Not my usual kind of read, I was intrigued to see how Mr Kemp fares as a writer.
Wasn’t keen to start, it felt like I was reading an English language example from a school kid trying too hard. Too many adjectives and similes in a few paragraphs.
However, this seemed to settle down and I enjoyed the storyline. One time mega successful, rich and famous pop star goes bankrupt, loses everything; champagne lifestyle, flash home, wife, kid etc. and gets involved in the seedy underworld of London gangsters with some drug use and a couple of murders for good measure.
I actually enjoyed it. It was an easy read.
The characters are likeable and I couldn’t help but hope for a happy ending for the main character.
There was a word missing here and there, but presume as an ARC, these will be ironed out before it goes to release.
Did anyone else read this with the voice of Martin Kemp in their head? I couldn’t stop it. Yeah, most enjoyable.
Many thanks to NetGalley UK and HarperCollins for the ARC.
This will be published on 9.11.23.
Review posted on Netgalley UK, Goodreads and Instagram @heidi_is_reading

For a 'blockbuster' and 'thriller' this was a very slow read. I requested the book for the author and his history and was intrigued to see how he would write given that besides his singing career, he has acting and screen writing credits. Maybe this book would have played out better as a film - a little heightened drama might have kept it on track.
This is the story of Johnny Klein, rock star of the 80's, who has since lost everything and is so far down he has to lodge with an old friend who is a music journalist at her uncle's restaurant on Brick Lane. Trying to get back on his feet Johnny undertakes some work for former acquaintance - something different to his usual musical line of work and it leads to a dispute with the underworld.
Sadly I didn't like the main character of Johnny Klein. I fully realise he is meant to be seen as hedonistic and narcissistic, but he has absolutely no redeeming features until a former colleague turned minister gives him a Road to Damascus talk. Sadly Johnny's conversion didn't ring true for me, and we were left with dangling ends in the story about his family, to whom he'd been particularly awful - what happened to them?
All in all, not for me and I've read similar stories done somewhat better.
With thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for an arc copy in return for an honest review.

This was so entertaining! Star of Spandau Ballet and actor, Martin Kemps first fiction novel was a page turner. Showing *the dark and seedy side of a London and the music industry, this book really kept me interested all the way. I was keen to see what it would be like, and was pleasantly impressed.

Johnny Klein is an 80s rockstar who had everything that he could possibly want. But he has now hit rock bottom, having to sell his home to pay of debts, his wife and daughter have moved in with his mother in law and he is depending on the kindness of others to get by. He approaches some former acquaintances for some work, and they give him something he never dreamed of. It becomes a dangerous situation for him and those around him.

While a Johnny was definitely his own worst enemy, I was hoping that things would work out for him. I loved all the throwbacks to the 80s,… the music and clothes and the hairstyles 😆 As a music and crime fiction fan it all works really well for me.

Thanks so much to Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. Published in November 9th.

Johnny Klein was once the ultimate 80's pop star. Followed by adoring fans wherever he went, pampered, he had everything he could possibly want.
Now he is broke, everything he owned sold to pay off the huge debts he had racked up. His wife and daughter have left and are living with his wife's mother.
Johnny is at rock bottom.
Turning to old acquaintances for help he is offered a job, one that could land him in a whole new world of trouble.
With nothing else to lose Johnny decides to take the job but it might not be only himself he puts in danger but everyone else he loves.
This is a book that shows the highs and lows of fame in all its dark, dirty glory. Written by someone who experienced those heady days of the 80’s.

Nothing out of the ordinary to be honest, not that I ever expected it to be. Just thought I would give it a try and it was just as I expected it to be.. Ordinary.

The Game is not the sort of book I would usually read, I chose it simply because I am a big fan of its author, Martin Kemp. I found it to be a quick and easy read which I thought to be quite enjoyable but I wouldn't have read it if it had been written by anyone else. I was quite surprised how well written it was with Martin not being a writer but it just shows how talented he is and by the looks of things there's nothing he can't do. Throughout the book I could not stop imagining Martin as Johnny Klein, I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing but it worked for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

I absolutely loved this debut book by Martin Kemp .The characters were very realistic and it was fast paced ,gritty, definitely page turning everything I want in a Thriller .I loved the ending Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.

