Prime Time

If you jump for joy every time a white-collar crook like Bernie Madoff lands in the slammer, you'll cheer for Ms. Ryan's fictional TV journalist, Charlie McNally, who's assigned to cover the "accidental" death of a middle manager from Big Pharma but finds herself in the thick of murder, fraud, and greedy CEOs. I've always had trouble sticking with stories written in the present tense, but in Ms. Ryan's hands, present tense conveys the "I want it now!" environment of a journalist's double-espresso-zero-sleep world. Charlie has a bouyant sense of humor, just the right amount of snark and sophistication to make you laugh aloud. In her mid-40s and perimenopausal, she's a refreshing break from the ovulating hotties who populate so many (too show more many) novels. Her equally three-dimensional sidekick, Franklin, is her producer, ally, and dose of common sense. They make an invincible team for a pageturner. And don't believe the "romance" label attached to this mystery. Sure, there's the start of a romance in it -- no, not between Charlie and Franklin -- but sexual tension doesn't power the plot in this book. It's whodunit and suspense and wonderful escape. show less

PRIME TIME introduces us to 46-year-old investigative television reporter Charlotte “Charlie” McNally, an indomitable, uncompromising, clever, and dedicated reporter. She’s not without her faults and that makes her someone everyone can relate to: she worries about her career [aka the next big story], aging in a field of young, blonde whipper-snappers [television journalism can be cruel like that], her lack of a romantic life and being over 45.

Writing with riveting details, Emmy and Agatha Award-winning television reporter for Boston’s WHDH-TV, Hank Phillippi Ryan deftly allows readers an all-access pass into the cutthroat world of television journalism where you’re only as good as your current story. PRIME TIME contains a show more multitude of twists to keep you guessing right to the last page. Ryan succeeds in crafting quite the page-turner.

Charlie is determined and scrappy and instantly someone you want as your friend. She’s that type of woman who would go above and beyond to help you solve or fix any problem that you have and that’s a true blue, special friend. She’s devoted to her producer Franklin. Charlie’s investigative journalism skills prove exceptional on this mysterious case which begins with a strange email and turns into a case of corporate fraud, murder, and imminent danger to Charlie and Franklin as they pursue the truth. Not only is PRIME TIME a fantastic mystery but it provides a compelling insider’s view of television journalism. PRIME TIME is the first in the Charlotte McNally series and I cannot wait to dig in to the next few novels to find out more about this layered, imperfect woman. show less

Smart, talented, energetic TV reporter has a well-established instinct for a story, but here gets distracted by career woes and hottie suspect, until the bodies and the facts begin to pile up.

First in the series, it takes several chapters to lay out Charlie McNally's work/life history and story setting. Loved reading about a dynamic working woman at the top of her game. A light thriller, great beach read.

Prime Time is the first book in the Charlie McNally series that has been updated and will be re-released during 2016. Ms. Ryan is a new author for me but after totally enjoying Prime Time, I am anxious to read the rest of the books in this series and read her other books, too.

Charlotte "Charlie" McNally is an investigative reporter for a TV station in Boston. At 46, she is worried that she will soon be replaced by a younger news reporter. Sweeps week is coming up and she's being pressured to come up with a big story. Even though she has Emmy Awards and has had a successful career, she knows that the next story is always the most important. Her reporter instincts lead her to a story that may be the best story of her life if she is show more successful or it may cause her to lose her life if she isn't. It's a definite mystery and the ending was a real surprise to me.

What I liked most about this novel was the main character of 'Charlie'. It's so nice to read a book with an older female main character who has flaws and questions herself and her abilities like Charlie does. There are other good characters in the book but Charlie was the one that was the most real to me. I can't wait to see what happens to her in the next book in the series Face a Time that will be available in April. Air Time will be available in June and Drive Time in August.

Note: Prime Time won the Agatha Award for First Novel and the Romantic times Reviewers Choice Award.
(Prime Time was given to me by Tor/Force Publishing for a fair and honest review.) show less

AUTHOR: Ryan, Hank Phillippi
TITLE: Prime Time
DATE READ: 01/11/14
RATING: 4.5/B+
GENRE/PUB DATE/PUBLISHER/# OF PGS Suspense/2009/MIRA/280 pgs
SERIES/STAND-ALONE: #1Charlotte McNally
TIME/PLACE: Present/Boston
CHARACTERS: Charlotte McNally -- TV Journalist
FIRST LINES: Between the hot flashes, the hangover and all the spam on my computer, there's no way I'll get anything done before eight o'clock this morning.
COMMENTS: First off, I have to say -- I've seen/heard this author twice and she is a delightful, genuine, giving, gracious person. And despite all that, LOL, she tells a darn good story -- her plot was unique and kept you very interested. Charlie is a middle aged TV journalist very aware that her job is always in jeopardy -- unless she show more delivers a high ratings story -- the next best young things are lined up just waiting to take her place. Charlie proves once again she has the mettle to not only maintain her position but to outshine most of them and produce another award-winning story. I look forward to reading more from this author show less

Forty-six year old investigative reporter Charlie McNally knows her time at Channel 3 is dependent upon getting a great story for November sweeps, but she doesn't have much to work with. That is until she starts piecing together a corporation's corruption, two suspicious deaths, and what initially looked to be spam emails. Now Charlie must figure out who's behind the conspiracy not just to impress the station brass but to save her life!

Prime Time's excellent murder mystery is made all the more enjoyable with Hank Phillippi Ryan's accurate portrayal of TV news. The author has years of experience of in TV news (including an impressive number of Emmys and Murrows) and her knowledge of the industry is clear. From the very first chapter I show more knew I was going to love everything about this book. So much of what's shown here about TV news has happened in my life (though thankfully no one has ever tried to kill me!). I sincerely hope enough people read Prime Time that the misconceptions about TV news are eliminated. I, for one, am very much looking forward to the next Charlie McNally book, Face Time. show less

The numerous Emmy awards for investigative journalism prove Charlotte McNally is at the top of her profession. But, since her 46th birthday, she has been dwelling on her failed love life and the hungry, young reporters waiting in the wings. Charlie needs a prime-time story to keep her at the top of her profession and her mind off of her love life. She may get her break, if she lives to tell it, when she starts digging into the circumstances surrounding the death of a business man. Prime Time is a smart start to a series set in the world of broadcast news. The clever puzzle, likeable heroine, brainy romantic interest, suspense and fast pace come together to make this award-winning first novel a pleasure to read. Hank Phillippi Ryan is an show more Emmy-winning investigative report for the NBC-affiliate in Boston. She is a native of Indianapolis. show less