I thought this was a great premise,but overall did not enjoy this as much as I hoped. The main characters are good and well developed but there are too many asides to explain things that the reader might not know (by breaking the third wall). Felt slow while I was reading it, as well.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review, but all opinions are my own.

I’m sorry but this book is just simply a miss. It needed to be edited more thoroughly I think. There are too many times when important information is left out or especially when unimportant background information is put in and takes up way too much time. It made the book drag. It is not the fast paced thrilling mystery that is suggested by the synopsis. Additionally, the main character, Jolene, is NOT likeable. There’s nothing that gives you any desire to root for her or give her empathy.

A cozy murder mystery for the mystery lovers. This is a debut novel about a journalist who's trying her hardest in one of the most competitive yet dying field- journalism. This story takes place in Arizona and readers get to learn a lot about Arizona and the journalism field. News is evidently dying because of social media and how the field is trying really hard to stay afloat. Jolene (yes I couldn't stop singing the song while reading this) works at a news station that is covering the death of a controversial radio host. She is trying her hardest to have some breaking news but she is constantly being challenged by her competitors. She does some questionable things to finally figure out the murder. I truly enjoyed learning about the ins and outs of local news. Totally had me watching the news differently.

A newspaper reporter with something to prove becomes the last person to interview a popular radio host before his death. Working with a grumpy cameraman, a disgruntled cop, and her 2 best friends, she manages to make major headway and in the end, becomes the hero. In places the book dragged, where the end felt super rushed. Overall, just an okay for me.

What I appreciated about this one was that it wasn't just a mystery, but it was an exploration of the "stuff" around said mystery. Specifically, it was how those in the media reported, investigated, and just engaged with the case and another. I was perhaps even more drawn into this component of the story - in a good way. This was a unique angle for a cozy mystery that was a great addition to the genre. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the look at this March 2024 release!

Solid 3 stars for a good debut novel. However, the reporting lingo, long Wikipedia-like parts (i.e Indian Schools and Emmy), and political banter kept it from being a four star book for me.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

I liked it, but I didn’t love it. There were a lot of named characters and that was hard for me to follow at times. I kept picking it up and wanting to get into it, but something made me keep putting it down. I think the story would have been more interesting if it focused more on who was leaving Jolene threatening messages while she tried to solve the murder and do her job. I did really enjoy all of the current events and political references. It was fun to see real life news written into a fictional book in that way.

I love a story with an unlikable narrator so I really wanted to like this book, but this one didn't really land for me. The characters were well-developed but I felt that the storyline dragged at times. I wish it had been a bit more fast-paced, but overall it was still enjoyable.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I enjoyed this book. I never realized how highly competitive reporting can be.

A "cozy mystery" with a news/reporting/journalism theme, a first for me! I actually liked the TV news/reporting angle of this, since it isn't something I was really familiar with. It might get a little slow for some people with all the procedural news studio stuff, but I liked it. I overall like Jolene, she's driven and decides to go outside her comfort zone to try and get what she wants. I was a little uncomfortable with how she treated a few characters she was trying to get information from and I cringed when she almost ruined her friendship with Jim, but she seemed to be conscious (maybe after the fact tho) of the damage she'd done.

I liked the fact that there were a lot of characters/"suspects" to keep track of - I actually didn't figure out the whodunit halfway through like I do with a lot of books. The one thing I didn't understand was the creepy neighbor who moved in, went hard at Jolene then moved out.. what was that interaction for? Is this going to be a series? Was he there to kind of show a general attitude women get when they aren't receptive to men, or something? I enjoyed that the nosy neighbor was a health inspector, as I am a health inspector and we get little to no airtime.

Overall I like this and would read more books by this author! Thanks to St Martin's and Netgalley for the ARC.

This book.
Ok, let me get this straight. This is not a bad book. It's long and will read very dry and boring IF you are not into journalism and news media. If you happen to want to know more about the going ons behind the scenes of reporting crews this is the book for you!

I struggled my way through this for far too long. I was expecting a cozy mystery but I got feuding news stations and this woman talking about her job way too much. And at first I was intrigued like tell me all the juicy gossip that happens behind the green screen but NO it wasn't like that. Just a very sus vibes boss and long descriptions of what everyone is wearing and how camera angles worked.
Side note: I did see the author has a background in media so everything is legit.
Also, the guy who was murdered. Good riddance. Did not care to solve his murder because...well anyways, I'm done with this finally.

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!
This book had so much potential, interesting storyline of the news crew and what they go through trying to get the best of the best or be the first to report the stories. Trying to unveil the killer of another newscaster as a smaller local company competing against a national channel. While this was relatively fast paced, there were times it was a little drawn out and slow. Overall it was alright, not a favorite but I still enjoyed.

Similar to yellowface, Christina Estes has made a main character, Jolene, who readers will both love and hate. The turmoil that Jolene goes through as a news reporter seeps through the pages and really connects the reader with Jolene's dilemmas. I found myself loathing Jolene at the end of the book because of her rash decisions (literally risking her life for a story) and her lack of acknowledgment over how reckless she is. In my eyes, Jolene embodies a typical news reporter, even though Jolene sees herself as above the rest.

The mystery over the death was slow-paced and a little predictable, but I feel like it's the side stories/journey that Jolene goes on that matter most. This book brings up real issues and different perspectives. Overall, I'm so happy NetGalley has approved this ARC for me and I can't wait to buy the book coming out on MARCH 26TH :)

An intriguing premise for a mystery or suspense novel, involving a local TV reporter, Jolene Garcia, navigating the complexities of a suspicious death at a radio station. The competitive element among journalists adds an interesting layer to the story. The story was so well written I felt Jolene's stress as she fell under increasing pressure from station management to get the story.

