makes for a memorable read and the best installment of the Black Harbor series to date.