20 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year AwardsNamed a 2020 Notable Indie by Shelf Unbound magazineA finalist for the 33rd annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin AwardThree can keep a secret, but only if two are dead. No one knows that better than Kaitlyn Ashe, who has been running from a childhood secret her whole life. Until now. Crowned the top rated radio DJ in Philadelphia, she is finally ready to settle … Philadelphia, she is finally ready to settle down with her fiancé who knows nothing about her past. When a sudden flood of anonymous letters threatens Kaitlyn’s seemingly charmed life, she realizes that someone out there knows her secret. But who?
As the threatening letters escalate, Kaitlyn’s life spirals toward a reunion in the one place she’d hoped to never visit again: The Shallows. Isn’t her secret buried with the dead?
PRAISE FOR DEAD AIR
“Want to go behind-the-scenes in the fascinating world of radio? Dead Air is steeped in authenticity thanks to Bradley’s impressive career in the field. Add in flawed, complicated characters, an eerie setting, and a jaw-dropping finale, and you have an unputdownable thriller. Gripping, a brilliantly crafted novel!” —K.J. Howe, international bestselling author of Skyjack
“In his newest page-turner Dead Air, Michael Bradley will cast you to the shallows, yank you to the murkiest depths of the human psyche, and won’t let you up for a single breath until the final page.” —Sandra Brannan, author of the Liv Bergen Mystery Series
“In Dead Air, author Michael Bradly puts his unique spin on the stalker-victim story, thanks to a rich cast of characters, a serial killer subplot, and the author’s inside knowledge of the radio DJ world. Everyone’s a suspect in this murderous game of musical chairs, and Bradley deftly keeps you guessing until the final note sounds. Tune in. Dead Air rocks.” —J.L. Delozier, author of Con Me Once and the Persephone Smith thriller series
“In Michael Bradley’s Dead Air, we meet Kaitlyn Ashe, a successful and well-known radio personality in Philadelphia. Kaitlyn’s got the perfect life: a devoted boyfriend, great career, and a beautiful home. The future looks bright until someone begins stalking her, threatening to unearth deadly secrets that from Kaitlyn’s past that she’s vowed to keep hidden until her death bed. As the stalker becomes bolder, Kaitlyn has no choice but to involve the police, giving them only part of the story about her dark past. In Bradley’s thriller, the pages practically turn themselves. Dead Air is an excellent read; well-written, absorbing and filled with shocking twists. Just when you think you know where this story is going, all hell breaks loose, and Bradley expertly veers the reader onto a new and exciting path. With surprises around every corner, this book will keep you up all night until you reach its stunning conclusion. Don’t miss this one!” —Lisa Regan, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling crime fiction author
“Just when you think you get a handle on what’s going on, another layer of the story is peeled away and you realize you have NO IDEA.” —A. S. THORNTON, author of Daughter of the Salt King
“In Michael Bradley’s captivating thriller Dead Air, a radio DJ’s spotty past catches up to her . . . an exciting mystery whose flawed leads struggle to make the right decisions.” —Foreword Reviews
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An interesting murder mystery told from both points of view of the pursued and the pursuer. A nice mix of characters and suspects that keep the reader guessing for the first half of the book and then ramps up the action and tension for the remainder which rises to a terrifying climax at the Shallows
I found the added narration from the perpetrator gave the book an interesting twist and this provided extra clues for those of us that love to work out who the killer is before the grand reveal.
Although this is set in the world of radio broadcasting there is very little of the plot that is involved with the radio station or the process of broadcasting itself – rather it is the characters outside of the station that take centre stage.
I feel that the added sub-plot of the GBT Killer was superfluous to the main story and could’ve been removed without any detriment to the main story.
Audio narration was good and easy to listen to so overall i’m happy to give this a 4 star rating
Such a page-turning thriller with surprising twists, flawed characters, and high suspense. I thought the antagonist’s point of view, with its standout first-person narrative, was particularly strong. Well done, Michael. Well done!
DEAD AIR is full of surprising twists and turns. I read the last 100 pages in one night, staying up way too late because I HAD to find out what was going to happen. If you like suspense, read this book!!!
Dead Air by Michael Bradley is a recommended thriller featuring a secret past, a stalker and revenge.
Kaitlyn Ashe is a radio personality in Philadelphia with a popular show and a devoted boyfriend. She is finally settling down and feels comfortable enough to buy a house. Unknown to those who know her, she has been running from a secret since her teens, but now it seems someone who knows her past is stalking her and taunting her with notes referencing her secret past. The anonymous letters, consisting of words cut out from printed material, are arriving at an increased pace and all reference “the shallows”. Kaitlyn is hesitant to share them with her boyfriend, let alone the police, but the letters have her hands shaking when they appear. Who could know about Kaitlyn’s past, the shallows, and an REO Speedwagon song she will never play.
The narrative is told through three different points of view, the stalker, Kaitlyn, and Rodney, a police detective. The novel also includes a subplot about a serial killer operating in Philadelphia. As a DJ, Bradley has an insider’s view and information about Kaitlyn’s job, which adds realism to the details in the novel. While I was interested in the plot throughout the story, I did figure out who was the stalker and who was likely the serial killer. This didn’t detract from following the story, but it did lessen the tension. I kept reading hoping to get some of the various details presented in the plot that were never fully explained. Some of the details are revealed, some are underwhelming, and some were never really broached again. Character development was adequate – nothing special.
I was put off by the stalker dropping cigarette butts everywhere, even to the point of leaving piles of them. Really? You are trying to be secret and you do that? For all the other care taken that seemed incongruous. While there were a couple other incidences that seemed inconsistent with facts and known procedures, there were also several heart-stopping moments and shocking surprises. In the end Dead Air was an engaging novel with some uneven writing and plot development.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of CamCat Publishing via Edelweiss.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2021/03/dead-air.html
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3877914856
Kaitlyn has been carrying a secret with her since she was in her teens. She went so far as to change her name to start anew. Some first loves stay in our hearts forever and we smile when we reminisce Others, well they leave us with dark secrets, broken souls and forever change every moment going forward. Kaitlyn has rebuilt her life and is a successful radio DJ. She is in love with a wonderful man and is finally happy. And then the letters and threats start. Next the bodies start dropping. And so goes the path to discovering who, what, when, where and why. It’s well written and a good listen with terrific narration, but honestly, I figured it out very early on. I do wonder how in the world no one in the police department figured it out before it all hit the fan. Psych exams, background checks etc. or how Kaitlyn didn’t recognize the someone she was so close to for so long. That aside, it was still a good listen. Enjoy it. I certainly did.