I have had this book on my shelf for some time now (being a mood reader has its disadvantages). After finishing The Cutaway I wished I had read it when it first hit my shelf. Not too many books in this genre can keep my attention this way from the beginning to the end. The time line of the story was truly realistic and kept me guessing from the beginning to the end. Once the story wrapped up, the first thing I appreciated most about the story was how it concluded. Most suspense ends with something shocking – to the extreme, where I find myself roll my eyes and think to myself “You have got to be kidding me!” With The Cutaway; all I felt after the last page was satisfaction.

The characters were relatable and not over the top. I loved that it was written in different POVs (my favorite book format); gives me a better understanding of the individual characters and their part in the story on a deeper level (to me anyway).

A suspense thriller written from an angle from inside the newsroom with our leading character Virginia Knightley, News Producer which I find so darn refreshing compared to the usual “badass detective” or a alcoholic ex-cop.

Overall, it’s one of the top suspense thrillers I have read this year so far.

Okay mystery/thriller. I enjoyed the female protagonist and her coming from the perspective of a journalist rather than a profession in law enforcement which is typical of this genre. Nothing spectacular, but a quick, fun read for the mystery book lover.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced digital review copy of this book.

It took me awhile to get to this book. I could almost sense that it would need my full attention and so I put it off. What a shame. Because it was a really good, intense story with plenty of powerful, high intensity people in it. In the beginning, I had a little bit of trouble getting into the story. I'm so glad I kept with it though. Virginia, wow. Now she was quite the pit bull when it came to getting a story and not only that, it had to be the truth. She also wasn't out to destroy people with the truth which made her so refreshing. She had her code of conduct and she stuck with it. She was a complex person. I liked her unique photographic memory that had more to do with pictures than any other kind of content. She saw just a quick glimpse of a picture and it stuck with her. I can see now why the book was titled Cutaway.
Secondary people were such a good addition to the book, even though so many times I began to wonder, "Trust this person or don't trust this person?" The writer pulled you right into Virginia's dilemma pretty easily as time went on. One person who really did seem to have her back was the Evening News Anchor, Ben. He would get snippy at times and give her attitude too but he did try to help her as much as he could. They made for a good team.
The office politics were easily believe, it was so like what you see in regular, non-book life. Some people had to go, they needed to leave their positions. They abused their power, took credit for others work , intimidated their staff and were just plain unpleasant. I'll let you read the story to see how that goes.
The twists and surprises in this book were excellent. Every time I thought I knew the who and the why of what was going on, I found out I was wrong. The story kept me guessing; I liked that.
The only thing I didn't like was that one relationship ended, I had been pulling for them. But, *sigh* I guess I can see why it had to work out this way (at least for now maybe?)

"Cutback" is about an unsuspecting serial killer whose murders have attracted the attention of a local TV news producer. Once young lawyer Evelyn Carney goes missing, TV news producer Virginia becomes obsessed with finding her and what happened to her. She enlists her old veteran anchor, Ben in the hunt.

Together they piece together the story. Who killed Evelyn, and others, and why.

It is a great detective story based on like most, careful observation. Virginia sees something in a piece of film footage that compels her to keep scratching the itch that almost kills her.

I found the ending overly long since it was no surprise. In my opinion, if you are going to end this way, just do it and don't drag it out.

That said, I thoroughly enjoyed "Cutback." An excellent novel by a new author writing about what she knows best.

My review is somewhat mixed for The Cutaway. I did not feel that this novel was a stunning psychological thriller like Gone Girl or Girl from the Train. However, I do feel like it is a very good mystery. It was suspenseful with some good twists but in the sense of a good "who done it". Had Christina focused more on Paige Linden the novel could have become more of a psychological thriller. However, I did think The Cutaway was a very good read and would recommend it to any mystery readers.

Free copy received from NetGalley for honest review -----
A missing woman, a television news producer investigating what happened...this has the makings of a made for TV movie of the week. This story had me intrigued from the beginning and was not disappointed until the very end (did Ginny really get a happy ending?) I love a good mystery and this book kept me guessing until the very end. Ginny is a news producer who gets demoted while investigating the case of a missing woman and we are taken along on her journey to discover the truth. The other personalities in the book are also vibrant with mysteries of their own. My only issue was at the end when she lets her potential love walk away. This could easily be the beginnings of a series. Well done for the author's first first into writing. Definitely would recommend this to people who like mysteries and thrillers.

