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Veiled Intentions #1
Conspiracy Theory
Bitter and weary, homicide detective Niall Hamarsson burns his last bridge, retreating to the only place he's ever called home. But murder beats him there. Sheriff Mat Dempsey is a glass-half-full kind of guy. He returned to the island after his father drowned to take care of his mom. Life is quiet and simple, until Niall Hamarsson's return. Nothing about Niall Hamarsson is simple. Maybe Niall's childhood refuge will allow him the space to re-evaluate his future. Maybe he'll be able to keep the kind, competent sheriff at arm's length. Mat needs Niall to stay away from the investigation, he doesn't want the ex-detective muddying the waters of Hidden Harbor. Niall's not meddling so much as keeping his hand in. The case is a distraction from the unwanted memories that are popping up like weeds after a rainstorm. How long will it take for the two of them to realize they work better together than apart? In more ways than one? The Veiled Intentions trilogy is a dual POV, slow-burn, three-act, romantic suspense about a broody introvert and a somewhat patient Sheriff as they grope their way to a happily ever after.
242 pages, Paperback
First published October 5, 2019
372 people are currently reading
1464 people want to read
About the author
Elle Keaton
52 books547 followersElle Keaton is a writer, avid reader, and amateur cat-wrangler. Her love of romance novels has led her to a life of creating her own happy ever afters. She is the author of the best selling series' Shielded Hearts and Veiled Intentions. Keaton hails from the Pacific Northwest, where she lives with her husband and cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 379 reviews
May 14, 2020
3.5 stars ✨ ✨
A solid good start. I ended up liking it more than i thought i would. My first Elle Keaton book, it was a really good intro. I will be reading her other series soonest.
The story captured my attention from chapter 1. It flowed so well and got me engaged in the mystery. I even forgot this was supposed to be mm romance. The mystery was that good, even though it was somehow anticlimactic, it was still good.
I got some Hazard and Somers vibes from the setting and the MCs, and immediately got all giddy. 😍😍 I liked the MCs, Hamarsson and Dempsey definitely have my attention from now on.
So why 3.5 and not 5 stars, well, as much as i liked the mystery and the MCs, the UST that i love and feed off in my mm mystery romance was lacking. I hope the next book give me the feels. Hamarsson definitely caught my attention, he might crawl his way up my favorite character list. Henry Rios, Nick, watch out. ☺️ Next books in this series will tell.
Overall it was a good start, and i enjoyed it. Oh! And we have a dog. 🐕😍😍 What's not to like.
Note: That cover fooled me.😫🤭 I must be loosing my eyesight.. I thought one of the MCs was Black and i was finally going to make my wildest dreams come true. Picturing my husband Idris Elba getting down and dirty with another man. 😜🤩 Damn, that is some major tan that cover model has going on. 😎 Anyhoo my dreams are valid. Idris baby, we still got hopes.🤞🏾
A solid good start. I ended up liking it more than i thought i would. My first Elle Keaton book, it was a really good intro. I will be reading her other series soonest.
The story captured my attention from chapter 1. It flowed so well and got me engaged in the mystery. I even forgot this was supposed to be mm romance. The mystery was that good, even though it was somehow anticlimactic, it was still good.
I got some Hazard and Somers vibes from the setting and the MCs, and immediately got all giddy. 😍😍 I liked the MCs, Hamarsson and Dempsey definitely have my attention from now on.
So why 3.5 and not 5 stars, well, as much as i liked the mystery and the MCs, the UST that i love and feed off in my mm mystery romance was lacking. I hope the next book give me the feels. Hamarsson definitely caught my attention, he might crawl his way up my favorite character list. Henry Rios, Nick, watch out. ☺️ Next books in this series will tell.
Overall it was a good start, and i enjoyed it. Oh! And we have a dog. 🐕😍😍 What's not to like.
Note: That cover fooled me.😫🤭 I must be loosing my eyesight.. I thought one of the MCs was Black and i was finally going to make my wildest dreams come true. Picturing my husband Idris Elba getting down and dirty with another man. 😜🤩 Damn, that is some major tan that cover model has going on. 😎 Anyhoo my dreams are valid. Idris baby, we still got hopes.🤞🏾
July 8, 2020
**** 3.5 stars ****
I liked this, and for a good chunk of the book it was no exaggeration to say I loved it. New-to-me author Elle Keaton was really hitting it out of the park with this spare, unsentimental mystery set on an island in the Pacific Northwest. As the first in a series it provided the setup for a romance, but that aspect of the story operated more in the background, which is the way I like it. If a relationship is going to be developed over the course of a series, I like watching it unfold gradually over multiple books.
I'm not sure I can explain why/how I thought things faltered towards the end. Suffice it to say, it went from excellent -- I thought it was destined for my Best of the Year list -- to just okay. Fine. Adequate. Whatever. Okay, I guess I can explain, but I hate to focus solely on the things that went wrong, when there was so much that went right first. So let's take a look at the good stuff:
- Great pacing, with dual POV in alternating chapters, handled so brilliantly that there was never a dull moment. I always knew whose head I was in, and I enjoyed the transitions between characters -- the changes in POV always seem to come at exactly the right time.
- Two interesting leads who were different from each other in realistic ways, yet similar in their pragmatic approach to life and work. I dislike the opposites-attract trope. For me personally, opposites repel. So it's difficult to sell me on an enduring relationship between characters who are fundamentally unalike. Niall and Mat, however, felt like they had the potential to be deeply compatible.
- An island setting with a small-town vibe that was blessedly free of cute-ification. The local oddballs were odd -- but not adorable, not twee, not insufferably cute. Props to the author for not idealizing small-town life.
- A tone/mood that was unsentimental without being grim. Niall's memories of his abusive childhood were woven into the story without overwhelming it. Lately I've been hypersensitive to misery in fiction, and I'll drop an otherwise good book if it makes me feel unhappy. But I don't enjoy sweet & sappy either, which limits my options. This book hit the sweet spot.
Unfortunately, like a balloon with a verrrrrry small hole, the story deflated gradually as the ending approached. It never popped, just... sagged. One of my least favorite mystery clichés made a appearance: *sigh*
And on the romance front... Well, on the romance front, when at last it was time for a teeny tiny bit of action, as much as I appreciated it being reserved for late in the story... I just wasn't feeling it. You know how there are certain phrases romance authors use that are a dead giveaway that they read each others' books? Things like "their tongues tangled" that creep insidiously into book after book by author after author, even though they make no sense -- like, how long would their tongues actually have to be in order to get entangled? The answer is LONG. Like LOOOOOONG:
Okay, Elle Keaton did NOT use that phrase (yay her!), but she did use one I hate even more: Damn, that would really hurt! The average human head supposedly weighs 10 pounds, and we all know from personal experience that when
Now imagine Not. Sexy. Authors, please stop derailing the sexy times with this jaded, physiologically disconcerting, super-Not-Sexy description. Please.
