This book is the sixth book in a series, but plot reads well as a stand-alone book. This is the first book that I have read from the series or this author. I think if you are already familiar with the characters, especially main character Clare Carlson, it is probably an easier read. I had a hard time liking any of the characters in this book, even Clare Carlson. The story is a nice little mystery and the ending was a bit of a surprise, but I was mostly bored by it. I recommend this book to readers who are already fans of the series. My guess is that this is not the best book to read first. I feel that you will find more at stake if you already have a relationship with the characters. If not, then I will just say proceed with caution.

Thank you to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for the free arc of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

ROADCAST BLUES is the sixth novel in the Clare Carlson series, and R. G. Belsky is not slowing down. It’s a good series that readers love to return to because the plots almost seem to be, as the author says, “ripped from the headlines.”

This time, our favorite TV journalist, Clare Carlson, is set to investigate the death of a private investigator who’d made a reputation by exposing cheating spouses.

Full column available at The Big Thrill

Broadcast Blues is R.G.Belsky's 6th novel in the Clare Carlson series. As News Director at
Channel 10 Clare is always looking for a big story. A car explosion gives her just what she needs. Why did someone rig Wendy Kyle's car? Wendy Kyle was a former New York police officer working as a private investigator. Who wanted her dead? The list is long. Wendy was fired from the police department and investigates cheating husbands, many are high profile people.
The police identify a suspect and the case is closed. Clare is not convinced their conclusion was correct and keeps digging.

Who is behind the car explosion? Who can Clare trust for information and guidance?

Broadcast Blues keeps you guessing with several twists and turns right up to the end.

This is the 1st book in the series I have read.
It was hard to put down, just one more chapter, have to read another....For me it was a great introduction to Clare Carlson. I look forward to reading more in the series.

I read all the previous books to get ready for this ARC and I am so glad I did, this is a great series! I love that Clare takes no shit and kicks ass! I can't wait to see how her relationship with her daughter progresses and to see if she can find love that will stick! I can't wait to read the next installment in this series! I am adding all of R.G. Belsky's books to my TBR.

#BroadcastBlues
#NetGalley

Broadcast Blues (Clare Carlson Mysteries #6) by R. G. Belsky is the first book I've read in the Clare Carlson series. It works okay as a standalone but it makes a lot of references to things that have happened in the previous stories. Clare Carlson is a TV newswoman on the verge of turning fifty who's personal life is a hot mess. Career-wise she is stuck in a rut until she finds herself drawn into the investigation of the murder of a headstrong young woman who reminds Clare a little of herself.

This book has the kind of feisty, strong-willed female character that should just draw you in and keep you riveted... But the story never really came alive for me. The character was all on the surface; she talked a good game, made some self-deprecating comments about what a disaster her personal life is and how her professional life is chaotic at best, but it was all done through large amounts of information dumps. It rarely came across in a natural way. The plot is kind of confusing even with the tendency to repeat, in detail, various aspects of the ongoing investigation.

I struggled to finish this book. There are several times when characters are reintroduced as though we're meeting them for the first time and there's an awful lot of repetitive backstory. It seems as though it might have needed a good going over by a sharp editor. It's not necessarily a bad story, it just doesn't have much depth. It's the kind of tale that is tailor-made for generic Hallmark Mystery movies. When all is said and done it just wasn't for me.

Broadcast Blues is a fast paced suspense by R. G. Belsky. The story pulled me right from the beginning with the human interest aspect. In other words, I liked the main character and wanted to see her succeed, as well as her associates. I especially loved the twist near the end of the novel.
When Wendy Kyle, a former NYPD officer turned private investigator, is murdered, Clare Carlson, a New York City newswoman, is determined to get to the bottom of the story. When she starts interviewing people and starts getting to know the victim, she sees that there was a lot more to Wendy than what anyone wants to admit. Not only did she genuinely care about people, she wanted to ensure that they got justice. Now Clare feels honor bound to ensure that Wendy gets justice too.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

A thrilling and entertaining mystery following Clare Carlson, a New York City TV journalist, as she investigates the murder of a former NYPD detective. Clare Carlson, a smart and savvy protagonist, uses her skills and connections to uncover the truth behind the explosive death of Wendy Kyle, a controversial and charismatic woman who had a knack for exposing secrets and scandals.

