This author knows the news business. That’s pretty obvious if you read the section about the author. I loved every page. I haven’t been so invested in an investigative news book since I first read Pamela Clare’s I-Team series. Christina Kovac delivers in a big way!

Her main character, Virginia Knightly, has depth, intelligence, persistence, determination, ambition and a voracious appetite for a breaking story. What she doesn’t have is much of a personal life. She has chances at a personal life…love, commitment, the whole nine yards, but she keeps avoiding getting too close. She loves her team, she loves her work…but she can’t let herself fall for a man. She did it once. It didn’t end well.

When the missing notice for Evelyn Carney hits her desk, Virginia’s instinct for a big story kicks into overdrive. I got little clues throughout the story, and because of the search for Evelyn, of Virginia’s ability to focus. She is relentless.

Virginia navigates through office politics with a new boss, police politics, betrayals, lies and half truths. Dealing with an old boyfriend, Commander Michael Ledger, as she tried to find out what the police department knew and when, was almost enough to divert her. She really didn’t want to deal with him. Dealing with feelings she doesn’t want to face for her partner and news anchor, Ben, while keeping the new boss, Mellay from decimating her staff were conflicting with her hunt for Evelyn. She had a lot to deal with.

I think Ms. Kovac has a burning need to see women empowered, and find justice for those who are victimized. I think she has found the perfect vehicle in Virginia Knightly. I hope to see much more of both of these talented ladies…the author and her brainchild.

Wow, I was blown away as the story was so good for a first novel. I received an ARC for an honest review from Netgalley (Atria Books/Simon & Schuster). Story was well written, characters complex and a lot of suspense. At times, I changed my opinion as to who were the bad guys and the killer. Author gives you hints that sit in the back of your mind. I am a romance junkie and I wanted more for Virginia. Hope to read more about her character from this author and love interest. Kudos Christina Kovac!!!

This story is as complicated as the politics in Washington, D.C. Virginia Knightly is a television news producer who becomes intrigued by the photo of a missing woman and who tries to find out what happened to her.

Virginia has a photographic memory and knows that she has seen the woman before on some news clip. She tries to track it down while trying to get information from the police. It happens that the man in charge of the investigation is a former boyfriend of hers.

Meanwhile, her job is in jeopardy because a new News Director has been hired who wants to take over her programs and promote his own protegee as the news anchor. Virginia and Ben, the current anchor, work well together and have a relationship that could be more than professional if only Virginia would let herself take a chance on him.

Virginia is a fascinating character who is the product of a dysfunctional childhood. Her father abandoned Virginia and her mother when her mother developed cancer leaving twelve-year-old Virginia to cope with her mother's illness and death. After her mother died, Virginia was in a variety of foster homes but managed to be admitted to, and graduate from, a prestigious journalism school. She has built her career at this Washington television station.

As Virginia investigates what happened to Evelyn Carney, she learns more and more about her and the people she interacted with. Virginia has a number of sources but not all of them are giving her accurate information.

This was a wonderful, fast-paced thriller with twists and turns until the very end.

Since Jan. 1, I've read 17 books - five ahead of schedule to reach my goal of 100 by the end of 2017. Of those, six have been good enough to earn a five-star rating, the highest possible on the major book ratings sites. Now comes this, the 18th, and if I could give it six stars - seven, even - I'd do it in a heartbeat. The story is so intriguing, and the characters (and interaction among them) so captivating that I went so far as recording two favorite TV shows instead of watching them live because I couldn't wait to finish it. And that's a first for me.

Admittedly, some of my enthusiasm stems from the subject matter; I spent 16 years of my full-time working life in the news business - albeit the print side - and I'm fairly familiar with broadcast journalism as well. The combination of the TV news station setting and murder sounded right up my alley - and to that end, it couldn't have been more perfect. I will not, however, deem it a "thriller" by my definition; the story moves along at a fast pace and every single page kept and held my complete attention, but only a small section actually pushed me to the edge of my seat.

