Scream City: A Novel

by Hannah Morrissey

Her grandfather was a serial killer. His father was the cop who put him in jail. Now a string of copycat murders puts them both in the crosshairs–and on the suspect list in USA Today's bestselling author Hannah Morrissey's electrifying new novel.

Milwaukee, 1997— In the eighties, the Cream City Killer, known as CCK, made Walker’s Point his hunting ground. His reign of terror gave a new name to Milwaukee’s oldest neighborhood: Scream City.

Back then, if anyone had told Rex Hale that things were about to get worse for him, he’d have thought they were yanking his chain. He’s already divorced, suspended from the police force, and serving eviction notices for a developer dead-set on gentrifying the place. The only way things could get worse is if—

The next guy he serves winds up murdered. In cold blood. Rex’s papers still fluttering nearby.

The crime appears to be the work of a copycat, someone paying homage to CCK. Rex is questioned, of course, along with Alice Foster—CCK’s granddaughter and owner of a haunted bookstore that has yet to be evicted. Sparks have crackled between Alice and Rex for years. He wants to believe she’s innocent, but the evidence is stacking up against her.

So are the bodies.

The killer has turned Rex’s paper route into their own personal path of destruction. If there’s any chance at saving Walker’s Point and clearing both of their names, Alice and Rex—two people no one trusts—will have to trust each other. But in order to suss out the killer, they’ll have to look at the past and exhume a long-buried clue the original investigation missed.

If they don’t solve it soon, the development is the least of their worries, because Scream City is hellbent on living up to its name. And this time, no one gets out alive.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Fiction

368 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication January 26, 2027

About the author

Hannah Morrissey is a USA Today bestselling author of the Black Harbor suspense series and other gripping works of crime fiction (coming soon!). Praised for their hauntingly atmospheric settings and gritty Midwestern realism, her novels have helped define a distinct subgenre: Midwestern Noir.

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she studied English and Creative Writing, Hannah now lives near Milwaukee with her husband and their three mischievous pugs.

Reviews

[Chey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not typically a mystery girly but this was so much fun, a serial killer copycat in the same town the original killer hunted in. This was funny, jaw dropping and hard to put down.

[NrsKelley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m beginning to wonder if I read the same book as the majority of other reviewers. This book was extremely slow paced. It focused more on quirky dialogue and world view than it did on the mystery in my opinion. Rex and Alice seemed almost one dimensional due to all the quirkiness. I couldn’t begin to cheer them on as a couple because of that. I’ve read some of the authors other works and they were wonderful but this one just wasn’t what I was expecting.

[Kylee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC!

Unfortunately, this was not my favorite Hannah Morrissey book. I didn’t think the connection between the characters felt real. I wasn’t annoyed with the ghosts per se, but also didn’t think they added anything and therefore didn’t need to be included. Hopefully it hits better for some of you!

[Taylor Boardman · Rating 3 out of 5]

NetGalley review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Okay, I have to preface this by saying my desire to love this book was off the charts before I even cracked it open. While I definitely enjoyed parts of it, it didn't completely sweep me off my feet.
First of all, the plot? She slayed (pun intended 🫡). Such a clever concept, and I was hooked by the premise from the start. The prologue had me sitting there with the biggest grin on my face, while simultaneously thinking, what in the actual shit is going on? 😂 Which, honestly, is exactly what I think it was supposed to do.
My biggest hang-up was that the story felt a little chaotic at times. There were so many moving pieces that it occasionally lost me, and I think trimming some of the fluff would've made this an absolute banger. There is a really fantastic book hiding in here.
That being said...I think I’d still recommend it! I adore this author, and I genuinely think this is one of those "it's me, hi, I'm the problem" situations. 🤷🏻‍♀️ It just wasn't perfectly matched to my reading style, and that's okay because not every book is meant for every person.

[Rachiebo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scream city by Hannah Morrissey

Alice foster has been plagued for years about her grandfather being a serial killer, now a batch of copy cat serial killers has emerged.

Rex Hale is a retired copy just like his father, his father that arrested the first Cream city killer, Alice’s grandfather.

Their relationship has been these two characters is sizzling, however after a string of cck emerges the finger points to Alice as being the killer, not ontly in the many commonalities between the murders but it is in her genetics as well.

This story pivoted between dual timelines and was an on the edge of your seat read.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur books!

[Gabrielle Garza · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, I am absolutely honored to have read this novel for review! I adore the author and will read anything that she writes. Thank you, NetGalley!

This dual POV novel is perfect for the summer months, as the chapters set in the 90's take place around the Fourth of July, and it'll be a nice reminder of warmer months to come when it is released in January! Several grisly, imaginative deaths are not to be forgotten, and the author's visual imagery painted a clear picture of the setting, (S)cream City. I loved the use of foreshadowing in the author's similes: "The tension is as thick as tobacco, taut as piano wire."

