This is the debut novel by author Christina Estes. Christina has decades of reporting experience in the Phoenix area. Her expertise in this area is clear. She understands the competition to break a story and allows the reader to feel the pressure of the transition to multi-media journalism. The story includes a murder mystery but is mostly focused on the cutthroat world of journalism. The writing includes strong political undertones, which seems to conflict with the neutrality expected of journalists. With plenty of red herrings and multiple persons of interest, the reader is kept guessing until the end. Jolene is a strong and likeable character. Her dedication to her craft is admirable. I can imagine this being a series as we follow Jolene to her next big story. However, I would classify this book as a fictional story in journalism with a side of murder.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the advanced reader copy of this book. This book will be published on March 26, 2024.

Note: There is a content advisory in the back of the book which lists references to abandonment, ageism, animal cruelty, child neglect, classism, homelessness, racism, sexism, sexual coercion, and substance abuse. They are referenced, but none in graphic detail.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the arc copy in exchange for an honest review.*

2.75 ⭐ rounded up.

I'll start by saying this isn't a bad book, but it was definitely not for me and not what I was wanting from it.

I thought that this was going to be a cozy, whodunnit mystery book, but that's not what it was. It had a lot of political undertones to it that ruined the book for me. There are constant references to Donald Trump and when I'm in my book worlds I do not want to think about the real world, and especially not D.T.

There wasn't enough to the book to grab my interest. I did not like the characters and honestly, I couldn't get myself to care about a murdered man when he was constantly compared to D.T. I simply have no sympathy for someone like that.

I found myself hoping that the murderer didn't get caught/understanding the murderer more than the main character's need to find the murderer. I get that the story would be huge for her career, but she cared way too much.

The author is not a bad writer. Estes clearly knows how to write a story, this just wasn't to my taste. The author did seem to go off on a few tangents now and then, adding unnecessary info that made me feel like the book was dragging, but I think if the author wrote a different story with fewer real-world references, I may connect to it so much more.

This book is perhaps a true representation of newscasters and reporters who have to survive their careers in a cutthroat business of breaking news, updates and exclusives.
Jolene Garcia is just such a journalist and TV reporter. She and her cameraman race to the scene of morning radio host, Larry Lemon, who has been found dead. Since she had the last in person interview with Larry, Jolene is hoping to get another exclusive, along with every other reporter in and out of town.
Competition, politics and as many suspects who hated Larry as those who loved him, had Jolene taking one step forward and two steps backward in her investigation.
A debut novel written by a former news reporter turned author, the book was mostly interesting and the killer was a surprise. But it slowed down in places with added information not needed. There was also a content advisory referenced. 3.5 Stars
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press Minotaur Books for an early copy. This review is my personal opinion.

I quite enjoyed the parts of the story with Jolene actively trying to get clues/ solve the murder of Larry Lemmon. I liked her as a main character and how she was just trying to do her job. I wasn't as big a fan as how focused this story was on the actual reporting parts. A lot of the time it seemed like we were getting a lot more of the back end and politics of thereporting than the actual mystery.

Thank you for the E-ARC of this book. I've been slowly trying to read more cozy mysteries, because they're just that, COZY mysteries.

I would highly recommend this book if you're into journalism, newscasting or anything along those lines - there were times that the story felt MORE focused on the journalism and newscasting piece of the story and for someone like me with no background or interest in that, it just fell a little boring at times.

This was just an average read for me, nothing extravagant, but I truly wonder if someone else who works/is interested in this field would enjoy this book SO much more.

Estes, a reporter herself, uses her knowledge and insight well in this start to a new cozy series. Jolene is determined to figure out who killed a controversial talk show host not only because she's curious but also because it will be good for her career. The mystery isn't too complicated but the characters are good. This is fact heavy in spots (a little more editing would have helped) but that meant I learned something. Thanks to netgalley for the AR. I'd like to see more development of Jolene in future installments.

Thank you to Minotaur Books for my complimentary book copy in exchange for my honest review!

Off the Air follows Jolene Garcia, a Phoenix-based broadcast journalist, and her quest to stay on top of the local murder of an infamous and politically divisive radio reporter, Larry Lemmon. Since Jolene recently did a sit-down piece on the radio personality, she has his last interview and the edge on the story when big network journalists descend on Phoenix. She is determined to use her local connections, police sources, and skills to be the first to continue solving the murder. However, as Jolene wages through interviews with Larry’s ex-wives and co-workers, she also begins to get anonymous threats! Can Jolene solve the case and break the news of her career?

