R. G. BelskyBesprekingen

Thank you to Booktrib.com, the author and the publisher.

I decided not to finish this book. I maybe didn't give it more pages but decided it was not interesting to me. I liked the subplot of a journalist/tv reporter delving into a murder, but the rest didn't interest me. It had nothing to do with it being a series and me reading it out of order since I've read many books and it can be read as a stand alone.

Author R.G. Belsky knows the news business and his fictional protagonist, Clare Carlson, is a news director for a New York City television station. Broadcast Blues is the sixth installment in the popular and award-winning series that debuted in 2018 with Yesterday’s News. Belsky has published subsequent volumes annually, all of which can be enjoyed as stand-alone mysteries. In total, Belsky has penned twenty novels set in New York City and centered around the media world (he also writes thrillers as Dana Perry). He enjoyed a long career in news, serving as the editor of the New York Post, New York Daily News, Star Magazine, and the managing editor of news for NBCNews.com. He is a contributing writer for The Big Thrill magazine.

But Belsky is quick to point out that writing with too much authenticity and making fictional mysteries too realistic and believable “can sometimes be . . . well, boring.” His career “was never anything like Clare’s,” he relates. “Clare’s story is a lot more interesting than mine. Or any other real-life journalist who goes through the day-to-day drudgery without all the excitement in Clare’s world.”

As Broadcast Blues opens, Clare is about to celebrate her fiftieth birthday and having a bit of an existential crisis about that. She is a thrice-divorced mother of one daughter, Lucy (aka Linda), with whom she only developed a relationship when Lucy was twenty-five years old. She also has a granddaughter, Emily. She has enjoyed a lengthy, successful career in television news. She currently serves as both the news director and an on-air reporter. But the news industry is changing and the station where she works, Channel 10, is being sold. All of the employees, including Clare, are worried about their futures under new ownership. And for Clare, the newsroom is not just her place of employment. It is her “true home. My sanctuary.” She is convinced that what she really needs to prevent being a casualty of the station’s new management taking the newsroom in a new direction is a really big story. To say that she is not on good terms with Susan Endicott, the executive producer of Channel 10 news (whose own job might well be on the chopping block once the sale is finalized), is an understatement. Belsky aptly describes Susan as a “loathsome woman,” “egotistical and ambitious,” and her treatment of Clare is inexcusably despicable. But they form an uneasy alliance in the interest of mutual self-preservation. Because if Clare can demonstrate her continuing value to the station, the job she loves deeply may be secure. And Susan may still be employed, as well, so Clare figures it is in her best interests to maintain a collegial, if not friendly, relationship with her. Outwardly, at least.

Sure enough, “the news gods” plunk a big story right in Clare’s proverbial lap. Wendy Kyle, a thirty-two-year-old former police officer whose two marriages both ended in divorce, operated Heartbreak Investigations, specializing in high-profile divorce cases, primarily scandalous ones. She often testified in court about her findings. She ran ads proclaiming, “We Catch Cheats for You,” promising to secure evidence that a husband or lover was unfaithful with a technique she called The Honey Trap. Wendy was killed instantly when she got into her car, which was parked in front of her Times Square office – right in the heart of Manhattan – and it exploded. The police naturally suspect that her murder is related to one of the cases she was handling.

Clare immediately reports Wendy’s death. Fortunately, she has a source within the NYPD – her third ex-husband, Sam Markham, just happens to be a homicide sergeant and they have remained on good terms. But it’s a dead end. Curiously, Sam is not involved in the investigation. “It’s being handled by people at the top – way above my paygrade,” he tells her. But Sam did hear some scuttlebutt. Wendy kept a diary, and one page was recovered from her office in which she referenced Ronald Bannister, a billionaire whose wife may have retained Wendy. Clare’s investigation is underway.

Clare is a savvy and tenacious journalist who has developed many connections and sources over the years, along with techniques and maneuvers that are highly effective and at times border on unethical. But she knows how to push the boundaries without eradicating them. She is also self-assured, competent, and frequently sarcastic and a bit caustic. Her first-person narrative reveals her thought processes, frustrations, and machinations. It is candid, sometimes self-deprecating and, at times, hilarious. She is self-aware and not proud of the fact that all of her marriages failed. She discovers details about Wendy’s law enforcement career, including the fact that Wendy’s ouster was preceded by her filing complaints of sexual harassment and police corruption, and finds herself empathizing with Wendy, who was both a heroic officer who volunteered at and supported a women’s homeless shelter, and a hot-head who was disciplined for defying authority and engaging in a physical altercation with the man she accused of harassing her in the workplace. Clare observes that Wendy was “a paradox. A talented woman who couldn’t keep her mouth shut and walk away from trouble when she should. I suppose I identified with her a bit because I knew I had some of those same qualities, good and bad.” The more Clare learns about Wendy’s history, business, and what may have motivated her murder, the more intent Clare becomes on finding her killer, reporting on salient developments in the case as her inquiry proceeds.