Bravo to Christina Estes, the author, and Emmy award winning reporter, for hitting it out of the park with her debut novel. Thank Macmillan Publishing for inviting me to read this story so I could share it with others.

If you’ve ever thought that working in television journalism can be a cutthroat business, wait until you see what Jolene Garcia encounters in Christina Estes’ debut novel, Off the Air Jolene is a reporter for a local station in Phoenix, Arizona. She spends her time covering general news stories and special assignments. The latter are stories she has a desire to tell. Like many reporters, Jolene is ambitious, and she’s looking to make a name for herself. She thinks she has a lucky break when news ekes out about a death at a radio station.

The deceased turns out to be a talk show host named Larry Lemon. His views about immigrants and guns were controversial, and because the station’s call letters are KFRK, his devoted followers are called “freaks.” Trump is mentioned, and Larry seems to have been even Trumpier than Trump. When Jolene arrives at the station, she finds a crowd of reporters and onlookers, including her main competitor, JJ Jackson, a ruthless reporter for a rival station. While Jolene believes in ethical journalism, JJ does whatever she can to ensure that she gets the story first. Facts don’t always matter.

Word circulates that Lemon’s death looks suspicious, and then the games begin! Jolene pumps her main police source, Jim Miranda, for any pertinent detail. Jim is not forthcoming until the findings become fact, something that drives Jolene – and her bosses – nuts. It’s a cutthroat business, and there are deadlines to meet. Every night, JJ seems to be scooping the competition with a new item about the case. But is it the truth?

The more pressure she gets from management, the more aggressive Jolene becomes. She pesters Jim daily for any information he can give her. She approaches “persons of interest” who have no interest in talking to her, saying she is hounding them. All the while, her co-workers wonder if she can handle the pressure and suggest she back off a bit. What’s a woman to do? Someone out there has other ideas, and it’s got her spooked. Will she back down, or will she stick to her guns – so to speak.

For a debut novel from a woman who knows her way around television and radio, this story is fast-paced and fun, although it does lag at times in the beginning. Although characters are somewhat one-dimensional, I admired Jolene’s persistence, especially her commitment to journalistic ethics. The author also presents characters who reject abuse of animals and those who renounce sexism, racism, child neglect, abandonment, and substance abuse. Off the Air could very well be the first of many successes for this author.

I received a digital copy of Christina Estes’ Off the Air in return for my honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to Net Galley, St. Martin’s Press, and Ms. Estes.

3.5 stars

I really like #offtheair for the characters, plot and pacing. The writing was great at setting the scene and I could really feel the Arizona vibes. The inside look at various journalism styles was a new thing for me and I think it worked. Thanks to #netgalley and #minotaurbooks for the opportunity to read and review this advanced reader copy, all opinions are my own.

An early copy of “Off the Air'' was awarded the Tony Hillerman Prize, which is awarded to a debut author for mysteries set in the Southwest. We finally get to enjoy Christina Estes’ widespread publication of her story about a Latino reporter and the cutthroat business of local journalism. Very cutthroat: Phoenix conservative radio shock jock, Larry Lemmon, has suddenly died and Jolene Garcia, a TV reporter who had the last interview with Larry, is investigating the possibility he was murdered with poisoned cookies. The story is particularly realistic, with concerns about social media strategy, beating competitors to interviews, protecting sources, personal safety worries, toxic co-workers, finding exclusives, workplace hierarchy politics, and on-air deadlines. And since Larry was part of that crowd, there’s a media-centric vibe and suspicion that maybe Larry was offed by someone in the business. Larry’s death has made national news — even CNN has sent Anderson Cooper to the scene.

Jolene is totally immersed in the story, following leads, getting caught up in a rivalry, and even receiving anonymous threats. But she’s bullish and she starts to irritate people as her quest builds to find the right person to break the story.

I enjoyed the total immersion into the world of local journalism. Jolene, however, was a less than perfect person who was tempted too many times to consider an unprofessional route. I suspected her fear of dogs would come back to haunt her, thankfully with a satisfying ending.

Estes definitely knows her city. Phoenix has a starring role, as do all things Arizona (hot or not) like haboobs, the necessity of carports, Snottsdale, old neighborhoods like Laveen and Sunnyslope. 4 stars for an engrossing story with a journalist, not a detective being center stage.

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Ben’s (of Ben’s Burger’s) eyes are the color of mashed peas and neighbor Oliver has shiny green eyes.

Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO The author knows her desert landscaping.

Thank you to St. Martin’s /Minotaur and NetGalley for a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

This book was interesting to me because for a while I wanted to be a journalist so it was fun getting a behind the scenes feel. But, there was just something lacking… this was a debut novel and I kind of felt that in character development. I didn’t really care about finding out who murdered the person, I didn’t really love our FMC, so as I was reading it I kind of found myself thinking “what’s even happening and is this worth finishing?”

I think this was written better than a lot of debuts and it was edited well. But it was definitely lacking that spark and care for me.

While I appreciated the behind the scenes look into investigative journalism, the slow pace of “Off the Air” made it a tedious read. The characters lacked depth, leaving me disengaged and indifferent to their fates. Overall, a disappointing book that failed to deliver a compelling narrative. Regardless of my disinterest, I would like to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Publishers for sending this ARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own

Off the Air follows the exploits of Jolene Garcia, ace reporter for a local Phoenix news station. Broadcast news has been steadily losing viewership and efforts to woo “friends” with social media tend to the lack objectivity that Jolene feels is critical to serious journalism. An interesting murder is the showcase for Jolene’s investigative chops. But her pursuit of the elusive exclusive story puts her in danger. With a diverse cast of co-workers and sources, Jolene sets the stage for future sequels.