Drive Time is the 4th in the Charlotte McNally series and is nominated for
an Agatha Award-Best Novel, to be awarded this coming Saturday. One of the
things most authors say when asked what one should write about, they say
write about you know. Well in Ryan's case that is exactly what she has
done. She has been an investigative reporter for around 20 years.

Charlotte McNally has recently become engaged to Josh, a professor at a
private school. So Charlie is juggling her reporter career with the new
role of future wife and stepmother. It is coming up for sweeps at the
station and Charlie, her producer and camera are busy trying to think up
something that will win another Emmy. Then Josh shares with her that one of
the secretary's at school has been getting disturbing calls, but that
Charlie is not to get involved or tell anyone about the calls. Josh she is
an investigative reporter. Charlie and her crew had witnessed an automobile
accident on there way to the studio. For some unknown reason the air bags
didn't deploy, and after talking to the driver they find out that his car
was in for safety recall on it's brakes. They stay flowing this information
and soon discover that possibly these rental cars are possibly having their
air bags stolen. So the news crew has their story, but still Charlie is
concerned about what is happening at the school, as two people have met with
questionable death. She does continue to look into the disturbing events at
the school. But as an interested parent, more than an investigative
reporter.

This is a very exciting book and am sorry it took me till book 4 to discover
this series. But that was easily remedied as I now have the first three. I
love a book where I can learn something new and with this one, I learned
just what goes into being an investigative reporter. It's definitely more
than listening to a police scanner and going out to the scene and speaking
into a mike about the events.

Check this series out.
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I came across "Drive Time" in the middle of the Big Storm of 2011. It was a sanity saver at a time of no power and no heat, when food poisoning (restaurant generator failed to keep the food cold enough) rendered me helpless and hopeless. Best part? It gave me food for thought and a story to savor as the pages were read. It's like comfort food for a hungry reader.

Hank Phillippi Ryan creates some wonderful characters. The feisty Charlotte "Charlie" McNally is the savvy investigative reporter on the hunt for a big scoop. Torn between romance and ambition, she works the story while trying to sort out her personal life. From several possible suspects that you're hoping aren't involved, to Penny, the soon-to-be step-daughter who has a lot of influence over her dad's decision, the human interactions make the story feel like a vignette from your own friendly neighborhood. It's hard not to find yourself rooting for Charlie and the man in her life, Josh, as their personal lives become entangled with Charlie's professional life. Should she back off and play it safe or risk moving in for the exposé? Extortion, revenge, and murder all threaten to bring down the rich and powerful, taking the gutsy reporter with them. Charlie's understanding of human nature helps her solve the crime in the end, but she takes you on a wild ride as she sorts it all out with her team. With fast-paced dialogue that moves as quickly as she does, the reader is swept up in the drama behind the news. Best of all? The ending is clever, realistic, and satisfying. ( )

This was my first exposure to Ms. Ryan and her cast featuring Charlotte McNally. In spite of it being Charlie's fourth appearance, I found that I didn't seem to be missing too much by not having read its predecessors. Ryan does a nice job of piling crises on her heroine, who is a star investigative journalist in Boston. She's got a complicated personal life, preparing to marry a prep-school professor with a nine-year-old daughter; she's working hard on a scoop for the upcoming ratings period; and her personal and professional lives collide when she hears rumors about a scandal at hubby-to-be's academy.

Ryan does a nice job of providing enough information about the main mystery, which involves stolen cars, without rubbing our noses in too much detail. She balances the story lines pretty well too. The characters are adequately drawn, but not great; I might have had a better picture of a couple of them if I had read the earlier books. I picked this up because I'd seen her name at the Jungle Red writers blog, and based on this one I'll keep an eye out for more. ( )

This is Book 4 of the Charlotte McNalley Novel series, and as such, the main characters come to us fully formed with personalities intact. Unfortunately for me, this is the first I've read. Author Hank Phillippi Ryan knows what she's about in the world of investigative reporting and television, and in the fictional world of Charlotte, better known as Charley McNalley, her experience comes through. The book, though a novel, rings true and the plot(s) are tight. An accident is witnessed by Charley and her crew which leads to the perfect story for them to blow the lid off a story just in time for ratings week, a deadly race to the deadline. But another story, full of secrets, and considered worthy of ratings week will almost spell the death of our intrepid heroine.

I really liked the plot line of the major investigation, it was well-thought out, driven hard, extremely plausible, and action packed. On the brink of her wedding, Charley and Josh are certainly not inseparable. She has suspects to keep tabs on, does surveillance with her crew at night, spending more and more time away from home. On top of that, she receives an opportunity of a lifetime, which will take her away even further. Will she make the right decisions in time to save her upcoming marriage and new family? Will Josh make the right decisions? Will their secrets tear them apart?

For those who have been following the series, there will be surprises in store. Characters will be leaving the series and new characters will arrive. Who will remain? Who will take up the offers of change and to further their careers? I love a book that keeps you wanting more. This is a series I want to explore from the beginning. Very well written, strong characterizations. ( )

Charlie McNally, Investigative Reporter extraordinaire is busy getting her story for the February Sweeps, and what a story it is. And while stumbling into the uncharted waters of her new roll as step-mom to be and wife to hunky private school professor Josh, she discovers something’s not right within the haloed halls of Bexter Academy. Two mysteries to solve, both equally sinister, both resulting in murder and mayhem. Will Charlie save the day or will it be “Sorry Charlie”.
Hank’s story line/plot is as usual right off the front pages of any local newspaper, or the leading story on any network news station. And as always a who-done-it worthy of Holmes or Miss Marple. She knows her stuff and it shows with her smooth dialogue and edgy context. Her characters are some of the most personable and memorable you’ll ever read and not only her heroine Charlie and main squeeze fiancé Josh, but all the incredible people that co-star and even those just making appearances in the story. Her romance is sweet and sensual but definitely the main focus is on solving the mystery
Drive Time is the 4th installment of the Charlotte McNally series by Hank Phillipi Ryan and it’s the best by far so far. It reads well as a stand-a-lone but to get the whole picture my suggestion would be to read the whole series. Hank has a hit on her hands with Drive Time, it hits all the marks and is an incredible who-done-it. So don’t walk, run to your nearest bookseller and pick up a copy of this great read. ( )