Edward Temmis is dealing with the loss of his young son, and this is followed by losing his job as a chat show radio DJ.
Temmis starts a new job in a garden centre and, whilst working there, is approached by the granddaughter of one of his listeners, who wants his help regarding her grandmother's death.
I really wanted to love this book as I'm a big Jeremy Vine fan, but I found it a bit too wordy and it meandered along at quite a slow pace.

"Darkness comes to sunny Sidmouth," and with it, a compelling mystery unfolds in this engaging novel. The story centers on Edward Temmis, a late-night radio talk show host struggling to cope after a personal tragedy and the loss of his beloved job. Cast adrift and searching for purpose, Edward finds a lifeline in Stevie, a young woman whose grandmother, a devoted listener, died in a suspicious fire.
The premise is immediately intriguing: a killer targeting elderly listeners. The author skillfully builds suspense as Edward, along with Stevie and local estate agent Kim, delve into the investigation. The initial slow burn allows for character development and establishes the charming, albeit troubled, atmosphere of Sidmouth. While some readers might find the beginning leisurely, the payoff is well worth the wait.
Once the pace picks up, the narrative becomes a thrilling ride. The book skillfully weaves together a complex web of online scams, murder, and personal tragedy. The author doesn't shy away from heavy themes, including grief and vulnerability, which add depth and emotional resonance to the story.
One of the novel's strengths is its cast of likeable characters. Edward, in particular, is a compelling protagonist. Despite his personal struggles, he remains relatable and sympathetic. The dynamic between Edward, Stevie, and Kim is well-developed, adding a layer of camaraderie and intrigue to the investigation.
Despite the dark subject matter, the author injects gentle humor throughout, creating a balanced and enjoyable reading experience. This subtle humor prevents the story from becoming overly bleak and makes the characters even more endearing.
The mystery itself is well-crafted, with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the end. The exploration of online scams targeting the elderly is particularly relevant and adds a contemporary edge to the narrative.
In conclusion, this novel is a satisfying blend of mystery, suspense, and character-driven storytelling. While the initial pace is deliberate, the payoff is a thoroughly engaging and enjoyable read. The likeable characters, compelling mystery, and subtle humor make this a recommended read for anyone looking for a well-crafted and thought-provoking thriller.

I like Jeremy Vine and was looking forward to reading this.

I found the book very descriptive which I imagine more people love however I found it a little too much at the beginning and it was slow paced.

Then as I got into the story it picked up and I enjoyed it a lot.

From Scandi Crime to Outback Noir, and a recent Japanese crime translation mini-boom – all welcome trends exposing more readers to previously underappreciated areas of the crime fiction landscape – book publishing loves jumping on a bandwagon following a big hit. Recently, in the UK in particular, this has also sadly seen a swathe of ‘TV celebrity’ crime novels looking to ape Richard Osman’s lightning-in-a-bottle sales success.

Unsurprisingly, those results have been far more mixed, with many disappointing yet highly pushed celebrity releases, even behind-the-scenes testimony about ghost-writers, in some cases. Into that breach now steps BBC presenter and former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Jeremy Vine. While Murder on Line One is his first crime novel, it’s his sixth book, after two comic novels in the 1990s and a couple of memoirs in the 2010s.

A solid British mystery that’s smoothly written, Murder on Line One sees late-night talk radio host Edward Temmis reeling from unspeakable tragedy in the coastal Devonshire town of Sidmouth. Adrift after losing his job, he’s enticed to investigate the death of one of his devoted listeners in a suspicious fire, teaming with the woman’s granddaughter Stevie, who has Tourette's, and local estate agent and one-time fling Kim. There’s a charm and light touch to Vine’s writing which hides some deeper meditations on grief.

Smoothly written with several engaging characters, Murder on Line One is, for me, one of the better post-Osman celebrity crime novels. It should appeal to cosy and classic mystery fans, despite never reaching the heights of many richer examples of the genre on overflowing library and bookseller shelves. Still, I’d read more from Vine.

3.5 stars

[This review was first written for Good Reading magazine in Australia]

Broken by the death of his son, Edward is on extended leave from his radio show.
Sacked by the new controller and struggling to find any purpose.
Stevie, the granddaughter of one his listeners tracks him down to his new job at the garden centre.
Setting in motion a series of events that lead to murder and other crimes.
A surprising interesting book, not what I expected. I enjoyed it. Bring on the next book.

Another cosy crime, and an easy read. Different twists and turns with likeable characters leading the way..

More enjoyable as I holidayed in Ottery St Mary, many moons ago.