The story begins as seasoned and highly capable TV news producer Virginia Knightly is notified that a young attorney from Georgetown has gone missing. That alone wouldn't be enough to cause her nose for news to twitch, but then clues begin to indicate that a closer sniff may be in order. The woman was last seen leaving an upscale restaurant - certainly not in a high-crime area - after reportedly having a row with her husband. Besides that, the police seem to be treating the case as a high profile despite the lack of evidence that it qualifies (at least not yet).

She's thwarted from the start, though, by change-ups in her newsroom; without warning, she's demoted from her top spot, and she's told her evening news anchor will be replaced, ostensibly in an attempt to boost ratings. Worse, the jobs of other colleagues she's used to working with and for whom she has the utmost respect are being threatened. If she ignores her boss's instruction and goes off on her own to dig up the story behind the missing woman, then, it's possible she'll put not only her job, but those of her good friends on the chopping block.

But investigate she does, and that puts her back in touch with old flame Michael Ledger, a detective with whom she had a fling not all that long ago. He dumped her, in fact, then got married, had a couple of kids and divorced, in that order. Back then, Virginia trusted him totally; but based on where the trail is leading now - through the sometimes shadowy halls of Washington, D.C., politics, business and law enforcement - she isn't so sure that's a good plan.

Brick walls spring up at just about every turn as Virginia and her team search for cooperative witnesses and second sources and honor "off-the-record" agreements - all hallmarks of responsible journalism - to bring the truth to the viewing public (alternative facts? Let's not even go there). Getting an inside look at that process in and of itself makes this book a winner in my book (and it didn't hurt that for some inexplicable reason I envisioned Holly Hunter every time Virginia appeared).

Bottom line? My thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Highly recommended!

It took me a bit to get into this one but after the first few chapters the suspense increases significantly. Stories about a news room have always intrigued me and this one did not disappoint. There are many suspects throughout and the characters were likable. Although the story didn't end how I hoped it might, it kept me interested and was very well written.

I continue with my feeling of not being thrilled by thrillers with this book BUT it was set in an interesting location I am not as familiar with as say, NYC. Also, POV from reporter as opposed to police officer or lawyer was a nice change. The daddy issues our female protagonist had seems to be superfluous and didn’t really serve to drive the plot forward, although I guess it may have been there to help the reader understand why she was struggling with male relationships? But, all in all, it was interesting, if not gripping, and would fill the bill for the beach or plane ride. Might be a nice start for a series.

A very impressive writing style. Best I've read in ages. Characters and their back stories are revealed in such a way that they are woven together into believable people in a very short period of time.
The plot unravels quickly with twists and turns you think you know are coming, but they aren't as you've expected.

In an era of cutbacks, keeping her own job as executive news producer, much less her whole team together to present nightly newscasts, is all consuming for Virginia Knightly.

Virginia's ability to remember photographic input draws her into the disappearance of young up-&-coming lawyer Evelyn Carney.

Sorting truth from lies in the world of law in this political city kept me up late reading.

If there as a 6/5 this would be it! For me, this is an author to follow.

I love a good mystery and this did not disappoint. I usually read police procedurals, so this was a different take for me.
Virginia Knightly is a producer of the evening news in Washington D.C. A photo comes across her desk of a missing women and the fun begins. There is not a lot of action per say, but lots of digging and investigating. There is a couple of love interests that was fun to follow. There is a lot of back stabbing at the station and lots of twists and turns. I did not figure this one out early on, which is good for me.
I really appreciate the author having a strong female lead that isn't swayed by a handsome man for her happily ever after. I also liked reading about the inner workings of a tv station and the underground world of D.C. This was over all a fun and fast paced read.

The Cutaway is a solid if somewhat uninspired thriller, with less of the psychological slant it claims, more standard "woman gone missing" stuff. Most of the characters come off a bit flat and less than fully realized, so it was a bit hard to be drawn into their personal struggles and romantic difficulties. I did like the angle of being inside the newsroom and at the station with our producer protagonist Virginia Knightly, and how and when information and evidence was sourced and confirmed and reported. I was hoping for a bit more of the corrupt and dark underbelly of D.C. that's mentioned in the blurb: it was discussed but not ominous or threatening. And the ending was a bit of a letdown: the climactic moment arrived far earlier in the story than normal, and it made for a lukewarm resolution and tying of loose ends. But it's very readable and occasionally interesting. Nothing I'd re-read or recommend as a great new thriller that readers of all genres should pick up, but easy and entertaining and something I'd recommend as a light spring pick for fans of thrillers in general.