I read in an interview that Mr Kemp did actually write this and did not rely on a ghostwriter as happens a lot when you hear of celebrities releasing books. He has written screenplays, etc so I guess that will have helped. As a debut novel it was not a bad attempt and the author did not get over descriptive and developed the characters well. I did feel that the book was quite a slow burn and some readers may lose interest. I have heard people saying that it is a gangland book but I would not put it in that genre. It is an easy to read story of crime fiction.

As the author has been involved in the music business for many years, it does make you wonder if parts of it are autobiographical and it does feel like that in parts. Anyone who lived through the 80's music scene will enjoy this book but it should also be of interest to anyone looking for an easy read.
I hope the author writes more of the same style of book
Many thanks to Harper Collins, NetGalley and the author, for providing me with an electronic advanced copy of the book in return for a honest and unbiased review.
The book will be published on the 9th November in e-book, audiobook and hardback formats.

THE GAME by Martin Kemp
DEBUT NOVEL - Format - BOOK
Published date - 9 November 2023
PUBLISHER - HarperCollins

I requested this book due to curiosity as it is not my choice of genre. An easy read, full of quotes regarding rock stars, real and not real. Song titles and words from well known songs are all in the writing mix. There is a lot of Cockney rhyming. The writing style is not for me and I could not get the image of Martin Kemp from my mind! Is that good or bad? Distracting may be?

Johnny Klien is a fallen eighties rock god, separated from his wife, Laura and daughter, Chelsea. Johnny is now flat broke, lost his home, Mill House, and all his money and status. Johnny reaches out to an old band mate hoping to find work as a band musician till he gets back on his feet. The result is not what Johnny had intended. With London gangsters and rock stars in abundance, anything can happen.

If gangsters, drugs and rock and roll are your thing, this novel is for you.

I give a 3 star rating.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF READING AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW

The Game was a throughly entertaining book. The main chapter and his problems left you not liking him at times and loving him at other times. I hope there will be a sequel.

'The Game' written by Martin Kemp is a quick and easy read. A mixed bag of characters - some more likeable than others - all with their own stories, and lots about the music industry, past and present. To bill it as 'an underworld thriller' was in my opinion a bit misleading but it was still entertaining. 3.5 stars from me.
Thank you to netgalley, the author and publisher for an arc.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review. I found the start of the book a little bland and I wasn’t overly impressed but I’m so glad that I stuck with the story as I ended up really enjoying it. It certainly gave me an insight into the life of an 80’s pop star. I found it fascinating to see the other side of fame and the realities that come with it. Once the story developed it was an edgy crime thriller mixed with pop nostalgia. I would definitely recommend this book and say stick with it. 4 stars from me.

Joining the list of celebrities publishing a book is Martin Kemp, from Eighties band Spandau Ballet, musician, actor and personality. Although I was never a major fan of Eighties music, it was my era and a very happy decade for me. I was one of the, now, middle aged mums, that Kemp’s character half hates, half wants to recognise him. I met my husband in 1982 and so I was definitely keen to read this tale of a down on his luck Eighties singer, who is a sort of Martin Kemp alter ego.

We meet central character, Johnny Klein, when he loses his mansion in Mill Hill (a few minutes from where I am writing this review). Johnny’s wife, the long-suffering Laura, has decamped to her mother’s, with daughter Chelsea and he has, quite literally, nothing left. No house, no family, no career. Taking pity on him is rock journalist, Mona, who offers him a bed in his uncle’s Indian restaurant on Brick Lane. However, Johnny is mired in self-pity and feels ashamed that he has nowhere else to go.

When musician Pete James contacts him, Johnny hopes he will be offered a way back into the life he knows – touring, concerts, fame…. However, he is, instead, given a task that is more suited to a P.I. than a washed-up star. With money low, he agrees to take on the job. Of course, this is a way to introduce lots of characters that hover around Johnny’s world, from money-grubbing journalists, those in the criminal underworld, and those who present the more toxic, and desperate, side of fame. Especially those who do not quite reach the stratosphere, but who cling to the lower ranks of celebrities. The desire to be included, the fear of being recognised, the annoyance of fame, but yet the dark side of fame without wealth, leaving Johnny unprotected and alone, is well done.

