Immerse yourself in the vibrant Phoenix, Arizona, setting as you read “Off The Air.” This first murder mystery from Christina Estes takes you on a wild ride with a cast of characters that add color, depth, and pizazz to the story. You might even need a chair with armrests to hold on to as the plot unfolds.

Estes brings her 20 years of real-world experience as an award-winning television and radio news reporter to “Off The Air.” Her unique insights into the world of news coverage, gained from pounding the pavement in the Arizona-Sonora Desert, add a layer of authenticity to the story.

This is a great first-book effort from a first-rate reporter. The book flows, holds attention, and, with the building tension, may keep readers up past bedtime. There are no spoilers here, but trying to pick the murderer from the cast of antagonists will leave readers guessing and guessing again. That’s the sign of a murder mystery with legs.

Protagonist Jolene Garcia may be a composite character, but she carried a lot of the real Estes’ style in that tote bag. The interactions with a fictional crowd from the book’s media cast are definitely built from real Phoenix media denizens. Estes’ story carries quite a mix.

First, there’s the main plot about the death of on-air legend Larry Lemon, killed during a commercial break during his national live talk show. Next, she weaves the reality of covering the news in a major U.S. city with social media, live broadcasts, social media casts and trumping competition to get ahead of the talking heads from other channels. To complete the tapestry, Estes colors the pace, moving quickly from scene to scene and (make a list to check them out) actual local Phoenix businesses, brews and grinds.

If ready for an escape from the grind with a foot in reality, “Off The Air” is the perfect complement to that book to read during a spring rainstorm.

It’s a good start that leaves you wondering if Jolene keeps her nose for news and a thirst for detection in the next book.

This book was incredibly hard for me to get into. I did finish it but honestly for me it never really took off. The mystery part was decent, but it was buried underneath past reflections and other news stories that popped up. While I realize in the real world that is exactly what a newscaster is faced with, from a story telling standpoint it made the story drag. I also didn’t enjoy the characters. The writing was really one noted for me. Overall, this book was a huge miss for me.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

A delightful debut! This was a bit out of my normal genre but I did enjoy it! Lots of tension and lies. And actual laugh out loud moments. It was really fun to see a fresh take on strong politics. It gave me a proud to be an American feel. The characters were fantastic. Rich and quirky.
Thank you NetGalley, Christina Estes and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I received a free copy from NetGalley. A reporter trying to not be out scooped in the brave and changing world of news, by trying to solve a murder first. I look forward to reading more in the series.

Off the Air was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I found the premise description to be very promising, and I very much appreciated that because of the author’s background, it was realistic. On the flip side, I felt like sometimes the emphasis on details that are true to life could sometimes overwhelm the plot. I can usually get on board with a murder mystery, but there seemed to be a lack of development in the investigations the main character was trying to solve/cover that left me feeling a little bored - I certainly could have done with some more red herrings and drama. Overall, it left me wanting more out of it, but I didn’t DNF it, which says something these days.

Off the Air is the debut novel by reporter Christina Estes. It follows local TV reporter Jolene Garcia in Phoenix, Arizona. As Estes worked in local news, a lot of her experience and knowledge is present in the story. There is a lot of emphasis on the inner workings of journalism. Since the author has the same background, it was nice to have real elements in the story. It does become a bit much at times with the jargon, so if you are not a fan of journalism, then you may not enjoy the story.

When controversial talk show host Larry Lemmon, Rush Limbaugh type character, mysteriously dies, it is up to Jolene to break the story. While investigating the story, Jolene must compete with the other reporters to get the scoop, including her rival, JJ. There are a lot of political elements in the story and while journalism, in theory, should be unbiased, there was a lot of bias in the story. If you want an escape from politics in the story (no matter your views), then this may not be the story for you. As this is a debut story, it felt like the author still has a few kinks to work out with her writing; however, there is a lot of potential. I think if this continues as a series, it will be a lot of fun to read. Overall, it is an interesting fast-paced read.

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Minotaur Books, for the opportunity to read this entertaining novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

This was such a fun and cute novel! I loved reading about the life of a journalist and getting a peek into newsrooms, other reporters working to get the story, and the industry as a whole. Getting to see the environment was surprisingly fun for me as normally I only get invested in the main characters. The mystery itself is fun to follow along and keeps you guessing on what could be going on and whodunit as the twists and turns of the plot happens!

This is such a cozy read and would definitely recommend to any fan of mystery, especially cozy mysteries.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Off the Air follows Jolene Garcia, a television news reporter in Arizona. She is looking for her big break and feels it is within her grasp when a controversial radio host is killed. Can she get the exclusive interviews and breaking news to get the recognition she feels she deserves?

Based on the synopsis, I thought this was a mystery and while there is the mystery of who killed the radio host, this is not actually the focus of the book. The author is a journalist, and it shows. There is a lot of research, facts, and explanation about Arizona and the procedures of journalism. Jolene is not likeable and when she keeps getting scooped, she blames everyone around her instead of realizing she may be at fault. Also she acts like she needs to solve the murder instead of just report on it. There is also a ton of politics and it is just over the top.

Not a bad read, I am just not the right audience. The tangents about the history of Arizona and learning about the inner workings of journalism doesn’t interest me. There is a lot of explanation and not much action.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I really really wanted to like this one, but it just didn’t work for me. A little too fluffy for me.

Sadly, this ended up not being for me. It was an interesting idea, but I found the story and the main character a little too chaotic for my tastes, so I never was really pulled into the story. The concept and follow-through was pretty solid though, so I think people who like this style of mystery may be more into it than me.