I'm a fan of Jeremy Vine being luckily able to tune into his Radio 2 show each weekday lunchtime. I never see his TV stuff (apart from the odd election appearance) and so was keen to see how he fared with turning his hand to a novel.

He's obviously a very intelligent author and this comes across with the range of vocabulary and plot used in this book. Was it a ground-breaking book - no but I enjoyed the ride. Well I say 'enjoyed' it is actually quite a sad book in many ways with themes of depression, loss, cat-fishing and injury as well as even a mental institution thrown into the mix.

The main character was based on Edward a local radio presenter and so this was obviously familiar territory for the author and one scene did involve the radio station itself.

However, Edward has suffered loss and ends up being tasked with getting to the bottom of a cat-fishing scheme with local victims whilst also suffering himself and dealing with a house perched on the very end of a cliff with his garden crumbling steadily away in to the sea below. This adds some tension to the book.

There's also a love interest for Edward and the complications that entails.

There are a few major threads and I'd worked out (guessed correctly) two of them, so that is always a little disappointing. But overall despite the sad there there are enough warming moments with some nice character interaction to certainly make it a pleasant read.

4 stars from me.

Many thanks for the ARC.

Rating: 2.2/5

I am always a bit wary of reading novels by celebrities who have made their name doing something else. Occasionally they succeed in translating their skills into the new medium, but far too often I find myself disappointed and wishing they had stuck to their day job. Broadcaster, Jeremy Vine, is the latest to try his hand at it.

Wisely, the author sets the story around a working environment with which he is familiar. Lead protagonist, Edward Temmis, hosts a radio talk show, but following a traumatic life event, his boss decides that Edward's services are no longer required. Unexpectedly, Edward then finds himself looking into the death of an elderly lady, who had been a dedicated listener of his and his investigations take him down a path that he could never have envisaged.

Jeremy Vine is clearly an intelligent man and his background as a journalist means that he has a decent command of the English language. However, the best writers of fictional drama have the ability to tell a story - and, sadly, Jeremy Vine is clearly not a natural storyteller. There is a half-decent plot contained within the covers of this book, but I found it a real drag on many occasions as I slowly ploughed my way through it. I would normally expect to finish a novel of this length in 3-4 days, but it took me nine days to read this one. There is an awful lot of repetition and treading of water. The book is about 50% longer than it needs to be and it would have been far more impactful with some committed editing. At times it reads like a cosy mystery, at others it seems like the author wants it to be something edgier. The differing styles do not sit comfortably together and have a grating effect.

Overall, although this is better than many celebrity offerings I have read, I hope that Jeremy Vine feels that he has scrathched the itch and satisfied his desire to write a novel, because I won't be rushing to read any more from him.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

I really liked the depiction of grief, but unfortunately the rest of the book fell a bit short for me. The mystery meandered a little and the pacing was off for me. I also didn’t love the ending.

Radio and TV Presenter Jeremy Vine's first foray into the world of Mystery writing is a well crafted, heart wrenching story of murder, blackmail and catfishing.

Former Radio DJ and local celebrity, Edward is traumatised by the tragic death of his 11 year old son 18 months ago. He's then let go from the radio station as part of their shake up to bring in a more youthful audience.

He's approached by Stevie who's granny was a big fan of Edwards and Stevie believes died in suspicious circumstances. Edward discovers her granny was Riva, a regular caller to his talk show. She had left him a letter at the station addressed from 'In Desperation - Riva', but the envelope was empty. What could she have been so desperate to let Edward know before her death in a house fire?

Kim is an estate agent and former lover of Edwards who's mother is swindled out of money during a fake online relationship. She was also a regular caller into Edwards talk show. Could there be someone out there targeting his listeners?

Given Jeremy Vine is a radio DJ and so is his main character, Edward, I expected there to be more background about the world of radio but it is largely side-stepped which I feel was a missed opportunity to add more depth to the story.

I loved the setting of Edwards house, on the edge of a cliff which is eroding into the sea. Its creaking and groaning, the warping of its structure over time as the earth shifts, a satisfying backdrop to his own fall from favour.

The plot is solid, everything linking together nicely at the end. Through-out the book I kept thinking about the concept of chekov's gun, which proposes that should a gun be mentioned then you know that the gun will be used. I felt that within the plot, once you think 'why has he mentioned that' again and again, it wasn't too difficult to work out the ultimate solution.

There are a few twists and turns along the way. I didn't think there were too many and helped with the pacing of the story and kept the pages turning.

I would like to convey my thanks to Netgalley and the publishers, HarperCollins for providing the opportunity to review this novel. All opinions are my own.