I really enjoyed the FMC, Alice, granddaughter of the famous (fictional) CCK killer. She has a wonderful, morbid sense of humor and had me from one of her first inner thoughts about how she likes "being someone's mystery." The sign on her grandfather's old piano store turned bookstore that reads "SHOPLIFTERS WILL BE TORTURED SLOWLY" and her installed Wilhelm Scream motion sensor reminded me so much of the beloved Wednesday Addams character. The fact that the children of the town created a nursery rhyme about her - a la Lizzie Borden! - was a genius additive for this character. Also, I adored the paranormal aspects of this novel that haunt both main characters, and would have liked for them to have had even more of a role in the 90's set chapters of SCREAM CITY.

While side characters such as Julia, Clementine, and Orchid were not necessarily heavy supporting characters, I would have liked to know more about them to have a better understanding of how much impact they had on the two characters that the novel follows, Alice and Rex, from the beginning. I also had a hard time believing that Rex's father, Raymond, would NOT have been removed from the town's police force following murder allegations, while Rex himself WAS removed following the mysterious death of his son. Small town police departments protect their own, I suppose?

The investigation into a 1990's copycat murder in the town of Cream City had a fun climax and reveal, although, in the process of said investigation, realistically, how many businesses could honestly be seized in a town simply under "eminent domain?" I also found the romance to be a little far fetched, but maybe when two people are the number one and two suspects in an ongoing murder investigation, they would end up becoming closer? I enjoyed the novel's comedic relief character, a tortoise named Spike, with all his overly silly actions!

I truly enjoyed reading the author's first novel set outside of Black Harbor, and can see how much dedication went into creating a fully fleshed out town, complete with interesting residents, ghosts and a full history. I think the ALT chapters that revisit the town in the 1980's are some of my favorites. I will recommend this novel to anyone looking for a little side of paranormal to go with their murder plot, and for my fellow readers who are nostalgic for the 90's!

"If shame had a color, it's ghost pale."

[Serena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for providing me with an advance copy of Scream City in exchange for an honest review.

Imagine living your entire life in the shadow of a serial killer's legacy ... especially when that serial killer was your grandfather. That's the burden Alice carries as she runs a quirky bookstore housed in what was once his piano shop. Meanwhile, retired detective Rex is trying to rebuild his life after an unimaginable family tragedy. When women begin turning up dead in murders that echo the crimes of decades past, Alice and Rex find themselves searching for the truth while their beloved Cream City neighborhood fights to survive against an aggressive developer.

This is an atmospheric, character-driven crime novel with several twists that genuinely caught me by surprise. I thought I had things figured out more than once, only to discover I was completely wrong. The mystery is well constructed, and I enjoyed trying to untangle who was behind the copycat murders and why. Was someone trying to drive down property values? Seeking revenge? Chasing money? The possibilities kept changing as the story unfolded.

The characters were the heart of the novel for me. I felt especially sorry for Alice, whose entire identity has been shaped by crimes she had absolutely nothing to do with. Watching her navigate the assumptions people make about her because of her family history was heartbreaking and frustrating. At the same time, she has an endearing eccentricity, punctuating her conversations with the phrase, "Imagine the scuttlebutt," whenever she and Rex begin piecing together another possibility. It's a small character detail, but one that made her feel distinct and memorable. Rex was equally compelling. The tragedy involving his son is almost unimaginable, and I admired his determination to keep moving forward despite carrying that burden every day. I also loved the slow-building chemistry between Alice and Rex. It's clear the connection has been there for a long time, and I found myself rooting for them to finally make it work.

The reason this settled at four stars instead of five is that it never quite felt like a thriller to me. I was invested in the mystery and the characters, but I never experienced that overwhelming urgency to keep reading "just one more chapter." The pacing is more deliberate, allowing the atmosphere and relationships to take center stage rather than nonstop suspense.

Content warnings should include violence against women, serial murder, discussions of past murders, grief, trauma, and death of a child.

If you enjoy character-driven mysteries, police procedurals, and crime fiction with memorable protagonists, emotional depth, and surprising twists, Scream City is well worth picking up. Readers looking for relentless, edge-of-your-seat thriller pacing may find it slower than expected, but mystery fans will find plenty to enjoy.

[Angie Miale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scream City is a slow-burn small-town mystery with a compelling premise, but one that ultimately didn’t leave a lasting impression for me.

Set in Walker’s Point, Wisconsin, in 1997, the story centers on Alice Foster, the owner of a charming independent bookstore housed in the building that once belonged to her infamous grandfather. Decades earlier, he terrorized the community as the “Cream City Killer,” strangling his victims with piano wire before dying in prison four years before the events of the novel. Now, a copycat killer has emerged, and suspicion quickly falls on Alice.

The second primary point of view belongs to Rex Hale, a former police officer now serving eviction notices for a local developer. When the very people he visits begin turning up dead in the same gruesome fashion, he finds himself under suspicion as well. Knowing they’re innocent, Alice and Rex begin investigating the murders themselves before the town decides one—or both—of them must be the killer.

