Off the Air is a strong debut novel from Christina Estes, drawing from her own experiences as a reporter to provide realism and an insider's viewpoint. Jolene Garcia's life revolves around her job as a Phoenix TV reporter. She wants to cover big stories, and none are bigger than the sudden death of local radio personality, Larry Lemmon, who hosts a controversial and politically-slanted talk show. Lemmon has lots of detractors, but did someone hate him enough to kill him? Jolene has the inside scoop through a source at the local police department, but when protecting her source keep her from being first to report new leads because her competitors don't respect the same rules, will Jolene's ethics slip? The story is fast-paced with lots of action and good character development; some of Jolene's decisions were a bit sketchy, but you understood her motivations and sympathized with the pressure she was under to deliver new content to her bosses. There are lots of viable suspects, and while I had a feeling about who the murderer was, Estes camouflaged their motivation well enough that I was never sure until the reveal. I hope we'll see more of Jolene Garcia soon!

OFF THE AIR
Christina Estes


Are you always first on the scene,
know all the local gossip,
believe in protecting your source?

You might be a reporter in the making.

Jolene Garcia is a local TV Reporter. She spends her days chasing down the story and her nights creating her own. One day Larry Lemon, an infamous local on-air talent dies. Jolene is one of a handful of reporters to receive the scoop, but since Jolene was the last person to interview him, she has the best odds of landing the exclusive.

It could be exactly what she needs to propel her career and solidify her amongst the ranks in her local area. As the mystery of Larry’s death is explored Jolene chases down leads and unravels the mystery doing what she does best getting the scoop.

The story didn’t unfold the way I thought it would. I didn’t connect with the characters. The main character is quirky, and off-beat, and the side characters are even more so.

Estes spent a good portion of the novel observing things that were interesting but unimportant and unrelated to solving the mystery. OFF THE AIR is rough around the edges, rough through and through, and was difficult to get through at some points.

I liked getting to know Phoenix better and I believe if you are from Phoenix, you will enjoy this one more than I did.

Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for the advanced copy!

OFF THE AIR…⭐⭐⭐

So sad to say I did not finish this book. I was not invested in the mystery or characters. I found some parts too political.

First off, any book that pays tribute to Dolly Parton by naming her main character after one of her songs gets a bonus star. As if that weren't enough, this book is set in the world of on-air journalism, which was a former profession of mine. It was interesting to read about how much things have changed in the fifteen years since living in that world, yet many things about the job remain the same. If you have no interest in the inner workings of modern media, then this book might not be for you.

A controversial talk show host collapses and dies at the news station, and the next thing you know, every news outlet is trying to get the latest and most interesting and complete news story. Jolene is confident that she's got the upper hand and feels this story is hers to lose since she did the last interview with the talk show host, Larry Lemmon.

This was a fun cozy mystery with a multi-media journalist angle that I thoroughly enjoyed. I can't wait for Christina Estes next venture on the printed page.

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley and Minotaur Books. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a cute little cozy mystery. Jolene is a journalist who needs a big break and a good tagline, but she has to learn what happens when you cross the line. When a controversial radio host is murdered, she is SURE this is her chance. Seems like it'll be a series - I'd probably read number two.

This book just wasn't for me. It was too political and I wasn't really interested in any of the characters or what happened to them. Others may enjoy it, but it just wasn't what I was expecting.

*Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review*

I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I don't remember the last time I was this happy to be done with a book. I found this book to be so boring and I just wanted it to be over faster. I didn't even really care about who killed the guy. This book didn't even really feel like a mystery to me, it just felt like reading someone doing her journalist job and being kind of obnoxious.

I found myself skipping so many sections in this book. Especially sections that seemed like it had nothing to do with anything else. Two examples come to mind for this. The first one is where we're randomly introduced to a character about halfway through the book and we get almost a full page of information about them and then never hear from them again. Another example is the main character has to take some advil and then we get two paragraphs about why pill bottles have safety seals on them. This happened a few other times.

I really need to learn to DNF books.

This wasn’t my favorite read. Many of the conversations got very confusing. The ending twist really didn’t do it for me either. The main character was pretty insufferable to me.

