Honestly I had high hopes for this book and it was overall very disappointing. The whole premise was great and the writing style was interesting, focusing on radio host Edward and him trying to solve the mystery of a death amongst other mysteries. It was overall just a very long book where not a lot really happened. There was a lot of background to each character, which was ok, but the actual story development was very slow as a result. It was very repetitive, often telling you a part of the story and then repeating that in a conversation between two characters in the next chapter. It felt a little bit like Vine left the book to the last minute and only had the overarching idea and no idea how to get there. Would not recommend to others unfortunately, unless people like character descriptions and backgrounds. The reveal at the end was it's only redeeming factor, but it was too little too late for me. This was an ARC copy free from the publisher on NetGallery in exchange for an honest review.

A crime mystery set in Devon with an intricate plot which uncovers a murder.

It has good character development with plenty of twists, turns and cliff hangers.
The authors personal knowledge of a radio station helps the reader with visualisation & understanding.

Although the pace is a bit slow at times its not enough to hamper the reader wanting to continue with the story.

Overall a good read & I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys a typical English crime mystery.
Thankyou to Netgalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A cozy mystery that has a gripping star however I found myself losing interest at various points and skimmed through until I found another bit that drew my attention. Lots of interweaving stores that all joined up at the end although I found the conclusion rather drawn out and so obvious I was quite disappointed I’d guessed it early in on the book. There’s a sweet love story weaving through the book, the usual will they/won’t they, however it was a lovely touch for the characters who you wanted a happy ending for.

Thank you to the author, publishers and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review

Fascinating book. Very slow to start with but worth persevering with as the plot becomes very intriguing

This is my first Jeremy vine book and I’m a sucker for a mystery so it sounded like something I’d enjoy. I enjoyed the late night radio backdrop and grew to know and like the main characters. The mystery is just creepy and quite dark but it kept me turning the page! I usually guess the mystery but I kept changing my mind with all the red herrings! Enjoyable book that I recommend.

This was a DNF for me, mainly due to the writing style. The author starts each chapter part in the middle of something with a completely different character than the previous chapter has been about. This makes it harder for the reader to follow as you end up half way through the chapter before you realise who this person is, but you’ve then not clicked the relevance of the first part of the chapter as you didn’t know who it was about then. There isn’t really a lot happening in the book, rather it’s quite slow and disjointed. As a mystery lover I was hoping to find a new author to follow, but sadly this book has put me off all further books by the author, if any are to follow

This is original and nuanced storytelling, and its strength lies in the details and insights given into each of the characters' personalities. This applies to not only the three main characters, but also the supporting cast of a dozen or so.

The portrayal of the protagonist's grief over the loss of his young son is particularly harrowing, and deeply moving.

The plot is at times a little farfetched, to be honest, and some of it feels unnecessarily drawn out. But the writer ties all the threads together well at the end. Worth checking out if the synopsis provided by the publisher intrigues you, and the gentle humour of the storytelling is particularly appealing. It gets 3. 5 stars.

This is a first time author for me. Unfortunately, the writing style and characters were not for me. For me, the writing style was disjointed. In this instance, I could not establish a connection with the characters, which were uninspiring and lacked depth and development. I had difficulty connecting with the plot and I struggled with the storyline. Sadly, this book was not for me.

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

It was just so good a read. There were many twists and turns and the plot was really solid. The friendships felt real and true. I guessed the perpetrator and then dismissed them. The storyline was decent too. Really a great book. Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars rounded up, and thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I really wanted to like this book. I like Jeremy Vine, and I liked the concept, but for the first hundred or so pages, I was really not into it at all. I didn't really like the way it was written, or the characters, and it felt so painfully slow.

After that start, there was a moment - in a place called Tanner - where this book nearly became a DNF because it was so ludicrous. I felt that a lot of the reveals were way too obvious, and I was disappointed that it took the characters so long to make some connections, because the hints had been so explicit.

I thought the romance scam plot was well-used, and it was a good basis for a story - and the radio setting was fun, though it could have been more of a part of the story.

Overall, this book wasn't for me, but it wasn't really bad - like raisins in a salad, I'm sure someone likes it, and it's technically palatable.

Quirky, fresh and intelligently written, this book draws on Jeremy 's experience on the radio and interaction with loyal listeners but with the added intrigue of uncovering fraud and murder. It touches on a subject that sadly blights so many lives where vulnerable people are targeted, by clever con artists and defrauded of their savings. Edward is the much loved radio presenter being pushed out of his job as the station makes way for younger presenters in it's quest to appeal to a younger demographic ( art reflecting life ...) However, when he is contacted by a young woman, convinced her beloved grandmother's death is no accident, Edward is drawn to investigate. Lost in a world of grief following the hit and run killing of his precious young son, he is gradually absorbed into his new role, accompanied by Stevie , the feisty young woman determined to avenge her grandmother and Kim, the estate agent who seduced him while selling him his home which is perilously close to the cliff edge . This home which delighted his beloved boy, stands as a metaphor for Edward's life since his son's death; constantly threatening to fall off the edge and crash into the sea below. The listener can't help but be drawn into caring for the father's grief and wanting him to find his way back to the job he loves and the listeners who love him. Lots to love in this book

This book is a very good debut start to a new cosy crime series. I loved the characters and the interactions. I look forward to the next one in the series. Well done Jeremy Vine you’re on to a good start!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.

