This synopsis of this book indicates it is a murder mystery, but that wasn't really the plot of the book for me.

Reporter Jolene works for a local TV news station, and is trying to spend her time on thoughtful investigative journalism while her boss often wants her chasing general stories and special assignments that are far less 'news' than general information.

Jolene recently interviewed Larry Lemmons, a local radio talk show host known for his extreme views, and for firing up his audience. When he is found dead, the race is on for all the local reporters to get the scoop on his death and who killed him. Jolene has the last ever interview with him, but her boss needs her to get there first with all other interviews. Jolene has a rival, JJ, who is a glamorous on screen TV reporter and has no scruples when trying to get the best information first.

The book gives us the inside view on the world of reporting and the fast changing environment as news gives way to ratings and social media clicks. Journalists are now multimedia reporters, expected to write up a story while posting to social media, producing teasers for TV broadcasts, providing written material and more. While the book did follow the potential murder suspects, for me the point of the plot was the way the news industry worked. I watched as Jolene changed from a woman with a need to follow a code of ethics, to a woman willing to do whatever was necessary to get the scoop and keep her job. It reminded me why I would hate to do that job...

The ending did provide us with the murderer, and it was a surprising twist to me.

All in all, not a bad read, but not quite what I was expecting.

OFF THE AIR was an interesting concept or idea. I was hoping it would be similar to The Maid in its quirkiness and pacing, as well as a focus on a murder through the workplace. While it does do the latter, it does so too heavily that everything else in the book suffers. Unfortunately by chapter 5, I knew this book wasn’t for me.

Jolene Garcia is a reporter. When local radio host Larry Lemmon is found dead at the station, Jolene investigates his death. I wish I could give you more details about the book, but the book is pretty much centered on this.

As I was reading, the book dives DEEP into modern day journalism. Every facet of this story is tied to this concept. In fact, it goes so in depth that the entire book suffers. It gives insight into the news business, but at the expense of anything else. I don’t really feel like I knew Jolene as a character. And the plot was just so bogged down by journalism facts, it ended up being less of a mystery and more of a fictionalized commentary on the news. This was not what I thought I would be reading, and, by extension, it didn’t really hold my interest.

I know what the author was trying to do. The author was trying to create a new angle on a mystery novel by placing the perspective through a journalist. The concept is unique and different. But it just went too overboard to the expense of the rest of the book.

Overall, I really wasn’t a fan of this book. But I think if you like mysteries and are really interested in modern day news and a new perspective on a mystery novel, this might be the book for you.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Jolene Garcia is a local television reporter in Phoenix Arizona. She not only reports on general assignments, she also reports on special projects, like how dry cleaners get stains out of clothing, important stuff huh? When news hits the airways about a death at a radio station, Jolene makes her way to the scene wanting to be first, like all the other journalists, to get the information out. Who is dead and how did they die? When the deceased is none other than Larry Lemmon, a controversial conservative radio host, rumors swirl regarding the circumstances, anyone could have done it, no one was immune to his harsh criticism. But Jolene does have something no one else has, she conducted his final interview, and that gives her an advantage no one else will ever get. But as Jolene starts her own investigation into who could have killed Larry, she herself becomes a target as she gets too close to the truth. How far will she go to solve this?

This story highlights the behind the scenes a day in the life of a journalist. It also shows just how much times have changed regarding multimedia journalism, the cutthroat approaches to getting information out first, bringing social media into the loop, and really just how far people will go to be number one. It also had many facts about Phoenix AZ, which were irrelevant to the story, and seemed like ‘filler’ that wasn’t necessary. With so many unlikeable characters, anyone really could have been guilty. The pace was very slow, the murder wasn’t really the main even with the sparkle I was hoping for. The ending didn’t have me satisfied, justified yes, the victim got what he deserved in my opinion. Keep in mind, there are some heavy triggers throughout the story, and very political, which is always a bummer to me. I prefer to keep politics out of my book reading vices.

I’ll give this 2.5 stars. With some fine polishing and maybe a little juicier less fluff storyline, there was hope. I understand this is a debut novel, so there is definite hope. I would like to thank Netgalley, Minotaur Books and Christina Estes for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Off The Air" is a compelling novel that will linger in the minds of readers long after they've turned the final page. With its captivating storytelling, memorable characters, and poignant themes, it's a book that reminds us of the importance of embracing life's uncertainties.

Jolene Garcia is a TV reporter trying to make a name for herself in the Phoenix market. Somewhat hapless, she always seems to be one step behind JJ, the golden reporter from a rival station. When a local contentious radio host is found dead by poison, Jolene has the advantage of having been the last person to interview him. That advantage soon fades and once again she is playing catch up. When she gets a tip that may lead her to the murderer, will she be able to solve the case and not endanger her own life? And the bigger question: will she finally win an Emmy?

