Radio Static

By: Nicky James

Narrated by: Nick J. Russo

Length: 11 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's Summary

Two single dads. Two headstrong teenagers. One dead body.

A cabin in the middle of nowhere, nature all around, peace and serenity. It was supposed to be a vacation to help Nova reconnect with his son.

But he didn’t expect to fall for his neighbor in the cabin across the lake.

He didn’t expect an erratic and unusual broadcast on a radio station no longer in existence.

And he definitely didn’t expect a dead body in the water.

Mercy likes his mysteries to stay within the pages of his novels. When strange things start to happen at his summer cabin, he and his daughter team up with the man and his son on the other side of the lake to get to the bottom of it. A little amateur sleuthing won’t hurt anyone, right?

Someone out there knows the truth.
Who is the man on the radio?
What does he know?
Mercy and Nova are determined to solve the mystery, but are they willing to risk life and limb for answers? Because someone doesn’t want their secrets revealed.

**Radio Static is an MM romantic mystery involving two single dads in their midforties.**

©2021 Nicky James (P)2023 Nicky James

Fantastic as expected

This was great. I remember loving the book when I read it but Nick Russo really brought the mystery to life. The tension in this book was palpable and it was taken up a notch hearing it instead. I definitely recommend it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars for the mystery & the love story! 💕

Whenever I finish one of Nicky James' books, I think “how will she ever come up with something else that will surprise me with its originality”… and then I start a new one of her stories and I’m blown away yet again!

Radio Static is both a whodunnit and a love story, but it’s also much more. It gives readers the joys of different friendships, shows the fierce devotion of parental love, and pulls us along for a riveting ride with four richly developed characters, determined to solve an exciting and dangerous murder mystery. Soon you’ll realize that you are eagerly sleuthing along with them.

Usually presented with twenty-somethings as the main characters in most MM books, I really appreciated that the love interests in this story are older. Mercy and Nova, 45 and 43 years old respectively, are both dads of a strong-willed teenager. Though I’ve shied away from single dad romances in the past, Nicky James crafted such compelling, interesting teens, that I absolutely loved Mercy’s daughter Rae, and Nova’s son Cooper.

Each thinking he’s brought his teen to a lakeside cabin for a summer vacation, Mercy and Nova are caught off guard by a murder near their idyllic getaway homes. But then that murder leads them to a much bigger mystery as a scary voice comes crackling over the radio spouting possible evidence related to the crime. Fueled by their curiosity, the dads, and their teens, uncover clues. But, as the story progresses, the suspects keep piling up, making it near impossible to know who to trust. And just like the characters, when you think you’ve figured it all out, you’ll get more information that will make you question everything you thought you knew.

As expected, Nick J. Russo’s masterful narration made this listen a fabulous experience. His entertaining, distinctive voices, his ability to perform every nuanced emotion, coupled with Nicky James’ rich story details, fully transported me to every scene. I couldn’t help but be invested as the friendships and love relationships developed, the mystery deepened, and the four amateur detectives uncovered clue after clue. The more I listened, the more I loved every minute.

Overall, Radio Static is a winning mystery, a beautiful love story, and it’s brilliantly performed! I highly recommend you gift yourself this wonderful experience.

Watch out Aslan and Quade!! New meet on the block

I started to read this book before the audio came out... then things happen and here we are. And boy am i glad i picked up this version of it. Mercy and nova are so cute together! i always love hearing stories from older age's it makes me hopefull. and the twist!! it was just so PACHOW!!! it had me on the balls of my feet the entire time!! The teens were great! Mercy definitely needs a good time to unwind. Or a good laying. or seven.

Loved it!

This is one of my favorite Nicky James novels and hearing it in audio was sheer perfection! Nick Russo did such a lovely job bringing this fantastic story to life.

Five stars!

Take a five-star book and add a five-star narrator like Nick J Russo, and magic happens. Radio Static is a first-rate thriller. Russo brings it to life and draws you into the story. Highly recommend!

Great Listen

I loved it. This story has a mystery with romance and some parenting challenges on the side. I was captivated from the start, following two dads who brought their teenage children to this beautifully serene cabin on the lake, just to unravel the ugly secrets hiding beneath the surface. Narrator did an amazing job telling this story and giving voices to all characters. This was a great listening experience.

Wow. Good story for a who done it.

Starts out a little slow with the the two families just coming to the cabins and noticing each other. Of course you have teenage hormones playing in the beginning but then the dads meet and adult harmonies come out to play. It all stems around the disappearance of a teenager some 30 years ago and how so many people in town having their own opinion on what happened to her. Then another murder happens and the kids who thought they could sneak out of their houses find the dead woman. Now they are really pulled into to trying to figure out who did it. Good story. Nick was so good with the kids voices that it was fun listening to him.

really good

I thought this was so good....I've been in a slump not finding any interest in something new....until this....great read...love the story line and couldn't stop listening...

