Off the Air is the debut novel by reporter Christina Estes. It follows local TV reporter Jolene Garcia in Phoenix, Arizona. As Estes worked in local news, a lot of her experience and knowledge is present in the story. There is a lot of emphasis on the inner workings of journalism. Since the author has the same background, it was nice to have real elements in the story. It does become a bit much at times with the jargon, so if you are not a fan of journalism, then you may not enjoy the story.

When controversial talk show host Larry Lemmon, Rush Limbaugh type character, mysteriously dies, it is up to Jolene to break the story. While investigating the story, Jolene must compete with the other reporters to get the scoop, including her rival, JJ. There are a lot of political elements in the story and while journalism, in theory, should be unbiased, there was a lot of bias in the story. If you want an escape from politics in the story (no matter your views), then this may not be the story for you. As this is a debut story, it felt like the author still has a few kinks to work out with her writing; however, there is a lot of potential. I think if this continues as a series, it will be a lot of fun to read. Overall, it is an interesting fast-paced read.

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Minotaur Books, for the opportunity to read this entertaining novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

This was such a fun and cute novel! I loved reading about the life of a journalist and getting a peek into newsrooms, other reporters working to get the story, and the industry as a whole. Getting to see the environment was surprisingly fun for me as normally I only get invested in the main characters. The mystery itself is fun to follow along and keeps you guessing on what could be going on and whodunit as the twists and turns of the plot happens!

This is such a cozy read and would definitely recommend to any fan of mystery, especially cozy mysteries.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Off the Air follows Jolene Garcia, a television news reporter in Arizona. She is looking for her big break and feels it is within her grasp when a controversial radio host is killed. Can she get the exclusive interviews and breaking news to get the recognition she feels she deserves?

Based on the synopsis, I thought this was a mystery and while there is the mystery of who killed the radio host, this is not actually the focus of the book. The author is a journalist, and it shows. There is a lot of research, facts, and explanation about Arizona and the procedures of journalism. Jolene is not likeable and when she keeps getting scooped, she blames everyone around her instead of realizing she may be at fault. Also she acts like she needs to solve the murder instead of just report on it. There is also a ton of politics and it is just over the top.

Not a bad read, I am just not the right audience. The tangents about the history of Arizona and learning about the inner workings of journalism doesn’t interest me. There is a lot of explanation and not much action.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I really really wanted to like this one, but it just didn’t work for me. A little too fluffy for me.

Sadly, this ended up not being for me. It was an interesting idea, but I found the story and the main character a little too chaotic for my tastes, so I never was really pulled into the story. The concept and follow-through was pretty solid though, so I think people who like this style of mystery may be more into it than me.

I really, really tried to enjoy this but this was not the book I thought it would be, nor was it for me. This was full of irrelevant facts that took away from the story big time. The amount of explaining of so many points was annoying. Pat Tillman was mentioned and next thing I know, I'm reading multiple pages about his life and death. I knew the story, so I skipped ahead, which I seemed to do more and more. At one point, there was an entire paragraph describing how a French fry dish was made, completely unnecessary to the story. The murder mystery took a spot on the back burner, politics and media drama was at the front. There was so much politics weaved throughout this, I really could not enjoy the story. I didn't connect to any of the characters, by the 50% mark I was skipping through just trying to get to the mystery parts. The twist was decent, but I think the animal cruelty storyline was pointless and I really hated it. If you go into wanting a look into how reporters operate and you're okay with very right sided politics, you may enjoy it. I wanted a murder mystery from a different POV then I'm used to, which was very little of the story. I wasn't the right audience, but I know there are many people that are, so check it out if it sounds like something you'd be interested in.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Off the Air by Christina Estes is an insider’’s look at the local news. Jolene is a reporter at Eyewitness News, determined to best her competition. She reports on the death of a controversial radio host and uses all of her powers to get the scoop.

