I hated the first book because it was basically 100% political (which fine, but advertise as such). This book was better in that regard, but still really lacking. I kept hoping for more. The ending was practically and the writing left a lot to be desired. Not much else to say.

The Story that wouldn’t Die is a sequel, but can be read as a stand alone in my opinion. Jolene is a reporter in Arizona chasing the high of her breakout story that earned her an Emmy. She ends up finding herself investigating multiple deaths as she chases a lead about crooked politics.

There was humor, suspense and mystery! I really enjoyed this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Jolene Garcia is a television reporter in Phoenix, Arizona, and she is looking for the next big story to share with her community. However, her bosses have her running all over town to cover clickbait stories, so when a small business owner with ties to the city council is killed, it's only Jolene who feels the desire to investigate.

I hadn't read the first book in this series, but there is enough alluding to what happened there that I think each book can be treated as a standalone. I wasn't altogether sure that I liked Jolene as a character; she seemed to rub people the wrong way and sort of bulldozed what she wanted from others. It was a fun read, but I did have moments where I wasn't sure if I wanted to finish it. For that reason, I am going to stick it with a 3-star.




Expected Publication 19/08/25
Goodreads Review 11/08/25

Jolene is a journalist working in Phoenix the nation’s fifth largest city. She works for a broadcast news channel, but instead of getting to work on the important, meaningful stories, she’s being given assignments like finding out if the gluten free cupcakes on offer at area bakeries are really what they claim. When a promising lead about government corruption lands in her lap she’s determined to get to the bottom of it no matter what.
This is the second mystery novel featuring Jolene. She is a flawed, ambitious, and unrelenting reporter with a goldfish for a roommate. I like the supporting cast of characters who try to keep her from going off the rails when she’s working on her big story. They’re a supportive bunch that has her back when she needs them the most. Complex plotting and a do-or-die heroine make this an absorbing read. 4 stars

I had high expectations for The Story That Wouldn't Die after reading the first book in the series. However the pacing is so slow and the protagonist overall unlikable that I do believe the title is prophetic. At the halfway point I was ready to bail because nothing was progressing and reporter Jolene unapologetically manipulates interns, colleagues, and families of victims "for the story" that will make her career.
This is definitely in the cosy category of plucky amateur sleuth and is perfect for the cosy reader. Plan to read over a couple of days due to pacing and repetitive conversations.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. My review is independently given.

Jolene is back and she's still pushing to do hard news, despite the desires of her station manager for fluffy stories, so when it seems a contractor for the city dies suspiciously after accusing the powers that be of favoritism well, she's off. This is the second in a series where the author's own experience as a reporter clearly informs the novel but don't worry if you will the first one as this will be fine as a standalone. Jolene is not the most likable person and she knows it but she's a determined protagonist who Estes wisely leavens with humor. The outlines of the mystery of the murder might feel familiar but the details are good. And then there's the station atmospherics. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

Overall I enjoyed The Story that Wouldn't Die. I did however, struggle with the pacing. The main character is not the most likeable. I did like the investigative journalism point of view. I think that made for a really interesting mystery. It was a fun read but there were times where I felt like putting it down to read something else. This is part of an ongoing series but I believe you can read this without having read the books prior without feeling like you are missing out on something.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Another fun story from this author! I enjoyed her previous book and this one was a fun mystery that kept me in the story of the newsroom! Another one that was knocked out of the park!

The Story That Wouldn't Die was a fun, fresh, silly and enjoyable read. It felt light hearted enough to be fun, but also had the "death" element that added some depth.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this book so much that I read it in one sitting. I loved the storyline and the characters. It was fun following along with the characters and their story. I would definitely recommend this book.

The Story That Wouldn’t Die by author Christina Estes is a good follow up to her debut novel, Off the Air. We get to tag along with local TV reporter Jolene Garcia once again. She’s still persistent, dedicated and determined, but she still can’t quite catch a break when it comes to serious reporting topics.

The story begins with Jolene and her cameraman Nate heading off to cover what their boss considers a must-report event: the mayor is stuck in an elevator. Of course it can’t be that simple or silly. Things become complicated and dangerous and Jolene is off and running once again.

Quirky characters, a touch of humor and the fact that author Estes with her own reporting experience makes you feel right at home in the newsroom and makes this book an enjoyable read. Thanks to St. Martin’s Press Minotaur Books for providing an advance copy of The Story That Wouldn’t Die via NetGalley. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s/Minotaur Books for an advance copy of this novel.

This is the second entry featuring Phoenix-based news reporter/broadcasterJolene Garcia. Tough, smart, and undeterred, Jolene, like the author, has distinguished herself by winning an Emmy in her field. This is the subject of the first book, which I haven’t read, but it’s briefly outlined in the opening chapter. Book 2 consequently has enough context to be read on its own.