The mystery itself kept me engaged, even if the pacing was uneven. There are long stretches devoted to building atmosphere and suspicion, and while I appreciated the slow unraveling of the investigation, the payoff was only satisfactory. I also found myself questioning why the novel was set in 1997. Aside from a handful of references, the story rarely takes advantage of its historical setting, and it could have unfolded almost identically in the present day.

The romance between Alice and Rex also didn’t land for me. Their relationship felt underdeveloped, and I never sensed much chemistry between them, making it feel more like a subplot added because one was expected than one that naturally grew from the story.

One aspect of Hannah Morrissey’s writing that really stood out was her vocabulary. She has a very distinctive style, frequently choosing unusual, highly specific words that you don’t often encounter in contemporary fiction. Some readers may enjoy that richness of language, while others may find it occasionally distracting. It certainly gave the novel its own voice.

The story also introduces ghostly elements that never felt fully explained. They add an eerie atmosphere, but I was left wondering what purpose they ultimately served.

Overall, this is a solid serial killer mystery with an intriguing premise, an enjoyable bookstore setting, and plenty of red herrings, but it never quite rose above “good” for me. Fans of Heather Gudenkauf and readers who enjoy quieter, small-town mysteries with off-page violence may find more to appreciate here than I did.

Thank you to Minotaur Books for providing me with an advance reading copy.

Rating: ★★★☆☆
Publication Date: January 27, 2027

[Bethany Mock (bethanyburiedinbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you @minotaur_books @hannahmorrisseywriter #partner for the gifted copy of this book.

Have you ever been murdered and survived? No, really. 👀

I’ve never been so happy to have been murdered. I’m freaking honored.👸🏼🩸

YOU GUYYYYYSSSS!!

Hannah Morrissey murdered me. Well...me and Jessica @thrillerschillersandkillers while we were holding hands no less. Honestly, the fact that I get to be forever immortalized alongside Jessica in one of our favorite author’s books feels like some sort of surreal bookworm fever dream. I was grinning from ear to ear every time I spotted another familiar name too @bellville_lfl @dianas_books_cars_coffee @crimebythebook and so many more. It was such a ridiculously fun little Easter egg hunt that made an already incredible reading experience even more special.

Okay...onto the actual book.

Scream City is a crime thriller that drops readers into Walker’s Point (a real place!) where unsettling crimes happen. Hannah writes this vivid setting that feels forever cinematic and gives me this intense feeling of being home.

Hannah has freaking done it again. 🥇

The way she writes is honestly mesmerizing. Her descriptions are so razor sharp and atmospheric that every single scene unfurls like this gritty peek around the corner into a dark alley. Her books don’t feel like reading. They feel like being absorbed into the setting itself. Every location, every interaction, every unsettling moment truly feels that way. Maybe part of that is because Hannah lives pretty close to me but everything about this book just felt...familiar. Like Home or like I’ve flipped on the nighttime news. Walker’s Point, the little Midwest mannerisms, the “opes,” and can’t forget Pabst Blue Ribbon just warms my cold dead heart. The ‘90s vibes were on point too. AHHH I Just loved all of it. Even the crimes. Hannah doesn’t exactly dabble in light and fluffy. She gives us murders by piano wire and people getting eaten by snakes. Shew. I loved it.

The best part about this book though is Hannah's passion. It shined through on every single page. I could feel the heart and dedication that went into this book. This story was meticulously built and bursting with her personality.

I know we've all been living our best Black Harbor lives (and trust me, I still adore Black Harbor), but I'm not even going to pretend I didn't completely fall head over heels for Walker's Point. I am officially obsessed. I need to go visit ASAP.

And we need to acknowledge the cover. It is hands-down my favorite. Who is this girl whipping out two books with pink on the cover?!

I know this review is ridiculously early but I genuinely couldn't keep quiet. I needed to scream this one from the rooftops.

Love. Love. LOVE. Loved this.

Hannah, you've done it again. Thank you for murdering me. 🔪

[Just Blue Through Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and to St. Martin's Press for the ARC of Scream City by Hannah Morrissey.

I have heard of, but not yet read, Hello, Transcriber, and this book definitely has me interested in picking up that series and reading more of Morrissey's work.

The description is very accurate to the story plot, and given it is a mystery/thriller, I don't want to give too many more details on that to avoid spoilers.

While it did take me a few chapters to get used to Morrissey's style and to straighten out who all the characters are, once I did I was really invested in her storytelling and the two main characters, Rex and Alice and the ongoing serial killings. I think Morrissey does a great job of getting at that small-town-judginess and the way that it was much more visceral and in-your-face in the pre-internet era where people had long memories and less in-home/on-phone brain-rotting activities -- your neighbor's business is your business, both in the overarching storyline about gentrification and in the daily lives of the residents of Walker's Point.

