Conspiracy Theory

Hamarsson & Dempsey #1

By: Elle Keaton

Narrated by: Michael Dean

Years of grueling police work have left Niall Hamarsson jaded and disillusioned with life...although it’s likely he’s been that way all along. The last straw lands when the DA refuses to try a case Niall worked for years to bring to justice. Within hours he finds himself heading to the only place he’s ever been able to call home - a place he knows he doesn’t belong.

Mat Dempsey returned to Piedras Island after his father’s death. These days he’s Island County’s sheriff. He’s happy enough, even if moving home from San Francisco effectively forced him back into the closet. Mat’s well-ordered universe collapses when a local’s body is discovered floating in the cold waters of Hidden Harbor’s marina. All hell breaks loose in the community, and accusations fly...all coinciding with Niall Hamarsson’s return.

Niall and Mat have a history, and it’s not one Mat’s proud of. He owes Niall an apology, even if it means getting down on his knees. However, Mat’s first priority is investigating the murder before his community tears itself apart and he may have to ask the aloof Niall Hamarsson for help.

Push apart, pull together, yes or no...The chemistry crackles between them but will the two men be able to put aside their pasts and embrace a future?

Maybe.

©2019 Elise Hansen (P)2024 Elise Hansen

I love the mystery!!!

Elle Keaton is a new to me author that has grabbed my attention with this book. First of all, Michael Dean is an awesome narrator and did an excellent job with these characters. His voice doesn't change that much when he is doing each character, except the women but you always know which character is speaking.

This is such a great listen and I could not stop until it was finished. Now for book 2.

Love it!

Love Elle Keaton! Loved this book when I read it. Love it even more after listening to Michael Pauley! Must read murder mystery!

Loved this!🤩

This was an amazing first in the series.

The suspense, Mystery and betrayl was reveting and an absolute page Turner.

I'm absolutely looking forward to listening to the next in this series.

Loved it!

I very much enjoyed this story and am really looking forward to the next in the series.

Solid start to a series with some great twists

I really enjoy romantic suspense books and am always looking for new series. Conspiracy Theory proved to be a good book with a very good narrator and plenty of surprise revelations. I'll definitely be on the lookout for more from this couple and series.

The setup for Conspiracy Theory was interesting. Two childhood aquaintances who are in law enforcement have returned to the small town they grew up in. I liked how these two came together over a case and enjoyed seeing them slowly gain one another's trust. Broody heroes are forever a favorite with me, so I was instantly drawn to Niall, but I liked both main characters as well as the secondary characters.

Although Conspiracy Theory provided a good background and development with Niall and Mat individually, this is a slow burn romance that doesn't take off until the end of the book. For the most part the connection felt natural, though Mat's previous crush and interest in Niall seemed odd and under developed. That said, the pairing is strong and I'm excited to see how their relationship develops in the next book.

Suspense and case wise, Conspiracy Theory delivered. I didn't see many of the reveals and connections coming and the book held my full attention start to finish. The narrator delivered an excellent performance, injecting emotion into the book without over acting. His rhythm and pacing were great, making this a really enjoyable listen. In fact, I'll likely wait for the next book to release in audio before continuing the series. If you like slow burns with angst-ridden heroes, I'd recommend checking out this series. I

*ACX promo code received via Les Court Author Services. The PA and author had no influence over this review.*