This wasn't as fun as I thought it would be after reading the synopsis. Let me start with the good things before I explain why this novel wasn't for me. The mystery was interesting, and I did care enough to find out who killed Larry. I also liked how much research Estes put into some of the information in the book, as she talks about it in her acknowledgments.

That being said, there is a good chunk of very detailed information about things that seem irrelevant to the story. Larry is intended to be an opinionated, right-wing talk show host, but this novel is way more political than it is a murder mystery. I don't mind reading about politics, but I think it was overdone. You can't tell if Jolene, or anyone besides the persons of interest for that matter, actually agrees or disagrees with Larry. There are also many paragraphs, sometimes even pages, of information that have absolutely nothing to do with the plot. Most of these stem from Jolene describing a character to us, but then the character is entirely irrelevant for the rest of the story. For me, this just made the story feel drawn out.

Jolene is hard to like. She only cares about integrity and morals when it benefits her. She's a terrible friend, neighbor, and coworker. She's rude to her elderly neighbor, even when Norma is trying to help her. Jolene badgers law enforcement during an investigation, chases people at a funeral, and throws someone's child support history in their face to get information. Yet, she wonders why she never gets the scoop and excuses her behavior with "they don't understand the pressure I'm under." Sadly, there's no character development, and her actions are forgiven without a real apology, and everyone calls her the star reporter.

I also had some issues with the story, and I can't decide if they were meant to be ambiguous. Larry's death from cyanide is confirmed, but they never check the cookies or tin for fingerprints or DNA. The timeline is confusing too. It's later revealed the cyanide wasn't in the cookies, but in his coffee. However, Larry drank coffee in the morning, but he died at noon. Cyanide works within minutes, it doesn't add up. Jolene gets mysterious packages, one with a note and audio recording, and another with photos of an environmentalist littering. The reason behind sending these is never explained. It feels random. Jolene's exclusive interview with Larry is built up, but it really isn't ever relevant in the story. Lastly, Oliver doesn't contribute much to the story, and I can't figure out why he was added.

Overall, I don't think this is a bad book, it just isn't my cup of tea. This is a debut novel, so I would definitely be open to reading something else from this author in the future. Estes can write, and the premise was interesting, I just think it needed some work.

Jolene Garcia, a Phoenix news reporter, gets wind of the death of a controversial radio station talk show host, Larry Lemmon. Soon, rumors fly that his death wasn’t accidental. Jolene works quickly to figure out the murder that could make her career or endanger her life.

This novel is a who-did-it but involving a scenario that isn’t typical to what I’ve read. I’m not familiar with animosity in the news/talk show reporting realm. So, story line was different and refreshing.

I also identified with the protagonist- Jolene. The struggle and competition in the work environment are real. I get that.

This is the first mystery I've read whose protagonist is a journalist. I read this in one sitting. The characters were well-portrayed and the plot plausible. Lots of red herrings and a delight to read.

Author Christina Estes writes to show us the lengths human nature will go to for an exclusive story.

You know those ‘take your kid to work’ days? Well, I felt like Estes had taken me to work and shown me behind the scenes of life as a broadcaster in a busy newsroom. What a cutthroat business!

I was rooting for Jolene Garcia (I know, I had the earworm all day, too) to grab control of the situation and report on the story. Countless times my husband looked over as I yelled ‘No way’ or gasped at the methods Jolene used to bring a different angle to the report on the celebrity talk show host's murder. The wonderful characters in addition to the cat and mouse and oneupmanship held my attention. It was interesting how the politics and sexism played out in Jolene taking control of her story. I was unable to predict the murderer and appreciated the red herrings, the ending, and the advance trigger warnings.

For a debut novel, this one feels authentic and hopeful.

There may be a suitcase full of warnings about references to …
✔️abandonment
✔️ageism
✔️animal cruelty
✔️child neglect
✔️classism
✔️homelessness
✔️racism
✔️sexism and sexual coercion
✔️substance abuse

And it may be a work of fiction, but it still contains real references to Phonenix businesses and locations. Regardless, like Jolene, I promise you’ll get more than you bargained for with this cozy mystery centered around investigative reporting.

I was gifted this book by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

A reporter interviews a controversial radio host whose death soon thereafter could just make her career.