I listen to Jeremy Vine most lunchtimes so I really wanted to read "Murder on Line One". I could tell it was his book due to the Sidmouth references. Based on what he knows - phone in radio programmes, he has crafted a cosy crime novel around a local radio station and Edward Temmis who got the boot (slight dig at the clear out of radio presenters?). The trio of unlikely friends (as they become) investigate a scam and some murders. I can see this trio appearing in future books but I do wonder what he will write about next. Fun!

Murder on Line One by Jeremy Vine is the first book in a new murder mystery series.
Edward Temmis has lost his job as a radio host and is grieving the loss of his son. He is approached by Stevie who asks for his help to look into the suspicious death of her grandmother. The original plot deals with a number of contemporary issues, including scammers who are targetting elderly radio listeners. The writing is laced with humour and poignancy and there are some well-drawn characters. A light, easy to read story that will appeal to fans of 'cosy crime'.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Murder on Line One by Jeremy Vine is an intriguing concept that combines the drama of a crime thriller with Vine’s signature wit and insight into modern life. However, while the book has its moments, it doesn’t entirely deliver on its potential.

The premise—a murder mystery set in the world of phone-ins—immediately grabs attention. Vine’s knowledge of broadcasting and his ability to weave in contemporary social commentary add a unique layer to the story. The backdrop of the chaotic, high-pressure world of live radio is vividly brought to life, and there are moments where the tension feels electric.

That said, the pacing is uneven. While the opening chapters are engaging, the middle section drags, with lengthy digressions that detract from the momentum of the plot. The mystery itself is serviceable but not particularly groundbreaking, and seasoned thriller readers may find the twists predictable.

The characters are a mixed bag. The protagonist, while relatable, lacks depth, and the supporting cast sometimes veers into caricature territory. However, Vine’s sharp humor and occasional moments of introspection make up for some of these shortcomings.

Overall, Murder on Line One is an enjoyable but flawed read. It’s a decent choice for fans of lighter crime fiction with a touch of satire, but it falls short of being a standout in the genre. An entertaining diversion, but not particularly memorable.

I mostly enjoyed this story, although I did work out who dunnit about 60% of the way in, and prior to that I realised who did the hit and run.
I didn’t like the bad language but I did like the three main characters, especially Edward. It was a bit slow in places but I think those bits were necessary to add depth to the story and characters. I hope that some older people read this book and it stops them from being scammed.

I received this an an Arc from NetGalley. There is not a lot of things I enjoyed about this book. I found it really hard to follow and felt like it was way too long for a mystery book. I felt there was a lot of unnecessary information that made the story feel so long and dragged out. I wanted to DNF this book a lot while reading it but got to the end. Overall it wasn’t an enjoyable read for me, you may enjoy it but I personally did not.

Excellent debut murder mystery from Jeremy. The story manages to expose some despicable crimes while using a radio station as the backdrop. Murder, blackmail, online scamming and a hint of romance combine to make a really good read.

What a gem of a read , a treasure of a story. Jeremy has a huge talent for writing which I found in his previous book however this one is a different genre completely. This time it's a crime/mystery/thriller and couldn't be any further away from “ The Diver and the Lover”.

This is adorable and I devoured it. The character of Edward is one I couldn't help but love and just wanted to give him a big hug and tell him he was supported and loved. (think “A Man called Ove” & “ The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out Of The Window” type character. )

Edward lost his son a while back in a hit and run and he sometimes finds himself thinking Matty is still around. Edward was a radio presenter on a popular evening radio show but taking so much time off he was let go. As he finds this out from his boss whilst walking on the seafront, they are hit by an abnormal wave and Edward rescues her. He takes on a new job at a garden centre and soon meets Stevie who sought him out as her grandmother, now deceased, listened to Edward all the time and even contacted him. Stevie is suspicious about her grandmother's death and wants Edward to find out about the communications she had with him- something he knows nothing about.

I can’t say how much I loved this (but heck I’m trying!). Edward is an adorable character as is Stevie (in a different way) and it's a wonderful plot, cleverly crafted. Please write more Jeremy! No pressure! Loved this doesn’t cover it. 10* if I could. One of my books of the year 2025.

I enjoy listening to Jeremy Vine on the radio but unfortunately his quirky unique personality didn't quite translate to the page for me, There are too many meandering sentences and asides which would appeal to lots of people but just confused the plot for me,