I really, really tried to enjoy this but this was not the book I thought it would be, nor was it for me. This was full of irrelevant facts that took away from the story big time. The amount of explaining of so many points was annoying. Pat Tillman was mentioned and next thing I know, I'm reading multiple pages about his life and death. I knew the story, so I skipped ahead, which I seemed to do more and more. At one point, there was an entire paragraph describing how a French fry dish was made, completely unnecessary to the story. The murder mystery took a spot on the back burner, politics and media drama was at the front. There was so much politics weaved throughout this, I really could not enjoy the story. I didn't connect to any of the characters, by the 50% mark I was skipping through just trying to get to the mystery parts. The twist was decent, but I think the animal cruelty storyline was pointless and I really hated it. If you go into wanting a look into how reporters operate and you're okay with very right sided politics, you may enjoy it. I wanted a murder mystery from a different POV then I'm used to, which was very little of the story. I wasn't the right audience, but I know there are many people that are, so check it out if it sounds like something you'd be interested in.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Off the Air by Christina Estes is an insider’’s look at the local news. Jolene is a reporter at Eyewitness News, determined to best her competition. She reports on the death of a controversial radio host and uses all of her powers to get the scoop.

The book is a quick read and while I didn’t always agree with Jolene’s decisions, she was (almost) fearless in her determination to perform. While we learned a bit about Jolene’s childhood in foster care, I wish there had been more details to add some depth. At other points, there was detail that seemed extraneous. I did appreciate the behind the scenes look at the local news scene as the author has that background.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

This was fluffy and unrealized. I just wanted it to be so much better than it was. I wouldn't recommend it to my audience.

Off the Air is a debut novel by Christina Estes. I don't know the much about reporting or news cycles so this was interesting but didn’t bog down the mystery. for me without it being too much. It is a quick, easy read. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my review copy of this book.

"Off the Air" by Christina Estes presents readers with an intriguing debut mystery featuring Jolene Garcia, a local TV reporter in Phoenix, Arizona. Estes, an Emmy Award-winning reporter herself, brings authenticity to the storytelling, offering readers a glimpse into the fast-paced world of journalism and the competitive nature of investigative reporting.

The premise of the story, centered around the suspicious death of controversial radio host Larry Lemmon, sets the stage for a gripping narrative filled with twists and turns. Jolene's determination to uncover the truth, even as she navigates the pressures of her career and the cutthroat world of journalism, adds depth to her character and drives the plot forward.

One of the strengths of "Off the Air" lies in its portrayal of the media landscape and the ethical dilemmas faced by journalists. Estes effectively captures the tension between the desire to report the facts and the pressure to prioritize ratings and sensationalism. Additionally, the setting of Phoenix, Arizona, adds flavor to the story, immersing readers in the vibrant backdrop of the desert city.

However, while the premise and characters are compelling, the execution of the plot sometimes feels predictable, with certain twists and developments lacking the element of surprise that is crucial to keeping readers engaged. The pacing, though generally steady, occasionally falters, detracting from the overall momentum of the story.

Despite these criticisms, "Off the Air" remains an enjoyable read, offering a blend of mystery, suspense, and insight into the world of journalism. Estes' experience as a reporter shines through in her vivid portrayal of the industry, and Jolene Garcia emerges as a protagonist worth rooting for. While not without its flaws, "Off the Air" is a promising debut that hints at Estes' potential as a writer of captivating mysteries. With its mix of entertainment and thought-provoking themes, this novel earns a solid three stars and is sure to appeal to fans of investigative journalism and crime fiction alike.

Off the Air, was an interesting well-written mystery about a local reporter trying to crack the case of who killed a local conservative talk show host. I enjoyed the writing style, it was very smooth and kept my interest. The characters were great, with Jolene being both funny and smart. The other characters were spot on. This was a great cozy mystery and I look forward to the next.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy. This book was a soft mystery. I felt the story was longer than needed and got confused at times with all the characters.

Off the Air is the debut mystery novel by real life reporter Christina Estes.

Written in first person, from the viewpoint of Jolene Garcia, a Phoenix reporter, we get a behind the scenes look at the cutthroat news industry, as she tries to solve a mystery, while drumming up new tidbits to satisfy the television station she works for.

While I enjoyed the story overall, I really wavered on whether or not I liked the main character, and I think I fell on the side of not. As I contemplated the reasons I didn’t care for her character, it made me wonder if the things I disliked about her character are also the things that make a good reporter.

Aside from not liking Jolene’s character, I found the story kept my interest for the most part. The only thing I found odd were the random bits of history about buildings and historical events that the author felt the need to explain, but which really had nothing to do with the story. I found they really distracted me from the story, and didn’t add anything valuable.

If you’re a mystery lover I would recommend giving Off the Air a try, I think it was a decent debut. I enjoyed the book enough that I will give the author another try in the future.

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

Unfortunately I DNF this one. It just wasn't a book for me. I could not connect with the story or the characters. Some may find it interesting. I just wasn't the right audience for it.

Thank you NetGalley, St Martin Press and the author for a copy of ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Jolene Garcia is under a lot of pressure to get the firsthand scoop on the local murder of radio host, Larry Lemmon. She’s in competition with the other news broadcasting station and constantly hitting walls when her sources request to not be named and her persons of interest refuse interviews. Jolene will do whatever it takes to get the information first and help solve the case.

This was a cozy mystery that I was able to knock out in one day. You don’t often get to read the perspective of the persistent, invasive news reporter so it was unique to get that POV in this story. It was a quick, easy read and I enjoyed trying to guess alongside Jolene and the cops. One or two plots were introduced, but didn’t go anywhere. It also seemed to be a product placement for Pepsi given the amount of times it was mentioned. It also had a lot of politics in it, which made sense for the story, but a little too real. I wish it had been a little more thrilling, but it worked well for my lazy Saturday reading!