Sadly, this book was not for me. I know its a debut, so I'll give this author another shot as she grows into being a writer. This book was just okay. Not sharp enough, and the pacing was up and down. It veered off course a lot and there was a lot of unnecessary details about certain topics, and then not enough detail about character backstory and motivation. Very slow and didn't grab my interest.

In the book Off The Air by Christina Estez we meet Jolene Gonzalez who while eating lunch with her cameraman Nate gets a call saying a popular DJ may be dead when she arrives at KGBH the radio station for Larry lemon a rush Limbaugh type character she’s there with other Phoenix reporters and when she learns it is the popular talk show host she knows she has something the other reporters do not and that is the last interview he done but when another reporter named Joe Joe an airhead reporter who is basically your copy and paste reporter somehow gets an interview with the radio station manager and scoops Jolene scoop. Jolene feels pressure from her boss who continually wants her to find the big news because they are trying to push their online presence and he needs a real zinger to bring in the clicks and views but it seems everything Jolene gets either someone else tells it first or they get an even bigger scoop on the Larry Lemon case altogether. It seems every piece of big news Jolene can put her fingers on they tell her it is strictly off the air but it’s when she unfortunately becomes part of the story when she finally scoops everyone. In the beginning with all the near hits and misses I almost became bored with the story but with the very lovable Jolene and all the great side characters it held my interest. I won’t say this was the most stellar book written but I will definitely be looking for another book by this author because this is her first in fiction I cannot wait to read the next. It really is worth reading in a book I definitely recommend as I said they do have some parts but in my opinion started to drag but they didn’t last long and overall made for a great mystery. I want to thank the publisher the author and net galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

I was intrigued to start, having grown up in Arizona, but quickly got lost in all the conversations about news specifics, social media and politics. Felt really slimey to know all the behind the scenes convos. Not to mention it overshadowed the story so the plot felt slow and empty. The ending was meh, even with the stalker vibes.

I received an advance review copy for free via Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was an okay book. I think just because I didn’t like the main character, Jolene, and really didn’t like hearing about the reporting business and how it works (cringey), I can’t give it more stars so that is solely a personal opinion. I did like the historical events thrown in! The writing is good and the ending was pretty good, it’s just not my cup of tea.

OFF THE AIR, a debut novel by Christina Estes, is a delightfully fun read. Jolene Garcia, a feisty local TV reporter in Phoenix, Arizona, finds herself caught up in a murder investigation following the suspicious death of Larry Lemmon, a popular radio host. Jolene is in a race to solve the case before the rival networks do. Cyanide-laced cookies and anonymous threatening notes add even more anxiety.

I enjoyed getting the real “scoop” on the inside operations of a television network. This story has all the excitement of the ambulance-chasing career, including the rush to be first to air an exclusive. The plot hits on some current political issues which add validity to a story about the news industry. Christina uses her 20-year experience as an award-winning crime reporter to skillfully blend investigative reporting with a murder mystery in a way that is informative, satisfying, and interesting.

This is the debut novel written by Christina Estes. The mystery part of the story is good but the writing wanders a bit too much into the inner workings of broadcast journalism and social media influencers. There are many characters to keep track of and overall they were not very likable. Character likeability can make or break a book for me and this one unfortunately fell flat in that regard.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

A facinsting who-done-it murder mystery. Following in the eyes of a journalist. This story was quick paced and kept me entertained the whole time. From some banter between the FMC and her “source” and the twist and turns. I didn’t see that ending coming which honestly rarely happens.

Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys an excellent murder mystery novel.

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Our main point of view is Jolene Garcia, who is a news reporter. She does on air reporting for her special segments. Jolene works very hard to develop contacts, find breaking stories and report new angles. She is under a lot of pressure as the station moves to more digital reporting in real time with social media teases.

Jolene has developed good sources by being fair and releasing information only when they approve. She doesn't seem to have much of a life outside of her focus on her work. She's always on call for breaking stories. With the current death of a man she recently interviewed, she's under even more pressure since she has his last interview.

