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Clare Carlson #4
Beyond the Headlines
She was a mega-celebrity—he was a billionaire businessman—now he’s dead—she’s in jail
Laurie Bateman was living the American dream. Since her arrival as an infant in the U.S. after the fall of Saigon, the pretty Vietnamese girl had gone on to become a supermodel, a successful actress, and, finally, the wife of one of the country’s top corporate dealmakers. That dream has now turned into a nightmare when she is arrested for the murder of her wealthy husband.
New York City TV journalist Clare Carlson does an emotional jailhouse interview in which Bateman proclaims her innocence—and becomes a cause celebre for women’s rights groups around the country.
At first sympathetic, then increasingly suspicious of Laurie Bateman and her story, Clare delves into a baffling mystery which has roots extending back nearly fifty years to the height of the Vietnam War.
Soon, there are more murders, more victims, and more questions as Clare struggles against dire evil forces to break the biggest story of her life.
Beyond the Headlines is perfect for fans of Robert Crais and Harlan Coben
While all of the novels in the Clare Carlson Mystery Series stand on their own and can be read in any order, the publication sequence is:
Yesterday’s News
Below the Fold
The Last Scoop
Beyond the Headlines
Laurie Bateman was living the American dream. Since her arrival as an infant in the U.S. after the fall of Saigon, the pretty Vietnamese girl had gone on to become a supermodel, a successful actress, and, finally, the wife of one of the country’s top corporate dealmakers. That dream has now turned into a nightmare when she is arrested for the murder of her wealthy husband.
New York City TV journalist Clare Carlson does an emotional jailhouse interview in which Bateman proclaims her innocence—and becomes a cause celebre for women’s rights groups around the country.
At first sympathetic, then increasingly suspicious of Laurie Bateman and her story, Clare delves into a baffling mystery which has roots extending back nearly fifty years to the height of the Vietnam War.
Soon, there are more murders, more victims, and more questions as Clare struggles against dire evil forces to break the biggest story of her life.
Beyond the Headlines is perfect for fans of Robert Crais and Harlan Coben
While all of the novels in the Clare Carlson Mystery Series stand on their own and can be read in any order, the publication sequence is:
Yesterday’s News
Below the Fold
The Last Scoop
Beyond the Headlines
287 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 4, 2021
12 people are currently reading
2245 people want to read
About the author
R.G. Belsky
14 books507 followersCo-author with Bonnie Traymore of Swipe (2025);Author of Broadcast Blues (Oceanview - 2024); It's News to Me (Oceanview - 2022); Beyond The Headlines (Oceanview 2021); The Last Scoop (Oceanview-2020) Below The Fold (Oceanview - 2019) Yesterday's News (Oceanview - 2018) Blonde Ice (Atria - 2016; Shooting for the Stars (2015); and The Kennedy Connection (2014).
Also writes thrillers under the pen name of Dana Perry.
Former Managing Editor of NBCNews.com
Worked as Managing Editor of NY Daily News; News Editor of Star magazine; Metropolitan Editor of NY Post.
Author of numerous other mystery novels including Loverboy and Playing Dead.
Contributing Writer for The Big Thrill magazine and BookTrib.
Also writes thrillers under the pen name of Dana Perry.
Former Managing Editor of NBCNews.com
Worked as Managing Editor of NY Daily News; News Editor of Star magazine; Metropolitan Editor of NY Post.
Author of numerous other mystery novels including Loverboy and Playing Dead.
Contributing Writer for The Big Thrill magazine and BookTrib.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
July 22, 2021
Beyond the Headlines by R.G. Belsky is the fourth instalment in the Clare Carlson series but reads well as a stand-alone, although I would be very interested in reading the previous three novels. Clare Carlson is a news director for a television network in New York City, when her path crosses with Laurie Bateman, whose husband has been found murdered in the couple’s luxurious home. Laurie moved to the U.S. from Saigon when she was an infant and rose to fame as a model and an actress. She was married to a wealthy business man. Because Clare investigates the murder, her research and interview of Laurie clears Laurie’s name and the search is on for who is the murderer. Then more murders and suspicious deaths begin to surface. The action moves from Vietnam fifty years ago to the present-day New York City. This is a fast-moving mystery and the reader is kept guessing, with new leads popping up everywhere. This is a novel well-worth reading and most mystery fans will enjoy it tremendously. Highly recommended. Thank you to Oceanview Publishing, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 21, 2023
When I requested this book from Netgalley, I didn't realize it was Book 4 in a series but I didn't feel at a disadvantage while reading it. It definitely stands on its own. TV news director Clare Carlson gets a chance to interview Laurie Bateman, a supermodel and actress originally from Vietnam, who has been charged with murdering her billionaire husband. Clare sets out to investigate the details surrounding the murder hoping to discover whether Laurie is the killer or someone else. I liked the character of Clare, she seems quite laid-back and some of her wisecracks made me chuckle. I don't know a lot about the tv news business other than what I've seen in movies and on tv but I suspect Clare's behaviour isn't very realistic; nonetheless I enjoyed the story and wouldn't hesitate to read another book in this series. The writing was easy to follow and the story flowed well. The descriptions of the Vietnam conflict in the early 70's was interesting to read.
Sorry, but I really did not like this cover although I see the book covers in this series are all similar. It reminds me of bad television reception in the old days.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Oceanview Publishing for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel.
Sorry, but I really did not like this cover although I see the book covers in this series are all similar. It reminds me of bad television reception in the old days.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Oceanview Publishing for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel.
May 8, 2021
I love and recommend this series - and this may well be the best of the bunch I've read so far. The star of the show, New York TV News Director Clare Carlson, really shines as her investigative reporter skills kick into high gear.
She's asked by an attorney friend to give some air time to the story of Vietnamese supermodel and relatively low-level actress Laurie Bateman, who is divorcing her filthy rich husband Charles Hollister. But just as Clare's about to make that happen, Laurie's story veers off in another direction: Hollister is found brutally murdered, and his still-wife has been arrested as his killer. Apparently, she was at the scene of the crime and had somewhere around a billion reasons to do him in. But when Clare does a jailhouse interview in which Laurie plays the wronged woman card to the max, the dial on Clare's suspicion meter starts jumping. Ignoring conventional wisdom (police-style), she takes on the job of getting to the truth.
Mind you, as a former newspaper journalist I can't totally condone Clare's methods for trying to prove wrong is right or right is wrong (nor, on a personal level, her choices in men that pretty much are limited to anyone who's good-looking and not currently married). But hey, those characteristics absolutely make for a more intriguing story with plenty of action; and not insignificantly Clare's slightly left of center sense of humor makes the whole thing more fun. Her digging early on not only reveals that the dead guy had plenty of enemies, but also a hint that he may well have been involved in some very shady activities.
It is Clare's investigation and dedication to leaving no stone unturned, of course, that makes for a great story - one with several twists and turns (some surprising, some not so much) that kept me glued to the pages (well okay, to my Kindle). Already, I'm chomping at the bit for the next installment - this is the fourth, by the way. Also for the record, while I always recommend starting any series at the beginning, this one stands on its own quite well. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review it.
