Hello, Transcriber by Hannah Morrissey is a compelling mystery/suspense novel about a police transcriber who becomes enmeshed in a drug case that has been plaguing the town for years.
Hello, Transcriber Synopsis
Hazel Greenlee, an aspiring writer, begins her new job as Transcriber at the local Black Harbor Police Department. Her night shifts are going well, the police are happy with her work, and she’s getting along with her coworkers. That all changes one night when Hazel looks out the window and sees her neighbour outside writing a terrifying message on the glass. This message reignites the hunt for the Candy Man, a drug dealer who has been selling to kids for years.
Soon after, Hazel becomes entangled in the case. She also becomes extremely infatuated with Investigator Nikolai Kole, the man leading the search for this notorious drug dealer.
Thoughts
I would have liked this novel more if Hazel and Kole had kept things professional. Her crush on Kole was very eye-roll-inducing. Although, it’s not hard to understand why Hazel would turn to Kole with the state of her marriage.
I found the writing style to be whimsical, maybe even slightly overwritten at times. Hazel wants to be a writer, so it makes sense, I suppose. There were some twists that I did not see coming. However, in my opinion, the cringe romance overshadowed the case.
But, overall, this book was very atmospheric. I could feel the cold, lonely nights and days through the (ebook) pages. I also think the author did a great job depicting depression and how hard it can be to break the cycle of abuse.
There are many early rave reviews of this book, so I’d encourage you to read those as well.
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Now Available.
Thank you to Minotaur Books/St. Martin’s Press for the arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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