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The Cutaway
The Cutaway draws you into the tangled world of corruption and cover-up as a young television producer investigates the disappearance of a beautiful Georgetown lawyer in this stunning psychological thriller, perfect for fans of Paula Hawkins and Gillian Flynn.
When brilliant TV news producer Virginia Knightly receives a disturbing “MISSING” notice on her desk related to the disappearance of a beautiful young attorney, she can’t seem to shake the image from her head. Despite skepticism from her colleagues, Knightly suspects this ambitious young lawyer may be at the heart of something far more sinister, especially since she was last seen leaving an upscale restaurant after a domestic dispute. Yet, as the only woman of power at her station, Knightly quickly finds herself investigating on her own.
Risking her career, her life, and perhaps even her own sanity, Knightly dives deep into the dark underbelly of Washington, DC business and politics in an investigation that will drag her mercilessly through the inextricable webs of corruption that bind the press, the police, and politics in our nation’s capital.
Harkening to dark thrillers such as Gone Girl, Luckiest Girl Alive, and Big Little Lies, The Cutaway is a striking debut that will haunt you long after you reach the last page.
When brilliant TV news producer Virginia Knightly receives a disturbing “MISSING” notice on her desk related to the disappearance of a beautiful young attorney, she can’t seem to shake the image from her head. Despite skepticism from her colleagues, Knightly suspects this ambitious young lawyer may be at the heart of something far more sinister, especially since she was last seen leaving an upscale restaurant after a domestic dispute. Yet, as the only woman of power at her station, Knightly quickly finds herself investigating on her own.
Risking her career, her life, and perhaps even her own sanity, Knightly dives deep into the dark underbelly of Washington, DC business and politics in an investigation that will drag her mercilessly through the inextricable webs of corruption that bind the press, the police, and politics in our nation’s capital.
Harkening to dark thrillers such as Gone Girl, Luckiest Girl Alive, and Big Little Lies, The Cutaway is a striking debut that will haunt you long after you reach the last page.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 21, 2017
92 people are currently reading
3829 people want to read
About the author
Christina Kovac
10 books150 followersChristina Kovac, author of Watch Us Fall and The Cutaway, writes psychological thrillers set in Washington DC, where she worked as a television journalist at NBC News, before turning to fiction writing. She lives outside DC with her family.
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March 19, 2017
I kept questioning why I was holding off on reading this one; I've had it on my shelf since November and it kept feeling like it just wasn't the right time to read it. Now I know why; somehow my subconscious knew I needed to push pause until after we moved to Virginia! Come to find out, I'm practically neighbors with the author and I couldn't have been more pleased to read a novel set in my new surroundings of D.C. I think the timing was everything; the setting in this book was like an entirely real, additional character and completely enhanced my reading experience. It's clear from early on in the story that Kovac has in depth knowledge of the world of journalism; the flow and attention to detail made this a crucial read for my spring list.
"Be careful what your eyes take in. What you see becomes a part of you."
I honestly wasn't sure what to think of The Cutaway before going in; it had been ages since I'd read a book from a journalist's point of view which made this a unique and eye-opening experience. This had the feel of a police procedural but with fresh eyes. There weren't as many details from the law enforcement side, and while the pacing was a slow burn, it was filled with a sense of urgency and efficiency that can only come from a hectic newsroom constantly on deadline. We get a peak into not only what goes in to running such a busy joint, but much of the heart behind what makes a journalist tick. I found myself thinking how we tend to label most new reporters as "ravenous, hungry, and unscrupulous", but this gave me fresh eyes on what drives these professionals to get the latest scoop and help law enforcement in solving some really tough cases.
I rather enjoyed Virginia as our lead; she's a bit of a mystery for the first half of the book. Some readers have claimed this made her difficult to connect with until it was too late, but I didn't find this to be an issue. She's a strong, capable, independent woman who knows what she wants and gets it. I found this to be an attractive quality in the midst of all the weeping willows and damsel in distress types we typically find in suspense novels today. I can't say I was swayed by the small amount of romance either way; it was nice having a bit thrown in but it wasn't by any means a large part of the narrative. The key to the characterization here was really more in the occupations than the people themselves, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
I figured out a few pieces of the ending, but I never had it all correct and was excited when all the details were finally revealed. This was the type of story that felt like comfort food; while it wasn't flashy or riddled with outrageous twists and turns, it was highly enjoyable and one I didn't feel inclined to rush through. The satisfaction is in the fine details here, and while it wasn't a light and fluffy read, it did give me some of that same feeling of easy consumption that I crave between the really gory, gritty thrillers. I can easily see folks wanting to bring this story along on vacation or curling up by the fire with a cup of your favorite beverage; wherever you choose to read it you'll want to snag your copy as quickly as possible to have at the ready.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my copy; it was a delight to review it on the blog!
"Be careful what your eyes take in. What you see becomes a part of you."
I honestly wasn't sure what to think of The Cutaway before going in; it had been ages since I'd read a book from a journalist's point of view which made this a unique and eye-opening experience. This had the feel of a police procedural but with fresh eyes. There weren't as many details from the law enforcement side, and while the pacing was a slow burn, it was filled with a sense of urgency and efficiency that can only come from a hectic newsroom constantly on deadline. We get a peak into not only what goes in to running such a busy joint, but much of the heart behind what makes a journalist tick. I found myself thinking how we tend to label most new reporters as "ravenous, hungry, and unscrupulous", but this gave me fresh eyes on what drives these professionals to get the latest scoop and help law enforcement in solving some really tough cases.
I rather enjoyed Virginia as our lead; she's a bit of a mystery for the first half of the book. Some readers have claimed this made her difficult to connect with until it was too late, but I didn't find this to be an issue. She's a strong, capable, independent woman who knows what she wants and gets it. I found this to be an attractive quality in the midst of all the weeping willows and damsel in distress types we typically find in suspense novels today. I can't say I was swayed by the small amount of romance either way; it was nice having a bit thrown in but it wasn't by any means a large part of the narrative. The key to the characterization here was really more in the occupations than the people themselves, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
I figured out a few pieces of the ending, but I never had it all correct and was excited when all the details were finally revealed. This was the type of story that felt like comfort food; while it wasn't flashy or riddled with outrageous twists and turns, it was highly enjoyable and one I didn't feel inclined to rush through. The satisfaction is in the fine details here, and while it wasn't a light and fluffy read, it did give me some of that same feeling of easy consumption that I crave between the really gory, gritty thrillers. I can easily see folks wanting to bring this story along on vacation or curling up by the fire with a cup of your favorite beverage; wherever you choose to read it you'll want to snag your copy as quickly as possible to have at the ready.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my copy; it was a delight to review it on the blog!
September 29, 2019
My reviews can also be seen at: https://deesradreadsandreviews.wordpr...
I was very intrigued after reading the description for this book.
Virginia Knightly is a young and intelligent TV producer. She is the only woman at her news station in a position of power. When a missing persons notice comes across her desk and catches her eye, she can't shake the feeling that she knows the woman. Eventually she remembers that she saw her in a video clip. Virginia senses something from the woman's reaction to whatever is happening. She can't get the woman out of her head.
Virginia has a great memory. It's not photographic, but her mind will grab on to an image and not let go. This can be helpful in her line of work. However, the downside to this "gift" is that she can't ever get rid of the pictures either...which can be very painful at times.
"Be careful what your eyes take in. What you see becomes a part of you"
Virginia feels like she is meant to cover this story. The missing woman is a beautiful young attorney named Evelyn Carney. She was last seen leaving a restaurant where she met her husband for dinner. Apparently the dinner hadn't gone well and she left in a distressed state.
No one has seen her since.
When Virginia is summoned to a meeting with the news director. He tells her there are going to be some layoffs at the station. Virginia is not happy, but he's not done with the bad news. He tells her that for now, he is going to be overseeing content and production of the station.... which is Virginia's job. He's demoting her but tells her it's just for the time being, that HE'S going to get things back on track. She's livid but the missing woman's case helps distract her.
Virginia thinks this story will help her get her job back. But it means doing things a little differently. She starts to investigate on her own with some help from an anchorman, Ben as well as her ex-boyfriend, Michael Ledger who is the lead detective on the case.
She gets her hands on Evelyn's journal and learns how ambitious she is. She wonders if Evelyn's ambition got her involved in something she couldn't get out of. What about the people in Evelyn's life.....her angry husband? a new lover? a prominent prosecutor? a former professor? Virginia wonders who knows more than they are saying. But as she continues her investigation, things start happening that make it obvious she isn't just putting her career in jeopardy, but possibly her life.
Where is Evelyn?
Virginia is a great character. An intelligent woman who has a strength many would envy. She likes the mystery behind her stories, she's addicted to figuring out the unknown, determined to get answers. She won't take garbage from anyone but she's also very caring and honest. I liked a lot of the characters but had a hard time connecting with some of them.
I enjoyed seeing how things worked behind the scenes. The media, police, and politics quite often go hand in hand. I could see how chasing a story could become addictive. The high you get when you get that perfect shot or when you break the story. It sounds intense.
It took me a little while to get into the story. But it picked up as I kept reading. As well as working the case, Virginia's also trying to deal with some personal issues. I found her story interesting. It gave some insight into what makes her tick. The second half of the book gripped me and definitely made up for the slow start. I liked how it all came together in the end.
All in all 'The Cutaway' was an interesting read. Suspenseful with some good twists and turns. A missing woman, secrets, possible corruption, conspiracies and cover-ups. I was excited to find out what happened.
A very good debut novel. I look forward to reading more from Christina Kovac.
Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books, and Christina Kovac for providing an advanced copy of this book for me to read in exchange for my honest review.
I was very intrigued after reading the description for this book.
Virginia Knightly is a young and intelligent TV producer. She is the only woman at her news station in a position of power. When a missing persons notice comes across her desk and catches her eye, she can't shake the feeling that she knows the woman. Eventually she remembers that she saw her in a video clip. Virginia senses something from the woman's reaction to whatever is happening. She can't get the woman out of her head.
Virginia has a great memory. It's not photographic, but her mind will grab on to an image and not let go. This can be helpful in her line of work. However, the downside to this "gift" is that she can't ever get rid of the pictures either...which can be very painful at times.
"Be careful what your eyes take in. What you see becomes a part of you"
Virginia feels like she is meant to cover this story. The missing woman is a beautiful young attorney named Evelyn Carney. She was last seen leaving a restaurant where she met her husband for dinner. Apparently the dinner hadn't gone well and she left in a distressed state.
No one has seen her since.
When Virginia is summoned to a meeting with the news director. He tells her there are going to be some layoffs at the station. Virginia is not happy, but he's not done with the bad news. He tells her that for now, he is going to be overseeing content and production of the station.... which is Virginia's job. He's demoting her but tells her it's just for the time being, that HE'S going to get things back on track. She's livid but the missing woman's case helps distract her.
Virginia thinks this story will help her get her job back. But it means doing things a little differently. She starts to investigate on her own with some help from an anchorman, Ben as well as her ex-boyfriend, Michael Ledger who is the lead detective on the case.