Belsky surrounds Clare with a colorful and intriguing cast of supporting characters. Janet Wood is her best friend. A successful lawyer, happily married with two daughters, is “very sane and logical . . . like my exact opposite,” Clare explains. But their friendship is unconditional, and Janet offers Clare wise counsel, as well as support and honesty. Clare also respects and turns to Jack Faron, her former boss, from whom she seeks advice “about tricky situations.” She admits to Janet that she is still attracted to and thinking a lot about Scott Manning, an FBI agent with whom she had an off-and-on-again extramarital affair. Reaching out to him for information is risky because she is not currently involved with a man and rather lonely. She is tempted to rekindle her relationship with him, but he is still married, and Clare is not without a conscience. Skirting the edges of journalistic integrity, she enlists the help of enigmatic computer hacker Todd, who has appeared in previous installments.

Belsky has crafted a clever, multi-layered, and action-packed mystery, introducing additional characters and surprising revelations about their potential connections to Wendy’s murder at an unrelenting pace. As Clare moves closer to uncovering the motive for Wendy’s killing, she encounters others who are frantically attempting to destroy the evidence of those links. Wealthy, powerful, and influential characters will do whatever is required to conceal the truth in order to preserve their lifestyles and see their plans come to fruition. That includes terminating Clare’s investigation by any means necessary. Belsky deftly ramps up the dramatic tension as Clare finds herself in danger.

Broadcast Blues is suspenseful, absorbing, and entertaining. Clare is endearingly flawed and, in many respects, relatable and empathetic. She loves her career but is fully cognizant of how youth-oriented television news is. And she is facing an upcoming milestone birthday just when her future with Channel 10 hangs in the balance and Lucy is navigating a crisis of her own. Clare demonstrates a willingness to take potentially lethal chances in order to not only ensure that Wendy’s killer is held to account for the crime but ensure her own continued relevance in the process. But at Clare’s age, what does it mean to be relevant in television news? And what is the cost of relevance and an unremitting devotion to chasing news stories? Clare seeks answers to those and other important questions as she ponders the next phase of her life and assesses her priorities. Belsky provides a thoroughly satisfying conclusion that will leave readers anxious to read the next volume to see how Clare’s choices work out.

Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book.

In Broadcast Blues, the sixth book in the Clare Carlson Mystery Series, author R.G. Belsky weaves a riveting mystery tale that easily draws the reader into New York Channel 10 News Director Clare Carlson's latest investigation.

The story revolves around the car bombing murder of ex-NYPD and current controversial PI Wendy Kyle. The police consider Wendy's murder a closed case when they determined she was killed by her ex-husband, Ted Lansmore. But Clare knows that there is more to the story when she delves into Wendy's controversial NYPD career, and currently as a PI for high-profile infidelity cases.

As Clare delves into the investigation of Wendy Kyle's murder, she finds that there are more questions than answers, a growing list of suspects, dark pasts, and deeply buried secrets, so she has to dig deep into Wendy's life to put the puzzle pieces together. And if that isn't enough, Clare's investigation leads her into some pretty dangerous situations involving possible police corruption at the highest level, where people will do anything to keep the truth from being revealed. And to add to the stress of getting to the truth of the Wendy Kyle case, Clare is turning fifty, she has no man in her life, she's still bonding with her daughter, and oh yeah the TV station is being sold. Welcome to Clare's world where every day is exciting, especially when she's on the look out for the next big story!

Broadcast Blues is a captivating mystery tale that is rich in detail and vivid descriptions. It has enough intriguing and suspenseful twists and turns that leaves the reader with no other option than to keep turning the pages to find out what happens next. As a diehard fan of mystery tales, I must admit that this sixth installment in the series is my favorite. The complexity and multi-layers of Wendy's story, and Clare's investigation kept me thoroughly riveted and so engrossed, I couldn't help but try and guess the outcome as Clare puts all the pieces of the puzzle together.

With a complex and realistic cast of characters, the author does a phenomenal job of transporting the reader into this fast-paced white-knuckle storyline. The thrilling cat-n-mouse game engages the reader to follow Clare's investigation as she tries to find the truth. The jaw-dropping surprise ending will leave the reader completely speechless. It just doesn't get any better than this!

I would be remiss if I didn't mention how much I loved the author's richly vivid description of New York City. The author captured the famous landmarks and all the sights and sounds of the city that never sleeps, all the reader has to do is close their eyes and be transported to my favorite city.

Broadcast Blues is one heck of an adrenaline rush that is a must-read for the true diehard mystery junkies!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest book review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Partners In Crime Tours.

https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2024/01/broadcast-blues-by-rg-belsky-...

This is the third Clare Carlson book I've tried and it's the last. I didn't get very far before I put it down. Clare is written in very broad strokes as a super TV news anchor who runs around solving mysteries while being on the air too. She has the obligatory awful boss and some sidekicks and I can't stand her.