Mystery and Romance tied together with kids.

Nicky has done it again. She has written a powerful suspense story that had me guessing to the very end. Both Cyrus and River were at times irritating and endearing. I really don’t want to say in more than what’s already been said. The reader needs to experience it for themselves. I don’t think they will be disappointed. When I say the reader you know what I mean. This is a compelling story that has you riveted to your seat. The narrator does an amazing job of telling me this story. I absolutely adored it. ❤️❤️

LOVED IT!

Nick Russo does an amazing job of bringing Radio Static to life. He captures the main characters perfectly.
I loved the combo mystery/romance in this story. The storyline had me hooked right from the start and I devoured this book.
I just loved Nova and Mercy. Two single dads become neighbors when they take a trip down to their lakefront cabins to spend quality summer vacation time with their kids. What could possibly go wrong!

I enjoyed watching Nova and Mercy grow closer as the pair and their kids investigate the town, it's locals and the past. It was fun and entertaining amidst the serious theme of disappearance/murder and who done it?

So Good

Loved it, everything about it! Nicky James never disappoints, the characters were likeable, the plot was gripping and OMG when it all came to a head!!! 16 year old Cooper, what a star and of course a big shoutout to Nick Russo whose narration, as always, was brilliant.

Seriously misogynistic

The way these characters behaved was infuriating,. The 14 year old daughter wanted to hang out with the son of the other main love interest, the level of discussion about sex with the two kids was just unrealistic in my opinion, the parents were making everything sexual, they didn’t even give the kids the chance to say hello, before lecturing about safe sex. The way in which all blame for anything going wrong and all responsibility was put on the young man was awful, no agency was given to the young woman, not sure if either the daughters parent or the author has heard about feminism!!! There was a situation where the young woman was screaming, both male parents went running thinking the young man had raped her, their first thought was that he must have sexually assaulted her, with his dad launching a verbal attack on his son without finding out what had happened and then not apologising to his son or checking he was ok. Seriously these two kids will end up very damaged if this was a real life situation. The way in which the parenting was written completely took away my enjoyment of this story - if bad parenting doesn’t bother you or you have an eighteenth century approach to women’s rights then have at it

Really enjoyable mystery!

4.5 Stars!

I really enjoyed the mystery surrounding Vivian's disappearance and the radio ramblings Nova and his 16-year-old Cooper came upon on their way to their month-long stay in a remote cabin by the lake. The amateur sleuthing was fun and it provided a way for Nova to bond with his neighbor Mercy and his 14yo daughter Rae, They were all really great at investigating together, even if it put them in harm's way. But what's a little sleuthing without the danger, right?

Nova and Mercy had a lot of chemistry and I loved them together, even if Mercy got on my nerves a bit with his wanting to live for his daughter and give up on love bit. And I thought Ms. James captured the teen's essence with Cooper and Rae, who I adored.

Nick J. Russo, as always, absolutely nailed the narration. Not only did he provide distinct voices for each of the characters but he gave that eerie sense when the radio bits came.

This is definitely an audiobook you don't want to miss out on! Highly recommendable!

Absolutely Outstanding ❤️

WOW....... Nick J Russo has done it again simply outstanding was so blown away by is narration the way he brings Nova and Mercy to life is pure perfection and takes you on a journey full of mystery and suspense that keeps you captivated till the end and a romance that is truly beautiful and special can't recommend enough. ❤️

Insert creepy intro music!

Oh boy what an atmospheric story, made even more exciting by the amazing Nick.J Russo.
By the end of the story I promised myself to never rent a cottage by a lake in the woods, I'm forever traumatised.

This story had me gripped from the opening chapter when that damn radio crackled to life. The 4 innocent and nosy bystanders find themselves in the middle of an intriguing mystery. Bodies floating in their lake, shots whizzing by in the dark and a tight knit small town practically cut off from the world makes this story that much creepier.

Amongst this backdrop Nova and Mercy can't help their attraction to each other, while their bodies are yearning their brains keep pressing the warning button . Guilt and fear are forever around them. They have 2 very moody and intelligent teenagers that they have to put first.

By the end of this thrilling story story I had to ignore everyone around me and get to the end, and what an explosive ending it was too. So many questions answered, so many crimes unveiled, it was really exciting and satisfying , so good.

I want to add that Nick.J Russo brought those surly teenagers to life unbelievably well, Cooper and Rae were frustrating yet delightful. A perfect marriage of words and narration, I loved it all.