I hope that Johnny Klein reappears in a sequel. I suspect he will, and I look forward to reading more of his adventures. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

Martin Kemp the man of many talents now turns to novels.

A really enjoyable read.

Throughout reading I did picture Johnny Klein as Martin.

Having lost it all, we see Johnny try to get back on top on a rollercoaster ride in the deep east end of Brick Lane.

I would certainly recommend and read more from Mr Kemp.

Like many people, I was very interested to read Martin Kemp’s first novel as a fan of Spandau, and Martin’s acting. I didn’t know what to expect. I was really very impressed!

The writing style is so vivid, particularly the setting of the scene in East London – from the rich fancy areas where our main character, Johnny Klein, has been used to living – to the hustle and bustle of Brick Lane. I loved Graceland and Mona’s family and friends living there and particularly enjoyed those characters!

The plot itself is very detailed and entertaining. Johnny is well and truly past his prime – his band, Klein, were a huge hit in the 80s and 90s and now he finds himself penniless, forced out of his mansion, left by his wife, and no clue what to do to get his life back on track. His friend and music journalist, Mona, is the only one there for him and offers him a place to stay in a room above her family’s Brick Lane restaurant, Graceland.

From here, things go even further downhill for Johnny as he tries to make his way back in with some old musician friends and find a way to make some money. A dodgy opportunity leads him into some dealings with the London underworld and he soon learns that he can’t trust everyone from his past. He also has to start facing up to the way he has been treating the people who care about him and learn how to be less selfish.

I enjoyed going on the rollercoaster journey with Johnny – he is, at times, extremely unlikeable and makes some very bad decisions! But deep down, he seems to be a good guy who is lucky to have the few close friends and family who stick by him (although, I’m not really sure why they do!)

My only complaint was that it did feel a little slow at times. I’m not sure why – the story was strong, but there was something about the pace that was a bit meandering and plodding when I wanted to be gripped and unable to put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this eARC.

Johnny Klein is an 80's rock star who has lost everything and has hit rock bottom. A friend offers him a room above a restaurant where he has to start again. He is selfish, self centred, makes questionable decisions and takes on work through an old music contact that has unforseen consequences. It took me a while to take to Johnny and as the book progressed he slowly began to grow on me. Martin Kemp's knowledge and experience of the music industry shine through here. There are a lot of characters in the story, some I liked, others I hated and a lot of threads that kept me interested and held my attention. I like the writing style and how easy the story flows. At times the writing is very descriptive and I could picture the characters and areas in my mind. I'm not sure I would class this as a underworld thriller though - I found this to be a good, entertaining read that didn't quite have the wow factor. I would have liked it to thrill me more and be a real page turning read. I really liked the ending though, it was very fitting and certainly gave the story good closure. I'd recommend this book and will read more by this author.

3.5 stars

What a surprise for me. I went in to this book with an open mind as I am a fan of Martin Kemp. It was a great read. I keep visualising Martin as Johnny Klein. A story of the current day life a a rock star down in his luck who gets mixed up in some dodgy dealings. We meet some great characters along the way. My favourite is Ravi with his obsession with Elvis..

It was a ok read but no Martina Cole . The underworld part is quite miss leading as you expect a gangland book but this is nothing like that .

I really enjoyed this caper; something between a 90's rock reminiscence, a gangster crime novel and a comedy/drama. Despite serious assaults, and murders, which seemed part of the comedic sequence of events, there was a serious portrayal of the life outcome for many rock stars, who peaked on the highest and most treacherous mountain but came down quickly, starved of oxygen and resources to survive but pumped with harmful drugs and alcohol to fuel depression.
I kept thinking about Spandau Ballet and how autobiographical this novel was. Fortunately, Martin Kemp survived the post rock god era and has gone on to do much more. Bravo!
The writing style was good, although the dialogue was sometime hard to attribute to particular characters
All in all, I'd commend this book. It's a fine first novel on a subject akin to o the writer's heart.

I really enjoyed this first fiction book written by Martin Kemp. Gritty and full of drama it kept me gripped from start to finish. Thank goodness for annual leave meaning I could curl up on the sofa and read it pretty quickly.