I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.com.

Rating: 3* of five

The Publisher Says: Wendy Kyle took secrets to her grave— now, Clare Carlson is digging them up

New York City has no shortage of crime, making for a busy schedule for TV newswoman Clare Carlson. But not all crimes are created equal, and when an explosive planted in a car detonates and kills a woman, Clare knows it' ll be a huge story for her.

But it' s not only about the story— Clare also wants justice for the victim, Wendy Kyle. Wendy had sparked controversy as an NYPD officer, ultimately getting kicked off the force after making sexual harassment allegations and getting into a physical altercation with her boss. Then, she started a private investigations business, catering to women who suspected their husbands of cheating. Undoubtedly, Wendy had angered many people with her work, so the list of her suspected murderers is seemingly endless.

Despite the daunting investigation, Clare dives in headfirst. As she digs deeper, she attracts the attention of many rich and powerful people who will stop at nothing to keep her from breaking the truth about the death of Wendy Kyle— and exposing their personal secrets that Wendy took to her grave.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.

My Review: No more; I'm tapping out. The way the victim was, yet again, involved in the negative side of a sex-linked industry...sleuthing for wives who want to catch their husbands cheating on them for an advantage during divorce proceedings...is not going to work for me.

Clare's a wildly opportunistic, abrasive person. That is fine with me, takes one to know one. What I find really hard to credit is that any corporate structure in today's world would harbor such a person in their senior ranks. Not because it's a bad way to be, but because routinely defying one's boss is not well tolerated in the C Suite.

At the end of the day I want to read about fictional sleuths who follow their own compasses believably enough that I don't have to remind myself that it's a novel too often. I really feel sad that I don't have that sensation in this series because the author is genuinely amusing, often enough laugh-out-loud funny. But the overemphasis on the negative uses of sex and the main character's apparent inability to use the sandpaper on her tongue to round off some of her spikier corners make this series just over the edge of my suspension of disbelief line.

Well, it was a darn good attempt for me. I wish it had worked better.

Real Rating: 3.25* of five

The Publisher Says: Dashed dreams: she wanted to run for president one day, now she's dead at 20

When Riley Hunt—a beautiful, smart, popular student at Easton College in Manhattan—is brutally murdered, it becomes a big story for TV newswoman Clare Carlson.

After days of intense media coverage, a suspect is caught: a troubled Afghanistan war veteran with a history of violent and unstable behavior. The suspect's mother, however, comes to Clare with new evidence that might prove her son's innocence.

As Clare digs deeper into the puzzling case, she learns new information: Riley had complained about being stalked in the days before her murder, she was romantically involved with two different men—the son of a top police official and the son of a prominent underworld boss—and she had posted her picture on an escort service's website offering paid dates with wealthy men.

Soon, Clare becomes convinced that Riley Hunt's death is more than just a simple murder case—and that more lives, including her own, are now in danger until she uncovers the true story.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.

My Review: The inappropriate use of sexuality slacks off in this entry. That was a relief. The main thing I got from the murder victim's life story, as it unfolded, was the fact that she was deeply shallow. Appearances and attention were her gods. She pursued her dream of being famous all her life; it all bit her in the butt...hard. I think the kind of uses the young woman made of her body were overplayed, but far from unrealistic. This is not uncommon in the 2020s for men or for women, to earn money from offering sexual services. We seem to be returning to the Victorian era, just being more open about it.

I'm pretty sure Clare's got oppositional defiant disorder. I agreed with her stance of refusing to obey her interfering boss's orders to make the facts of the young woman's case fit the narrative of danger and violence running rampant. The sacrificial victim chosen to take the blame is, Clare is sure, innocent; she gets busy using her investigative skills to ferret out the truth. It is, as expected, not related to the narrative she's been told to push.

There was a new guy in the mix for Clare, and for once, he wasn't a conflict of interest and super inappropriate for Clare to hook up with. I don't much like the emphasis the male author puts on his female character's sexuality, though the lack of the conflict of interest made me more willing to just...let it go.

Author Belsky is a very able, witty writer of sentences. I am less willing to engage with his sexual subject matter. Making it into a marker of crime, or into a professional quid pro quo, isn't a trope I enjoy reading too terribly much. I've got one more to read to be current on the series. Let's see how that one hits me.½

Real Rating: 3.25* of five

The Publisher Says: She was a mega-celebrity—he was a billionaire businessman—now he’s dead—she’s in jail

Laurie Bateman was living the American dream. Since her arrival as an infant in the U.S. after the fall of Saigon, the pretty Vietnamese girl had gone on to become a supermodel, a successful actress, and, finally, the wife of one of the country’s top corporate dealmakers. That dream has now turned into a nightmare when she is arrested for the murder of her wealthy husband.

