Prime Time (Charlotte McNally Mysteries)

by: Hank Phillippi Ryan

Published by: MIRA Books

Reviewed by Sara Porter

Charlotte McNally has made a career of investigative reporting. She has exposed corrupt government officials, become the enemy of big business/corporations, and reported on people in trouble. That is until she becomes someone in trouble.

She covers a routine assignment interviewing the widow of a man who was killed, then finds a mysterious email addressed to her linked to the dead man. Suddenly, Charlie finds herself surrounded by suspicious types, death threats, and suspects who may or may not be honest, as she fights to uncover the truth and keep her job.

There is a lot of description of television news, on how reporters find and gather stories. Ryan, a real-life investigative reporter herself, has fun giving an insider’s perspective of the world of television news. It’s interesting to watch the struggles as reporters try to step ahead of their previous stories and fear of competition from other stations as well as other reporters that they work with. This is most revealing when Charlie thinks about the imaginary “Amber from small town Idaho” who is ready to take Charlie’s place.

Charlie makes a convincing lead character and a strong protagonist. She follows each lead with determination and courage. Even though she questions herself, she is never helpless as she stares down her enemies. In one scene at a funeral, she verbally challenges a wealthy woman and a few men larger than she is.

Though Charlie is not without her flaws. She is extremely self-involved. She is preoccupied with saving her career and concerned with whether her appearance is fading. She falls in love with a witness and her suspicions almost ruin the relationship before it begins. But this makes her a believable character.

Armchair Interviews says: Good characters and storyline make for a good read.

Author’s Web site: http://www.HankPhillippiRyan.com