Beyond the Headlines takes readers into the fast-paced world of investigative journalism, following veteran reporter Clare Carlson as she tackles the murder case of billionaire Charles Hollister. The story’s premise is captivating, weaving together themes of celebrity, domestic abuse, and a decades-old mystery tied to the Vietnam War. The author’s newsroom expertise is evident, providing an authentic glimpse into the relentless pressures of breaking news.

The novel kicks off with an emotional jailhouse interview with Laurie Bateman, a former supermodel and actress accused of killing her husband. As Clare digs deeper, the case becomes more tangled, spanning multiple murders and unsettling family secrets.

While the plot promises suspense, the execution left me underwhelmed. The author’s writing style, particularly the sentence structure, felt clunky at times. The audiobook didn’t enhance the experience either, as the narrator’s mispronunciations distracted from the flow of the story.

However, the book delivers some thought-provoking moments about justice and the cost of truth. I rate it 3 stars.

** Thanks to the publisher for a comp of this book for review purposes. The opinions are my own.

My Review: The witty, sarcastic, self-destructive Clare Carlson is back. This time she's looking into a dead rich guy who, frankly, just needed killin' and no matter who did it they should get a severe chastisement and a ride home from the police. That would, however, make a boring story.

As with The Last Scoop (above) Clare is in no way reluctant to spread her...charms...far and wide to get dirt and details and help that she wouldn't otherwise come across. This was more of a problem for me on this second outing because it felt reductive to me. A woman in a powerful position, coming to the aid of a woman who seems to be wrongly accused of her dirtbag husband's murder, and using sex to accomplish lots of things she shouldn't be able to do, is problematic for me. Why make her out to be good at her job, show her being possessed of professional skills, then set her out as a serial sex-hound?

So there went that quarter star.

What *did* work for me was the investigation into accused husband-killer's past that resulted from a seeming slip of the tongue on her part. The way this book took on dark and ugly stuff from the US's past was very well-handled and integrated into the crime story. I was so involved in the whys and hows of the story that I could put aside my unhappy response to the overuse of Clare's sexuality.

I'm not so sure that will last, I must say...I hope Author Belsky will dial this back before the next book. Which I will definitely read.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

To me this read as a lifetime movie or tv show plot, which I understand is appealing for some but sadly not for me

Clare Carlson is a journalist, works on tv news, and is always after a good story. She interviews Laurie in prison and claims she is not guilty of murdering her husband. During her research for truth, Clare's view on Laurie's culpability oscillates between guilty and not guilty, but she keeps on digging, more murders keep on happening and she finds out that all motives for the killing spree go back to the Vietnam war. Beyond the Headlines has a great plot, and is fast-paced written grabbing your attention from the beginning. I'll be looking for the past and following books in this series as they provide great entertainment.
I downloaded a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Okayyy I love this cover - super creepy and fun. However, this story was way too boring and nothing ever happened. I wanted more out of it and really wanted to enjoy the characters and setting. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case and I could not connect with the story whatsoever.

I would personally say skip this one

Beyond the Headlines is the fourth investigative procedural mystery featuring reporter Clare Carlson by R.G. Belsky. Released 4th May 2021 by Oceanview, it's 336 pages and available in hardcover and ebook formats.

Writing realistic gritty procedurals is an art. It's all too easy for that realism to shade (unironically) over into self-parody. So I'm always on the lookout for series and authors to follow. This is a very well written and engaging procedural with a gutsy and intelligent female protagonist which is cleverly plotted and written and with believable characters who aren't perfect cookie cutter archetypes and who have realistic internal motivations and interactions.

I was unfamiliar with the series before reading the fourth book and although it works perfectly well as a standalone; I was intrigued and impressed enough to seek out the first three books in the series before finishing this one. It's not necessary though, but they're worth a look as well.

