Jolene Garcia is back with her investigative reporting to solve another crime in Phoenix. She had a knack for stumbling on conspiracies and what turns out to be murder whilst covering silly stories like the mayor being stuck in an elevator! No matter the Gluten Free Cupcake scandal she's supposed to be working on, she's out to prove city contract fraud that could have lead to murder.

Christina Estes, once again, paints an interesting portrait of the world of journalism and how getting the story can lead to uncovering outrageous crime. Jolene is a no nonsense character and it keeps the story real. This story kept my interest throughout although there was not a lot of flashy, unbelievable events depicted. I look forward to more real world stories from Estes.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

The Story That Wouldn't Die by Christina Estes is another excellent mystery.
I really enjoyed this book—it had a great balance of compelling characters and an engaging plot that kept me hooked. The writing was clear and vivid, making it easy to get lost in the story.
The mystery was very entertaining. It kept me engaged and never a dull moment.
I loved her debut Off the Air and can’t wait to read more of Estes work in the future.

Thank You NetGalley and Minotaur Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7845069520

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-story-that-wouldnt-die-christina-estes/1146167652

The Story That Wouldn’t Die by Christine Estes is the second story featuring her main character, Jolene Garcia. While the first book was a good solid mystery, this one fell short. I liked Estes’s writing and was excited to read the second in the series. However, this one had some serious flaws. The plot, great. Despite her Emmy for her previous assignment, Jolene is stuck in her role as a reporter. When news break of a contractor’s death, Jolene starts investigating. Despite the intriguing story, the story was long-winded and chaotic. Red herrings and plot twists aside, this book needs editing for clarity.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Christine Rstes for the opportunity to read this novel. All opinions are mine alone. ,

4.25 stars
This is the second book in the Jolene Garcia series, but also works well as a standalone. Christina has several years of experience as a journalist in Phoenix, so her books featuring reporter Jolene Garcia are very authentic and informative. Jolene wants to be doing important news stories, but keeps getting fluff pieces because they're easy and quick to produce. Jolene gets a lead on a story about possible corruption in city hall and won't let it go until she finds out the truth.

Jolene is a strong main character. She is ambitious, persistent, and sometimes pushy. All are good qualities for a reporter, but the pushiness doesn't always win her friends in the newsroom or with her friends and contacts. In addition to an interesting mystery, I enjoy the behind-the-scenes look at how a newsroom operates. There is also a fun shout-out to Jenn McKinlay's Cupcake Bakery series when Jolene goes into the bakery for a story she is researching. The Story that Wouldn't Die has an unexpected ending both in the crime Jolene was investigating and also with two interesting developments at the very end. I'm eager to find out what is in store for Jolene.

I received a copy of this ebook for review consideration from Minotaur Books and NetGalley. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

Book 2 of the Jolene Garcia Mysteries and I had no idea when I picked this book up to start reading but that’s ok!

TV reporter Jolene Garcia refuses to stop investigating while someone else is determined to kill the story, and Jolene if she doesn’t stop!

Jolene is convinced that a car accident that takes the life of a local business owner is no accident. Jolene sets out to expose the greed, corruption and deception involving City Hall, if it’s the last thing she does!

This fictional reporter is based on the real life of Arizona TV Reporter/Author Christina Estes! With Twenty years reporting surely there image a few stories to tell!

This cozy mystery digs from the perspective of a reporter which adjusts the lens of the mystery and that was a nice change of pace. Although the book is second in the series (I’ll have to go back and read the first) it can be read stand alone. Jolene is a real go getting and I enjoyed her determined attitude to solve what was going on.

Thank you to the author, Christina Estes, Publisher Minotaur Press/St Martins Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. I received an epub and am leaving my review voluntarily.

First thank you to st martins press and NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5 stars

Synopsis: Jolene is a reporter at a local tv station and comes across something shady happening with the grants being awarded. She knows someone and starts looking into it but the more she looks into it the scarier and more dangerous it becomes.

What I liked: Jolene was tedious when it came to the story and she didn’t let it go. She also worked through a lot of her own personal history. The mystery was really interesting local corruption but in grants so it took some digging to get to the bottom of it. It was also believable and not some that would be outlandish. One thing to note it did drag a bit and some parts were more tell than show but the ending was satisfying.

Christina Estes, Phoenix award winning reporter, is back with another fun read!

