AUDIO REVIEW: Reading Between the Lines by Nicky James (Shadowy Solutions #3)

- September 14, 2025

READING BETWEEN THE LINES

Shadowy Solutions - Book Three

by Nicky James

Release Date: March 6, 2025

Audio Release Date: March 24, 2025

Review

Diem’s world contains a lot of darkness. He has to fight to make it through each day.

But now he has Tallus, you batters him with happiness, love, and affection. I’m not going to lie, Tallus annoys me. If I met him in real life, I would leave the room. A bit childish and purposefully naive. But I can see why he works for Diem. Diem gets stuck in his own head, and Tallus prods him out of it.

This time, they’ve got themselves mixed up in a twisted case in the small town of Port Hope. The suspects are numerous. The town drunk, a dark book club involving some teenagers, and a teacher who is a little too unconcerned with the questionable behaviour of his students. Along with some unhelpful small-town police.

Through twists and turns, Tallus and Diem make strides in both the case and their relationship. It’s a gripping story, and really wonderful as an audiobook. Narrated by the talented Nick J. Russo.

And for the record, a B&B full of clocks would make me murderous too.

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Synopsis

One case to save my career.

One headstrong boyfriend I can’t function without.

I’m doomed.

Without solving a peculiar out-of-town case, Diem’s career is over. He can’t afford to live, let alone pay bills and run the business.

The case involves a mostly dead teen and a small-town police department who are convinced the boy suffered an accident.

All hope lies on the hunch of a grieving mother.

Unable to handle such a delicate situation on his own and unwilling to go bust, Diem invites his boyfriend/almost-partner along to make sure his rough edges don’t cost them a payday.

What he didn’t expect was a high school full of secrets and suspects, a bed-and-breakfast from hell with only one m*#@er f*#@ing bed, and danger around every corner because someone doesn’t want the truth to be unveiled.

Diem can handle threats. Risking life and limb to get answers is part of the game. But as the mystery unfolds, he realizes there is one thing not worth jeopardizing for a case: Tallus.

About Nicky James

I live in the small town of Petrolia, Ontario, Canada and I am a mother to a wonderful teenage boy (didn't think those words could be typed together...surprise) and wife to a truly supportive and understanding husband, who thankfully doesn't think I'm crazy.

I have always had two profound dreams in life. To fall back hundreds of years in time and live in a simpler world, not bogged down by technology and to write novels. Since only one of these was a possibility I decided to make the other come alive on paper.

I write mm romance novels that take place in fantastical medieval type settings and love to use the challenges of the times to give my stories and characters life.

Where to find them: