Earlier this year, I read Jeremy Vine’s debut novel (Murder on Line One) and really rather liked it. Turn the Dial for Death is the follow-up and it is – in my view – less accomplished. Yes, it’s okay to read, but not as good as the debut novel.
As before, the story is set in Sidmouth and reunites Edward Temmis, the local-radio presenter, his girlfriend Kim and their friend Stevie. This time, Edward has been asked by the widow of a doctor to help her clear her name. Her husband had been killed by a crossbow bolt, and despite having a cast iron alibi, her friends and neighbours had shunned her, believing there was no smoke without fire because she had bought the crossbow.
The radio station is in trouble too, so when a motorbike crashes into one of Sidmouth’s seaside cafés it’s big news and a chance to ramp up the listening figures. More so, after a child who had been in the café at the time later dies in hospital, and Sidmouth becomes the centre of a suspected terror attack.
Can Edward and his friends sort out the mess and work out what happened?
My verdict
I’ve thought long and hard about why this novel didn’t measure up to the first and I can’t find any particular thing to put my finger on. All I know is that – for me – it lacked the charm and interest of the first.
Jeremy Vine said his debut novel took him two years to write, as he fitted it in between all his other work commitments. I can only think that maybe this one has suffered because he’s rushed to get it out.
The plotting is confused and over-elaborate. The characters that had been appealing in the first book haven’t been developed to any great degree, and the relationships between them aren’t believable. I know you don’t expect believable characters in cosy crime, but the first novel held promise, whereas this falls flat.
In February I ended my review of Murder on Line One saying I hoped Jeremy Vine would move on to write about another character and leave Sidmouth behind. Edward and his friends could have happily stayed as he’d left them and I’m sure he could have written an equally entertaining novel about another character. No such luck when there’s a publishing deal on the desk, because he’s obviously committed to writing a series about Edward Temmis and this novel feels as if he’s just treading water.
I don’t think I’ll be reading many more of these. Turn the Dial for Death was good holiday reading but, as I say, lacked the charm and freshness of the debut novel. I didn’t hate it, but the story didn’t hold my attention and I’d forgotten the plot within three days of finishing it. Rather sad, really. 3 Stars.
Review by: Cornish Eskimo
What’s in a Star?
At Oundle Crime, 3 Stars = Not good or bad, but an average story and characters. You enjoyed reading it, but might not remember it after a month.
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