She's asked by an attorney friend to give some air time to the story of Vietnamese supermodel and relatively low-level actress Laurie Bateman, who is divorcing her filthy rich husband Charles Hollister. But just as Clare's about to make that happen, Laurie's story veers off in another direction: Hollister is found brutally murdered, and his still-wife has been arrested as his killer. Apparently, she was at the scene of the crime and had somewhere around a billion reasons to do him in. But when Clare does a jailhouse interview in which Laurie plays the wronged woman card to the max, the dial on Clare's suspicion meter starts jumping. Ignoring conventional wisdom (police-style), she takes on the job of getting to the truth.
Mind you, as a former newspaper journalist I can't totally condone Clare's methods for trying to prove wrong is right or right is wrong (nor, on a personal level, her choices in men that pretty much are limited to anyone who's good-looking and not currently married). But hey, those characteristics absolutely make for a more intriguing story with plenty of action; and not insignificantly Clare's slightly left of center sense of humor makes the whole thing more fun. Her digging early on not only reveals that the dead guy had plenty of enemies, but also a hint that he may well have been involved in some very shady activities.
It is Clare's investigation and dedication to leaving no stone unturned, of course, that makes for a great story - one with several twists and turns (some surprising, some not so much) that kept me glued to the pages (well okay, to my Kindle). Already, I'm chomping at the bit for the next installment - this is the fourth, by the way. Also for the record, while I always recommend starting any series at the beginning, this one stands on its own quite well. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review it.
June 4, 2021
Beyond the Headlines is the fourth book in the Clare Carlson series and the second that I've read. Clare is a seasoned journalist now working in a news room but the hard core journalism bug never quite let go of Clare. When she comes across a good story, she runs with it - which is exactly what she does in Beyond the Headlines. Clare goes beyond the 5 second sound bite to get at the truth, something I sorely miss in the news today.
If you are old enough to remember the old Murphy Brown series starring Candace Bergen, the dry wit and sardonic humor that was prolific in that show is very present in this book series. In fact, I have a hard time separating out the vision of Murphy Brown from Clare Carlson when I'm reading these books. That's most likely why I love them as much as I do. And, yes, I do realize that I just aged myself considerably. Now that I've read the last two books in the series, I'm going back to grab the first two. There's so much to catch up on! Obviously, I highly recommend the book and the series.
If you are old enough to remember the old Murphy Brown series starring Candace Bergen, the dry wit and sardonic humor that was prolific in that show is very present in this book series. In fact, I have a hard time separating out the vision of Murphy Brown from Clare Carlson when I'm reading these books. That's most likely why I love them as much as I do. And, yes, I do realize that I just aged myself considerably. Now that I've read the last two books in the series, I'm going back to grab the first two. There's so much to catch up on! Obviously, I highly recommend the book and the series.
December 16, 2020
An interesting plot line with some moments of humor and drama. However, the protagonist of this story (Clare Carlson) -- the news director for a local NYC television station -- is a hot mess who violates about every rule of professional journalism. Rather than operate from a position of objectivity, she sets out to prove Laurie Bateman, a celebrity who has been accused of murdering her husband, innocent -- seemingly just because everyone else thinks she is guilty. Thus, she ignores any evidence that contradicts her theory of who actually committed the crime. When it finally dawns on her that perhaps she has taken the wrong approach, she launches yet another wild goose chase.
Then there is the fact that she doesn't just blur the boundary between her professional and her personal life, she tramples all over that line with reckless abandon. One learns that she has slept with just about every male that she has ever encountered on the job or off. Not to mention that she has a habit of inserting herself into the story, so much so that it seems she is more interested in becoming a celebrity than in being a journalist. In fact, one of the side stories is that she is being considered to star in a talk show being produced in Los Angeles. So between her efforts to catch a murderer and get an exclusive story, she is fantasizing about becoming the next Oprah Winfrey, Ellen Degeneres, or more likely Geraldo Rivera. While I have no qualms with a story's protagonist having flaws, I am uncomfortable when a male author creates a female lead character in her late forties who sleeps around and who more often than not acts anything other than professional. In other words, Clare Carlson is NOT the smart, strong female lead that some readers at least would love to see.
For this reason, I cannot recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Then there is the fact that she doesn't just blur the boundary between her professional and her personal life, she tramples all over that line with reckless abandon. One learns that she has slept with just about every male that she has ever encountered on the job or off. Not to mention that she has a habit of inserting herself into the story, so much so that it seems she is more interested in becoming a celebrity than in being a journalist. In fact, one of the side stories is that she is being considered to star in a talk show being produced in Los Angeles. So between her efforts to catch a murderer and get an exclusive story, she is fantasizing about becoming the next Oprah Winfrey, Ellen Degeneres, or more likely Geraldo Rivera. While I have no qualms with a story's protagonist having flaws, I am uncomfortable when a male author creates a female lead character in her late forties who sleeps around and who more often than not acts anything other than professional. In other words, Clare Carlson is NOT the smart, strong female lead that some readers at least would love to see.
For this reason, I cannot recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 10, 2021
“Beyond The Headlines” is part of the “Clare Carlson Mystery” series, but new readers will be able to understand the characters and the story immediately. Any needed background details are included as part of the narrative. Clare Carlson, forty-seven, is the news director at New York City’s Channel 10. She is a seasoned reporter with an attitude. She has professional prestige, self-confidence, and a sixth sense about news. “Carlson’s my name, exclusives are my game.” The story unfolds in her first person narrative; these are her hunches, her investigations, and her story.
Carlson has a “Channel 10 Exclusive Report,” in the works -- the tragic story of Laurie Bateman, top model, successful actress wife of one of the country’s top corporate deal makers, a fairy tale life gone wrong. Bateman promises to “reveal all” about her impending divorce, but something else trumps that story – a murder. A detailed investigation is needed; Carlson cannot make a mistake in this high-stakes story. However, Laurie Bateman is an accomplished actress. Is she telling the truth or playing a part?
Belsky gives readers an inside look at a big city newsroom and the journalists who work in it -- what they are like when they are chasing a sensational story and rushing to get it on the air. The narrative transitions smoothly and easily from scene to scene and includes both the everyday activities inside the newsroom and the detailed pursuit of a story.
“Beyond The Headlines” is quick to read, and the narrative is suspenseful, dramatic, and humorous because, well, Clare Carlson is just funny. I received a review copy of “Beyond The Headlines” from R.G. Belsky, and Ocanview Publishing.
Carlson has a “Channel 10 Exclusive Report,” in the works -- the tragic story of Laurie Bateman, top model, successful actress wife of one of the country’s top corporate deal makers, a fairy tale life gone wrong. Bateman promises to “reveal all” about her impending divorce, but something else trumps that story – a murder. A detailed investigation is needed; Carlson cannot make a mistake in this high-stakes story. However, Laurie Bateman is an accomplished actress. Is she telling the truth or playing a part?
Belsky gives readers an inside look at a big city newsroom and the journalists who work in it -- what they are like when they are chasing a sensational story and rushing to get it on the air. The narrative transitions smoothly and easily from scene to scene and includes both the everyday activities inside the newsroom and the detailed pursuit of a story.