Having relocated from Los Angeles only two years earlier, the brash no-holds-barred Jolene has yet to make any real connection with her colleagues. Her ‘roommate’ is her goldfish Oscar, and she unloads herself emotionally on him and Emmy, who is, in fact, her award. I’d say her emotional connection is most evident in her relationship with the statue. She is impressively ambitious, but, in her avowed commitment to ferreting out the truth behind corruption, she often runs slipshod over her own stated principles. The explanation for this moral ambiguity is the cut-throat nature of the media, where, at least in Jolene’s eyes, no one is really your friend. But it’s impossible to ignore that the ratings, the followers, and, yes, the Emmys, matter to her at least as much as ‘the truth’ for the public benefit.

The story that consumes her has to do with the ‘accidental death’ of a small businessman who alleged that the same companies got all the lucrative municipal contracts. His brakes suddenly failed when he demanded a public inquiry into unfair competition. His foremost competitor just happens to be a skilled mechanic. It’s a very small leap from Kurt’s prowess with cars and Carlos’ death. Fortunately for readers, Jolene has a great many plot twists and turns to get to the bottom of this story, which involves the usual suspects in the upper echelons of power. The city leaders are nothing if not invested in keeping things covered up and unchallenged.

Meanwhile, the station director is obsessed with ‘sexy’ stories. Jolene and her colleagues even call him Sexy (behind his back). His views on what constitutes a hot story are questionable, but lead to some hilarious antics. Mayor Ace, as he wants to be called, fancies himself a media celebrity and has his own talk show. He thoroughly milks an ‘emergency’ in which he and a security guard get temporarily stuck in a malfunctioning city hall elevator. Jolene is obliged to cover the non-event by posting constantly on all social media, which is what the mayor is doing. And she’s also ordered to visit, or get a minion to visit, all cupcake bakeries in town to have their cupcakes lab-tested to ensure they are gluten-free if advertised as such.

The book’s first half is mostly devoted to shenanigans of this sort, making me pity the poor media people who are made to prioritize fluff, once a minor thing in news circles, over actual news, much of it now fluff. It’s brilliant satire. But it does slow down the real story: was the contractor, Carlos, murdered, why, and by whom? Things pick up quickly in the second half, and the resolution is worth waiting for. There is a third book coming, so we can expect more of Jolene’s escapades.

When a beloved local business owner dies in a suspicious car crash, reporter Jolene Garcia suspects there’s more to the story, and she’s right. Her investigation leads to city corruption, a growing list of suspects, and someone who’ll stop at nothing to bury the truth. But Jolene doesn’t let stories (or threats) go easily.

This was a fun, easy read with a likable, determined FMC. Jolene is sharp, persistent, and just quirky enough - yes, she talks to her goldfish Oscar. 🐠 The newsroom setting and Phoenix backdrop add a lot of charm, and the mystery kept me guessing.

I especially appreciated that the story wraps up without a cliffhanger, but still leaves room for more in the series - perfectly satisfying.

What to expect:
✨Twisty but not crazy so

✨Great behind-the-scenes journalism angle

✨ Set in Phoenix with lots of fun local touches
✨Works as a standalone

✨Perfect for fans of Finlay Donovan or cozy mysteries with substance

A haunting and thought-provoking read that blurs the line between truth and obsession. Christina Estes weaves journalism, memory, and mystery into a slow-burn story that lingers long after the last page. Perfect for true crime lovers and fans of introspective thrillers. Quietly powerful and deeply compelling.

This is a cozy mystery with a strong female lead and newsroom drama. The author relies on her experience as a journalist to give a behind the scenes glimpse into the world of journalism. The Phoenix setting is brought to life with references to culture, food, and the weather. Jolene is smart, bold, full of heart and is an imperfect and likeable heroine. The story has plenty of humor; Jolene has full conversations with her pet goldfish, Oscar, and her Emmy statue. This is fun, entertaining, and easy to read. The mystery includes death of several characters but has so much humor and great quips that it is not a dark mystery. The author’s inclusion of Jolene’s backstory, she was in the foster care system until her grandmother stepped in to raise her, only adds depth to her character and the story.

This is the second book in the Jolene Garcia mystery series. This book can be read as a stand alone but does have multiple references to Jolene’s previous, Emmy award winning news story. The first book in this series (which I also read and reviewed) is titled Off the Air.

There’s definitely a solid premise here, a determined reporter digging into a suspicious death tied to city hall corruption has all the makings of a gripping mystery. And I enjoyed the idea of Jolene trying to balance her passion for meaningful journalism with the pressure from her station to chase clickbait stories. There were moments where the stakes felt real, and it was entertaining to see her pursue leads while dealing with a frustrating boss and juggling day-to-day reporting.