She gets her hands on Evelyn's journal and learns how ambitious she is. She wonders if Evelyn's ambition got her involved in something she couldn't get out of. What about the people in Evelyn's life.....her angry husband? a new lover? a prominent prosecutor? a former professor? Virginia wonders who knows more than they are saying. But as she continues her investigation, things start happening that make it obvious she isn't just putting her career in jeopardy, but possibly her life.
Where is Evelyn?
Virginia is a great character. An intelligent woman who has a strength many would envy. She likes the mystery behind her stories, she's addicted to figuring out the unknown, determined to get answers. She won't take garbage from anyone but she's also very caring and honest. I liked a lot of the characters but had a hard time connecting with some of them.
I enjoyed seeing how things worked behind the scenes. The media, police, and politics quite often go hand in hand. I could see how chasing a story could become addictive. The high you get when you get that perfect shot or when you break the story. It sounds intense.
It took me a little while to get into the story. But it picked up as I kept reading. As well as working the case, Virginia's also trying to deal with some personal issues. I found her story interesting. It gave some insight into what makes her tick. The second half of the book gripped me and definitely made up for the slow start. I liked how it all came together in the end.
All in all 'The Cutaway' was an interesting read. Suspenseful with some good twists and turns. A missing woman, secrets, possible corruption, conspiracies and cover-ups. I was excited to find out what happened.
A very good debut novel. I look forward to reading more from Christina Kovac.
Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books, and Christina Kovac for providing an advanced copy of this book for me to read in exchange for my honest review.
March 31, 2017
I'm somewhere between 4 and 4.5 stars.
Two words: Awe. Some.
Seriously, I was in the mood for a good thriller and this fit the bill perfectly.
Virginia Knightly was once a talented television news reporter with tremendous potential, until the harsh realities of what she was reporting became a little too much for her to handle. She transitioned into the role of news producer and proved this was the job she was born to do—determining what is newsworthy and how best to cover it, wrangling and sweet-talking the on- and off-air talent when necessary, maneuvering through station politics, being a cross between a den mother, a drill sergeant, and a magician. And she gets results.
One day, a notice of a missing person crosses her desk. While normally notices like this sadly get passed over in a city like Washington, DC, news of a beautiful young attorney gone missing definitely catches her attention. She swears she's seen this woman before, and is determined to give her case the coverage needed to hopefully find her.
In the midst of a power play happening at her station, leaving her job and those who work for her in jeopardy, Virginia decides she needs to pursue this case. The deeper she digs, the more she realizes that she must question every fact presented to her, every piece of information given to her by friends and colleagues of the missing woman, even the evidence and leads provided by law enforcement. But more than that, Virginia discovers that the young woman was caught in the middle of a vast number of secrets and lies, and she didn't know whom to trust—a lesson Virginia is learning once again, too.
Tangling with a former flame who is now in a position of authority, and teaming up with her news anchor, a man who means more to her than simply a mouthpiece reading the words she writes, Virginia must fight—for the perfect angle, the breaking news, the truth, her job, her romantic future, and her life. Sometimes no news really is good news, you know?
I enjoyed The Cutaway tremendously. Christina Kovac, a former television journalist and producer, is really one hell of a writer, and she knows how to craft a (nearly) perfect story. There are lots of twists and turns, blurred lines between the good guys and girls and the bad ones, some great action and suspense, and lots of behind-the-scenes looks at the world of television news, especially in an era where it fights for relevancy and ratings against internet sources.
As I've remarked in reviews of thrillers and crime novels before, I suspect nearly every character, so I'm rarely surprised. And while I wasn't here, it didn't matter because the plot had me hooked. These characters were passionate, funny, talented, and totally flawed, and I wanted to smack a few of them more than once for not saying what they were thinking. But I cared about what happened to them, and hope that Kovac may have another book featuring these characters in the works, because I'd love to know what comes next.
The plot is a little overfilled—there are a few tangential storylines that distract a bit more than they advance the story. But Kovac's talent reins you back in, and I always love a good book set here in the DC area. In the end, I would have devoured this book in a little more than one sitting if there weren't obligations like work, eating, personal hygiene, etc.
Ignore the hype that this is " The Newsroom meets Gone Girl ," and pick it up because it's a great thriller. Even if it doesn't keep you guessing, it will keep you on the edge of your seat (or at least close to the edge), trying to figure out how everything will resolve itself.
See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
Two words: Awe. Some.
Seriously, I was in the mood for a good thriller and this fit the bill perfectly.
Virginia Knightly was once a talented television news reporter with tremendous potential, until the harsh realities of what she was reporting became a little too much for her to handle. She transitioned into the role of news producer and proved this was the job she was born to do—determining what is newsworthy and how best to cover it, wrangling and sweet-talking the on- and off-air talent when necessary, maneuvering through station politics, being a cross between a den mother, a drill sergeant, and a magician. And she gets results.
One day, a notice of a missing person crosses her desk. While normally notices like this sadly get passed over in a city like Washington, DC, news of a beautiful young attorney gone missing definitely catches her attention. She swears she's seen this woman before, and is determined to give her case the coverage needed to hopefully find her.
In the midst of a power play happening at her station, leaving her job and those who work for her in jeopardy, Virginia decides she needs to pursue this case. The deeper she digs, the more she realizes that she must question every fact presented to her, every piece of information given to her by friends and colleagues of the missing woman, even the evidence and leads provided by law enforcement. But more than that, Virginia discovers that the young woman was caught in the middle of a vast number of secrets and lies, and she didn't know whom to trust—a lesson Virginia is learning once again, too.
Tangling with a former flame who is now in a position of authority, and teaming up with her news anchor, a man who means more to her than simply a mouthpiece reading the words she writes, Virginia must fight—for the perfect angle, the breaking news, the truth, her job, her romantic future, and her life. Sometimes no news really is good news, you know?
I enjoyed The Cutaway tremendously. Christina Kovac, a former television journalist and producer, is really one hell of a writer, and she knows how to craft a (nearly) perfect story. There are lots of twists and turns, blurred lines between the good guys and girls and the bad ones, some great action and suspense, and lots of behind-the-scenes looks at the world of television news, especially in an era where it fights for relevancy and ratings against internet sources.
As I've remarked in reviews of thrillers and crime novels before, I suspect nearly every character, so I'm rarely surprised. And while I wasn't here, it didn't matter because the plot had me hooked. These characters were passionate, funny, talented, and totally flawed, and I wanted to smack a few of them more than once for not saying what they were thinking. But I cared about what happened to them, and hope that Kovac may have another book featuring these characters in the works, because I'd love to know what comes next.
The plot is a little overfilled—there are a few tangential storylines that distract a bit more than they advance the story. But Kovac's talent reins you back in, and I always love a good book set here in the DC area. In the end, I would have devoured this book in a little more than one sitting if there weren't obligations like work, eating, personal hygiene, etc.
Ignore the hype that this is " The Newsroom meets Gone Girl ," and pick it up because it's a great thriller. Even if it doesn't keep you guessing, it will keep you on the edge of your seat (or at least close to the edge), trying to figure out how everything will resolve itself.
See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
April 2, 2017
In Washington D.C., beautiful young attorney Evelyn Carney goes missing. She ran out of a restaurant after an argument with her husband and seemed to disappear into thin air soon after. Virginia Knightly, an executive producer at a news station, notices the city's Criminal Investigations Division latched on to the case immediately, even though there's no evidence of a crime. There has to be more to the story and she's determined to get the exclusive.
Virginia's struggling news station is desperate to get ratings up. Anxiety fills the newsroom, as the office buzzes with gossip of imminent layoffs. Nobody's job is safe and newsroom rivalries flare. If Virginia can get the exclusive in the Carney story, maybe she can do right by Evelyn and save her coworker's jobs. She becomes fixated on Evelyn's disappearance. She's certain she recognizes Evelyn from a news clip, but she can't pinpoint the exact story. Virginia races around the city attending press conferences, finding credible sources, and verifying information. Officials are tight-lipped and there's always the possibility information is only given to manipulate the reporting.
Washington D.C. makes such a fascinating setting for a mystery. The Capitol dome looms dramatically in the background. There's an underlying sense that some people are expendable to keep corrupt systems from being scrutinized. The bustling U.S. capitol city feels so small and claustrophobic. Everyone's lives are intertwined. The "tribal" nature of those who work in and with the government make it difficult for Virginia to get to the heart of a story. Through Virginia's eyes we see the rampant sexism towards female journalists, both in and out of the industry. Just the rumor of an improper relationship can sink a career. Virginia also has some uncomfortable interactions with police officers. While investigating Evelyn's case, she runs into prejudice against women who are victims of crimes. A victim's past history can keep the police from taking a case seriously.
Virginia's personal life was less compelling to me. Her entire life is built around her career. She keeps people at a distance because she's always waiting for them to deceive her. She feels guilty for something she wished as a child, even though she wasn't able to act on it. There's a subplot that deals with her family history, but it didn't feel fully integrated. She repeatedly asks herself why she is so obsessed with Evelyn's case and I kept trying to connect it to her past. I did to some extent, but it didn't totally link up for me. Her own analysis of her fixation was what I would've expected any journalist to say. I also felt like I was missing something with her relationship with the charming news anchor Ben. There's obviously some history there, but it also came across as uncharted territory.
The Cutaway is an entertaining mystery, especially for those interested in the journalistic process. Where's Evelyn? Did she get mixed up in something that she couldn't handle in her career or her personal life? Will Virginia break the story before anyone else gets the chance? The author's seventeen-year history in newsroom added so much weight to Virginia's experiences out in the field. I really enjoyed reading a woman's perspective. I'd love to read Kovac's memoir!
______________
I received this book for free from Netgalley and Atria/37 INK. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. The publication date is March 21, 2017.
Virginia's struggling news station is desperate to get ratings up. Anxiety fills the newsroom, as the office buzzes with gossip of imminent layoffs. Nobody's job is safe and newsroom rivalries flare. If Virginia can get the exclusive in the Carney story, maybe she can do right by Evelyn and save her coworker's jobs. She becomes fixated on Evelyn's disappearance. She's certain she recognizes Evelyn from a news clip, but she can't pinpoint the exact story. Virginia races around the city attending press conferences, finding credible sources, and verifying information. Officials are tight-lipped and there's always the possibility information is only given to manipulate the reporting.
“You know that inscription on the pretty white building on First Street?” He was talking about the United States Supreme Court. On its facade it was written: Equal Justice Under Law.
“I’ve read it.”
“A beautiful dream, isn’t it?” he said mournfully. “But nowhere close to reality. Know what’s worse? Nobody cares.”
Washington D.C. makes such a fascinating setting for a mystery. The Capitol dome looms dramatically in the background. There's an underlying sense that some people are expendable to keep corrupt systems from being scrutinized. The bustling U.S. capitol city feels so small and claustrophobic. Everyone's lives are intertwined. The "tribal" nature of those who work in and with the government make it difficult for Virginia to get to the heart of a story. Through Virginia's eyes we see the rampant sexism towards female journalists, both in and out of the industry. Just the rumor of an improper relationship can sink a career. Virginia also has some uncomfortable interactions with police officers. While investigating Evelyn's case, she runs into prejudice against women who are victims of crimes. A victim's past history can keep the police from taking a case seriously.
