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3.02 AVERAGE
3.02 AVERAGE
DNF
Unfortunately, I struggled with this one a lot. I felt there was a lot of unnecessary filler information, which made this book drag out. At times I got confused about who was who, and I didn’t really connect to the story or the characters. The premise sounded good, and I liked the idea of a small-town whodunit story; however, this wasn’t for me.
Rating:
🌟
I loved meeting this bunch of characters and am so excited for the next book in the series.
I instantly felt drawn to Edward, who couldn’t feel for him after the football match 😔. The book unravels slowly, ensuring an in-depth character building and explaining how the characters are all linked, I loved learning how all the calls into the radio station played a part in how the events panned out.
Alongside the murder mystery, we see friendships formed, laugh out loud conversations and a sense of community, both inside and out of the radio station.
Roll on book 2! If you enjoy murder mysterious, this is well worth a read.
I instantly felt drawn to Edward, who couldn’t feel for him after the football match 😔. The book unravels slowly, ensuring an in-depth character building and explaining how the characters are all linked, I loved learning how all the calls into the radio station played a part in how the events panned out.
Alongside the murder mystery, we see friendships formed, laugh out loud conversations and a sense of community, both inside and out of the radio station.
Roll on book 2! If you enjoy murder mysterious, this is well worth a read.
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
I’ve been on a massive murder mystery binge. I blitzed through Horowitz’s Hawthorne series after finishing the Magpie Murders trilogy, which is easily one of the definitive murder mystery series of all time.
Still hungry for more, I spotted that cycle enthusiast, talk show host, and Partridge incarnate himself, Jeremy Vine, had written a crime novel. I’m not a book snob (I’m about to read six Star Wars books, so it’s not all Sally Rooney), but I get why people roll their eyes at celebrity novels. Especially in murder mysteries, where curiosity leads readers to take a punt on a new author. Rob Rinder’s series proved it can work — thoughtful, unique, and genuinely enjoyable.
Vine’s Murder on Line One feels like it’s trying to set up a series, but I’m not convinced it should. The Kim and Edward dynamic has some potential, but it’s resolved in the final third in a way that feels a bit too neat. The book opens with the death of a child, which is a heavy hook, but the tone quickly shifts toward something lighter and more whimsical, and that contrast never really lands.
There’s a mystery, a fake-out, a reveal — all the right beats are there — but the plot is predictable and the clues are laid on thick. What’s more frustrating is how muddled the whole thing feels. There’s a sex scene that borders on parody, emotional points that feel overwrought, and a constant reminder that the lead has a dead son. It’s not subtle.
The subplot involving blindness is particularly odd. It’s clearly a deliberate choice, but one that doesn’t suit the character, the plot, or the world the book is trying to build. It ends up feeling completely disconnected.
What’s clear is that something has gone wrong here, and it comes down to Vine’s own choices. The book feels like it’s been pulled in too many directions at once, edited multiple times without ever settling on a clear tone. It gestures toward weighty themes like grief, disability, and inequality, but without the coherence or control to make them land.
There’s still something oddly compelling about seeing how Vine sees the world. I kind of want to see another book, like someone wants to see another pop being burst on YouTube.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Find the full review at whatthebook.co.uk.
I have *loved* Murder on Line One. It's not exactly an edge-of-your-seat thriller, but prepare yourself for a gentle-paced whodunnit mystery and you're going to love every moment of it. The story centres on Edward, who has had a tough time lately: he's lost his son in a hit-and-run, and then his job as a beloved local radio host. He's at a loose end, then he gets a call from a young woman named Stevie. Her grandmother, a fan of Edward’s, has died suspiciously — and a letter she supposedly sent to him might hold the key.
Edward and Stevie, joined by Edward’s love interest Kim, become an odd trio of sleuths. What they uncover is much bigger than one mysterious death, and it seems dozens of Edward’s old listeners may be involved. Saying more than that, though, will spoil things for you!
I have *loved* Murder on Line One. It's not exactly an edge-of-your-seat thriller, but prepare yourself for a gentle-paced whodunnit mystery and you're going to love every moment of it. The story centres on Edward, who has had a tough time lately: he's lost his son in a hit-and-run, and then his job as a beloved local radio host. He's at a loose end, then he gets a call from a young woman named Stevie. Her grandmother, a fan of Edward’s, has died suspiciously — and a letter she supposedly sent to him might hold the key.
Edward and Stevie, joined by Edward’s love interest Kim, become an odd trio of sleuths. What they uncover is much bigger than one mysterious death, and it seems dozens of Edward’s old listeners may be involved. Saying more than that, though, will spoil things for you!
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious
reflective
Murder On Line One is a brilliantly plotted, wonderfully layered whodunnit, filled with a quirky cast of characters and an intriguing mystery to solve. I always think 'writing what you know' is a brilliant approach for anyone writing a book, and Jeremy Vine's radio background makes for such an engaging, original concept here.
Despite the first half of the book having a slower pace, there was some excellent character building. Rich backstories, deep conversations and a splash of humour really brought everyone to life and I loved it. I was constantly theorising, but when those twists and reveals hit in all the right places, I still didn't guess the outcome!
It's an entertaining and absorbing read with surprises, laughs and emotion tucked neatly into every corner, but also has that tension, the uncertainty and that dark feeling that I crave from a murder mystery. A fantastic first book in this new series!
Despite the first half of the book having a slower pace, there was some excellent character building. Rich backstories, deep conversations and a splash of humour really brought everyone to life and I loved it. I was constantly theorising, but when those twists and reveals hit in all the right places, I still didn't guess the outcome!
It's an entertaining and absorbing read with surprises, laughs and emotion tucked neatly into every corner, but also has that tension, the uncertainty and that dark feeling that I crave from a murder mystery. A fantastic first book in this new series!
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed this book from Jeremy Vine, I think he’s great so I was glad to get a chance to read the book.
Edward Temmis is the host of a local late night call-in show. It’s a popular show with all the locals; he is a local celebrity and even has his own fan club. For some of the listeners, it feels like he is the only person they can open up to, which is how he gets pulled into the mystery of the death of a local lady, Rebecca ‘Riva’ Mason. Her granddaughter, Stevie, meets Edward and asks him to find the letter that Riva sent into the show.
Stevie is blunt and this causes some resentment between her and Edward, but Edward’s Estate Agent and one time lover, Kim, is on hand to keep the trio together.
As romance scams that many locals had fallen prey to are revealed, I really felt for the stories which felt all to real. I did guess, quite early on, who was behind the scams, but it didn’t spoil the ending for me. In fact, I prefer it when clues are peppered through the story rather than the reader being blindsided by new information when the protagonist is revealed.
As I was born and bred in Devon it was nice to see a shout out to a lot of local places, and some that were created for the story.
Edward Temmis is the host of a local late night call-in show. It’s a popular show with all the locals; he is a local celebrity and even has his own fan club. For some of the listeners, it feels like he is the only person they can open up to, which is how he gets pulled into the mystery of the death of a local lady, Rebecca ‘Riva’ Mason. Her granddaughter, Stevie, meets Edward and asks him to find the letter that Riva sent into the show.
Stevie is blunt and this causes some resentment between her and Edward, but Edward’s Estate Agent and one time lover, Kim, is on hand to keep the trio together.
As romance scams that many locals had fallen prey to are revealed, I really felt for the stories which felt all to real. I did guess, quite early on, who was behind the scams, but it didn’t spoil the ending for me. In fact, I prefer it when clues are peppered through the story rather than the reader being blindsided by new information when the protagonist is revealed.
As I was born and bred in Devon it was nice to see a shout out to a lot of local places, and some that were created for the story.
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
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