I think the way Morrissey writes Alice is especially well done, and what we learn about her and how she learns to defends herself feels very real and heartbreaking. Her and Rex's long-time attraction also plays out well and with heart, even if it is also filled with barbs of casual ambivalence. I like how we learn about their past together in little moments and the way they rely on seemingly not relying on each other.

The mystery itself evolves in very interesting ways -- I'm not at all a fan of anything dual timeline, so while there are quick glances to the past to build up the CCK story, we are never fully immersed and forced back and forth from the 80s to 90s, which I appreciate. Instead, Alice and Rex are discovering things in the present, with a few interludes, and they both have their own direction of how they approach the case given how people permit them to interact with them which really moves the plot forward. It's fast paced and dark and violent and it all comes together in the end in a fulfilling way.

[Rae B Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are thrillers that keep you turning the pages to find out who did it, and then there are thrillers that leave you thinking long after you’ve finished the final chapter. Scream City falls firmly into the second category.

Hannah Morrissey has once again proven why Black Harbor is one of my favorite settings in contemporary crime fiction. The city feels alive, carrying as much history, grief, and personality as any character in the novel. Every street, business, and landmark adds another layer to a story that’s as atmospheric as it is suspenseful.

What impressed me most was how carefully constructed the mystery was. The clues are present throughout the novel, but they’re woven into the story so naturally that they never feel like obvious signposts. Looking back after the final reveal, I could see exactly how the pieces fit together. That’s one of my favorite qualities in a mystery, surprises that feel earned rather than manufactured.

While the investigation is compelling, the emotional core of the novel is what elevated it for me. Rex Hale and Alice Foster are two characters burdened by the legacies of the men who raised them, each struggling with grief, guilt, and questions of identity. Their relationship develops through trust, vulnerability, and shared healing rather than relying on romance alone, making their connection feel authentic and deeply satisfying.

Beyond the mystery, Scream City explores themes of inherited trauma, memory, redemption, media sensationalism, and the lasting impact of violence on individuals and entire communities. I especially appreciated that the story ultimately shifts its focus away from glorifying the killer and toward honoring the victims. That thematic choice gave the ending far more emotional weight than I expected.

This is a thriller that balances atmosphere, character development, and a genuinely satisfying mystery without sacrificing any one element. It’s my favorite Black Harbor novel to date and another reminder of why Hannah Morrissey has become an auto-read author for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing me with an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Carrie Shields · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔. 𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝒉𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒏.

Milwaukee, 1997. The shadow of the Cream City Killer still hangs over Walker's Point, a neighborhood so scarred by violence that it earned the nickname Scream City. When a series of murders begins mirroring the crimes of the infamous killer, suspicion falls on two people already carrying the weight of that history: Alice Foster, granddaughter of the murderer, and Rex Hale, the disgraced former cop whose family helped bring him down. As the bodies pile up, the two find themselves trapped between a city eager to blame them and a killer determined to resurrect old nightmares.

What I enjoyed most about this book was its atmosphere. The author creates a version of Milwaukee that feels grimy, haunted, and perpetually overcast, as though the city itself remembers every terrible thing that ever happened there. The mystery unfolds through layers of buried secrets, old grudges, and generational trauma, and there is an almost Gothic quality to the way the past refuses to stay buried. Alice was easily my favorite part of the story. A woman running a haunted bookstore while carrying the legacy of a serial killer in her family is exactly the kind of character I wanted to spend time with. The slow-burn connection between her and Rex added another layer of tension without ever overwhelming the mystery itself.

This was a solid read for me. The strongest moments weren't necessarily the murders but the exploration of what happens to the people left behind after monsters make their mark. How do you separate yourself from a legacy you didn't choose? How do you convince people you're innocent when your last name already feels like evidence? Those questions lingered long after the final chapter. Dark, atmospheric, and filled with characters trying to outrun ghosts that refuse to let them go, this is a mystery that understands some crimes never really stay in the past. A big thank you to St. Martins Press/Minotaur Books for this early copy that publishes January 27, 2027.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of this book, thank you.

Initially, I was thinking this book was closer to 3 stars, but reflecting on it after I finished, I realized there were a lot of things I enjoyed about this book.
Alice is the granddaughter of Milwaukee's own serial killer, the Cream City Killer- CCK, a legacy she cannot run from.
Rex is a somewhat disgraced ex-cop whose father was responsible for capturing the serial killer, a hard act to follow.
Both knew each other while growing up, Alice was Rex's sister's friend.
When her grandfather is captured, all normalcy goes away. People don't know how to approach her, and so they don't. She responds by retreating and acting tough. She knows her grandfather is a monster, but to her, he had been her rock and her foundation.
Fast forward a few years and suddenly murders are happening again, copycat ones.
Of course, everyone suspects Alice, but they also suspect Rex, who has fallen on hard times and is making money by serving notices of eviction to local businesspeople. The copycat murderer seems bent on framing the two of them. There has been a long simmering attraction between Rex and Alice, but their stubborn personalities get in the way of ever advancing, and faced with these new accusations, they feel it might be time to work together.
Parts of this book were slow for me. There were a lot of scenes that were alluded to but never fully explained until much later, you just get additional hints as the book moves forward. This made it hard for me connect with the characters for a while. You know there's a back story, but it's slow to unravel.
While Alice and Rex are working towards a common goal, their hurt and pain causes them to be hesitant and not fully commit to working together.
To me, one of the strongest points of the book was how those left behind often get stuck carrying the baggage and the blame.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scream City: A Novel by Hannah Morrissey