This cozy mystery teetered between 3 and 4 stars for me; I felt the beginning of the book had a slow-burn pace, and while I loved every second of the behind the scenes glimpse of TV network journalism, I struggled to connect with Jolene as a character. However, as the story progressed, the pace did pick-up and I was compelled to see the mystery to the end! I had no idea how cut-throat, demanding, and dangerous the journalism field can be, and this book definitely increased by awareness of the field and how difficult social media has made journalism and police work as careers. Fans of cozy mysteries, radio and TV journalism, and relevant cultural debates on hot topics will enjoy this mystery debut!

I learned so much about broadcast news from this book! It’s not just a mystery, it’s also very informative. A bit slow at first, I felt the storyline sped up further into the book. Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The author, Christine Estes, is a longtime journalist and Emmy Award winner, so she is well-suited to write this book. It tells the story of the rush to get the scoop on a murder mystery and be the first to report it. I found the book slow-paced, disjointed, and lacking tension and suspense.

It examined the change from impartial TV news reporting to a push to display news stories on social media ( Twitter now X, Instagram, Facebook, etc.). Not only are reporters urged to publish their words, photos, and videos online, but they are also told to look on social media for possible stories to investigate. There is no advice on avoiding rumours. They are told to engage in discourse among their followers, now referred to as 'friends.' Reporters are now encouraged to display subjectivity rather than being impartial.
This part was fascinating, as more and more news sources are losing readers, listeners, and viewers to the Internet. The story is set in Phoenix, Arizona. I felt pushed out by the sense of place it conveyed. I read a lot about the political and cultural aspects, facts, and city history, but I was not engaged. I felt it would appeal more to those who knew the city. The mystery got lost in all the extraneous details.

The story is narrated from the point of view of TV reporter Jolene Garcia. She desperately wants a big news story to win awards, recognition, and fame. She is hot on the trail of a scoop involving the murder of a controversial right-wing radio talk show host, Larry Lemmon. She believes she has the edge because she got the last interview with Lemmon shortly before his death. There are rumours that he died from cyanide poison. She does not seem to care about justice; she is just about staying ahead of the swarm of other reporters intent on covering the crime. I found her to be unlikeable, jealous and condescending. She describes the males as misogynists and is catty in describing a glamorous and fashionable reporter, JJ, from a rival TV station. She was rude to fellow workers, her police contact, and a kindly neighbour. She decides to solve the murder mystery as a means to beat her competition. There is a rush to interview Lemmon's friends and enemies, co-workers at his radio station, and ex-wives.

The murder mystery is frequently forgotten amongst talks of Jonestown, poisons, residential schools, foster care, politics, right-wing versus left-wing ideas, immigration, the wall and other political and social issues. Characters were often flat and nonessential to the story and soon forgotten.

Thanks to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for this inside look at the changing news industry and the stress placed on journalists to cover facts of interest to readers and viewers. The expected publication date is March 26. I regret I was not among the targeted audience for this book, but I think others will enjoy it. Off the Air has already won the Tony Hillerman Award as best debut novel with a south-west setting.

Jolene is a highly ambitious tv reporter looking to earn an emmy one day. Journalism is a cut throat industry but it is shocking what lengths people will go to for an exclusive. A famous talk show host is murdered and Jolene was the last person to interview him before his death. Interesting plot and a fun read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a fun little read. As a murder mystery, it didn't quite work, though. There were two major clues/red herrings introduced that were never resolved in the end. It left a major plot point hanging, and the purpose of those two things in doubt. Perhaps the author had a major plot twist in mind (and it would have been quite a plot twist), changed her mind and didn't get rid of those two things. I would have completely loved the book if it hadn't been for the feeling I'd spent much of the book trying to figure out who and why and not needing to.

I teetered between 3.5 stars and 4 stars for this one… it was a cozy mystery for sure, which I enjoy! My only issue with this is that because it’s so suspenseful to figure out who did the crime, there are times where the plot kind of dies down in the middle and there’s nothing to sustain that tempo if that makes sense. I enjoyed the characters and the overall plot, but things got slow near the middle and it lost me a little. Overall, it was intriguing from the perspective of a reporter especially in a high-profile case; interesting to focus on political stances as well, and not so sure I loved that focus… but it really was a quick read and a good palette cleanser!

This is great if you're into cozy mysteries. I'm not personally and I didn't realize that's what this is, mixed with a lot of technical aspects of reporting. It was interesting but not really my style. I would recommend to anyone who loves cozies.

Thanks for the chance to read.

This debut novel from Christina Estes gives the reader a behind-the=scenes look at local news reporting along with a murder mystery, I enjoyed the setting of Phoenix, Arizona and the background stories of historical interest that the author cleverly wove into the story. It is clearly a contemporary story which reflects the changes taking place in the news industry. I hope this is the start of a series and could easily see it being made into a series for television. Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press Minotaur Books and the author for an advance copy to read and review.

