This was a cute little cozy mystery. Jolene is a journalist who needs a big break and a good tagline, but she has to learn what happens when you cross the line. When a controversial radio host is murdered, she is SURE this is her chance. Seems like it'll be a series - I'd probably read number two.

This book just wasn't for me. It was too political and I wasn't really interested in any of the characters or what happened to them. Others may enjoy it, but it just wasn't what I was expecting.

*Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review*

I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I don't remember the last time I was this happy to be done with a book. I found this book to be so boring and I just wanted it to be over faster. I didn't even really care about who killed the guy. This book didn't even really feel like a mystery to me, it just felt like reading someone doing her journalist job and being kind of obnoxious.

I found myself skipping so many sections in this book. Especially sections that seemed like it had nothing to do with anything else. Two examples come to mind for this. The first one is where we're randomly introduced to a character about halfway through the book and we get almost a full page of information about them and then never hear from them again. Another example is the main character has to take some advil and then we get two paragraphs about why pill bottles have safety seals on them. This happened a few other times.

I really need to learn to DNF books.

This wasn’t my favorite read. Many of the conversations got very confusing. The ending twist really didn’t do it for me either. The main character was pretty insufferable to me.

Sadly, this book was not for me. I know its a debut, so I'll give this author another shot as she grows into being a writer. This book was just okay. Not sharp enough, and the pacing was up and down. It veered off course a lot and there was a lot of unnecessary details about certain topics, and then not enough detail about character backstory and motivation. Very slow and didn't grab my interest.

In the book Off The Air by Christina Estez we meet Jolene Gonzalez who while eating lunch with her cameraman Nate gets a call saying a popular DJ may be dead when she arrives at KGBH the radio station for Larry lemon a rush Limbaugh type character she’s there with other Phoenix reporters and when she learns it is the popular talk show host she knows she has something the other reporters do not and that is the last interview he done but when another reporter named Joe Joe an airhead reporter who is basically your copy and paste reporter somehow gets an interview with the radio station manager and scoops Jolene scoop. Jolene feels pressure from her boss who continually wants her to find the big news because they are trying to push their online presence and he needs a real zinger to bring in the clicks and views but it seems everything Jolene gets either someone else tells it first or they get an even bigger scoop on the Larry Lemon case altogether. It seems every piece of big news Jolene can put her fingers on they tell her it is strictly off the air but it’s when she unfortunately becomes part of the story when she finally scoops everyone. In the beginning with all the near hits and misses I almost became bored with the story but with the very lovable Jolene and all the great side characters it held my interest. I won’t say this was the most stellar book written but I will definitely be looking for another book by this author because this is her first in fiction I cannot wait to read the next. It really is worth reading in a book I definitely recommend as I said they do have some parts but in my opinion started to drag but they didn’t last long and overall made for a great mystery. I want to thank the publisher the author and net galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

I was intrigued to start, having grown up in Arizona, but quickly got lost in all the conversations about news specifics, social media and politics. Felt really slimey to know all the behind the scenes convos. Not to mention it overshadowed the story so the plot felt slow and empty. The ending was meh, even with the stalker vibes.

I received an advance review copy for free via Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was an okay book. I think just because I didn’t like the main character, Jolene, and really didn’t like hearing about the reporting business and how it works (cringey), I can’t give it more stars so that is solely a personal opinion. I did like the historical events thrown in! The writing is good and the ending was pretty good, it’s just not my cup of tea.

OFF THE AIR, a debut novel by Christina Estes, is a delightfully fun read. Jolene Garcia, a feisty local TV reporter in Phoenix, Arizona, finds herself caught up in a murder investigation following the suspicious death of Larry Lemmon, a popular radio host. Jolene is in a race to solve the case before the rival networks do. Cyanide-laced cookies and anonymous threatening notes add even more anxiety.

I enjoyed getting the real “scoop” on the inside operations of a television network. This story has all the excitement of the ambulance-chasing career, including the rush to be first to air an exclusive. The plot hits on some current political issues which add validity to a story about the news industry. Christina uses her 20-year experience as an award-winning crime reporter to skillfully blend investigative reporting with a murder mystery in a way that is informative, satisfying, and interesting.

