I'll be the first to admit that "Off the Air" by Christina Estes was a tough read for me. Despite my initial excitement about the book's premise, I found myself struggling to stay engaged with the story. What I expected to be a quick, thrilling mystery ended up taking me much longer to finish than anticipated.
One of my main issues with the book was its tendency to go off the rails. Just when I thought the plot was gaining momentum, it would veer off in a completely unexpected direction. While I appreciate a good twist, I felt like these detours disrupted the flow of the story and made it harder for me to become invested in the characters and their motivations.
That being said, I do think Estes shows promise as a writer. Her protagonist, Jolene Garcia, is a complex and determined character, and I appreciated the behind-the-scenes look at the cutthroat world of television news.
Overall, while "Off the Air" wasn't the book for me, I can see how it might appeal to fans of mystery and suspense. If you're willing to stick with it through the slower moments, you might find yourself drawn into Jolene's world and eager to see how the story unfolds.
Thank you St. Martin's Press, the author and Netgalley for an advanced copy of the book.

Unfortunately I was unable to get into this book. I did not end up finishing it. I didn't like the political bias and could not get into the story. A big thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book!

Off the Air by Christina Estes is a compelling and suspenseful debut that seamlessly blends investigative journalism with personal drama, offering both an entertaining mystery and a thought-provoking exploration of ambition, ethics, and the high-pressure world of news reporting. The story follows Jolene Garcia, a dedicated TV reporter in Phoenix, Arizona, who is thrust into the heart of a murder investigation when Larry Lemmon, a controversial radio talk show host, is found dead under suspicious circumstances.

Jolene, who is used to covering a range of stories—from monsoon storms to zoo animals—sees this investigation as her big break. She had interviewed Lemmon shortly before his death, giving her a unique edge over her competitors. As the story unfolds, the pressure builds not only to break the story first but also to uncover the truth behind Lemmon’s death. The mystery is gripping, and the stakes couldn’t be higher for Jolene, as this investigation has the potential to propel her career to new heights—or destroy it completely.

Estes does a fantastic job of developing Jolene as a relatable and complex character, driven by her professional ambition but also dealing with the personal costs of her career choices. The novel offers a behind-the-scenes look at the world of journalism, with all its ethical dilemmas and fierce competition. The pacing is excellent, and the twists keep readers guessing as Jolene digs deeper into the story, while also navigating the complex dynamics at play in her newsroom.

Off the Air is equal parts mystery and character study, with a strong female protagonist at its center. Fans of journalistic thrillers and character-driven suspense will find much to enjoy here. Estes’s writing is sharp, and her debut novel is a solid entry in the genre, full of intrigue, tension, and emotional depth. With its smart plot and compelling protagonist, Off the Air is an engaging read that will keep you hooked until the very last page.

Wow. One of the worst books I’ve read this year. The plot follows a news reporter who disregards any empathy for grieving people in her race to get the big scoop. Basically, she wants an Emmy, so she inserts herself into an active police investigation. The author was a reporter, and this book reads like a love letter to the industry, which, if this portrayal is accurate, is a disgusting one. Maybe I’m biased as a social worker, but let’s be real: local news agencies don’t need to traumatize grieving families or play detective in a murder investigation.

The main character? A disaster. Nobody likes her, she constantly makes terrible choices, and she has no friends — just a goldfish she feeds with multiple types of fish food. In what universe is this supposed to be relatable? Her backstory was thrown in like an afterthought, much like the random tangents on Phoenix history and news trivia. And don’t even get me started on the politics. It’s all far-right versus far-left disputes. Who wants to slog through that in a mystery novel? Wrong place, wrong time. Oh yeah, and there is animal cruelty at the crux of the investigation. Big no-no.

The cherry on top of this miserable read? The ending. I thought it might redeem itself with a twist, something like Yellowface by R. F. Kuang, but nope. The author clearly just wanted to glamorize ethically questionable journalism, as if to say, “Look how cool and unproblematic it is!”

Bottom line: Don’t waste your time on this book.

