I first need to say how much I love Martin Kemp which may have distracted me from the storyline at times.
Klein is a failing rock star who has lost everything. A friend in his hour of need offers him a place to stay in somewhere I would love to go. He then gets offered a way of making some money and not for his singing. One rollercoaster of a week evolves and Klein is left dealing with his demons. Will the boy do the right thing or will the selfish Rock star he has been allowed to be keep putting himself first. So many twists and turns but no real plot which spoilt it. I wanted to hear from the other characters as it felt like too much Klein overload.

So i picked it for the author

However can not say I enjoyed it much its not bad but just does not appeal to me

I am not going to lie I picked this book up as I love Martin Kept, and have done throughout his this careers.. I love the fact that him and his wife Shirley continue to do well and reinvent themselves. As the former bassist in Spandet Ballet, actor, DJ, entertainer are there no end to this mans talents. I recently read "Ticket to the World: My 80s Story" which I found really interesting and well written. So I thought I would give this new book a go.

Johnny Klein is a rock casualty, a fallen 1980s popstar who has lost everything — his family, his money and his fame. Thrown a lifeline by an old contact in the music business, Johnny doesn’t care what he is getting himself into.

Dragged down into East London’s dark underbelly, Johnny discovers there is more at stake than his own shattered ego. Johnny hates being yesterday’s man but now he’s wishing he could disappear altogether. The party might be over, but there’s no escape from the past…

I really enjoyed the 80's vibe of this book, the music, the clothes and the hair. The locations used set in London's East End show the dark side of the music industry and the city. Kemp has cleverly used all the areas he knows well and made them in to a thriller. I enjoyed the book and the pace of the writing. I don't think it is a masterpiece but the book flows well and the characters are relatable and well developed. There are plenty of twists and turns in Johnnys story that it keeps you guessing and turning the pages to find out what will happen next. He is obviously he own worst enemy and just keep making the wrong choices but somehow I was still routing for him and hoping things would work out for him in the end.

A big thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollinsUK, HarperFiction and the author Martin Kemp for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thought and opinions are my own.

Jonny Klein was once an A List Popstar, but he looses everything and everyone and lives alone above a curry shop

This story is a quick read with interesting characters. A good story line that makes you wonder about the life of a pop star. I enjoyed and wanted to turn the page waiting to see if Jonny came good. Easy reading and entertaining also felt like the opening of more to come from Jonny Klein.

Thinking he’s being given a lifeline of being back in the music world are far from the drama Jonny is actually being brought into.

With likeable characters, and laugh out loud moments. This booked is not to be missed.

I love forward to reading more from Martin Kemp in the future

The idea of this book was good but unfortunately it just didn't have the grit and appeal of other books in this category. The story is about a washed out rock star that has hit the hard times and is trying to sort his life out. Some interesting characters along the way but I just didn't love it.

Thank you Harper Collins and NetGalley.
Martin Kemp as a singer great, as an author great too.
I didn't expect this to be up-to-scratch so to speak, but it was.
A great storyline and good characters and lots of 80's throwback.
Recommended
Can I have the next one please?

I wondered what this was going to be like as Martin Kemp's first novel, I did actually enjoy it.

The story follows Johnny Klein a popstar who lost everything then ends up mixed up with Gangsters, drugs and crime.

An easy read that was enjoyable I look forward to his next book

I wasn’t blown away by this, there were certain points of the story that felt rushed and other parts that felt a bit unrealistic, overall it was an alright read but I wasn’t gripped by it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a great debut from Martin Kemp. This book was excellent quick read for me, and I knew form the first few pages I was in for the ride. It was everything I could possibly want in a thriller it had realistic characters, was fast paced, gritty and a page turner. Honestly, what more could you want.

I have watched a couple of Martin’s true crime show and I’m not ashamed to confess I internally monologued the whole book in his voice while reading. It added depth the book I didn’t expect.

Johnny Klein is a fallen 1980s pop star who has lost everything and now lives in an attic above an Indian restaurant called Graceland.
This book feels realistic at points when it also showed that it was not all butterflies and rainbows when you’re trying to get to the top in the music indusrty.. I couldn’t help but hink that Martin may have included some of his own experiences or stuff he witnessed into the story.

Poor Johnny is now penniless with no home no work and divorce pending. Until he gets thrown a lifeline by an old contact in the music business and ends up mixed up with gangsters and seedy underbelly of the London underworld. Obviously, trouble seems destined to follow Johnny wherever he goes and things get out of hand and danger appears round every corner.

Unfortunately, I was unable to download this book before it was archived and so am leaving this as a review/explanation as I didn't know what else to do after finding a few books I had managed to miss in a section of my account entitled Not Active: Archived, Not Downloaded; so I thought it best to clear it up. I have already bought a copy and will leave a review on places like Amazon, Goodreads, Waterstones, etc, once I've completed it and formed my thoughts on it. Apologies for any inconvenience and thank you for the opportunity.