Okay, I think I got that rant out of my system.
Normally I'd be rushing to pick up book 2. However, my friends' reviews have made me wary. Among other issues, it sounds like things on the relationship front threaten to get, as one reviewer put it, "schmoopy." Uh oh. I don't do schmoop.
So my plan is to consider this story complete as is (unless I see high praise for book 3 when it comes out), and move on to some of the author's other books instead. And I'm rounding this one up from 3.5 stars to 4, in appreciation for the hours of enjoyment it gave me before gently deflating.
I liked this, and for a good chunk of the book it was no exaggeration to say I loved it. New-to-me author Elle Keaton was really hitting it out of the park with this spare, unsentimental mystery set on an island in the Pacific Northwest. As the first in a series it provided the setup for a romance, but that aspect of the story operated more in the background, which is the way I like it. If a relationship is going to be developed over the course of a series, I like watching it unfold gradually over multiple books.
I'm not sure I can explain why/how I thought things faltered towards the end. Suffice it to say, it went from excellent -- I thought it was destined for my Best of the Year list -- to just okay. Fine. Adequate. Whatever. Okay, I guess I can explain, but I hate to focus solely on the things that went wrong, when there was so much that went right first. So let's take a look at the good stuff:
- Great pacing, with dual POV in alternating chapters, handled so brilliantly that there was never a dull moment. I always knew whose head I was in, and I enjoyed the transitions between characters -- the changes in POV always seem to come at exactly the right time.
- Two interesting leads who were different from each other in realistic ways, yet similar in their pragmatic approach to life and work. I dislike the opposites-attract trope. For me personally, opposites repel. So it's difficult to sell me on an enduring relationship between characters who are fundamentally unalike. Niall and Mat, however, felt like they had the potential to be deeply compatible.
- An island setting with a small-town vibe that was blessedly free of cute-ification. The local oddballs were odd -- but not adorable, not twee, not insufferably cute. Props to the author for not idealizing small-town life.
- A tone/mood that was unsentimental without being grim. Niall's memories of his abusive childhood were woven into the story without overwhelming it. Lately I've been hypersensitive to misery in fiction, and I'll drop an otherwise good book if it makes me feel unhappy. But I don't enjoy sweet & sappy either, which limits my options. This book hit the sweet spot.
Unfortunately, like a balloon with a verrrrrry small hole, the story deflated gradually as the ending approached. It never popped, just... sagged. One of my least favorite mystery clichés made a appearance: *sigh*
And on the romance front... Well, on the romance front, when at last it was time for a teeny tiny bit of action, as much as I appreciated it being reserved for late in the story... I just wasn't feeling it. You know how there are certain phrases romance authors use that are a dead giveaway that they read each others' books? Things like "their tongues tangled" that creep insidiously into book after book by author after author, even though they make no sense -- like, how long would their tongues actually have to be in order to get entangled? The answer is LONG. Like LOOOOOONG:
Okay, Elle Keaton did NOT use that phrase (yay her!), but she did use one I hate even more: Damn, that would really hurt! The average human head supposedly weighs 10 pounds, and we all know from personal experience that when
Now imagine Not. Sexy. Authors, please stop derailing the sexy times with this jaded, physiologically disconcerting, super-Not-Sexy description. Please.
Okay, I think I got that rant out of my system.
Normally I'd be rushing to pick up book 2. However, my friends' reviews have made me wary. Among other issues, it sounds like things on the relationship front threaten to get, as one reviewer put it, "schmoopy." Uh oh. I don't do schmoop.
So my plan is to consider this story complete as is (unless I see high praise for book 3 when it comes out), and move on to some of the author's other books instead. And I'm rounding this one up from 3.5 stars to 4, in appreciation for the hours of enjoyment it gave me before gently deflating.
January 28, 2025
I wanted something with small town flair, well this was small island flair. Definitely interesting in terms of the dynamics on this island between the inhabitants. And as the titel reveals, highly conspiratorial.
Slightly tangled and it took me a little while to get into it. The writing felt a little wobbly at first, but it grew on me, as did the two somewhat difficult main characters.
In any case, somewhat difficult to categorize. It's neither a strong crime story nor a particularly romantic one. It's primarily about interpersonal relationships and how people can be hurtful and strange.
The book also takes some time to portray the two MCs and tease out why they are the way they are and the story behind their past.
The criminal case is still slightly open at the end, there are still various questions, but somehow it fits in with this rather shaky narrative style. Everything is confusing and there aren't really any clues, nothing to really investigate, but as I said, it somehow fits.
Oh I don't know how to put it, I'm probably not painting a rosy picture for the book. It's probably not for everyone.
Overall, I really enjoyed it and will have to read more. Because of course it's only at the very end that there is some intimacy between Mat and Niall.
Besides, Niall is the kind of character I just love. Grumpy and broken somehow, but still a sweetheart.
He felt like something inside him had broken, and he didn’t know if he could put whatever was broken back together. The effort to keep caring twenty-four hours a day pressed down on him, an impossible burden. 🥺❤️🩹🥺
Niall was exhausted from having to make conversation. He had a hard enough time keeping up with the shit in his own head, much less someone else’s. 😢❤️🩹😢
I can't quite grasp Mat yet, but he seems to me to be quite interesting and promises a lot for the dynamics of the two ... hopefully.
Niall, I think these things will fit, we’re close to the same size. Mom is going to insist on washing your clothes. Take a shower, it’s down the hall, there’s coffee downstairs. Don’t leave before I get back or I will make life very difficult for you. Mat ☺️🖤☺️
Niall was bent down, murmuring and running his strong hands along the top of the dog’s head. Something Mat recognized as jealousy tore through his chest and made him stop in his tracks. Did he want Niall like that? As more than just a quick screw? Did he hope to have Niall’s secret tenderness directed at him? God, he was a fool. 💞😳💞
Well, the kiss and everything in the last chapter ... woohoo, maybe I should download the second book right away ...
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Minor spoilers probably ahead
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Content warnings: homophobia, alcohol consumption, abuse of a child (in the past, off page), death of grandparents (in the past, off page), two murder cases on page, dead animals, house arson
Cheating between MCs: No
Other person drama: a somewhat, jealous MC's ex-boyfriend
Breakup: No
Kinks: none
Slightly tangled and it took me a little while to get into it. The writing felt a little wobbly at first, but it grew on me, as did the two somewhat difficult main characters.
