Unfortunately, I had a really hard time getting into Off the Air and it was a DNF at 22%.

The first things I noticed was it felt like there was an agenda being pushed, ever so slightly. "Right-leaning" = very bad and "Left-leaning" = smart and right and good. I felt like I knew what the authors political view and opinion was just from the comments made. When I'm reading, unless I chose a political book, I don't want to know, no matter which way your opinions lean...left or right, I don't want to know. Maybe that's my fault for not knowing it was going to be that kind of plot, but I just thought it was a normal news anchor story, not a political news anchor.

Other than that, it was kind of slow. It was hard for me to like the MC.

I wouldn't necessarily call this a mystery/thriller, but maybe a very political journalistic procedure? If you're wanting to know how the ins and outs of journalism work, you'll enjoy this book. If you're looking for a thriller, maybe not.

3.75/5⭐️

One thing I appreciate more than anything is when an author has personal experience and connects it to the story. There are such little details in here that make it so enjoyable and overall I liked the story. Pacing was great, I see a lot of people say that “oh it was slow” but when you put into context that this is HOW IT WORKS I liked it. Pretty generic at times but generic isn’t bad at all. Solid debut, nice pacing and was fun to read!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.


I regretfully DNFd this book at 10%. I really tried to keep reading it, but the FMC is seriously obnoxious. She has all these rude thoughts about others right off the bat, but claims everyone else is rude. Characters who are portrayed as being politically right of center are seen as awful characters, but the ones who are portrayed as being left of center are seen in a glowing light. I honestly just cannot read something where people are displayed in such a fashion, as if one group of people are worse than another, instead of individually creating and judging characters by their own traits.

A fast-paced insight into newscasting, Off the Air is a light read that introduces you to the behind the scenes, and sometimes cut-throat, of what it's like to be a reporter. I was pleased to find out that Christina Estes was herself a reporter and I trust that she used her lived experience to give us an accurate portrayal of what it's like to be behind the camera.

I really enjoyed this! I haven't read a book from a reporter's perspective and appreciated the real-life relatableness of Jolene. I was rooting for her (and hoping for the demise of JJ) and was pleased that the book had a storyline that was both not predictable and felt realistic. I also liked that the book gave a content advisory related to the subject matter. I haven't seen this in a book before and I think it is helpful in case there are readers sensitive to certain topics. Estes really covered a lot of challenging topics in a succinct way.

I hope you can also get to know the Channel 4 news team and I look forward to future work by Christina Estes.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for this ARC!

Larry Lemmon, a predominant and controversial TV personality, is dead. Jolene Garcia is a local TV reporter who is trying to get her big break while covering this story.

This book was an enjoyable, easy, quick read. Thank you Net Galley, Minotaur Books and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

Off the Air is a novel by Christina Estes about Jolene Garcia, a reporter in Phoenix, Arizona. Jolene is focusing on trying to be upgraded from general, mundane, everyday stories to special assignments. Jolene gets her opportunity when local controversial talk show host Larry Lemmon mysteriously dies. Jolene is determined to help solve and report the story to gain the exclusive before her competition does. She just has to do it without being the next victim.
I really enjoyed this story. The characters were likable, and the story kept my attention. There were a couple good twists and I genuinely did not know who the killer was until it was revealed. I give this book the rating of 4/5 stars.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the invitation to read and review this novel.

I enjoyed reading this book. I liked the unusual angle about the news reporting industry. The characters were great and I was surprised with the whodunnit. The only criticism I had was that the author ran on about certain things where it could have been described in shorter sentences. Overall, did like the story and would recommend reading it.

Television news reporter Jolene Garcia is covering the sudden death of TV personality Larry Lemmon and gets involved in solving the mystery of his demise.

Beling familiar with Phoenix, AZ, I thought the locale descriptions brought life to the plot. I enjoyed the inside information that Christina Estes, using her experience as an investigative reporter, brought to the story. Unfortunately, told in the first person, the narrative was not very interesting to me, and the characters seemed one dimensional.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press Minitour Books, and Net Galley for the ARC of this book. The comments expressed are my own.

This book was just outstanding. I just had so much fun reading this story. I’m really excited to see what’s next from this author.

The premise of this book was intriguing to me, but it was not an enjoyable read.

I didn't realize that this book would be about current politics - no thanks. Reading is an escape from real life, so I didn't love that.

I also felt like this book was having an identity crisis. Was it a murder mystery, Phoenix history book, or behind the scenes of a news station? I understand that the author is a news anchor herself, but I felt like this book was just for her to explain how hard her job is. Did she solve a murder I real life? Do news anchors do this?