New York City TV journalist Clare Carlson does an emotional jailhouse interview in which Bateman proclaims her innocence—and becomes a cause celebre for women’s rights groups around the country. At first sympathetic, then increasingly suspicious of Laurie Bateman and her story, Clare delves into a baffling mystery which has roots extending back nearly fifty years to the height of the Vietnam War.

Soon, there are more murders, more victims, and more questions as Clare struggles against dire evil forces to break the biggest story of her life. Beyond the Headlines is perfect for fans of Robert Crais and Harlan Coben.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: The witty, sarcastic, self-destructive Clare Carlson is back. This time she's looking into a dead rich guy who, frankly, just needed killin' and no matter who did it they should get a severe chastisement and a ride home from the police. That would, however, make a boring story.

As with The Last Scoop (above) Clare is in no way reluctant to spread her...charms...far and wide to get dirt and details and help that she wouldn't otherwise come across. This was more of a problem for me on this second outing because it felt reductive to me. A woman in a powerful position, coming to the aid of a woman who seems to be wrongly accused of her dirtbag husband's murder, and using sex to accomplish lots of things she shouldn't be able to do, is problematic for me. Why make her out to be good at her job, show her being possessed of professional skills, then set her out as a serial sex-hound?

So there went that quarter star.

What *did* work for me was the investigation into accused husband-killer's past that resulted from a seeming slip of the tongue on her part. The way this book took on dark and ugly stuff from the US's past was very well-handled and integrated into the crime story. I was so involved in the whys and hows of the story that I could put aside my unhappy response to the overuse of Clare's sexuality.

I'm not so sure that will last, I must say...I hope Author Belsky will dial this back before the next book. Which I will definitely read.

Rating: 3.5* of five

The Publisher Says: Martin Barlow was Clare Carlson’s first newspaper editor, a beloved mentor who inspired her career as a journalist. But, since retiring from his newspaper job, he had become a kind of pathetic figure—railing on about conspiracies, cover-ups, and other imaginary stories he was still working on. Clare had been too busy with her own career to pay much attention to him.

When Martin Barlow is killed on the street one night during an apparent mugging attempt gone bad, it seems like he was just an old man whose time had come. But Clare—initially out of a sense of guilt for ignoring her old friend and then because of her own journalistic instincts—begins looking into his last story idea. As she digs deeper and deeper into his secret files, she uncovers shocking evidence of a serial killer worse than Son of Sam, Ted Bundy, or any of the other infamous names in history. This really is the biggest story of Martin Barlow’s career—and Clare’s, too—as she uncovers the path leading to the decades-long killer of at least twenty young women.

All is not as it seems during Clare’s relentless search for this serial killer. Is she setting herself up to be his next victim?

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: Terrific first read in a series. It's book three in order, but it is my introduction to Clare and her media-centered world. Since I lived in Manhattan during the 1980s and all the 1990s, I love reading about that uniquely different world.

There are two strands to this story. Clare's early-days mentor, when she was cutting her journalistic teeth in the newspaper business (making this kind of an historical novel, since that was rendered impossible early this century), has declined in mental health of late. She thinks, in common with others, that he's lost part of his mind because he's going on about conspiracies and cover-ups at great length...so Clare's done what she can to avoid him. It's not as cruel as it sounds, her job in the TV-news world of New York City really is consuming. She just...stops making time to see Marty.

This definitely rings true...happens all the time when someone has a high-powered position.

Thus we get that high-quality evergreen inciting event: Guilt and remorse over past behavior after someone dies. The senselessness of an older man of apparently diminishing capacities dying in a violent mugging is so utterly believable that I was pretty sure it would end up being a red herring.

Not at all. Author Belsky does a darn fine job of using it to motivate Clare to look into the wild and woolly world of Marty's carryings-on about the web of evildoing he's discovered. As she gets deeper and deeper into the material Marty's been trying to interest her in, she realizes...believably slowly and frustratingly incompletely...that he wasn't ranting about nothing but fantasies loosely based on coincidences. I admit I wanted to shout at her as she continued in her doubts. That, to me, means Author Belsky's doing a fine job of making me care about and invest in the story. For this reader, the fact that we're in first-person narration by Clare helps this investment.

The deeper Clare gets into this topsy-turvy world of power and corruption making devil's bargains, though, the more I came to think that I was missing something big about her character. When she uses a quid pro quo that, while I'm sure it's been tried before, would get a news director AND an FBI agent fired right quick by their respective employers, I realized that I wasn't buying in to Clare as a professional as fully as I would need to for this to be the next-level read it started out to be. Clare's deep personal issues aren't overly emphasized, but they're rather too neatly dovetailed into the dark, evil doings of some truly horrifying people.

The stakes ratchet up steadily as Marty's research unfolds in Clare's hands. Her skills as an investigative reporter are pretty well delineated. There are, I think inevitably given the problem I have outlined above, some credulity-straining convenient hurdle-collapsing events and coincidences. It's not the main thing I took away from the story, but I was aware that this was happening.

