First things first: “The Cutaway” is a great thriller which will keep you guessing and twisting until the reveal. It’s like a tangled web where everyone’s involved, the question is: how?

But that ending with the main characters: thumbs DOWN! But maybe that means we’ll see these characters again. And if that’s the case, put me down for a copy ASAP.

The story revolves around Virginia Knightley, a news producer in Washington D.C., who gets a standard press release about a missing woman. But something about this woman strikes her, and she decides to look further into the case. How did a beautiful woman disappear after dinner with her husband in a wealthy area of D.C.? The more questions Virginia asks, the more questions she has.

The thriller/mystery was awesome. I was hooked. It was like an episode of Dateljne that you can’t look away from. And as the pieces start to come together, it creates a dark picture of the inside world of Washington’s social and political scenes, which are dangerously entangled.

I liked the depiction of the news aspect as well. It was pretty accurate as far as news judgement and sourcing goes, which I appreciated.

But oh, that personal drama storyline. I was so rooting for it to go the exact opposite of what it did. I’m still not over it. But hopefully this means we’ll see more of these characters and continue their story. That’s the only way I’m able to accept it, lol.

Overall, it’s a great book. I might have wished for it to go a little bit differently, but I was definitely flipping pages to see how to it turned out. Make no mistake, I was hooked.

Highly recommended.

I enjoyed The Cutaway, a debut book by Christina Kovac. Another different type of book to read than my usual norm. I love psychological thrillers for the edge of your seat feelings they elicit that you just can't put the book down and you just don't want to stop reading because you have know what happens!

This book follows Virginia Knightly, a news director for a top rated news station.

I liked the fast paced "who did it" type feel I got while I read this, questioning all angles, all suspects and trying to figure out what happened to the missing woman Evelyn Carney, a woman whose picture was seen by Virginia in the newspaper.

Virginia looking for her next big story becomes engrossed in finding out what happened to this woman and is on the hunt, speaking with her sources and trying to uncover the truth.

While I truly enjoyed the different perspective of this story from the eyes of a journalist and seeing the behind the scenes of what goes on at a news station and investigative journalism, I found it sometimes hard to connect with the heroine Virginia who seemed so one dimensional, without any real feelings - she just felt cold as ice.

And when the truth is finally uncovered, while yes I was surprised, it did feel somewhat convoluted - like I didn't really understand the full explanation for why the person did all that they did.

I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed with how it ended on the potential love interest part and felt that some characters were left hanging with no resolution but overall this was an interesting read that definitely held my attention.

I would definitely read this author again and look forward to seeing what she is working on next.

Virginia Knightly is the producer of the television news but when a new boss decides to demote her Virginia decides to go back to the basics of reporting and follow up on the disappearance of a beautiful young attorney. Virginia is sure that there is more to the story of the disappearance and even if it means putting her own life on the line she is determined to get to the bottom of the story.

The Cutaway wasn’t a bad read but it also didn’t grab me the way I would have liked for this type of story. I started off thinking I was really going to enjoy this one, a mystery being solved from the point of view of a reporter but unfortunately it didn’t take long for the excitement to slow down in this one for me.

It often seemed like the mystery aspect to the story was put on hold over the other happenings with Virginia and her job which made this somewhat of a slow paced read to me. I often questioned why have so much going on with the job and other relationships and not just let the character focus on finding clues and solving the crime. In the end I found this one was just an OK read overall.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

I absolutely love a good political mystery and The Cutaway did not disappoint! This is all about the world of broadcast journalism and though veteran producer Virginia has covered tons of missing persons cases before, something about the disappearance of Evelyn Carney pulls her in. As she dives deeper into the story, she encounters many roadblocks and becomes entangled in the high power world of D. C. politics and police corruption.