In any case, somewhat difficult to categorize. It's neither a strong crime story nor a particularly romantic one. It's primarily about interpersonal relationships and how people can be hurtful and strange.
The book also takes some time to portray the two MCs and tease out why they are the way they are and the story behind their past.
The criminal case is still slightly open at the end, there are still various questions, but somehow it fits in with this rather shaky narrative style. Everything is confusing and there aren't really any clues, nothing to really investigate, but as I said, it somehow fits.
Oh I don't know how to put it, I'm probably not painting a rosy picture for the book. It's probably not for everyone.
Overall, I really enjoyed it and will have to read more. Because of course it's only at the very end that there is some intimacy between Mat and Niall.
Besides, Niall is the kind of character I just love. Grumpy and broken somehow, but still a sweetheart.
He felt like something inside him had broken, and he didn’t know if he could put whatever was broken back together. The effort to keep caring twenty-four hours a day pressed down on him, an impossible burden. 🥺❤️🩹🥺
Niall was exhausted from having to make conversation. He had a hard enough time keeping up with the shit in his own head, much less someone else’s. 😢❤️🩹😢
I can't quite grasp Mat yet, but he seems to me to be quite interesting and promises a lot for the dynamics of the two ... hopefully.
Niall, I think these things will fit, we’re close to the same size. Mom is going to insist on washing your clothes. Take a shower, it’s down the hall, there’s coffee downstairs. Don’t leave before I get back or I will make life very difficult for you. Mat ☺️🖤☺️
Niall was bent down, murmuring and running his strong hands along the top of the dog’s head. Something Mat recognized as jealousy tore through his chest and made him stop in his tracks. Did he want Niall like that? As more than just a quick screw? Did he hope to have Niall’s secret tenderness directed at him? God, he was a fool. 💞😳💞
Well, the kiss and everything in the last chapter ... woohoo, maybe I should download the second book right away ...
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Minor spoilers probably ahead
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Content warnings: homophobia, alcohol consumption, abuse of a child (in the past, off page), death of grandparents (in the past, off page), two murder cases on page, dead animals, house arson
Cheating between MCs: No
Other person drama: a somewhat, jealous MC's ex-boyfriend
Breakup: No
Kinks: none
November 23, 2020
"Reread" November 2020: Audiobook = ***3 Stars***
**************************************
***4.5 ❤***
My kind of story.
Exactly my kind of slow burn.
And Niall is sooo my kind of character.
I think it's safe to say I loved it to bits. 😉
**************************************
***4.5 ❤***
My kind of story.
Exactly my kind of slow burn.
And Niall is sooo my kind of character.
I think it's safe to say I loved it to bits. 😉
February 9, 2020
Elle Keaton is a new to me author, and I absolutely enjoyed this story. I loved the setting of a remote island off the coast of Washington state and the unique characters. There isn’t a lot of romance in this book, it is definitely slow burn, and I mean slow. There is plenty of inner dialogue of want and need from both MC, but nothing really happens until near the end, but I felt it was very realistic. After all, they had a lot going on, including trying to solve a murder. I was so into the story and the mystery of what was going on, I forgot it was a romance.
I am thankful book 2 is coming out next month and I hope we learn more about both Mat and Niall.
I am thankful book 2 is coming out next month and I hope we learn more about both Mat and Niall.
October 16, 2019
A good page-turner for me as I always enjoy a good MM romance with a suspense subplot. Beware : this is an “on-going” series and this first part sets the ground…and what a solid ground for further enjoyment !!!
Niall Hamarsson is a loner. With his past childhood slowly revealed, it’s no surprise. His detective work, even thought quite successful, has left him jaded and on a spur of a moment, he decides to take a break and go back to the island he spent part of his childhood with his now-gone grandparents. But no rest for the wicked…A murder and a series of incidents on the island, an encounter with Matt, the current sheriff…Niall has a lot on his plate and he can’t ignore his baggage. As for Matt, the murder and reappearance of Niall shatters the sense of security he covets but hasn’t yet reached.
The pace is quite good with the slow but steady and captivating discovery of who Niall is, the characters are well drawn with 2 guys not spared by life and all the surrounding “small-community” cast, the plot interesting and, if I have to make an educated guess, far from being over and the angst is delicious.
As for the romance, not yet there, but Niall and Matt can’t deny there’s something between them and I’m hooked enough with this promise of a slow burn that could end up with a hot relationship (a girl can wish, hehehe).
Nice teaser, Elle Keaton. I will be there in spring 2020 to follow Niall and Matt’s journey. Hurry up, pretty please !!
ARC of “Conspiracy Theory” was generously provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Niall Hamarsson is a loner. With his past childhood slowly revealed, it’s no surprise. His detective work, even thought quite successful, has left him jaded and on a spur of a moment, he decides to take a break and go back to the island he spent part of his childhood with his now-gone grandparents. But no rest for the wicked…A murder and a series of incidents on the island, an encounter with Matt, the current sheriff…Niall has a lot on his plate and he can’t ignore his baggage. As for Matt, the murder and reappearance of Niall shatters the sense of security he covets but hasn’t yet reached.
The pace is quite good with the slow but steady and captivating discovery of who Niall is, the characters are well drawn with 2 guys not spared by life and all the surrounding “small-community” cast, the plot interesting and, if I have to make an educated guess, far from being over and the angst is delicious.
As for the romance, not yet there, but Niall and Matt can’t deny there’s something between them and I’m hooked enough with this promise of a slow burn that could end up with a hot relationship (a girl can wish, hehehe).
Nice teaser, Elle Keaton. I will be there in spring 2020 to follow Niall and Matt’s journey. Hurry up, pretty please !!
ARC of “Conspiracy Theory” was generously provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
April 25, 2021
A NTM author and...I really enjoyed this small-twin mystery thriller!!
3.5 Stars
It took me awhile to get into the book, but that was because I didn’t get a lot of info dumps—good thing!
Let’s call this one a slow burn—but there is no romance here, really. Perhaps in the next book (which I’ve already downloaded!!)?
Troubled, big-city homicide detective returns home after 10 years to a small island in the Strait of Juan de Fuca off the coast of Washington (did I spell that right? I’m trying to recall my junior school geography here!)
Once big-town police, now small-town sheriff, finds himself with a murder, arson & attempted murder on his hands. Oh, and he’s super closeted.
Animosity on one side, years’ old attraction on the other are what they will have to navigate to solve the crimes.
The mystery wasn’t too complex—that’s why I rounded down. Yet....I enjoyed it and the slow change the guys went through.