Virginia's personal life was less compelling to me. Her entire life is built around her career. She keeps people at a distance because she's always waiting for them to deceive her. She feels guilty for something she wished as a child, even though she wasn't able to act on it. There's a subplot that deals with her family history, but it didn't feel fully integrated. She repeatedly asks herself why she is so obsessed with Evelyn's case and I kept trying to connect it to her past. I did to some extent, but it didn't totally link up for me. Her own analysis of her fixation was what I would've expected any journalist to say. I also felt like I was missing something with her relationship with the charming news anchor Ben. There's obviously some history there, but it also came across as uncharted territory.
"If you’re good at what you do, no one can steal it from you, and you’ll carry your skill wherever you go. Being good at what you do is the closest thing to freedom a woman can find.”
The Cutaway is an entertaining mystery, especially for those interested in the journalistic process. Where's Evelyn? Did she get mixed up in something that she couldn't handle in her career or her personal life? Will Virginia break the story before anyone else gets the chance? The author's seventeen-year history in newsroom added so much weight to Virginia's experiences out in the field. I really enjoyed reading a woman's perspective. I'd love to read Kovac's memoir!
______________
I received this book for free from Netgalley and Atria/37 INK. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. The publication date is March 21, 2017.
May 13, 2017
This is a thoroughly entertaining and absorbing debut with a strong sense of location in Washington DC with its dark arts of political intrigue and corruption. It is set in the high pressure, stressed, and highly competitive nature of TV news and gives a detailed and insightful look at how the business is run and the professional working lives of those within the industry. Virginia Knightly is an experienced news producer, overseeing content and production, who follows up the story of a missing woman, Evelyn Carney, convinced she has seen her before on a news video.
Amidst the background of cuts, and her own demotion, Knightly seeks the return of her job whilst trying to protect her team in the cut throat climate created by Nick Mellay, the news director. She thinks she can resolve her problems by going back into the field to chase the exclusive story behind the mystery of Evelyn's disappearance. Virginia has a traumatic backstory of being abandoned by her father, being bought up in foster care and has trust issues that plague her personal life. It has taken real guts, courage and ambition for her to be where she is, and she is prepared to fight for what she has. She gets close to a colleague, Paige Riley, at Evelyn's exclusive law firm and finds the police investigation has the whiff of political manipulation about it. In the meantime, her father is dying of cancer and wants to see her whilst there are romantic developments in her personal life. In a story of twists and turns, Virginia finds herself up against political corruption, conspiracies, and a ruthless killer.
The real strength of this novel is in its depiction of the inner world of TV news, the intensity of the newsroom and the euphoria when landing that hard earned exclusive. The author clearly has personal experience of that world and utilises her knowledge well in the book. The characters of Virginia and her team feel authentic, and I hope Kovac returns to them in the future. The writing is fluent, easily enticing the reader into the gripping tale. An engaging and entertaining read. Many thanks to Serpent's Tail for an ARC.
Amidst the background of cuts, and her own demotion, Knightly seeks the return of her job whilst trying to protect her team in the cut throat climate created by Nick Mellay, the news director. She thinks she can resolve her problems by going back into the field to chase the exclusive story behind the mystery of Evelyn's disappearance. Virginia has a traumatic backstory of being abandoned by her father, being bought up in foster care and has trust issues that plague her personal life. It has taken real guts, courage and ambition for her to be where she is, and she is prepared to fight for what she has. She gets close to a colleague, Paige Riley, at Evelyn's exclusive law firm and finds the police investigation has the whiff of political manipulation about it. In the meantime, her father is dying of cancer and wants to see her whilst there are romantic developments in her personal life. In a story of twists and turns, Virginia finds herself up against political corruption, conspiracies, and a ruthless killer.
The real strength of this novel is in its depiction of the inner world of TV news, the intensity of the newsroom and the euphoria when landing that hard earned exclusive. The author clearly has personal experience of that world and utilises her knowledge well in the book. The characters of Virginia and her team feel authentic, and I hope Kovac returns to them in the future. The writing is fluent, easily enticing the reader into the gripping tale. An engaging and entertaining read. Many thanks to Serpent's Tail for an ARC.
February 14, 2017
It was refreshing to read a mystery thriller told from a different perspective, than the typical fare. There are no disgruntled urban detectives , no ex cops that have left the fold due to personal issues and no wise cracking, down on their luck, soft shoed, private investigators leading the chase, in this search for a missing Georgetown woman.
Virginia Knightly is a TV news producer when she first sees the missing notice on her desk about Evelyn Carney, a beautiful Georgetown lawyer, last seen leaving an upscale restaurant.. Virginia just can’t seem to shake the image. She is sure she has seen Evelyn somewhere before.
I’d seen her before, but not in person. She’d been in a video, although I couldn’t place the clip. It’d been brief, maybe two seconds long, three at most. Probably a cutaway shot, one of those quick flashes of video used to show a reaction, but I couldn’t be certain.
While Virginia is still in the early stages of trying to place Evelyn Carney she gets called to their new News Director’s office where she is summarily demoted and pushed aside as the new Director steps in and takes control of her shows. Still reeling, Virginia begins an in depth search for clues on the missing Georgetown lawyer with very little support from the newsroom she once controlled.
While I did enjoy this fresh perspective from a TV news producer, as she followed up leads, digging deep to get to the bottom of Evelyn’s disappearance, her search just wasn’t as thrilling as I had hoped for. I kept waiting for the seedy underbelly of Washington to make an appearance and even though the story skirted around entrenched corruption, the reader never truly gets to enter the belly of the beast. For me, the snap, crackle, pop of excitement that I was craving was evident only when Virginia entered the newsroom. It was there that I could feel that raw thrum of anticipation, as last minute preparations were made for the show to go live.
Murder, deceit and betrayal are all served up in Kovac’s debut novel Still I never really felt like I got to know the main characters in this book to any great degree, which might explain why even though the story I was reading was clearly taking Virginia ever deeper into a high stakes game, I never actually felt any tension, even when things got dicey.
The Cutaway was an easy read, and one that was quietly entertaining, even if it failed to deliver that gasping for breath, gut shot I was looking for. Still I think that Kovac possesses some decidedly good writing chops and I will definitely be checking out her future work.
3.5 stars
My thanks to Simon & Schuster, Christina Kovac and NetGalley for an opportunity to read this advance copy.
Virginia Knightly is a TV news producer when she first sees the missing notice on her desk about Evelyn Carney, a beautiful Georgetown lawyer, last seen leaving an upscale restaurant.. Virginia just can’t seem to shake the image. She is sure she has seen Evelyn somewhere before.
I’d seen her before, but not in person. She’d been in a video, although I couldn’t place the clip. It’d been brief, maybe two seconds long, three at most. Probably a cutaway shot, one of those quick flashes of video used to show a reaction, but I couldn’t be certain.
While Virginia is still in the early stages of trying to place Evelyn Carney she gets called to their new News Director’s office where she is summarily demoted and pushed aside as the new Director steps in and takes control of her shows. Still reeling, Virginia begins an in depth search for clues on the missing Georgetown lawyer with very little support from the newsroom she once controlled.
While I did enjoy this fresh perspective from a TV news producer, as she followed up leads, digging deep to get to the bottom of Evelyn’s disappearance, her search just wasn’t as thrilling as I had hoped for. I kept waiting for the seedy underbelly of Washington to make an appearance and even though the story skirted around entrenched corruption, the reader never truly gets to enter the belly of the beast. For me, the snap, crackle, pop of excitement that I was craving was evident only when Virginia entered the newsroom. It was there that I could feel that raw thrum of anticipation, as last minute preparations were made for the show to go live.
Murder, deceit and betrayal are all served up in Kovac’s debut novel Still I never really felt like I got to know the main characters in this book to any great degree, which might explain why even though the story I was reading was clearly taking Virginia ever deeper into a high stakes game, I never actually felt any tension, even when things got dicey.
The Cutaway was an easy read, and one that was quietly entertaining, even if it failed to deliver that gasping for breath, gut shot I was looking for. Still I think that Kovac possesses some decidedly good writing chops and I will definitely be checking out her future work.
3.5 stars
My thanks to Simon & Schuster, Christina Kovac and NetGalley for an opportunity to read this advance copy.
December 17, 2019
The Cutaway by Christina Kovac is a 2017 Atria publication.
A solid debut!
This is another book that has been lingering around on my TBR pile for too long. In fact, it’s been hanging around so long the blurb was still comparing books to ‘Gone Girl’. Oy!
I think the newsroom premise is what prompted me to add this book to my list. Personally, investigative journalism is more interesting to me than standard police investigations. They tend to uncover the best scandals and conspiracies!!
In this case, an up and coming young attorney named Evelyn goes missing, catching the attention of TV producer, Virginia Knightly. Hoping that by calling attention to the case, the story might morph into positive ratings, and maybe help her exorcise a few personal demons, Virginia and her team open an investigation. But things take on a much stronger sense of urgency when Evelyn is found murdered.
Meanwhile, Virginia is fighting for her job, and those of her team, when a new station manager takes over, which makes solving this case more important than ever. However, the deeper she digs, the murkier the case becomes, and it looks as if key players may be attempting to cover up pertinent information and are purposely trying to stymie her progress. It soon becomes clear that Virginia can trust no one- and she could be putting herself directly in the line of fire.
For a debut novel, this book is pretty good. At first it was a bit dry and the pacing was anemic, but then several interesting twists upped the ante, and from there the story picked up steam.
There is a dark undertone to the story, and Washington is the perfect setting for this type of thriller. The newsroom atmosphere has a realistic quality to it, and the behind the scenes dramas were a nice touch. There were a few surprise developments on that end of things as well. I never could figure out who to trust, any more than Virginia could, and I don’t think I ever would have guessed how things would eventually turn out.
Overall, the premise and location, is what really sells this story. The author did a great job with construction, but the execution is a little wobbly. Other than that, I enjoyed the story, and I think the author is off to a good start. I hope she will try her hand at writing again someday.
3.5 rounded up
A solid debut!
This is another book that has been lingering around on my TBR pile for too long. In fact, it’s been hanging around so long the blurb was still comparing books to ‘Gone Girl’. Oy!
I think the newsroom premise is what prompted me to add this book to my list. Personally, investigative journalism is more interesting to me than standard police investigations. They tend to uncover the best scandals and conspiracies!!
In this case, an up and coming young attorney named Evelyn goes missing, catching the attention of TV producer, Virginia Knightly. Hoping that by calling attention to the case, the story might morph into positive ratings, and maybe help her exorcise a few personal demons, Virginia and her team open an investigation. But things take on a much stronger sense of urgency when Evelyn is found murdered.