But overall, this one didn’t quite deliver for me. There were just too many characters introduced throughout the story, and I found it difficult to keep track of who was who. It diluted the emotional impact and made it hard to stay fully engaged. The characters themselves, including Jolene, lacked the kind of depth that would have helped me connect with them.

Pacing was another major issue - things moved so slowly. At the halfway mark, Jolene had barely uncovered anything new, and I found myself wishing the plot would pick up. On top of that, I struggled to really like Jolene. She came across as whiny, arrogant at times, and too quick to delegate her responsibilities. It wasn't until the last few chapters that she started to show a more human, vulnerable side, which felt a bit too late to really change my impression of her.

The ending also felt a bit rushed, with pieces coming together in a way that seemed more convenient than earned.

All that said, the foundation is strong, and I appreciate what the book was trying to do. It just didn’t quite land for me in the end.

My copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Minotaur Books for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

After solving the murder of radio host Larry Lemon in the last book, reporter Jolene Garcia is back to reporting on stories that don't challenge her--including a story about the Phoenix mayor being stuck in an elevator at city hall. It's at this live reporting that she is tipped off to a bigger story; one alleging corruption at city hall. As Jolene investigates, she notices someone following her and she starts to receive threats. All this makes Jolene even more sure that there is a story here and that everything people believed was coincidence is anything but.


This is the second book in a series featuring Phoenix news reporter Jolene Garcia. I am really enjoying these books. I love reading books that are set in cities or towns that I am already familiar with. It makes the story so much more vivid for me when it references landmarks and features I know. I really liked the way the story came together at the end and how all of the characters Jolene was interacting with were actually interconnected. Jolene is a bit of a complicated character in the sense that she has a very intense moral imperative that people should know the truth, but she can be insensitive in the ways she gets to it.

“The Story that Wouldn’t Die” is a mystery by Christina Estes. This book is the second in a series, but can be read as a stand-alone book as Ms. Estes does a good job of highlighting the important bits of the first book. This book follows reporter Jolene Garcia as she tries to both report on the news but also try to solve a case. What I liked was how Ms. Estes uses her newsroom/reporting background in this book. What I found a bit confusing at times were the number of characters - from the mayor’s office to the newsroom to the side characters at times it felt like a lot (and while Norma is an interesting character, I had to scramble to recall who she was when she reappeared toward the end of the book). I’d call this book more of a cozy mystery - it’s not obviously obvious who is behind everything (though I had my suspicions) and I did get a bit confused at the red herrings tossed in. At times the story (while an interesting premise) felt a bit flat and the pacing got a bit draggy at times, but I do like that Jolene is flawed (and girl, see the therapist to at minimum deal with your JJ envy - seriously, roll your eyes and get on with your life!).

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Aug. 19, 2025
“The Story That Wouldn’t Die” is the second novel in the Jolene Garcia series by reporter-turned-author Christina Estes.
Jolene Garcia has finally made a name for herself in the world of broadcast journalism. After winning an Emmy for her previous investigative piece, she always has her eye open for a new angle. When a local business owner dies in a car crash, Jolene is wary that something suspicious is going on. The business owner, Carlos, was questioning methods of the local city hall politicians, and had caught the eye of several powerful people. It isn’t long before more bodies drop and, although local police don’t make the connection, Jolene knows the deaths have to be related and, even though her management team tells her to shut it down, she pursues the story, potentially risking her career, and her life.
“Story” is fast-paced, engaging and well-written, with a tough, ambitious protagonist who is dedicated to honest, transparent reporting. In this installment, Jolene’s story leads her to an investigation of corrupt city officials, who have their hands in each others’ pockets and swap favours at the detriment of the community. Although this aspect is definitely believable, the inner workings of city hall and the fight for corporate bids is a little dry, and is even a little confusing with the complex relationships between the politicians and staffers.
Although I do enjoy Jolene as a protagonist, her ambition was a bit over-the-top in this story, and she made me glaringly happy that I had not chosen to go into journalism. She was like a dog with a bone with this investigation and although the ends were worth it, she definitely had some vicious means to get there. I respect Jolene’s ambition and passion, and I wanted her to succeed, but she burned a lot of bridges in this story and I worry she won’t be able to repair the relationships she destroyed.
After all of the labyrinthine twists and turns to get to the ending, it delivered in spades, and caught me by surprise. I did not expect the ending to play out the way it did, but the conclusion was satisfying and wrapped up all loose ends. There is definitely a third installment on the way, as the final pages of “Story” made clear, and I am looking forward to it.
Overall, this series is intriguing and Estes is a talented writer. I enjoy Jolene as a protagonist, and love the jams she gets herself into. Although I enjoyed the first novel in the series a little better than this one, I will be keeping an eye out for novel number three.

solid, if a little predictable, mystery novel that works fairly well. the twists never really feel too surprising but in general it's really good. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.