At the end, they do come together, but it’s not at all solid (nor steamy). It’s obvious these two have much more growing to do & I’m looking to see what’s up next for the pair.
Audiobook: a solid narration by Michael Dean.
My rec? If you like mysteries & prefer plot over love, go for it!
3.5 Stars
It took me awhile to get into the book, but that was because I didn’t get a lot of info dumps—good thing!
Let’s call this one a slow burn—but there is no romance here, really. Perhaps in the next book (which I’ve already downloaded!!)?
Troubled, big-city homicide detective returns home after 10 years to a small island in the Strait of Juan de Fuca off the coast of Washington (did I spell that right? I’m trying to recall my junior school geography here!)
Once big-town police, now small-town sheriff, finds himself with a murder, arson & attempted murder on his hands. Oh, and he’s super closeted.
Animosity on one side, years’ old attraction on the other are what they will have to navigate to solve the crimes.
The mystery wasn’t too complex—that’s why I rounded down. Yet....I enjoyed it and the slow change the guys went through.
At the end, they do come together, but it’s not at all solid (nor steamy). It’s obvious these two have much more growing to do & I’m looking to see what’s up next for the pair.
Audiobook: a solid narration by Michael Dean.
My rec? If you like mysteries & prefer plot over love, go for it!
December 11, 2019
From the very first page Elle Keaton'sConspiracy Theory had me completely and delightfully enthralled!
(I’ve got to preface my review by saying I listened to the audio version of this one. I’ve been a fan for a very long time, and I've heard Michael Pauley narrate a number of different genres, and this is, without a doubt, one of his finest performances!)
The story fascinating and I can't wait to see where this all goes from here. Clearly a continuing series, Conspiracy Theory doesn't end with a painful cliffhanger, it just wraps up with a "let's see where we go from here" vibe that makes me crave the next episode..., instead of wanting to shake my fist at the author.
A great mystery, fascinating characters, interesting location, and beautifully written Conspiracy Theory is a winner!
an audiobook copy of Conspiracy Theory was provided to me for the purpose of my honest review
(I’ve got to preface my review by saying I listened to the audio version of this one. I’ve been a fan for a very long time, and I've heard Michael Pauley narrate a number of different genres, and this is, without a doubt, one of his finest performances!)
The story fascinating and I can't wait to see where this all goes from here. Clearly a continuing series, Conspiracy Theory doesn't end with a painful cliffhanger, it just wraps up with a "let's see where we go from here" vibe that makes me crave the next episode..., instead of wanting to shake my fist at the author.
A great mystery, fascinating characters, interesting location, and beautifully written Conspiracy Theory is a winner!
an audiobook copy of Conspiracy Theory was provided to me for the purpose of my honest review
February 8, 2020
I really liked it. I always prefer books with plots outside of the romance. Even though this one didn't have a lot of action, it did have plenty of mystery. I never guessed the reveal. A great crime mystery romance. (with only a few typos) It never slowed down or dragged for me. It kept me interested and guessing until the end. 👍
PS. It ends on a soft HFN. It doesn't leave you hanging but it's obviously to be continued.
PS. It ends on a soft HFN. It doesn't leave you hanging but it's obviously to be continued.
July 3, 2021
1) Don't judge this book by its cover (which, to me, says I'm a MMA fighter who owns a tattoo shop), 2) and do not hesitate to dive into this gripping tale!
After a particularly difficult case, stoic Seattle detective Niall Hamarsson finds himself drawn back to his grandparent's cabin on a small island in the San Juans (an archipelago of islands in the Pacific Northwest near Seattle) where he spent his childhood. Mat Dempsey has also returned to the island from San Francisco and is now serving as Sheriff. The two went to school together on the island and there's always been an awareness of each another which bursts into some seriously hot UST when they meet again.
A murder in the close-knit community brings up old rivalries between island families, and Elle Keaton balances the murder mystery aspect beautifully with the wary relationship between Niall and Mat. Niall is a fascinating character and the author gives us tantalizing tidbits of Niall's past:
I highly recommend "Conspiracy Theory" for its tight plotting, slowly developing relationship between Niall and Mat (and the equally slow unraveling of Niall's past), paired with a compelling murder mystery. 4.5 stars.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
After a particularly difficult case, stoic Seattle detective Niall Hamarsson finds himself drawn back to his grandparent's cabin on a small island in the San Juans (an archipelago of islands in the Pacific Northwest near Seattle) where he spent his childhood. Mat Dempsey has also returned to the island from San Francisco and is now serving as Sheriff. The two went to school together on the island and there's always been an awareness of each another which bursts into some seriously hot UST when they meet again.
A murder in the close-knit community brings up old rivalries between island families, and Elle Keaton balances the murder mystery aspect beautifully with the wary relationship between Niall and Mat. Niall is a fascinating character and the author gives us tantalizing tidbits of Niall's past:
Niall wore the disguise of domesticity well: the facade worked for him as a detective - maybe that's why he was a good detective. He was still feral and wounded on the inside, and the veneer of society was wearing thin these days.Mat is dealing with a seriously underfunded department and lack of expertise, and as the murder case develops, he struggles to solve a murder that ends up hitting too close to home. For the most part, the plot is beautifully interwoven with the simmering sexual tension between Niall and Mat, and the pace of the book is perfect as we are drawn into the case. The only niggles I have with this book is
I highly recommend "Conspiracy Theory" for its tight plotting, slowly developing relationship between Niall and Mat (and the equally slow unraveling of Niall's past), paired with a compelling murder mystery. 4.5 stars.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
October 6, 2019
New series from Elle Keaton! I enjoyed the steady pace of the book, the mystery of the case, the small town mentality and two men who struggle with life challenges in pursuit of justice. This is slow burn, low steam, high angst story that features rough around the edges Niall Hamarsson, a man who could never fit in and is fed up with the system constantly failing him, and settled in his ways Mat Dempsey, small town sheriff who gets another chance with his high school crush and uncovers mysterious crimes that shock local community and rock the foundation of his family.