Wonderfully Suspenseful

Wow! Once again Nicky James has just blown me away with her storytelling! This was such a fantastic read, I knew I had to relive it through audio. Nick J Russo did a wonderful job pulling me into the story. His narration made the story feel fresh and new. He fully immersed me in Mercy and Nova’s story and once I got started I didn’t want to stop! When Nick J Russo reads a Nicky James mystery, he has a way of making me feel like I’m IN the story. The emotions the author gives her characters just come off the page and you can’t help feeling those same emotions! I loved the mystery that Mercy and Nova found themselves in while vacationing at their respective summer cabins with their teenagers. Starting with a strange voice broadcasting through a static filled radio station, you couldn’t help getting a very strong “holy crap, what’s going to happen next” vibe as the mystery unfolded! Mercy and Nova’s developing relationship had me feeling so many ways! It was as exciting, tender, sweet and hot! I loved their distinctively different parenting styles, but their love for their kids was fierce. That love brought tears to my eyes at a couple points, as Nicky really pulled in my parental heartstrings! I was so intrigue with where the mystery was going to take us I stayed up way too late and earned some gritty eyes the next day! I loved the mystery of the story, the friendship built between Mercy and Nova (as well as their kids Cooper and Raelynn) and their developing romance. I finished the book thinking to myself “Wow, that was such a great story!”

Perfect!

Wow!! As always Nick J Russo was the perfect narrator for this book! I love his performance !! This book is awesome, I was intrigued with this mystery and with Nova and Mercy romance. Nova and his son Cooper are spending a month in his parents cabin, but the first day they arrived they meet their neighbors, Mercy and his daughter Raelynn, she is 14. They also planned to stay at their cabin for a month. This story was really entertaining and the town have so many mysteries around. This was a really good book, I like the chemistry between the characters, the romance was sweet and the kids were funny! the angst was so good!
I really enjoy this audiobook and I highly recommend it!

A captivating mystery and sweet romance

Nova and Mercy's story wasn't the most romantic of books, but I was utterly captivated by the thrilling mystery that unraveled as their adventure progressed. Nick J. Russo did a fantastic job narrating the journey these men on, and I was barely able to tear myself away until I'd reached the ending!

What started out as a low-key summer vacation and some sweet flirting turned into something much more sinister after Nova and Mercy found a dead body in the lake. I was already a little on-edge after the creepy radio broadcast Nova heard on his way into town, but that terrifying night was the catalyst for a full-blown mystery-solving quest. As much as it freaked me out to know that someone was out there killing people, it was also fascinating to see how Nova, Mercy, and their kids hunted down clues to try to figure out what was really going on. Unlike some mysteries where the killer is obvious from the start, Nicky James took me on a wild goosechase trying to figure out who was responsible for the crime. It delighted me to scoop up every breadcrumb Nicky James sprinkled throughout the pages and try to puzzle out the truth for myself, even if I did get it wrong 90% of the time. In a story like this, I think pacing is one of the most important elements, and Nicky James did a fantastic job stringing me along with little reveals without unraveling the entire mystery too quickly.

As far as the actual romance in this story was concerned, Nova and Mercy's relationship definitely wasn't mind-blowingly intimate, but I also don't think it would have felt realistic for it to be. With so much going on with the suspense storyline and the added concern for their teenage kids, it would have just been strange for Nova and Mercy to wrap themselves up in a bubble and explore their chemistry. These men behaved like any dads would, putting the safety of their kids first at all times and quietly sharing little moments together in the space in between. I honestly thought it was impressive that these men were able to get as close as they did in this story, because I did see their sparks of chemistry ignite into something real and lasting.

At the end of the day, Nova and Mercy's adventure may not have been the swooniest love affair, but it was a captivating mystery with delightful twists and turns and a romance that felt refreshingly balanced with life as a dad.

**I voluntarily listened to a free copy of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.

so amazing keeps your attention

listening to nick j russo bring nova and mercy to life was absolutely amazing I felt every part of this story including the mystery that keeps you guessing and intrigued

i was kept on the edge of my seat with the mystery and the romance without loosening interest

Outstanding story from author and narrator

I had previously read this story and enjoyed it but I found that listening to it I enjoyed it even more. I heard parts I’m sure I enjoyed but didn’t remember. This author has a unique way of describing characters and settings to make them so believable. I enjoyed the mystery part again but this time I seemed to hear more about a father of a daughter who really acted as a protective father. He was always thinking of ways to send her to a all girls school, not showing cleavage and being sure not to show too much leg. And the other father having a son who showed how he could be trusted. He acted mature and responsible. Yet the dads went out of their way to chaperone them. The fun part is when the ones behaving as teens are the dads.
The mystery part gets pretty intense. There are quite a few twists that keep it interesting. This is where the emotion grabbed me.
I believe the narration by Nick J. Russo adds personality to the characters. His way of giving each character their individuality brings the story to life. He makes it easy to visualize exactly what the author has created.