I'm also slightly wary of male authors who write strongly female dominant character driven books. There are some wonderful authors who nevertheless still make me cringe when reading their female characters (John D. MacDonald, I'm looking at you). This wasn't a problem here. He writes Clare with wry and sarcastic wit, unapologetic appetites (physical and sexual), and a sharply cynical worldview.

Four stars. Worth a look for fans of modern procedurals.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Definitely an intriguing read! At first I wasn't so sure if I was going to like it but then the more I read and really got a feel for the characters, it was amazing! Took me a while longer to get into it but still a great read. The writing was excellent!

Beyond the Headlines by R.G. Belsky is the fourth instalment in the Clare Carlson series but reads well as a stand-alone, although I would be very interested in reading the previous three novels. Clare Carlson is a news director for a television network in New York City, when her path crosses with Laurie Bateman, whose husband has been found murdered in the couple’s luxurious home. Laurie moved to the U.S. from Saigon when she was an infant and rose to fame as a model and an actress. She was married to a wealthy business man. Because Clare investigates the murder, her research and interview of Laurie clears Laurie’s name and the search is on for who is the murderer. Then more murders and suspicious deaths begin to surface. The action moves from Vietnam fifty years ago to the present-day New York City. This is a fast-moving mystery and the reader is kept guessing, with new leads popping up everywhere. This is a novel well-worth reading and most mystery fans will enjoy it tremendously. Highly recommended. Thank you to Oceanview Publishing, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley, Oceanview Publishing and Author for tis riveting, intriguing read!

Beyond the Headlines was a phenomenal book! I loved the neck outta this read!
Even though I have yet to read the books before this one, I don't think I missed anything.
Still though I have to read them. I hate reading books out of order! LoL
fulls of twists and turns, and surprises around every corner. The characters are skillfully drawn and remain quite memorable long after the unexpected conclusion.
This was well written with a storyline that is nicely twisted and holds your attention until the very end. Well worth the time and highly recommended.
You won't want to miss this roller coaster of a ride! Freaking amazing!

Now I've gotten get on my Kindle Store and buy the books to this series

I'm not too fond of journalists and/or reporters, but this story involving them (and a main character at that) definitely gave me an interesting insight. It made for an engaging thriller that left me questioning what's next.

i really enjoyed reading this book, it was a great mystery novel with great characters. I was invested in the story and was hooked from the beginning to end.

“Beyond The Headlines” is part of the “Clare Carlson Mystery” series, but new readers will be able to understand the characters and the story immediately. Any needed background details are included as part of the narrative. Clare Carlson, forty-seven, is the news director at New York City’s Channel 10. She is a seasoned reporter with an attitude. She has professional prestige, self-confidence, and a sixth sense about news. “Carlson’s my name, exclusives are my game.” The story unfolds in her first person narrative; these are her hunches, her investigations, and her story. Carlson has a “Channel 10 Exclusive Report,” in the works -- the tragic story of Laurie Bateman, top model, successful actress wife of one of the country’s top corporate deal makers, a fairy tale life gone wrong. Bateman promises to “reveal all” about her impending divorce, but something else trumps that story – a murder. A detailed investigation is needed; Carlson cannot make a mistake in this high-stakes story. However, Laurie Bateman is an accomplished actress. Is she telling the truth or playing a part?
Belsky gives readers an inside look at a big city newsroom and the journalists who work in it -- what they are like when they are chasing a sensational story and rushing to get it on the air. The narrative transitions smoothly and easily from scene to scene and includes both the everyday activities inside the newsroom and the detailed pursuit of a story.
“Beyond The Headlines” is quick to read, and the narrative is suspenseful, dramatic, and humorous because, well, Clare Carlson is just funny. I received a review copy of “Beyond The Headlines” from R.G. Belsky, and Ocanview Publishing.