Phoenix report, Jolene Garcia cannot help it - she has to follow the story and her gut when things do not seem right. A local business man has died in an accident and Jolene doesn’t believe it was an accident. She digs in and starts to discover her hunch might be correct and she puts herself at risk.

This was a fun read, characters are likable and love all the Phoenix locations. The story has some good twists and unexpected outcomes.

Thank you to NetGalley for an early review of the book.

I have struggled to get into this book for weeks. Sadly, it just isn't a story that grabbed me with its plot or characters. Since I have not read the book I will not be posting any sort of review on my blog, socials or bookstore sites. I appreciate the arc but this book just wasn't a good fit for me.

This is the second book after Off the Air, which I really liked. I was excited to read this one, and it did not disappoint. This was a very light hearted, fun and cozy read. The mystery aspect of this book was really good and easy to follow. I am excited for the next book.

Be careful what you wish for. In THE STORY THAT WOULDN'T DIE by Christina Estes, fresh-from-winning-an-Emmy news reporter Christina is squeezed between the ever-increasing pressures from her management to provide quick hit/fast ratings wins stories and her own deep, intelligent curiosity. The slow-burn stories that take time to develop and build are her true passion as is uncovering the truth behind a death she believes to be suspicious given the individual's delving into matters others want kept secret. It's cozy mystery with the twist of a gifted amateur with brains and guts to follow her intuition and reveal the truth. I enjoyed it although parts dragged and there were so many characters it was tough to keep them straight. However, it did hold my interest to the end. I received a copy of this book and these thoughts are my own, unbiased opinions.

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

This was a very middle of the road book for me. While there were moments of humor, I struggled at other times to stay interested. I liked the main character's story arc but I could see why she got on other character's (and possibly reader's) nerves. While I enjoyed the ending, I don't think this book will stay with me.

Rating: Liked It (rounded up)

Christina’s background in news definitely adds a layer of authenticity to this series. You believe what she’s saying, and the behind-the-scenes look at the newsroom is fascinating.

I actually enjoyed this book more than the first. I think it was the crime being investigated this time. I felt genuinely invested in the people involved and wanted justice for them. It’s very much a cozy mystery, and it served as a perfect palate cleanser between all the dark romances I’ve been reading lately.

At just over 10 hours, the story did feel a little long-winded in parts, but by the end everything tied together nicely with a satisfying conclusion. Book 3 sounds promising, and I’m looking forward to it.

Special shoutout to Devon Sorvari, who did a fantastic job narrating. She captured all of Jolene’s frustration, stress, and anxiety in a way that really brought her character to life.

Is this the best series ever? No. Is it entertaining? Absolutely.

This book was so-so for me. It kept me entertained, but the main character, a reporter digging for a story bigger than the maybe falsely labeled gluten free cupcakes her editor wants her to investigate, was flat and, at times, annoying. There were too many characters in the suspect and victim pools to keep them all straight. Lastly, the attempts at humor did not execute well; maybe my expectations from the early Janet Evanovich or the Jana de Leon Fortune Redding series are too high.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this cozy mystery.

Phoenix reporter Jolene Garcia isn’t afraid to ruffle feathers. When a beloved small business owner dies in what looks like a car accident, Jolene suspects there’s more to the story. As she digs into city hall secrets and shady deals, she finds herself caught between her newsroom bosses pushing for quick clicks and her own determination to uncover the truth.

This read had all the hallmarks of a great cozy mystery - an engaging heroine, a strong sense of place, and a whodunit that unfolds with just the right amount of intrigue. I loved following Jolene as she balanced her career ambitions with her instincts to stand up for her community. The local flavor of Phoenix really shone through, giving the story a vivid backdrop, and the mystery kept me guessing without ever feeling too heavy. If you enjoy smart, determined sleuths and community-centered mysteries, this one makes for a charming addition to your shelf!

Thank you Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Good continuing story for Phoenix reporter Jolene Garcia. This time she is assigned to do a story on gluten free cupcakes that she doesn't feel is that newsworthy, but it's her job. Also, covering the mayor stuck in an elevator; there she meets a lawyer who asks her to look into a more interesting story...corruption in the city government. What Jolene doesn't know that by doing that investigation she, again, puts herself in danger, and also looses one of her most treasured police contacts, which is very sad for her on more than just a work level. When bodies start appearing Jolene tries to figure out if they are all by one person, or more than one, and if so, are they connected...really like this series as I used to live in Tempe AZ and worked in Scottsdale, and love "seeing" the places I know in and around the Valley of the Sun!