I didn't like the pressure she was under or how she rationalized some of her choices, or constantly after people to provide her with more information to report. Some of her "friends" criticized some of those choices and I would too, but Jolene is the one who would be unemployed or Off the Air if she didn't push and get the story. It was a lose - lose situation. Jolene gets her story at great personal risk and angers some of her sources.

I found the story interesting but it was hard to like the characters. The tension made it less enjoyable to me.

BOOK REVIEW: Off the Air by Christina Estes
2024 Publication Date: March 26

⭐️⭐⭐️️

Murder Mystery Books
T.I.M.E. Most Anticipated Books Of 2024

T.I.M.E. BOOK REVIEW:
In the intriguing murder mystery Off the Air by Christina Estes, readers are taken on a thrilling ride through the competitive world of broadcast journalism. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Phoenix, Arizona, we meet Jolene Garcia — a dedicated young woman TV reporter with an insatiable hunger for stories that matter.

Estes deftly weaves a captivating murder mystery storyline that snags your attention from the very first page. The sudden death of controversial radio talk show host Larry Lemmon sends shock waves through the local media landscape... And immediately the suspects and secrets start to emerge as the details of the crime scene and subsequent clues are explored.

With an air of palpable mystery and a bevy of clues only Jolene seems to notice, Off the Air is as much a testament to the tenacity of a well-written protagonist as it is a complex web of suspense. This book is a worthy addition to the murder mystery genre, offering a fresh perspective wrapped in layers of meticulously crafted tension and a narrative that dares the reader to solve the puzzle alongside its intrepid reporter.

Perfect for murder mystery enthusiasts who prefer murder mysteries without a gory brutal murder or serial killer...

Christina Estes has penned a story that is not just read, but experienced — A tale where the high stakes of investigative journalism meet the darkest elements of human nature.... ✨😎✨

Pages: 295
Genre: Thriller
Sub-Genre: Murder Mystery Books
T.I.M.E. Jalapeno Rating:️ N/A
Time Period: Contemporary
Location: Phoenix, AZ (US)
Publisher: St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books

IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK THEN TRY…
Book: The Expectant Detectives by Kat Ailes ⭐️⭐⭐️ (Cozy Mysteries | Murder Mystery Books)️
• Authors: Nita Prose (The Maid), Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl), Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes)
Movie: State Of Play ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION:
• The theme of dedication and tenacity in pursuing a story that matters... What it means to discover and stay true to your beliefs and passions... No matter the obstacles.
• The competitive nature of the media industry... Reflect on how cutthroat certain industries can be... And the importance of staying true to oneself in such environments.
• The element of mystery and suspense... Discuss the power of a well-crafted story in murder mystery books and how it can capture your attention until the very end.

BOOK QUOTE:
"Another bland line... If you get tired of reporting you might have a career in politics. You have a knack for not saying anything..." — Off the Air by Christina Estes

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All my book reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at thisismyeverybody.com/blog/what-book-should-i-read

♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

I truly loved this who-dunnit mystery that focused on this ins and outs of our journalism and media outlets. This was fast paced right from the beginning and I felt I learned about what goes on behind the scenes for journalists. I appreciated this information as it made the concept behind the book easier to understand.
This book is about one young journalist's part in solving a murder of a national talk-show host. As she is recovering from a huge career mistake, this case opens up wide arrays of opportunities and stardom for her.
This story was funny and so entertaining!

This was an okay book. I really liked that it was written by an actual former reporter, so we got to read a behind-the-scene type story. The mystery itself was a little lacking- something you’d find on a crime show drama, not necessarily a real whodunnit. Jolene, the main character, kind of annoyed me, but I think I was annoyed with journalism today as a whole, and what it’s forced journalists to become. Two minor things I did like about this book was how she watched Wheel of Fortune every night, and that there’s a brief, smallest of small mention of a cat named Wrigley. (Named so for the same reason my Wrigley is: a husband with an overzealous love of the Chicago Cubs.) Anyway, this was a fast read, so I’m giving a flat 3 🐾 / 5.

Off the Air is a terrific solid mystery with authentic insights into the intriguing world of local TV journalism—but always coupled with compassion and heart. Estes’s ear for dialogue and understanding of human nature makes this a must-read—and the perfect beginning for a series. A winner in every way!