This wasn't quite a slam dunk for me. Felt very political, and had a TON of info dumping. The premise was interesting, and I enjoyed the main character, Joelene. I probably wouldn't call this a "mystery", it's definitely more about the news story than it is a mystery. I think if someone was really interested in journalism or news, this would probably be a good fit for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for allowing me to read an ARC of this book! I honestly thought that I would like this one more than I did. I found it to be very-slow paced and although it's dealing with a murder it didn't feel as though people in the book were realizing the weight of the situation. I found the climax of the book to also be quite anti-climactic. I did enjoy the writing style but this book wasn't great at keeping my attention.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Christina Estes nailed it as a debut author. The characters in this story honestly made me laugh, made me mad, made me cringe.

She did such a wonderful job encapsulating what (I think) it would be like as a reporter chasing your exclusive.

I really enjoyed this one and hope we see something else soon from this author.

I think the author meant for this to be a cozy mystery type book (based on her acknowledgments), but I didn't get that at all. This book was too political for me

💭A debut that kept me wanting more, wow! So I love good detective/investigative stories that pay attention to detail, but for some reason I didn’t think I would like this one. I haven’t read a TV/Media/reporter trope that has really captivated me. But boy was I wrong. I loved reading about the behind the scenes of news casts, the investigative process, the hardships (morally and physically) they go through to get a good, accurate story, and what a cutthroat business it could be! It’s also crazy to read about the struggle and the change that the news is continuously going through with the presence of social media. This gave me a whole new perspective on the job!
Another thing: the characters made me laugh and cringe and the mystery itself was well written!

The ONLY thing I found was a bit much for me was the abundance of FACTS that didn’t really relate to the story directly. I felt myself losing interest when it went TOO deep into detail with extra (almost irrelevant) things.

Loved the way this ended though!

This book just wasn't for me. I hear too much about politics in real life, and I didn't realize how big of a part it would play in this novel. The facts and history tossed in about Arizona also took me out of the story. I appreciate the perspective the author offers from her years in journalism, and I'm sure plenty of readers will enjoy this.

I love a great whodunit and Christina Estes did not disappoint. Well written with a host of red herrings, the story pulls you in, holds on and doesn't let go! I would highly recommend..

This is a great start to what I hope is a new series. Jolene Garcia, a TV reporter, is trying to scoop the competitors when she hears a local radio personality is dead. She investigates and competes to be the first to the story. I love the supporting characters and especially love the realism in Jolene's character, which makes sense because the author is herself a journalist who can give a unique perspective to the situation. I look forward to more from this author.

Jolene is a reporter for a local news station in Arizona. She gets a call about a death at a local radio station. The death is soon confirmed to be the controversial talk show host Larry Lemmon. He is known for his political rantings and outrageous bickering with people who call in. He had a large devoted following but he also had a fair share of people he infuriated. Jolene happens to have had an interview with him days before his death and will stop at nothing to be the reporter breaking the news of the updates of the case. Jolene has a contact within the police department who feeds her information about the case but her station keeps missing out on being the first to break any updates. Jolene will stop at nothing to get the biggest breaks on the murder but is jeopardizing her friendships at the same time.

I would have loved for this story to have ended differently. Jolene made multiple terrible decisions and put her friendships on the line. She was not a likable character. The story itself was very good and interesting. I would have loved the same story from almost any other character's perspective.

I enjoyed this mystery wrapped around the television news world. It was the first mystery I’ve read set in this profession. Four stars.

What a fun debut! Christina Estes' first novel, inspired by her career as a journalist, is a well-plotted, well=executed mystery, full of engaging characters and twists and turns to keep readers on their toes. It also deftly illustrates the world of journalism, while poking gentle fun at the more stereotypical aspects; Estes' experience in that realm shines through in her descriptions and scene-setting, and the creation of recognizable character types. Overall, a quick read that kept me smiling - and guessing - the whole time, and left me looking forward to more from Estes in the future.

"OFF THE AIR" is an entertaining thriller that will keep readers engaged until the final page. With its well-drawn characters, pulse-pounding plot, and timely themes, this novel is a must-read for fans of mystery and suspense. Highly recommended for anyone craving a thrilling ride through the world of broadcast journalism.

