Minnie's Fiction Addiction

👀 First impressions:
From the very first line, “The farmer is dead, he is dead and all anyone wants to know is who killed him”, Broken Country sets a dark, melancholic tone. Set in the English countryside, it follows Beth through two timelines: the 1950s, when she first meets the enigmatic Gabriel, and 1968, when she’s married to Frank and still haunted by the past. The dual structure immediately intrigued me, promising both a slow-burning mystery and an exploration of guilt, love, and the heavy silence of rural life.

I went in expecting a simple domestic drama, but what I found was something much deeper: a beautifully written, emotionally layered novel that balances tragedy and tenderness against a vividly rendered pastoral backdrop.

✅ What I Liked:
Clare Leslie Hall’s prose is gorgeous, lyrical yet grounded, with a rhythm that matches the seasons of the countryside she writes about. Every field, flock, and hedgerow feels alive. The setting isn’t just a backdrop; it’s part of the story’s pulse.

Beth is a complex, fully realised character. Her grief, longing, and moral conflict are portrayed with such empathy that even when she makes questionable choices, you understand her. The central mystery, the farmer’s death, lingers quietly throughout, pulling you forward without ever overwhelming the emotional heart of the novel.

I also loved how Hall avoids easy moral judgments. The characters are flawed but believable, and the narrative allows for ambiguity and reflection. It’s a story that lingers because of its honesty.

❎ What I didn’t Like:
Pacing was occasionally uneven; some stretches felt overly heavy, with little reprieve from grief or tension. And a few plot points hinted at more than they ultimately delivered, certain secrets felt slightly under explored by the end.

📚 Why You Should Read This Book:
If you’re interested in books that deal with the personal cost of political conflict, complex female protagonists, and beautiful literary writing, Broken Country will be for you. It’s a thoughtful and resonant novel that stays with you long after the final page. Perfect for fans of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Hisham Matar, or Madeline Miller’s Circe (for its quiet, potent interiority).

💭 Final

If you enjoy novels that combine rural atmosphere, emotional depth, and moral complexity, something between Cold Comfort Farm and Where the Crawdads Sing, then Broken Country is well worth your time. It’s both a slow-burning mystery and a portrait of the quiet devastation that can come from love, loss, and the choices we make.

🛍️ Where to buy
To buy your own copy click HERE

Final Rating ★★★★ – A beautifully written and emotionally resonant novel that lingers in the mind, despite a few pacing issues.