“Beyond The Headlines” is quick to read, and the narrative is suspenseful, dramatic, and humorous because, well, Clare Carlson is just funny. I received a review copy of “Beyond The Headlines” from R.G. Belsky, and Ocanview Publishing.
September 5, 2021
Beyond the Headlines is the fourth book in the Clare Carlson series by R.G. Belsky. Clare is a journalist who has worked on several high profile investigations. In Beyond the Headlines, Clare is asked to do a jailhouse interview with a woman arrested for her wealthy husband’s murder. The woman proclaims her innocence, but Clare does some digging to discover the truth.
Clare is a flawed character. She is intelligent and witty, but she also makes some bad decisions. She does have some great investigative skills though, and the determination to find truth.
I’ve read the previous book in this series, and recommend reading this series in order. However, Beyond the Headlines can be read as a stand-alone.
Beyond the Headlines is a gripping mystery. Engaging, interesting, and suspenseful.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Clare is a flawed character. She is intelligent and witty, but she also makes some bad decisions. She does have some great investigative skills though, and the determination to find truth.
I’ve read the previous book in this series, and recommend reading this series in order. However, Beyond the Headlines can be read as a stand-alone.
Beyond the Headlines is a gripping mystery. Engaging, interesting, and suspenseful.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
dnf
August 25, 2021DNF
Couldn't stand the main character, and the book is extremely heavy on tell. It also lacked "the feels" I crave in a book. With no one to root for, why continue to read?
With that said, many others have loved this book, apparently, so I must be the odd one out here.
Couldn't stand the main character, and the book is extremely heavy on tell. It also lacked "the feels" I crave in a book. With no one to root for, why continue to read?
With that said, many others have loved this book, apparently, so I must be the odd one out here.
May 9, 2021
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
A reporter gets a big scoop when a supermodel wants to tell her the story of her divorce from a billionaire. Shortly, the billionaire is dead, and the model the primary suspect.
A reporter gets a big scoop when a supermodel wants to tell her the story of her divorce from a billionaire. Shortly, the billionaire is dead, and the model the primary suspect.
December 26, 2020
Wisecracking Clare Carlson, executive director at Channel 10 but a breaking news journalist at heart is back and investigating another murder.
As you can see below, I am a HUGE fan of this series and have read all the previous books. And WOW!!!! This book didn't disappoint!
A very wealthy Charles Hollister is found dead in his condo and his estranged wife, Laurie Bateman, is arrested for his murder. Clare, the only news person that was there as the police escort Laurie out in handcuffs. Clare was at the scene as she was supposed to interview the wife, who in her own right is famous, and was going to tell all about her marriage to Hollister, which wasn't what they portrayed in the public and media.
As Clare starts digging into this story, she feels that Laurie is innocent and wants to help her get out of jail, which she does and even the charges are dropped. However, she wants to get the scoop as to who really killed Hollister but the more she delves in, the more questions are unanswered and not making sense. Did she make a mistake? Who really killed Charles Hollister.
Like the previous books in this series, this sequel will transport the reader because of the descriptive nature of the written word and conversations of the characters. The reader will become one with the story and be totally unaware of what is going on around them. That's what happens to me when reading this author's works.
The suspense is constant and will have the reader sure as to who the suspect is and then BAM! Wrong! OK. Let's try this again. it has to be this character!! Not!! Duped again!!!!!
Even though this is the 4th book in the series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone, but I suggest you start with the first book, not only to get to know Clare a bit better but to also have the experience of reading some exceptional writing!!!!!
I absolutely recommend this extraordinary book(s)!!!!
BTW Mr. Belsky, no pressure, but when will the next book be available????
Check out my Review for HERE and enter the giveaway
Check out my Review for Below The FoldHERE and enter the giveaway
Check out my Review for The Last ScoopHERE and enter the giveaway
As you can see below, I am a HUGE fan of this series and have read all the previous books. And WOW!!!! This book didn't disappoint!
A very wealthy Charles Hollister is found dead in his condo and his estranged wife, Laurie Bateman, is arrested for his murder. Clare, the only news person that was there as the police escort Laurie out in handcuffs. Clare was at the scene as she was supposed to interview the wife, who in her own right is famous, and was going to tell all about her marriage to Hollister, which wasn't what they portrayed in the public and media.
As Clare starts digging into this story, she feels that Laurie is innocent and wants to help her get out of jail, which she does and even the charges are dropped. However, she wants to get the scoop as to who really killed Hollister but the more she delves in, the more questions are unanswered and not making sense. Did she make a mistake? Who really killed Charles Hollister.
Like the previous books in this series, this sequel will transport the reader because of the descriptive nature of the written word and conversations of the characters. The reader will become one with the story and be totally unaware of what is going on around them. That's what happens to me when reading this author's works.
The suspense is constant and will have the reader sure as to who the suspect is and then BAM! Wrong! OK. Let's try this again. it has to be this character!! Not!! Duped again!!!!!
Even though this is the 4th book in the series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone, but I suggest you start with the first book, not only to get to know Clare a bit better but to also have the experience of reading some exceptional writing!!!!!
I absolutely recommend this extraordinary book(s)!!!!
BTW Mr. Belsky, no pressure, but when will the next book be available????
Check out my Review for HERE and enter the giveaway
Check out my Review for Below The FoldHERE and enter the giveaway
Check out my Review for The Last ScoopHERE and enter the giveaway
June 29, 2021
Clare Carlson is a TV journalist looking for her next big story .. and she's found it.
Laurie Bateman, supermodel, actress, and wife of a very well-known, wealthy man. When he is found murdered, Laurie becomes the prime suspect and finds herself behind bars. Clare eventually gets approval for an in-jail interview.
At first sympathetic, then increasingly suspicious of Laurie Bateman and her story, Clare delves into a baffling mystery which has roots extending back nearly fifty years to the height of the Vietnam War.
As Clare investigates, there are more murders, more victims, and a lot more questions.
Did Clare help free a guilty woman ... or is there something else at play?
Cleverly written by the author, himself a journalist in New York City, and experience as a top editor of New York Post, NY Daily News, Star Magazine and NBC News, I expected a great deal of credibility. I was not disappointed. I have been fortunate in reading all the books in this series ... each story seems better than the last. Although 4th is the series, it is easily read as a stand alone, However, I highly recommend reading them in order. Clare is a terrific character and her back story is most interesting. This is action-packed, a real page turner, with an ending that is unexpected, surprising and very satisfying.
5 stars for BEYOND THE HEADLINES .. 5 stars for the series.
Many thanks to the author / Oceanview Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction / thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Laurie Bateman, supermodel, actress, and wife of a very well-known, wealthy man. When he is found murdered, Laurie becomes the prime suspect and finds herself behind bars. Clare eventually gets approval for an in-jail interview.
At first sympathetic, then increasingly suspicious of Laurie Bateman and her story, Clare delves into a baffling mystery which has roots extending back nearly fifty years to the height of the Vietnam War.
