Reading Between the Lines cover art

Reading Between the Lines

Shadowy Solutions, Book 3

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Reading Between the Lines

By: Nicky James
Narrated by: Nick J. Russo
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About this listen

Officially boyfriends and business partners, Tallus and Diem take on a new case in a small town outside of Toronto, where the police have deemed the death of a teen an accident, but the mother isn't so sure.

©2025 Nicky James (P)2025 Nicky James Literature & Fiction Mystery Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Romance Romantic Suspense

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This book was amazing it was so good watching Diem grow and chase some of his demons away all for Tallus . The plot was perfection and even though i guessed who the unsub was early on the twists and turns threw me in different directions and had me second guessing myself.

Fabulous story

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Listener received this title free

listening to nick j russo bring this story to life was absolutely breathtaking and beautiful I felt every emotion that the characters were going through

the story was intense emotional and full of chemistry I felt every word

fantastic narration

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Listener received this title free

I must admit that I don't read a lot of mysteries but this was so good and had me fully invested. Private investigator Diem and his boyfriend Tallus are the perfect grumpy/sunshine couple. Diem has lived a hard life and is struggling financially. Then he gets a job from a mother whose son is brain-dead after a seemingly accident however she is determined it wasn't an accident. Diem brings Tallis with him. Initially Diem isn't convinced that there's a case but when they start digging around, things don't add up. But the investigation isn't easy in the small community. I loved the dynamic between Diem and Tallus. Tallus has got a big personality which was entertaining and he's very good with Diem. The narrator did a great job with the story too.

Entertainment mystery

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Listener received this title free

Once again Nick J Russo gives a flawless performance which had me hooked from the start until the very end. He made it an absolute listening pleasure to be back with Tallus and Diem as they solve another intriguing case. The sassy, stylish and stubborn Tallus and Diem with all his instability and insecurities are now boyfriends. Circumstances have them travelling to Port Hope where a grieving mother requires their investigative abilities. It’s a case that had me hooked from the start and the twists and turns throughout certainly kept me on my toes when it came to guessing the villain. At times my heart broke for Diem and the life he’d had to endure, he’s truly a troubled soul but with Tallus by his side more of the heavily constructed walls surrounding him start to crumble. I also found myself giggling at the absurdity of the Bed and Breakfast they had to endure but it did bring them closer together. I loved seeing the relationship between these two wonderfully flawed men grow stronger as slowly but surely Diem opened himself up just a little bit more and accepted some good into his life.

Another brilliant listen!

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Listener received this title free

Story: I love the author's talent of balancing the romantic side of the story with a very well written suspense plot! Yet again we see the MCs' navigating their complicated connection and personal challenges alongside solving a fascinating case.
The story is superbly balanced and brilliantly thought out. It's a true skill to write multiple books about one couple without the plot feeling stretched to the limits and without losing the reader's interest. Mine isn't going anywhere!
Narration: Great performance as usual. I can't hear any other voices for these characters now and the match is perfect.

Better and better!

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Listener received this title free

This series gets better with every book! If you only look at the criminal case, this book can be read as a standalone. If you are interested in the character development, I highly recommend reading the series in order! So far my favorite book in the series.
Nicky James is a very good writer. I love her wonderful writing style and the characters she develops in depth. The story is written in the first-person perspective, alternating between Diem and Tallus, which allows you to get to know them both well.
Diem and Tallus are working on their relationship status as boyfriends, as well as working on functioning together as work colleagues as private investigators. So they accept the assignment offered by a mother who does not believe her son was killed in an accident, but is firmly convinced that it was a murder.
The case is exciting and much more complex than initially assumed, which was superbly done and it was a pleasure to puzzle over what really happened.
The highlight for me was Diem's development. He finally faces up to his emotions and tries to communicate them openly. When he finally overcomes himself, not only did Tallus think it was sweet, I thought it was very sweet and emotional too.
He is also very protective of Tallus, which made me want to hug him. Diem's dry humor brought a smile to my face a few times as I listened to the audiobook. Tallus knows how to handle Diem's emotional states well and sometimes pushes him to leave his comfort zone, but not without a quick retreat.
The solution to the case came as a surprise to me and the way there was exciting and very entertaining.

Nick J. Russo narrated the audiobook and outdid himself. He did a brilliant job and made the audiobook a real listening experience. He did a phenomenal job of bringing Diem's impatient and slightly aggressive nature to life, as well as the other characters. Chapeaux, Nick J. Russo, that was awesome!

This series just gets better and better!

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I really enjoyed this book, not sure what a page turner is called in audible, but this definitely was one. For me the story was gripping and had enough twists & turns to keep me guessing, till I narrowed it down to the final suspects. Talius & Diem are complete opposites yet they complement each other completely and work well together. Nick J Russo really brings the characters & the story to life, can't wait for the next book

This series just gets better and better!

