Off the Air by Christina Estes Book Review

About the Book:

Jolene Garcia is a local TV reporter in Phoenix, Arizona, splitting her time between covering general assignments—anything from a monsoon storm to a newborn giraffe at the zoo—and special projects. Stories that take more time to research and produce. Stories that Jolene wants to tell.

When word gets out about a death at a radio station, Jolene and other journalists swarm the scene, intent on reporting the facts first. The body is soon identified as Larry Lemmon, a controversial talk show host, who died under suspicious circumstances. Jolene conducted his final interview, giving her and her station an advantage. But not for long.

As the story heats up, so does the competition. Jolene is determined to solve this murder. It’s an investigation that could make or break her career—if it doesn't break her first.

My Review:

This novel is more of a deep dive into the world of a television reporter than it is a mystery. While there is a bit of suspense near the end, it is not a suspenseful thriller. The plot pace is slow and I have to admit I skimmed some parts as I sought engaging action. While Jolene, the amateur sleuth, does solve the mystery in the end, the narrative by far centers around getting the breaking news report that results in high viewership. Jolene is much more concerned about getting the story than she is solving a mystery. I did not find her character really engaging.

This is a good novel for readers who would like to know more about the pressure for news sources to get top ratings as well as the role of social media in that pursuit. This is a decent fiction debut effort.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Christina Estes is an award-winning reporter who has spent more than 20 years covering crime, public policy, and business in Phoenix, Arizona. Her reporting has been heard on National Public Radio (NPR) and appeared in the Arizona Republic, Arizona Business Gazette, and Phoenix Business Journal. Christina’s career inspired Off the Air, which won the Tony Hillerman Prize for Best First Mystery Set in the Southwest. Photo Credit: Lauren Gilger.

Macmillan, 320 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)