Jeremy Vine visits Oswestry to promote new thriller Turn The Dial For Death

The event, organised by Booka Bookshop was held at the Holroyd Community Theatre near Oswestry, where dozens of fans gathered to hear Vine discuss his broadcasting career, inspirations for writing and his growing success as a crime novelist. He also signed copies of the new book for fans following the talk.

Vine explained that the inspiration behind his “Sidmouth Murder Mysteries” series came from publisher Martha Ashby, who encouraged him to combine a setting he loved with a murder mystery.

“She said, for the perfect cosy crime story, find a place you love, an environment you love, and have a murder,” he told the audience.

The veteran broadcaster said his family holidays in Devon provided the ideal backdrop for the novels, while his decades working in radio naturally shaped the stories.

“I used to holiday in Devon with my children when they were younger and, of course, I’m well known for my radio work, so the two fell together perfectly,” he said.

Vine also revealed that the idea of setting a murder mystery around a radio station had been in his mind for years.

“When I look back as a teenager there was a TV show called Shoestring set in a radio station, then you’ve got the Play Misty for Me film, so I think the radio station setting was there waiting to be done,” he said.

Speaking about his passion for broadcasting, Vine said radio’s connection with listeners continues to inspire him.

“It’s the connection with the listeners and the fact they are happy to share stories — and there’s always the possibility those stories could be about murder, hence the books,” he joked.

Turn The Dial For Death, the second instalment in the Sidmouth Murder Mysteries series, is published by HarperCollins.