In the end, the *astoundingly* (but believably) heightened stakes of this investigation would have resulted in dire and condign consequences that don't happen here. I was glad to forget about that lapse, as I saw it, in authorial credibility because I really, really liked the way the story ended.

So on to the next one!½

Wendy Kyle has been killed when a bomb is planted in her car. This story ends up in Clare Carlson’s lap. And it is not cut and dried as it appears. Clare just keeps digging and digging because she knows something is not right! Love a reporter’s intuition!

This is a story that is a bit complex and intricate and I enjoyed it. I loved the politics and who did what to whom! And the ending….I SO did not see that coming!

I have not read any books in this series and this one is stand alone. But, I do want to go back and pick these up. I enjoyed Clare. She has some gumption and she is not afraid to get in the deep end!

Need a good who done it…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

In the sixth Clare Carlson mystery, Clare is worrying about turning fifty, dealing with the potential sale of the television station where she works, and dealing with an irritating new boss among other problems.

In the quest for news to televise, Clare becomes interested in the death of Wendy Kyle. She's a former cop turned private investigator who specializes in getting evidence on cheating husbands. She dies when her car explodes as she was about to enter it leaving a cryptic page from her diary as the only clue to what she was working on.

Clare sees the death as the exciting news she has been looking for and decides to look into the death. Kyle was a fascinating person with at least as many enemies as supporters and a fair number of her enemies were with the police. Not to mention the many rich and cheating men that she exposed.

The mystery was filled with twists and turns as Clare tried to find out who wanted Kyle dead the most. She calls on two of her ex-lovers to help her out. Both of whom wouldn't mind rekindling their relationships with Clare despite being married men themselves.

I enjoyed this story. I like Clare for her dedication to her job of finding and reporting on important stories. I also like that Clare is angsting about turning fifty without a husband or lover in the picture. I also like her growing relationship with her daughter and granddaughter.

Book # 6 in the Clare Carlson mystery

This mystery about a TV newswoman Clare Carlson held me captive from the opening pages. What a refreshing and captivating read. It starts with a bang when an explosive device planted in a car detonates killing Wendy Kyle, a private investigator catering to women who suspected their husbands of cheating. Undoubtedly Wendy had angered many people with her work: the list of suspects is endless. Clare knows it will be a huge story for her and sets out to find the truth.

What a page-turner this turned out to be, once started I simply couldn’t put it down. The story is witty, clever and mostly engaging. We are taken on a wild cat and mouse chase through the streets of New York while a television reporter provides us with a fascinating lens into the media along with the murder case. The pacing and plotting are excellent. In fact you couldn’t ask for a more exciting drama. Clare is smart, spunky and persistent: once she gets a scoop she is like a Pitbull she will never let go till she says so. I like the tone it makes you feel part of the TV newsroom with all its craziness and back stabbing.

With its snappy dialog and exciting plot “Broadcast Blues” is one of my favourite mysteries I read this year. Have no fear if you haven’t read the previous installment this one stand solid by itself.

This ARC was provided by Oceanview Publishing via Netgalley

mystery, thriller, TV personality, news-media, series, NYC, investigative-journalist, investigations, law-enforcement, crime-thriller, suspense, secrets, lies, murder, murder-investigation, journalism, integrity, witty*****

Snappy dialog and a fast moving plot make this a great read and fully capable of standing alone (I haven't read any others in series). We closely follow professional newshound Clare Carlson as she gets into the investigation of the murder by car bomb of a high profile ex-cop/private investigator and all the intrigue that goes along with it. The details are clear, the characters lively, and the whole thing kept me on track right to the end. Great!
I requested and received an EARC from Oceanview Publishing via NetGalley.

Yesterday's News stars, Clare Carlson, a veteran news journalist who shot to fame with her media coverage of the disappearance of an eleven year old girl, Lucy Devlin. Now a television news executive, Clare is thrown back into the spotlight when Lucy's mother, Anne Devlin, receives an email with new information about her daughter's disappearance.

The biggest thing that annoyed me was that although apparently a Pulitzer winning journalist, Clare continuously made rookie mistakes. Going unprepared to interviews, not crosschecking facts, asking stupid questions - it was kind of painful at times. The investigative reporting bit was weak and she didn't really seem all that smart. Even her genius fix it moments dealing with the tv stars, were kind of reaching. For all she's supposedly 45, she acted like an immature brat at times and I had a hard time viewing her as the experienced veteran she was said to be.

That said, there was just something about the writing style that I liked. Clare might have been a bit of a moron, but she was a riveting one. Her humour, particularly in the beginning, appealed to me and her bare bones relaying of the facts hooked me in.

So for the most part I was entertained. Was it anything fantastic? No. But it was entertaining. Then the story just went downhill. The leads became flimsy and then it just got downright bizarre. I thought it was strange when she revealed she'd been sleeping with the father. And then it was like bam bam bam. Lucy's adopted. She was Lucy's biological mother? She's known this whole time and originally tracked down the father to get into the family? Anne killed all those other kids? I felt like that all came out of nowhere. And it didn't really make much sense either. She was no where near unhinged enough the rest of the book to make the leap to crazy that it did. It just didn't work. And it lost a star for it.