Meanwhile, Virginia is fighting for her job, and those of her team, when a new station manager takes over, which makes solving this case more important than ever. However, the deeper she digs, the murkier the case becomes, and it looks as if key players may be attempting to cover up pertinent information and are purposely trying to stymie her progress. It soon becomes clear that Virginia can trust no one- and she could be putting herself directly in the line of fire.
For a debut novel, this book is pretty good. At first it was a bit dry and the pacing was anemic, but then several interesting twists upped the ante, and from there the story picked up steam.
There is a dark undertone to the story, and Washington is the perfect setting for this type of thriller. The newsroom atmosphere has a realistic quality to it, and the behind the scenes dramas were a nice touch. There were a few surprise developments on that end of things as well. I never could figure out who to trust, any more than Virginia could, and I don’t think I ever would have guessed how things would eventually turn out.
Overall, the premise and location, is what really sells this story. The author did a great job with construction, but the execution is a little wobbly. Other than that, I enjoyed the story, and I think the author is off to a good start. I hope she will try her hand at writing again someday.
3.5 rounded up
March 31, 2017
Virginia Knightly is a 34 year old news producer in Washington, DC. One morning, she comes across a press release about a young attorney who is missing. Evelyn Carney was last seen eating dinner with her husband in a Georgetown restaurant. Virginia connects the image of Evelyn to video footage from one of her TV productions. Following her curiosity, Virginia starts to put together clues from Evelyn last few days.
The current atmosphere at Virginia’s TV station is tense after rumors of layoffs and falling ratings. Virginia becomes more immersed in Evelyn’s case after her producer demotes her to producing stories in the field. She is perplexed to find a lack of urgency from law enforcement investigating the case. She feels that the detectives assigned to the case seem to be more concerned with Evelyn’s personal life and her possible ties to Washington politics. Suspecting a cover- up from the police and the government, Virginia pushes herself to unravel all the loose ends.
This is a fast paced mystery interweaving politics, law enforcement and the free press. This is a debut novel from Christina Kovac who worked for seventeen years managing and producing stories in Washington, DC newsrooms.
4 copy giveaway on my blog until 4/2 https://www.facebook.com/suzyapproved...
The current atmosphere at Virginia’s TV station is tense after rumors of layoffs and falling ratings. Virginia becomes more immersed in Evelyn’s case after her producer demotes her to producing stories in the field. She is perplexed to find a lack of urgency from law enforcement investigating the case. She feels that the detectives assigned to the case seem to be more concerned with Evelyn’s personal life and her possible ties to Washington politics. Suspecting a cover- up from the police and the government, Virginia pushes herself to unravel all the loose ends.
This is a fast paced mystery interweaving politics, law enforcement and the free press. This is a debut novel from Christina Kovac who worked for seventeen years managing and producing stories in Washington, DC newsrooms.
4 copy giveaway on my blog until 4/2 https://www.facebook.com/suzyapproved...
February 12, 2017
The Cutaway is a solid if somewhat uninspired thriller, with less of the psychological slant it claims, more standard "woman gone missing" stuff. Most of the characters come off a bit flat and less than fully realized, so it was a bit hard to be drawn into their personal struggles and romantic difficulties. I did like the angle of being inside the newsroom and at the station with our producer protagonist Virginia Knightly, and how and when information and evidence was sourced and confirmed and reported. I was hoping for a bit more of the corrupt and dark underbelly of D.C. that's mentioned in the blurb: it was discussed but not ominous or threatening. And the ending was a bit of a letdown: the climactic moment arrived far earlier in the story than normal, and it made for a lukewarm resolution and tying of loose ends. But it's very readable and occasionally interesting. Nothing I'd re-read or recommend as a great new thriller, but easy and entertaining. And though faint praise is occasionally damning, I'd rate this 2.5 stars and round up to 3.
-received an ARC via netgalley in exchange for an honest review, thanks to Atria
-received an ARC via netgalley in exchange for an honest review, thanks to Atria
March 21, 2017
4.5 stars
The Cutaway is a fabulous mystery. The characters are well-crafted and intelligently developed. I really liked the Washington D.C. and television station setting. Virginia Knightly is a talented television producer who becomes involved in investigating the disappearance of a young female attorney. As the story gets stranger and stranger, Virginia finds herself pursuing the crime on her own. Kovac includes numerous clever red herrings, but the story remains believable and culminates in a highly satisfying finale. I think comparing The Cutaway to Gone Girl is a disservice to The Cutaway. This book is a creative, smart, well-written mystery that I highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Cutaway is a fabulous mystery. The characters are well-crafted and intelligently developed. I really liked the Washington D.C. and television station setting. Virginia Knightly is a talented television producer who becomes involved in investigating the disappearance of a young female attorney. As the story gets stranger and stranger, Virginia finds herself pursuing the crime on her own. Kovac includes numerous clever red herrings, but the story remains believable and culminates in a highly satisfying finale. I think comparing The Cutaway to Gone Girl is a disservice to The Cutaway. This book is a creative, smart, well-written mystery that I highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 17, 2017
Since Jan. 1, I've read 17 books - five ahead of schedule to reach my goal of 100 by the end of 2017. Of those, six have been good enough to earn a five-star rating, the highest possible on the major book ratings sites. Now comes this, the 18th, and if I could give it six stars - seven, even - I'd do it in a heartbeat. The story is so intriguing, and the characters (and interaction among them) so captivating that I went so far as recording two favorite TV shows instead of watching them live because I couldn't wait to finish it. And that's a first for me.
Admittedly, some of my enthusiasm stems from the subject matter; I spent 16 years of my full-time working life in the news business - albeit the print side - and I'm fairly familiar with broadcast journalism as well. The combination of the TV news station setting and murder sounded right up my alley - and to that end, it couldn't have been more perfect. I will not, however, deem it a "thriller" by my definition; the story moves along at a fast pace and every single page kept and held my complete attention, but only a small section actually pushed me to the edge of my seat.
The story begins as seasoned and highly capable TV news producer Virginia Knightly is notified that a young attorney from Georgetown has gone missing. That alone wouldn't be enough to cause her nose for news to twitch, but then clues begin to indicate that a closer sniff may be in order. The woman was last seen leaving an upscale restaurant - certainly not in a high-crime area - after reportedly having a row with her husband. Besides that, the police seem to be treating the case as a high profile despite the lack of evidence that it qualifies (at least not yet).
She's thwarted from the start, though, by change-ups in her newsroom; without warning, she's demoted from her top spot, and she's told her evening news anchor will be replaced, ostensibly in an attempt to boost ratings. Worse, the jobs of other colleagues she's used to working with and for whom she has the utmost respect are being threatened. If she ignores her boss's instruction and goes off on her own to dig up the story behind the missing woman, then, it's possible she'll put not only her job, but those of her good friends on the chopping block.
But investigate she does, and that puts her back in touch with old flame Michael Ledger, a detective with whom she had a fling not all that long ago. He dumped her, in fact, then got married, had a couple of kids and divorced, in that order. Back then, Virginia trusted him totally; but based on where the trail is leading now - through the sometimes shadowy halls of Washington, D.C., politics, business and law enforcement - she isn't so sure that's a good plan.
Brick walls spring up at just about every turn as Virginia and her team search for cooperative witnesses and second sources and honor "off-the-record" agreements - all hallmarks of responsible journalism - to bring the truth to the viewing public (alternative facts? Let's not even go there). Getting an inside look at that process in and of itself makes this book a winner in my book (and it didn't hurt that for some inexplicable reason I envisioned Holly Hunter every time Virginia appeared).
Bottom line? My thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Highly recommended!
Admittedly, some of my enthusiasm stems from the subject matter; I spent 16 years of my full-time working life in the news business - albeit the print side - and I'm fairly familiar with broadcast journalism as well. The combination of the TV news station setting and murder sounded right up my alley - and to that end, it couldn't have been more perfect. I will not, however, deem it a "thriller" by my definition; the story moves along at a fast pace and every single page kept and held my complete attention, but only a small section actually pushed me to the edge of my seat.
The story begins as seasoned and highly capable TV news producer Virginia Knightly is notified that a young attorney from Georgetown has gone missing. That alone wouldn't be enough to cause her nose for news to twitch, but then clues begin to indicate that a closer sniff may be in order. The woman was last seen leaving an upscale restaurant - certainly not in a high-crime area - after reportedly having a row with her husband. Besides that, the police seem to be treating the case as a high profile despite the lack of evidence that it qualifies (at least not yet).
She's thwarted from the start, though, by change-ups in her newsroom; without warning, she's demoted from her top spot, and she's told her evening news anchor will be replaced, ostensibly in an attempt to boost ratings. Worse, the jobs of other colleagues she's used to working with and for whom she has the utmost respect are being threatened. If she ignores her boss's instruction and goes off on her own to dig up the story behind the missing woman, then, it's possible she'll put not only her job, but those of her good friends on the chopping block.
But investigate she does, and that puts her back in touch with old flame Michael Ledger, a detective with whom she had a fling not all that long ago. He dumped her, in fact, then got married, had a couple of kids and divorced, in that order. Back then, Virginia trusted him totally; but based on where the trail is leading now - through the sometimes shadowy halls of Washington, D.C., politics, business and law enforcement - she isn't so sure that's a good plan.
Brick walls spring up at just about every turn as Virginia and her team search for cooperative witnesses and second sources and honor "off-the-record" agreements - all hallmarks of responsible journalism - to bring the truth to the viewing public (alternative facts? Let's not even go there). Getting an inside look at that process in and of itself makes this book a winner in my book (and it didn't hurt that for some inexplicable reason I envisioned Holly Hunter every time Virginia appeared).
Bottom line? My thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Highly recommended!
February 5, 2017
The Cutaway is an entertaining, escapist mystery/suspense novel with solid writing and an enjoyable premise. 3.5 stars.
Virginia Knightly is a television news producer who receives a flyer about a missing woman containing the photo of a beautiful DC attorney, whose face haunts her. Virginia has seen her before. On the news. And she can't help but investigate, even though it gets her nowhere at first. Yet Virginia is determined to do whatever it takes to find out everything she can about Evelyn Carney, investigate the crime and get the exclusive story; even when it puts her life in jeopardy.
The Cutaway is an entertaining, fun and fast-paced suspense novel. It kept my interest even when I guessed parts of the ending. More could have been done in the way of character development, as we didn't learn much about Virginia, who she was and what drove her, till the second half of the story (which is the reason for the 3.5 stars) but all in all it was an quick, enjoyable read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria and Christina Kovacs for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 1/29/17.
**Will be published on Amazon on 3/21/17.
Virginia Knightly is a television news producer who receives a flyer about a missing woman containing the photo of a beautiful DC attorney, whose face haunts her. Virginia has seen her before. On the news. And she can't help but investigate, even though it gets her nowhere at first. Yet Virginia is determined to do whatever it takes to find out everything she can about Evelyn Carney, investigate the crime and get the exclusive story; even when it puts her life in jeopardy.
The Cutaway is an entertaining, fun and fast-paced suspense novel. It kept my interest even when I guessed parts of the ending. More could have been done in the way of character development, as we didn't learn much about Virginia, who she was and what drove her, till the second half of the story (which is the reason for the 3.5 stars) but all in all it was an quick, enjoyable read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria and Christina Kovacs for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 1/29/17.
