Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Diem never thought he would have a steady boyfriend and enough cases to keep his business in the green. He never thought his nana would live to be ninety-three.

Life is, dare he say, good?

He could do to drink less, and he still needs to quit smoking, but he’s getting there.

He’s happy.

In love.

If he could manage his stress, life might even turn out to be… great?

But then Tallus arranges dinner with his parents, where Diem faces questions about commitment and weddings and a weekend bonding trip with a stepfather he doesn’t know.

And a resident of Nana’s nursing home ends up involved in a twisted version of a grandparent scheme, so Diem agrees to investigate. The police clearly aren’t doing their job.

It’s all downhill from there.

The case somehow leads to Diem figuratively adopting the most obnoxious teenager imaginable. A boy whose troubled life reflects Diem’s past. A boy who is deeply entwined in a con far more complex than he realizes.

One misstep tips their hand. The hunter becomes the hunted. Diem and Tallus—and their unfortunate sidekick—are in a race against the clock, desperate to nail the person responsible before he skips the country… or seeks revenge.

So much for reducing stress.

Amidst the chaos, Diem finds himself bonding with his petulant rescue-teen. Diem is nobody’s role model, but the boy’s incessant questions open Diem’s mind and heart to things he never thought possible.

Things that make him think that maybe life could be… amazing.

This is the fifth installment in the Shadowy Solution series. It is a same-couple mystery series with mental health rep, size difference, and a sassy vs surly dynamic. The series should be read in order for full enjoyment

 

Book Review

“I dug through a pile of change in the middle of the console, found a dated penny, and presented it to my boyfriend. He blinked and frowned at the copper coin. Diem: “What is this?”  Tallus: “A penny for your thoughts.” ~ Diem and Tallus, ‘Penny for Your Thoughts’, Nicky James

 

After Tallus and Diem, from Nicky James's 'Penny for your Thoughts’, commit their lives to each other, they take an important next step: having dinner with Tallus’s parents. Tallus knows Diem will feel uneasy with his boisterous, loving family, especially since Diem is worried about making a good impression. His mom has been asking for months for them to come for dinner so they can get to know Diem better, so he gently but firmly insists that it's time.

 

As expected, Diem feels out of place at the dinner table. The atmosphere is so different from his own family that he isn’t sure how to react. Watching how everyone interacts, he slowly relaxes when he realizes they really are as kind as they seem. Even so, it’s overwhelming. He wants a cigarette. When his phone rings, he ignores it, but when it rings again, he steps outside to answer and takes the chance to smoke.

 

Tallus joins Diem outside; Diem explains the call is about a fraud case involving Elwood Cardigan, a resident where Diem’s grandmother lives. Diem says he might not be able to help because the clues are confusing and hard to follow. But after meeting Elwood’s grandson and realizing the extent of the deception, Diem says, "No promises, but I will look into it."

Diem and Tallus begin their investigation by interviewing patients and staff at the retirement home, beginning with Elwood. They learn that someone posing as Elwood’s grandson visited him, gave him a computer, and showed him how to use it. This included setting up an online bank account, which the imposter used to gain control of Elwood's money.

 

Hoping to get a lead on the suspect, they watch videos and interviewed a staff member who remembers the boy and had ridden the same bus home with him. She tells them which stop he got off at and which house he entered. With this information, they drive to that location and surveil his house, waiting for him to come out. When he does, things don’t go as planned. Instead, they had have to chase him down and detain him by force.

 

After meeting the boy, Darcy, Diem realizes there is no way he could have created such a sophisticated scam. He was obviously “employed” by someone older, more knowledgeable, and manipulative. Therefore, the next step, with Darcy’s help, is to set a trap for the real perpetrator.

 

A big part of the ‘Shadowy Solutions’ series is Diem’s emotional growth. In ‘Penny for Your Thoughts’, Diem changes a lot. After months of Tallus’s love and support, he is starting to heal. Diem sees Darcy as a kindred spirit and wants to be someone Darcy can look up to. Thanks, Nicky, for a story that is sometimes dark but full of love, devotion, and a great new character.

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review.

 

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 448 pages
Heat Level
Publication Date	26-March-2026
Price	$5.99 ebook, $16.99 paperback
Buy Link	https://www.amazon.com/Penny-Your-Thoughts-Shadowy-Solutions-ebook/dp/B0FY6R8CTJ