For. a debut novel, I have to give the author props! The book is set in Phoenix, AZ and follows reporter Jolene as she races to beat the clock and come out on top in releasing details on a fellow journalist death suspected of murder. This book is not heavy on the suspense/thriller - think Janet Evanovich and Stephanie Plum with a little bit of comedy and little bit of mystery.

My rating: 3.5/5 stars.

What I liked: The author, Christina Estes, has a decorated background in journalism based out of Phoenix. Her knowledge as a reporter really shines through in the book along with tidbits about the city of Phoenix that I never knew otherwise (I actually googled "suicide lanes" - that's so insane this exists!). I quite enjoyed learning more about a career as a reporter along with Phoenix, and now I've added it to my list of cities to visit! I also loved Estes's humor. She had a creative way of adding sarcasm and dry comedy throughout the book creating a lighthearted read along with gentle suspense.

What was a miss: I did not like the main storyline. The main character Jolene is somewhat desperate throughout the book to get ahead of her colleagues and competitor journalists from other networks to not only beat deadlines but come out on top to "solve the murder mystery." I felt like the main character became annoying and irrational because of her desperation. I think had the author changed the storyline to create more character development with Jolene, maybe added a layer of romance, and added in a little more suspense/less desperation the story would have been a bigger hit.

Summary: For a debut novel, as I said earlier, I have to give Christina Estes props - I think overall even if you didn't like the story, I certainly see the likes of Janet Evanovich, Lucy Score, and Mary Kay Andrews in Estes's writing. I will likely give her next book a try and see how she grows as an author. Perhaps we will see the return of character Jolene in a future book as she grows personally, builds relationships, and becomes a seasoned reporter solving bigger mysteries that come her way.

Immerse yourself in the vibrant Phoenix, Arizona, setting as you read “Off The Air.” This first murder mystery from Christina Estes takes you on a wild ride with a cast of characters that add color, depth, and pizazz to the story. You might even need a chair with armrests to hold on to as the plot unfolds.

Estes brings her 20 years of real-world experience as an award-winning television and radio news reporter to “Off The Air.” Her unique insights into the world of news coverage, gained from pounding the pavement in the Arizona-Sonora Desert, add a layer of authenticity to the story.

This is a great first-book effort from a first-rate reporter. The book flows, holds attention, and, with the building tension, may keep readers up past bedtime. There are no spoilers here, but trying to pick the murderer from the cast of antagonists will leave readers guessing and guessing again. That’s the sign of a murder mystery with legs.

Protagonist Jolene Garcia may be a composite character, but she carried a lot of the real Estes’ style in that tote bag. The interactions with a fictional crowd from the book’s media cast are definitely built from real Phoenix media denizens. Estes’ story carries quite a mix.

First, there’s the main plot about the death of on-air legend Larry Lemon, killed during a commercial break during his national live talk show. Next, she weaves the reality of covering the news in a major U.S. city with social media, live broadcasts, social media casts and trumping competition to get ahead of the talking heads from other channels. To complete the tapestry, Estes colors the pace, moving quickly from scene to scene and (make a list to check them out) actual local Phoenix businesses, brews and grinds.

If ready for an escape from the grind with a foot in reality, “Off The Air” is the perfect complement to that book to read during a spring rainstorm.

It’s a good start that leaves you wondering if Jolene keeps her nose for news and a thirst for detection in the next book.

This book was incredibly hard for me to get into. I did finish it but honestly for me it never really took off. The mystery part was decent, but it was buried underneath past reflections and other news stories that popped up. While I realize in the real world that is exactly what a newscaster is faced with, from a story telling standpoint it made the story drag. I also didn’t enjoy the characters. The writing was really one noted for me. Overall, this book was a huge miss for me.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

A delightful debut! This was a bit out of my normal genre but I did enjoy it! Lots of tension and lies. And actual laugh out loud moments. It was really fun to see a fresh take on strong politics. It gave me a proud to be an American feel. The characters were fantastic. Rich and quirky.
Thank you NetGalley, Christina Estes and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I received a free copy from NetGalley. A reporter trying to not be out scooped in the brave and changing world of news, by trying to solve a murder first. I look forward to reading more in the series.

Off the Air was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I found the premise description to be very promising, and I very much appreciated that because of the author’s background, it was realistic. On the flip side, I felt like sometimes the emphasis on details that are true to life could sometimes overwhelm the plot. I can usually get on board with a murder mystery, but there seemed to be a lack of development in the investigations the main character was trying to solve/cover that left me feeling a little bored - I certainly could have done with some more red herrings and drama. Overall, it left me wanting more out of it, but I didn’t DNF it, which says something these days.