Johnny Klein is a rock casualty, a fallen 1980s popstar who has lost everything ― his family, his money and his fame. Thrown a lifeline by an old contact in the music business, Johnny doesn’t care what he is getting himself into.

Dragged down into East London’s dark underbelly, Johnny discovers there is more at stake than his own shattered ego. Johnny hates being yesterday’s man but now he’s wishing he could disappear altogether. The party might be over, but there’s no escape from the past…

The Game is the debut novel from music legend and actor Martin Kemp. The book follows downtrodden ex-80s rock star Johnny Klein who after losing everything including his family and home is living rent-free above an Indian restaurant courtesy of the owner who is a big fan and Mona a music journalist come Johnny’s right-hand-woman.

Johnny is completely brassic and in need of a helping hand so when a friend in the music business offers him help he jumps at the chance. However, the help isn’t as he expected. Rather than being offered a slot in his friend’s band as he heads out on tour, Johnny is asked to do some private detective work for him.

I had mixed feelings about The Game. The plot was decent and the characters were-well written and easy to imagine. The pacing was a little slow, especially at the beginning where it dragged as we are taken on a journey with Johnny and his self-pitying and there was quite a lot of over-telling and over-describing of everything.

I did enjoy the 80s throwback references which were nostalgic for someone having lived through those years and the seedy side of the book had a good air of sinister about it and the pace certainly picked up here.

Overall, The Game was a tale of two halves. The first part is a little boring and certainly too slow, the second is a decent gritty story of music legends, gangsters, and the dirty world of some journalists who would sell their souls for a story.

Martin Kemp has been married to Shirlie Kemp for many years and they have two children, Roman and Harley Moon. Martin lives in Hertfordshire with his family and pets.

Martin is an English musician and actor, best known as the bassist in the new wave band Spandau Ballet and for his role as Steve Owen in EastEnders.