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Conspiracy Theory

Hamarsson & Dempsey #1

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Conspiracy Theory

By: Elle Keaton
Narrated by: Michael Dean
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About this listen

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
Literature & Fiction Romance

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Niall Hamarsson is a hardened cop with a reputation of being, frankly, unsocial. He does his job and he’s good at it. When he can’t get the District Attorney to prosecute a man he knows is guilty, he walks away from his life. He returns to Pietras, an island off of the Washington coast. He hasn’t been home in ten years and although his grandparent’s home is currently inhabitable, he plans to fix it up and perhaps even call the island home again. His memories of his grandparents is good. The rest of the island? Yeah, not so much.

Matt Dempsey is the sheriff on Pietras. He took over the post not long after his beloved father’s death. He left his job as a cop in San Francisco and came home to take care of his mom and watch out over the population of his favorite place in the world. And until Niall Hamarsson shows up, things have been pretty quiet. Now, all of a sudden, weird things are happening on the island, including the death of a young woman. Niall’s arrival may be coincidence but Matt has to look at all angles. When Niall is the victim of a crime, the two men reluctantly partner up to figure out exactly what is happening.

Neither man particularly trusts the other. Matt’s heard the rumors of Niall’s formative years before he came to the island and he was one of the many young boys who bullied Niall when he first arrived. Matt’s ashamed of what he did in the past and is, after a bit, willing to give Niall the benefit of the doubt. As the strange events continue, though, things become desperate.

I’ve always wondered what I would do if facing some of the bullies who went after me when I was younger. Girls can be vicious in their attacks, mostly verbal. I hoped Niall would be able to put the past behind him, but would have understood if he held on to a bit of the resentment.

This book has a strong mystery at its core. Something I followed avidly, wondering where it would go next. On top of it all, Matt is firmly in the closet and Niall has lived out and proud for years. He’s definitely not going back in the closet. Right? This book has an ambiguous happy for now ending that leaves itself wide open for the next book which I’m waiting for with anticipation. Part of me wonders what will bring the two men together. I mean, how much crime can there be on Pietras? Well, more than I would’ve thought, anyway.

Michael Dean (formerly Michael Pauley) is a brilliant narrator. Over and over he delivers solid performances and this one was no exception. I enjoyed this book immensely and can’t wait for the next one.

A mystery and new series

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Firstly, I loved the characters. They are well fleshed out over the book, and series.

The characters were allowed to breath and form as individuals, leading up to the two main characters developing their attraction and relationship.

The background characters are a good support to the story. The romance and sexual aspects are part of the main story and plot, rather than the main theme. It's all quite tasteful and well written.

The setting is unique and you get the feel and sense of the local community, that whole thing becomes a character of it's own.

The narrator is wonderful. I find some of this genre of books have rather waspy monotone narrators, Michael Dean is NOT one of these. He managers to give great unique voices to each character and has the emotional range to handle some of the more distressing aspects of the characters story.

I loved the books so much, I ordered the next two before I finished the first one.

Elle Keaton has to be one of the best writers of this genre that I've come across and will need to have a look at some of here other books.



A great series, great characters, great narration

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Listener received this title free

Niall is done working on Seattle as a homicide detective. He goes back to his home, the home his grandparents left for him. Then it all begins, murders, mistery and mayhem in a town where the most criminal activity is petty theft and drugs. He seems to be drawn to the Sheriff and together they discover something they never imagine would come to their doorstep. This book kept me hooked from the beginning til the very end. A hot simmering romance in the midst of solving crimes. Awesome!
Well written with a great plot and a very complementary narration.

Awesome mystery romance

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Elle Keaton is new to me as an author, but I do love a good police thriller, and this one is narrated by Michael Pauley who is one of my all-time favourite narrators.
Having inherited his grandparents' cabin some years ago, Niall Harmarsson finally turns in his shield as a Homicide Detective after a gruelling last case, and returns to Piedras Island, and finds more trouble than he initially bargained for, bringing his to the attention of the island's sheriff, Mat Dempsey. The two men clash initially, but when Niall lends his expertise in homicide to assist in a murder case that is causing waves in the community, the two come together and their chemistry is undeniable.
Highly recommended Mystery/Thriller with Contemporary MM romance.

The Sheriff and the retired Homicide Detective

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Elle Keaton is a new-to-me author, combined with Michael Pauley as a narrator (my favorite!), I was really excited to listen to this book.

There's more crime mystery than romance. It felt like Ms. Keaton is setting up and introducing us to the MCs. There's a lot of backstory with these two spanning from when they were young. They are both flawed and we are digging deep into their character. Somehow, they both just seem to fit together. It's a HFN. I just know it'll be epic once they are 100% together.

It is a slow burn romance.. sometimes, it felt very slow. So if you're looking for more romance, this book won't fit that category. Maybe the second book? Since this a start to a series.. I'm looking forward to the next one.

Mystery and Romance

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