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Listener received this title free

By the time this third Shadowy Solutions book opens, Diem Krause and Tallus Domingo have been officially in a relationship for six weeks, and Tallus is almost finished with his PI certification. The story proper begins when Diem is offered a very large sum of money to investigate what appears to be the accidental drowning of a teenager in the small town of Port Hope. The boy’s mother is convinced that what happened to her son was no accident and hires Diem to prove it, and although Diem thinks her suspicions are almost certainly the delusions of a grieving parent, the hefty fee is something he can’t afford to turn down. Shadowy Solutions is close to bankruptcy and he needs a fast injection of cash to keep it going. Diem is good at what he does and gets results, but his gruffness, his lack of empathy and his intimidating manner haven’t won him many clients over the years, so he badly needs this job, no matter how wild the goose chase.

Nicky James once again does an excellent job of crafting an intriguing mystery full of unexpected twists and turns while also continuing the forward momentum of the romance between our very odd-couple. It’s clear that Diem has been working really hard to overcome some of the challenges he faces, and while he still finds certain situations quite challenging, it’s a measure of how far he’s come that he’s now open to trying new things and that he’s learning to allow himself the joy that Tallus brings to his life. And I was pleased to see Tallus, who, in the last book, seemed sometimes to be just a bit too pushy and manipulative, being more understanding of both his own behaviour and Diem’s; it feels as though he’s grown up a little, too.

Nick J. Russo delivers another incredible performance that perfectly captures all the complex emotions that are present in the story. The deep, growly tones he adopts to portray Diem work so well to depict this big, imposing man with a temper he sometimes can barely leash – and while there has always been a sense of Diem’s underlying vulnerability close to the surface, in this story, that vulnerability breaks through and Mr. Russo does an outstanding job in those scenes of deep and powerful emotion where Diem’s control is at breaking point. His portrayal of Tallus, too, is extremely good, expertly conveying the character’s warmth, good nature and humour, while also not being afraid to let go in those really intense moments where Tallus is shaken and overwhelmed. It’s a flawless performance – from the pacing to the variety of vocal characterisations to the differentation to the acting – and Mr. Russo shows yet again that he’s one of the best narrators in the genre.

Reading Between the Lines ends on a positive note all-round and with Diem and Tallus in a really good place and looking forward to a future together. I’m really looking forward to the next instalment in this terrific series.

Nick J. Russo knocks it outta the park!

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Listener received this title free

Nicky James weaves suspense, romance, and crime-solving together like no one else, and I was riveted from this book's start to its finish. This particular adventure took Tallus and Diem to the town of Port Hope, where a grieving mother sought answers for her son's accident. As the two of them settled into the town and began poking around for information, I was reminded of how different their investigation style is from police detectives. Diem and Tallus weren't afraid to get their hands dirty, ask questions first and beg forgiveness later, and their scrappiness led them into some dicey situations. I found the chase as compelling as ever, and each new piece of information sent my mind spinning in different directions. There's no such thing as an open/shut case when it comes to Nicky James's adventures, and this book kept raising the stakes for Diem and Tallus while leaving me with more questions than answers. Diem and Tallus weren't the most polished when it came to fact-finding and clue-seeking, and that definitely came back to bite them a handful of times. I admired their dogged pursuit of information, and I have to hand it to them, they kept going when most others would have given up and walked away. I was shocked by how targeted the attacks seemed to be on Tallus and Diem as they got closer to their big breakthrough, and these two faced serious consequences for seeking out the truth. I felt like I was on pins and needles waiting for the moment when everything fell into place, and what a spectacular reveal the ending was.

In terms of the romance, the events in this book propelled Diem and Tallus's relationship forward both physically and emotionally. Physically, Diem was able to work through some of his touch-aversion, and there was nothing sweeter than seeing him and Tallus take a bath together or cuddle up in bed without letting anxious thoughts take over. Those softer moments, coupled with the extreme danger Diem and Tallus faced, put both men in a headspace where they were finally ready to say those three little words to each other. I think my heart actually stopped beating for a second when I got to that section because I was so overwhelmed with happiness. Diem is never going to be an effusive guy, but I have no doubts about how deeply he cares for Tallus and how serious Tallus is about him. Theirs is the perfect example of how opposites attract, and I loved seeing how they brought out the best aspects of their personalities in this book. I'm secretly hoping that Tallus and Diem's adventures will be a 6, 7+ book long series that continues to show the evolution of their PI work and romantic relationship, but if I had to pick an earlier end point, the conclusion to this story wouldn't be a bad place to leave off. Diem and Tallus feel solidly in love, their business has finally turned the corner, and Diem's sweet Nana is getting the care she needs.

Another mystery for Diem and Tallus to solve!

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Loved everything! The mystery, the evolution of Diem and Talus’ romance, and the narration were top notch!

Great mystery and romance!

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