I really like Virginia as a protagonist, she’s a strong, intelligent and empowered woman and though you don’t find out very much about who she is and what drives her until about the halfway point of the book, what is shared was enough to make me a fan. I had no idea what really goes into making a major news program but I found the behind the scenes look totally fascinating. This is a seriously cutthroat business and the atmosphere of the news room was intense. Kovac’s knowledge of journalism is heavily apparent, there was such an authenticity to the plot.

This was a slow burning mystery, not as many thrills as I was expecting, though it did have it’s moments towards the end. I think this is partly because you’re slogging along with Virginia as she does investigative work, but I found it to be pretty interesting. There’s only a handful of suspects so some may be able to figure out who the culprit is, but I didn’t have things totally nailed down myself.

I really enjoyed this unique viewpoint and approach and found myself easily caught up in this hard hitting, competitive environment. There was just a hint of romance that added to the story instead of detracting from it, along with political intrigue and corrupt cops, totally juicy. If you’ve ever wanted a peek at what really happens before the cameras roll in a newsroom, check this out. Hint; it’s not as glamorous as you think.

Good, solid mystery complete with the added advantage of the protagonist/heroine as a TV producer for a top-rated news program. Extra points for tension surrounding the possible sale or impending lay-off of key staff make the background setting precarious as our intrepid sleuth seeks out the truth behind a missing D.C. woman. The various characters add to the tale in believable ways and the author keeps the mystery alive well into the final quarter of the book. For mystery lovers, this is a good story in a great setting.

An engaging crime story…

This reader loves mysteries and this one had a different slant, from the eyes of a television news producer we see a crime solved with their personal participation. The heroine’s unwavering determination appeared to set many things in motion.

Virginia Knightly is a television news producer in our nation’s capital, recent company politics have caused her demotion which frees her to head back into the field as she runs down clues on a missing person’s case with the help of her team including the evening news anchor who has a long standing interest in her.

A young attorney has disappeared after dining with her husband in Georgetown, the picture which crossed Virginia’s desk struck a chord within her, gut instinct tells her there’s more to the story than a simple disappearance. Virginia really connects to the grainy face in the missing notification and can’t let go until she finds out what happened to the woman, the story becomes everything in the moment to the exclusion of all else and the costs to her personal relationships are high.

The story is told in Virginia’s voice, she is our lone narrator, we learn about her during the investigation when things bring memories to the forefront of her mind so that as the missing woman’s life unravels before us so does Virginia’s. This background of the narrator that we learn piecemeal explains the nature of her relationships with people, she is more defined by her past than she cares to admit.

We learn a lot about what is happening in the industry, the nature of the business is in flux, advances in technology and new media platforms impact the heroine’s job. Politics and corruption go hand in hand in this story, the investigation unravels the conspiracies, deceptions, and betrayals. Who can the heroine trust amid such a maelstrom? The ending was satisfying yet bittersweet, the heroine gained what she’d wanted career wise yet lost what meant the most personally. Was the trade-off worth it in the long run?

I did not perceive this story to be the psychological thriller it was billed as, instead it’s an engaging crime story about the disappearance of a woman and the investigation as seen from the eyes of the television news producer/journalist chasing the story, the limits she’d go to and the risks she’d take to get the story. Overall this was an enjoyable debut novel with interesting characters.

An advanced reading copy was obtained from the publisher via NetGalley.

The Cutaway by Christina Kovac takes place in Washington D.C. The main character is news producer Virginia Knightly. Virginia sees a notice on her desk about a missing woman, Evelyn Carney, and is immediately drawn into trying to find her.

This mystery was well written and gains points for the setting being centered around a television news station rather than the usual police station setting for these types of novel. There were multiple suspects and none were a clear winner until the last minute.

The only problem I had with the novel is I kept wondering, beyond being naturally curious as a news producer, why Virginia cared so much for finding Evelyn. It's not like they were related, or Evelyn was related to someone else in Virginia's life. It just felt like there should have been more connection of some sort to spark Virginia's interest. Other than that vague feeling of something not right in that area, I truly enjoyed this book.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book.

My thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC of “The Cutaway” by Christina Kovac, in exchange for an honest review.

Virginia is a TV news producer for a Washington, D.C. show, who receives a press release about a missing woman. Believing she has seen the beautiful Georgetown lawyer before, likely in the background of a video clip, the challenge is to locate the clip, which she suspects is an unused cutaway shot stored somewhere in their archives. Meanwhile, her efforts to cultivate sources and confirm information regarding the woman’s disappearance in time for her broadcast leads to several suspects who could have had a motive to harm the missing woman.

I enjoyed the story being told from the perspective of a member of the media, utilizing a frightening ability to quickly locate the missing woman’s family and coworkers, and conducting interviews with witnesses and law enforcement. The writing and plot development is at its best when the author focuses the story on the investigation of the missing woman, and especially when the protagonist is at work. The author does an amazing job of depicting the fluid buzz of the newsroom; with everything happening at lightning speed, the reader can practically feel the raw energy of what it takes to research and produce an up-to-the-minute live news show in a world of 24-hour news cycles. And while the tangle of past and present love interests adds a layer to the overall story, where the story goes off track is when the author attempts to add depth by having the protagonist visit her father in the hospital, and the romantic crossroads reached towards the end of the books, which actually serve as unnecessary distractions and nearly brought the pacing of the novel to a stand-still. Instead, the author could have kept the momentum going by delving deeper into the political corruption that was only alluded to. This really could have been used to convey more of a threat to the characters, thereby adding tension to a storyline that certainly could’ve benefited from some suspense.

The author also sabotaged the plot by including the climactic arch of the storyline prematurely, only to then continue on to resolve the unnecessary subplots, which resulted in a drawn-out, lackluster conclusion. Overall, while this was an entertaining read, it wasn’t very engrossing and there really wasn’t any tension. But the author definitely has excellent writing skills, as this doesn’t possess the awkwardness often present in debut novels, as a new writer tries to find their rhythm. Her proficiency with plot development will only improve with more experience, and I look forward to reading her future novels!

This was a really clever story, and I look forward to whatever the author comes up with next! The story moved quickly and well written, and the characters intriguing. The ending definitely came as a surprise, too, so I was thrilled with this book!

I featured this title in a round-up here:
http://www.bethfishreads.com/2017/03/8-books-by-women-to-read-this-month.html

Christina Kovac's debut novel, The Cutaway, is a drama that drags readers in and doesn't let go until the mystery is solved. Its heroine, Virginia Knightly, is a savvy news producer that takes on a missing persons case that blows up into a big news piece. To keep her station in the lead and protect the dignity of this unknown woman, Virginia dedicates her resources to discovering the truth about Evelyn Carney.

Though The Cutaway is anything but average, its mystery is a classic 'whodunit' as Virginia faces deception and subterfuge. No part of Evelyn Carney's disappearance is straightforward, not even the witnesses or Virginia's sources. It's pretty easy to take a stab at who the culprit is early on in the novel, but this is one time where it doesn't detract from the story. Kovac utilizes the greed and corruption of public officials to create red herrings and suspicion. The story has an even fast pace bringing readers all the excitement of a thriller and entertainment of a well executed plot. There's even time for the beginnings of a steamy romance.

Like reaching into a hat filled with diamonds and pulling out a piece of gold, The Cutaway is a mystery in its own class. Its fresh and unique take on unraveling a complex mystery is so gripping that I'm surprised this is only Christina Kovac's debut! This is the mystery to read this spring!
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review*

I was intrigued by the description of the book and decided to give it a try. The beginning of the story is slow moving, but it is merely to establish character, and the situation, if you give it the roughly the first twenty percent of the book, it really picks up and becomes a fairly decent thriller. It did not live up to the "Gone Girl" type comparison, but held its own as a thriller. A pretty solid debut!