This is the debut novel written by Christina Estes. The mystery part of the story is good but the writing wanders a bit too much into the inner workings of broadcast journalism and social media influencers. There are many characters to keep track of and overall they were not very likable. Character likeability can make or break a book for me and this one unfortunately fell flat in that regard.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

A facinsting who-done-it murder mystery. Following in the eyes of a journalist. This story was quick paced and kept me entertained the whole time. From some banter between the FMC and her “source” and the twist and turns. I didn’t see that ending coming which honestly rarely happens.

Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys an excellent murder mystery novel.

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Our main point of view is Jolene Garcia, who is a news reporter. She does on air reporting for her special segments. Jolene works very hard to develop contacts, find breaking stories and report new angles. She is under a lot of pressure as the station moves to more digital reporting in real time with social media teases.

Jolene has developed good sources by being fair and releasing information only when they approve. She doesn't seem to have much of a life outside of her focus on her work. She's always on call for breaking stories. With the current death of a man she recently interviewed, she's under even more pressure since she has his last interview.

I didn't like the pressure she was under or how she rationalized some of her choices, or constantly after people to provide her with more information to report. Some of her "friends" criticized some of those choices and I would too, but Jolene is the one who would be unemployed or Off the Air if she didn't push and get the story. It was a lose - lose situation. Jolene gets her story at great personal risk and angers some of her sources.

I found the story interesting but it was hard to like the characters. The tension made it less enjoyable to me.

BOOK REVIEW: Off the Air by Christina Estes
2024 Publication Date: March 26

⭐️⭐⭐️️

Murder Mystery Books
T.I.M.E. Most Anticipated Books Of 2024

T.I.M.E. BOOK REVIEW:
In the intriguing murder mystery Off the Air by Christina Estes, readers are taken on a thrilling ride through the competitive world of broadcast journalism. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Phoenix, Arizona, we meet Jolene Garcia — a dedicated young woman TV reporter with an insatiable hunger for stories that matter.

Estes deftly weaves a captivating murder mystery storyline that snags your attention from the very first page. The sudden death of controversial radio talk show host Larry Lemmon sends shock waves through the local media landscape... And immediately the suspects and secrets start to emerge as the details of the crime scene and subsequent clues are explored.

With an air of palpable mystery and a bevy of clues only Jolene seems to notice, Off the Air is as much a testament to the tenacity of a well-written protagonist as it is a complex web of suspense. This book is a worthy addition to the murder mystery genre, offering a fresh perspective wrapped in layers of meticulously crafted tension and a narrative that dares the reader to solve the puzzle alongside its intrepid reporter.

Perfect for murder mystery enthusiasts who prefer murder mysteries without a gory brutal murder or serial killer...

Christina Estes has penned a story that is not just read, but experienced — A tale where the high stakes of investigative journalism meet the darkest elements of human nature.... ✨😎✨

Pages: 295
Genre: Thriller
Sub-Genre: Murder Mystery Books
T.I.M.E. Jalapeno Rating:️ N/A
Time Period: Contemporary
Location: Phoenix, AZ (US)
Publisher: St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books

IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK THEN TRY…
Book: The Expectant Detectives by Kat Ailes ⭐️⭐⭐️ (Cozy Mysteries | Murder Mystery Books)️
• Authors: Nita Prose (The Maid), Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl), Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes)
Movie: State Of Play ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION:
• The theme of dedication and tenacity in pursuing a story that matters... What it means to discover and stay true to your beliefs and passions... No matter the obstacles.
• The competitive nature of the media industry... Reflect on how cutthroat certain industries can be... And the importance of staying true to oneself in such environments.
• The element of mystery and suspense... Discuss the power of a well-crafted story in murder mystery books and how it can capture your attention until the very end.

BOOK QUOTE:
"Another bland line... If you get tired of reporting you might have a career in politics. You have a knack for not saying anything..." — Off the Air by Christina Estes

--------------------

All my book reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at thisismyeverybody.com/blog/what-book-should-i-read

♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

I truly loved this who-dunnit mystery that focused on this ins and outs of our journalism and media outlets. This was fast paced right from the beginning and I felt I learned about what goes on behind the scenes for journalists. I appreciated this information as it made the concept behind the book easier to understand.
This book is about one young journalist's part in solving a murder of a national talk-show host. As she is recovering from a huge career mistake, this case opens up wide arrays of opportunities and stardom for her.
This story was funny and so entertaining!

