I added this book to my TBR list a year ago, but it was only a few months ago that I finally put it on hold at the library having been reminded of it from a poster in a London Tube station. Don’t follow my example and wait a year to read this incredible work of fiction.
Beth has a good life. Not a perfect one or an easy one, but a good life all the same. She’s married to a good man and lives in an idyllic corner of the English countryside. When Gabriel, a phantom of her past, comes back to haunt the neighboring manor, Beth’s world is tilted on its axis as tensions in the village spread and well-buried secrets are threatened to be revealed.
Through Broken Country, Hall presents a masterclass in foreshadowing: enough breadcrumbs to incite intrigue, never so much that it’s infuriatingly repetitive. The surprises came right until the end, so much so that, while finishing the book on the subway, my mouth was hanging open. More than the teasing plot line and the complex characters, the writing style captivated me and made this book a struggle to put down. I thought it was beautifully written, with a tone that felt fresh from most fiction I’ve read recently.
This is a deep, moving book about love, loss, the choices we make and those who stand beside us through the consequences. It’s definitely worth a read.
2% Rating: 8/10
Recommend? Definitely
Re-Read? Probably
Time: 1:29