This is a stunning debut. A new favorite thriller author has arrived ! This is one of the best thrillers I have read this year. The writing is perfection, the protagonist is smart, courageous and fearless. I loved the premises of a successful woman television producer investigating on her own in the underbelly of Washington D.C. This book has it all, suspense, a wonderful well crafted mystery and thrills at every turn of the page. The characters and plot are very well developed.. It is truly compelling in its entirety . I predict much success for this wonderful author and look forward to the next book.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this ARC which did not influence my review.

Good page turner and the strong details about the logistics of TV news production didnt crowd out the story

...in this stunning psychological thriller, perfect for fans of Paula Hawkins and Gillian Flynn.

Harkening to dark thrillers such as Gone Girl...

Can we please stop comparing books to Gone Girl? My expectations were so wrong for this book. I went into it expecting a psychological thriller I wouldn't be able to put down.

That was not the case.

A TV news reporter is investigating a missing woman in The Cutaway, but we aren't really given any details about the missing woman for the first 20% or so of the book. Instead we are given TV news and family drama.

I tried to adjust my expectations when it became painfully clear this book wasn't even a psychological thriller, but I was already wanting to move on. By that point I was reading from a place of obligation, not a place of excitement or want for the story.

My theme while reading The Cutaway was who cares? I wasn't invested in anyone. I knew there was a missing woman, but so? I had no reason to care about her.

I don't know if The Cutaway was a bad book or if I was simply set up to be a bad reader, but I do know it didn't work for me. If you decide to give this one a try, note that it is very much a standard mystery novel (with a lot of time spent interviewing witnesses) and not a psychological thriller.

This was an enjoyable read. From the very first paragraph you can sense the Cutaway was written by an author who had journalism in her blood. The prose gives you an immediate feeling of the chaotic nature of a newsroom. You can almost hear typewriters clacking away. The probing questions, the follow-ups, the ambush nature of a 24 hour news cycle is evident.

I found 2 things that would have garnered The Cutaway another 1/2 star. The personal relationships seem to have been written as if we already knew these characters. They have worked together for years but there is not much backstory. If this is a stand alone novel than maybe you don't need it. But if this is meant to be an ongoing set of novels there should be something that hooks you. Which brings me to the 2nd issue. The ending really slows down. You know who the murderer at about 80% of the novel. The last 20% ties off every loose end with surgical precision. I personally think that that 20% could have fleshed out the characters a bit throughout the novel. Christina Kovac, being a News Professional, may not have wanted any loose ends. Which is very understandable. Don't think it adds to the book.

Christina Kovac can certainly write. The staccato tapping of a keyboard lays a great foundation for an ongoing serialization of a D.C. Newsroom. Tighten things up a bit and you have characters to like, relationships that build. Well done.

I wish to thank the Publisher, Christina Kovac, and NetGalley for my free copy in exchange for this unbiased review.

The plot contained a very good mystery in "The Cutaway". I don't want to give too much away. Main character was intrigued by a woman who went missing in Georgetown. As a journalist, she believes she has seen this woman before, and is correct when she finds the woman's image in a cutaway shot. She is on the case and ready to help hunt down the woman or maybe even the woman's killer.
Very good mystery, kept me guessing which I enjoy. Didn't have a cunning twist, but a very enjoyable mystery/suspense novel.

Newspapers are always fascinating to me. The rush of being the one to discover the story, break the news - do the routine drudge work. So I knew this book had one thing going for it right away. The plot is fast and twisted. Definitely not a book you want to start unless you have time to finish it. It will drive you crazy until you can. Very highly recommended. I look forward to more by this author.

When brilliant TV news producer Virginia Knightly receives a disturbing “MISSING” notice on her desk related to the disappearance of a beautiful young attorney, she can’t seem to shake the image from her head. Despite skepticism from her colleagues, Knightly suspects this ambitious young lawyer may be at the heart of something far more sinister, especially since she was last seen leaving an upscale restaurant after a domestic dispute. Yet, as the only woman of power at her station, Knightly quickly finds herself investigating on her own.

Risking her career, her life, and perhaps even her own sanity, Knightly dives deep into the dark underbelly of Washington, DC business and politics in an investigation that will drag her mercilessly through the inextricable webs of corruption that bind the press, the police, and politics in our nation’s capital.