Hannah Morrissey’s newest novel, Scream City: A Novel, is set in Milwaukee in 1997. The city is known as Cream City because of its yellow-white brick buildings. But in the 80s when a serial killer was murdering young women and girls by twisting a garrote around their necks, the city earned the dubious label, Scream City. The killer was known as the Cream City Killer, CCK. Now, his granddaughter Alice owns a used bookstore in the same building where her grandfather, the CCK taught piano lessons.

Rex Hale was a cop back then, but things change. He’s been kicked off the force; now he serves eviction notices, which endears him to no one. So, when a copycat killer begins dropping dead bodies in Scream City once again, guess whose names are at the top of the suspect list? The granddaughter and the ex-cop, that's whose. Their past histories are not pretty. Each has ghosts haunting each of them. Could they have enemies as well?

It took me a while to engage with this tale, and I even considered putting it aside altogether. But eventually, the pieces started to intrigue me. The plot had sort of a noir kind of feel to it, and although the solution seemed obvious, there were plenty of red herrings. I couldn’t have been more mistaken.

There’s also Rex’s turtle, Spike. What’s not to love about Spike? Rex and Alice love him, and I did too.

I received an ARC digital copy of Scream City: A Novel. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books.

3 ½ stars rounded up

[Martin Baggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hannah Morrissey delivers a quirky, atmospheric thriller that trades on Milwaukee's Walker's Point neighborhood as much as it does on its central mystery. The setup is a good one: a serial killer's granddaughter and the disgraced cop-turned-process-server whose father put that killer away, forced together when a copycat starts working through Rex's paper route. It's a premise built for tension, and Morrissey mostly delivers.

The real draw here is the pairing. Alice—rollerblading, haunted-bookstore-owning, living in the long shadow of her grandfather's infamy—and Rex, a Harley-riding ex-cop with a pet turtle and a marriage he's still not over, are odd enough together that their chemistry feels earned rather than manufactured. Morrissey isn't afraid to let the tension between them do double duty: is it romantic, or is it suspicion? "Kill him or kiss him" is basically the book's thesis for their whole dynamic, and it works.

Morrissey's prose has some genuine flourishes—I hadn't run into "palimpsest" (look it up) in a thriller before, and there's a genuinely unsettling passage where Alice imagines her grandfather's victims watching her from across the street, close enough to hear them breathe if they were still alive. The city itself functions almost like a character; the claustrophobia of Scream City comes through even in scene-setting.

The plot has plenty of twists; this is a fast read that knows exactly what kind of book it is. It's not going to redefine the genre, but as a moody, well-paced small-town-secrets thriller with a strong sense of place and a couple of leads worth rooting for, it earns its four stars.

A big thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

#StMartinsPress #NetGalley

[Jason Lavoie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for the Advanced Reader’s Copy of Scream City by Hannah Morrissey. This will be published on January 26, 2027.

Jesus Christmas! What a wild ride! This book had an infectious upbeat energy from the very start.

Set in Milwaukee in 1997, it follows Alice Foster, granddaughter of Keith Foster, the Cream City Killer, and Rex Hale, son of the Raymond Hale, the cop who brought the killer down. There is a new copy cat killer in Cream City as developers look to gentrify the neighbourhood and, to no surprise, Alice and Rex are the prime suspects.

The tension between Alice and Rex played out throughout the novel until it reaches a boiling point. There is both a playfulness and angst to it. A love-hate sort of relationship considering the two sides they appear to be on. The other characters were well written as well. The dialogue was honest and humorous yet still raw. It never seemed forced or fabricated.

The multiple storylines were well plotted and drawn out to a great conclusion. Some might see a lot of red herrings but the main characters did consider the various outcomes which seemed plausible until they were ruled out. As the viewpoints alternated between Alice and Rex for the most of the novel, each chapter seems to end with a cliffhanger.

Though it is a crime thriller, there were elements of a ghost story that Alice and Rex address. They both have experienced trauma and deal with the fallout of their alienation from the small community.

This was my first book by Hannah Morrissey and I look forward to checking out others.

[Jennifer ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am disappointed to say that this book was not for me. I like mysteries, thrillers, and serial killers…but I found this story to move painfully slowly and I was unable to connect with or root for any of the characters.

I don’t know if it was how they were written, but I had a hard time imagining Rex and Alice as actual people in my head. They didn’t seem like realistic characters. I think for me it came back to the fact that Alice wears long t-shirts exclusively and apparently maybe nothing else? I don’t know.

