Conspiracy, the third book in USA TODAY bestselling author Colleen Coble's Sanctuary series (following Ambush and Prowl), delivers exactly what her fans the ideal blend of suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat with just the right amount of romance. Perfect for fans of Laura Dave, Allison Brennan, and Lynette Eason.
Fifteen years of secrets. Once chance for justice.
Just as wildlife veterinarian Paradise Alden begins to envision a future with Blake Lawson, the ghosts of her past return with a vengeance. The murder of her parents has shadowed her for fifteen years, but a new threat brings the cold case into the terrifying present. A trained leopard--a chilling embodiment of Paradise's deepest fears--is now stalking her.
Haunted by resurfacing memories, Paradise, Blake, and her newfound brother, Drew, follow a trail of clues that leads them into a web of dark family secrets. The deeper they dig, the more shocking the connections become, linking their families to a dangerous conspiracy that someone is still willing to kill to protect.
With every step closer to the truth, the killer becomes more desperate. Paradise, Blake, and Drew must race to expose a murderer who has remained hidden for fifteen years, but this time, they are the ones being stalked. If they can't unmask the killer, the past will destroy both the fragile future Paradise and Blake are trying to build and the family she has finally found with her brother.
A conspiracy of lemurs is a family. But a conspiracy of people can be deadly.
Colleen Coble's Conspiracy combines gripping suspense with slow-burn romance and includes intriguing mysteries from both the past and present, sabotage and danger, second-chance romance, found family, and themes of overcoming pain and how the past doesn't have to define you.
USAToday bestselling author Colleen Coble lives with her husband, Dave, in Arizona. She is the author of dozens of novels including the Rock Harbor Series, the Aloha Reef Series, the Mercy Falls Series, the Hope Beach Series, the Lonestar Series and two Women of Faith fiction selections, Alaska Twilight and Midnight Sea. She has more than 6 million books in print.
Conspiracy is the last book in the Sanctuary series. The first part of the book started out slow for me but by the middle of the book I couldn't put it down. In this book we meet Paradise's half-brother, Drew who turned out to be very likable. In this book Paradise, Blake and Drew investigate who murdered Drew's bio father, and Paradise's parents. Their research reveals secrets that have been burried for 20 years. I was surprised by who the villains were.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own
Wow! What an amazing ending to this series! As always, Colleen's writing blew me away. I never would have guessed who the perpetrators were. The Sanctuary is one of my favorite fictional places to "visit"!
There are a lot of familiar characters and some new ones. Paradise amazes me. She's such a strong and giving person. Blake is extraordinary! His protector characteristic ensures that those he loves remain safe. Isaac and Levi are adorable as always! Their funny antics helped balance the serious content of the story.
The importance of family is prevalent throughout the book. It reminded me to be thankful for the loving and supportive family that I have. It's truly a blessing!
I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from Harper Collins Publishing via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
What a satisfying conclusion to this series. While Blake and Paradise should have been focusing on their HEA, they and Paradise's newly found brother Drew are digging into the murders of Paradise's parents and Drew's dad. However, someone is determined to not let the truth be revealed. Packed full of suspense, secrets, attacks, twists and turns, and heart-pounding close calls, Conspiracy is a clean romantic suspense that will have you on the edge of your seat. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Title: Conspiracy Series: Sanctuary Series #3 Author: Colleen Coble Publisher: Thomas Nelson Fiction Genre: Mystery Thriller, Romance Pub Date: July 7, 2026 Rating: 5 Stars Pages: 336
Story starts with wildlife veterinarian Paradise Alden at the Sanctuary assisting with the birth of two lemurs. In fact, future husband Blake Lawson’s seven-year-old half-brother Levi also observing. He is obsessed with lemurs, and his mother Jenna Anderson is one of the owners of the Sanctuary Wildlife Preserve and allowed him to witness the birth. His brother Issac is only five so he needs to wait. (BTW: These two little guys just happened to have the same name as Ms. Coble’s two adorable grandsons. Yes! They were the inspiration for these two fictional characters Ms. Coble tells us in her Note from the Author that she smiles every time she writes them in them into the story!) We readers also get a educated in wildlife and learn the title of this nook has a double meaning as a group/family of lemurs are called a Conspiracy.