While there was nothing wrong with this book, I just could not get excited about the characters and events. And when the murder was solved, I didn't have any interest in continuing to read the remaining chapters to resolve the personal stories. It may have been partially due to only getting surface exposure to many of the characters. While being told that the main character, Virginia, was being risky, I didn't feel that risk. It felt like most of the action was happening around her but not necessarily to her, for the most part. So if you are looking for a nice read that won't keep you from going to bed when you should, this might be the book for you.

I find myself struggling with police procedurals lately; I am easily distracted and find that they all fit the same mould. Enter The Cutaway, the debut by Christina Kovac. This one reads like a police procedural but with a twist, instead of following the internal investigations of the police force, we are thrown into the folds of an investigative journalist. What a breath of fresh air.

What a breath of fresh air.

Filled with considerable twists and turns, I was pulled into the world of journalism and I loved every second. I read this novel easily in the course of a couple of sittings. It was fast paced, dynamic and easily digested.

After receiving a “MISSING” notice on her desk, Virginia Knightly finds herself hot on the trail of a murder investigation. I loved this character; she was smart, resourceful and ambitious. She was the type of character that I felt I could have been friends with. I loved when Kovac really began to develop her character within the second half of the novel. I would love to see Virginia Knightly developed into a series. (Ms. Kovac, if you are reading this, please take this suggestion seriously.)

I also loved the insider scoop into the cutthroat world of broadcast journalism; I have always been fascinated by this world. I was impressed with the way Kovac was able to delve in and deliver information without it becoming too heavy or complex. Instead, we go along with Virginia for the ride as she gathers facts, looks for sources and works alongside the police and prominent members of society to find this missing woman.

I did find that the novel lagged a little in the middle, enjoyable still, just not as fast paced, as I would have enjoyed. However, this is short-lived. By the end of the novel, the pace picks up and the end delivers!

Overall, I’d have to say that this would appeal to crime fans who enjoy police procedurals but long for a new perspective, or for anyone who likes a plain, old, entertaining novel.

3.5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I felt this was a solid debut thriller. It was interesting to read from the viewpoint of a news reporter - and it's clear the author is well versed in this subject. These parts were really well done, and it was interesting to read, knowing what the press is currently going through. It was well paced, and a quick read. I felt the main character could have been a little more developed - maybe a little more about her background a little sooner. The surrounding characters were well done for the most part. I did find the "intrigue" part related to the Washington DC politics and police corruption somewhat confusing and not as well done as I would have liked. I would have rounded up, but the ending left me a little disappointed, so I'm sticking with the 3 star review. But for a debut I enjoyed it overall, and would try others by this author.

This book is gripping. That's not a word that I use lightly, but it's exceedingly appropriate here, and with emphasis: gripping. From the very first page, I was caught up in Virginia's quest to find out what happened to missing Evelyn Carney. Every single time I thought I had it figured out, a new piece of evidence would surface that would throw everything into doubt again. I loved it all: suspense, danger, a dash of romance, and a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the DC journalism scene. See what I mean? Gripping.

Book Info
Hardcover, 320 pages
Expected publication: March 21st 2017 by Atria / 37 INK
ISBN 1501141694 (ISBN13: 9781501141690)
Other Editions (3)
Source:Netgalley EARC


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BOOK BLURB


The Cutaway draws you into the tangled world of corruption and cover-up as a young television producer investigates the disappearance of a beautiful Georgetown lawyer in this stunning psychological thriller, perfect for fans of Paula Hawkins and Gillian Flynn.

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.

Harkening to dark thrillers such as Gone Girl, Luckiest Girl Alive, and Big Little Lies, The Cutaway is a striking debut that will haunt you long after you reach the last page.

My Thoughts


Relying heavily on the intricacies of the world of political corruption this book combines investigating a disappearance/murder with uncovering the web of deceit that runs throughout the very institutions that are relied upon for being trustworthy.