**Will be published on Amazon on 3/21/17.
April 11, 2017
Cameras, cameras, cameras....you never know when you may be on one or in a recorded news clip.
Virginia Knightly was the only female news person in her office…an office that seemed to be falling apart. They needed a big story, and the new boss wasn't helping hold it together.
Virginia got demoted, and then a new face appears. This new face takes the position of another of Virginia's friends on the news staff.
All this is happening while a huge news story about the murder of a high profile lawyer is taking place.
Everyone is fighting for news, and a lot of people including the police force, politicians, and even the press were not being up front and honest about everything. Meanwhile Virginia took on things she really shouldn't be doing alone.
THE CUTAWAY takes us into the world of TV news bringing out all the hard work and investigation reporters and newscasters do.
The characters are marvelous and so well developed that you can actually visualize them and consider them "real" people that you may even know.
The story line held my interest and slowly but cleverly led you to the end along with many guesses as to who had "done it" without my actually guessing correctly.
An excellent debut that slowly drew the reader into the meat of the story line, gave hints to something bigger, and kept me reading. 4/5
This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.
Virginia Knightly was the only female news person in her office…an office that seemed to be falling apart. They needed a big story, and the new boss wasn't helping hold it together.
Virginia got demoted, and then a new face appears. This new face takes the position of another of Virginia's friends on the news staff.
All this is happening while a huge news story about the murder of a high profile lawyer is taking place.
Everyone is fighting for news, and a lot of people including the police force, politicians, and even the press were not being up front and honest about everything. Meanwhile Virginia took on things she really shouldn't be doing alone.
THE CUTAWAY takes us into the world of TV news bringing out all the hard work and investigation reporters and newscasters do.
The characters are marvelous and so well developed that you can actually visualize them and consider them "real" people that you may even know.
The story line held my interest and slowly but cleverly led you to the end along with many guesses as to who had "done it" without my actually guessing correctly.
An excellent debut that slowly drew the reader into the meat of the story line, gave hints to something bigger, and kept me reading. 4/5
This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.
March 3, 2017
If The Newsroom met Gone Girl then had super intelligent kids....
Early reviews suggest The Cutaway may be about to divide opinion - so my opinion, for what it is worth, is that this is blinking brilliant. I LOVED it. I loved the main protagonist, I loved the Breaking News aspects, got all caught up in the story, didn't have a clue how the mystery element would pan out - not because it is particularly twisty in that sense but more because I was so caught up in the character dynamics and the investigative reporting side.
Christina Kovac writes with a very sharp edge, a genuinely insightful eye towards subtle characterisation and can put together one hell of a story - a bit like her main character Virginia whose sudden obsession with a missing woman puts her on the trail of all sorts of shenanigans. Meanwhile her workplace is in turmoil as a new boss starts messing with the status quo, the police investigation seems to be full of political motivation and there is Evelyn, gone in a relative puff of smoke, tying it all together as we wait to find out what has happened to her.
Look it was just bloody good. I couldn't possibly do anything but love it with my reading heart so give it a go. I will write a fuller, more useful review nearer publication.
Tense, clever, addictive and different. That is The Cutaway.
Early reviews suggest The Cutaway may be about to divide opinion - so my opinion, for what it is worth, is that this is blinking brilliant. I LOVED it. I loved the main protagonist, I loved the Breaking News aspects, got all caught up in the story, didn't have a clue how the mystery element would pan out - not because it is particularly twisty in that sense but more because I was so caught up in the character dynamics and the investigative reporting side.
Christina Kovac writes with a very sharp edge, a genuinely insightful eye towards subtle characterisation and can put together one hell of a story - a bit like her main character Virginia whose sudden obsession with a missing woman puts her on the trail of all sorts of shenanigans. Meanwhile her workplace is in turmoil as a new boss starts messing with the status quo, the police investigation seems to be full of political motivation and there is Evelyn, gone in a relative puff of smoke, tying it all together as we wait to find out what has happened to her.
Look it was just bloody good. I couldn't possibly do anything but love it with my reading heart so give it a go. I will write a fuller, more useful review nearer publication.
Tense, clever, addictive and different. That is The Cutaway.
June 15, 2017
Three stars- with a few reservations. The setting was intriguing and wooed me. Virginia Knightly, nightly News Director (ouch, did you catch that?) of the hot local show in Washington, D.C., beckoned me into her behind the scenes look at finding the "scoops" and dirt in the political landscape. Almost immediately, Virginia is drawn to the disappearance of an attorney, the lovely Evelyn, and as immediately, I found myself wanting to dig into this tale too. Evelyn easily could be Virginia herself, she thinks, lost in this city and with a difficult past concealed from prying eyes, a thirty year old woman looking for hard to come by success. Only one nasty blurred photo is turned over for the search, and so little police action. Virginia finds a segment of video - a cutaway- Evelyn looks up, startled. Where? When? Why? At whom?
I felt that the novel suffered from a plethora of underdeveloped characters and a storyline which jerked about rather unsteadily, rambled, and diluted suspense. Yet even with so many minor roles available to direct, Virginia's character abruptly alternated between a lead phlegmatic scriptwriter for (the novel?) the case and a cynical femme fatale/wounded love interest or a vulnerably insecure momentarily romantic hottie the next. Oh, oh, oh, Ben...
The conclusion had a lot of pieces to connect, and thus more roaming further afield... include a smarmy new boss, that hot romance, the old one one, yes but excuse me, the missing Evelyn (no "spoilers" here, lol), those politics because it is DC, a tad tiny bit of legalese and find the money which I really would have liked more of now that I'm fascinated in Trump's income tax reports, the "cutaway" which tantalized from the onset and all of those other minor characters... Whew! Christina Kovac did it!
So...Not stellar to my taste, stiff characters, needed the news team to give it a good editing so it felt more like a smooth three hour fictional documentary. But the author has potential because she has a new angle and that in itself intrigued me. Three stars.
I felt that the novel suffered from a plethora of underdeveloped characters and a storyline which jerked about rather unsteadily, rambled, and diluted suspense. Yet even with so many minor roles available to direct, Virginia's character abruptly alternated between a lead phlegmatic scriptwriter for (the novel?) the case and a cynical femme fatale/wounded love interest or a vulnerably insecure momentarily romantic hottie the next. Oh, oh, oh, Ben...
The conclusion had a lot of pieces to connect, and thus more roaming further afield... include a smarmy new boss, that hot romance, the old one one, yes but excuse me, the missing Evelyn (no "spoilers" here, lol), those politics because it is DC, a tad tiny bit of legalese and find the money which I really would have liked more of now that I'm fascinated in Trump's income tax reports, the "cutaway" which tantalized from the onset and all of those other minor characters... Whew! Christina Kovac did it!
So...Not stellar to my taste, stiff characters, needed the news team to give it a good editing so it felt more like a smooth three hour fictional documentary. But the author has potential because she has a new angle and that in itself intrigued me. Three stars.
February 7, 2017
Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to review The Cutway.
If you are looking for a good mystery then I would recommend The Cutway, Virginia Knightly, a nightly news producer for a Georgetown television station, intrigued by a missing person report that comes across her news desk begins looking into the disappearance. With a new news editor trying to edge her out of her job and an anchorman, whom she has mixed emotions about, Knightly finds herself getting involved in more than just a young and beautiful missing lawyer.
"O, what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive!"[1.Marmion is an epic poem by Sir Walter Scott about the Battle of Flodden (1513). Published in 1808.] I am sure that we wish our real news media were as intent on getting to the truth of the matter, as this TV producer. Despite the lack of support from her staff, a police detective, and powerful political opponents Knightly doggedly keeps searching for answers.
The plot is good, I felt the author did a good job of moving the story along. At times the characters are a little flat but, I really didn't mind so much cause I was enjoying the story.
If you are looking for a good mystery then I would recommend The Cutway, Virginia Knightly, a nightly news producer for a Georgetown television station, intrigued by a missing person report that comes across her news desk begins looking into the disappearance. With a new news editor trying to edge her out of her job and an anchorman, whom she has mixed emotions about, Knightly finds herself getting involved in more than just a young and beautiful missing lawyer.
"O, what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive!"[1.Marmion is an epic poem by Sir Walter Scott about the Battle of Flodden (1513). Published in 1808.] I am sure that we wish our real news media were as intent on getting to the truth of the matter, as this TV producer. Despite the lack of support from her staff, a police detective, and powerful political opponents Knightly doggedly keeps searching for answers.
The plot is good, I felt the author did a good job of moving the story along. At times the characters are a little flat but, I really didn't mind so much cause I was enjoying the story.
March 21, 2017
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I liked this story well enough even if I didn't love it. I think that the newsroom setting was one of the strengths of this book and it did add a rather unique quality to the story. Unfortunately, I was never completely hooked by the story. The mystery was interesting but I just never found myself truly invested in the story.
This story is told from the point of view of TV new producer, Virginia. When Virginia sees a missing poster for Evelyn, she knows that she has seen her face before. She remembers Evelyn being in another piece on the news station as a cutaway shot and she is drawn to her story. As Viriginia works to find out what happened to Evelyn, she soon realizes that the case may be much bigger than she originally thought.
This book actually had a whole lot going on. Probably too much if I am being honest. While Viriginia was working on this case, it seemed that her whole world was falling down around her. There is a big shake-up at the news station that makes everything tense. Virginia's personal life is also a major focus with past relationships, new relationships, and family making an appearance. These topics were interesting but it seemed to change the focus from the mystery so often that I had a hard time keeping track of everything and I don't think that it always added a lot to the overall story.
The overall mystery was rather complex. This book did take a lot of twists and turns that I didn't see coming but there was nothing that was truly unexpected. I thought that the mystery did make sense in the end. As the mystery really started to unfold, the excitement levels increased. I did enjoy the newsroom perspective and thought this felt rather authentic.
This is a book that I am glad that I read and I think that mystery readers will enjoy the newsroom point of view. I thought that this was a solid debut novel from Christina Kovac and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Atria Books - 37 Ink via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts
I liked this one even if I didn't love it. It was interesting to see a case solved by someone in a newsroom. This one took a few twists but there was really nothing that was completely unexpected.
I liked this story well enough even if I didn't love it. I think that the newsroom setting was one of the strengths of this book and it did add a rather unique quality to the story. Unfortunately, I was never completely hooked by the story. The mystery was interesting but I just never found myself truly invested in the story.
This story is told from the point of view of TV new producer, Virginia. When Virginia sees a missing poster for Evelyn, she knows that she has seen her face before. She remembers Evelyn being in another piece on the news station as a cutaway shot and she is drawn to her story. As Viriginia works to find out what happened to Evelyn, she soon realizes that the case may be much bigger than she originally thought.
