Picture a Wisconsin storyteller who turned bone-chilling winters and gritty police reports into gripping crime novels—meet Hannah Morrissey! With her signature 'Midwestern Noir' style, she’s crafted suspenseful tales like Hello, Transcriber and The Widowmaker that hook readers from page one. Her unique blend of atmospheric settings and complex characters has made her a rising star in crime fiction.
Born and raised in the Midwest, Morrissey’s journey from police transcriber to acclaimed author is as compelling as her stories. Her novels, set in the fictional crime-ridden town of Black Harbor, draw you into a world where secrets lurk under icy surfaces, and every case feels like a puzzle waiting to be solved.
The Making of Hannah Morrissey
Hannah Morrissey grew up in a small northern Wisconsin town, enduring harsh winters that would later shape her chilling narratives. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in English and Creative Writing, she always dreamed of being a writer. After college, she worked as a bookseller and copywriter, but it was her night-shift job as a police transcriber in a grim, industrial city that sparked her literary career. Listening to detectives recount crimes under the cover of darkness, she realized every case was a story, beginning with the haunting words, 'Hello, Transcriber.'
Hannah Morrissey’s Unforgettable Stories
Morrissey’s debut, Hello, Transcriber (2021), introduces Hazel Greenlee, a police transcriber in Black Harbor who gets entangled in a dangerous investigation. The novel’s moody prose and vivid setting earned praise for its authenticity, drawn from Morrissey’s own experiences. Her follow-up, The Widowmaker (2022), dives into a cold case involving a missing mogul, weaving scandal and suspense with photographer Morgan Mori and detective Ryan Hudson. In 2023, When I’m Dead brought medical examiner Rowan Winthorp to the forefront, unraveling a chilling mystery tied to her daughter’s disappearance.
Her latest, The Unlucky Ones (2025), sees Hazel return to solve her ex-husband’s murder, cementing Morrissey’s knack for flawed, relatable characters. Known as 'Midwestern Noir,' her style blends Scandinavian Noir’s cold, crime-heavy atmosphere with Midwest grit—think snow-dusted streets and secrets that cut like a knife. Each novel stands alone but shares Black Harbor’s dark allure, with Easter eggs for loyal readers.
Why Hannah Morrissey Matters
Hannah Morrissey has redefined crime fiction by grounding it in the Midwest’s stark beauty and complex social fabric. Her work resonates with readers who crave authentic, character-driven stories that don’t shy away from darkness yet offer glimmers of hope. Critics like C.J. Box and Samantha Downing have hailed her as a fresh voice, and her growing fanbase eagerly awaits her first standalone, Scream City, set for 2026. By turning her unique perspective into gripping narratives, Morrissey proves the Midwest is as thrilling a setting as any urban sprawl.
- Born: Wisconsin, USA
- Key Works: Hello, Transcriber, The Widowmaker, When I’m Dead, The Unlucky Ones
- Fun Fact: She lives near Milwaukee with her husband and three pugs!
Ready for a thrilling ride? Snag Hello, Transcriber and dive into Hannah Morrissey’s Midwestern Noir world!