THE STORY THAT WOULDN'T DIE

A reporter with a nose for news about city corruption finds herself buried under cupcakes and clickbait until a suspicious death raises the stakes.

Fresh off her first Emmy win, TV reporter Jolene Garcia returns for her second outing—following Off the Air (2024)—determined to chase stories that matter to her local community in Phoenix, Arizona. But her boss, David Matthew—nicknamed “Sexy” for his obsession with click-driven fluff—would rather see her covering viral cupcakes and quirky-mishap human interest stories (Mayor Ace is trapped in an elevator!). While she’s reporting on that elevator, Jolene’s approached by attorney Whitney Wright, who tries to flatter her about her reporting of radio host Larry Lemmon’s murder in order to get her interested in Whitney’s latest client. Carlos Rios came to Whitney certain that there was some impropriety in the city’s bidding system for big jobs. Soon after this meeting, however, Carlos was killed in a car crash. Was it just bad timing, or was he silenced before he could blow the whistle? Suspecting foul play, Jolene sees an opportunity to reclaim the serious stories that are closest to her journalistic heart. As she digs into the murky intersection of city hall politics and favoritism, the pace lags, with narrative detours into newsroom dynamics leaving the investigative arc simmering. Jolene’s oft-mentioned Emmy is mainly a symbol of her past success, and readers may struggle to root for a reporter who seems more concerned with recognition than justice.

A story that wants to shine a spotlight but keeps its batteries low.