And the epilogue failed to redeem it. I feel like I ended up with more questions than I got answers. Like why the hell would Lucy send the email and drag all of it up if Grayson helped her? How would she even know that Clare was her biological mother? Who the hell were all the other kids? If I was okay with not knowing, I'd read true crime novels.

So it was mostly entertaining and then got disappointing. I will be reading at least the next two - for starters I've already bought them and secondly, I hope the loose ends might be tied up. As far as rating goes, it was 3 stars the majority, finishing at 2.5, rounded down to 2 stars.

One of the (seriously now) things I liked about "News" is the chapter pace. A quanta of four was easy to identify an episode. Sometimes two episodes per day. Until the last unit which after the first episode became the promised page-turner.½

I've read a couple of these Clare Carlson books before and I'm not particularly taken by them. Clare is just another famous newscaster who solves mysteries. She eats too much too fast, confronts people too much too fast, sleeps around too much too fast, and pushes everyone's buttons too much too fast. These are 1940s -ish, noir -ish, newsroom stories. Easy to read but no meat.

I received a review copy of "It's News to Me" through NetGalley.com.

In It's News To Me, the fifth book in the Clare Carlson Mystery Series, author R.G. Belsky weaves a riveting mystery tale that easily draws the reader into New York Channel 10 News Director Clare Carlson's latest investigation.

The story revolves around the brutal murder of twenty year old Easton College student Riley Hunt. Riley was from Ohio and moved to New York City to attend college. She was majoring in political science, and was considered a golden girl who was loved by everyone, and had a bright political future ahead of her. Riley was found badly beaten to death in the early morning by a jogger near the entrance to Washington Square Park, a short distance from her dorm. The police consider Riley's murder a random attack, and when Donnie Ray Bakely, a homeless Army veteran was arrested for Riley's murder, Clare takes the lead as the on-air reporter covering the sensational crime story for Channel 10 News.

As Clare delves into the investigation of Riley Hunt's murder, she finds that there are more questions than answers, a growing list of suspects, dark pasts, and deeply buried secrets, so she has to dig deep into Riley's life to put the puzzle pieces together. And if that isn't enough, Clare's investigation leads her into some pretty dangerous situations involving corrupt police and the mob, and they will do anything to keep the truth of Riley's murder from being revealed.

It's News To Me is a captivating mystery tale that is rich in detail and vivid descriptions. It has enough intriguing and suspenseful twists and turns that leaves the reader with no other option than to keep turning the pages to find out what happens next. As a diehard fan of mystery tales, I must admit that this fifth installment in the series is my favorite. The complexity and multi-layers of Riley's story, and Clare's investigation kept me thoroughly riveted and so engrossed, I couldn't help but try and guess the outcome as Clare puts all the pieces of the puzzle together.

With a complex and realistic cast of characters, the author does a phenomenal job of transporting the reader into this fast-paced white-knuckle storyline. The thrilling cat-n-mouse game engages the reader to follow Clare's investigation as she tries to find out who really murdered Riley Hunt. The jaw-dropping surprise ending will leave the reader completely speechless. It just doesn't get any better than this!

I would be remiss if I didn't mention how much I loved the author's richly vivid description of New York City. The author captured the famous landmarks and all the sights and sounds of the city that never sleeps, all the reader has to do is close their eyes and be transported to my favorite city.

It's News To Me is one heck of an adrenaline rush that is a must-read for the true diehard mystery junkies!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest book review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Partners In Crime Tours.

https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2022/10/its-news-to-me-by-rg-belsky-v...

News Director for New York City's Channel 10 has to deal with a new boss and a complex mystery in her fifth adventure.

The television station's owner has hired a new executive producer for the news division. Susan Endicott has come in to boost the station's ratings - not to make friends. She and Clare are in conflict immediately. Clare is more interested in the news than the ratings.

When an attractive blonde co-ed named Riley Hunt is murdered just feet away from her dorm at Easton College, all the elements are there for a big news story. As Clare begins to investigate, she finds lots of questions. Who is Riley Hunt? Is she the bright, bubbly, friendly person everyone says she is? What about her fiancé who's the son of the deputy police commissioner who takes over the case? What about her possible relationship with the son of a local crime boss? Why is she pictured on a website the bills itself as a dating app but is charging fees for the girls to go on "dates"? And, what about her strange relationship with her mother? Then there's the odd reactions of her roommate, a Wanna-Be actress.

Clare is deep into her investigation when a homeless Afghanistan war vet is arrested for the crime. He had her cellphone and her blood on it and some of his clothes. But he is so mentally and emotionally damaged that he doesn't remember committing the crime. Clare is skeptical that he is the killer, and when he supposedly commits suicide in jail, she's even more skeptical.

