Outside

Death Row Chronicles, Book 2

By: Nicky James

Narrated by: Nick J. Russo

Length: 9 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

Twenty years ago, the crash gates slammed shut on Bishop Ndiaye’s life when he was sentenced to death for a crime he didn’t commit. His life became a waiting game while he sat on death row in one of the country’s worst prisons waiting for his warrant to be signed and his inevitable walk to the death chamber. But it never happened. Anson Miller’s arrival into Bishop’s life changed everything, and with nothing more than a hope and a prayer and a kickass lawyer, Bishop fought for his freedom and won. But how do you reintegrate into a world you no longer know?

Twenty years has brought a lot of change. Bishop needs to relearn the world, but it isn’t easy when his face has become front-page news, and his story is whispered in every crowd. Not only does Bishop find himself suffering from severe trauma after his prolonged sentence, but he’s discovered the world on the outside may not be all it’s cracked up to be. Some days, it’s like he’s exchanged one prison for another. As if that’s not overwhelming enough, Bishop walked out of prison into the arms of a man he knows he loves, but he’s never explored this part of himself before and hardly knows where to begin. Navigating a relationship, technology, anxiety, and people is overwhelming. The cracks in Bishop’s foundation start to show, and the big man doesn’t know where to turn for help. Was this whole ordeal worth it? Maybe he was better off on the inside.

This is book two in the Death Row Chronicles and is not stand-alone. It should be listened to following Inside (volume one).

©2020 Nicky James (P)2023 Nicky James

Great Conclusion

Gah! I've been waiting very impatiently for the second half audio of this amazing duet! I’d read this before, but Nick J Russo, sucked me right back into Anson and Bishop’s story! He did such an amazing job bringing all the emotions of Bishop facing the outside world after so many years of prison life. He really conveyed Bishop’s bewilderment of the world around him; as well as Anson’s frustration of Bishop not being treated like the free and innocent man he was. This was an amazing conclusion to Bishop and Anson’s story. It was such an emotional rollercoaster. I found myself tearing up throughout his story. Nicky James always makes me feel her characters and this was no exception. I could feel Bishop’s pain of re-entry and discrimination throughout. My heart truly ached for this innocent man who was trying to rebuild his life. In turn, Anson was facing his own problems; being shunned and mistreated at work for being gay, trying to be patient with Bishop and not understanding why Bishop wasn’t ready to go right out the gate. Watching these two men grow together, find each other, and find comfort in their love made for an amazing read. I wanted to race to the finish to see how their story unfolded, and at the same time I wanted to savor this amazing journey Nicky spun for us. Bishop and Anson will pull at your heartstrings in the best ways, and deliver a HEA that is so well deserved. I know that Bishop and Anson’s story will linger with me for a long time. I couldn’t recommend this story more.

✫✫ 5 "I LOVED THIS BOOK" Stars ✫✫

And another great book by Nicky James! I was dying for this audiobook release after finishing Inside and let me just say this was everything I wanted it to be! I love the relationship between Anson & Bishop and I truly love how they communicate and work hard to deal with everything going on in their lives. I really liked all of the friendships they made and I love both of their families. This book just tugged at my heartstrings and I admire the strength these characters have and especially how they bring out that strength in each other. The ending was perfect and left me with a huge smile on my face. I am sad their story is over and hope maybe one day we will get a novella or something with a how are they now story ;) hint hint

Nick J. Russo was perfect. I really enjoy his work and love that every person has their own voice.

Outstanding performance by Nick J. Russo

4,5 stars

After listening to the audio of Inside, I was really looking forward to listen to the second book, Outside. It’s the book told from Bishops pov, telling the story of how life outside death row treats him. It appears it’s not so good.
Imagine having spent twenty years of your life in prison, the outside world passing by and changing into something almost unrecognisable. The moment you are confronted with all these changes, it must be overwhelming - computers, cell phones, hectic daily life…How do you cope with all that when at the same time you need to adjust to this new life outside, leaving your daily routine, the weirdly comfort of the four walls you’ve known for 20 years? And I’m not even talking about a hostile small town where nobody accepts you and calls you trouble and a murderer and where no one seems to be willing to give you a second chance at life.
The one thing Bishop needed was for Anson to be there for him. But Anson has his own problems and Bishop doesn’t want to add to them, so the idyllic idea of them living together and be happy for the rest of their lives, kind of blows up in their faces. It’s hard on both of them. Life isn’t treating them fair and for a long time it looks like it never will.
I was happy to see Bishop found help from people who knew exactly what he was going through, that David was there for him and helped him. That he understood what Bishop needed, and when David gave him the present that meant so much to Bishop, I couldn’t help but think it had to have been a gift from Anson. He should have known.
Anson didn’t seem like the Anson we met in the first book. I get that he was frustrated, and I get that he had a lot of negative stuff going on at work, but after all the fighting he and Bishop did to get Bishops name cleared and get him out of prison, you’d think he would show more understanding for how hard things must be for Bishop. Instead we see an angry man, too busy with himself to notice what was going on with the man he loved.
Again Nick J. Russo did an excellent job performing this story. The way he portrayed Bishop was perfect.