As a woman who has worked for 17 years as a TV producer of crime and political stories in the DC area, the author's novel reeks of authenticity. Bringing those skills to her new novel, she developed her own Virginia Nightly, a TV producer who becomes obsessed with the suspicious disappearance of a young woman in the Georgetown area. What appears obvious at first turns into a road of loops and curves wildly driving down a fast-paced lane. Although a quick read, I felt the writing begged for more substance. Highly plot driven, the characters could've been more fleshed out, but that is my own bias..Slower than a thriller ,better labeled as a mystery, this novel will find fans of beach reads and quickly read genres.

The Cutaway by Christina Kovac

"Being good at what you do is the closest thing to freedom a woman can find."

With a Washington D.C. setting and a passionate quest for the truth, Kovac's debut novel brings David Baldacci's early books to mind. Virginia Knightly, a broadcast news producer, and real journalist, is determined to find out what happened to a young lawyer working for one of top legal firms in the capital, who walked out of a restaurant after quarreling with her husband and disappeared. Virginia has a memory for images and knows she's seen the missing woman before. Her investigation leads her into conflict with politicians, the police, and even her own news team.

Smart, strong, well drawn women characters add an extra dimension to this page-turning thriller, looking at the greed and power of the politically connected through a feminist lens.

Find it at your book store in March. Published by Atria 9781501141690

Virginia Knightly, a television news producer, is drawn to a missing person report that comes across her desk. The photograph, of a young woman, is grainy and difficult to see clearly, and Virginia is curious why this woman, among the many others who disappear in Washington, DC, has captured her attention.

Evelyn Carney was last seen leaving a Georgetown restaurant, where she had been with her husband. Her employment at a prestigious law firm seemed secure, her husband was concerned, and her co-workers knew nothing of her disappearance. As Virginia learns more about the story, she enlists the help of her news anchor, Ben, and their camera operator, Nelson, to follow up seemingly unrelated clues amidst the secretive nature of Washington politics.

I really, really liked this book. Virginia’s determination to get the story while learning the truth keeps things interesting, and her personal vulnerabilities make her easy to relate to. Her news team is also smart, strong, and focused; despite upper management’s interference in their reporting, they get their stories on air. This was an exciting read, and I’ll admit I had the wrong suspect throughout most of the story.

The Cutaway is a solid debut novel by author Christina Kovac. What makes this so? I became genuinely interested in the plot and finding out what happened. Even better, this book is as fast paced as they come and reading it in close to one sitting is an easy feat. Some may wonder then, why the three star rating? First and foremost, a 3 star rating for ME means that the book was good. And, while I may not read it again in the future, I am glad that I did read it. Also, a three star rating means that YES, I would recommend it. While it may not be MY favorite, I can definitely see it topping many readers "favorite" list.

With that being said, while the plot is extremely intriguing, I found it hard to connect with the narrator/heroine. She was simply a bit bland for my taste. Although I will admit that I cannot pinpoint exactly what is is about her that turned me off. Once again, that's on me and my taste and not for readers as a whole.

For those enjoy fast paced reads with added mystery and thrills, this would be the perfect book to take on. Even if this is not your typical genre, I would certainly say to take a chance on a new author because you may find yourself fan-girling over Kovac's debut novel.

This was something you could hook into and read right through. The idea of using a TV News producer getting hooked on a story no one wants her to follow worked. Throw in a new boss, station politics and American Politics and this worked.

A satisfying "whodunnit" with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing till the end.

The Cutaway by Christine Kovac is about the cutthroat world of news broadcast and the author is quite familiar with this world as she has worked in it for a number of years. Virginia Knightly is a news broadcast director who becomes absorbed into the case of a missing woman. As she digs deeper into the story she becomes suspicious of people she has known for years. Soon everyone she encounters is a suspect in her eyes but who does she really need to fear as she investigates this case? Read and enjoy this tale full of twists and surprises.