Clare keeps investigating while juggling her new boss's attempts to shake things up in the newsroom. And three-times divorced Clare meets a new man - a professor at Princeton - who is also taking up some of time.

I really enjoyed this episode in the series. Clare is a great character who is excellent at her job but who has a train-wreck of a personal life. I like that she's witty, even though her boss doesn't appreciate her sense of humor any more than Clare's suspects do.

Fans of mysteries with strong, but flawed, female characters will enjoy this story.

Beyond the Headlines by R.G. Belsky is the fourth instalment in the Clare Carlson series but reads well as a stand-alone, although I would be very interested in reading the previous three novels. Clare Carlson is a news director for a television network in New York City, when her path crosses with Laurie Bateman, whose husband has been found murdered in the couple’s luxurious home. Laurie moved to the U.S. from Saigon when she was an infant and rose to fame as a model and an actress. She was married to a wealthy business man. Because Clare investigates the murder, her research and interview of Laurie clears Laurie’s name and the search is on for who is the murderer. Then more murders and suspicious deaths begin to surface. The action moves from Vietnam fifty years ago to the present-day New York City. This is a fast-moving mystery and the reader is kept guessing, with new leads popping up everywhere. This is a novel well-worth reading and most mystery fans will enjoy it tremendously. Highly recommended. Thank you to Oceanview Publishing, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The second book in R.G. Belskey's Clare Carlson series. Clare is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist managing a TV news station, and decides to run a "below the fold" story (of lesser importance) about the killing of a homeless woman in an ATM vestibule. This is followed by the vicious beating death of a female sociopath, who is part of a financial scandal and who cut a deal with the Feds, making her a target for many. Left at the scene of the crime is a list of people, including the homeless women, the owner of the TV station, a lawyer who defends mobsters, a former Congressional philanderer, and a NYPD detective, with no apparent connection. Clare digs and digs and starts to figure out the story, but there are several unintended consequences. Belsky's knowledge of the news business shines, as Clare continues to deal with a host of personal and professional issues, as she did in the first book.

Clare Carlson won a Pulitzer prize writing about the unsolved disappearance of 11-year old New York City schoolgirl named Lucy Devlin. Many years later, Clare is now a TV news producer and is contacted by Lucy's dying mother with a lead that seems to involve a prosecutor vying to become a US Senator for New York. The book had a fairly solid pace, including several pivotal plot twists along the way, and delved into the business and ethics of news reporting.

TV station news manager Clare Carlson has been avoiding her mentor, Marty Barlow, who is on a hot story, when he is killed in a mugging. He had been investigating NYC landlords, including Marty's own son-in-law as well as an unknown serial killer, tracking back to a small midwestern town, where a popular teenager was killed. Belsky weaves a good story involving a NY mob boss, a district attorney aspiring to be major, her primary assistant, her political consultant (who has funded a library in the small town despite no obvious connection), and the local police there. Clare takes Barlow's information to the FBI agent, with whom she had a one-night stand and finagles her way into the investigation as the quid pro quo. Belsky's deep knowledge of the news breathes much realism into this mystery. Good series.

A very wealthy Charles Hollister is found dead in his apartment, and his estranged wife, Laurie Bateman, is arrested for his murder. Channel 10's Clare Carlson, was there as the police arrest Laurie, Clare had an exclusive interview scheduled to discuss Laurie's imminent divorce filing. Laurie is a famous Vietnamese model and actress, and she had planned to reveal that her supposedly idyllic marriage to Hollister, was not. All the evidence points to her guilt but Clare jumps in and investigates, forcing the police and court to consider other parties. Hollister has made many in his rise to success. Laurie's theatrics in court win her release, but Clare then stumbles on an obscure movie in which Laurie had used the exact same lines, causing Clare to think she helped a guilty party get freed. A lot of twists and turns as Clare doggedly pursues her story and justice. Not as good as the previous books.

“Beyond The Headlines” is part of the “Clare Carlson Mystery” series, but new readers will be able to understand the characters and the story immediately. Any needed background details are included as part of the narrative. Clare Carlson, forty-seven, is the news director at New York City’s Channel 10. She is a seasoned reporter with an attitude. She has professional prestige, self-confidence, and a sixth sense about news. “Carlson’s my name, exclusives are my game.” The story unfolds in her first person narrative; these are her hunches, her investigations, and her story. Carlson has a “Channel 10 Exclusive Report,” in the works -- the tragic story of Laurie Bateman, top model, successful actress wife of one of the country’s top corporate deal makers, a fairy tale life gone wrong. Bateman promises to “reveal all” about her impending divorce, but something else trumps that story – a murder. A detailed investigation is needed; Carlson cannot make a mistake in this high-stakes story. However, Laurie Bateman is an accomplished actress. Is she telling the truth or playing a part?
Belsky gives readers an inside look at a big city newsroom and the journalists who work in it -- what they are like when they are chasing a sensational story and rushing to get it on the air. The narrative transitions smoothly and easily from scene to scene and includes both the everyday activities inside the newsroom and the detailed pursuit of a story.
“Beyond The Headlines” is quick to read, and the narrative is suspenseful, dramatic, and humorous because, well, Clare Carlson is just funny. I received a review copy of “Beyond The Headlines” from R.G. Belsky, and Ocanview Publishing.