This is Christina Estes' follow-up to Off the Air. This time, Jolene Garcia finds herself investigating a crooked real estate developers and perhaps even a crooked mayor. When a beloved small business owner dies in a car crash, Jolene isn’t convinced it was an accident. He’d been raising questions about who keeps getting lucrative deals at city hall—questions that powerful people don’t want answered. The deeper Jolene digs, the more suspicious things she uncovers. Could this story lead to another Emmy or the loss of her life?

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this digital e-arc.*

Jolene Garcia is a television reporter has found the case of a lifetime. A local businessman has died in a car accident. But Jolene believes the car crash was no accident! The man had been asking questions that made some powerful people nervous. Jolene knows she has a story on her hands and is like a dog with a bone. She is not willing to let it go or back down! She is determined to get to the truth no matter what!

I enjoyed the pacing of this book. It goes at a very nice clip and there is no down time. Jolene is an ambitus woman and reporter. I admired her tenacity and determination. She is willing to rattle a few cages to get to the heart of the story. I enjoyed the tension, suspense, and hunt for the truth. I found the mystery to be intriguing and gripping. I also enjoyed Christina Estes writing and plot building.

This book worked very well as a stand-alone novel for me as I have not read the first book in the series.

Thank you to GetRed PR and Minotaur Books #partner for the ARC to review.

I love cozy mysteries and enjoyed the prior book in this series, Off The Air. The follow-up to that book, The Story That Wouldn’t Die, was equally, if not a little more enjoyable, and I flew through this in a day. It was a great story, very entertaining, and the pacing was steady. I thought this was well developed and well executed, and I loved how it all wrapped up. I think there is another book coming, and I am very much looking forward to it if so.

Christina Estes’s first book in this series, “Off the Air,” won the Tony Hillerman Prize and she’s sharing it, in the form of an Emmy, with lead character, Jolene Garcia, the intrepid, ambitious Latina Phoenix crime reporter (with much help from Estes’ previous career). I loved this character’s debut — here Jolene is still immersed in her career, which can be cutthroat local journalism. But the Phoenix media market can be boring (meteorologists outshine reporters), so her managers are looking for stories with immediate clicks rather than long form investigation. A local business owner dies and Jolene determines it might be murder, not an accident.

This can definitely be read as a standalone. It’s a lighter sort of mystery (but not a cozy). Phoenix is a character in these books — I imagine the local bookstores should be featuring it as a hometown story. Jolene can be bullish and sometimes chaotic, but she’s determined even when her story takes on political implications with the mayor involved. 4 stars for an engrossing story with a journalist, not a detective being center stage.

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO No eye colors mentioned at all.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Again, the reality of the Arizona landscape is all around and Jolene actually experiences a patch of green grass and thinks of Omaha.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

This is the second book in the Jolene Garcia series, but I don't think you need to have read the first book to be able to understand what's going on in this one. Jolene is a very ambitious investigative reporter who will go to great lengths to uncover corruption, because yes, she really wants to win another Emmy (see book 1), but also because she believes that people who break the law should face justice for their actions. In this case, Jolene finds out there are a lot of questions about the bidding process on local government projects which are worth millions of dollars when one man keeps being awarded the projects over and over by bidding lower than everyone else, and then adjusting his bid after the fact to make up the difference, almost like he had inside information on just how low to bid. That gets her investigative juices flowing, but when she finds out that one person who may have been involved in this scheme was murdered, and then another who has information about all of this dies in a suspicious accident, she really starts to sink her teeth into the story.

Jolene is a woman on a mission, and she can be abrasive and aggressive at times, but it's because she cares and wants to find justice for those who can't get it for themselves, for whatever reason. If you read the first book, you might feel, as I do, that Jolene is actually much less aggressive in this book, which was nice. She lives alone, has a core group of friends she spends time with, and devotes the rest of her time to whatever story she's working on. She may be aggressive and downright pushy at times, but her heart is in the right place.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought the plot was interesting and the story moved along at a good pace. The characters were fleshed out and relatable, and we definitely learned more about Jolene's history in this book, which gives us a window into what drives her so hard. The mystery itself was well written and kept me turning the page. All in all, this was just a well written book and I happily recommend it.

5/5 stars

*** Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Christina Estes for the chance to read and review The Story That Wouldn't Die.