Off the Air was very putdown-able. I can hyper fixate on a good book, but this was not it. There was a lot of details about characters that had no role in the book. Nate's wife? Nate's wife's family? It just seemed like filler.

Overall, I think it needed a little more murder drama, and a MC that was actually enjoyable. The MC was a mess, and quite frustrating at times.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Unfortunately this book wasn’t quite for me. I was really interested at first but about a quarter of the way through it started to feel a bit longer than it needed to be and that feeling never went away. I did enjoy reading about the insides and out of reporting. That was very unique for me. But I wish they was more mystery to this plot.

I found this to be a fun read, in spite of my growing dislike for the main character. The process followed the typical path of dead ends and red herrings but when the killer was unmasked, I was surprised to hear the reason for the murder.

I found the main character to be immature and inconsiderate, which I believe was deliberate. She also had a tiresome habit of lecturing about various topics along the way... the Tylenol Murders, government schools for Native American children, the history of various Arizona communities, the Casey Anthony murder case, etc. I eventually started skimming over those bits in order to get on with the actual plot. I did enjoy her habit of nicknaming her coworkers... it made it easier to keep track of the various men that served as side characters in the story.

I appreciate NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital ARC. My honest review is my own opinion.

A fun debut by real life journalist Christina Estes, who brings authenticity to this cozy mystery featuring TV news reporter Jolene Garcia, under pressure to beat out the competition in coverage of a celebrity's murder. The pace is too slow at times, and I ground my teeth every time Jolene refuses to air breakthroughs in the case whenever her police contact tells her to wait.

That said, I'd still love to see book 2 in the series because Estes is a fine writer (she won the Tony Hillerman Prize for this debut.) And how about a love interest for Jolene next time, adding more richness to her life?

Recommended for readers who adore mysteries, especially those set in the spectacular American West.

First thanks to @netgalley for the advance access. I love a good crime thriller and was excited about the investigative journalism take to this one. Sadly the book didn’t live up to my expectations. Despite lots of social media references it somehow felt dated, the conversations sounded like they were straight from a 1980’s Cagney & Lacey. I also felt it was heavy on conversation and lacking on descriptive passages to help set the foundations and give us a feel for the story.

You can’t like all books and this one wasn’t for me.

This novel is extremely political.

That’s it, that’s the review.

Just kidding, I’ll continue: I really didn’t like this one. The politics were everywhere: the right fighting with the left and vice versa. Bottom line: I read novels to relax and escape the real world for a while. Off the Air includes every controversial issue in politics and then some. Then you have to factor in the annoying main character who would rather die (literally) than lose out on an Emmy and let her rival (stereotypical newscaster) get the “scoop” before her. I’m giving this a 1.5/5. I managed to finish because I wanted to find out “who killed Larry Lemon aka fictional Rush Limbaugh.” Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur for the ARC in exchange for my review.

Jolene Garcia is a TV reporter in Phoenix. She covers just about anything from the dull and boring to ground breaking career changing stories. That’s what Jolene wants to tell. When popular talk show host is reported dead her and every other reporter flock to the scene. This story could make or break her career.. she’s determined to find the killer even if it kills her.

Off The Air just isn’t it. The synopsis given makes you think it’s going to be intense and fast paced and a race to find the killer. Instead it’s boring and a Phoenix history book. Jolene has no redeeming qualities and you don’t even WANT to root for her, you just want the book to end. Even the plot point.. who is the killer is told in some nonchalant way in the middle of a chapter. There is no excitement nor desire to keep reading. It was really just hard to get through. Estes did do a wonderful job of giving you a look into the life of a reporter and what grueling work it can be.. but that’s just not the type of book I’m looking to read. 1/5⭐️ from me. As always, thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Off the Air by Christina Estes centers around investigative tv reporter, Jolene Garcia, and her quest to solve the murder of a conservative radio talk show host.

Since the author is a journalist herself, the writing is very good. Descriptions of Phoenix, Arizona, the novel’s setting, help the story come alive. I would describe the book as a journalistic procedural. The nuts and bolts of crime reporting, with the relationships between police and other journalists take center stage.

I was drawn to the story because of the premise of a famous talk show host getting murdered and because I do like stories about journalists. However, I grew a bit bored with the jockeying for position among the competing reporters and all of the journalistic shop talk. I eventually lost interest in who done it.