Working as a reporter in Phoenix AZ is not terribly glamorous for Jolene (yup, named for the Dolly Parton song) Garcia. In a business that lately values being first more than being right and where social media clicks have become increasingly important, reporters like Jolene who were taught that ethics matter are regularly scooped by counterparts who use their looks, higher visibility and/or moral “flexibility” in pursuit of a news scoop. When local Limbaugh-esque radio talk show host Larry Lemmon drops dead in his studio one day, (possibly poisoned) not long after Jolene had interviewed him, it looks like for once she has an edge on the competition. Not for long, though….she needs to keep fresh new information flowing in if she wants to keep her bosses happy, yet she is being scooped by her local nemesis JJ and even by reporters from her network’s national roster. Her best police source won’t give Jolene any good information on the record, and her frustration at seeing tidbits that she knew but held off from reporting until she could get official confirmation pop up on other news sites coupled with the continual pressure from her superiors to produce new material leads her to be a bit pushier in her approach and to dip her toes into morally ambiguous waters, alienating both her police source and some of her station colleagues. With two ex-wives, a vocal fan base, possible professional rivals and some notable adversaries to his political views, Larry has more than a few people in his life who might have wanted him dead. Can Jolene regain the lead on this story, establish herself as the reporter to beat, and figure out who killed Larry Lemon? Or will the story of a lifetime slip through her fingers?
In this, her first novel, author Christina Estes uses her more than 20 years of experience as a reporter in Arizona to portray the daily realities (good, bad and smelly) of life behind the scenes at a local tv network in the rapidly evolving landscape of news in the social media age. Jolene is a relatable character, dedicated to her job but not the flashiest in the bunch, with some baggage from her past and only a nosy neighbor and a judge-y goldfish waiting for her when she gets home from work. I enjoyed the many snippets of Phoenix that were woven into the story; the background of different neighborhoods’ origins, the quirks of a city that has so many people transplanted from other parts of the country, and more than a few local food references that made me hungry (carne asada fries? Yes, please!). While I had my suspicions as to who killed Larry, the why was a surprise for me when it was revealed. This is not a dark, gritty police procedural; it is instead a story that will appeal to readers of authors like Hank Phillippi Ryan, J. A. Jance and Linda Barnes. It is also a promising start to what could become a series, and I look forward to seeing where Jolene and her circle of friends and sources might go next. Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for allowing me access to an advanced reader’ copy of Off the Air.

Jolene Garcia, a reporter for a local TV station in Phoenix, Arizona, is assigned to cover the death of a talk radio host at a radio station. She is ambitious and eager to break the story. However, when another reporter beats her to an interview with a key person and reveals the possibility of poison being involved, Jolene becomes even more determined to be the first to report the news. As the story unfolds, Jolene's ambition leads her to behave unkindly and rudely towards her colleagues and friends, making her a dislikeable character. Despite this, the book offers an intriguing mystery, with numerous suspects and twists. The book follows the typical detective novel tropes, including the annoyed detective friend and the amateur sleuth's bone-headed moves. Overall, the story is enjoyable, but it would have been better if the protagonist were more pleasant and less jealous and unkind.

Off The Air by Christina Estes is a captivating book that provides a fast-paced and cutthroat glimpse into the world of journalism. Inspired by the author's own experience as a professional reporter, the book offers an authentic behind-the-scenes look at the intensity of reporting.The plot keeps readers guessing until the surprising ending, making it an enjoyable and quick read. The book also includes a content advisory listing various sensitive topics, though they are mentioned without excessive detail.

Overall, Off The Air provides an engaging and thrilling story set in the world of journalism. While Jolene's character flaws may make her less likeable, the book still offers a well-rounded mystery with a satisfying conclusion. Readers will appreciate the authenticity and fast pace of the narrative, as well as the behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of reporting.

Thank you the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this Advanced Reader Copy, in exchange for my honest review.

This was an interesting debut novel by Christina Estes.

The story centers on a group of reports who are trying to break the story of a local media figure. The main character is Jolene, a report who is relatable and obviously has morals.
The deceased is a questionable talk show host, and the mystery of who killed him ensues.
A colorful cast of supporting characters and competing news stations.

I enjoyed the "true-crime" aspect of the story and the look into the world of local news was certainly intriguing.

The writing was bright and flowed well.
Overall, an enjoyable book. The author has a real talent.
Rated 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

Jolene Garcia is a local news reporter in the Phoenix area. She is extremely ambitious and competitive with opposing reporters and difficult to work with, more involved with career choices than being complementary with her co-workers. When a local right-wing Radio Talk Show host dies mysteriously at his workplace she is assigned the case. The novel is written from Jolene’s viewpoint and sometimes slow moving. If this is an introduction to a series I could understand all the time spent on her frustrated ambitions, if not, perhaps tighter editing would make it more readable. Thanks to Net Galley and Minotaur Books for an ARC for an honest review.

This wasn’t the book the description said it was. That’s fine, but it’s not the book I expected. It wasn’t horrible, but I wouldn’t recommend that people go off the description on the cover.

The main character was unlikeable. I don’t really care about that, but it may bother some. This was a little too political for my taste. I keep up on the news and all that, but unless I choose to read something political, I’d rather not be bothered with it in my reading. Especially in fictional mysteries.