As Clare investigates, there are more murders, more victims, and a lot more questions.
Did Clare help free a guilty woman ... or is there something else at play?
Cleverly written by the author, himself a journalist in New York City, and experience as a top editor of New York Post, NY Daily News, Star Magazine and NBC News, I expected a great deal of credibility. I was not disappointed. I have been fortunate in reading all the books in this series ... each story seems better than the last. Although 4th is the series, it is easily read as a stand alone, However, I highly recommend reading them in order. Clare is a terrific character and her back story is most interesting. This is action-packed, a real page turner, with an ending that is unexpected, surprising and very satisfying.
5 stars for BEYOND THE HEADLINES .. 5 stars for the series.
Many thanks to the author / Oceanview Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction / thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
November 30, 2020
Beyond the Headlines has everything I enjoy - all in one book! Mystery, drama, intrigue, love interests and humour. Needless to say, I loved it. It reads like a rom-com but doesn't feel too chick lit because of the murder mystery involved.
Narrating the story is the main character, journalist Clare Carlson, and it's her quick wit and sharp intelligence that make this a good romp. That said, the one-liners are a touch overdone and sometimes fall flat.
The story begins with Clare being requested by a female celebrity to do a tell-all interview about her marriage to the man she's about to divorce. When that man is found dead on the day the interview is to happen, the story Clare thought she would be doing takes a completely different direction. But is the wife as guilty as her presence at the scene of the crime suggests?
Clare decides to dig deeper and cast the net wider. What she discovers is there are a number of people who stand to benefit from this man's death and may have motive, plus links to other mysterious deaths. Dogged in her pursuit of the truth, we follow Clare as she rules out suspects one by one until she solves the case that has all of America talking.
I was initially surprised to learn the author, R.G. Belsky, is male, although it could be argued that some of the dad jokes and Clare's constant bragging about her sexual conquests are giveaways.
Aside from being entertaining and well-paced, Beyond the Headlines is very current in terms of setting and the high-profile names that are dropped.
I found myself picking up this book at every chance, even if I could only read one page at a time, just to bring myself closer to knowing how it ended.
By the last page, I was pretty satisfied and felt as though I'd made a new friend in Clare. For that reason, I'm confident we will cross paths again as this is the fourth book in this author's mystery series. (Each book can stand on their own and the series doesn't need to be read in any order.)
If you're looking for a fast and fun read, and if you're a news junkie who devours celebrity gossip, you won't go wrong with this one.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy.
Narrating the story is the main character, journalist Clare Carlson, and it's her quick wit and sharp intelligence that make this a good romp. That said, the one-liners are a touch overdone and sometimes fall flat.
The story begins with Clare being requested by a female celebrity to do a tell-all interview about her marriage to the man she's about to divorce. When that man is found dead on the day the interview is to happen, the story Clare thought she would be doing takes a completely different direction. But is the wife as guilty as her presence at the scene of the crime suggests?
Clare decides to dig deeper and cast the net wider. What she discovers is there are a number of people who stand to benefit from this man's death and may have motive, plus links to other mysterious deaths. Dogged in her pursuit of the truth, we follow Clare as she rules out suspects one by one until she solves the case that has all of America talking.
I was initially surprised to learn the author, R.G. Belsky, is male, although it could be argued that some of the dad jokes and Clare's constant bragging about her sexual conquests are giveaways.
Aside from being entertaining and well-paced, Beyond the Headlines is very current in terms of setting and the high-profile names that are dropped.
I found myself picking up this book at every chance, even if I could only read one page at a time, just to bring myself closer to knowing how it ended.
By the last page, I was pretty satisfied and felt as though I'd made a new friend in Clare. For that reason, I'm confident we will cross paths again as this is the fourth book in this author's mystery series. (Each book can stand on their own and the series doesn't need to be read in any order.)
If you're looking for a fast and fun read, and if you're a news junkie who devours celebrity gossip, you won't go wrong with this one.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy.
June 1, 2021
I liked this book although initially when I read the premise I was not sure I would like this book but requested it anyway and I am very glad I did, I found it a very enjoyable read.. Charles Hollister is murdered by his ex wife Laurie Bateman and TV news director gets to go and interview her, quite a scoop. Having Clare narrate the story was a very clever move by the author, she is very likeable and this enhanced the quality of the story for me. I read this in a day, it is my kind of story and I actually did not want it to end. I had not read this author before but I will definitely be looking up the other books by R.G Belsky. I would highly recommend this book, especially if you have an afternoon spending sometime wanting to have a great read.. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review,
November 20, 2020
This is my first time reading R.G. Belsky, and I really enjoyed it.
I loved the main character, Clare Carlson, she was refreshing, witty and quick with the banter. I enjoyed her inner emotions and thought process.
Now, the plot was suspenseful and driven. There were a few places where things were either repeated too many times or some information was interchanged somehow. This may just be editing issue that will be resolved with the final release, however it did pull me away a tiny bit in those places.
The mystery and intrigue was all very tight rope balancing act, and while I can usually pin down the culprit - this one kept me guessing the whole time.
Also, I loved the information we were able to glean about the Vietnam War.
On another plus side, the inner working of media, a glimpse into the world was nice to see.
Thank you netgalley for providing an eARC.
I loved the main character, Clare Carlson, she was refreshing, witty and quick with the banter. I enjoyed her inner emotions and thought process.
Now, the plot was suspenseful and driven. There were a few places where things were either repeated too many times or some information was interchanged somehow. This may just be editing issue that will be resolved with the final release, however it did pull me away a tiny bit in those places.
The mystery and intrigue was all very tight rope balancing act, and while I can usually pin down the culprit - this one kept me guessing the whole time.
Also, I loved the information we were able to glean about the Vietnam War.
On another plus side, the inner working of media, a glimpse into the world was nice to see.
Thank you netgalley for providing an eARC.
April 27, 2022
Oh, how I love this series!!!
In Beyond the Headlines New York City TV journalist Clare Carlson delves into a baffling mystery that has roots extending back nearly fifty years to the end of the Vietnam War. Soon, there are more murders, more victims, and more questions as Clare struggles to break the biggest story of her life!
Clare is my hero!! She chases through the twists and turns in the investigation as new material is continually revealed. As always, I so appreciate Clare's irreverent humor, whether she's thinking her comments or actually making them. Mr. Belsky is so spot-on with Clare!
This is a fast-moving, riveting mystery and I HIGHLY recommend it!!!
In Beyond the Headlines New York City TV journalist Clare Carlson delves into a baffling mystery that has roots extending back nearly fifty years to the end of the Vietnam War. Soon, there are more murders, more victims, and more questions as Clare struggles to break the biggest story of her life!
Clare is my hero!! She chases through the twists and turns in the investigation as new material is continually revealed. As always, I so appreciate Clare's irreverent humor, whether she's thinking her comments or actually making them. Mr. Belsky is so spot-on with Clare!
This is a fast-moving, riveting mystery and I HIGHLY recommend it!!!