In Beyond The Headlines, the fourth book in the Clare Carlson Mystery Series, author R.G. Belsky weaves a riveting mystery tale that easily draws the reader into New York Channel 10 News Director Clare Carlson's latest investigation.

The story begins with Clare's best friend, attorney Janet Wood representing supermodel and actress Laurie Bateman in a divorce proceeding that her billionaire businessman husband Charles Hollister has begun against her. Laurie wants to go public and tell the true story about their marriage, so she wants an exclusive interview with Claire. But the day of the interview, Charles is found murdered in their apartment and Laurie is taken into custody for his murder. An exclusive divorce interview now turns into an exclusive investigation to prove Laurie is innocent of her husband's murder.

As Clare delves into the investigation of the marriage between Laurie Bateman and Charles Hollister, she finds that there are more questions than answers, a growing list of suspects, dark pasts, and deeply buried secrets, so she has to go beyond the headlines to put the puzzle pieces together. And if that isn't enough, the intertwining of Clare's personal and professional lives and her dark past continues to come to the surface.

Beyond The Headlines is a captivating mystery tale that is rich in detail and vivid descriptions. It has enough intriguing and suspenseful twists and turns that leaves the reader with no other option than to keep turning the pages to find out what happens next. As a diehard fan of mystery tales, I must admit that this fourth installment in the series is my favorite. The complexity and multi-layers of the Laurie and Charles' story, and Clare's investigation kept me thoroughly riveted and so engrossed, I couldn't help but try and guess the outcome as Clare puts all the pieces of the puzzle together.

With a complex and realistic cast of characters, the author does a phenomenal job of transporting the reader into this fast-paced white-knuckle storyline. The thrilling cat-n-mouse game engages the reader to follow Clare's investigation as she tries to find out who really murdered Charles Hollister. The jaw-dropping surprise ending will leave the reader completely speechless. It just doesn't get any better than this!

I would be remiss if I didn't mention how much I adored the author's richly vivid description of the Christmas holiday season in New York City. I love taking day trips to NYC during the holiday season, and the author captured the famous landmarks and all the sights and sounds of the season, all the reader has to do is close their eyes and be transported to that magical season in my favorite city.

Beyond The Headlines is one heck of an adrenaline rush that is a must-read for the true diehard mystery junkies!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest book review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours.

https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2021/05/beyond-headlines-by-rg-belsky...

Clare Carlson is the News Director for New York City's Channel 10 but she had a past in reporting for newspapers. She's won Pulitzers and solved some mysteries along the way. As a person, she is thrice divorced and has trail of failed relationships and exes behind her. She is definitely a workaholic which is currently getting in the way of building a relationship with her daughter and granddaughter.

She gets a chance to interview a major celebrity named Laurie Bateman who is married to billionaire Charles Hollister. But before the interview can take place, Laurie is found with the body of her husband who just happens to have been shot with her gun. He was getting ready to divorce her and rewrite his will which currently left her the majority of his estate.

Clare does get a jailhouse interview with Laurie who throws a bombshell when she accuses her dead husband of emotional and physical abuse. She immediately becomes the focus of the #metoo movement and gains all sorts of public support. Clare is sure that Laurie is innocent even though the all the evidence points to her as the murderer.

Clare immediately begins to look into who else might have a reason to murder Charles Hollister and she finds lots of suspects. He has a mistress with a jealous ex. He has a son who is a major screw-up with delusions that he is competent. He has a number of business rivals who have reasons to want him dead.

However, Clare has a chance of heart about her belief in Laurie's innocence when her plea at her hearing is cribbed from one of her early movie roles. Clare decides to look into her past. Laurie was born in Vietnam and managed to escape with her mother when things were falling apart at the end of the war. It just so happens that Charles and his business partner were also in Vietnam as the US was withdrawing.

Clare learns at lot while she is looking into Laurie's past and it gives her an excuse to put off looking into her own past. Her daughter has told her that she has inherited a breast cancer gene and urges Clare to be tested to see if the gene came from her or if it came from the man Clare had a one-night stand with while a college sophomore. If it didn't come from her, Clare feels that she will have to contact the man's family to let them know about the gene.

Clare is also between relationships in this episode though two of her exes to have small roles to play. Clare is also looking at a potential career change when a headhunting firm from LA has approached her to star in a new talk show that is in the works.

This was a very contemporary mystery with a "ripped from the headlines" feel to it. I liked the look into big city news organizations.