This was an okay book. I really liked that it was written by an actual former reporter, so we got to read a behind-the-scene type story. The mystery itself was a little lacking- something you’d find on a crime show drama, not necessarily a real whodunnit. Jolene, the main character, kind of annoyed me, but I think I was annoyed with journalism today as a whole, and what it’s forced journalists to become. Two minor things I did like about this book was how she watched Wheel of Fortune every night, and that there’s a brief, smallest of small mention of a cat named Wrigley. (Named so for the same reason my Wrigley is: a husband with an overzealous love of the Chicago Cubs.) Anyway, this was a fast read, so I’m giving a flat 3 🐾 / 5.

Off the Air is a Debut novel for Christina Estes. I enjoyed this book. The story is about a news reporter, Jolene Garcia, who is trying to report a murder of a radio personality. The story shows how cut throat reporters must be to get the jump on their competitors. This was an enjoyable cozy mystery and fast paced to see who could solve it first. It definitely keeps you guessing until the very end.

The mystery was intriguing enough but there were so many details about journalism that I completely zoned out from the story. And unfortunately, that really made me struggle to finish this book.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Book via NetGalley for this ARC.

I really wanted to like this book as it seemed super hyped up when I was on bookstagram. However, upon starting reading it, I realized this essentially was a fan fiction, and not one that I could really get behind.

Jolene is a reporter for a TV station and when Larry Lemmon dies suddenly on set, Jolene wants to be the first one to get the news. She has a constant rivalry against JJ, another reporter who she frankly just seems jealous of. It seems like a middle school rivalry almost. And then Jolene starts threatening people to get them to talk and upon being told not to by the cop she's friends with, claims "they weren't telling her anything." Again, she sounded like a whining child. The end of the book was predictable and of course was a much better ending than she deserved. I was hoping her character would be dynamic, but she stayed her same annoying self the whole book.

The only part I really enjoyed was the "Wheel of Fortune" references. There were about 4-5 at the end of a few chapters.

This book was inspired by the author’s experience as a reporter and former foster parent. It is also a winner of the Tony Hillerman Prize. I enjoyed it because the story takes place in Phoenix (close to where I currently live) and includes historical facts about Arizona including many iconic places around the Valley of the Sun. One of my favorite citrus venues the Orange Patch was mentioned. The plot was well-written and interesting. It kept me guessing who had killed radio talk host Larry Lemmon. I also loved how the Wheel of Fortune phrases coincided with what happened next. It was a creative way to segue into the next chapter! The meeting with the killer was quite exciting and suspenseful. I especially liked the happy ending.

Thank you, NetGalley, St. Matin's Press, and Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Off the Air is a great mystery even if you don’t like the main character.

Jolene Garcia is a local TV reporter in Phoenix, Arizona. She works on a variety of stories, from fluff pieces to investigative reporting. When a local controversial radio host Larry Lemmon dies at his studio, all the media descends. Jolene finds out there are mysterious circumstances and is dead set on getting a scoop. When she becomes personally involved in the case, her life becomes on the line.

I’m going to be honest. I didn’t like the main character. She wasn’t much better than the other journalist she claimed to be separate from. While she tried to be objective in her reports, she didn’t care about messing up a police investigation. She thinks her career is more important than catching a killer. The book mentions the media and police working together but that’s not featured here and does not endure me to journalists. (Also, I have some bias because at the time I was reading the book and writing the review, Kate Middleton had to admit to having cancer because “journalists” wouldn’t leave her alone.)

The story is saved by Christina Estes writing. Her writing is what I would expect of a journalist: to the point without excessive, flowering wording. The novel is fast-paced, and the chapters aren’t bloated. This keeps the reader in the moment and on edge wanting to know whodunit.

Estes includes some journalistic tidbits in Off the Air showing the main character's adeptness at her job even if you don’t like her. Overall, this is a fast-moving mystery that I enjoyed.