May 11, 2021
Dick Belsky’s Clare Carlson novels are some of the best mysteries I’ve ever read and the latest one, BEYOND THE HEADLINES, is a great addition to the series. Belsky is the master of suspense and plot twists. If you like surprises, continually guessing, and wondering what could possibly happen next, this book is for you. Every chapter will leave you hanging, always on edge and wanting more. Good luck putting it down. Great dialogue, wonderful characters, and an interesting plot. Well deserving of all 5 stars.
July 14, 2021
I love Clare Carlson, the female protagonist of this mystery series. She is a tough (mostly) New York City reporter turned TV news director. I was a New York City reporter/editor and TV assignment editor so I know she's an authentic voice. Not a goody-two-shoes by any stretch of the imagination, but a very true-to-life character. This is #4 in the Clare Carlson series, and a really, really good story that includes some interesting backstory going back to the 60s and the Vietnam War. I hope Belsky keeps going with this series. It's something of a real pleasure to look forward to every year.
May 24, 2021
In Beyond The Headlines, the fourth book in the Clare Carlson Mystery Series, author R.G. Belsky weaves a riveting mystery tale that easily draws the reader into New York Channel 10 News Director Clare Carlson's latest investigation.
The story begins with Clare's best friend, attorney Janet Wood representing supermodel and actress Laurie Bateman in a divorce proceeding that her billionaire businessman husband Charles Hollister has begun against her. Laurie wants to go public and tell the true story about their marriage, so she wants an exclusive interview with Claire. But the day of the interview, Charles is found murdered in their apartment and Laurie is taken into custody for his murder. An exclusive divorce interview now turns into an exclusive investigation to prove Laurie is innocent of her husband's murder.
As Clare delves into the investigation of the marriage between Laurie Bateman and Charles Hollister, she finds that there are more questions than answers, a growing list of suspects, dark pasts, and deeply buried secrets, so she has to go beyond the headlines to put the puzzle pieces together. And if that isn't enough, the intertwining of Clare's personal and professional lives and her dark past continues to come to the surface.
Beyond The Headlines is a captivating mystery tale that is rich in detail and vivid descriptions. It has enough intriguing and suspenseful twists and turns that leaves the reader with no other option than to keep turning the pages to find out what happens next. As a diehard fan of mystery tales, I must admit that this fourth installment in the series is my favorite. The complexity and multi-layers of the Laurie and Charles' story, and Clare's investigation kept me thoroughly riveted and so engrossed, I couldn't help but try and guess the outcome as Clare puts all the pieces of the puzzle together.
With a complex and realistic cast of characters, the author does a phenomenal job of transporting the reader into this fast-paced white-knuckle storyline. The thrilling cat-n-mouse game engages the reader to follow Clare's investigation as she tries to find out who really murdered Charles Hollister. The jaw-dropping surprise ending will leave the reader completely speechless. It just doesn't get any better than this!
I would be remiss if I didn't mention how much I adored the author's richly vivid description of the Christmas holiday season in New York City. I love taking day trips to NYC during the holiday season, and the author captured the famous landmarks and all the sights and sounds of the season, all the reader has to do is close their eyes and be transported to that magical season in my favorite city.
Beyond The Headlines is one heck of an adrenaline rush that is a must-read for the true diehard mystery junkies!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest book review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours.
https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspo...
The story begins with Clare's best friend, attorney Janet Wood representing supermodel and actress Laurie Bateman in a divorce proceeding that her billionaire businessman husband Charles Hollister has begun against her. Laurie wants to go public and tell the true story about their marriage, so she wants an exclusive interview with Claire. But the day of the interview, Charles is found murdered in their apartment and Laurie is taken into custody for his murder. An exclusive divorce interview now turns into an exclusive investigation to prove Laurie is innocent of her husband's murder.
As Clare delves into the investigation of the marriage between Laurie Bateman and Charles Hollister, she finds that there are more questions than answers, a growing list of suspects, dark pasts, and deeply buried secrets, so she has to go beyond the headlines to put the puzzle pieces together. And if that isn't enough, the intertwining of Clare's personal and professional lives and her dark past continues to come to the surface.
Beyond The Headlines is a captivating mystery tale that is rich in detail and vivid descriptions. It has enough intriguing and suspenseful twists and turns that leaves the reader with no other option than to keep turning the pages to find out what happens next. As a diehard fan of mystery tales, I must admit that this fourth installment in the series is my favorite. The complexity and multi-layers of the Laurie and Charles' story, and Clare's investigation kept me thoroughly riveted and so engrossed, I couldn't help but try and guess the outcome as Clare puts all the pieces of the puzzle together.
With a complex and realistic cast of characters, the author does a phenomenal job of transporting the reader into this fast-paced white-knuckle storyline. The thrilling cat-n-mouse game engages the reader to follow Clare's investigation as she tries to find out who really murdered Charles Hollister. The jaw-dropping surprise ending will leave the reader completely speechless. It just doesn't get any better than this!
I would be remiss if I didn't mention how much I adored the author's richly vivid description of the Christmas holiday season in New York City. I love taking day trips to NYC during the holiday season, and the author captured the famous landmarks and all the sights and sounds of the season, all the reader has to do is close their eyes and be transported to that magical season in my favorite city.
Beyond The Headlines is one heck of an adrenaline rush that is a must-read for the true diehard mystery junkies!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest book review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours.
https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspo...
July 9, 2021
In his latest Clare Carlson mystery, Beyond The Headlines, all the hallmarks of Dick Belsky’s robust storytelling skills are on display – snappy patter, an unsinkable main character, an insider’s knowledge of newsrooms, a fast pace and more twists and turns than a corkscrew in a wine bar at happy hour.
Center stage is Belsky’s marvelous character, Clare Carlson, a pro’s pro at digging up the truth but blessed with a personal life as tidy as a train wreck. Like the author himself, Carlson is an award-winning newspaper reporter – ink-stained wretch is another term for it – turned TV news director. Local news, maybe, but playing in that giant fishbowl of a city that never sleeps.
Unlike most real-life news directors, Clare repeatedly lets loose the hard-wired reflex of most reporters, chasing the Big Story herself and doggedly digging up scoops when most of the pack has wandered elsewhere.
She knows she’s big-footing the reporters in her own newsroom, royally pissing them off. She doesn’t much care.
In this case, the initial phase of the Big Story chases Clare, served up by her best friend, lawyer Janet Wood. Big celebrity divorce case featuring Laurie Bateman, a Vietnamese refugee who grew up to be a stunningly beautiful model and a successful if mediocre actress before marrying a man far older than her. That would be Charles Hollister, who scored big with a computer innovation in the 70s and had since become one of the richest men on the planet.
Bateman, who is being sued for divorce by her husband, wants to give Clare an exclusive interview where she will reveal the truth behind the happy public façade the couple has maintained. Hollister, she’ll say, is physically and mentally abusive and has a twenty-something mistress stashed in an apartment he pays for.
Carlson prepares for the interview, plowing through stories about Bateman and Hollister. She heads uptown for a meet-and-greet with Bateman in the couple’s Fifth Avenue apartment. She badly wants a big jolt of coffee.