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books (St. Martin's Press) for this e-arc.*

🔍𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄🔍
📖- Off the Air
📆- March 26,2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Trigger warnings ⚠️- Racism, animal cruelty, classism ⚠️

Thank you @netgalley & @stmartinspress @minotaur_books for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀:

Jolene Garcia is assigned to report what happened to the controversial talk show host, Larry Lemmon. The body is discovered at the radio station, it is believed he has passed away under suspicious circumstances. Every TV station soon is camped out at the radio station, including Jolene’s competition, JJ. Since Jolene was the last person to interview Larry Lemmon, the pressure is mounting to make the report about what happened. Nonetheless it seems JJ’s popularity and beauty have a powerful influence over the media and viewers. Will Jolene be able to report it first?

𝗠𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀💭
I’m not going to lie it took me a minute to finish this book, it grabbed my attention at murder and who done it. But in my opinion it dragged on a little too long. I liked how it gave out facts, like how journalism has changed over the years. However, it was loaded with too many facts at times and it felt like that’s what made the book take a little longer to finish. If you’re into politics then this book is it for you, I really did not like how much was implemented in the book. Overall, I enjoyed the competition. Understand the thrill doesn’t happen until about the last 5% of the book.

#bookreview #arcbookreview #mysterybooks #offtheair #coffeeandbooks #coffeelover #booksbooksbooks #bookaddict #coffeeandcurrentlyreading

Off the Air is a fun and unique murder mystery! Estes knowledge of investigative journalism breathes fresh air into the classic whodunit - breaking down a the murder investigation through the perspective of journalists.

I thought Jolene was an extremely well-written character. She is unapologetic in her methods for doing what it takes to get the story. I thought all the side characters were also well-developed and would be interested in following all of them in future stories.

The plot itself is a bit of a slow-burn, but I found Jolene’s perspective compelling and enjoyed learning the ins and outs of the newsroom, the cutthroat competition between journalists, and the different factoids about Phoenix.

The action picks up at the end with a satisfying conclusion. I really hope this might turn into a series - bringing back all the characters from Channel 4 Eyewitness News. Overall, a very well written and engaging debut!

Thank you to Netgalley, Minotaur Books, and St. Martin’s Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Jolene is a reporter in Phoenix in a mediocre news station that is struggling to earn viewers. She covers a story of the death of a notorious radio host and finds herself in a web of unscrupulous people. Interesting storyline with a likeable protagonist.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published March 26, 2024.

The premise sounded good: a controversial, talkshow host dies suddenly and all the journalists are fighting to be the first to report anything newsworthy.

While I learned a few things about the rules of journalism, I felt the story fell flat. I was bored for most of the story and really didn’t care for any of the characters. It picked up at the end when the main character Jolene finally got a break and got the attention she’d so wanted by discovering who killed Larry Lemon.

Received this book via NetGalley.


This book follows a news reporter named Jolene as she covers the death of a Rush Limbaugh-type radio host. This book has a lot of information about journalism, ,a lot suspects for the murder, a lot of details to wade through and, unfortunately, the plot was too slow to develop for me. I lost interest about halfway through and can't see myself going back to finish the text.


Overall, I gave it three stars because I thought the premise was cool and it's obvious that the author has a wealth of knowledge about journalism.

PUBLICATION DAY: March 26, 2024

Jolene Garcia is a reporter at a local news station in Phoenix. When she hears of the murder of local media sensation Larry Lemmon, a far right conservative figure, she knows this is her chance to rise to the top of the Phoenix journalism industry. She had the last living interview with Larry, so that gives her the edge, right? But the competition is fierce for leads and Jolene must fight against rival reporters (and sometimes her own team) to come out on top. Can she solve the mystery of who killed Larry? And will she have any friends left when she is done?

PROS and CONS:
A behind the scenes look at the life of a reporter in Phoenix. I enjoyed the descriptions of the city and its neighborhoods, the intricacies of working with sources, interviewees and co-workers, and the office politics of a news station. Unfortunately there wasn’t much driving the plot in this one - there is an unlikeable victim and a repetitive investigation into his death. The author has several hot button topics that she expounds on, that, while interesting, do not further the plot…I liked it, but I didn’t love it. It does make me want to visit Phoenix again in the near future!

READ IT?
If you’re interested in journalism and mysteries - this might be the one for you.