Along the way, Clare has to deal with her own personal and professional challenges, such as a stalker who knows too much, a rival reporter who wants to scoop her, and a handsome but mysterious man who may or may not be involved in the case.

R. G. Belsky is an experienced and talented author who knows how to craft a compelling and fast-paced plot that will keep you reading. The story is full of twists and turns that will surprise and shock you, as well as witty and realistic dialogue that will make you laugh and think. The setting of New York City is vividly portrayed, with references to real places and events that add authenticity and relevance to the story. The author also explores some timely and important themes, such as sexual harassment, media ethics, and the power of secrets.

Broadcast Blues is the sixth book in the Clare Carlson Mystery Series, but it can be read as a standalone novel. However, fans of the series will enjoy catching up with Clare and her colleagues, as well as learning more about her past and her relationships. The author also provides enough background information and hints to make the reader curious about the previous books and eager to read more.

If you are looking for a fun and engaging read, you should definitely check out Broadcast Blues by R. G. Belsky. You won't be disappointed.

Didn’t love the writing quality.. it felt very high school-level writing and I guess I expect more from published work. I wouldn’t read another book by this author. Thanks for the opportunity to read it via NetGalley. I love finding new authors in this way.

Clare Carlson will always have a nose for news.

But the Pulitzer Prize-winning print journalist who’s now a broadcast news director has also led a life riddled with questionable, and just plain bad decisions. She sometimes has morally gray areas and less-than-stellar ethics.

Like most of us.

Which is what makes Clare so likeable.

She’s one of us.

Her latest life issues are not as heartbreaking as some of those in her past. However, having a boss she hates while stressing over changes the new station owners might make, and receiving shocking news from her daughter which makes her re-assess her own life has Clare on edge as her FIFTIETH birthday approaches. *Clutches pearls!*

Murder is never a good thing, but the car-bombing of private investigator, Wendy Kyle, gives Clare new focus. The deeper she digs the longer the list gets of people who wanted the PI dead. Infamous for outing cheating husbands, the ball-busting former NYPD detective never met a situation she couldn’t make worse. Clare also finds that Wendy may have been a victim of bullying and sexual harassment. Sources soon dry up and Clare is blocked from covering the story, or any story, which only makes her dig deeper.

I learned long ago to never believe I have a R.G. Belsky mystery “solved” before I finish it, and Broadcast Blues is no different. Tightly woven plot twists kept me guessing right up until the end.

Book 6 in the series stands on its own as a fully independent read. The author sprinkles enough back story throughout the book for readers to get to know and understand Clare Carlson. But treat yourself in 2024 and read the entire series. You’re welcome!

Enjoy!

Author R.G. Belsky knows the news business and his fictional protagonist, Clare Carlson, is a news director for a New York City television station. Broadcast Blues is the sixth installment in the popular and award-winning series that debuted in 2018 with Yesterday’s News. Belsky has published subsequent volumes annually, all of which can be enjoyed as stand-alone mysteries. In total, Belsky has penned twenty novels set in New York City and centered around the media world (he also writes thrillers as Dana Perry). He enjoyed a long career in news, serving as the editor of the New York Post, New York Daily News, Star Magazine, and the managing editor of news for NBCNews.com. He is a contributing writer for The Big Thrill magazine.

But Belsky is quick to point out that writing with too much authenticity and making fictional mysteries too realistic and believable “can sometimes be . . . well, boring.” His career “was never anything like Clare’s,” he relates. “Clare’s story is a lot more interesting than mine. Or any other real-life journalist who goes through the day-to-day drudgery without all the excitement in Clare’s world.”

As Broadcast Blues opens, Clare is about to celebrate her fiftieth birthday and having a bit of an existential crisis about that. She is a thrice-divorced mother of one daughter, Lucy (aka Linda), with whom she only developed a relationship when Lucy was twenty-five years old. She also has a granddaughter, Emily. She has enjoyed a lengthy, successful career in television news. She currently serves as both the news director and an on-air reporter. But the news industry is changing and the station where she works, Channel 10, is being sold. All of the employees, including Clare, are worried about their futures under new ownership. And for Clare, the newsroom is not just her place of employment. It is her “true home. My sanctuary.” She is convinced that what she really needs to prevent being a casualty of the station’s new management taking the newsroom in a new direction is a really big story. To say that she is not on good terms with Susan Endicott, the executive producer of Channel 10 news (whose own job might well be on the chopping block once the sale is finalized), is an understatement. Belsky aptly describes Susan as a “loathsome woman,” “egotistical and ambitious,” and her treatment of Clare is inexcusably despicable. But they form an uneasy alliance in the interest of mutual self-preservation. Because if Clare can demonstrate her continuing value to the station, the job she loves deeply may be secure. And Susan may still be employed, as well, so Clare figures it is in her best interests to maintain a collegial, if not friendly, relationship with her. Outwardly, at least.

