Murder on Line One

Forty-something Edward Temmis is (particularly with the older generation) a much-loved local radio DJ in his home town of Sidmouth, Devon. Following a devastating personal tragedy, he has taken a year out and is hoping to return to work when his boss, Agnes, drops the bombshell that she thinks he is no longer mentally fit for the role and it’s time for him to move on. Though there has been an incident which points to Edward's emotional fragility, her stance is clearly part of a clean sweep at the station, replacing the old guard with younger staff, which isn’t going down well with the local residents.

A job in a garden centre isn’t exactly what Edward has in mind as a substitute career, but he hopes that this is just a stop-gap until he can persuade Agnes to let him have his radio slot back. But then one day, into the garden centre walks young Stevie, Glaswegian, sweary and earnest, turning his world on its head when she asks for his help in finding out what led her grandmother, Rebecca, to her death.

As Edward and Stevie, along with Edward’s would-be girlfriend, estate agent Kim (whose own mother also has a secret), join forces as amateur sleuths and begin to dig deeper, they uncover evidence of a ruthless scammer who targets older people and who is somehow linked to Edward’s radio station.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this novel initially. But I was quickly drawn in by the characters and intrigued to know what was behind the quirky Stevie’s insistence that Edward, as her late grandmother’s favourite DJ, holds the key to the mystery surrounding how Rebecca died. Having Edward living in a cliff house which is in danger of sliding into the sea at some point all adds to the sense of place and the descriptions of the area are vivid.

While much of the subject matter is dark, and indeed Edward’s own grief is at times heart-rending, this is primarily a cosy crime novel with some real belly-laugh moments (one example being certain references to the ‘granny riot’, an attempt to have Edward reinstated in his DJ role, which had me in stitches - no doubt owing to my own warped sense of humour…).

Edward is a likeable, sympathetic character and it is easy to care about what becomes of him. I felt annoyed with Stevie and Kim at one point, and thought, considering how badly they behaved towards him when clearly he was doing his utmost to help Stevie and the people affected by the scammer, that Edward was remarkably forgiving, whether Stevie had Tourette’s syndrome or not! And what was Kim's excuse?!

There were elements of the story that I guessed as things progressed, but that didn’t prevent me from wanting to finish the book and enjoying the journey. The denouement was satisfying and left the reader hopeful for a brighter future for poor Edward after all he had been through. All in all, I found this an entertaining, absorbing read and would highly recommend.

My thanks to HarperCollins and Netgalley for the ARC.

Really not for me. I found it to be too slow and drawn out, with the author trying to be funny when it really wasn’t. I was expecting something very different when I requested this. I tried both the ebook and the audiobook and neither grabbed me at all.

Can’t love them all I am afraid, and there are some rave reviews. Each to their own.

Thanks to the publisher for the chance e to read this book.

Before I launch into my review, I would like to offer a huge thank you to Jeremy Vine, Harper Collins UK, Harper Collins Fiction, and Netgalley for the Advanced Digital Reader Copy of this title. For anyone with their eye on this title, here is my personal review of the book to help you decide whether you are interested or not. All opinions offered are my own.

My initial reasoning for picking this novel was simply owing to the author. I watch Jeremy Vine most mornings and enjoy the show that he heads up. I like the way he puts forth his argument, even when I do not agree with his points. I also just generally like the way he carries himself. Consequently, I assumed that this was what he would bring to a new novel. I was also intrigued as to why he would select this genre.

When I first started reading the novel, I was really excited. I immediately wanted to know more about the protagonist, Edward, his accident, the tragedy he had recently endured and how he would overcome it. In fact, I was more interested in Edward’s development than the suspected crimes being committed, which became more and more apparent as the story dragged on. Yes, I said it!

I have been struggling to read this book for weeks now. This last week had seen me struggle to digest more than a couple of pages at a time because I am growing increasingly weary of the writing style. The pondering and speculation over the facts of the crime scenes is terribly repetitive and I just want it to be over. I don’t think it helps that the victims are elderly and are not involved in exciting lives that make me want to know more about them.

The novel suits someone that enjoys a regular recap of key details and wants to feel like they are working in real time. Whilst it is not for me and my current taste in present day, it reminded me a little of when I would dread and enjoy Inspector Morse novels. Ultimately, this book joins my DNF shelf but so as not to impact the scores drastically, I awarded the book an average of 3 out of 5 stars.

Jeremy Vine’s Murder on Line One is a decent read and full of mystery, murder and perhaps not surprisingly media intrigue. The story is set in Sidmouth and follows Edward Temmis the once popular late-night radio host who is now struggling following the loss of his job as well as a feeling of direction. Edward finds himself drawn into a deadly investigation when he hears that a devoted listener died in a suspicious fire.

Aided by the listeners grieving granddaughter Stevie and Kim, an ex lover who now works as an estate agent, Edward begins an investigation. He discovers a pattern where his elderly audience members are being targeted and killed. But who would want them dead and why?

I found this an interesting and entertaining read but didn’t quite hit the high standards I enjoy reading. A bit of a slow burner that I found dragged a little.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

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.