Paradise and Blake Lawson are looking forward to their lives together; however, the murder of Paradise’s parents has been an unsolved mystery for fifteen years. Now there are new threats including a trained Leopard. When she ends up in a dumpster nearly dead Blake knows he needs to do everything he can to protect her; in fact, he asks his cousins Hez Webester and his wife Savannah if she can stay with them. They, of course, are pleased to help. I am sure you know them from the Tupelo Grove series; they were my favorites including their adopted son Simon. That series ended and I was delighted they are not forgotten,
Paradise, Blake, and Paradise’s newfound brother, Drew have not given up on finding the truth which leads them to dark family secrets. What it even more shocking are the connections linking their families to a dangerous conspiracy that someone is still willing to kill to protect.
The ending was a wild ride!!!
I am a Colleen Coble fan! Whenever I see a new book by her- it automatically goes on my TBR list! This is #31 for me and I am not disappointed! One of the beauties of her stories are the interconnected. Such as Hez, Savannah and Simon showing up in this story something similar often happened in other books! In this story Ms. Coble wove Pelican Harbor, Tupelo Grove as well as The Sanctuary together. I always enjoy reading Ms. Coble’s ‘Author’s Note and Acknowledgements’. Plus, the Discussion Questions are great if you are or are not in a Book Club.
I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for providing me with another great eGalley. Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 7, 2026.
Colleen Coble is back with another gripping blend of suspense, heart, and high‑stakes emotion—and this one might be my favourite of the Sanctuary series yet.
Conspiracy drops us straight into the tense, twisting world of Paradise Alden, a wildlife veterinarian whose past has never truly let her go. Fifteen years after the murder of her parents, new threats push that cold case into terrifyingly current territory—complete with a trained leopard stalking Paradise like a living nightmare. From page one, the tension snaps tight, and Coble never lets it slacken.
What really elevated this instalment for me is how seamlessly it layers mystery, danger, and emotional depth. Paradise is a compelling protagonist—strong yet vulnerable, determined yet deeply wounded. Watching her confront long-buried memories, lean into newfound family with her brother Drew, and navigate her slow-burn relationship with Blake Lawson added so much richness to the story. The romance is subtle and supportive, the kind that grows in the cracks left by trauma and resilience.
The investigation itself is wonderfully atmospheric, weaving dark family secrets, hidden motives, and old betrayals into a narrative that constantly keeps you guessing. Coble’s pacing is spot-on: short, sharp suspenseful beats punctuated by moments of real human connection. And the way she threads together the past and present gives the story both urgency and emotional weight.
By the final chapters, I was fully invested—not just in solving the mystery, but in seeing Paradise reclaim her life and her future. If you love romantic suspense that balances heart-pounding danger with heartwarming themes of healing, second chances, and the strength of found family, Conspiracy delivers on every front.
My thanks to Colleen Coble, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
This was a strong finish to the Sanctuary series and might honestly be my favorite installment yet.
What I appreciated most is that the story finally circles back to what happened to Paradise’s parents instead of introducing an entirely new mystery. That choice made everything feel cohesive and meaningful, tying directly into the emotional threads that have been woven since book one. The stakes felt personal and earned, not manufactured just for shock value.
Colleen Coble drops us straight back into Paradise Alden’s world, and the tension builds steadily as long-buried secrets resurface. Fifteen years after her parents’ murder, new threats make the past feel dangerously present. The wildlife preserve setting once again adds such a unique layer of suspense, especially once things begin escalating. The danger feels immediate and atmospheric, and it heightens every reveal.
I also loved the emotional depth in this installment. Watching Paradise confront painful memories while continuing to build her relationships, particularly with her brother Drew and Blake, added warmth and grounding to the suspense. The romance remains subtle and supportive, complementing the mystery rather than overshadowing it.
There were a few moments where it felt like a lot was happening at once, but overall the pacing was strong, the twists were handled well without becoming unrealistic, and the conclusion felt satisfying and complete. By the final chapters, I was fully invested, not just in solving the mystery, but in seeing Paradise move toward healing and a future that finally feels her own. If you enjoy romantic suspense that balances high-stakes danger with themes of family, resilience, and second chances, this series finale delivers.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in return for my honest opinion.
I have really been looking forward to this final book in this series, and when I had the opportunity to read an advance copy of it four months early, I jumped at the chance. And I am glad I did. This was a truly awesome read that I enjoyed - or devoured.
Coble has done a few series where there is one main couple and the whole series covers their growing relationship, as opposed to one couple per book. I have found myself liking that kind of series, and this series is that kind. All three books cover Blake and Paradise's relationship.
Conspiracy mainly centers on the murder of Paradise's parents and her newfound brother Drew's father.
I enjoyed all three books in this series, but this one was my favorite, but then it did tie up everything and was a great conclusion to this series.