Sure enough, “the news gods” plunk a big story right in Clare’s proverbial lap. Wendy Kyle, a thirty-two-year-old former police officer whose two marriages both ended in divorce, operated Heartbreak Investigations, specializing in high-profile divorce cases, primarily scandalous ones. She often testified in court about her findings. She ran ads proclaiming, “We Catch Cheats for You,” promising to secure evidence that a husband or lover was unfaithful with a technique she called The Honey Trap. Wendy was killed instantly when she got into her car, which was parked in front of her Times Square office – right in the heart of Manhattan – and it exploded. The police naturally suspect that her murder is related to one of the cases she was handling.

Clare immediately reports Wendy’s death. Fortunately, she has a source within the NYPD – her third ex-husband, Sam Markham, just happens to be a homicide sergeant and they have remained on good terms. But it’s a dead end. Curiously, Sam is not involved in the investigation. “It’s being handled by people at the top – way above my paygrade,” he tells her. But Sam did hear some scuttlebutt. Wendy kept a diary, and one page was recovered from her office in which she referenced Ronald Bannister, a billionaire whose wife may have retained Wendy. Clare’s investigation is underway.

Clare is a savvy and tenacious journalist who has developed many connections and sources over the years, along with techniques and maneuvers that are highly effective and at times border on unethical. But she knows how to push the boundaries without eradicating them. She is also self-assured, competent, and frequently sarcastic and a bit caustic. Her first-person narrative reveals her thought processes, frustrations, and machinations. It is candid, sometimes self-deprecating and, at times, hilarious. She is self-aware and not proud of the fact that all of her marriages failed. She discovers details about Wendy’s law enforcement career, including the fact that Wendy’s ouster was preceded by her filing complaints of sexual harassment and police corruption, and finds herself empathizing with Wendy, who was both a heroic officer who volunteered at and supported a women’s homeless shelter, and a hot-head who was disciplined for defying authority and engaging in a physical altercation with the man she accused of harassing her in the workplace. Clare observes that Wendy was “a paradox. A talented woman who couldn’t keep her mouth shut and walk away from trouble when she should. I suppose I identified with her a bit because I knew I had some of those same qualities, good and bad.” The more Clare learns about Wendy’s history, business, and what may have motivated her murder, the more intent Clare becomes on finding her killer, reporting on salient developments in the case as her inquiry proceeds.

Belsky surrounds Clare with a colorful and intriguing cast of supporting characters. Janet Wood is her best friend. A successful lawyer, happily married with two daughters, is “very sane and logical . . . like my exact opposite,” Clare explains. But their friendship is unconditional, and Janet offers Clare wise counsel, as well as support and honesty. Clare also respects and turns to Jack Faron, her former boss, from whom she seeks advice “about tricky situations.” She admits to Janet that she is still attracted to and thinking a lot about Scott Manning, an FBI agent with whom she had an off-and-on-again extramarital affair. Reaching out to him for information is risky because she is not currently involved with a man and rather lonely. She is tempted to rekindle her relationship with him, but he is still married, and Clare is not without a conscience. Skirting the edges of journalistic integrity, she enlists the help of enigmatic computer hacker Todd, who has appeared in previous installments.

Belsky has crafted a clever, multi-layered, and action-packed mystery, introducing additional characters and surprising revelations about their potential connections to Wendy’s murder at an unrelenting pace. As Clare moves closer to uncovering the motive for Wendy’s killing, she encounters others who are frantically attempting to destroy the evidence of those links. Wealthy, powerful, and influential characters will do whatever is required to conceal the truth in order to preserve their lifestyles and see their plans come to fruition. That includes terminating Clare’s investigation by any means necessary. Belsky deftly ramps up the dramatic tension as Clare finds herself in danger.

