The story started off with a bang, the murder of a local polarizing talk show host, and the fight by the news reporters to get the story. The story evolved into more of a story about journalism and news reporting than a murder mystery. The murder mystery was secondary to the news reporting.

Jolene Garcia is a local news reporter in Arizona. When a local polarizing talk show host, Larry Lemmon, dies, reporters head to the radio station to get the scoop. Jolene tries to outwit her competition to get the story on who murdered Larry, hoping to earn an Emmy.

The author’s extensive knowledge of being a reporter turned this book into more of a behind the scenes of the news industry. Unfortunately, the murder mystery became the secondary story.

This book will be released on March 26th.

Thank you to NetGalley, St Martins Press, and the author for the e-arc.

A solid debut set amid a Phoenix tv news program. It’s a cozy mystery, though FMC Jolene is sort of unlikable at times. And rather than having a dog, as is common in the cozy genre, Jolene is terrified of dogs (with good reason). This has a high level of “couldn’t put it down”-ness, and I look forward to more from the author.

I received a copy of this book from Minotaur.

2.5/5 ⭐️
I’ll start by saying I did not DNF this book. I actually sat through its entirety. Which is a good thing. It didn’t annoy me to the point where I just couldn’t read it. However, it was not good. I saw its potential, but it seriously needed a few more rounds of rewrites and beta reading and editing.
First, if they cut out all the irrelevant details, I think this book would’ve been 100 pages. Max. It told me so much unimportant info but did not telling me anything on how the main character and this detective became friends and him willing to help her, for instance. It actually reminded me of a popular segment on the podcast, Dumb People Town, where they read articles written by a Florida reporter because he notoriously over explains even the most obvious things. He once explained what an anchor was. This author took the time to tell us kimchi is fermented cabbage. It had nothing to do with the plot. And this was not the only time it happened. It is marketed as a murder mystery but felt like we spent way more time learning what it’s like to be a news reporter. And I mean learn. Like it’s one of those cheesy movies we would watch in school, like in drivers ed, where it’s heavy on the lecturing and weak on the entertainment.
But yet I kept reading. I didn’t stop. Though I was super close a few times because I like to read to escape reality, not read about it. I wanted to read about a fun little murder mystery involving new reporters and a controversial radio star, I didn’t actually want to read about the actual political drama in America today. Like I hear enough about Trump and racists on the actual news, I wanted to take a break from that shit storm and read about a fictional version of reality with made up issues.
Overall, this was fine. I think there will be people who like this. But if you also don’t want to read more about Trump and polarizing political takes or to have things over explained to you, I would maybe pass on this book. But if all that doesn’t bother you and you actually like that kind of stuff, this is for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Press for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.

Off the Air was a cozy murder mystery with very detailed descriptions of behind the scenes television journalism and life in Phoenix, AZ. The story follows Jolene Garcia, a field reporter for the local news. Jolene is desperate to gain notoriety in her field and ends up taking extreme risks to do so. Those risk start to push away her co-workers and friends. But after her life is put on the line, all her friends quickly return to her corner.
3.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

“Ah, Facebook. The modern newsroom’s source for story ideas.”(Jolene) Thank you Minotaur Books, NetGalley, and Christina Estes for this free early book.
“Off the Air” by Christina Estes ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Investigative Journalism Mystery. Location: Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Time: Present.

Jolene Garcia, 29, is a local TV reporter covering dry cleaners to gluten-free bakeries, and sometimes the stories she really wants to tell. When KFRK’s ultra-conservative talk show host Larry “Never Surrender” Lemon is murdered, journalists fight for the story. Jolene conducted his final interview, and she’s determined to solve his murder. But other reporters and stations keep beating her to the important scenes and interviews.

Although this book is a murder mystery full of red herrings, I think it’s more a commentary on the “multimedia journalism” that is today’s news, with old-style journalists pushed out of their comfort zone as newsrooms go digital. It’s adapt or die, and that’s another way to say backstabbing, sneaking, and sexy shots.
As a knowledgeable local reporter herself, author Estes adds real world news and names to the mix. This was a niche read for me. I live on Phoenix’s west side, and I loved reading about places I know and enjoy. I watch local TV news, and wonder about some TV reporters. If you enjoy stories focused on journalism where a relentless reporter blunders around trying to make her boss happy by scooping other reporters, this might be your book. Just be aware, Estes gives you a lot of local history and background (A Lot!) It’s a fast and easy read, it kept my attention, and it’s a solid 3 stars from me🌵📚💁🏼‍♀️