As with the other two books, Blake's 5 and 7 year old brothers Isaac and Levi were in the book a lot, and added a lot to the book.
And even more than the other two, family was a big emphasis in this story as Drew and Paradise deepen their brother-sister relationship, and he meets other new family.
I learned a lot about some animals, and lemurs were a featured animal in this book. In fact, the title has a double meaning since a group/family of lemurs are called a Conspiracy.
Hez, Savannah, and Simon from the Tupelo Grove Series made appearances in this book, which was cool.
Coble is a favorite author, but I had some doubts about a series set around an animal sanctuary, but this series is battling for first place with my previous favorite series of hers, The Pelican Harbor Series.
Conspiracy brings a conclusion to an awesome series, and the mystery of the murders of the parents of Paradise and father of her brother, Drew. This series had a fantastic cast of characters and a terrific plot. I was eager to read the final book, but sad to see the series end. But knowing how this author writes, we may see more of them in another series. This was an awesome read and an awesome series.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advance e-book copy of the book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.
Conspiracy is the third book in Colleen Coble’s Sanctuary series, and what a gripping, edge of your seat conclusion it delivers. While Coble provides enough context to follow along, the first two books lay the groundwork for the emotional and relational depth that makes this finale so powerful. Wildlife veterinarian Paradise Alden is finally allowing herself to imagine a future with Blake Lawson—until her past resurfaces with a vengeance. The murder of her parents fifteen years ago remains unsolved, and as old memories begin to haunt her, Paradise, Blake, and her newly discovered brother, Drew, start digging for answers. What they uncover is far more shocking and dangerous than any of them expected, revealing long buried connections between their families. The deeper they search, the more perilous the journey becomes. New evidence sheds light on the brutal deaths of Paradise’s parents and Drew’s father, exposing secrets that have been hidden for decades—and placing everyone seeking the truth in imminent danger. Colleen Coble once again proves herself a master of clean romantic suspense. Her storytelling is immersive, her pacing relentless, and her ability to weave familiar characters from previous books into new stories always feels like a warm reunion with old friends. This finale is both thrilling and deeply satisfying. I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.
"Conspiracy" is a Christian romantic suspense. This is the third book in a series and continues the story of the main characters in the previous books. Drew, Paradise, and Blake asked questions, found clues, and made connections regarding the deaths of Drew's and Paradise's parents. Two of the bad guys were pretty guessable as the clues built up, and they weren't a surprise to Paradise's group, either. While I didn't guess the main whodunit until the critical clue was uncovered, I did wonder at this person's behavior shortly before the reveal. This killer made a mild attempt to misdirect the investigation but did so by pointing them toward two major clues, one of which prompted Paradise to remember the truth. Basically, the killer needlessly exposed themselves, and I don't quite understand why (though the killer had plans to disappear, and I suppose killers aren't required to be logical).
The main characters were likable and reacted realistically to events. The suspense came from the danger from the attacks on Paradise. Blake and Paradise supported each other and worked well together. Paradise grew in her trust that God cared about her. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this exciting novel.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Conspiracy by Colleen Coble is the third book in the Sanctuary series. While prior reading isn’t required to enjoy this story, reading the books in order definitely enhances the experience and allows you to fully appreciate the intricate character development.
This installment is hard to put down, especially as a thread that began in the first book comes to a surprising and satisfying conclusion. It delivers a wonderful ending to an excellent series. Familiar characters from the first two books return and join the quest to uncover who murdered Paradise’s family 20 years earlier. As they dig deeper, the investigation becomes increasingly dangerous and complex.
The story is packed with suspense, secrets, emotional twists, and constant danger, with plenty of plot turns that keep you engaged right up to the final chapters. Fans will also enjoy seeing not only returning characters from the series, but even a few from Coble’s other works. The tension builds steadily throughout, making this another compelling and memorable read.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving this honest, personal, and unbiased review.
This is the final installment of the Sanctuary series for our character Paradise, the exotic animal vet. This book opens on the heels of the previous book--just a little time has passed. It is NOT a stand alone, so make sure you read the previous two books first.
By now Paradise is finally going to meet her long lost brother and hopefully figure out the mystery behind their parents' deaths. As usual, that isn't going to be as easy as they think and more mystery is revealed. More threats. More deaths.
But hey, at least there are lemurs! ;)
I loved the play on words with the title of this book--lemur family groups being called a Conspiracy--and Paradise finally having her own "conspiracy"...as well as the other traditional use for the word relating to the overall story.