I enjoyed the intriguing case that kept getting more convoluted throughout the story. I enjoyed when Niall and Mat put their minds together and figured out the why of it. The culprit was unexpected, and I liked how intertwined everything and everyone were. The island of Piedras had an assortment of quirky characters and families that at times brought lightheartedness to otherwise serious and at times heavy story. The background showed both men as they were in their youth, what they have been through and what made them the men they were today. Niall was direct opposite of Mat with his hard and painful past making him unyielding and strong willed man while Mat's happy childhood and years of independence made him open-hearted and friendly. But together they fit. This is the beginning of their story, and I can't wait to see Mat's attempts to help Niall open up and give Mat some of his burdens to carry. I liked what Ms Keaton came up with! I recommend it. Copy received for my honest and unbiased review
I enjoyed the intriguing case that kept getting more convoluted throughout the story. I enjoyed when Niall and Mat put their minds together and figured out the why of it. The culprit was unexpected, and I liked how intertwined everything and everyone were. The island of Piedras had an assortment of quirky characters and families that at times brought lightheartedness to otherwise serious and at times heavy story. The background showed both men as they were in their youth, what they have been through and what made them the men they were today. Niall was direct opposite of Mat with his hard and painful past making him unyielding and strong willed man while Mat's happy childhood and years of independence made him open-hearted and friendly. But together they fit. This is the beginning of their story, and I can't wait to see Mat's attempts to help Niall open up and give Mat some of his burdens to carry. I liked what Ms Keaton came up with! I recommend it. Copy received for my honest and unbiased review
June 8, 2020
3.5 stars
The setting and especially Niall made this book for me. I loved the atmosphere of the island and it was a plus that it came with a good but not overwhelming cast of secondary characters, although the mystery could have been tighter. At one point I guessed one of the culprits and I dismissed it because it seemed too convenient, too much of a coincidence. It turns out that I was right and while I’m still not completely buying it, the book gave a passably good enough reason and I’m choosing to go with it because it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story.
The romance was another big plus, because there really wasn’t a romance, just the tentative set-up for one, which I find perfect for a first book in a (long? Long-ish?) series about the same couple of MCs. That’s why I could’ve really done without
I’m still rounding up because of Niall. And Fenrir, of course. Unlike for humans, insta-love between man and dog is always acceptable and encouraged. 😉
The setting and especially Niall made this book for me. I loved the atmosphere of the island and it was a plus that it came with a good but not overwhelming cast of secondary characters, although the mystery could have been tighter. At one point I guessed one of the culprits and I dismissed it because it seemed too convenient, too much of a coincidence. It turns out that I was right and while I’m still not completely buying it, the book gave a passably good enough reason and I’m choosing to go with it because it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story.
The romance was another big plus, because there really wasn’t a romance, just the tentative set-up for one, which I find perfect for a first book in a (long? Long-ish?) series about the same couple of MCs. That’s why I could’ve really done without
I’m still rounding up because of Niall. And Fenrir, of course. Unlike for humans, insta-love between man and dog is always acceptable and encouraged. 😉
September 1, 2024
Elle Keaton is a new-to-me author, and I can't say I'm a big fan of her writing style. There's something stiff and awkward about it.
For example, Keaton uses Niall'd instead of Niall would or Niall had throughout the story. The 'd is a common contraction in American English, but typically with pronouns: I'd do it if I could. It sounds wrong to use it with a name, even in casual conversation, much less in a novel.
(I know that's a silly thing to get hung up on, but I'm trying to understand why a writer would make such a weird stylistic choice and then double down on it?)
I also didn't find the mystery to be particularly interesting. There is no real investigation or police procedure. Mat, and later Niall, poke around and talk to different town folk until they all but stumble upon a suspect.
Other things happen (someone sets fire to Niall's cabin, Mat's homophobic brother returns to the island, a sheep is shot), but none of it gels, and the resolution is quite weak. We still don't really know why the first victim, a young woman, was murdered.
I'm sure the plot continues in book 2, but I wish Keaton had given us a little more here.
The MCs kiss and exchange sloppy hand jobs in the last chapter, which seriously came out of nowhere. There's some mild longing but no romance; the men barely talk. I wasn't feeling the chemistry, that's for sure.
I loved the wolfhound, Fenrir, best, but that's not surprising. The dog always wins.
Despite my criticism, I liked the story well enough and read it in a couple sittings. I would probably stick with the series if it were on KU, but I'm not about to pay six bucks for the next book.
For example, Keaton uses Niall'd instead of Niall would or Niall had throughout the story. The 'd is a common contraction in American English, but typically with pronouns: I'd do it if I could. It sounds wrong to use it with a name, even in casual conversation, much less in a novel.
(I know that's a silly thing to get hung up on, but I'm trying to understand why a writer would make such a weird stylistic choice and then double down on it?)
I also didn't find the mystery to be particularly interesting. There is no real investigation or police procedure. Mat, and later Niall, poke around and talk to different town folk until they all but stumble upon a suspect.
Other things happen (someone sets fire to Niall's cabin, Mat's homophobic brother returns to the island, a sheep is shot), but none of it gels, and the resolution is quite weak. We still don't really know why the first victim, a young woman, was murdered.
I'm sure the plot continues in book 2, but I wish Keaton had given us a little more here.
The MCs kiss and exchange sloppy hand jobs in the last chapter, which seriously came out of nowhere. There's some mild longing but no romance; the men barely talk. I wasn't feeling the chemistry, that's for sure.
I loved the wolfhound, Fenrir, best, but that's not surprising. The dog always wins.
Despite my criticism, I liked the story well enough and read it in a couple sittings. I would probably stick with the series if it were on KU, but I'm not about to pay six bucks for the next book.
April 8, 2025
3.5 stars
May 15, 2020
That is a promising start to this series!
If you’re into grumpy, brooding, deeply vulnerable guys of Norwegian decent and the stature of a Viking, you’re definitely on! Just that Niall is dark and not blond.
It’s difficult not to like Niall, despite his stubborn streak, his unwillingness to accept any help or kindness out of the fear to get ‘too involved’. My heart certainly went out for him big time.
Mat has always liked him and nothing’s changed about that now. He is the complete opposite of Niall – outgoing, good-natured and very, very patient. A genuinely good man, one who has chosen to go into the closet when he took the job of sheriff on the island. But meeting Niall again brings out desires Mat’s always pushed under the carpet.
I really enjoyed watching the initial (old) attraction turning into a very slow burn yearning. And yet, it didn’t seem Niall was ready for the events on the beach in the last 10% of the book. The scene (as much as I enjoyed it) felt a bit ‘added on’ to the rest of the book.
As for the mystery – it is alright, but nothing groundbreaking. However, I loved Fenrir, the wolfhound and Alyson, Mat’s mum, and I wanted to hug both of them! (well, I might push my luck with Fenrir here, because for me, he’s probably the size of a horse…)
Afaik, Ms.Keaton is planning quite a lengthy series here. The end of book 1 certainly leaves tons of issues open and I’ll be interested to see what happens next.
If you’re into grumpy, brooding, deeply vulnerable guys of Norwegian decent and the stature of a Viking, you’re definitely on! Just that Niall is dark and not blond.