OFF THE AIR was not the book for me sadly. I couldn’t connect with the writing style and had a hard time keeping my attention. I love a mystery but unfortunately I was just not invested in this story.

I really wanted to like this book. I ended up DNF about a third into it. It ended up not being what I was interested in but willing to look into more books by this author.

This was a cute mystery, but fell a little short for me. As someone who is not in the TV or Journalism industry, I appreciated getting some background information, however it became heavy in the minutia of this industry. I also felt the MC was a bit rude to... pretty much everyone. That said, I enjoyed the murder mystery and overall the book was okay.

Off The Air is a thrilling and thought-provoking journey into the world of investigative journalism, following a determined reporter's pursuit of truth in a competitive landscape.

Thank you Minotaur Books & Netgalley for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review! I DNF’d this book after reading 64 pages. I don’t like the writing style. It’s written like a journalist wrote it which makes sense that it’s written that way because the author is a journalist but I’m not finding it very thrilling to read and I don’t want to keep reading this book. It mentions a lot of things about journalism and politics but I don’t care about any of that stuff . I was expecting more of a fun mystery/thriller but I didn’t get that.

Off the Air by Estes was a great little mystery read with a likable character in Jolene. She takes reporting the news to a new level.

A fledgling TV reporter, Jolene Garcia, chases the story of a lifetime when a controversial radio host, Larry Lemmon, who resembles Rush Limbaugh or a character along those lines, is murdered in Off the Air by Christina Estes. She races to get every tidbit about the story while a slick, polished competitor competes with Jolene and many other news outlets for ratings and clicks on various social media platforms. If Jolene doesn't get the story before everyone else, she may be relegated to feel-good stories like a new animal appearing at the zoo or the best pizza place in town.

Maybe I'm just not the target audience for this book, but it wasn't my cup of tea at all. I admit that I never liked Nancy Drew mysteries when I was a kid. This reminded me of an adult version of that. Some readers may love that type of book, but I've always liked thrillers and not straight mysteries. So, this may be the main issue.

While I did like the behind-the-scenes look at the TV new industry, it took up too many of the pages of the book. It dove way deep inside it to the point that it was too much inside-baseball as they say. Some readers may tire of that too quickly.

Same goes for the overwhelming amount of information about Arizona. I can understand peppering a book with references to places, but you'd get more than one paragraph delving into the history or provenance of the place. That was too much information. Unless you've been to Arizona or lived there, you wouldn't be interested.

The main character annoyed me at times. She almost seemed like a bumbling idiot and way too persistent. I know news people can be extremely assertive when fighting to get a story, but she just grated on my nerves. I didn't understand, either, why it was presented that she was a foster child and about her grandmother. I wasn't sure how that was relevant to the book. Many of the other characters felt like stereotypes or incredibly bland.

I feel bad that I didn't like this book, but it just didn't appeal to me and the characters didn't resonate for me. In fact, I wasn't even interested after a while in who murdered this guy who wasn't in any way likeable or relatable. I only wanted to get through the novel. I think I may have liked this better if it only was about the TV news industry, instead of a murder mystery. Better luck next time.

Jolene Garcia is a reporter with high hopes. When she is given the assignment to cover the death of radio show host Larry Lemmon, it seems all she does is hit road blocks. From pushing peoples buttons the wrong way to people who just don't want to talk, Jolene is having a hard time getting any information first, at least on the record.
Opinion
This was a great read. I honestly found her struggles to be what I imagine being a reporter is like. Either people love to talk to you or they avoid you at all costs. I found Jolene to be an endearing character (when not pestering people to give up the story) and would truly like to see this turn into a series.
Many thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Local television reporter, Jolene Garcia, wants a big story and wants an Emmy. When a controversial radio personality, Larry Lemmon, dies while at work on radio station KFRK, Jolene wants the inside track. Soon the death is considered suspicious, and everyone knows that means Larry was murdered. Since she was the last person to interview him, Jolene has the notion that this will be the news break that makes her career. Despite competition from other local and national news outlets, Jolene has a couple of sources that might give her an advantage if she can find out the truth first and get it on the air.
My son works in television broadcasting. There is so much of this book that finally tells the truth about the industry. It is cut throat and you have to be cunning to get the stories. I think the people that don’t like this book are left leaning and don’t like to hear the truth. I loved the book!! Well done Christina Estes!
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This read was just okay for me. It kept me interest for most of it, but it just missed the mark for me. I have a journalism background and while I appreciated that aspect of the story, it didn't seem realistic to me for what the author was trying to do with the storyline.

