Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: Black Moon
SERIES: Hamarsson and Dempsey #3 of 3
AUTHOR: Elle Keaton
PUBLISHER: Dirty Dog Press
LENGTH: 256 pages
RELEASE DATE: November 19, 2020
BLURB:
One corpse, two corpse, old corpse, new corpse.
Summer is crashing into fall, Mat and Niall have a wedding to overthink.
A body is discovered floating in the harbor and this time it’s the missing ex-Piedras Marine officer Duane Cooper.
Who, aside from Niall, wanted Duane dead? He’s been on the run for months, why would he turn up dead now?
Black Moon, third in the Hamarsson and Dempsey series, is a dual POV following Sheriff Mat Dempsey and now Private Investigator Niall Hamarsson as they grope their way to a happily ever after.
REVIEW:
For me, this story was a welcome home to a world I’ve enjoyed since reading the first chapter of the first book. Black Moon was published earlier than expected, so thank you, thank you, thank you. I looked forward to sitting on a nice comfy couch and ambling my way through the pages, soaking up every word. Over the previous two books in the series, I’ve come to love Piedras and its characters. The jaded ex-cop from book one is in a much better place, mentally, but there are still mysteries to solve.
From a snail’s pace of a start in book one, the relationship between Niall and Mat is now cooking on full gas. Niall and Mat are living together, and after another body is found in the harbor, Niall becomes fearful for Mat’s life, going into protective mode. What comes after is the beginning of the end of an investigation that has spanned three books. One that takes the sheriff’s department and associates all over Piedras and beyond.
I read an advanced reader copy, so to find a few typos was not surprising. I liked the way that despite it being a few months since book two, the writing is such that I didn’t need to re-read it to get up to date with previous happenings. Like the other books, the imagery is detailed allowing me to visualize every aspect.
Mat is beautifully authoritative without being domineering, and Niall is less brooding, happier in his skin, and thankful for the family he has gained. Pussy-footing around each other is gone. There was also the welcome return of other cherished characters, although they were mainly in the background. The investigation was foremost. Shout-outs here to Shay and Fenrir who stole a few scenes.
Other than some opening drama, up to half-way simmers with anticipation. After that, with each chapter, the drama ramps up a notch with another clue slotted into the jigsaw. Despite Niall working for a private investigation company, he can’t help poking his nose into Mat’s open cases. Due to the complex nature of the story, I found myself trying to put the clues together, too. Daft, I know but I couldn’t help it. A phrase used several times through the story was along the lines of, real-life isn’t like the cop shows with everything instant and bang-wallop. This story holds to the detective side rather than all-guns-blazing. Nevertheless, there is action, drama, guns, and explosives. I’d love to say more about the crimes and investigations, but I’d end up giving too much away.
I found the ending was satisfying, albeit for one little forensic element whose secret remained annoyingly unspoken. I don’t know if this has been purposely left or not, but I read it twice to make sure I hadn’t missed a sentence containing the answer to Fenrir’s find. If it was on purpose, I don’t know whether to shout, “Elle Keaton – Shame on you!” or be elated at the possibility of spin-offs. Either way, it would be lovely if there was a little one-off that gave closure to this mystery.
I loved this story and adored the series. However, as it is book 3 of what is advertised as a 3 book series, I expected complete closure, and feel cheated at anything less, hence the 4 instead of 4.5 hearts. One can always have other standalone stories within the Hamarsson and Dempsey world, after all, there is never a clean slate in a police department, but to leave a bit hanging was naughty.
RATING: 
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