As Virginia discovers the trail of lies and deceptions she finds herself questioning not only who to believe but who to trust as well.

Billed as a psychological thriller this story does try to live up to it’s promise, on occasion it actually pulls it off but could not sustain the intensity needed for me to have read in one sitting.

While Virginia Knightly proves her ability to unravel clues that lead to solving the mystery she finds herself investigating she also proves to take reckless chances so she can be the first reporter who breaks this story to the public. In doing so she will either attain her highest journalistic goal or become a victim herself.

For me the multiple red herrings were at times too misleading with the saving grace they did keep me guessing until the reveal of an unexpected character as the actual murderer.

[EArc from Netgalley in exchange for honest review]

On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

Virginia Knightly knows her journalism. She gets down and dirty into the nitty gritty of a story and nothing or nobody will stop her from getting what she wants. A missing notice makes it way to her desk regarding a young attorney going missing in Georgetown. Nothing new really in the grand scheme of things, but her instincts tells her there's more to this than meets the eye. Risking everything, she digs deep into DC's political and business world, unraveling secrets of both. Will all her efforts help or hinder not only her professional life, but her personal life as well? How far would you go to get the story of a lifetime?

Basically read in one sitting, this debut novel (I can't believe it's her debut!) by Christina Kovac grabbed my hand, took off running and never let me stop to breathe. Short, concise chapters all from the point of view of Virginia keep the pages turning. Each bend around the corner kept me wondering as to what was going on and who the culprit could be. I love it when a book keeps me guessing up until the very end. Told, refreshingly, from the point of view of a journalist, you get to see the gritty side of our nation's capital and how a news story comes together as that world, like most businesses, has their own internal politics to meander. Highly recommend this read and will certainly be keeping an eye out for more of Kovac's work.

I loved this book! What an amazing debut for Christina Kovac. It was such a refreshing change to the typical thriller. This wasn't from the typical police detective perspective. So we didn't have the overflow of police procedural jargon (as well as the following plot traits). This instead was from the perspective of a journalist trying to find a missing girl.

We follow Virginia Knightly, a producer for 'The Evening News' show, and her interest in a Missing Persons case that came across her desk. Unable to shake her fascination with Evelyn Carney, she begins her first fieldwork case in years. Teaming up with her show's best news anchor, Ben Pearce, they begin to unfold the events leading up to her disappearance. Without giving away too much of the plot, Virginia follows the trail to Evelyn through the streets of Washington DC and learns of connections with high profile attorneys, detectives, and even political figures. Murder, cover ups, spying, embezzlement, this book as a little bit of everything to keep up a great pace for a page-turning thriller!

The change of perspective is what really made me love this book. It was well-written, you really connect with the characters, and I felt like I was right there with Virginia trying to get the latest scoop! We were brought on a ride through all of the follow ups, finding new leads, all while trying to stay out of the cross-hairs of the killer. It was a great change of pace not having the same disgruntled cops, ex-cops that just want to be brought on for one last case, or the corruption high up in the police force. This book has been compared to Gone Girl and Newsroom - I've said it before, but I'm always skeptical when books are compared to Gone Girl. I can definitely see the connection! I was guessing until the very end. I changed my mind probably three times as to what happened to Evelyn and who was behind it!

If you're looking for a thriller with a change of pace, but still has the crazy plot twists and fast reading pace, then you will not be disappointed with The Cutaway! I think it's a great debut for Kovac and I'm excited to see what she comes out with next.

Thanks to Atria for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

There were some things I really liked about this. Kovacs' work history and background in the newsroom clearly shows. It was interesting to see all of the parts of a newscast come together with such authenticity. The characters are well developed and the dialogue is believable. The story is a slowly layered narrative that picks up speed but becomes somewhat convoluted as the author tries to piece the mystery together. Although there were plenty of suspects to choose from, there were few surprises. Overall, solid if a bit underwhelming at parts.

Provided by net galley.