The book is a quick read and while I didn’t always agree with Jolene’s decisions, she was (almost) fearless in her determination to perform. While we learned a bit about Jolene’s childhood in foster care, I wish there had been more details to add some depth. At other points, there was detail that seemed extraneous. I did appreciate the behind the scenes look at the local news scene as the author has that background.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

This was fluffy and unrealized. I just wanted it to be so much better than it was. I wouldn't recommend it to my audience.

Off the Air is a debut novel by Christina Estes. I don't know the much about reporting or news cycles so this was interesting but didn’t bog down the mystery. for me without it being too much. It is a quick, easy read. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my review copy of this book.

"Off the Air" by Christina Estes presents readers with an intriguing debut mystery featuring Jolene Garcia, a local TV reporter in Phoenix, Arizona. Estes, an Emmy Award-winning reporter herself, brings authenticity to the storytelling, offering readers a glimpse into the fast-paced world of journalism and the competitive nature of investigative reporting.

The premise of the story, centered around the suspicious death of controversial radio host Larry Lemmon, sets the stage for a gripping narrative filled with twists and turns. Jolene's determination to uncover the truth, even as she navigates the pressures of her career and the cutthroat world of journalism, adds depth to her character and drives the plot forward.

One of the strengths of "Off the Air" lies in its portrayal of the media landscape and the ethical dilemmas faced by journalists. Estes effectively captures the tension between the desire to report the facts and the pressure to prioritize ratings and sensationalism. Additionally, the setting of Phoenix, Arizona, adds flavor to the story, immersing readers in the vibrant backdrop of the desert city.

However, while the premise and characters are compelling, the execution of the plot sometimes feels predictable, with certain twists and developments lacking the element of surprise that is crucial to keeping readers engaged. The pacing, though generally steady, occasionally falters, detracting from the overall momentum of the story.

Despite these criticisms, "Off the Air" remains an enjoyable read, offering a blend of mystery, suspense, and insight into the world of journalism. Estes' experience as a reporter shines through in her vivid portrayal of the industry, and Jolene Garcia emerges as a protagonist worth rooting for. While not without its flaws, "Off the Air" is a promising debut that hints at Estes' potential as a writer of captivating mysteries. With its mix of entertainment and thought-provoking themes, this novel earns a solid three stars and is sure to appeal to fans of investigative journalism and crime fiction alike.

Off the Air, was an interesting well-written mystery about a local reporter trying to crack the case of who killed a local conservative talk show host. I enjoyed the writing style, it was very smooth and kept my interest. The characters were great, with Jolene being both funny and smart. The other characters were spot on. This was a great cozy mystery and I look forward to the next.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy. This book was a soft mystery. I felt the story was longer than needed and got confused at times with all the characters.

Off the Air is the debut mystery novel by real life reporter Christina Estes.

Written in first person, from the viewpoint of Jolene Garcia, a Phoenix reporter, we get a behind the scenes look at the cutthroat news industry, as she tries to solve a mystery, while drumming up new tidbits to satisfy the television station she works for.

While I enjoyed the story overall, I really wavered on whether or not I liked the main character, and I think I fell on the side of not. As I contemplated the reasons I didn’t care for her character, it made me wonder if the things I disliked about her character are also the things that make a good reporter.

Aside from not liking Jolene’s character, I found the story kept my interest for the most part. The only thing I found odd were the random bits of history about buildings and historical events that the author felt the need to explain, but which really had nothing to do with the story. I found they really distracted me from the story, and didn’t add anything valuable.

If you’re a mystery lover I would recommend giving Off the Air a try, I think it was a decent debut. I enjoyed the book enough that I will give the author another try in the future.

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

Unfortunately I DNF this one. It just wasn't a book for me. I could not connect with the story or the characters. Some may find it interesting. I just wasn't the right audience for it.

Thank you NetGalley, St Martin Press and the author for a copy of ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Jolene Garcia is under a lot of pressure to get the firsthand scoop on the local murder of radio host, Larry Lemmon. She’s in competition with the other news broadcasting station and constantly hitting walls when her sources request to not be named and her persons of interest refuse interviews. Jolene will do whatever it takes to get the information first and help solve the case.