This was a fun and quirky mystery! It’s set in Phoenix Arizona and there is a lot of background on the state. I liked the time spent on regional topics but it makes a lot of sense since the main character, Jolene, is a reporter for a local news station. I will say that this story has a lot of random information about the characters that do not add to the story. Every time a character gets introduced, there’s a page or two about them as a person (what they wear, where they are from, etc) that ended up not being very relevant. I also found myself frustrated with some of the storylines. Oliver, for instance, feels unnecessary. I wish more would’ve come out of that. I was also so annoyed with Jolene for her actions towards the resolution of the mystery. I will say this book was fast paced though and it didn’t linger on the parts that I was annoyed about. Overall a really good read. Rating rounded up from 3.5 stars.

Being a reporter in this day and age is a cut throat profession. When potentially-problematic radio host Larry Lemmon dies suspiciously, local and national news outlets clammer to get the exclusives.

Jolene is desperate to make a name for herself in the industry. Having the last interview with Lemmon gave her an edge, but not for long.

Jolene crosses a lot of lines, makes some questionable decisions, and her personal morals are tested constantly.

I really enjoyed this book. While touching on many current events and Phoenix society, Christina does a bang up job setting the scene for this fast-paced media-centered mystery.

Thank you NetGalley, Minotaur, and Christina Estes for the advanced copy!

There was a lot to appreciate about this mystery by Christina Estes. Firstly was the authenticity she portrayed Arizona which made it seem like a very important side character.

The inside look at the making of a news story was also interesting. The main tension of the book was the main character fighting against deadlines and the rush to be first.

I was invested throughout and look forward to her next tale. A Ve_y _ood Re_d!

A fun mystery debut! Estes takes the inherent chaos of the 24 hour news cycle and crafts a great mystery. Definitely grab this one when it releases.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books

This is a fun mystery story set in the world of news reporting. Jolene is a reporter who ends up trying to solve a mystery close to home. This book has a great set of characters and really interesting premise. There were a few parts of the story that dragged a bit for me but overall this was a well-done story and I am looking forward to Estes' next work. I think this could be a great series to follow. Thanks to Christina Estes, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of Off The Air in exchange for an honest review.

What a snooze fest. I hate to say it but I was not a fan.

The premise of this book had so much promise. A murder mystery from a reporters point of view? Who wouldn't be interested?

What we got, however, was so incredibly shallow. What was the point of this book? The characters introduced how no depth to them, including our main character Jolene. Her motivations were purely for pride as a journalist with nothing underneath them. The amount of times I rolled my eyes because she was so desperate for an "exclusive interview" was astronomical. There was no humanization of any one person. The murder mystery was so lacking I solved it in a matter of pages. There were so many unnecessary facts provided that had nothing to do with the actual story. The dialogue was vanilla. The relationships between the characters was blander than a saltine cracker.

The only reason I won't give this a one star is because I wasn't offended by it. I didn't hate it so much that I wanted to throw it against a wall. Instead I felt nothing.

If anything, this reminded me why I don't like reporters and why I hate local news.

Christina Estes did not disappoint when she wrote this novel. It had so many twist and turns. When I read a book about journalist, mystery and murder, I’d expect anything but the best and Christina did her thing with this book. I loved it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book. Thank you!

The premise for this sounded so great! A cozy mystery with a reporter being our main character, sign me up. Well unfortunately I think the author's advanced knowledge of all things radio station/reporting became overwhelming for this one The characters were well developed but the story wasn't attention grabbing enough due to all the extra details. I made it to 34% ( a little over 100 pages) and am calling it quits. Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

Jolene is a reporter that just wants to catch her next big story… and if she can do it before her rival JJ gets the scoop even better. So when controversial host Larry Lemmon collapses Jolene makes it her mission to get the story first. But no matter what she always seems a second too late. Can Jolene help figure out who killed Larry without compromising her own safety?

I received this book from Netgalley and the publishers for my honest review. While I found some of the information interesting about the world of reporting I found the overall story to drag a bit. Some of the characters were interesting but not enough that I felt really invested in the story. It did pick up some by the end but overall this book fell kind of flat for me.