I loved that Nicky James didn’t rush the story and clearly put a lot of thought and research in what life had to be like when you spent so much time away from the world. It was heartbreaking at times and maddening too, specially at the narrow minded people in that small Texas town. There was only one way for them to be happy and I loved how they finally found their well deserved happy ending.

Binge Worthy

seriously, it's one of my favorite series. Another 5stars on the books for Nicky

OMG TOP 2023 listen

Words can not explain how wonderful this duet is. This book was everything and more than what I expected the second time go around this time listening. Nick did an amazing job. KUDOS

My heart broke for Anson and Bishop with all the struggles they went through once Bishop was released. These two guys are such a rock of support for each other once they learn how to communicate properly. I don’t think I would handle now being on the outside as well as Bishop did.

I loved seeing Javier, Derek, Jalen and Drake. Jalen and Bishop just crushed me. These two brothers deserve the best in life together now and they have just the men to be there for them

Nicky knows how to take us on a beautiful heartbreaking journey. Her writing is beautiful and the story just flowed. I could not put it down. I was so sad when I hit “The End”. I feel like I could read a whole new book about them all. These two were meant to find each other

Immensely powerful and insightful story

Nick Russo does an amazing job of giving life to this story. It really felt like Bishop was telling me his story and letting me feel all of his emotions right along with him.

Anson is doing his best to help Bishop as he deal with his freedom after so long in prison. There are so many ups and downs for both of them as they navigate this new normal.

Bishop's vulnerability in his new environment was touchingly emotional. This audio definitely bought all the feels. The hope and hopelessness, fear and courage, love and friendship, judgement and acceptance makes for a immensely powerful and insightful story that I highly recommend!!

It deserves more than 5 stars

I LOVE THIS DUET!

I’m a huge fan of Nicky, and this book did not disappoint. While I felt there were some points that were obvious, and could have been discovered sooner, I understood that this book was focused on Bishop’s need to deal with his PTSD and growth. All in all this duet it raw, heartbreaking, sad, frustrating, redeeming and beautifully loving! Kudos to Nicky and Nick!❤️

Stunning!

This was everything I was hoping for and more! Inside was such an intense, emotional journey that ended leaving me eagerly awaiting the release of Outside. I knew this book would be amazing, Ms. James doesn't know how to write a book that isn't, but I really wasnt expecting this book to make me feel so deeply and connect so completely with a character. Nick J Russo was just so incredibly good at bringing all the emotion and feelings to life and making me connect even more deeply with the characters than when I read the book. just outstanding!

This book was entirely from Bishop's point of view, we saw and felt everything from his perspective. And boy did I feel! I felt like I was seeing the world again for the first time in 20 years, I felt like the walls were closing in on me from the overwhelmingly fast outside world, I wanted to curl up next to Bishop on the floor in the kitchen and comfort him. I felt his trepidation to move forward with his relationship with Anson and his fear of rejoining the outside world. Bishop seeing everything, after missing 20 years, caused me so much personal introspection...the world we live in today is fast, its electronic and it can be scary...maybe sometimes we all should slow down to appreciate the small wonders in this world.
This story was so much more than just Bishop's rejoining of society. This was an epic love story as well. Bishop and Anson had a bond from the beginning, one that wouldn't be broken. Many things were thrown in their path to test this bond, but they held strong to their love and worked together to find their happiness. The intimacy was heart melting, Bishop's first everything was with Anson and their path of sexual discovery was so well done, it was entwined with caring, lust, love, understanding and unwavering commitment. They were there for each other every step of the way.
This was such a satisfying happily ever after because they both worked so hard for it and deserved it so very much. This book was phenomenal. Ms. James is just an amazing author and writes books that completely immerse the reader in the world she has created. I never wanted it to end, I knew it needed to, and it ended in a perfect place, but it will be a long while before I can let go of Bishop and Anson. Just perfection!

Very touching

This was a touching love story. I am against the death penalty primarily because there could be that 1 out of what ever the statical number is that is innocent. The bigotry portrayed in the book angered me because I know it really happens in this world. Glad there could at least be a happy ending in the story . Wish real life had same. Great story

Different than all the others

Love this story & the sequel. The ending felt a bit rushed but still very good & well written. Nicky James is still my favorite! The only thing is I wanted that stupid small town cop to get what he had coming.