A fairly solid book, which particularly shines in the depiction of the newsroom. Serviceable prose, decent characters, okay mystery.

The Cutaway is an entertaining, escapist mystery/suspense novel with solid writing and an enjoyable premise. 3.5 stars.

Virginia Knightly is a television news producer who receives a flyer about a missing woman containing the photo of a beautiful DC attorney, whose face haunts her. Virginia has seen her before. On the news. And she can't help but investigate, even though it gets her nowhere at first. Yet Virginia is determined to do whatever it takes to find out everything she can about Evelyn Carney, investigate the crime and get the exclusive story; even when it puts her life in jeopardy.

The Cutaway is an entertaining, fun and fast-paced suspense novel. It kept my interest even when I guessed parts of the ending. More could have been done in the way of character development, as we didn't learn much about Virginia, who she was and what drove her, till the second half of the story (which is the reason for the 3.5 stars) but all in all it was an quick, enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria and Christina Kovacs for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 1/29/17.

**Will be published on Amazon on 3/21/17.

Whether you enjoy this book or not, I think, will depend on what you value in a story. I prefer character-driven fiction, and this book is largely plot-driven.

Here's what I liked: The author has a professional background in journalism, and her knowledge gives authenticity to the story. We're in the newsroom with Virginia, seeing what it's like behind the scenes. We pursue leads, track down witnesses, and race to outdo the other TV networks. The plot revolves around this newsroom and their big story, and the details the author gives provide unique perspective and realism.

Something to be aware of: As I write this, the book is being marketed as a "psychological thriller". It's not. This is a strong mystery and crime novel. There isn't much of a psychological component, and the pacing is far too slow to be a thriller. I've seen this issue a lot these days. Publishers need to be more careful with their genre and marketing labels, as the expectations being set do not fit with the content of the book.

Now on to what I didn't like: There is no character development at all. I was about a third into the book and still had no clear grasp of who Virginia is, aside from a news producer. At about the halfway point, the author throws in some backstory meant to give us history on Virginia, but it does little to clarify her emotions, passion, or overall personality. Her relationships with her coworkers are superficial, with deeper emotions alluded to but never clarified. We have this intense love (lust?) relationship with one coworker that seems to have history, despite popping up out of the blue, as if the buildup had been a long time coming but I missed it somewhere. I felt like I'd stepped into the midst of a series. In fact, I even checked to be sure I hadn't missed earlier books. Because I had no connection to the characters, I found it difficult to care what happened to any of them.

Overall, the mystery held my interest enough to keep me reading, but the characters didn't make me feel anything.

I never thought I’d be spending Inauguration Day reading a book set in Washington, D.C. However, The Cutaway is more of a novel that happens to be set in Washington than it is a “Washington novel.” There is a brief scene set during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, but otherwise, it’s safe to pick up even if you’re suffering from political overload.

The Cutaway tells the story of Virginia Knightly, a TV news producer investigating the disappearance of Evelyn Carney, a young attorney working at a prestigious D.C. law firm. Evelyn had been dining with her husband, who had recently returned from a lengthy military deployment, when she abruptly stormed out—and vanished. Virginia feels that the lawyer’s mysterious disappearance from affluent Georgetown will make a killer story, and decides to pursue it.

Complicating matters for Virginia is her station’s new news director, who seems to have it out for her, and is intent on slashing the budget, possibly breaking up Virginia’s loyal team of behind-the-scenes and on-air talent. There’s also the fact that Virginia has a rocky romantic history with the new commander of Criminal Investigations, who is actively involved in the missing-persons case.

Christina Kovac herself has a long history in TV news, so she brings an insider’s perspective to her first novel. There are also some very nicely written passages about Virginia’s fraught relationship with her dying father. However, Kovac does fall into the trap of sending her heroine into a deserted and dangerous place to search for clues—anyone who has read a zillion mysteries, as I have, will be tempted to shout “NOOOO!” at that point in the book. There are a couple other places where I felt I was a step ahead of Virginia (particularly one involving a bugged cell phone), but Kovac’s strengths as a prose stylist and plotter are enough to outweigh the rookie missteps.

Note: The Cutaway will be published on March 21, 2017. Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the review copy.