I personally didn’t like it. But I’ve also been having a slump in reading good fiction. That’s on me.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

"Off the Air" was billed as a mystery/thriller about a journalist solving a murder. I would argue that it is actually commentary by a journalist railing against the morally corrupt, politically charged and ever-changing landscape of the news industry in which they find themselves – oh and also, there’s a murder. The main character has very little concern for solving the mysterious death that should have been at the heart of the story. Instead, she is focused on filling news time, making her boss and higher-ups happy, whining constantly and being rude and judgey to everyone.

All that said, I was still excited to read it. A behind-the-scenes look at broadcasts and just how much goes into the 5-minute segments we see on t.v. is intriguing and if it had been executed properly, this could have been amazing! Sadly, there was no character development, the pacing was off, and there was just too much extraneous information that clearly wasn’t pertinent to the story. At times, I felt like I was reading an article with sidebars on Arizona history and culture and a heavy dose of political commentary. Not really my thing.

Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Off the Air is a debut novel that follows a local reporter as she tries to cover and solve a murder mystery.

As this book was written by a reporter, the reader gets a very detailed and inside look into newsrooms and what it takes to get a story. I am shocked at how vicious reporters can be and was kind of turned off by the behavior of our main character- not taking no for an answer, interviewing at funerals/memorial services, and pestering law enforcement. This really seems like a cutthroat industry!

I think how our main character treated others to try and get her story wasn't the best. She excused her behavior by stating "don't know the pressure I'm under " - this character definitely had a lot of stress and pressure on her but I don't know if that excuses horrible behavior.

The writing was good and I think the story flowed just fine ( I finished in a couple of days) . I don't know if the story was for me but I do feel that there are people that will absolutely love this book!

Please check content warnings before going into this read- the author does give a detail list . Some things to note was the strong political views, racism, and animal cruelty.

I would recommend this book to fans of mystery and people who like journalism/reporting stories.

I was sent this book by the publisher and was excited to read it, but I never really connected with the story. I felt like there were too many characters and elements for me to sink in well.

Welcome to the cutthroat world of reporters. Vying constantly to get the scoop and they will do anything for that.


Jolene, a local television reporter in Phoenix, does a lot of general reporting and also some harder ones. Her last interview was with a talk show host, Larry Lemmon. In other news, he has been found dead! At the radio station.


She has a slight advantage, with the interview, but that won’t last long. And there is a swarm intent on grabbing the headline.


The story was fine. The political stuff was harder to miss.

I was given to opportunity to read this from Netgally and Minotaur Books publishing. Unfortunately for me I could not finish this one. It was filled with fluff and boring. I keep waiting for the story to pick up and it’s just not. I made it about 35% through and decided to give up. I appreciate the opportunity to read books before they are published and will always leave honest feedback.

I love this cover! This was a good mystery but i wouldn't classify as a thriller. The main character of the book i really liked following her as she was trying to get ahead of reporting a homicide.

This was a well written book and there were definitely fun aspects of this book that made you want to keep reading. While reading i would stop and try to solve it as well.

I enjoyed most of the characters, loved the writing and will read more from the author.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

4/5 stars! I enjoyed this book and thought that it was a quick read. This book is about a TV reporter Jolene who finds out about a death at the local radio station where the person died under suspicious circumstances. Coincidently the person who gave Jolene there last interview before their untimely demise. Jolene is invested in the story and wants to solve the mystery of the murder. This book is released March 26,2024. Thank you to St. Marrin’s Press, Christina Estes and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

This book is different than my usual thriller read, but a good mystery! Throughout the book you follow the main character as she tries to get ahead reporting on a homicide. The book is written with lots of detail and what I would call fun facts scattered into the book. I feel like this book would also really appeal to people who live in Arizona because I feel like they would enjoy the local things mentioned. I liked the main character being a strong female reporter going after her goals! On the flip side I thought the character who was killed was not at all a likable character or good person and for that reason I was a little less concerned with who killed him, but overall I still wanted to solve the mystery. I am going to be on the lookout for this author’s books in the future.

I can’t believe this is a debut! It was a very exciting thriller written in the form of investigative journalism. The mystery of a murder kept me hooked but I really enjoyed the behind the scenes reporting aspects that go into writing the news.

This one fell flat for me. Despite plot points in the book it didn’t really feel like much actually happened beyond our main character constantly hitting dead ends. I liked the idea of solving a crime from the reporters perspective but it wasn’t executed in a way that made it enjoyable to read and take the journey with our main character.

This is a fine little debut, if a bit clunky. Not gonna lie, it’s a little hard to care too much who the killer is when the “victim” is a lying jerk of a Rush Limbaugh wannabe.

I definitely felt Jolene’s frustration as she tried to respect her source and do things “the right way” while still getting the story, along with the extra social media pressures of the newsroom. However, I wish she had focused more on why her rival was a bad reporter and less on her beauty and fashion choices. I also wish we had gotten more closure with the creepy neighbor. That whole story line felt more extraneous to me than the other historical tidbits that were sprinkled in.

Altogether, an easy, fine read. Would try at least one more in the series to see if things are a bit more polished in the future.