This was a cozy mystery that I was able to knock out in one day. You don’t often get to read the perspective of the persistent, invasive news reporter so it was unique to get that POV in this story. It was a quick, easy read and I enjoyed trying to guess alongside Jolene and the cops. One or two plots were introduced, but didn’t go anywhere. It also seemed to be a product placement for Pepsi given the amount of times it was mentioned. It also had a lot of politics in it, which made sense for the story, but a little too real. I wish it had been a little more thrilling, but it worked well for my lazy Saturday reading!

Jolene is a TV reporter in Phoenix who is looking for her “big break” – a real story to tell, rather than just covering the addition of a newborn giraffe to the zoo’s family. When she learns about a death at a local radio station, she is determined to cover the story herself, especially when the body is identified as that of a controversial talk show host whose death is suspicious. As she vies for the latest breaking news associated with the story, she uncovers information that could put an end to her investigation once and for all.

This book appears to be the author’s first novel, although according to her author bio, she has worked in journalism for quite some time. That is apparent by the details included in the story, which bogged things down more than once. The book was a slow starter, and every time it started to pick up a little, the story would be lost amid the details again. The book contains a content advisory, which is great, but it’s at the end of the book. Wouldn’t it make more sense to put it at the beginning, so readers could take the advisory under consideration?

I liked Jolene and appreciated her efforts to get ahead in her career while trying to keep her bosses happy and maintain good relationships with her co-workers. I realize it’s part of the business, but I was disgusted with her questions and behavior on more than one occasion, and recognized it as the same disgust I feel regarding many real-life TV reporters.

The murder victim was revered by some but repulsive to others, so there were quite a few suspects to consider. I thought I had it figured out, and it wasn’t until it became obvious as the story progressed that I was wrong. Given the identity of the killer, the motive made sense, but I would not have figured it out on my own.

I don’t know if this is a stand alone book or the start of a new series. If it is to become a series, I’m not sure whether I’d continue with it, but I might, just to see what big stories Jolene gets wrapped up in next.

The fact that I wanted to finish the book is an endorsement in and of itself, but this was fluffy reading. I applaud the author for this somewhat cozy mystery as writing a book has to be so very hard. There’s potential here, but I never fully connected with our main character, Jolene. She’s a striving journalist/reporter trying to take the top spot and scoop her competitors on the next big story. The portrayal of JJ, her arch nemesis, is pretty superficial. If you are looking for a light read, something for the airplane for some easy escapism, this should work for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur books.

What happens when a Rush Limbaugh type radio host suddenly dies? Well, if you’re Jolene Garcia, a local reporter, you fight to get to the truth before someone else gets there first.

It’s clear the author is passionate and knowledgeable about journalism and Arizona, and any reader who shares those passions and a murder mystery will likely enjoy this.

While the writing style was fine, this got a little too in the weeds regarding journalism itself. The author took time to give us plenty of details about other aspects of the story or characters, but I walked away feeling like I really knew nothing about the main character, who’s narrated the story. I never became engaged in her or her story.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC of “Off the Air” in exchange for an honest review.

I rarely DNF books before giving them an honest chance, but I had to put this down before even hitting the 10% mark. The writing was flat, the dialogue stilted, and there wasn’t enough hook from the first chapter to keep me interested. It felt like I was reading a sitcom script. I think this book could’ve benefited from tighter editing.

The mysterious death of a shock jock radio show host shows how news reporters almost do whatever it takes to get the scoop on the story. Jolene, the MC, feels she is always behind her competitors in getting the sought after interview and she takes some chances, ruffles a few feathers, and jeopardizes some friendships while trying to track down the killer and get the exclusive story. It was an interesting insight into how news stations and their reporters work to get a story. There were quite a few instances where the author gave background on a historical moment or some other fact and it took away from the actual novel in many instances. I wish there was more development on the other news station characters as they started to feel interchangeable because they were a bit one note.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the arc.