The story follows the saga of a small town near Milwaukee that boasts a macabre past that starts to haunt the remaining residents all over again. The original serial killer was caught long ago- but someone is stirring up old wounds (no pun intended). In the midst of this, a rich developer is actively working to rebuild the town and to align it with the expectations of a wealthier crowd.

I unfortunately found the story line to be disjointed at times, and found I still had a lot of questions left unanswered at the end. Like I already said, the pace was painfully slow and I had to really rely on willpower to make it to the end. Also, some parts of the plot don’t feel like they fit in with the main story…and some of the revelations made about about the killer aren’t incredibly intuitive and shouldn’t have been missed by the obsessed-investigator (Rex’s dad).

I plan to check out one of the author’s other books because I am convinced based on the reviews that there will be something I like better in her repertoire.

Thanks to NetGalley | St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books for the ARC- I appreciate the chance to read early.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley

In Walker’s Point, Milwaukee’s oldest neighborhood, proprietors gather to discuss the fate of the town, specifically the development of Griffin Square which, in most opinions, threatens the livelihoods of all of the business owners. What are their options? Sellout?

Alice Foster asks if she’s the only on who opposes the development; when Ike, one of the proprietors, tells her to shut up, she slams his face with a vicious right hook.

It was her grandfather, Keith Foster, who was the Cream City Killer. A serial killer who earned eleven life sentences for those horrific murders, an indelible stain on Walker’s Point that earned it the nickname “Scream City.”

And now, suddenly, Scream City has a copycat killer.

=========

Anchored by a strong sense of place; the interactions between Alice, granddaughter of the serial killer, and Rex, the son on the police detective who arrested him are sure to fascinate readers. The two characters walk a somewhat tortured path, haunted by the past.

This is a captivating thriller that will keep those pages turning as fast as possible. Readers who enjoy mystery/thriller tales are sure to enjoy this intriguing story. The only downside here is the unnecessary overuse of a particularly offensive expletive that is likely to be off-putting for many readers.

I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#ScreamCity #NetGalley

[Kimberly Michel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was great! It involves the 90s, a little noir, a serial killer, and a copycat serial killer - what more could you want? I have read the author's prior Black Harbor series, and if you liked those books, you will like this one as well. It is gritty, dark, but also hopeful.

This book takes place in the late 90s in Milwaukee, in an area of town that was nicknamed Scream City after a serial killer killed at least 11 people in the early 80s. The main characters are the granddaughter of that serial killer and the son of the cop who arrested the murderer. There's a new serial killer who is killing like the one in the prior decade, and the two main characters are the top suspects. Both of them have a lot of baggage (the granddaughter for obvious reasons, and the son of the cop for reasons I will not spoil). They end up needing to work together to clear their names and find the new serial killer.

This book has a lot of depth to it; there's nothing you want to skip over. I did finish it fairly quickly, but that is only because I have done hardly anything else since I started it. I did figure out who the new killer was and the motive, but it did not take away from the enjoyment of the book. I hope this is the start of a new series! The author is also a great follow on Instagram, so I need to mention that as well.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy of Scream City by Hannah Morrissey.

I’ve read all of Hannah Morrissey’s books, and although Scream City is also set in Wisconsin, this time we’re in Milwaukee rather than Black Harbor. The story takes place in the 1990s, with some flashbacks to the 1980s, and the overall tone is different from her previous books. Although this is still a serial killer mystery, it isn’t quite as dark as her other novels and was, overall, a fun read.

Alice Foster, the granddaughter of the infamous CCK serial killer, owns and runs a bookshop that capitalizes on her grandfather’s notoriety. She is also struggling to keep her neighbourhood from being gentrified when a series of copycat murders begins. Rex Hale, the son of the police officer who arrested Alice’s grandfather, is down on his luck after being let go from the police force and has resorted to serving eviction notices to Alice’s fellow business owners.

When both Alice and Rex become suspects in the killings, they each set out to clear their names while also trying to track down the real killer.

I’m rounding this up from 3.5 stars to 4. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It was very atmospheric and included some fun ghostly elements as well. There were several interesting characters in the seedy neighbourhood, and the mystery kept me guessing for most of the book.

A fun, atmospheric mystery with a different feel from Morrissey’s previous books.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Hannah Morrissey for the opportunity to read and review Scream City. My thoughts are entirely my own.

Scream City is a combination of thriller and mystery. It follows Alice and Rex. Alice, whose grandfather was a serial killer known as the Cream City Killer (CCK) years prior, and Rex, a moody, police officer who has been suspended from the force. All of a sudden a copycat murderer of the CCK begins killing those around Alice and Rex. These two join forces to investigate who could be responsible for these murders. If not, they could be facing jail time or worse, be the next targets.

