Conspiracy Theory

Hamarsson & Dempsey #1

By: Elle Keaton

Narrated by: Michael Dean

Length: 6 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

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

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.

Good Start

This was a good start to a series I was unfamiliar with. The story was a little rough in places, but the narration was excellent

buy the book

loved the book. mm mystery. what's not to like?
good story. good narration. buying more now

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.*

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!

Great!

Great storyline with likable characters. Found this book because the narrator is one of my favorites. Highly recommend!

More mystery than romance

If you're expecting a building romance from this story, forget it. Aside from a few random thoughts about their possible interest in each other as teenagers, neither Mat Dempsey nor Niall Hamarsson shows any signs of caring for each other until almost the bitter end. In fact, they spend more time sniping at and being annoyed with each other than they do cozying up together. They end up spending time together because of the increasing number of incidents that have been happening since Niall's arrival back on the island where he spent part of his childhood. Two murders, arson, an attempted hit-and-run, and the illegal shooting of animals force them to work together to try and figure out why a crime spree has apparently broken out on Piedras. It helps that Mat is the sheriff on the island and Niall is a recently retired homicide detective who has come back on terminal leave. The bad guy in the story is unsurprising, though the full extent of his involvement in the things that happen are not all fully established by the end of this installment. Each man's personal struggles are well-developed, though Niall's breakdown after the fire is especially poignant and heartbreaking. Each man is closed off in his own way, and I assume in the coming books each will need to work on more open communication if the romance part of the story is to get off the ground. Only in the last chapter do we see anything personal between the two men, and it is rather unexpected and less than romantic, to be honest. Michael Dean's performance was mostly okay, despite a few awkward pauses, and the fact that he chooses to pronounce Niall's name as though it were spelled "Neil". Apparently that IS one way to pronounce it (I checked), but it threw me for a loop, especially since the second vowel in the word is an 'a' not an 'e'.

a great mystery with a side of romance

This book filled a void I didn't even know was there, I was completely engrossed in the story and characters, that I tried to get book 2 before I was even half way done with this so I wouldn't have to stop listening. spoiler alert it doesn't come out till May 7th. Niall is a broody jaded ex homicide detective that you can't help but want to love. Compared to Niall Mat on the other hand is the boy next door with his heart on his sleeve. They make for an unlikely couple and it's a VERY slow burn but you can feel the building attraction from the moment they meet again.

This is everything I love in m/m great story, character building, believable relationship, small town, crazy town folk, and I didn't forget Fenrir.

* I received a free copy of thus book for an honest review*

A murder mystery

This is a wonderful murder mystery, a good start to a new series but it doesn't really end. So if you need books to be nice and cleaned up by the end this isn't for you. BUT if you enjoy a who done it and what's going to happen next then this book is right up your alley. It's non stop from beginning to end.
This book had me engaged from the very beginning and not just because it takes place in the San Juan islands. It's well written with interesting characters that I want to know more about. I hope Hamarsson and Dempsey get their HEA. I can't wait to find out what happens next for them and the others on the island. It's definitely worth the listen and I recommend it.
Narrator Michael Pauley continues to do amazing work. He is definitely a favorite.