She doesn’t get it. That’s because Belsky serves up the first turn of the corkscrew, ricocheting the story in a suddenly different direction. Hollister is dead, his head bashed by a lamp with a high-velocity double-tap and skull shot to make sure. The maid finds Bateman near the body, looking like she is trying to get away. A gun is found in the apartment, a revolver with three spent shells. It belongs to Bateman.
Talk about a Scoop-O-Rama – Carlson breaks the story ahead of every news outlet in town. She gets ready to ride this celebrity murder case to chase even higher ratings for her station and a higher profile for herself. Think O.J. Think Robert Blake. Carlson will be there from jury selection until the verdict and final bang of the judge’s gavel.
Not so fast, pilgrim. You’re reading a Dick Belsky novel so there’ll be plenty more turns of that corkscrew before the book ends. And lots of insights about the price of fame, the Vietnam War (Belsky served there) and the nutso energy and characters of a newsroom (Belsky’s an ink-stained wretch turned TV news director).
Enjoy the ride. Buckle up for the corkscrew turns.
Center stage is Belsky’s marvelous character, Clare Carlson, a pro’s pro at digging up the truth but blessed with a personal life as tidy as a train wreck. Like the author himself, Carlson is an award-winning newspaper reporter – ink-stained wretch is another term for it – turned TV news director. Local news, maybe, but playing in that giant fishbowl of a city that never sleeps.
Unlike most real-life news directors, Clare repeatedly lets loose the hard-wired reflex of most reporters, chasing the Big Story herself and doggedly digging up scoops when most of the pack has wandered elsewhere.
She knows she’s big-footing the reporters in her own newsroom, royally pissing them off. She doesn’t much care.
In this case, the initial phase of the Big Story chases Clare, served up by her best friend, lawyer Janet Wood. Big celebrity divorce case featuring Laurie Bateman, a Vietnamese refugee who grew up to be a stunningly beautiful model and a successful if mediocre actress before marrying a man far older than her. That would be Charles Hollister, who scored big with a computer innovation in the 70s and had since become one of the richest men on the planet.
Bateman, who is being sued for divorce by her husband, wants to give Clare an exclusive interview where she will reveal the truth behind the happy public façade the couple has maintained. Hollister, she’ll say, is physically and mentally abusive and has a twenty-something mistress stashed in an apartment he pays for.
Carlson prepares for the interview, plowing through stories about Bateman and Hollister. She heads uptown for a meet-and-greet with Bateman in the couple’s Fifth Avenue apartment. She badly wants a big jolt of coffee.
She doesn’t get it. That’s because Belsky serves up the first turn of the corkscrew, ricocheting the story in a suddenly different direction. Hollister is dead, his head bashed by a lamp with a high-velocity double-tap and skull shot to make sure. The maid finds Bateman near the body, looking like she is trying to get away. A gun is found in the apartment, a revolver with three spent shells. It belongs to Bateman.
Talk about a Scoop-O-Rama – Carlson breaks the story ahead of every news outlet in town. She gets ready to ride this celebrity murder case to chase even higher ratings for her station and a higher profile for herself. Think O.J. Think Robert Blake. Carlson will be there from jury selection until the verdict and final bang of the judge’s gavel.
Not so fast, pilgrim. You’re reading a Dick Belsky novel so there’ll be plenty more turns of that corkscrew before the book ends. And lots of insights about the price of fame, the Vietnam War (Belsky served there) and the nutso energy and characters of a newsroom (Belsky’s an ink-stained wretch turned TV news director).
Enjoy the ride. Buckle up for the corkscrew turns.
May 18, 2021
Clare Carlson is the News Director for New York City's Channel 10 but she had a past in reporting for newspapers. She's won Pulitzers and solved some mysteries along the way. As a person, she is thrice divorced and has trail of failed relationships and exes behind her. She is definitely a workaholic which is currently getting in the way of building a relationship with her daughter and granddaughter.
She gets a chance to interview a major celebrity named Laurie Bateman who is married to billionaire Charles Hollister. But before the interview can take place, Laurie is found with the body of her husband who just happens to have been shot with her gun. He was getting ready to divorce her and rewrite his will which currently left her the majority of his estate.
Clare does get a jailhouse interview with Laurie who throws a bombshell when she accuses her dead husband of emotional and physical abuse. She immediately becomes the focus of the #metoo movement and gains all sorts of public support. Clare is sure that Laurie is innocent even though the all the evidence points to her as the murderer.
Clare immediately begins to look into who else might have a reason to murder Charles Hollister and she finds lots of suspects. He has a mistress with a jealous ex. He has a son who is a major screw-up with delusions that he is competent. He has a number of business rivals who have reasons to want him dead.
However, Clare has a chance of heart about her belief in Laurie's innocence when her plea at her hearing is cribbed from one of her early movie roles. Clare decides to look into her past. Laurie was born in Vietnam and managed to escape with her mother when things were falling apart at the end of the war. It just so happens that Charles and his business partner were also in Vietnam as the US was withdrawing.
Clare learns at lot while she is looking into Laurie's past and it gives her an excuse to put off looking into her own past. Her daughter has told her that she has inherited a breast cancer gene and urges Clare to be tested to see if the gene came from her or if it came from the man Clare had a one-night stand with while a college sophomore. If it didn't come from her, Clare feels that she will have to contact the man's family to let them know about the gene.
Clare is also between relationships in this episode though two of her exes to have small roles to play. Clare is also looking at a potential career change when a headhunting firm from LA has approached her to star in a new talk show that is in the works.
This was a very contemporary mystery with a "ripped from the headlines" feel to it. I liked the look into big city news organizations.
She gets a chance to interview a major celebrity named Laurie Bateman who is married to billionaire Charles Hollister. But before the interview can take place, Laurie is found with the body of her husband who just happens to have been shot with her gun. He was getting ready to divorce her and rewrite his will which currently left her the majority of his estate.
Clare does get a jailhouse interview with Laurie who throws a bombshell when she accuses her dead husband of emotional and physical abuse. She immediately becomes the focus of the #metoo movement and gains all sorts of public support. Clare is sure that Laurie is innocent even though the all the evidence points to her as the murderer.
Clare immediately begins to look into who else might have a reason to murder Charles Hollister and she finds lots of suspects. He has a mistress with a jealous ex. He has a son who is a major screw-up with delusions that he is competent. He has a number of business rivals who have reasons to want him dead.
However, Clare has a chance of heart about her belief in Laurie's innocence when her plea at her hearing is cribbed from one of her early movie roles. Clare decides to look into her past. Laurie was born in Vietnam and managed to escape with her mother when things were falling apart at the end of the war. It just so happens that Charles and his business partner were also in Vietnam as the US was withdrawing.
Clare learns at lot while she is looking into Laurie's past and it gives her an excuse to put off looking into her own past. Her daughter has told her that she has inherited a breast cancer gene and urges Clare to be tested to see if the gene came from her or if it came from the man Clare had a one-night stand with while a college sophomore. If it didn't come from her, Clare feels that she will have to contact the man's family to let them know about the gene.
Clare is also between relationships in this episode though two of her exes to have small roles to play. Clare is also looking at a potential career change when a headhunting firm from LA has approached her to star in a new talk show that is in the works.
