It is historical fiction with a bit of mystery set in a vividly described rural setting that revolves around relationships that are impacted by tragedy.
This is a character-based, slow burn story which gets top marks for atmosphere, but admittedly took a bit to draw me in. The story is told from Beth's perspective in dual timelines (1955 and 1968) and the story regularly jumps between the two eras. It has a sad yearning for the 'one that got away', some miscommunication and a love triangle (though I never wavered from Team Frank).
The story has many of the right ingredients for a great read and brings interesting topics to light, but I wish I hadn't guessed the big reveal very early on and I would have liked it if the courtroom scenes added more tension to this quiet read. I was interested to find out what had happened to this family, but ultimately I didn't feel totally swept away by this story which had a melancholy feel to it throughout.
Overall, this was a good read that was very atmospheric with a few scenes that will tug at your heartstrings and topics that will instigate good book discussion. If you're looking for a story that weaves family dynamics and complicated love with heart break and difficult choices that result in dangerous repercussions then given this book a go!
Disclaimer: Thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada for the complimentary copy of this book which was given in exchange for my honest review.
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Author: Clare Leslie Hall
Genre: Historical Fiction
Type and Source: Trade paperback from publisher
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Canada
First Published: March 4, 2025
Read: February 3 - 7, 2025
Book Description from GoodReads: “The farmer is dead. He is dead and all anyone wants to know is who killed him.”
When her brother-in-law shoots a dog going after their sheep, Beth doesn’t realize that the gunshot will alter the course of their lives. For the dog belonged to none other than Gabriel Wolfe, the man Beth loved as a teenager—the man who broke her heart all those years ago. Gabriel has returned to the village with his young son Leo, a boy who reminds Beth very much of her own son Bobby, who died a few years earlier.
As Beth is pulled back into Gabriel and Leo’s lives, tensions around the village rise, and jealousy rears its ugly head. Beth and her gentle and kind husband Frank are happily married, but they have their fair share of secrets, and their relationship relies on the past staying buried. And when the truth begins to come out, events spiral out of control, this time with deadly consequences. Beth is forced to make a choice—between the woman she once was, and the woman she has become.
A sweeping, sexy love story with the pace and twists of a thriller, Broken Country is a novel of simmering passion, impossible choices, and explosive consequences that toggles between the past and present to explore the far-reaching legacy of first love.
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