I don’t know if this one was necessarily a mystery, even though it was a whodunnit. The twist of who did it wasn’t as WOW as just seeing how tough it is to be an investigative journalist and trying to get answers and interviews out of anyone, even for a victim who was well despised. I’m glad at the end the author said it was a work of fiction, because honestly it was pretty realistic, and some of the stuff that happened, especially towards the end when she puts it together who the killer was, I was like OMG ARE YOU OKAY?! Especially the social media point, and how they’re basically competing for social media stats instead of viewership, that feels definitely like the shift the media has taken. This book was a good mystery, but I also enjoyed just the “off the air” side of things and seeing how stressful it can be and how hard it is to make it in that business. But that when you do, you can really change lives.

Thank you NetGalley, St Martin’s Press and Minotaur Books for the read!

Having participated in Broadcast Journalism in high school, I was excited to read Off the Air. It's marketed as a mystery, but aside from the main character wanting to figure out the mysterious death of a political talk show host, the book was lacking mystery.

Off The Air was one of those books that I was really hoping to enjoy, but it failed to fully capture my attention, even with my broadcast journalism background. I can see that the author has a lot of potential, but the debut wasn't spectacular to me.

A debut novel. This is a unique fictional expose and light perspective on the life of an investigative journalist and the hard work it takes for so many people to report a top news story. This debut author uses her 20 years of experience as a reporter to give readers a sneak peek into the hustling and bustling and frantic pace that occurs in reporting a story, including the use of backstabbing, insider information, and informants. Very heavy on the current politics in this country especially since it takes place in Arizona and covers a lot of border politics and opinions. The characters were a bit dry for me and hard to really get involved with the plot.

My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced ready copy of this book! I enjoyed the premise of an entertainment industry set mystery that was immediately relatable and entertaining.

Christina Estes, Tony Hillerman award-winning debut author, makes good use of her journalistic background in this thriller, set in the cut-throat world of television journalism. When a provocative right wing talk show host is murdered, Jolene is in a good position, because she obtained the victim's last interview before his untimely death. The various networks compete to vie for the big break in the story.

As an inside look at the world of journalism, I would rate this book highly. Descriptive details and interesting characters made this part of the story come alive for me. The mystery itself did not grab my attention as much. I enjoyed reading the book, but it wasn't a book I couldn't pull myself away from. I can see why many readers will love this book, and the writing was sound, so I will be interested in reading future works from this author. For me this was a 3.5 read, a solidly good book, but not edge of the seat material.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Off the Air" by Christina Estes presents an insider's view of the bustling world of local television reporting, centered on protagonist Jolene Garcia's quest to uncover the truth behind a controversial radio host's murder. Set in Phoenix, Arizona, the novel delves into the intricacies of the journalism profession, drawing from Estes' own experience to provide authenticity.

While the premise holds promise, the execution leaves something to be desired. The characters, though diverse, often fall into clichés and stereotypes, lacking depth and nuance. Jolene, while initially compelling, becomes increasingly unlikable as the story progresses, making it difficult for readers to invest in her journey fully.

The mystery itself is intriguing, with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers guessing. However, the abundance of misdirection can feel overwhelming at times, and the resolution may leave some feeling underwhelmed.

Despite these shortcomings, Estes' writing shines in moments of commentary on the evolving landscape of journalism, particularly in the age of social media. These insights offer a thought-provoking look at the industry's challenges and opportunities.

Overall, "Off the Air" is a mixed bag. While it offers an engaging glimpse into the world of television reporting and raises important questions about the media landscape, it ultimately falls short regarding character development and narrative cohesion. As such, it earns a modest three-star.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this fun mystery story! I wasn't sure what to expect from the cover and the intro, since they didn't quite seem to add up, but it was interesting from the start! I enjoyed the different characters and the behind the scenes plot line. I like a modern take on who dun it, and this was a solid one! Thanks!

I'm not one for mysteries but this was such a fun escape and a fantastic debut novel. I really enjoyed her writing style and found she did a great job of keeping the reader hooked from start to finish, with charming characters and unexpected twists along the way. If you're looking for a fast and oddly enough a heartwarming read that will leave you smiling I would definitely recommend this!