It’s difficult not to like Niall, despite his stubborn streak, his unwillingness to accept any help or kindness out of the fear to get ‘too involved’. My heart certainly went out for him big time.
Mat has always liked him and nothing’s changed about that now. He is the complete opposite of Niall – outgoing, good-natured and very, very patient. A genuinely good man, one who has chosen to go into the closet when he took the job of sheriff on the island. But meeting Niall again brings out desires Mat’s always pushed under the carpet.
I really enjoyed watching the initial (old) attraction turning into a very slow burn yearning. And yet, it didn’t seem Niall was ready for the events on the beach in the last 10% of the book. The scene (as much as I enjoyed it) felt a bit ‘added on’ to the rest of the book.
As for the mystery – it is alright, but nothing groundbreaking. However, I loved Fenrir, the wolfhound and Alyson, Mat’s mum, and I wanted to hug both of them! (well, I might push my luck with Fenrir here, because for me, he’s probably the size of a horse…)
Afaik, Ms.Keaton is planning quite a lengthy series here. The end of book 1 certainly leaves tons of issues open and I’ll be interested to see what happens next.
August 30, 2022
This was meh. 2.5 rounded up, I'm being generous. This is a suspense romance and the investigation aspect was ok-ish. The sheriff is doing his best and his moves make sense even though he is more reacting than being proactive. The resolution was a bit anti-climatic and I'm not sure it fully made sense, so many questions remain. The relationship development was bad. The 2 MCs knew each other in high school but haven't seen each other since then. One MC has kept tabs on the other, why? They are attracted to one another but barely interact for most of the book, they don't really have any deep or even personal conversations. It was a bit strange and rushed towards the end. We know more about Niall than Mat but I still don't feel that Niall's characterization is consistent. The whole series is about the same couple so hopefully it improves but I'm not holding my breath since the writing style is not that appealing to me either.
April 3, 2024
I am so happy I reread this and didn’t remember anything about it! I gave this 2 stars the first time and this time I really enjoyed it so much! I love rediscovering books and because the last few years have been crazy I have been in a bad headspace and haven’t enjoyed stories as much I would normally. Giving this a second chance proves I was somewhere really weird in my thoughts because I really loved the setting of this book and the feel that brought to the mystery.
I am even happier that now I can continue with the series and hope it only gets better!!!! Mat and Niall have a terrific chemistry that is only touched upon here. Their attraction is there and I love a good slow burn!!!!
I am even happier that now I can continue with the series and hope it only gets better!!!! Mat and Niall have a terrific chemistry that is only touched upon here. Their attraction is there and I love a good slow burn!!!!
March 31, 2025
Yes I enjoyed this! Not for the romance (yet) but for the small-town, insular moody island setting and the characters as individuals. The audiobook is narrated by Michael Dean, and in this one, he did a lovely job, without some of the icky sleazy tones that come through in other books I’ve heard narrated by him. I enjoyed this one a lot.
I loved the sense of dysfunctional community, with one island family at odds with another, and MC Sheriff Mat Dempsey running the small island law office with one competent deputy and a few rookies. Murder and then several mysterious crimes happen, and everything goes to hell in a handbasket. Mat is an islander through and through, closeted on the island (but was out when he worked for SFPD in CA), and is living with his mom to see her through her grief for his late father. She’s doing better now, but, the living sitch makes sense, so he’s still there.
But let us not forget the other MC. The book opens with tall dark and broody Niall (the narrator pronounced it NEE-el but I kept thinking NY-al like Niall Horan, whose music I adore... and this was not helped by the narrator pronouncing it NY-al just once! 😂). Niall the prodigal island not-son has burned out from being a Seattle police detective and has come to the island for isolation and to regroup, planning to fix up the run-down cabin and property left to him by his late grandparents. Niall came to the island as a boy after being abused and abandoned, and he’s never felt welcome. Living through bullying and teasing as a teen, he left and rarely came back until now. He hasn’t set foot here since his grandparents passed. He left behind an irate ex-boyfriend and still needs to inform him they’re Done.
Offering to help Sheriff Dempsy might help him pass the time between re-roofing his unlivable cabin whilst sleeping in a tent. But Niall’s gruff, cold offer is rejected, and so, as the island crime spree gets going, Mat and Niall wind up at odds, with tension simmering between them even as Mat’s mom invites Niall to stay after...well, something very bad happens. One bad thing among many.
The story focuses on the islanders, the murder and other crimes mystery, Niall’s past and Mat’s pride and his own family issues. It’s very, very slow-burn on romance, and I assume the bare bones of the connection that’s barely formed here will pick up and flourish in the rest of the series. So don’t go into this expecting much romance, but rather, a very very tentative first step by the end. But the characterizations and sense of place carry the story and make it an enjoyable one to be immersed in for a while.
Which leads me to the frustration of...the bad guy uncovered in this one felt coincidental as far as his connection to one MC and the island, and then the resolution left SO MANY things unresolved, including a near and...Stuff. It was frustrating. I also have suspicions about another person, but...we’ll see in the next books, because Yes, I definitely will continue the series...and hope the romance lights up! And all these waving loose threads will be tied up.
Oh...I forgot...there is a FANTASTIC dog character! Loved this element.
HFN, sheriff-detective, local hero v prodigal “son,” murder mystery/rash of crimes, insular island setting. Totally safe for me, no one is with any OM; there is OM drama from an ex but uninvited. Recommended.
I loved the sense of dysfunctional community, with one island family at odds with another, and MC Sheriff Mat Dempsey running the small island law office with one competent deputy and a few rookies. Murder and then several mysterious crimes happen, and everything goes to hell in a handbasket. Mat is an islander through and through, closeted on the island (but was out when he worked for SFPD in CA), and is living with his mom to see her through her grief for his late father. She’s doing better now, but, the living sitch makes sense, so he’s still there.
But let us not forget the other MC. The book opens with tall dark and broody Niall (the narrator pronounced it NEE-el but I kept thinking NY-al like Niall Horan, whose music I adore... and this was not helped by the narrator pronouncing it NY-al just once! 😂). Niall the prodigal island not-son has burned out from being a Seattle police detective and has come to the island for isolation and to regroup, planning to fix up the run-down cabin and property left to him by his late grandparents. Niall came to the island as a boy after being abused and abandoned, and he’s never felt welcome. Living through bullying and teasing as a teen, he left and rarely came back until now. He hasn’t set foot here since his grandparents passed. He left behind an irate ex-boyfriend and still needs to inform him they’re Done.