This book actually had a whole lot going on. Probably too much if I am being honest. While Viriginia was working on this case, it seemed that her whole world was falling down around her. There is a big shake-up at the news station that makes everything tense. Virginia's personal life is also a major focus with past relationships, new relationships, and family making an appearance. These topics were interesting but it seemed to change the focus from the mystery so often that I had a hard time keeping track of everything and I don't think that it always added a lot to the overall story.
The overall mystery was rather complex. This book did take a lot of twists and turns that I didn't see coming but there was nothing that was truly unexpected. I thought that the mystery did make sense in the end. As the mystery really started to unfold, the excitement levels increased. I did enjoy the newsroom perspective and thought this felt rather authentic.
This is a book that I am glad that I read and I think that mystery readers will enjoy the newsroom point of view. I thought that this was a solid debut novel from Christina Kovac and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Atria Books - 37 Ink via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts
I liked this one even if I didn't love it. It was interesting to see a case solved by someone in a newsroom. This one took a few twists but there was really nothing that was completely unexpected.
August 25, 2017
From Wikipedia: "Cutaway: In film and video, a cutaway shot is the interruption of a continuously filmed action by inserting a view of something else. It is usually, although not always, followed by a cut back to the first shot, when the cutaway avoids a jump cut."
In this very smart and suspenseful debut, author Christina Kovac takes her readers into the cutthroat world of broadcast journalism. At 34, Virginia Knightly has worked her way up to the position of executive producer of the top-rated Evening News at a tv station in Washington DC, but receives the stunning news that her boss wants to take over her position, effectively demoting her.
Still working for the show, she decides to follow up on a story that intrigues her: the disappearance of a young lawyer named Evelyn Carney. Carney had recently met her husband for dinner at a Georgetown restaurant and tearfully announced that she wanted a separation; she left the eatery shortly thereafter and was not seen again.
Virginia remembers the woman's face from somewhere--she has a great memory for that kind of thing--and is pretty sure it was in a cutaway scene in a news video. When she sees Ian Chase, an assistant US Attorney, at the vigil held for Evelyn, she has an 'aha!' moment and sets her editor searching through the station's film library, looking for film of Ian speaking which includes that particular cutaway scene she so vividly recalls. In the shot he finds, Evelyn is seen in the audience, looking totally rapt. Was Ian her lover by any chance, the one for whom she was leaving her husband? He IS the one who phoned in the missing person report, after all.
After the young woman's dead body is found in the river, Virginia pursues her own investigation even more vigorously, working her many contacts and sources, including her former lover in the Metropolitan Police Department. She interviews Evelyn's friends and follows up a phone tip or two, but soon realizes she has been told so many lies, just who can she trust?
The mystery is very intriguing and suspenseful. At one point in the story, it felt like one of those movies where you know the young woman is making a deadly mistake by going out alone in the night and you want scream NO!! Don't go!! This effect is heightened if you've been able to figure out the whodunit by this point, as I had. Loved it!
The writing is so well done throughout the story, but I particularly enjoyed the emotional scenes when Ginny confronts her estranged father. Kovac's personal tv broadcasting experience and expertise adds gravitas and authenticity to her newsroom setting--all the politics and maneuvering that goes on behind the scenes and what it takes to investigate, film, write and produce stories for the nightly news. The professionals make it look easy but it's not!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an arc of this exciting new book. I apologize for not getting it read in a timely manner. I hope to read lots more from this new author!
In this very smart and suspenseful debut, author Christina Kovac takes her readers into the cutthroat world of broadcast journalism. At 34, Virginia Knightly has worked her way up to the position of executive producer of the top-rated Evening News at a tv station in Washington DC, but receives the stunning news that her boss wants to take over her position, effectively demoting her.
Still working for the show, she decides to follow up on a story that intrigues her: the disappearance of a young lawyer named Evelyn Carney. Carney had recently met her husband for dinner at a Georgetown restaurant and tearfully announced that she wanted a separation; she left the eatery shortly thereafter and was not seen again.
Virginia remembers the woman's face from somewhere--she has a great memory for that kind of thing--and is pretty sure it was in a cutaway scene in a news video. When she sees Ian Chase, an assistant US Attorney, at the vigil held for Evelyn, she has an 'aha!' moment and sets her editor searching through the station's film library, looking for film of Ian speaking which includes that particular cutaway scene she so vividly recalls. In the shot he finds, Evelyn is seen in the audience, looking totally rapt. Was Ian her lover by any chance, the one for whom she was leaving her husband? He IS the one who phoned in the missing person report, after all.
After the young woman's dead body is found in the river, Virginia pursues her own investigation even more vigorously, working her many contacts and sources, including her former lover in the Metropolitan Police Department. She interviews Evelyn's friends and follows up a phone tip or two, but soon realizes she has been told so many lies, just who can she trust?
The mystery is very intriguing and suspenseful. At one point in the story, it felt like one of those movies where you know the young woman is making a deadly mistake by going out alone in the night and you want scream NO!! Don't go!! This effect is heightened if you've been able to figure out the whodunit by this point, as I had. Loved it!
The writing is so well done throughout the story, but I particularly enjoyed the emotional scenes when Ginny confronts her estranged father. Kovac's personal tv broadcasting experience and expertise adds gravitas and authenticity to her newsroom setting--all the politics and maneuvering that goes on behind the scenes and what it takes to investigate, film, write and produce stories for the nightly news. The professionals make it look easy but it's not!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an arc of this exciting new book. I apologize for not getting it read in a timely manner. I hope to read lots more from this new author!
March 19, 2017
Virginia Knightly is the producer of the television news but when a new boss decides to demote her Virginia decides to go back to the basics of reporting and follow up on the disappearance of a beautiful young attorney. Virginia is sure that there is more to the story of the disappearance and even if it means putting her own life on the line she is determined to get to the bottom of the story.
The Cutaway wasn't a bad read but it also didn't grab me the way I would have liked for this type of story. I started off thinking I was really going to enjoy this one, a mystery being solved from the point of view of a reporter but unfortunately it didn't take long for the excitement to slow down in this one for me.
It often seemed like the mystery aspect to the story was put on hold over the other happenings with Virginia and her job which made this somewhat of a slow paced read to me. I often questioned why have so much going on with the job and other relationships and not just let the character focus on finding clues and solving the crime. In the end I found this one was just an OK read overall.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
The Cutaway wasn't a bad read but it also didn't grab me the way I would have liked for this type of story. I started off thinking I was really going to enjoy this one, a mystery being solved from the point of view of a reporter but unfortunately it didn't take long for the excitement to slow down in this one for me.
It often seemed like the mystery aspect to the story was put on hold over the other happenings with Virginia and her job which made this somewhat of a slow paced read to me. I often questioned why have so much going on with the job and other relationships and not just let the character focus on finding clues and solving the crime. In the end I found this one was just an OK read overall.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
December 4, 2016
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, Atria, and the author, Christina Kovacs for the ARC of "The Cutaway" in return for a fair and honest review.
It is apparent that Christina Kovac is very knowledgeable on the subject matter of this book. Her knowledge and expertise add to the credibility of this exceptionally well-written novel.
Virginia Knightley is a television news producer, who reads an article in the newspaper about a first year law associate who has disappeared after having dinner with her husband. Upon investigating the disappearance of Evelyn Carney, things just do not add up. Virginia is a determined, dependable reporter, who will stop at nothing to expose the entire truth no matter what the consequences may be.
The entire book is written from Virginia's POV making it an easy to follow story. It is a fast-paced story with twists and turns that abound. I personally find it hard to believe that this is a debut novel, that is a compliment to the very talented Christina Kovac.
I would/will absolutely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the mystery/thriller genre!!
Kudos to Christina Kovac on her amazing debut novel!! I will be anxiously awaiting more from this extraordinary writer.
It is apparent that Christina Kovac is very knowledgeable on the subject matter of this book. Her knowledge and expertise add to the credibility of this exceptionally well-written novel.
Virginia Knightley is a television news producer, who reads an article in the newspaper about a first year law associate who has disappeared after having dinner with her husband. Upon investigating the disappearance of Evelyn Carney, things just do not add up. Virginia is a determined, dependable reporter, who will stop at nothing to expose the entire truth no matter what the consequences may be.
The entire book is written from Virginia's POV making it an easy to follow story. It is a fast-paced story with twists and turns that abound. I personally find it hard to believe that this is a debut novel, that is a compliment to the very talented Christina Kovac.
I would/will absolutely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the mystery/thriller genre!!
Kudos to Christina Kovac on her amazing debut novel!! I will be anxiously awaiting more from this extraordinary writer.
June 22, 2023
Having seen this novel by Christina Kovac, I was drawn to the story and some of the plot points that were mentioned in the summary. There appears to be a lot of action and Kovac paints quite the picture as she navigates through this piece. When a young television producer takes on the case of a missing woman, Virginia Knightly soon learns that she may have bitten off more than she can chew. What begins as a missing person story soon goes down some very dark paths in DC, leaving Virginia wondering if she may have been a little too interested in what happened. By its climax, the story has twisted and turned so much the reader will not know which way is up. A great debut by Christina Kovac.
Virginia Knightly is an up and coming television producer with a lot to prove. After a young attorney goes missing in Washington, DC, Virginia takes the case on herself, hoping to help the investigation along with some well-placed news stories about the victim. What begins as some interest soon turns deadly, as Virginia is is sure that there is more to the story than simply a missing woman.
While the public seem to take an interest from the outset, those in positions of authority begin to feel Virginia may be pushing the envelope a little too far and opening too many doors on her own. They warn her to stay back, not wanting anything to happen to the television producer. However, Virginia Knightly is not one to be told where to go and things soon spiral out of control. A young attorney, a sordid affair, and a few more secrets. All of it points to someone wanting to silence the messenger, or at least neutralise someone who could ruffle many feathers. A great novel that puts Christina Kovac on the map.
While I had not heard of Christina Kovac before this novel, I was quite impressed with her efforts here. Kovac creates a strong story that readers can enjoy with ease. A solid foundation in the narrative provides strong guidance for the curious reader, enticing them as they make their way through the book. Characters emerge and help shape the narrative with quirky perspectives and deepen the story’s delivery by flavouring what is on offer. The reader will likely find themselves connecting with a few of the characters, following them along their journey. The plot twists are multiple and ongoing throughout the book, keeping the reader in the thick of things and leaving little time to breathe, as the action is non-stop. I can say that I was highly impressed with the book and the early work of Christina Kovac. I am eager to read more of her work, once it is published.
Kudos, Madam Kovac, for impressing me from the get-go.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Virginia Knightly is an up and coming television producer with a lot to prove. After a young attorney goes missing in Washington, DC, Virginia takes the case on herself, hoping to help the investigation along with some well-placed news stories about the victim. What begins as some interest soon turns deadly, as Virginia is is sure that there is more to the story than simply a missing woman.
While the public seem to take an interest from the outset, those in positions of authority begin to feel Virginia may be pushing the envelope a little too far and opening too many doors on her own. They warn her to stay back, not wanting anything to happen to the television producer. However, Virginia Knightly is not one to be told where to go and things soon spiral out of control. A young attorney, a sordid affair, and a few more secrets. All of it points to someone wanting to silence the messenger, or at least neutralise someone who could ruffle many feathers. A great novel that puts Christina Kovac on the map.
