4.75 stars 

BROKEN COUNTRY by Clare Leslie Hall 

The author weaves a familiar historical fiction tale with an unexpected spin (murder) on it. Beth comes from a modest upbringing, and she falls in love with wealthy Gabriel in the mid 1950s. Written from the first person perspective (my favorite!), the reader feels everything along with Beth for the first time. 

 

When Gabriel and Beth suddenly break up, she reaches for steadfast farmer Frank Johnson, who has been in love with her for years. Beth marries Frank and lives with Frank’s dad David, Frank’s younger brother Jimmy, and they soon welcome son Bobby on the farm as well. After the tragic death of Bobby, they try to all move on, but, when Gabriel moves back with his son Leo, their lives will be upended forever, as Beth and Gabriel never forgot each other and the mark they made on one another. 

I loved being swept up into this story. The author has such a deft hand at her characterization of all the characters, but especially Frank. I really liked the setting of an English farm instead of a bustling city. The focus on guilt permeated throughout the book, and I think that was very appropriate for the time and setting. This was a well-told character-driven story with more plot than I expected, and I think it will appeal to a wide variety of readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

BROKEN COUNTRY publishes March 4, 2025. 

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