Offering to help Sheriff Dempsy might help him pass the time between re-roofing his unlivable cabin whilst sleeping in a tent. But Niall’s gruff, cold offer is rejected, and so, as the island crime spree gets going, Mat and Niall wind up at odds, with tension simmering between them even as Mat’s mom invites Niall to stay after...well, something very bad happens. One bad thing among many.
The story focuses on the islanders, the murder and other crimes mystery, Niall’s past and Mat’s pride and his own family issues. It’s very, very slow-burn on romance, and I assume the bare bones of the connection that’s barely formed here will pick up and flourish in the rest of the series. So don’t go into this expecting much romance, but rather, a very very tentative first step by the end. But the characterizations and sense of place carry the story and make it an enjoyable one to be immersed in for a while.
Which leads me to the frustration of...the bad guy uncovered in this one felt coincidental as far as his connection to one MC and the island, and then the resolution left SO MANY things unresolved, including a near and...Stuff. It was frustrating. I also have suspicions about another person, but...we’ll see in the next books, because Yes, I definitely will continue the series...and hope the romance lights up! And all these waving loose threads will be tied up.
Oh...I forgot...there is a FANTASTIC dog character! Loved this element.
HFN, sheriff-detective, local hero v prodigal “son,” murder mystery/rash of crimes, insular island setting. Totally safe for me, no one is with any OM; there is OM drama from an ex but uninvited. Recommended.
August 28, 2022
I liked the characters, and I really, really liked the dog. The organization of the story however, needed some work. The mystery was good, the setting was well done, And as I have already said I liked the two main characters. Some of the supporting characters were just lukewarm. Like the deputy that we were told was competent and smart and in the next chapter became a harpy worrying about the guys "bad language". Come on...really? This was a police station not a Sunday School class. The character of Niall is primarily a jerk, that spent most of the story steamrolling over Mat and Mat allowing him to. I hope that's not going to be the way any relationship they might have in the future is going to go. I know first books in a new series sometimes spend time setting the stage for future books, and since I didn't totally dislike the book...I will be willing to try book 2.
October 24, 2019
Who edited this book? Answer: No one. Minus one star.
I’m sitting in the hospital post spinal surgery. What I recall about this book is that it’s a really good starter for the series. Niall is a good man with some wicked ghosts in his closet. Mat is both charming and a good leader. And Fenrir is pure poetry. Excellent supporting cast of characters. I’m really looking forward to the next one. And sadly, that’s all I can manage today. 🤭
I’m sitting in the hospital post spinal surgery. What I recall about this book is that it’s a really good starter for the series. Niall is a good man with some wicked ghosts in his closet. Mat is both charming and a good leader. And Fenrir is pure poetry. Excellent supporting cast of characters. I’m really looking forward to the next one. And sadly, that’s all I can manage today. 🤭
October 16, 2019
4.25 Stars
Well, damn. That was a pleasant surprise...count me in for whatever is next in this series!!
Well, damn. That was a pleasant surprise...count me in for whatever is next in this series!!
June 28, 2020
Upping to a full 4 stars on the reread.
-------Original Review Oct 2019-------
3.5 Stars
In this latest suspense series, by Elle Keaton, we have ourselves a murder!
Niall Hamarsson is bitter and cynical. After a rather tragic childhood followed by the isolation of his teenage years, Niall left Piedras Island, where his grandparents raised him, to go to college and then the police academy. After more than a decade on the force, Niall is a burnt out homicide detective and ready to walk away from it all. So he does, going back to the island, where he never felt at home or accepted, to try to figure out what to do with the rest of his life.
Mat Dempsey is sheriff of Piedras Island. It was never really in his ambition to come back home to run for sheriff, but here he is and he likes his life. About the only thing he doesn't have is someone to share his life with, but he's ok with that, for now. Life is usually pretty quiet in the winter on the island, with no tourism to speak of, so when there's a murder - the first in a very long time - and then other seemingly random crimes, Mat finds himself unseasonably busy and trying to figure out just where Niall fits in.
Conspiracy Theory is a super slow burn.I could definitely feel the attraction between the men -- an attraction that neither of them wanted -- but I missed the romance, here. Mat and Niall barely even talk for 3/4 of the book, much less get together. That doesn't happen until the very end. Now, that said, the timeline for the story is really quite short, and in real life Mat and Niall would have had a lot going on without getting involved with one another. Never fear, though, because this is just book 1, so I'm hoping we'll see Niall and Mat's relationship blossom in the next book.
I enjoyed the suspense plot, as well, though the resolution kind of threw me. It all seemed to come together really quickly and was kind of anticlimactic, to be honest. I can't help feel like there's more to come in regard to this particular crime spree. At least I hope so, because I am intrigued and want to know more.
All in all, Conspiracy Theory is a pretty decent start to a series that I will definitely continue reading as Elle Keaton gives us more.
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ARC of Conspiracy Theory was generously provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review.
-------Original Review Oct 2019-------
3.5 Stars
In this latest suspense series, by Elle Keaton, we have ourselves a murder!
Niall Hamarsson is bitter and cynical. After a rather tragic childhood followed by the isolation of his teenage years, Niall left Piedras Island, where his grandparents raised him, to go to college and then the police academy. After more than a decade on the force, Niall is a burnt out homicide detective and ready to walk away from it all. So he does, going back to the island, where he never felt at home or accepted, to try to figure out what to do with the rest of his life.
Mat Dempsey is sheriff of Piedras Island. It was never really in his ambition to come back home to run for sheriff, but here he is and he likes his life. About the only thing he doesn't have is someone to share his life with, but he's ok with that, for now. Life is usually pretty quiet in the winter on the island, with no tourism to speak of, so when there's a murder - the first in a very long time - and then other seemingly random crimes, Mat finds himself unseasonably busy and trying to figure out just where Niall fits in.
Conspiracy Theory is a super slow burn.I could definitely feel the attraction between the men -- an attraction that neither of them wanted -- but I missed the romance, here. Mat and Niall barely even talk for 3/4 of the book, much less get together. That doesn't happen until the very end. Now, that said, the timeline for the story is really quite short, and in real life Mat and Niall would have had a lot going on without getting involved with one another. Never fear, though, because this is just book 1, so I'm hoping we'll see Niall and Mat's relationship blossom in the next book.
I enjoyed the suspense plot, as well, though the resolution kind of threw me. It all seemed to come together really quickly and was kind of anticlimactic, to be honest. I can't help feel like there's more to come in regard to this particular crime spree. At least I hope so, because I am intrigued and want to know more.
All in all, Conspiracy Theory is a pretty decent start to a series that I will definitely continue reading as Elle Keaton gives us more.
