Forty-six-year-old investigative reporter Charlotte McNally is aware her career in front of the camera may soon end. As the November sweeps near she needs an earth-shattering story if she wants to keep her job another year.

Franklin, her close friend and producer, thrives as Charlie’s sounding board as he attempts to keep her out of trouble. According to Charlie, he is a master at multitasking, a super organized computer wiz, and goal oriented perfectionist who watchers her back whenever possible.

Unfortunately, she has clipboard carrying, pen clicking assistant news director Angela Nevins breathing down her back. The young newsroom manager would love to find a reason to replace Charlie with a young fresh face.

Together the dynamic duo of Charlie and Franklin dive into the story of Brad Foreman’s death in a single car accident. He was an employee of Aztratech, a large pharmaceutical company recently in the headlines after a whistle blower brought certain financial information to light.

Following the instincts honed from 20 years as a top-notch reporter, Charlie delves into Foreman’s suspicious death. Could he have been the whistle blower? Working with his surprisingly open and cooperative widow, the investigation begins to uncover a spam email scheme.

Believing there might be hidden code carrying secret messages within the spam, Charlie continues to dig deeper until her investigation leads her to college professor Josh Gelston. The Gregory Peck look alike seems a little too eager to get involved with the case, and with Charlie.

Prime Time is a fast-paced tale involving an investigative reporter who is struggling to keep her job. Award-winning television reporter and author Hank Phillippi Ryan knows a good story when she sees it.

After all, she is a highly successful investigative reporter in her own right, based in Boston, MA. Due to her years of person experience, Ryan brings an authenticity to her stories only an insider could provide.

Fortunately for readers, she has provided an enjoyable mystery and engaging heroine. Ryan writes with a realistic command of the language. The characters are believable and the danger real as the tension mounts to an unexpected conclusion. The underlying humor woven throughout the story adds another level of enjoyment.

Prime Time was Ryan’s first book, quickly followed by Face Time. Published originally in 2007, both books have recently been re-released. The third in the series Air Time releases in September 2009 followed by Drive Time in February 2010.

Fans of Hank Phillippi Ryan and her alter ego Charlie McNally will surely want to continue reading this engaging series.