Christina Estes' Off the Air is a poignant and beautifully written novel that explores the complexities of grief and the power of human connection. The story follows Eliza, a young woman struggling to cope with the sudden loss of her beloved radio host father.

Estes' prose is both lyrical and evocative, capturing the emotional depth of Eliza's journey. The author skillfully delves into the intricacies of grief, exploring the isolation, anger, and despair that Eliza experiences. The novel also sheds light on the importance of seeking support and finding solace in unexpected places.

One of the strengths of Off the Air is its portrayal of Eliza's relationship with her father. The author creates a touching and believable bond between the two characters, highlighting the lasting impact a parent can have on their child's life.

The novel also raises important questions about the role of media in shaping our lives and the power of storytelling to connect people. Estes' exploration of these themes is both timely and relevant.

It was...fine? Maybe a bit too cozy for me, as someone who tends to read more fast-paced thrillers. The character just didn't pop for me - but instead of the setting of the writing did.

It started off pretty slow - even with our opening murder - but felt like the pace picked up eventually. Instead of the mystery aspect, I was more entertained by the inside look into the professional field of journalism - how cutthroat and stressful it can be. Estes definitely wrote about what she knew, and I think I would enjoy a book by her of her professional experiences, more than this murder mystery.

Overall, fine read.

I recently listened to Off the Air by Christina Estes as an audiobook, thanks to Dreamscape Media, and it was a fun, engaging experience. The story follows radio host Bailey Brown, whose career is suddenly thrown off course when she becomes entangled in a mysterious scandal. As Bailey navigates the fallout, she uncovers secrets within the radio industry while juggling her complicated personal life.

Estes crafts an entertaining and fast-paced mystery with plenty of twists and humor. The audiobook narration really brought the characters to life, adding an extra layer of immersion to the story. The behind-the-scenes look at radio broadcasting was unique, and Bailey’s sharp wit made her a likable protagonist.

If you enjoy lighthearted mysteries with strong, relatable characters, Off the Air is a great pick, especially in audiobook form. Dreamscape Media did a fantastic job delivering a captivating listening experience.

This was a cute murder mystery! I didn’t love the TV reporter/MC—she was rude to basically everyone. Homeless people, her neighbors, possible sources, actual sources, coworkers…everyone. Unless she thought they could benefit her, and even then…generally rude and immature. She also needs therapy for so many issues, and came across as incredibly lazy and “woe is me” for much of the book.

I really liked the glimpse of local TV life and investigative journalism this book gave. I thought the supporting characters were really interesting, and the dynamic between the MC and her reporting on the very politically-biased victim was a good look (and a good reminder…as if we actually need it these days lol) at how journalism is inherently biased in one direction or the other, even if the reporter tries to stick to the facts.

Synopsis:
When word gets out about a death at a radio station, Jolene and other journalists swarm the scene, intent on reporting the facts first. The body is soon identified as Larry Lemmon, a controversial talk show host, who died under suspicious circumstances. Jolene conducted his final interview, giving her and her station an advantage. But not for long.

Thoughts:
This was is good mystery thriller with rom-com vibes!

The writing in this book made me physically ill. I found myself backtracking to make sense of the story and characters, but still, some made no sense.
From the cover, I expected a unique mystery story, but the book was compiled with too much talk about politics and not enough about the mystery itself.

I loved this. Such a unique story line. Very excited to see what else Estes comes up with! Very entertaining and I enjoyed every minute of this.