Jolene is a journalist who thinks she finally caught a break. The recent death of a radio personality made her interview the last given. First she has to navigate the cut throat world of on air talent, avoid the new neighbor/love interest, and get her police sources to release information. Along the way there is laughter, chaos and lots of mystery.

The premise sounds alright, but why is a journalist so set on solving a murder? That's not their job, so the persistence around this seemed strange to me, especially as an avid reader of the Harry Bosch series and others that are from the perspective of detectives and how reporters releasing information can completely ruin an investigation. This seemed like a weird angle to take.
I found Jolene to be very insufferable most of the time. She was jealous and petty towards JJ throughout most of the book. Grow up and get over it. Maybe if she spent less time concerned her Jolene could have been a better reporter. The expectation on Jim, her police source, to give her details to be able to release for the sole reason of her having the "one up" on others and getting an exclusive for her station regardless if it would muddy the investigation was very unethical. Also her station not necessarily even caring if the information she was releasing was accurate but just so she had the first scoop. This really highlights how media doesn't care about reporting accuracies but has a major focus on breaking the story first and apparently social media views and interactions. It felt really icky, especially as it was never addressed how this doesn't seem like good practice and could be majorly harmful but actually made it seem like it was how things should be done. It also seemed like really lazy reporting on her end. Her one source didn't tell her anything so she just gives up and then gets mad when another reporter is able to find a different source? She had an air of entitlement that bugged me more and more throughout the book. Then when she treats her camera guy like crap, treats interviewees like crap, and never truly apologizes and justifies it by "They just don't understand the pressure I'm under". OMG. They are not obligated to deliver you everything on a silver platter, as if they don't have obligations and policies to adhere from in their line of work as well. Why should a police source care if a journalist is "under pressure" to get the first scoop on something?
I liked most of the other characters, Nate and Alex especially as they seemed to be rational human beings. I wouldn't classify this as a thriller as it wasn't a page turner for me and I never got very invested in the story - a lot of this had to do with Jolene's character. It was hard to frame her as a "hero" when she had such problematic behavior throughout the entire novel. Some accountability and acknowledgement would have gone such a long way, but she never had any self-awareness.
I think it could have been better if Jolene went through some growth throughout and came out a better person or reporter, but instead she is more concerned about the 700 new followers from her involvement in the Larry Lemmon case and how she's now "big time" because of her involvement in the case.

*Thank you MacMillan for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review*

"Off the Air" by Christina Estates is a captivating mystery novel that delves into the world of journalism and the pursuit of truth. Set in Phoenix, Arizona, the story follows Jolene Garcia, a dedicated local TV reporter, who finds herself in the midst of a high-stakes investigation after the suspicious death of controversial talk show host, Larry Lemmon. The narrative begins with Jolene and her fellow journalists rushing to cover the breaking news of a death at a radio station. With her determination to be the first to report the facts, Jolene soon discovers that she had conducted Larry Lemmon's final interview, giving her station a competitive edge. However, as the investigation gains momentum, so does the fierce competition among the journalists. Jolene's character is compellingly portrayed as a determined and ambitious reporter with a burning desire to solve the murder case. It becomes evident that this investigation has the potential to either elevate her career or shatter it completely. As the plot unravels, Jolene's resilience and unwavering commitment to uncovering the truth keep readers glued to the pages. Estates skillfully navigates the intricacies of the journalism world, providing readers with a fascinating glimpse into the challenges faced by reporters, as well as the cutthroat nature of the industry. The author's attention to detail and well-researched portrayal of the investigative process add authenticity to the narrative, making it all the more engrossing. The pacing of the story is expertly crafted, with a perfect balance between suspenseful moments and character development. The twists and turns keep readers guessing, as Jolene's determination to solve the murder uncovers unexpected secrets and hidden connections. Furthermore, Estates excels in building a vivid and atmospheric setting, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the hustle and bustle of the newsroom and the city of Phoenix. The vibrant descriptions of the Arizona landscape and the various locations add depth to the story, creating a rich backdrop against which the events unfold. "Off the Air" is not only a thrilling murder mystery but also a commentary on the power of the media and the lengths journalists are willing to go to in pursuit of the truth. It explores the ethical dilemmas faced by reporters and the potential consequences that arise when personal ambition clashes with integrity. Overall, "Off the Air" is an enthralling and well-crafted novel that will keep readers captivated from beginning to end. Christina Estates's ability to create relatable characters, maintain suspense, and explore relevant themes make this book a must-read for fans of the mystery genre.