I enjoyed Scream City. It had a moody atmosphere and threw you into the 90’s with a grungy setting, which I always enjoy. It was dramatic and filled with mystery. The pace was on the slower end in the beginning but once it started to pick up in the second half, it moved well. There was good build-up in this book and enough mystery about the characters where I wanted to ready more to find out the answers. These questions were answered at a satisfactory pace and made you understand why the characters were as they were. The ending had multiple twists which I ALWAYS look forward too! It was also mulit-POV between Alice and Rex, which was I always find refreshing.

This is my first Hannah Morrissey book and I’ll be looking for more of her titles!

I give this book 4 stars. I would recommend if mystery/thriller is your genre.

[Yvette Jarrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Review
Scream City by Hannah Morrissey
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Set in 1997 Milwaukee, Scream City follows Alice Foster, the granddaughter of the infamous Cream City Killer, and Rex Hale, the son of the detective who helped bring the murderer to justice. When a new string of killings mirrors the crimes of the past, old wounds reopen and suspicion quickly falls on them both.

The strongest part of this book was the atmosphere. The author creates a bleak, rain-soaked version of Milwaukee that feels heavy with history, and the setting becomes almost a character itself. I also enjoyed Alice’s storyline. A woman running a haunted bookstore while carrying the legacy of a serial killer is such an intriguing premise, and she was easily the character I found myself rooting for.

Unfortunately, the rest of the story didn’t connect with me. While the mystery had an interesting foundation, I struggled to stay invested in the plot and found the pacing slower than I prefer. The dual timelines and family history added depth, but they weren’t enough to keep me fully engaged, and I never felt the suspense I was hoping for.

If you enjoy dark, atmospheric crime fiction with Gothic undertones, generational trauma, and a slow-burning mystery, this may be a better fit for you than it was for me.

🗓️Available January 26, 2027.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[sniksnak · Rating 4 out of 5]

I devoured this thriller for its fusion of atmospheric Midwest noir, high stakes suspense, and profoundly human characters navigating moral ambiguities.
The story unfolds in the backdrop of 1997 Milwaukee’s Walker’s Point neighborhood. Once plagued by the notorious Cream City Killer (CCK) in the 1980s, this area now carries the ominous title of Scream City.
The book vividly depicts the neighborhood’s gritty, gentrifying streets, infused with neon soaked ’90s nostalgia and the lingering shadows of its dark past.
Suspended police officer Rex Hale is relegated to delivering eviction notices, as his already tumultuous life spirals into chaos. When a series of copycat murders reminiscent of the CCK’s heinous crimes begin to emerge along his route, Rex finds himself reluctantly joining forces with Alice Foster. She is the killer’s granddaughter and the proprietor of a haunted bookstore that faces its own ominous threats. Together they become entangled as suspects in the escalating violence that threatens to fracture their community.
It’s a haunting exploration of legacy, redemption, and peril.

**I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
#ARC
#NetGalley
#ScreamCity
#MinotaurBooks

[Macy Rae Overcash · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Scream City completely exceeded my expectations. From the very first chapter, Hannah Morrissey creates an eerie, atmospheric world that pulled me in and refused to let go. The writing is vivid and immersive, making the city itself feel like a character, with every dark alley and shadow adding to the suspense.

The mystery unfolds at the perfect pace, layering shocking revelations with psychological tension that kept me questioning everyone. Just when I thought I had the story figured out, another twist completely changed the direction of the investigation. The characters were complex, flawed, and incredibly compelling, making it impossible not to become emotionally invested in their journey.

What stood out most was the balance between heart-pounding suspense and rich character development. The tension builds steadily until the final pages, delivering a satisfying conclusion that felt both surprising and well-earned.

If you love dark, atmospheric thrillers with intricate mysteries, unforgettable characters, and twists that keep you guessing until the very end, Scream City is an absolute must-read. Hannah Morrissey has once again proven why she’s one of my favorite voices in the thriller genre. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Ashley Westmoreland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ★★★★☆

Hannah Morrissey has such a knack for creating characters that feel wonderfully odd in the best way, and Scream City was no exception.

Alice Foster completely won me over with her quirky personality. She's smart, awkward, determined, and the kind of character who doesn't always fit the mold—but that's exactly what makes her so easy to root for. And then there's Rex Hale... between his gruff personality and his pet turtle, he absolutely stole a few scenes for me. It's those little character details that make this cast so memorable.

What I loved most was that these weren't polished, perfect heroes. They were misfits with flaws, baggage, and personalities that made them feel incredibly real. I found myself cheering for them the entire time, hoping they'd not only solve the mystery but also find a little peace along the way.

The '90s setting was another huge highlight. It wasn't overdone, but it added the perfect nostalgic backdrop that made the story feel unique and immersive. Combined with the creepy atmosphere, twists, and Hannah Morrissey's signature dark tone, it made for a mystery that was easy to get lost in.

If you love character-driven mysteries with an atmospheric setting, a touch of nostalgia, and protagonists you'll unexpectedly fall in love with, definitely add Scream City to your TBR.