So. Was the ending predictable? I don't think so. Lots of red herrings in the way. Was it satisfying? Yes! Finally allowing Paradise room to breathe and embrace life in a FAMILY brought everything to completion.
oh, and Hez and Savannah show up--and since the conclusion to THEIR story publishes before this one, make sure you read it before you read here! ;)
4 stars for the book and 4 stars for the series!
*Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my ARC of this novel. All opinions are 100% my own.
Conspiracy, by Colleen Coble, is the third book in A Sanctuary series. This story does follow after the previous in the series, so it is best to read them in order. This story is so good. I enjoy how wonderful the main characters are. They are caring and helpful people who are always there for each other. I enjoyed how inviting Blake's family is. His mother is always there for them, and his younger brother add fun to the story. All while Paradise and Blake are growing their relationship. I like how quickly Paradise and Drew form a sibling relationship and how they work together to find out who murdered their mother and why.
This is filled with mystery and suspense and has the perfect amount of romance build into it. It is so well written it is easy to imagine what is happening. I like how the author also gives educational information on lemurs and other animals. This story is so good, a perfect conclusion to the series.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this story, this is my honest review.
I liked that everything finally circled back to what happened to Paradise’s parents instead of introducing a completely new mystery. It made the whole story feel more connected to everything she’s been dealing with since the first book, and raised the stakes in a way that actually mattered.
The tension builds steadily as more details come out, and I thought the twists were handled well without getting too unrealistic. The wildlife preserve setting also added to the sense of danger once things started escalating.
There were a few moments where it felt like a lot was happening at once, but overall it moved at a good pace and tied things up in a satisfying way.
I receive complimentary books from various sources, including NetGalley, authors, and others. I am not required to write a positive review, and I have not received any compensation for my thoughts.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, for which I am grateful. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Other reviewers have written fairly detailed synopses, and I will not repeat their efforts here.
I had previously read the first book in this 3-part series, but having forgotten most of the plot, I checked the first 2 books out of the library and re-read them so that when I got to book number 3, I had all the backstory in mind.
The reason for my 4-star review (not 5) was that by the time I reached the end of book 3 and found out who the bad guys were, there were so many secondary characters already piled on as possible suspects to the point that I couldn't keep them straight in my head as far as who they were and their motives for doing the things they did. But that's just me. Certainly other readers will not run into the same issues.
I have yet to read a book from Colleen that I wouldn't recommend. Her stories grab a hold of your attention early and keep you flipping pages. I know I'm in for a binge read anytime I grab one of her books.
Conspiracy, book three in her Sanctuary series met all of my expectations and then exceeded them. The storyline was packed with suspense, tension, twists and memorable characters that I know will stick me.
While I definitely could and would read more books from this world, the conclusion was also very satisfying. It's bittersweet moving on from a good series but I can't wait to read more from Colleen in the future.
An easy and deserving 5🌟 from me!
Thank you Colleen Coble, Net Galley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.
Picking up where the previous book left off, Paradise and Blake are planning a future together, and working to uncover the mysteries shrouding her past along with her half-brother, Drew.
More family secrets are unearthed as they continue to seek answers. Tensions are high as they deal with more incidents at the sanctuary, and it begins to look like the people who killed her parents are still out there and looking to tie up loose ends.
A dynamite conclusion to a fantastic series, filled with tension, suspense and likeable characters. I liked how the book follows Drew a little, as we get to know more about his and Paradise's past. A thrilling adventure, with a lot going on, high stakes, faith and exotic animals.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
With conspiracy, Colleen Coble has penned a wonderful conclusion to her Sanctuary series. A wonderful twisting story that brings back all my favorite characters from both this series in the Tupelo Grove series, I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen. Paradise wonders if she'll ever get her happily-ever-after, but first she wants to find out who murdered her parents. Discovering she had a brother Drew is wonderful, but it's not enough. Paradise and Blake band together with Drew to try to unwind what happened so long ago -- and the threads are still tied tightly to today. This book was a fantastic page-turner that kept me guessing. I loved every page. A satisfying conclusion to this series.
Conspiracy by Colleen Coble published by Thomas Nelson Fiction, is the third book in the Sanctuary Series. Every book is interconnected and I recommend to read the books in order. The previous books are Am..sh and Pr..l. Paradise and Blake are together and they could get their well deserved hea. But the wildlife enclosure owner and the vet are fare from hea. The newest case is when an unalive employee is found and investigations lead on a conspiracy against Paradise. Why? We have to find out. Intriguing with just the right amount of suspense from start til the and, a story full of twists and turns, 5 stars.
