ARC Review: Off the Air by Christina Estes

Off the Air
Author: Christina Estes
Publication: Minotaur Books (March 26, 2024)

Description: Equal parts thought-provoking and entertaining, Off the Air introduces Jolene Garcia in Emmy Award–winning reporter Christina Estes's Tony Hillerman Prize–winning debut.

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 Thoughts: Jolene Garcia is a local TV reporter in Phoenix who finds herself in the middle of a police investigation when local radio personality Larry Lemmon dies in the middle of one of his ranting, chauvinistic radio broadcasts. Jolene has his last interview, but she keeps finding herself one step behind now that it is time to investigate his death. 

She's dealing with all sorts of work pressure from rival reporters from other stations to big shot journalists coming in from all over the world who also want to find new information for their viewers. And with her own bosses looking for scoops and "sexy" items and with her local contacts unwilling to offer information, Jolene has to dig deep and take risks. She isn't willing to risk getting it wrong though. Not since she was already burned by a contact which cost her a job offer at a bigger station in a bigger market.

The story is filled with the pressures on modern news reporting from the insane presence of social media and bosses who want staff to do more with less. I enjoyed the story but didn't really care for the main character whose major focus seemed to be more about a possible Emmy and showing up her rivals than on getting the story right. I did sympathize with her distressed childhood and time in foster care and her fear of dogs after a childhood encounter with a vicious one. 

I also liked Jolene's persistence in her quest to not only find the killer but get an exclusive interview with him. I also liked the look around Phoenix that was provided in the story. 

This debut was entertaining. 

Favorite Quote:

"Is it fair to say you handled business finances while Larry was the figurehead?"

"That's a charitable way of putting it. He was more like a wild turkey strutting around all the time. So full of himself."

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.