Off the Air was definitely a slow burn for me. It took me about 1/3rd of the way through before I really started to become interested in the story and the protagonist. Estes did a great job with her characters, and I found each one of them distinguishable from each other. Estes also did an excellent job with world building; I felt like I could picture every single thing that was brought forth to my attention, whether it was a bacon cheeseburger or the ballroom towards the end of the novel filled with firefighters, glitz, and glam. Although written well, I found the killer to be very predictable and not at all shocking. I did, however, like that Jolene's fear of dogs was tied in with how she would later come face to face with Jim.
Overall, I found this story entertaining, but I'm not sure if I would recommend it based on the pacing.

Jolene is a local TV reporter who is looking for a story that will truly make her career. Suddenly she hears news that there is a death at a radio station. That is where the last person she interviewed works. She and her photographer rush to the scene. Hoping to get the big scoop.

They discover that the body belongs to Larry Lemon, who was the man she interviewed last, She is hoping as she was the last person to interview him. It will give her and her station a bit of a boost and a head start on the story.

As the story develops, it is very clear that there is no shortage of people who wish to murder this man which makes it all the more difficult to solve the mystery.

There were several moments in the book that took me out of the mystery itself when it got so heavy and the political aspect or the hard-hitting intense struggle that is dealing with journalism today.

It was still an enjoyable mystery and not unusual for me that at the end of this story I was actually glad the murder victim was murdered. I find that that happens quite a bit with these mystery stories.

I can definitely tell from the writing that this author is in fact a journalist so at times it did feel more like an expose and less like a fictional story. But for a first novel, there is definitely potential and I can see myself reading more from her in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an arc of this book

I enjoyed this debut novel, an amusing 'cozy' mystery. It has minimal graphic content, and the suspense is not intense. The story centers around Jolene, a reporter struggling to be assigned to more exciting stories than, for example, discovering whether gluten-free cupcakes live up to their hype (or indeed actually contain no gluten). The cast of colorful characters is the big strength of the novel: Jolene and her friends (and frenemies) at the TV news station, notably favorite photographer Nate; rival station reporter JJ, a glamorous mean girl; Jolene's police source, Jim; and several suspects with plenty of motive for the murder of conservative talk-show host Larry Lemmon. The novel, set in Phoenix, AZ, has a great sense of place and a good dose of humor as Jolene chases the murder story while risking alienating her friends with her increasingly desperate behavior in search of an exclusive. By the novel's climax, I was invested in seeing her triumph, though the eventual revelation of the murderer didn't come as a huge surprise. Lovers of cozy mysteries should find this one an entertaining light read.

Unfortunately, I did not finish this book.

I lacked a connection to the characters and the story. I felt bored and uninterested. There wasn’t a “hook” to keep me going so I decided to stop.

It’s unfortunate because the plot sounded great but the prose and execution did not work for me.

I will be posting my review to Goodreads only after the book releases.

Phoenix, Arizona. We meet TV news reporter Jolene García as she finds out about the death of controversial talk show host Larry Lemmon at his job in a competing radio station. His death is suspicious but Jolene being the last person to interview him initially gives her station an advantage over other news outlets. However, as more reporters get to the scene, the competition becomes increasingly intense. Never to shy away from a challenge, Jolene is set on solving the murder, even if it means putting her career and her life on the line.

Thoughts:
The premise of this book is intriguing, but I struggled to finish it. The mystery takes a backseat to the amount of commentary and the descriptions of the inner workings of a radio station. And even though these elements display the author’s knowledge of the news business, they rob the plot of a much-needed agility for most of the book. The reader gets more telling than showing. On the other hand, the author’s descriptions of Phoenix make the setting come to life.

In the character front, we sense more depth to Jolene, but her blind willingness to put herself in dangerous situations defies any logic. I wanted to root for her but was disappointed in her choices.

Themes of child neglect, animal abuse, political extremes and ageism are mentioned throughout the story.

Overall, this book was not a hit for me. However, if you are interested in learning more about the ins and outs of the news reporting business, it might be a good fit for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press and Minotaur Books for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in return for an honest review.

#NetGalley#OfftheAirBook#bookstagram#booktrovert#booklover##bookstagrammer#bookreviews#goodreads

Estes debut felt like I was back in my college days when I worked at a local news station in SoCal. She was uber descriptive of the TV news world, which turned off some readers, but only made me reminisce of crazy times on location. I wasn't too invested in the mystery. It was like a nice little interlude between all the industry shenanigans. Enjoyable read.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.