3 Stars

I'm sure this book will find its right audience, but it wasn't a good fit for me. Aside from the huge amount of detail about the job of a television reporter, which took me out of the actual story, I could not warm up to the protagonist, Jolene. She somehow got a villain edit while the author seemed to be trying to give her a hero one. Jolene preached ad nauseam about journalistic standards and ethics, and yet she behaved quite poorly, to put it mildly, to everyone in her work and her personal life. When caught out for bad behavior, she was a petulant child about it instead of actually admitting that she was wrong and apologizing. If you're interested in a lot of details about the inner working of television reporting, you will probably get a lot out of this murder mystery. Thank you to NetGallley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for a digital review copy.

BIPOC Cozy-ish Mystery following an Arizona local TV reporter who's intent on not only reporting the facts first but solving a controversial radio talk show host's suspicious death.

4/5 stars: This is a stand alone by Estes which is a BIPOC Cozy-ish Mystery that features a local TV reporter in Arizona who covers general assignments and special projects. With plenty of twists and turns, Estes has crafted a mystery that balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Additionally, Estes' character work is great; the characters are well-rounded, complex and yet remain likable. Jolene's determined, dogged and at times goes a bit too far in getting information for her stories but in the end her grit and pride in her work are relatable. More than anything Estes brings her experience as an Emmy Award winning reporter to the page. This is chock full of the ins and outs of the business of reporting and how social media has affected how the news is told and received by viewers. This book touches on some sensitive topics, so take care and check the CWs. This is a nice read and I would enjoy reading more of Jolene's on and off screen adventures.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Quick easy read that had me turning pages quickly!!! Enjoyed the sometimes flawed heroine and her race against time and competition to get the scoop!!!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an eARC of this book.

Jolene Gracia is a reporter in Phoenix. She covers general assignments and fluff pieces. One day she is to cover the death of a controversial radio host. As they get to the scene, Jolene realizes she was the last person to interview him, which gives her an advantage.
As the mystery heats up Jolene is determined to find out what happened and scooped up all the other reporters.

This is good debut novel. If this becomes a series I would read the follow up. The characters are well developed and the book was fun to read.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the Publishers, and Christina Estes for an ARC of Off the Air! This was a really cute cozy mystery. I really enjoyed the authors writing which kept me reading the book. It did have some slow parts and it wasn’t a “on the edge of your seat” book, but I enjoyed how it felt like Christina was talking to the reader and giving her inside knowledge of Phoenix. Jolene is a reporter that has just learned that a popular controversial talk show host, Larry Lemmon was just found murdered. Jolene has the last interview with him and she’s determined to make sure she reports all the facts first. Tensions are high when other reporters are stepping in and taking her information first, but nothing will get in the way of Jolene and solving this case first!

Well researched debut novel! Overall the book was well written and kept my attention. At times, I was confused with where Estes was going and what she was trying to achieve. The characters were okay, I did not feel a connection with any of them but that is okay-- they were mostly likeable and the plot did keep me engaged while reading.

A fresh, interesting premise to a mystery novel encompassing journalism with a touch of politics which tends to go hand in hand.

After news breaks over a death at a radio station where Larry Lemmon was found under suspicious circumstances, the last person and her station to interview him is given a brief advantage as the heat is turned up to the max.

Jolene steps up to the task to break the competition and solve the murder — an opportunity to make or break it in her career.

This book absolutely comes off a little more non-fiction for me. HOWEVER, I don’t think I would have written this smart and fast paced whodunit any other way.


Thank you to Minotaur Books, St Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the eARC!

I liked the premise but the execution was just OK.

Some of the characters and dynamics felt overdone. Look at my hotter, more stylish and established friends. My rival is a vapid and annoying Barbie but somehow more successful. I’m the underwhelming, every girl who struggles at work. I have a tragic family history. Root for me.
Jolene’s persistence in harassing people because she keeps getting scooped is not sympathetic. It’s hard to read. Stop blaming everyone because you’re not that good at your job. At one point, Jolene injured herself and just buys crutches rather than go to the doctor. As someone in physical therapy, this pissed me off. You have health insurance, Jolene. Use it so the injury heals properly. 🙄
I did enjoy the handful of times the author took a little time to go into the history of different parts of Phoenix or the Emmy award. It was enough to be fun and informative but not enough to mess with the narrative.
It was a decent debut. This style of mystery is usually part of a series. If there is a second and the premise intrigued me, I might go for it.

A fresh premise for a murder mystery! This story provided a lot of details about the interworkings of journalism/reporting, which were very interesting. I liked the main character and the storyline was engaging overall. My biggest complaint is the redundancy in this book- Jolene’s boss’ behavior, Larry’s views on immigration, etc. There was also quite a bit of detail (about Phoenix or AZ in general) that didn’t really further the plot at all. Those elements made an otherwise great story a little slow to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!