While I had not heard of Christina Kovac before this novel, I was quite impressed with her efforts here. Kovac creates a strong story that readers can enjoy with ease. A solid foundation in the narrative provides strong guidance for the curious reader, enticing them as they make their way through the book. Characters emerge and help shape the narrative with quirky perspectives and deepen the story’s delivery by flavouring what is on offer. The reader will likely find themselves connecting with a few of the characters, following them along their journey. The plot twists are multiple and ongoing throughout the book, keeping the reader in the thick of things and leaving little time to breathe, as the action is non-stop. I can say that I was highly impressed with the book and the early work of Christina Kovac. I am eager to read more of her work, once it is published.
Kudos, Madam Kovac, for impressing me from the get-go.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
May 23, 2017
Power, greed and unethical filthy dirty politics.
At first I wasn't so sure of this book, it took me a few chapters to get into it as it's told by the first person, who I don't always find easy to follow. It's like someone sitting by me telling me a story.
Nothing wrong in that, especially in this book The Cutaway.
It's lead by a strong journalist woman who knows what she wants and gets it. A very powerful influential female who would stand her ground and stand up for what she believes in.
Which she proves many times over and over in her role.
When a story of a woman going missing goes acrosss her desk, she is struck by something she remembers.
As the plot thickens and she investigates further she finds walls going up, doors being closed and excuses being made.
Something is going on, but what is it?
As with the hustle and bustle of a newsroom you get caught up with it all.
This is a superb debut novel from this new author. Writing on a theme of what she knows well.
I can't wait for her next book.
My thanks to the author.
At first I wasn't so sure of this book, it took me a few chapters to get into it as it's told by the first person, who I don't always find easy to follow. It's like someone sitting by me telling me a story.
Nothing wrong in that, especially in this book The Cutaway.
It's lead by a strong journalist woman who knows what she wants and gets it. A very powerful influential female who would stand her ground and stand up for what she believes in.
Which she proves many times over and over in her role.
When a story of a woman going missing goes acrosss her desk, she is struck by something she remembers.
As the plot thickens and she investigates further she finds walls going up, doors being closed and excuses being made.
Something is going on, but what is it?
As with the hustle and bustle of a newsroom you get caught up with it all.
This is a superb debut novel from this new author. Writing on a theme of what she knows well.
I can't wait for her next book.
My thanks to the author.
April 4, 2017
This is a solid mystery that moves fairly quickly. Evelyn Carney was last seen leaving a restaurant alone after a domestic dispute in which she tells her husband she wants a divorce, and she is now missing. It seems like an open and closed case, but of course it is not.
Told from the perspective of sassy and smart 34-year old television producer Virginia Knightly, getting to the bottom of Evelyn’s disappearance takes multiple twists and turns. Trying to identify the culprit kept me guessing, the clues sending me in different directions. But be forewarned, there is really no way of figuring it all out until near the end.
An interesting whodunit with most everything tying up at the end, though I have a niggling suspicion the door is still open for characters to reappear in a follow-up book.
Told from the perspective of sassy and smart 34-year old television producer Virginia Knightly, getting to the bottom of Evelyn’s disappearance takes multiple twists and turns. Trying to identify the culprit kept me guessing, the clues sending me in different directions. But be forewarned, there is really no way of figuring it all out until near the end.
An interesting whodunit with most everything tying up at the end, though I have a niggling suspicion the door is still open for characters to reappear in a follow-up book.
March 21, 2017
The Cutaway is a standalone mystery/suspense novel.
The narrator is 34 year old television news producer Virginia Knightly.
The book is told in 1st person POV.
The story is set in DC. A woman, Evelyn Carney, goes missing. Virginia gets involved in the case. What happened to Evelyn is the main mystery in this story.
I love that Virginia was a television news producer. I really enjoyed that aspect of the story. The author was involved in tv news. So the atmosphere felt very authentic. I really enjoyed everything about the tv anchors, the cameramen, and how Virginia chased down her story.
Before reading this book I really had no idea what a "cutaway" was.
Virginia has a photographic memory. She remembers seeing the missing woman in some video footage. She knows that she was in a cutaway shot in a news stories. The cutaway shot of Evelyn is a key point in this story. And it leads Virginia on the hunt to get the story and to find out what really happened to this woman.
The book had a very strong beginning. I was very intrigued by what was happening. The story faltered a bit for me near the middle slowing down while Virginia dealt with some family stuff that interested me less. But then the book picked up again just after the halfway point.
There is some romance. But I wish that there had been a bit more.
There were some interesting characters. Ben, the tv station's anchor-man. He was Virginia's close friend. Paige, one of the missing woman's friends and a lawyer. Michael Ledger, Virginia's ex-boyfriend who is involved in the case in an official capacity.
I really enjoyed reading about the newsroom. It was definitely different than reading about a case/mystery from the detective/police officers point of view.
I did enjoy this story a lot. However, I was not overly happy with how the author left things at the end. The book just sort of ended. The case was solved. We got some resolutions re: Virginia's career. But I wanted more. But overall this was an enjoyable read.
Thanks to Simon Schuster Canada for providing me with a copy of this book.
The narrator is 34 year old television news producer Virginia Knightly.
The book is told in 1st person POV.
The story is set in DC. A woman, Evelyn Carney, goes missing. Virginia gets involved in the case. What happened to Evelyn is the main mystery in this story.
I love that Virginia was a television news producer. I really enjoyed that aspect of the story. The author was involved in tv news. So the atmosphere felt very authentic. I really enjoyed everything about the tv anchors, the cameramen, and how Virginia chased down her story.
Before reading this book I really had no idea what a "cutaway" was.
Virginia has a photographic memory. She remembers seeing the missing woman in some video footage. She knows that she was in a cutaway shot in a news stories. The cutaway shot of Evelyn is a key point in this story. And it leads Virginia on the hunt to get the story and to find out what really happened to this woman.
The book had a very strong beginning. I was very intrigued by what was happening. The story faltered a bit for me near the middle slowing down while Virginia dealt with some family stuff that interested me less. But then the book picked up again just after the halfway point.
There is some romance. But I wish that there had been a bit more.
There were some interesting characters. Ben, the tv station's anchor-man. He was Virginia's close friend. Paige, one of the missing woman's friends and a lawyer. Michael Ledger, Virginia's ex-boyfriend who is involved in the case in an official capacity.
I really enjoyed reading about the newsroom. It was definitely different than reading about a case/mystery from the detective/police officers point of view.
I did enjoy this story a lot. However, I was not overly happy with how the author left things at the end. The book just sort of ended. The case was solved. We got some resolutions re: Virginia's career. But I wanted more. But overall this was an enjoyable read.
Thanks to Simon Schuster Canada for providing me with a copy of this book.
November 20, 2016
The narrator and main character, Virginia Knightly, is described to the reader in little blips, in the choppy way one would describe a suspect or victim. Female. Caucasian. Thirty-four years old. As the book opens, and as Virginia reads about the newspaper story on which the novel's plot pivots, she indeed makes the same observation of herself after reading a similar description of a missing woman.
And so, I found it so simple and easy to slide right into this shell named Virginia Knightly.
As a narrator, Virginia is both reliable and tenacious, and as a character she is flawed and human. Having been met with so vague a description of her (we are given other equally indefinite traits later on: brown hair, being one), we are conversely allowed a subtle but intimate window into her background and upbringing. It's not a full view, but that's good, it's only in how she relates to the present. The baggage she brings around with her.
Being able to become the narrator so easily was exactly what was called for with the plot. Her momentum is your momentum. The fast-paced clip at which the novel is set is believable and realistically suspenseful. I wasn't at the edge of my seat, yelling commands to the book, and yet it was difficult to put down—Virginia's day wasn't done, so mine wasn't. Virginia's case wasn't solved, so I needed to continue along beside her.
When I say fast-paced, I mean it. You are thrown headlong into the story and the mystery, and Virginia unflinchingly drives the plot forward. I went with her, knowing as only a reader can, who didn't commit the crimes laid forth, but I could never quite settle on who actually did do it. A cleverly written and fast- but well-paced story with a journalist/news producer at the helm. The Cutaway: A Novel has all the same tone and style as a classic, hardboiled American crime novel, but with a narrator who is not a criminal, an ex-military or ex-police anybody, a detective (small town, private, or amateur), nor a washed-up, alcoholic, chain-smoking stereotype. This felt like something else. Something with a little freshness in it.
There was no doubt in my mind that Christina Kovac wrote what she knew. Her biography on Goodreads confirms this, even if I was sure without it. This is her domain. News and producing news stories is something with which she is totally familiar, and it shows. I look forward to reading her next book.
I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book, nor the content of my review.
The MPD [Metropolitan Police Department] lingo description—thirty-year-old white female, five four, 115 pounds—could have fit any woman. It almost fit me.
And so, I found it so simple and easy to slide right into this shell named Virginia Knightly.
As a narrator, Virginia is both reliable and tenacious, and as a character she is flawed and human. Having been met with so vague a description of her (we are given other equally indefinite traits later on: brown hair, being one), we are conversely allowed a subtle but intimate window into her background and upbringing. It's not a full view, but that's good, it's only in how she relates to the present. The baggage she brings around with her.
Being able to become the narrator so easily was exactly what was called for with the plot. Her momentum is your momentum. The fast-paced clip at which the novel is set is believable and realistically suspenseful. I wasn't at the edge of my seat, yelling commands to the book, and yet it was difficult to put down—Virginia's day wasn't done, so mine wasn't. Virginia's case wasn't solved, so I needed to continue along beside her.
When I say fast-paced, I mean it. You are thrown headlong into the story and the mystery, and Virginia unflinchingly drives the plot forward. I went with her, knowing as only a reader can, who didn't commit the crimes laid forth, but I could never quite settle on who actually did do it. A cleverly written and fast- but well-paced story with a journalist/news producer at the helm. The Cutaway: A Novel has all the same tone and style as a classic, hardboiled American crime novel, but with a narrator who is not a criminal, an ex-military or ex-police anybody, a detective (small town, private, or amateur), nor a washed-up, alcoholic, chain-smoking stereotype. This felt like something else. Something with a little freshness in it.
There was no doubt in my mind that Christina Kovac wrote what she knew. Her biography on Goodreads confirms this, even if I was sure without it. This is her domain. News and producing news stories is something with which she is totally familiar, and it shows. I look forward to reading her next book.
I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book, nor the content of my review.
September 15, 2017
The Cutaway is a political, journalism themed novel where the main character, Virginia Knightly is an executive producer for a news station in Washington DC. After Virginia gets informed about a missing person's report, she immediately becomes engulfed in the story, desperate to find out what happened. Not only will this help put her station on top of her competitors, but she is invested in getting justice served. Virginia not only deals with the missing person's case as she is also dealing with office politics and the difficulty of managing her work/life balance.