[Amber Boos · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Hannah Morrossey's Black Harbor series, so I was excited to read this book. I believe this one is a standalone and I really enjoyed it! First, the cover! Loved the pink neon highlighting what looks like a creepy, dark back alley. Perfect for a serial killer thriller! And that is definitely what we get! Back in the 80's, the Cream City Killer made Walker's Point, a Milwaukee neighborhood, his killing grounds. He was finally caught and imprisoned. Now it is 1997 and it would appear we have a copycat (or do we?) on our hands. Main character, Alice, is the granddaughter of the original Cream City Killer along with Rex, the son of the cop who caught the original killer. The two join forces when the bodies start dropping once again and they are both questioned in connection. Seeing as there are good reasons for either of them to be considered prime suspects and all, they need to clear their names. There are a lot of little side-characters and stories that may not make a lot of sense at first but pay attention. All the clues are there. Hannah Morrissey writes stories that have a dark, gritty vibe and this one is no different. Hence that perfect cover. I look forward to more from her!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Hannah Morrissey and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alice Foster is the granddaughter of the notorious serial killer, known as CCK (Cream City Killer), the only thing he left here was a building in Walker's Point with a bunch of pianos and a reputation for being difficult. Rex Hale, grew up with Alice, and his father, Raymond Hale captured CCK and put him in prison. When a copycat killer starts using the same method as CCK, both Rex and Alice are suspects. Rex for serving eviction notices right before the murder occurred and Alice as the granddaughter of CCK has connections to the victims. Rex and Alice need to work together but their unsatisfied lust for each other might not allow them too. Do the murders have any connection to the evictions happening in Walker's Point? Will the ghosts of CCK's murder victims allow Alice to live her life? Can Rex get thorough his grief of losing his son enough to get his life back in order?

I liked the mystery, it was a bit convoluted at time, it was definitely engaging. The tension between Rex and Alice should have been a quick aspect of this book and I felt it dragged the story out some. The setting of Walker's Point was interesting and I liked how it became part of the mystery. I look forward to reading another book from Hannah Morrissey. Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press.

[Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scream City was a blast to read! I absolutely loved the retro vibes of this story. The author transported me back to the 90s into an atmosphere that strangled me with its heavy weight of Midwest smog, haunting dereliction, and the looming presence of a serial killer. Two, actually, as the story bounces back and forth between two separate timelines. It felt like I was watching an old crime show, but in book format. I was captivated by both mysteries and pulled in right away. The identity of the killer was a guessing game that kept me on my toes the entire time. I loved the complex relationship between Alice and Rex. Their shared sarcasm and humor made this story even more enjoyable. I also want to give a shout out to Spike for being my most adored character of the book! The paranormal aspect was really cool and unexpected but not elaborated on enough. I would have liked to have more of an understanding of why as well as more of an interaction. I think most readers are going to love this one. It's a little different than Morrissey's Black Harbor novels but I really enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for granting me a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Hannah, NetGalley, and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC!

My only complaint? It ended. 😂 I would’ve happily spent another 1,000 pages with these characters.

Hannah Morrissey has this ridiculous talent for making you see every scene. I didn’t just read Scream City…I felt like I was wandering around a dark side of Milwaukee right alongside Alice and Rex, trying to figure out what the hell was going on.

Speaking of Alice and Rex… I adored them. They’re both a little rough around the edges in their own way, wildly misunderstood, and impossible not to root for despite everyone thinking they are guilty… even the reader 👀 And she’s the granddaughter of a serial killer?!? That character setup immediately had my attention.

The ’90s nostalgia was perfection. It never felt overdone but somehow you just knew. And as for the mystery? I changed my mind about who did it approximately every 20 pages. Every time I thought I had it figured out, Hannah politely reminded me that I absolutely did not. 😂


Scream City was atmospheric, character driven, mysterious, and honestly just a really good time. If you like stories where the characters feel like actual people and the mystery keeps you guessing until the very end, don’t skip this one. Easy five stars from me.

[Emily Gates · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review!

I devoured this book in only a couple days. 90’s murder mystery thriller meets ghost story meets love story? Sign me up immediately. The story follows Alice and Rex, Alice being the granddaughter of famed serial killer Keith Foster, who murdered eleven women with piano wire and struck fear in the hearts of Cream City. Rex is an ex-cop fighting his own past demons as well as his growing attraction to the famed serial killer’s granddaughter. When a copy cat killer appears on the tenth anniversary of Keith Foster’s death, Alice and Rex become the prime suspects.

The pacing of this story is a bit slow. There’s no real suspense, but the writing is entertaining and the intrigue of who possibly could be the killer makes it a page turner. While it takes place in the 90’s, there’s really no indication of the time period other than the dates sprawled in the beginning of chapters. If the year wasn’t indicated, I would think it was taking place currently. I do wish there were more 90’s tropes involved.

All in all, this book was so much fun and if you love a good serial killer murder mystery you’ll like this!