Broadcast Blues is suspenseful, absorbing, and entertaining. Clare is endearingly flawed and, in many respects, relatable and empathetic. She loves her career but is fully cognizant of how youth-oriented television news is. And she is facing an upcoming milestone birthday just when her future with Channel 10 hangs in the balance and Lucy is navigating a crisis of her own. Clare demonstrates a willingness to take potentially lethal chances in order to not only ensure that Wendy’s killer is held to account for the crime but ensure her own continued relevance in the process. But at Clare’s age, what does it mean to be relevant in television news? And what is the cost of relevance and an unremitting devotion to chasing news stories? Clare seeks answers to those and other important questions as she ponders the next phase of her life and assesses her priorities. Belsky provides a thoroughly satisfying conclusion that will leave readers anxious to read the next volume to see how Clare’s choices work out.

In Broadcast Blues, the sixth 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 revolves around the car bombing murder of ex-NYPD and current controversial PI Wendy Kyle. The police consider Wendy's murder a closed case when they determined she was killed by her ex-husband, Ted Lansmore. But Clare knows that there is more to the story when she delves into Wendy's controversial NYPD career, and currently as a PI for high-profile infidelity cases.

As Clare delves into the investigation of Wendy Kyle's murder, she finds that there are more questions than answers, a growing list of suspects, dark pasts, and deeply buried secrets, so she has to dig deep into Wendy's life to put the puzzle pieces together. And if that isn't enough, Clare's investigation leads her into some pretty dangerous situations involving possible police corruption at the highest level, where people will do anything to keep the truth from being revealed. And to add to the stress of getting to the truth of the Wendy Kyle case, Clare is turning fifty, she has no man in her life, she's still bonding with her daughter, and oh yeah the TV station is being sold. Welcome to Clare's world where every day is exciting, especially when she's on the look out for the next big story!

Broadcast Blues 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 sixth installment in the series is my favorite. The complexity and multi-layers of Wendy's 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 the truth. 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 loved the author's richly vivid description of New York City. The author captured the famous landmarks and all the sights and sounds of the city that never sleeps, all the reader has to do is close their eyes and be transported to my favorite city.

Broadcast Blues is one heck of an adrenaline rush that is a must-read for the true diehard mystery junkies!

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 Tours.

https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2024/01/broadcast-blues-by-rg-belsky-vbt-book.html

Found the first third of this quite repetitive, often with the same lines being repeated only a page or two later. I realise this is a review copy and that there are still corrections to be made but it’s very off putting. However the rest of the book seemed fine. It kept my attention until the end .

Clare Carlson is a television journalist. She seems to take more pride in the journalist part than the TV part. This read as a stand-alone with no difficulty although it is part of a continuing series of five other books. Clare has a problem with authority. She also has an uncontrollable mouth or at least minimal control. This book focuses on the death of a private investigator.

Wendy Kyle and Clare could have been friends with the exception that Wendy is dead. Wendy’s private investigation firm specialized in the cheating spouse, primarily the husband half of relationships. The enormous number of cheating spouses led to an enormous number of suspects. Clare was determined to get to the bottom of the mystery for two reasons, first, a blockbuster story might save her job, and second, she found herself more and more sad over the circumstances of Wendy’s demise.

I enjoyed the book and recommend it.

Clare Carlson is a TV news woman for Channel 10 in New York City. She's rapidly approaching 50. And her employment situation is a little precarious since her new boss doesn't like her much. And to boot, the station is up for sale. With all that going on, Clare does her best to focus on what she excels at - investigating and reporting news stories.
Clare finds herself investigating an explosive story about a woman who was killed by a car bomb. Wendy Kyle, the victim, was a former NYPD officer and currently was working as a private investigator specializing in spying on husbands whose wives think they are cheating. Add to that, Wendy had been fired from the NYPD after attacking her boss and you have a long list of possible suspects.

As Clare investigates, she draws the attention of some very rich and very powerful people in the city. These are people who would stop at nothing to keep their dirty laundry from being aired. With all those suspects, will Clare be able to narrow down the list before she is fired or becomes the next victim?

This is the sixth book in the Clare Carlson mystery series, but it's my first foray into the series. It can definitely be read as a standalone. References to earlier events are explained enough and in such a way that it doesn't detract from the story.