I had read and really enjoyed the previous book in this series, The Last Scoop, and so I was happy to also receive an advance review copy of Beyond the Headlines. And I wasn’t disappointed – the things I had enjoyed in the earlier book were all also present in this one. The Channel 10 newsroom feels as realistic as ever, based, presumably, on RG Belsky’s own experience as a journalist. The news anchors, Brett and Dani, are still fighting, even though they are married and expecting a baby now - or maybe because they are married and expecting a baby now! Clare’s nose for a story still gets her in trouble, especially when her boss wants her to act like the News Director that she is, and not run around chasing leads herself. And Clare’s family situation is still as unstable as ever, although with some brand-new wrinkles (both good and bad) thrown in.

In this book, the main case is a nice twisty murder, where the much older, rich husband of Laurie Bateman has been killed and she’s the main suspect. But as Clare digs deeper, she finds that the husband, Charles Hollister, had lots of enemies, and there are a lot of people who had both motive and opportunity. At the same time, Clare also gets an exclusive and explosive interview with Laurie, which changes the way the community, and the judge, look at her, and at the case. So it seems as if Laurie Bateman is home free. But things are going to change a couple more times before Clare finally figures out who really did it, and why.

One of the things I most liked about Beyond the Headlines is that it was so easy to read. Clare’s investigation proceeded on a path that was easy to follow, and I just kept reading, and reading, while barely noticing it. (At the risk of sounding like a parrot, the same was true of the previous book too.) And even though there were a couple of serious issues addressed - one societal, one medical - they fit so well into the narrative that they didn’t sidetrack the book, as sometimes happens when authors try to tackle difficult subjects.

Overall, Beyond the Headlines was just a well-written, enjoyable murder mystery. I liked it every bit as much as the previous one, and since I gave that one five-stars, I guess I have to give this one five-stars too – even though I don’t like giving too many five-star ratings. I was happy to find out in the Author’s Note that there will be a new title in the series coming in 2022. And my thanks to Oceanview Publishing and NetGalley for the review copy!

The younger wife, a supermodel and actress, of a wealthy businessman is arrested for his murder, and the public believes her to be guilty. However, after an interview with TV journalist Clare Carlson where the wife talks about the abuse she suffered at her dead husband’s hands, the murder charge is dropped before the case goes to trial due to the change in the public opinion.
While Clare initially believes the wife’s story, watching a film the actress had a role in causes her to dig deeper into the backgrounds of the couple. Twists and turns – engrossing read.

This is the fourth book in the series – I have not read the previous three but had no problem following the story. Looking forward to going back to t=read the first three and looking forward to book five,

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.

Beyond the Headlines is the fourth book in the Clare Carlson series and the second that I've read. Clare is a seasoned journalist now working in a news room but the hard core journalism bug never quite let go of Clare. When she comes across a good story, she runs with it - which is exactly what she does in Beyond the Headlines. Clare goes beyond the 5 second sound bite to get at the truth, something I sorely miss in the news today.

If you are old enough to remember the old Murphy Brown series starring Candace Bergen, the dry wit and sardonic humor that was prolific in that show is very present in this book series. In fact, I have a hard time separating out the vision of Murphy Brown from Clare Carlson when I'm reading these books. That's most likely why I love them as much as I do. And, yes, I do realize that I just aged myself considerably. Now that I've read the last two books in the series, I'm going back to grab the first two. There's so much to catch up on! Obviously, I highly recommend the book and the series.

I liked this book although initially when I read the premise I was not sure I would like this book but requested it anyway and I am very glad I did, I found it a very enjoyable read.. Charles Hollister is murdered by his ex wife Laurie Bateman and TV news director gets to go and interview her, quite a scoop. Having Clare narrate the story was a very clever move by the author, she is very likeable and this enhanced the quality of the story for me. I read this in a day, it is my kind of story and I actually did not want it to end. I had not read this author before but I will definitely be looking up the other books by R.G Belsky. I would highly recommend this book, especially if you have an afternoon spending sometime wanting to have a great read.. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review,

Scandal, Melodrama and Exaggeration

This Clare Carlson Mystery is an amusing whodunit. Clare, the thrice married news director for a New York TV station, lands a bigtime interview with a supermodel and actor, Laurie Bateman. She is accused of killing her husband, Charles Hollister, the ultra-rich and much older man, who supposedly beats her. Laurie Bateman, was born in Viet Nam and left in 1973 in the heralded departure of the American soldiers and the lucky Vietnamese who were allowed entrance into the United States via their helicopters. It was a tragic end to the War where there was no winner, all losers.