This was a very contemporary mystery with a "ripped from the headlines" feel to it. I liked the look into big city news organizations.
May 4, 2021
Clare Carlson is back!
After attempting to interview Laurie Bateman, a world-famous supermodel and actress accused of killing her wealthy husband, the Channel 10 news director slips back on her investigative journalist hat.
It isn’t just another celebrity marriage that ended badly. Laurie was already planning to file for divorce and proclaims her innocence. When Clare does interview Laurie from her jail cell, she exposes the lies behind her marriage that link back more than fifty years to the Vietnam War.
Laurie’s story explodes and garners headlines and public sympathy. She becomes the poster girl for women’s rights, and though the case against her appears to be air-tight, Clare believes in her innocence and nose dives deep into Laurie’s case to vindicate the woman.
More murders occur, leading Clare to question everything, including Laurie’s innocence, and her own personal ethics.
I’m a big Clare Carlson fan. The super-smart Pulitzer Prize winner missed her calling. She should have been a cop. Not just because of her investigative skills, but because of her knack for seeing the bigger picture. She doesn’t focus on the crime, murder, or story at hand, but also the situations and people connected to it regardless of time-span.
But then again, maybe not as her reasoning can be influenced by her emotional past and lead her to make some mega-bad decisions. But Clare is super sharp and rebounds nicely, most of the time. With her determination to follow the story, she can be annoying, judgmental, arrogant, and wrong. In a word… human. So, it’s easy to forgive her bad moments when she shines so brightly during the great ones.
It’s also easy to feel sorry for Clare. Some of her worst decisions revolve around her love life, including three failed marriages and her tendency to get involved with unavailable men. However, best friend, Janet, as well as new friend Nick, and the growing new relationship with her daughter, all have a positive effect and influence on her.
The author’s knowledge of the news industry and blending of popular culture, current events, and folks known because of their celebrity and/or notoriety, masterfully blurs the line between fiction and reality, and contributes to this suspense thriller being a one-sitting read.
The nice, twisty ending is delicious, and again has Clare one step ahead of law enforcement. Just when I thought it was over, it wasn’t… not by any means.
Beyond the Headlines is another winner in the Clare Carlson mystery series.
Enjoy!
After attempting to interview Laurie Bateman, a world-famous supermodel and actress accused of killing her wealthy husband, the Channel 10 news director slips back on her investigative journalist hat.
It isn’t just another celebrity marriage that ended badly. Laurie was already planning to file for divorce and proclaims her innocence. When Clare does interview Laurie from her jail cell, she exposes the lies behind her marriage that link back more than fifty years to the Vietnam War.
Laurie’s story explodes and garners headlines and public sympathy. She becomes the poster girl for women’s rights, and though the case against her appears to be air-tight, Clare believes in her innocence and nose dives deep into Laurie’s case to vindicate the woman.
More murders occur, leading Clare to question everything, including Laurie’s innocence, and her own personal ethics.
I’m a big Clare Carlson fan. The super-smart Pulitzer Prize winner missed her calling. She should have been a cop. Not just because of her investigative skills, but because of her knack for seeing the bigger picture. She doesn’t focus on the crime, murder, or story at hand, but also the situations and people connected to it regardless of time-span.
But then again, maybe not as her reasoning can be influenced by her emotional past and lead her to make some mega-bad decisions. But Clare is super sharp and rebounds nicely, most of the time. With her determination to follow the story, she can be annoying, judgmental, arrogant, and wrong. In a word… human. So, it’s easy to forgive her bad moments when she shines so brightly during the great ones.
It’s also easy to feel sorry for Clare. Some of her worst decisions revolve around her love life, including three failed marriages and her tendency to get involved with unavailable men. However, best friend, Janet, as well as new friend Nick, and the growing new relationship with her daughter, all have a positive effect and influence on her.
The author’s knowledge of the news industry and blending of popular culture, current events, and folks known because of their celebrity and/or notoriety, masterfully blurs the line between fiction and reality, and contributes to this suspense thriller being a one-sitting read.
The nice, twisty ending is delicious, and again has Clare one step ahead of law enforcement. Just when I thought it was over, it wasn’t… not by any means.
Beyond the Headlines is another winner in the Clare Carlson mystery series.
Enjoy!
June 9, 2021
I had read and really enjoyed the previous book in this series, The Last Scoop, and so I was happy to also receive an advance review copy of Beyond the Headlines. And I wasn’t disappointed – the things I had enjoyed in the earlier book were all also present in this one. The Channel 10 newsroom feels as realistic as ever, based, presumably, on RG Belsky’s own experience as a journalist. The news anchors, Brett and Dani, are still fighting, even though they are married and expecting a baby now - or maybe because they are married and expecting a baby now! Clare’s nose for a story still gets her in trouble, especially when her boss wants her to act like the News Director that she is, and not run around chasing leads herself. And Clare’s family situation is still as unstable as ever, although with some brand-new wrinkles (both good and bad) thrown in.
In this book, the main case is a nice twisty murder, where the much older, rich husband of Laurie Bateman has been killed and she’s the main suspect. But as Clare digs deeper, she finds that the husband, Charles Hollister, had lots of enemies, and there are a lot of people who had both motive and opportunity. At the same time, Clare also gets an exclusive and explosive interview with Laurie, which changes the way the community, and the judge, look at her, and at the case. So it seems as if Laurie Bateman is home free. But things are going to change a couple more times before Clare finally figures out who really did it, and why.
One of the things I most liked about Beyond the Headlines is that it was so easy to read. Clare’s investigation proceeded on a path that was easy to follow, and I just kept reading, and reading, while barely noticing it. (At the risk of sounding like a parrot, the same was true of the previous book too.) And even though there were a couple of serious issues addressed - one societal, one medical - they fit so well into the narrative that they didn’t sidetrack the book, as sometimes happens when authors try to tackle difficult subjects.
Overall, Beyond the Headlines was just a well-written, enjoyable murder mystery. I liked it every bit as much as the previous one, and since I gave that one five-stars, I guess I have to give this one five-stars too – even though I don’t like giving too many five-star ratings. I was happy to find out in the Author’s Note that there will be a new title in the series coming in 2022. And my thanks to Oceanview Publishing for the review copy!
In this book, the main case is a nice twisty murder, where the much older, rich husband of Laurie Bateman has been killed and she’s the main suspect. But as Clare digs deeper, she finds that the husband, Charles Hollister, had lots of enemies, and there are a lot of people who had both motive and opportunity. At the same time, Clare also gets an exclusive and explosive interview with Laurie, which changes the way the community, and the judge, look at her, and at the case. So it seems as if Laurie Bateman is home free. But things are going to change a couple more times before Clare finally figures out who really did it, and why.
One of the things I most liked about Beyond the Headlines is that it was so easy to read. Clare’s investigation proceeded on a path that was easy to follow, and I just kept reading, and reading, while barely noticing it. (At the risk of sounding like a parrot, the same was true of the previous book too.) And even though there were a couple of serious issues addressed - one societal, one medical - they fit so well into the narrative that they didn’t sidetrack the book, as sometimes happens when authors try to tackle difficult subjects.