Clare is the most developed character in the novel. Since she is the main character, this is as it should be. The plot moves along at a good pace. In parts it becomes quite the page-turner. By the end of the book, things are moving along rapidly. And I liked that I didn't anticipate all the twists. Surprises continued right up until the end of the book.

I enjoyed the book. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. I would definitely recommend this book to people who enjoy mysteries with an amateur detective, yet one that is experienced in the ways of investigation.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley. This didn't affect my opinions.

Broadcast Blues by R.G. Belsky was published January 2nd, 2024 by Oceanview Publishing.

This was a good quick read. I really enjoyed it and the complexity of the characters. Looking forward to more from this author!

BROADCAST BLUES
R.G. Belsky
Oceanview Publishing
320 pp.
$27.95

Write what you know.

Author Belsky has whole-heartedly abided by the tenet touted by writing instructors from time immemorial. A print and broadcast veteran, he gives us the broadcast newsroom of a fictional New York TV station, rife with all the politics and pressure thereof. He packs the place with a bad boss, a bottom-line, no-nonsense potential buyer, a traffic reporter who wants his own helicopter, and daily prayers to the “news gods” for a great breaking story.

He also, however, writes about, or, rather, in the voice of, something that could be questionable-a woman. He does it without raising any red flags in the era of metro complaints, however. Claire Carlson is now appearing in her sixth adventure from the pen of Belsky, and no one has raised any complaints. She is both the star investigative reporter and news director for the station, an inveterate(and witty) journalist with a nose for big cases. Her nose tells her that the murder of private eye Wendy Kyle is a big story. She was investigating some big names with some big money, and they could easily have done her in if she had any dirt on them. Carlson is not convinced when the police claim they caught the killer. She perseveres. Her doggedness leads her down a path littered with red herrings and wrong turns, but a path that ends at a truly surprising resolution, one that will catch the most veteran of mystery readers off guard.

Belsky has written a page-turner of a book with a witty, believable narrator. It’s the sixth in the series, but it stands alone as a good read, and as good a place to start as any.

Clare Carlson is a top rated television news personality and the newsroom director. Her 50th birthday is looming and she wishes for a big story to chase so she can occupy her thoughts elsewhere. Of course the old adage rings true: be careful what you wish for. Even though this is book 6 in the series, it can definitely be read as an exciting and suspenseful standalone. Clare makes for a truly interesting and tenacious character and the risks she is willing to take for the sake of justice made for a compelling mystery. I thank Oceanview Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is the sixth book in the series, and I received it from NetGalley. I wouldn't normally begin a series this far in, but this is the one they asked me to review and there are too many before it to give me time to catch up with the story. So I will review it as if it were a solo.

Clare Carlson is a television reporter and manager. She is responsible for the evening news at her station while she still works as an investigative reporter. She just got a new boss who wants her to concentrate on managing and not reporting. She has also been informed that the station is being sold and she will be losing an owner who respects her reporting skills.

In a very short period of time, a bunch of well-known members of, and previously employed members of the Police Force. Some of the deaths are made to look like accidents or suicide but Clare thinks there is more of a conspiracy in action here.

Broadcast Blues is the sixth installment of the Clare Carlson series. But it is possible to read it as a standalone novel.

I thoroughly enjoyed this whodunit from a journalist’s point of view. It was different from the standard detective angle and the pacing was faster than a cozy mystery.

The main character, Clare Carlson, is the News Director at Channel 10 News. And she’s just a spitfire of a character. Her unrelenting quest for justice really shines and not only was she steadfast in her investigations, she had the personality to match — full of spunk and snark. I loved her wry sense of humor and she had a supporting cast and crew to complement her in every way. What’s surprising is that the author notes that her characters were based on real-life people that she worked with as a journalist. That tidbit just added a different dimension to an already fully developed cast of characters.

The plot contains numerous twists which kept me guessing until the end. But it wasn’t that surprising once all the evidence was gathered and laid out in a methodical manner.

Overall, Broadcast Blues was an enjoyable, suspenseful, and entertaining read. I will certainly want to read more from this author. Five stars.

I was invited to read a DRC from Oceanview Publishing through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

Broadcast Clues was a great debut novel by R. G. Belsky.
I loved the humor throughout the story.
This is a nice light read that I really enjoyed.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.