Laurie is befriended by Clare and she convinces the Judge to toss out a murder charge culminating in releasing her from Rikers. The plot becomes complex as Clare attempts to connect the cast of characters and there are many. There is Laurie’s mother, Hollister’s present mistress, the faithful business partner, Hollister’s children, and the binding link to Saigon.

Clare Carlson has been around, she knows the ropes and is the stereotypical sarcastic journalist who understands how to ask the questions. She manages to land interviews that no one else could accomplish. Many contemporary laws and movements are added to the mix ad nauseum: #MeToo, workplace ageism, married couples receiving same maternity benefits – all narrated in first-person.

My favorite part of the book was The Epilogue. The author provides his own Vietnam experience and his comparison of Laurie Bateman’s trial to O.J. Simpson’s acquittal. For me Belsky’s strongest viewpoint was the relationship to a Kardashian, someone who is famous for being famous. 3.5 stars

I hated that this book had to end. Clare Carlson has now become another favorite character of mine and I look forward to reading more books in this series. She is strong, passionate, witty and just an awesome cool character that is so well written that you just like her from the beginning. This was a quick, fun and adventurous read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy.

In Beyond The Headlines, the fourth book in the Clare Carlson Mystery Series, author R.G. Belsky weaves a riveting mystery tale that easily draws the reader into New York Channel 10 News Director Clare Carlson's latest investigation.

The story begins with Clare's best friend, attorney Janet Wood representing supermodel and actress Laurie Bateman in a divorce proceeding that her billionaire businessman husband Charles Hollister has begun against her. Laurie wants to go public and tell the true story about their marriage, so she wants an exclusive interview with Claire. But the day of the interview, Charles is found murdered in their apartment and Laurie is taken into custody for his murder. An exclusive divorce interview now turns into an exclusive investigation to prove Laurie is innocent of her husband's murder.

As Clare delves into the investigation of the marriage between Laurie Bateman and Charles Hollister, she finds that there are more questions than answers, a growing list of suspects, dark pasts, and deeply buried secrets, so she has to go beyond the headlines to put the puzzle pieces together. And if that isn't enough, the intertwining of Clare's personal and professional lives and her dark past continues to come to the surface.

Beyond The Headlines is a captivating mystery tale that is rich in detail and vivid descriptions. It has enough intriguing and suspenseful twists and turns that leaves the reader with no other option than to keep turning the pages to find out what happens next. As a diehard fan of mystery tales, I must admit that this fourth installment in the series is my favorite. The complexity and multi-layers of the Laurie and Charles' story, and Clare's investigation kept me thoroughly riveted and so engrossed, I couldn't help but try and guess the outcome as Clare puts all the pieces of the puzzle together.

With a complex and realistic cast of characters, the author does a phenomenal job of transporting the reader into this fast-paced white-knuckle storyline. The thrilling cat-n-mouse game engages the reader to follow Clare's investigation as she tries to find out who really murdered Charles Hollister. The jaw-dropping surprise ending will leave the reader completely speechless. It just doesn't get any better than this!

I would be remiss if I didn't mention how much I adored the author's richly vivid description of the Christmas holiday season in New York City. I love taking day trips to NYC during the holiday season, and the author captured the famous landmarks and all the sights and sounds of the season, all the reader has to do is close their eyes and be transported to that magical season in my favorite city.

Beyond The Headlines is one heck of an adrenaline rush that is a must-read for the true diehard mystery junkies!

Rating: 5 Stars

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest book review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours.


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