Overall, Beyond the Headlines was just a well-written, enjoyable murder mystery. I liked it every bit as much as the previous one, and since I gave that one five-stars, I guess I have to give this one five-stars too – even though I don’t like giving too many five-star ratings. I was happy to find out in the Author’s Note that there will be a new title in the series coming in 2022. And my thanks to Oceanview Publishing for the review copy!
April 30, 2021
I have enjoyed this series revolving around the corporate life and actions of the news media. Clare is a great heroine. She is determined to get to the bottom of a story even if she makes mistakes along the way. She has tackled a tough one in this novel. There are so many twists and turns in the investigation as new material is revealed, I lost count. But Clare keeps digging for the truth, even when it takes her back to events in the Viet Nam war.
Belsky's experience in journalism is evident in this novel. We see how television news broadcasts are produced and what kind of quirky people are involved. Clare as an investigative journalist is developed well by Belsky. I don't like the repeated references to her many one night stands and sexual exploits, but other than that, she is a great sleuth. And Belsky's writing style is engaging.
This is a good novel for readers who like a complicated high profile murder case with a tough journalist determined to solve it.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.
Belsky's experience in journalism is evident in this novel. We see how television news broadcasts are produced and what kind of quirky people are involved. Clare as an investigative journalist is developed well by Belsky. I don't like the repeated references to her many one night stands and sexual exploits, but other than that, she is a great sleuth. And Belsky's writing style is engaging.
This is a good novel for readers who like a complicated high profile murder case with a tough journalist determined to solve it.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.
April 4, 2021
R. G Belsky pens a riveting Clare Carlson mystery that follows the TV news director as she doubts everyone’s assumption that Laurie Bateman murdered her billionaire husband, Charles Hollister. Police, the District Attorney, and the media believe the much younger wife is guilty. Clare wonders why no one is investigating anyone else since the dead man had enemies.
Belsky’s story employs twists within twists as Clare uncovers a few more suspects, and Laurie persuades Clare’s TV audience that she is the victim, an abused wife who did not kill her husband. Within days of the TV interview at Rikers Island, Laurie gets a new hearing and out on bail. A professional journalist, Belsky brings an authentic
feel to the newsroom details and particularly as he develops the character of Clare.
Beyond the Headline is a rollercoaster ride through the murder case of a billionaire with lots of issues and plenty of suspects. And Clare is just the gal to untangle Hollister’s web to get to the truth. A solid front-page story that keeps the reader engaged and guessing.
Belsky’s story employs twists within twists as Clare uncovers a few more suspects, and Laurie persuades Clare’s TV audience that she is the victim, an abused wife who did not kill her husband. Within days of the TV interview at Rikers Island, Laurie gets a new hearing and out on bail. A professional journalist, Belsky brings an authentic
feel to the newsroom details and particularly as he develops the character of Clare.
Beyond the Headline is a rollercoaster ride through the murder case of a billionaire with lots of issues and plenty of suspects. And Clare is just the gal to untangle Hollister’s web to get to the truth. A solid front-page story that keeps the reader engaged and guessing.
May 19, 2021
Clare Carlson has a way of digging for the news. This time she just happens to be in the right place at the right time to grab a big exclusive.
Then she proceeded to dig and get the chief suspect out of jail by helping to prove her innocence.
But was she really innocent? Clare now has misgivings about that. And then there’s the fact that more suspects keep popping up.
She’s determined to dig out the truth even if it takes her to the other side of the country. What that excursion does is make things even more confusing.
Throw in her messy personal life which can throw her off balance at times. Through all of this she finally figures it out when her life hangs in the balance. I certainly wasn’t able to figure out the murderer.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all the Clare Carlson books. You can read my reviews for Below the Fold and The Last Scoop. I’m eagerly awaiting the next one.
Thank you, Mr. Belsky. I hope it won’t take you too long to get out the next book in this series. I don’t want the Clare Carlson mysteries to end.
***Book provided without charge by PICT.***
Then she proceeded to dig and get the chief suspect out of jail by helping to prove her innocence.
But was she really innocent? Clare now has misgivings about that. And then there’s the fact that more suspects keep popping up.
She’s determined to dig out the truth even if it takes her to the other side of the country. What that excursion does is make things even more confusing.
Throw in her messy personal life which can throw her off balance at times. Through all of this she finally figures it out when her life hangs in the balance. I certainly wasn’t able to figure out the murderer.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all the Clare Carlson books. You can read my reviews for Below the Fold and The Last Scoop. I’m eagerly awaiting the next one.
Thank you, Mr. Belsky. I hope it won’t take you too long to get out the next book in this series. I don’t want the Clare Carlson mysteries to end.
***Book provided without charge by PICT.***
April 24, 2021
Clare was expecting to interview Laurie Bateman about her life, not become an advocate for her after her husband, the uber-wealhy Charles Hollister was murdered. Clare, who won a Pulitzer but now works in a tv news room chasing hot stories, is intrigued enough by Laurie's claim that Hollister abused her that she starts to burrow into the story- and mainly into Laurie's history. How does what happened during the Vietnam war and its immediate aftermath matter to this case? No spoilers. Clare is a troubled woman who doesn't always make good choices and while she steps outside the boundaries of responsible journalism, it does make for a good story. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. I'm a fan of this series - this one will be fine as a standalone- for the writing and the complex mysteries as well as for Clare.
November 26, 2020
I loved it. You can tell I clearly have a thing for psychological thrillers and true crime type books. I again finished it within a week because I couldn’t put it down. This was also my first time reading anything by this author, and I want to read the other books in this series.
I also like all the twists and the turns, and I really didn’t except what was going to come next, like I did in some other books I’ve read.
This book also talks about important issues like the #metoo movement and domestic abuse.
I want to thank NetGalley, the author and publisher for giving me an opportunity to read a copy of this book.
I also like all the twists and the turns, and I really didn’t except what was going to come next, like I did in some other books I’ve read.
This book also talks about important issues like the #metoo movement and domestic abuse.
I want to thank NetGalley, the author and publisher for giving me an opportunity to read a copy of this book.
June 4, 2021
I love Clare Carlson! Beyond The Headlines, the fourth book in this series is the best one so far. I have enjoyed all of them but this one is fast-paced with a story that has ties as far back as Vietnam and had me intrigued till the end. Clare is in the thick of it when she changes her opinion on the guilt of a supermodel/actress arrested for the murder of her billionaire husband and investigates until she finds the truth.
April 9, 2021
Thanks very much to Goodreads for my ARC of Beyond the Headlines. I read this in a day, it was one of those that you just didn’t want to put down. This is the fourth in the series by this author that I’ve read, the stories don’t need to be read in order, but once you’ve read one you’ll probably want to read the others!
May 25, 2021
I hated that this book had to end. Clare Carlson has now become another favorite character of mine and I look forward to reading more books in this series. She is strong, passionate, witty and just an awesome cool character that is so well written that you just like her from the beginning. This was a quick, fun and adventurous read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy.
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