I don't like giving negative reviews so I will keep personal opinions about the story to a minimum. However, can publishers please stop advertising their books as the next Gone Girl?! I immediately will base part of my review on that advertisement because they insinuate that the book will be shocking, twist driven, and suspenseful; The Cutaway was none of that. This is not to say that the book isn't a well-thought out, political thriller that many will love and think highly about. I know I'm in the minority with this one and will probably get crap for not enjoying this one. Sorry folks, I just didn't care about the dwelling on Virginia's office and peers. It just kept me from focusing on the main story. This book will engage people who are interested in public relations and journalism and/or people who love the show Scandal.
I don't like giving negative reviews so I will keep personal opinions about the story to a minimum. However, can publishers please stop advertising their books as the next Gone Girl?! I immediately will base part of my review on that advertisement because they insinuate that the book will be shocking, twist driven, and suspenseful; The Cutaway was none of that. This is not to say that the book isn't a well-thought out, political thriller that many will love and think highly about. I know I'm in the minority with this one and will probably get crap for not enjoying this one. Sorry folks, I just didn't care about the dwelling on Virginia's office and peers. It just kept me from focusing on the main story. This book will engage people who are interested in public relations and journalism and/or people who love the show Scandal.
March 10, 2017
All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com
I love reading a mystery from a new perspective, it’s so refreshing! This is all about the world of broadcast journalism and though veteran producer Virginia has covered tons of missing persons cases before, something about the disappearance of Evelyn Carney pulls her in. As she dives deeper into the story, she encounters many roadblocks and becomes entangled in the high power world of D. C. politics and police corruption.
I really like Virginia as a protagonist, she’s a strong, intelligent and empowered woman and though you don’t find out very much about who she is and what drives her until about the halfway point of the book, what is shared was enough to make me a fan. I had no idea what really goes into making a major news program but I found the behind the scenes look totally fascinating. This is a seriously cutthroat business and the atmosphere of the news room was intense. Kovac’s knowledge of journalism is heavily apparent, there was such an authenticity to the plot.
This was a slow burning mystery, not as many thrills as I was expecting, though it did have it’s moments towards the end. I think this is partly because you’re slogging along with Virginia as she does investigative work, but I found it to be pretty interesting. There’s only a handful of suspects so some may be able to figure out who the culprit is, but I didn’t have things totally nailed down myself.
I really enjoyed this unique viewpoint and approach and found myself easily caught up in this hard hitting, competitive environment. There was just a hint of romance that added to the story instead of detracting from it, along with political intrigue and corrupt cops, totally juicy. If you’ve ever wanted a peek at what really happens before the cameras roll in a newsroom, check this out. Hint; it’s not as glamorous as you think.
I love reading a mystery from a new perspective, it’s so refreshing! This is all about the world of broadcast journalism and though veteran producer Virginia has covered tons of missing persons cases before, something about the disappearance of Evelyn Carney pulls her in. As she dives deeper into the story, she encounters many roadblocks and becomes entangled in the high power world of D. C. politics and police corruption.
I really like Virginia as a protagonist, she’s a strong, intelligent and empowered woman and though you don’t find out very much about who she is and what drives her until about the halfway point of the book, what is shared was enough to make me a fan. I had no idea what really goes into making a major news program but I found the behind the scenes look totally fascinating. This is a seriously cutthroat business and the atmosphere of the news room was intense. Kovac’s knowledge of journalism is heavily apparent, there was such an authenticity to the plot.
This was a slow burning mystery, not as many thrills as I was expecting, though it did have it’s moments towards the end. I think this is partly because you’re slogging along with Virginia as she does investigative work, but I found it to be pretty interesting. There’s only a handful of suspects so some may be able to figure out who the culprit is, but I didn’t have things totally nailed down myself.
I really enjoyed this unique viewpoint and approach and found myself easily caught up in this hard hitting, competitive environment. There was just a hint of romance that added to the story instead of detracting from it, along with political intrigue and corrupt cops, totally juicy. If you’ve ever wanted a peek at what really happens before the cameras roll in a newsroom, check this out. Hint; it’s not as glamorous as you think.
March 15, 2017
I find myself struggling with police procedurals lately; I am easily distracted and find that they all fit the same mould. Enter The Cutaway, the debut by Christina Kovac. This one reads like a police procedural but with a twist, instead of following the internal investigations of the police force, we are thrown into the folds of an investigative journalist. What a breath of fresh air.
Filled with considerable twists and turns, I was pulled into the world of journalism and I loved every second. I read this novel easily in the course of a couple of sittings. It was fast paced, dynamic and easily digested.
After receiving a “MISSING” notice on her desk, Virginia Knightly finds herself hot on the trail of a murder investigation. I loved this character; she was smart, resourceful and ambitious. She was the type of character that I felt I could have been friends with. I loved when Kovac really began to develop her character within the second half of the novel. I would love to see Virginia Knightly developed into a series.
I also loved the insider scoop into the cutthroat world of broadcast journalism; I have always been fascinated by this world. I was impressed with the way Kovac was able to delve in and deliver information without it becoming too heavy or complex. Instead, we go along with Virginia for the ride as she gathers facts, looks for sources and works alongside the police and prominent members of society to find this missing woman.
I did find that the novel lagged a little in the middle, enjoyable still, just not as fast paced, as I would have enjoyed. However, this is short-lived. By the end of the novel, the pace picks up and the end delivers!
Overall, I’d have to say that this would appeal to crime fans who enjoy police procedurals but long for a new perspective, or for anyone who likes a plain, old, entertaining novel.
Filled with considerable twists and turns, I was pulled into the world of journalism and I loved every second. I read this novel easily in the course of a couple of sittings. It was fast paced, dynamic and easily digested.
After receiving a “MISSING” notice on her desk, Virginia Knightly finds herself hot on the trail of a murder investigation. I loved this character; she was smart, resourceful and ambitious. She was the type of character that I felt I could have been friends with. I loved when Kovac really began to develop her character within the second half of the novel. I would love to see Virginia Knightly developed into a series.
I also loved the insider scoop into the cutthroat world of broadcast journalism; I have always been fascinated by this world. I was impressed with the way Kovac was able to delve in and deliver information without it becoming too heavy or complex. Instead, we go along with Virginia for the ride as she gathers facts, looks for sources and works alongside the police and prominent members of society to find this missing woman.
I did find that the novel lagged a little in the middle, enjoyable still, just not as fast paced, as I would have enjoyed. However, this is short-lived. By the end of the novel, the pace picks up and the end delivers!
Overall, I’d have to say that this would appeal to crime fans who enjoy police procedurals but long for a new perspective, or for anyone who likes a plain, old, entertaining novel.
February 28, 2017
Virginia Knightly is a busy TV news producer. She's constantly juggling a million stories, cultivating her on-air talent, and appeasing whatever news director has been currently assigned to "revamp" her station and raise ratings. It's a typical day for Virginia when she sees a flyer come across her desk for a missing woman. But something in the woman's eyes in the fuzzy black and white poster haunt Virginia, and she becomes oddly attached to the case of Evelyn "Evie" Carney, a young, married lawyer who disappeared after dining with her husband (and informing him she wanted a divorce). It seems as if the DC police are more involved in Evie's case than Virginia would expect: perhaps even the Department of Justice. What happened to Evie, and is Virginia safe looking into her disappearance?
This seems to be yet another novel where I'm a bit of the minority here, but I just could not get into this one. The premise seemed intriguing (and of course, it was compared to all the popular thrillers du jour, which really doesn't do books favors these days). At times, I almost gave up on this book, which is not like me. First of all, instead of just focusing on the plot of Evie's disappearance, there is a ton (I mean a ton) of time focused on the in-fighting and arguing at the news station, which majorly detracts from the actual mystery plot. I found it juvenile and irritating. Because of this, quickly, I didn't like or care for any of the characters or their relationships whatsoever. Unfortunately, that never really changed. So much seemed to be going on in the book (including Virginia's own personal relationships: with the lead cop investigating Evie's case, her father, the main talent at the station) but so little of it related to Evelyn and her disappearance. A lot of loose ends never seemed to be tied up. I often found myself cringing at the dialogue.
It's sad, because, at times, the actual plot relating to Evelyn is good. I continually found myself wishing there was more of it. There's also a lot of telling versus showing, but I did find myself getting into the various pieces related to Evie. (It certainly makes you hope nothing bad ever happens to you, between the issues at the police department and various levels of justice.) I enjoyed that the story was set in a familiar location for me (Washington, DC). I did guess many of the main plot points, which was a little disappointing, including something you could see coming from the beginning of the story. The whole thing is so convoluted, with so many personal entanglements thrown in, that it's hard to believe at times. Virginia's obsession over Evie's disappearance is strange, and although a rather unbelievable reason will be given near the end, you spend the entire wondering why she's so fanatical. Apparently, while working in news, Kovac covered the Chandra Levy story, and you can see that in this tale at times. This is definitely a first novel, and there are glimmers of hopes for a second. Unfortunately, this one just wasn't for me.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley (thank you!) in return for an unbiased review; it is available everywhere as of 03/21/2017.
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This seems to be yet another novel where I'm a bit of the minority here, but I just could not get into this one. The premise seemed intriguing (and of course, it was compared to all the popular thrillers du jour, which really doesn't do books favors these days). At times, I almost gave up on this book, which is not like me. First of all, instead of just focusing on the plot of Evie's disappearance, there is a ton (I mean a ton) of time focused on the in-fighting and arguing at the news station, which majorly detracts from the actual mystery plot. I found it juvenile and irritating. Because of this, quickly, I didn't like or care for any of the characters or their relationships whatsoever. Unfortunately, that never really changed. So much seemed to be going on in the book (including Virginia's own personal relationships: with the lead cop investigating Evie's case, her father, the main talent at the station) but so little of it related to Evelyn and her disappearance. A lot of loose ends never seemed to be tied up. I often found myself cringing at the dialogue.
It's sad, because, at times, the actual plot relating to Evelyn is good. I continually found myself wishing there was more of it. There's also a lot of telling versus showing, but I did find myself getting into the various pieces related to Evie. (It certainly makes you hope nothing bad ever happens to you, between the issues at the police department and various levels of justice.) I enjoyed that the story was set in a familiar location for me (Washington, DC). I did guess many of the main plot points, which was a little disappointing, including something you could see coming from the beginning of the story. The whole thing is so convoluted, with so many personal entanglements thrown in, that it's hard to believe at times. Virginia's obsession over Evie's disappearance is strange, and although a rather unbelievable reason will be given near the end, you spend the entire wondering why she's so fanatical. Apparently, while working in news, Kovac covered the Chandra Levy story, and you can see that in this tale at times. This is definitely a first novel, and there are glimmers of hopes for a second. Unfortunately, this one just wasn't for me.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley (thank you!) in return for an unbiased review; it is available everywhere as of 03/21/2017.
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Google+
October 19, 2016
Really, really enjoyed this one. A definite page turner. I was disappointed by one outcome from the ending but that just shows how invested I was in the characters and their lives (my disappointment was NOT with the writing). Christina Kovac made it to my "must-read" list with any new books on the strength of this one.
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