So Martin Kemp can write too. Really enjoyed this.
Johnny Klein took a while to warm to but once we get to know his character he rocked.
This thriller was exciting and the rest of the characters were interesting, especially Ravi.
With a mixture of a gritty storyline on a backdrop of East London it worked.

I've always had a soft spot for Martin Kemp, so i was pleased to see he had written a book.

I enjoyed the story, it was full of life as a forgotten singing star Johnny Klein.
The story showed how he went from the world of glamour to drug and alcohol dependency and eventually crime.
It was well written and the descriptions of characters and roads in and around London you could picture them.
I think Martin has a flare for writing and I hope he does more.

I was a goth in the 80s so Spandau Ballet were not amongst my favourite bands but I was very curious about this story and I enjoyed it.
It's a good thriller but it's also a trip along the memory road.
Mr Kemp can write and I hope to read another story soon.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel from Martin Kemp, I found myself alternately liking and disliking the main character Johnny Klein, you shouldn't feel sorry for someone who has had it all and blown it but he has redeeming features so it's hard not to like him (his family may feel differently though!).

From a mansion to a room above a takeaway Johnny has to find a way to juggle the pressures of life such as having to trek across London on a bus because he can't afford a taxi whilst people recognise him and scraping together enough money to get by.

Room has definitely been left for a sequel and I hope that one is in the making as I'd like to see what else Johnny can get up to and whether he ever reaches the heady heights that he once reached in the eighties again.

Enjoyed this book, plenty of 80’s nostalgia, good story with some lefty of twists and turns, can’t wait to see what comes next

The 80’s pop star Martin Kemp has created a thriller based on a fictitious character Johnny Klein who has fallen from grace. Klein is a chap who experienced the highest of highs in the music industry and plummeted just about as low as you can get..

Kemp has done a very good job here and when reading I was constantly wondering how much of the book was autobiographical or based on other stories Mr Kemp has knowledge of.

There is much to like here and there is a satisfying unresolved narrative that hints at potentially more to come.

An enjoyable read for Kemp fans and non fans alike.

4/5

It is always interesting to see if a musician or an actor can transfer their skills to another art form and become an author and in this case I am pleased to confirm that member of 80’s New Romantic band Spandau Ballet, Martin Kemp, has achieved this in his first novel. As an 80’s teenager it is great to see an idol continue to grow and be successful.

Sticking to what he knows, author Martin Kemp has based his novel in the world of the music business and based his character on a hugely successful lead singer from a band that has fallen on hard times.

The writing is good and the characters are real, gritty and enjoyable to read about, so much so that I was devastated at the death of Elvis and cannot wait to see how main character Johnny Klein finds his way back to success.

I would definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy a good read and one set in the music world, written by someone with a good knowledge themselves.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

WoW I finally have my heart throb in by hands! Shame its in a form of a book......But I won't grumble! It will be the closest I will ever get to him!

The Game by Martin Kemp was the founding member and bassist of the brilliant 1980's band Spandau Ballet which he is famous for. However, he has many other talents, acting and now writing in this London underworld thriller, which was excellent.

Johnny Klein is a rock casualty, a fallen 1980s pop star who has lost everything — his family, his money and his fame. Thrown a lifeline by an old contact in the music business, Johnny doesn’t care what he is getting himself into.

Dragged down into East London’s dark underbelly, Johnny discovers there is more at stake than his own shattered ego. Johnny hates being yesterday’s man but now he’s wishing he could disappear altogether. The party might be over, but there’s no escape from the past…

This book was excellent and I loved it, from the very first few pages I knew this book was going to be brilliant and it was a gripping read.

I highly recommend Martin Kemps new book....See he's not just a pretty face!!!! 😁 😁

Big Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review.

I was really looking forward to diving into this book - but sadly it wasn’t quite punchy enough for me.

The promise of the dark and grimy side of London life lived up to some expectations where the plot was tense, dramatic and pacy. However, for me, there were quite a few lulls in the plot line making it difficult for me to maintain a good interest and keep turning the pages.

To Martin’s credit - the main character is clearly steeped in his own personal knowledge and experience of life as an 80s pop star and it really shines through with the detail and colour that he depicts.

I just wish the pace had been kept up all the way through to make it more of an easy read.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from a former pop star turned author but as I’ve followed Martin’s career and think he’s a nice person I thought I’d give his book a read. They say write what you know and this is what Martin gas done.
Johnny Klein a down on his luck pop star is struggling as he loses his home and his wife and daughter. Mona a young journalist takes him to her Uncle’s restaurant where he is given food and somewhere to live. With no job and no money Johnny takes up the offer of a job little knowing how much it would cost him and his loved ones and friends. Johnny is a great character and the book gives you food for thought