3.5-stars - a little too expect the expected for me, but I was still fully sucked into the story.

The story centers around Stella, a seasoned deputy editor at The Globe, and Jess, a rookie reporter with a strong moral compass. The plot explores the world of tabloid journalism and its relentless pursuit of sensational stories. When a celebrity's life is tragically affected by The Globe's invasive tactics, Jess questions the paper's ethics and Stella's ruthless approach. What's more important: the truth or the story; the secrets or not.

The characters are well-crafted with distinct personalities and motivations. Jess's determination to uncover the truth and her internal struggle with the consequences of her actions make her a compelling protagonist. Stella's unwavering dedication to her career adds complexity to her character, even if it often puts her at odds with Jess. Throw in a handful of men with questionable actions and motives and the blame seems to be pointed in all directions.

The exploration of themes like justice, revenge, innocence, and guilt adds depth to the narrative, allowing readers to reflect on the ethical implications of journalism's pursuit of sensationalism. The tension escalates as the story unfolds, leading to a satisfying climax that ties up loose ends and delivers a final twist.

"The Trade Off" offers a gripping premise that delves into the ethical complexities of tabloid journalism - with a theme of the #MeToo movement. Overall, I enjoyed it!

While not a thriller, per se, this is a riveting story about misogyny and gender politics in journalism. Two women, one an editor and the other a rookie reporter face the fallout when a celebrity ends up dead because of their paper’s underhanded tactics. Someone has to pay for the paper’s transgressions and rookie, Jess is determined to make sure the right person pays the price, regardless of their gender

Sandie Jones's most recent book is about Me Too and the good old boy network that still rules the profession of journalism. As Jones used to be a journalist, I enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look at the newsroom. It's scary to realize how easily an owner of a paper can manipulate what is reported.

I wouldn't consider this one a thriller, there's just some light suspense. While the message is interesting, the plot moved somewhat too slowly for my taste. Things pick up by the end, but at that point I wasn't feeling particularly connected to either character.

I did love that Jones narrated the audiobook herself. It's one of my favorite things when authors narrate their own work!