* * * * *



Usually when you run across a book about untangling a murder, it is written from the viewpoint of a private investigator or a police officer. THE CUTAWAY is rather unusual in that it is written from the perspective of a reporter. That difference flavors the entire book and make it unique.


I really loved the character of Virginia Knightly who will do whatever it takes to get her story and to protect her sources even if that means facing her own fears. She draws strong men to her because of her own strength of will. I also really enjoyed seeing the wheeling and dealing that goes on behind the scenes of a big story.


I am actually crossing my fingers that this book was only the start of a series as I don't want to tell Virginia goodby. I highly recommend THE CUTAWAY to any of my readers who enjoy a good mystery or suspense. The pacing is spot on, the characters have a lot of depth and the dialogue is witty.


*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.

Interesting characters and engaging plot that keeps you reading from the first page. Suspenseful but not predictable as so many psychological thrillers. It is well written with believable dialogue and characters. Thanks for the opportunity to read this book. I'm sure it will be a great success.

I did like this book it was active and kept a good pace throughout the book. It did take a few pages to get going but once it was rolling it kept going till the end.

This was a solid mystery set within the intense world of journalism and hectic news broadcasting. It's told from the point of view of Virginia, a driven TV news producer who is completely focused on her job. She carries around a bit of baggage from a previous relationship and her family history but comes across as strong and independent. I really liked her.
The newsroom is abuzz with rumours of job losses and when Virginia is demoted and has to cope with a new boss, she becomes fixated on finding out what happened to a young attorney, Evelyn Carney, who went missing after leaving her husband in a restaurant. The police seem abnormally interested in the disappearance of the attorney, and Virginia feels there is something off about it. She starts interviewing people connected to Evelyn, researching material and following the police investigation. Unluckily, Virginia shares some history with the lead detective on the case, Michael Ledger. On top of that, the relationship between Virginia and her charismatic news anchor Ben is delicate. The romantic aspects of this were well balanced with the mystery elements and added a nice touch.
It turns into a complex tale of politics, conspiracy, fraud and cover-ups within the world of Washington DC. The story moved along at a good pace and kept my attention throughout. I actually enjoyed the insights into the news reporting business much more than I had expected. I was becoming really involved in the investigative reporting and the dynamics between all the different characters was riveting.
I thought the subplot about Virginia's family could have been incorporated more effectively. There was something missing there for me.
But overall, this was a really good, suspenseful novel with some unforeseen twists and turns, which didn't read like a debut at all. I'm really curious to see whether there will be a follow-up? I definitely found the setting and characters interesting enough to read more.
I received an ARC via NetGalley.

I have limited interest in the inner workings of tv news and there was too much of that in this book for me. I lost interest pretty quickly. This just wasn't a book for me. I received a free copy of the ebook from the publisher but wound up listening to the audiobook borrowed from the library.

fast paced, interesting story. I enjoyed reading this and getting caught up in the thrill of the chase for the story. Well written, and it kept moving, and kept my interest in the story.

Knightly is a producer for a news network. She also has a troubled history with her family and basically a photographic memory. Those traits cause her to focus more on aspects that others might overlook. She sees a piece on a missing woman and can't let it go. Most everyone in her life seems to be trying to hinder her digging deeper into the woman's story. Murder, mystery, politics, detectives, witnesses and more come into play. She isn't a cop, but she is an investigative journalist out to connect the answers and expose the coverups. She's a likable lead, and the storyline is great at keeping the reader hooked and guessing. Anyone could be guilty. The Cutaway was a win for me, and I'm definitely going to be following this author's future works.

Virginia Knightly is a TV news producer living in Washington, DC. When a missing notice for a local young attorney comes across her desk, something starts nagging at her. The deeper she goes into investigating the disappearance the more she realizes that something sinister is definitely going on. Are the Police and Investigators in on this? How far up does this go? She risks everything trying to figure this mystery out, but what will it cost her?

I have to say that I THOROUGHLY enjoyed this debut novel. Kovac has worked for years in television and is a subject matter expert when it comes to newsrooms. This definitely shines through in this work. It reminds me of the “Bones” author, Reichs. Because so much of the story is based on real life scenarios, the authenticity of the story really comes out. There were so many twists and turns in this. I never saw the actual truth coming. I intend on following Kovac to see if she puts out any more works, and will definitely be picking one up. Four Stars!!

Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for providing a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.