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