I'm so sad to see this series come to an end! The time at the Sanctuary has been so interesting, minus all of the animal attacks. I can almost imagine being at the refuge and the majesty of the animals and the surroundings.
The characters in this story have been filled with such admirable traits. It's hard to pick my favorites but Blake, Paradise, Jenna, Isaac and Levi were definitely favorites. The addition of Drew in this book was so sweet, especially his relationship with Paradise.
The story left me guessing as to who was involved all the way to the end.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.
This is the third book in the Sanctuary series, and the books get better and better. I really enjoyed reading Conspiracy and how the author was able to bring a nice, solid conclusion to the series. I love the characters and following them throughout all the books. I appreciated the title and how the author worked it into the story. Learning about the animals while reading a suspense made it even more interesting. Highly recommend this book, but make sure you read the first two books prior to reading this one.
I received an ARC through Netgalley and was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Conspiracy is the third and final book in Colleen Coble’s Sanctuary series. It starts out with an adrenaline rush and keeps up the suspense throughout. Paradise continues her search for the perpetrator or two who killed her parents 20 years earlier. Her newly discovered half-brother, Drew joins her and Blake in the search. However, someone is trying to stop them from digging up the truth. There are so many gripping, nail-biting, and riveting twists and turns that kept me engrossed until the end. I highly recommend the entire series to get to know everyone. We also reconnect with friends from a couple other series the author has written, a win-win all the way around.
4⭐- I've loved Colleen Coble's work, especially her Pelican Harbor series, which hooked me with its strong suspense, relatable characters, and satisfying romance. She brings that same gripping style here: fast-paced twists, slow-burn romance, danger tied to family secrets, and uplifting themes of healing and found family that is adorably sweet. The wildlife sanctuary elements (love that lemur conspiracy nod!) add a unique flavor, and her clean, engaging prose makes it an easy, page-turning read. I probably would not recommend reading Conspiracy without having read books 1 & 2 (Ambush and Prowl) first. I missed out and didn't connect to the wonderful characters or stakes quite as deeply as I would have with the full context and backstory, but I suspect starting from the beginning would have bumped this up for me significantly. That said, I'll definitely go back to the first two now. Still a solid, enjoyable romantic suspense even as a standalone. *I received an ARC of Conspiracy (Sanctuary #3) by Colleen Coble via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fantastic end to Paradise and Blake's reuniting story. They have been through so much together. This final step in their story to find out what happened to Paradise's parents really grabbed ahold of you from the first pages and keeps you trying to figure out who did it and what was going on all those years ago. Her brother, Drew is along for the ride. It seems people know more then they are telling and why didn't they tell the police when the investigation was going on?
I received an advanced copy of this book and am voluntarily reviewing it.
I personally found this book to be very boring and the writing to be bland. While the premise had potential, the pacing and plot progression felt slow and didn’t fully hold my attention. The writing style may work well for some readers, but for me it lacked the tension and engagement I was hoping for. I also think coming into the series at this point made it harder to connect with the story and characters. Maybe Christian mystery books just aren’t for me? It just felt very tacky.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I really enjoyed this book and series! It starts right off with danger! Paradise and Blake, her boyfriend, and Drew, her new-found half brother are searching for who killed her parents, and Drew’s dad. And now, they are after Paradise! As the three grow closer, things continue to heat up. There is danger, family, Big Cats, suspense, mystery, and Faith, and of course, romance, and so much more! Such a good book! I received an ARC through NetGalley, but my review is my own true opinion.
I loved this book but hated that it is the end of the Sanctuary series! This mystery took so many twists and turns but Blake and Paradise plowed through all of them and came out stronger in their faith and love.. The connection of the author's Alabama based books was particularly enjoyable to me, kind of like a family reunion. Hopefully, we haven't seen the end of these characters, Colleen Coble always leaves us wanting more!
I loved this series! She wrapped it up beautifully and I did not figure it out before the end of then book. As an animal lover and suspense reader, this was a perfect fit for me. Also, I have liked everything I've ever read by Colleen Coble. It was also fun to have the characters from her last series stick around. They have become like friends and it was fun to check in with them.
What a beautiful conclusion to a wonderful series. It’s full of mystery and suspense. The characters take a spiritual journey along with a journey searching for closure of the deaths of Paradise’s parents. Family is very important in this series. It’s a roller coaster ride of angst and suspense. I enjoyed this book very much!
Fantastic must read story weaving all the threads together into a suspenseful masterpiece. Red herrings, false trails, mystery and suspense combine with romance to make this book definitely worth the read. This book was provided through NetGalley and the author for me to read. The opinions expressed here are my own thoughts.