Shenanigans in Sidmouth..
The first of a new murder mystery series, Sidmouth set, featuring late night talk show radio host Edward Temmis. When details of an unsolved murder fall at his feet, Edward may well have found his raison d’etre. With the assistance of a few choice friends, Edward begins to dig - who exactly could possibly be targeting an older range audience and, more specifically, why? A rather convoluted whodunit with an eclectic cast of characters, a detailed backdrop and a plot populated with plenty of turns and laced with a wry humour as Vine weaves his own fond feelings for the broadcasting industry throughout the narrative.

3* Decent for the most but it gets bogged down in trying too hard to make it interesting.

I don't think this author's a natural, sadly. The book, set in England, started off refreshingly enough but got bogged down in minutiae. I wasn't sure if every single detail was going to tie in, but for the most it did. There were just too many characters and too much happening, and sadly, justice over the romance scam aspect didn't go very far. I think the tale had good intentions but there was just too...much of everything. It tried too hard to be PC and a little woke, too. And the cop thing was just too obvious. Editing needs to be more brutal and needs to ignore that JV's a 'name'.

Still, the characters were decent and it ended in a good place for most of them.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishers, for my reading pleasure.

These kind of books always grab me and I also found this one to be captivating with its story and the want to find out how it was all going to conclude.

It was cleverly woven and I found, as I continued reading, I started to get more invested. It was perhaps a little sluggish to set and it took me about 100 pages to find my grounding in the story; every reader is different.

I found I liked the characters and enjoyed following their lives and developments. The setting too also added to the setting.

The main central plot itself was intriguing - with a million pound con targeting the older generation and twists and turns I didn’t expect. It kept me guessing and I always looked forward to returning back to the book to uncover more of the plot as it went along.

It was a surprise to find out that Jeremy Vine from Radio 2 and Eggheads had written a novel and I was intrigued to read it. Thanks to net galley and the publisher for giving me an early copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

The advice that I most often hear to would-be novelists is to write about what you know and I think Jeremy followed this advice in part as his protagonist is a radio host and the backdrop to the story is a radio station, although not the BBC but a local one. I think that’s where the similarities end as the book involves murder, maiming with acid and a gory stabbing scene. There’s also a love hoax/scam and an actual love story, so a lot of different strands to this story.

At first I wasn’t sure whether I liked the book or not, but as I read further it grew on me and by the end I was hooked.

»Murder on Line One« by Jeremy Vine is an engrossing tale that blends the worlds of radio broadcasting and mystery, set in the picturesque town of Sidmouth. Edward Temmis, is a late-night radio talk show host who's lost his job due to personal tragedy. Things get worse when he learns about the suspicious death of a loyal listener's grandmother in a fire. As Edward teams up with Stevie—the granddaughter seeking answers—and his ex-lover Kim, they uncover a string of disturbing incidents targeting the older fans of his show.

The book's atmosphere is rich and evocative, contrasting Sidmouth's sunny charm with the dark underbelly of danger and deceit. Vine brings the town to life, immersing us in the characters' emotions. Edward's journey is as much about solving the murder as it is about navigating his grief and purpose. The mood shifts between suspense and introspection, pulling readers into the emotional depths of each character.

Vine's writing style is down-to-earth yet refined, mixing casual dialogue with sharp observations on human nature and society. His characters are well-rounded, each with their own baggage that adds nuance to the story. Edward, a flawed but relatable protagonist, wrestles with his past while trying to protect his loved ones.

While the book effectively ratchets up suspense and keeps readers guessing with its twists, some may find the pacing a bit uneven. Still, this mirrors real life—calm moments can quickly turn chaotic. The interplay between personal struggles and external threats enriches the narrative, elevating it beyond a standard whodunit.

Jeremy Vine, known for his broadcasting and journalism career, brings his sharp eye to this debut novel, imbuing it with authenticity and a fresh take on contemporary issues. His media background adds depth to Edward's character as he deals with public scrutiny and personal loss.

This gripping mystery deftly explores themes of loss, redemption, and community. With its engaging characters and vivid setting, it invites readers to consider not just the culprit but also what it means to truly connect with others.

This is technically Vine’s second novel and even on Socratic terms, it’s pushing the envelope. Edward Temming was the host of a lunchtime phone in, in Sidmouth, Devon till a family tragedy intervenes. Made redundant by his employer, Edward discovers a plot.

Well, I can’t really say anymore as it may ruin your enjoyment. Vine is an English eccentric and it’s a truly bizarre wedge of prose; with a surreal line in simile and metaphor. See also: the characterisations of women in this novel (which vary between traitorous/menopausal/libidinous) and a character later in the novel which I would consider to be transphobic.

Linking the narrative is a random chain of objects and events. These include variously: a catfishing scam, antique automata, a Scooby Gang of angry pensioners, an old episode of Columbo, the early Hitchcock ‘Rebecca’ and a computer hard drive filled with acid. No, I’m not making this up.

And although it is nice to see a real place (I should, know, my wife lived there) it is too overworked as a gimmick. Put it this way: if you don’t like it you can use it as SatNav to find your way round the South West. Sidmouth, a place where nothing happens on a daily basis is portrayed as a cross between 1930’s Chicago and millennial Baltimore.

It’s at least fifty pages too long and an editor should have ended the book in Sidmouth Costa. A series is planned. Less snark, more logic and sharper editing may improve it. It’s published by Harper Collins on April 25th, 2025 and I thank them for a preview copy.

Sidmouth, Devon.

Local DJ Edward Temmis finds himself working in a garden centre after being sacked from the radio station, following a meltdown brought on by personal tragedy.

And it is to here that Stevie has tracked him down. She needs his help.

Her grandmother was one of his devoted listeners, but she died in a house fire which was more than suspicious. Stevie thinks she was murdered.

Could solving this give Edward a purpose?

While this a good read I really liked the concept it doesn't stand up to the authors name it's lacks the style and plotting to make it anymore than three stars am interested to see where the characters go if this becomes a series good effort it will do well as sure given whom the author is but without that big name it doesn't stand for me