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ARC of Conspiracy Theory was generously provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review.
March 30, 2021
I didn't care who killed the girl. I think the author made a good job of showing how a police investigation works around the islands; they don't have the resources and the manpower to move things along, it's just a lot of waiting. And that was fine, but it was moving way too slowly for me. And the residents were complaining about some wolf, and someone killed the sheep and all these minor and seemingly irrelevant happenings bored me. I was not invested in this. I was skimming a lot.
Niall's past interested me way more, so onward I went. He is a likeable character, broody but has a sweet side. The romance was quite absent and I wouldn't have minded that. But honestly it felt off, especially with that ending.
2.5 stars
Niall's past interested me way more, so onward I went. He is a likeable character, broody but has a sweet side. The romance was quite absent and I wouldn't have minded that. But honestly it felt off, especially with that ending.
2.5 stars
August 8, 2020
Found this book very dry, it appears to be the start of a series and there's a lot of info-dump setting the scene without bringing it to life.
The characters are interesting but didn't entirely engage me. Niall appeared to experiencing a breakdown and didn't quite add up; taciturnal, brooding mountain-man but also a highly regarded workaholic detective which would require a sembalance of functionality.
Then Mat who was out, but is now home so no longer out, and I got the feeling the author changed her mind part way on that.
There's no investigation; people seem to randomly walk into the station to tell them things otherwise they'd be lost. The plot even when revealed made no sense. There's some random mentions of a cult/conspiracy theory group that everyone seems to know about but isn't explained. Possibly threads for another book but so awkward.
Also Niall's involvement in the non-investigation was odd, yes he had the time but even considering his workaholic tendancies it seemed out of character and highly unprofessional to volunteer.
The romance is...well there's a sudden scene at the end, which if you ignore their thoughts and think only of their actual interactions, had zero foreshadowing. They dance around each other a bit getting to know each other, which I'm happy enough with I like a slow getting to know each other. Some sparks would have been nice though.
Niggle - crashing of mouths together, a paragraph later there's teeth grinding and a mention of dentists and not paying full attention my thought was he would be needing a dentist if he kept crashing faces.
The pacing/writing style seemed pedestrian to me, it was step by step descriptions that didn't quite flow. Some reactions and timing of follow-ups seemed really off. Characters could have been interesting but beyond info-dump background didn't linger on page long enough to be come alive.
Found the book dull and this author really isn't one for me. One star is for the dog, because a good dog makes everything better.
The characters are interesting but didn't entirely engage me. Niall appeared to experiencing a breakdown and didn't quite add up; taciturnal, brooding mountain-man but also a highly regarded workaholic detective which would require a sembalance of functionality.
Then Mat who was out, but is now home so no longer out, and I got the feeling the author changed her mind part way on that.
There's no investigation; people seem to randomly walk into the station to tell them things otherwise they'd be lost. The plot even when revealed made no sense. There's some random mentions of a cult/conspiracy theory group that everyone seems to know about but isn't explained. Possibly threads for another book but so awkward.
Also Niall's involvement in the non-investigation was odd, yes he had the time but even considering his workaholic tendancies it seemed out of character and highly unprofessional to volunteer.
The romance is...well there's a sudden scene at the end, which if you ignore their thoughts and think only of their actual interactions, had zero foreshadowing. They dance around each other a bit getting to know each other, which I'm happy enough with I like a slow getting to know each other. Some sparks would have been nice though.
Niggle - crashing of mouths together, a paragraph later there's teeth grinding and a mention of dentists and not paying full attention my thought was he would be needing a dentist if he kept crashing faces.
The pacing/writing style seemed pedestrian to me, it was step by step descriptions that didn't quite flow. Some reactions and timing of follow-ups seemed really off. Characters could have been interesting but beyond info-dump background didn't linger on page long enough to be come alive.
Found the book dull and this author really isn't one for me. One star is for the dog, because a good dog makes everything better.
October 9, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.75 stars
For readers who love a slow burn or stories about cops solving murder mystery cases, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Elle Keaton’s world on Piedras Island (which seems to be a made up island in the very real San Juan Islands archipelago) rang true as someone who grew up in a town with a similar dichotomy of “summer people” and “locals” who lived there year round. The small-town feel materializes in a few ways. First, there is a feud between two families that have long lived on the island, both of which have a connection to the murder victim. Second, Mat’s knowledge about the residents and his treatment of them reflect small-town values. For example, instead of arresting a local man who is barred from handling firearms on account of a domestic violence charge, Mat reminds him of that very fact when the local man takes up a gun to help a neighbor hunt down a wolf. I appreciated that the background characters didn’t feel as though they were merely decoration, only popping up when it was convenient for the plot.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
4.75 stars
For readers who love a slow burn or stories about cops solving murder mystery cases, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Elle Keaton’s world on Piedras Island (which seems to be a made up island in the very real San Juan Islands archipelago) rang true as someone who grew up in a town with a similar dichotomy of “summer people” and “locals” who lived there year round. The small-town feel materializes in a few ways. First, there is a feud between two families that have long lived on the island, both of which have a connection to the murder victim. Second, Mat’s knowledge about the residents and his treatment of them reflect small-town values. For example, instead of arresting a local man who is barred from handling firearms on account of a domestic violence charge, Mat reminds him of that very fact when the local man takes up a gun to help a neighbor hunt down a wolf. I appreciated that the background characters didn’t feel as though they were merely decoration, only popping up when it was convenient for the plot.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
May 27, 2024
October 2021
Listened to the audio this time, perfectly narrated by Michael Dean. :)
And I'm really glad that this series is completed by now so I'm going to listen to the next book right away.
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February 2020
Great captivating story!
I really hope the next book will soon be available!!
4.5 stars
Listened to the audio this time, perfectly narrated by Michael Dean. :)
And I'm really glad that this series is completed by now so I'm going to listen to the next book right away.
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February 2020
Great captivating story!
I really hope the next book will soon be available!!
4.5 stars
November 7, 2021
I'm very tempted to ask the author to refrain from writing crime. Don't take me wrong, the chemistry was spot on but the crime part, man, what the hell did I just read. One of the most important things about writing a crime story is to stay away from coincidences as much as possible. But this one? It was riddled with coincidences.
May 13, 2020
5 stars audio and story!
June 24, 2024
Listened to this first in a series with a new to me author. The romance was the slowest of slow burns but I almost didn't notice cause the mystery got my full attention. Rating it 3.5 ⭐⭐⭐
August 25, 2020
Very little intimacy, and a very slow burn. Loved it. Already downloaded Book 2, and pre-ordered Book 3
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