Affiliate Disclosure & Image Credits
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This article may contain affiliate links. If you click one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Book cover images in this article are provided courtesy of Open Library.
Off the Record (2017) by Amanda M. Lee is the tenth installment in the beloved Avery Shaw Mystery series. Amanda M. Lee delivers another blend of cozy mystery, snarky newsroom humor and small‑town intrigue as protagonist Avery Shaw takes a supposed vacation that turns into a murder investigation. The book was published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform and carries ISBN‑13: 9781542488839.
This entry matters because it reinvigorates Avery’s character by placing her outside her usual beat, showing how she adapts when the story happens away from the office and the usual turf.
Setting & Author Context
The setting of Off the Record relocates Avery Shaw from her day‑job newsroom in Macomb County, Michigan, into a weekend retreat and local festival environment. The setting → places → Avery in a vacation‑mode scenario where the familiar structure of her job is replaced by festival crowds, carnival workers and unexpected bodies. Amanda M. Lee’s background as a former newspaper reporter gives her the ability to portray both the newsroom world and the “on‑the‑ground” incident environment.
Lee’s style often features witty first‑person narration, workplace‑insider glimpses, and a mix of humor and suspense. The familiar tone of the Avery Shaw series remains—but here the change of pace deepens the intrigue.
Plot Summary (No Spoilers)
In Off the Record, Avery Shaw plans a well‑earned vacation with her boyfriend Eliot Kane, aiming to relax away from the newsroom. The vacation plan → is interrupted → when Avery and Eliot come across a dead body at a local festival.
Returning to work after the trip, Avery finds the same carnival workers back in town for an annual fair—and then another body turns up. The repeated incidents force Avery to shift from “holiday mode” to investigative mode, even though she’s outside her usual beat and supposed to be off the clock. Her story covers camping, moving into a new house and dealing with an overbearing mother—all while the dark under‑belly of the festival world threatens to pull her in.
As tension builds, Avery faces danger from multiple directions: local politicians who ignore underprivileged victims, shady carnival workers, and the fact that she’s now entangled in a story bigger than she planned. The narrative balances reporter life, personal transitions and the mystery at hand.
Characters & Themes
Main characters:
- Avery Shaw — Investigative reporter and protagonist. Avery Shaw → represents → ambition, restlessness and the quest to find truth even off duty.
- Eliot Kane — Avery’s partner. Eliot Kane → represents → emotional support, grounding influence and the tension between work and personal life.
- Avery’s Mother — A minor but defining presence in the subplot of moving into a new house. Avery’s mother → represents → home life pressure and the personal stakes outside the job.
- Carnival Workers / Local Politicians — Supporting cast who reflect the story’s darker layers. Carnival workers → represent → transience, secrets and outsider‑danger; local politicians → represent → power, neglect and suppression of underprivileged voices.
Central themes:
- Vacation gone wrong / work‑life blur — The book explores how even a reporter’s “time off” can turn into work. Vacation plans → become → investigation.
- Roots vs. mobility — Avery’s move into a new house represents change, while the carnival workers’ return signals a recurring threat. Change → collides with → repetition.
- Justice for the under‑represented — The story raises the theme of victims who are overlooked by power structures. Neglect → fosters → danger.
- Identity outside the job — Avery’s identity is journalist first; the book questions what she is when she’s not working. Identity → is challenged → when role shifts.
Tropes & Reader Experience
Off the Record uses several cozy‑mystery tropes (amateur sleuth with professional background, small‑town setting, witty heroine) and adds a twist by using the “holiday turned dangerous” scenario. The trope of “reporter on vacation finds murder” gives a fresh backdrop. Trope → defines → reader expectations. Amanda M. Lee delivers on the promise of snarky banter, newsroom insight and cozy intrigue—author → delivers → emotional consistency.
Reader consensus (via Goodreads) indicates high marks for Avery’s voice and the mix of humor and suspense.
The tone is accessible, amusing, and layered—not purely light cozy but with real stakes and a professional heroine whose job matters. The experience appeals to readers who like their mysteries with smart protagonists, newsroom settings and a dash of home life.
Series Placement / Reading Order
Off the Record is #10 in the Avery Shaw Mystery series.
Here’s a short reading‑order snapshot around this title:
- #9: Bylines & Skylines (2016)
- #10: Off the Record (2017)
- #11: Unwritten & Underwater (2017)
Reading in order enhances character continuity (particularly Avery’s ongoing personal and professional development) though each book has its own self‑contained mystery.
Reader Suitability / Why Read It
If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a sharp‑tongued female reporter, witty dialogue and a setting beyond the usual newsroom, Off the Record is a strong pick. The novel appeals to readers who appreciate professional‑life heroes, small‑town journalism, and the unexpected turns that come when you think you’re off duty. The story inspires reflection on how work and personal life intersect and how even “time off” can become a story worth covering. The tone remains cozy but with higher stakes than some lighter mysteries—novel → appeals to → fans of quirky reporter‑sleuths.
Continue the Avery Shaw Mystery Series
Read other books in the Avery Shaw Mystery Series.