Murder on Line One is due to be published on 24th April 2025 by HarperCollins

Reviewed February 2025

I find fiction written by celebrities fascinating and this novel by Jeremy Vine was a good showing. Vine stuck somewhat closely to his own experience by making the lead character, Edward, a radio DJ at a small coastal local radio station. Sadly I don't think those sorts of stations with loyal following still exist today. I enjoyed the characters, Stevie's strong and determined to the point of stubbornness was most interesting and the only one really deserving of a spin off series.

The most surprising thing about this book was how heartbreakingly sad it was at every point - I very nearly gave in at chapter one for this reason. Everyone had a huge loss and the theme of living with it was a key theme. I'm glad I persevered , I did work out the main mystery early, the secondary theme was a shock.

Thank you Netgalley for access to this E-ARC copy in exchange for an honest review

Decent Thriller, but Lacking Depth

Murder on Line One by Jeremy Vine has an intriguing premise—a disgraced radio host, Edward Temmis, delves into a mystery involving his own audience. The setup is good, with an eerie connection between a series of deaths and his late-night callers, which gives the novel a unique and timely hook.

The pacing is fairly steady, and the blend of media, nostalgia, and crime is engaging. However, the execution sometimes falls flat. The characters, while interesting, don’t always feel fully developed, and some of the twists are predictable rather than shocking. The writing is serviceable but lacks the tension and atmosphere needed for a truly gripping thriller.

Fans of light mysteries or radio drama enthusiasts might enjoy it. However, it doesn’t quite hit the mark as a standout thriller.

Brilliant book! Just loved everything about it. The story and the plot and the whole atmosphere. Was stunning. Have recommended to all my reader friends.

Unable to cope after a devastating tragedy and having been subsequently let go from his job, late night radio talk show host Edward Temmis is trying to move on. He then meets Stevie, whose grandmother, a devoted listener, died in a suspicious fire last year, which the pair starts investigating, discovering Stevie's grandmother wasn't the only one of his listeners who was targeted.

I went into this book with such high expectations, but they weren't met. Honestly, it has everything it needs to have for me to like it, which makes this very conflicting, but I still feel like it lacked something. It took me a while to fully get into the story, and the first half felt very slow, and it was hard for me to connect, and even after that it alternated moments where I was hooked, and moments where I wasn't at all. The pacing felt all over the place, and it felt very repetitive at times. I will say I did enjoy some bits and pieces of it, and the characters were enjoyable to follow. Overall, I think it just wasn't for me, but I really do think there is potential, and I do think some people might really like it.

Many thanks to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction & NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

Edward is an ex local radio host who has suffered tragedy and trauma-in fact it seems to follow him round - and he tries to find some grounding with a job in a garden centre. Chaos ensues. So many strands in this it was a bit manic and all the characters were over the top but I did also enjoy the humour and energy.

A very clever and intertwined gentle murder mystery. There were so many threads and invested characters but they were all very well thought out. I look forward to reading more.

I must confess that it took me a little while to get in to this book - there were so many threads & I felt it was all a bit muddled. I persevered though & became involved with the storyline & the characters. I enjoyed the intelligent writing & the concept of the book. Well done Jeremy!

I really wanted to like this book as Jeremy is a well known tv and radio personality. I just could not get into the story. Maybe I am the wrong demographic ( 70yo female,) The first couple of chapters were intriguing but I got bored waiting for something to happen. Sorry!

Edward Temming was a very popular radio host until he never get over the death of his son Matty which he was partly involved in. He always blames himself. He got made redundant from his employer and now works in a garden centre. When one of his ex-listeners is murdered, he takes himself on to investigate it. Which it soon appears that the death is connected to some dating scams where ladies of a certain age and scammed for their money.
Murder on Line one is a murder mystery whodunnit by BBC journalist Jeremy vine. And intrigued to read after being taken in by the blurb and the advanced praise from other authors.
I really wanted to like this book from Jeremy Vine but, I found that this first 40% very over descriptive and disjointed that I couldn’t really connect to it at all. It only started getting interesting when Edward went into further investigation of the dating scams. But by then it was too late. 3 stars from me.

Loved this book ,a really good story .Set in Sidmouth Devon ,Edward is a local radio presenter until tragedy happens and his son dies in a hit and run and because of his grief he was let go .He goes to work in a Garden Centre and he meets Stevie who asks for his help as her late Grandmother was a fan of his show and has died in what she believes are suspicious circumstances .So the mystery begins .I enjoyed all the different characters especially Stevie and Edward, full of red herrings and twists and turns ,a great read with a good ending .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC