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3.02 AVERAGE
3.02 AVERAGE
mysterious
slow-paced
2 Stars
One Liner: This didn't work
Edward Temmis feels adrift when he is let go from his beloved late-night take show on the radio. He then meets Stevie, whose grandmother listened to his shows and died under mysterious circumstances. Edward finds his purpose and tries to investigate the case with help from Kim, a local real estate agent. Soon, he discovers that Stevie’s grandmother wasn’t the only one among his listeners who died. Can he find who has been targeting his listeners and why?
The story comes in the third-person POVs.
My Thoughts:
Well, seems my inability to resist mysteries has put me in a tough spot this year. This is the third new mystery book that backfired.
The premise is pretty cool. Imagine a radio show host trying to solve the murder of his listeners, all of whom are seniors and mostly women. Amateur sleuths are fun, but not always.
I guess the writing style is the big question mark here. If you like it, you might enjoy the book more. I found it interesting in the first two chapters but then my head started to spin, and oh boy, it did spin like a spun candy machine!
While I appreciated the themes of grief (loss of a child, grandparent, etc.), abuse, etc., I couldn’t empathize with the characters. It was hard to feel for the main character as well, and that didn’t help (at all). Some of the dialogue was odd too. Was it British humor? IDK!
I decided to do what was needed and switched over to speed-reading. It helped some. At least, the plot started to progress. Still, this book should have been 70 pages shorter. You don’t need 400 pages for a mystery. There’s too much repetition.
The mystery is actually decent but I couldn’t enjoy it much. I appreciate the topic even if the execution wasn’t good. The criminal was obvious, so I had to wait for them to catch up. There isn’t much sleuthing either. Still, when we get to the ‘why’ part, I’m disappointed. It can be better than that. I’m sure of it! While there’s a subplot, I could guess that one too.
One thing I did like about the book was the setting. The sea is an integral part of the place, so it does play a good role. The house on the cliff is also good and can be a metaphor for the MC’s life.
To summarize, Murder on Line One was a slow and repetitive mystery. I can see its potential but it’s not for me. Those who like the author (he’s a popular journalist I guess) might enjoy it more.
Thank you, NetGalley, and HarperCollins UK, (HarperFiction), for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #MurderOnLineOne
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
Sorry just couldn’t get into the story.
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Darkness looms over sunny Sidmouth, when an unsolved murder comes to the attention of late-night radio talk show host Edward Temmis. Recently sacked from his beloved job after a devastating tragedy, Edward is cast adrift – until he meets Stevie, whose grandmother, a devoted listener, died in a suspicious fire last year. Well, nobody hurts his listeners and helping Stevie might just give him the purpose he needs. Joined by his old fling, Kim, they discover Stevie's grandmother wasn't the only one of his listeners targeted – this is just the tip of the iceberg. Can Edward, Stevie and Kim get to the bottom of this mystery before it’s too late?
This is a cosy crime mystery, with some brilliant comedic prose throughout, with some very strong characters leading the way.
It is a slow burn read, the action definitely building in the last half of the book where all the pieces slowly fall into place, and the pace picks up a notch. The three main characters, Ed, Stevie & Kim, all come together to form a very unlikely trio, with some important private issues brought to the forefront as their relationships and investigations progress through the book.
I did figure out ‘whodunnit’ quite early on, even with a few red herrings thrown in along the way, but I was still kept intrigued to keep reading to find out if I was correct and for the reasoning why. A little drawn out at times but overall an interesting read with a great concept.
This is a cosy crime mystery, with some brilliant comedic prose throughout, with some very strong characters leading the way.
It is a slow burn read, the action definitely building in the last half of the book where all the pieces slowly fall into place, and the pace picks up a notch. The three main characters, Ed, Stevie & Kim, all come together to form a very unlikely trio, with some important private issues brought to the forefront as their relationships and investigations progress through the book.
I did figure out ‘whodunnit’ quite early on, even with a few red herrings thrown in along the way, but I was still kept intrigued to keep reading to find out if I was correct and for the reasoning why. A little drawn out at times but overall an interesting read with a great concept.
mysterious
slow-paced
Edward is still reeling from the death of his son when he is sacked from the radio station, but life really starts to fall out of control when Stevie shows up, saying she thinks he had something to do with her nans death.
Edward and Stevie along with Kim start investigating what happened.
There are a lot of characters in this book who get a voice, and I think that was to it's detriment, it was hard to follow in places and took me out of the story. The mystery itself was intriguing, although I did guess quite early on who the culprit was.
It was a solid cosy crime, but not one that will stay with me.
Edward and Stevie along with Kim start investigating what happened.
There are a lot of characters in this book who get a voice, and I think that was to it's detriment, it was hard to follow in places and took me out of the story. The mystery itself was intriguing, although I did guess quite early on who the culprit was.
It was a solid cosy crime, but not one that will stay with me.
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a book that has a lot going on, but it works. It took a while for the mystery to kick in, so there was time to get to know the characters and become interested in them. I found the characters likeable, and I was invested in their stories and their relationships.
There’s a little humour and quite a lot of heart to this book. There are also a few crazy moments that felt a little over the top, and some that felt too drawn out, but I went with it and overall I enjoyed the book.
I’d definitely classify this as a cosy mystery, with its Devon setting and a protagonist who worked as a local radio DJ. It was certainly a lot gentler than the mysteries and detective novels I usually read, but may be slightly grittier than I imagine many cosy mysteries to be.
I was attracted to the audiobook because I enjoy Jeremy Vine’s voice, and I always think it’s interesting to hear how an author brings their characters to life. I did find that with this, the narration had pauses in strange places and didn’t flow quite as I expected.
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy to review.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Maybe it's because I am of a certain age (not as old as the typical listener to his radio show, I hasten to add), but I really quite like Edward. There is something about him that just drew me in and, as one of the main protagonists in Jeremy Vine's new series, that's pretty important. This is a cosy crime story, and it's quite fun in an unfortunate victims of crime kind of way. For it appears that, far from the sunny shores of the coastline, and the cream teas of tourist trap coffee houses, someone is preying upon the vulnerability of the some of Edward's older audience members, and there is something nefarious afoot in the country lanes, villages and towns of Devon.
There is an air of tragedy about Edward that actually takes you by surprise right at the start of the book. It made Edward's personality a little confusing at first, but the more I learned about him, the more sympathy I felt towards him and the more endearing he became. He does have a good heart, even if fate has dealt him more than the odd rough hand. There is tragedy in his past, that leads to a lot of reflection and a strange attitude towards his own safety at times perhaps, but he was a really sweet character who I was drawn to. I think the Jeremy Vine has pitched him just right, sharing the sadness of his story, but allowing his spirit, the one that clearly made him a very popular presenter on the local radio show, to shine through when it needed to.
There are two other key characters in this book who really make this an unconventional, but compelling trio of unexpected crime fighters. Firstly we have Stevie, whose grandmother recently died and who believes there was far more to it than meets the eye. It is her appearance in Edward's life that acts as the catalyst for what comes to pass, and which also leads to some of the more comedic moments in the story. She has literally no filter, speaks without thinking, and says what is probably on the minds of most of the characters who are likely too polite to say it. I really liked her, her punchy character and determination in spite of being hit with a real setback surprisingly early in the book. Then there is Kim, Edward's estate agent and someone with whom has has a clear connection. She too has reason to need to help Edward and Stevie to get to the heart of the problem, a case of things coming a touch too close to home. Add in the various personalities of Edward's super fans, honest in the way only the older generation could be, and you have a wonderfully eclectic and genuinely lovely cast of characters who make this book great fun.
The book examines the sadly all too common romance scam, and the vicious behaviour of people who are too willing to prey on the vulnerable and lonely people who are perhaps just looking for a little friendship. There are still a few unexpected twists in this particular story, and the heart of the motive is one I've heard before. A sense of entitlement that is probably exacerbated by modern living. It felt strangely plausible and even though the ending was quite quick when the final reveal came, it was not without a few shocks in the final few chapters too.
I found the pacing of the book was perfect for this kind of story. There is a mixture of emotion and humour throughout, and the dialogue, particularly between the three main characters was fun and fresh. There are scenes between Edward and his ex-wife that stir up emotions, and by the end of the book I was kind of left hoping that Edward had reached a point in his life where, if nto closure, he at least had understanding for all that happened. If you are a fan of cosy or golden age style crime fiction, but with a decidedly modern theme, then this could well suit you. I'm definitely interested to see how the author develops this series. Edward Temmis may not quite be a Jack Kilian, Midnight Caller, type or radio show host, but he's got the wits and the personality to hold his own with the finest amateur detectives. Let's see where that leads us.
There is an air of tragedy about Edward that actually takes you by surprise right at the start of the book. It made Edward's personality a little confusing at first, but the more I learned about him, the more sympathy I felt towards him and the more endearing he became. He does have a good heart, even if fate has dealt him more than the odd rough hand. There is tragedy in his past, that leads to a lot of reflection and a strange attitude towards his own safety at times perhaps, but he was a really sweet character who I was drawn to. I think the Jeremy Vine has pitched him just right, sharing the sadness of his story, but allowing his spirit, the one that clearly made him a very popular presenter on the local radio show, to shine through when it needed to.
There are two other key characters in this book who really make this an unconventional, but compelling trio of unexpected crime fighters. Firstly we have Stevie, whose grandmother recently died and who believes there was far more to it than meets the eye. It is her appearance in Edward's life that acts as the catalyst for what comes to pass, and which also leads to some of the more comedic moments in the story. She has literally no filter, speaks without thinking, and says what is probably on the minds of most of the characters who are likely too polite to say it. I really liked her, her punchy character and determination in spite of being hit with a real setback surprisingly early in the book. Then there is Kim, Edward's estate agent and someone with whom has has a clear connection. She too has reason to need to help Edward and Stevie to get to the heart of the problem, a case of things coming a touch too close to home. Add in the various personalities of Edward's super fans, honest in the way only the older generation could be, and you have a wonderfully eclectic and genuinely lovely cast of characters who make this book great fun.
The book examines the sadly all too common romance scam, and the vicious behaviour of people who are too willing to prey on the vulnerable and lonely people who are perhaps just looking for a little friendship. There are still a few unexpected twists in this particular story, and the heart of the motive is one I've heard before. A sense of entitlement that is probably exacerbated by modern living. It felt strangely plausible and even though the ending was quite quick when the final reveal came, it was not without a few shocks in the final few chapters too.
I found the pacing of the book was perfect for this kind of story. There is a mixture of emotion and humour throughout, and the dialogue, particularly between the three main characters was fun and fresh. There are scenes between Edward and his ex-wife that stir up emotions, and by the end of the book I was kind of left hoping that Edward had reached a point in his life where, if nto closure, he at least had understanding for all that happened. If you are a fan of cosy or golden age style crime fiction, but with a decidedly modern theme, then this could well suit you. I'm definitely interested to see how the author develops this series. Edward Temmis may not quite be a Jack Kilian, Midnight Caller, type or radio show host, but he's got the wits and the personality to hold his own with the finest amateur detectives. Let's see where that leads us.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book just wasn’t for me. It’s a story for three people brought together by tragedy and are not taking it lying down but want to solve it. The main character (?) a radio presenter who is washed out and fired from his job due to his grief for his son, although this wasn’t a totally believable pov, wants to help and regain some authority in his life amongst his grief. Overall, I liked him he was a genuine character who did try to do best by people, showed generational differences but wasn’t scared by them and embraced them. I thought the side characters lacked depth and became very one dimensional for me, particularly the Scottish young female who in the audiobook was not voiced great. I wish that the POV had been shortened to just the presenter or some of the time in the massive buildup was given to the other characters. The pacing wasn’t great but it could be gripping and had an element of shock factor which was great. I just really wish that everything was spread out more either more dramatic build up.
I liked the setting of the radio station and thought this was really well played out alongside the idea of cancel culture etc. these themes were well played out and were my favourite plot points as well.
I’m not sure I was the target audience for this book and I apologise for my requesting of it as I do feel this novel will be appreciated by other people that aren’t me.
Unless you are a Jeremy vine fan and like listening to his radio voice, don’t listen to this audibly he speaks in his radio voice aka very monotone for a long time. Again great for fans.
Thanks to #netgalley for this Audio copy of #murderontheline
I liked the setting of the radio station and thought this was really well played out alongside the idea of cancel culture etc. these themes were well played out and were my favourite plot points as well.
I’m not sure I was the target audience for this book and I apologise for my requesting of it as I do feel this novel will be appreciated by other people that aren’t me.
Unless you are a Jeremy vine fan and like listening to his radio voice, don’t listen to this audibly he speaks in his radio voice aka very monotone for a long time. Again great for fans.
Thanks to #netgalley for this Audio copy of #murderontheline
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Murder on Line One follows Edward, a radio host with a devoted audience as he tries to solve the mystery of who is targeting them. When we first meet Edward, he’s at a low point in his life and trying to figure out what he can do next. Initially unaware of anything nefarious, he’s approached by Stevie who is looking for answers around her grandmother’s recent death. Why Edward? Well, her grandmother was one of his doting audience. This kicks off what is a large-scale operation targeting the pensioners of Sidmouth.
On paper this book has everything that should captivate me, mystery, conspiracy, and murder all set up around a radio station. However, I found it extremely hard to engage with the story. For me it came down to the following things: Dialogue, character, and conclusion.
The dialogue at times was very heavy handed, to the point where it took me out of the story. An example being a character who had a loved one die in a horrific manner being explained in detail how that death happened, quickly followed by a half-hearted apology and then no reaction from the character being spoken to. The purpose felt only to inform the reader what happened (despite already knowing all the details) and not to build characters further.
On the characters it felt as if each was loaded with traumatic backstory, as if this would give them depth. For me this left many of them feeling very flat and hard to connect to. This was a pity as there so much potential to explore for each of them.
The twist at the conclusion was not a surprise for me. About halfway through I had figured out who was behind everything. As for their motives though, it felt entirely based on stereotypes, rather than something more genuine.
Overall, while the writing wasn’t bad and I did really enjoy the premise, I struggled to connect with the characters and spent the second half of the book frustrated while it slowly got to the reveal. With that I can’t say I would recommend the book to others.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Child death, Murder, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Domestic abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I'll admit I struggled to get into this for a bit. There was a lot of character back story building but, the further into things I got, the more it all clicked into place!
The story follows a late night radio talk show host who has lost his son in a tragic road accident. After losing his job, a young woman tracks him down after her grandmother (an avid listener and caller of his show) dies in suspicious circumstances. They team up with a local estate agent, who our main character had a fling with, and discover that the grandmother wasn't the only one of the show's listeners who were targeted.
Murder On Line One is a very character-driven story, focused on an unlikely team of sleuths from very different demographics.
The characters have depth and it really drove the plot forward. I absolutely did not see the ending coming, but the author did a great job at throwing suspicion on several people to have you guessing right to the end!
The story follows a late night radio talk show host who has lost his son in a tragic road accident. After losing his job, a young woman tracks him down after her grandmother (an avid listener and caller of his show) dies in suspicious circumstances. They team up with a local estate agent, who our main character had a fling with, and discover that the grandmother wasn't the only one of the show's listeners who were targeted.
Murder On Line One is a very character-driven story, focused on an unlikely team of sleuths from very different demographics.
The characters have depth and it really drove the plot forward. I absolutely did not see the ending coming, but the author did a great job at throwing suspicion on several people to have you guessing right to the end!