Death at the White Hart set in West Dorset
Death at the White Hart set in West Dorset
Death at the White Hart is the debut novel from Chris Chibnall of Broadchurch fame. I have been desperate to read it and even bought myself a nice special edition. Life gets busy sometimes and so I have only just got round to reading this.
Book map of Death at the White Hart
Book map of Death at the White Hart
Location – West Dorset. This will be familiar to Broadchurch fans and it was exciting to revisit it for Chris’ book! Fictional Fleetcombe is a coastal town and it’s delightful and where you’d like to move to. Minus the murder though of course.
Characters: Detective Nicola Bridge grew up in Fleetcombe ( fictional) and so when she comes back to the town, she sees it through both old and fresh eyes. She works with DC Harry Ward who is ten years younger than her and they make a fine team!
Book map of Death at the White Hart
The genius of Broadchurch was the way life and people interweave to make complicated threads and ultimately knots. This genius has followed into the book and the writing I’m pleased to say!
Murder set up: Very creepy! A man tied to a chair in the middle of the road, stag antlers fixed to his head. The victim is the publican of the White Hart so he’s going to have known everyone and everyone is going to have known him! Think about the secrets and the things he would know about people in the community!
BookTrail review
Book map of Death at the White Hart
I really enjoyed this. Very Broadchurch-esque and all the brilliant writing and evil genius that was in that is more than replicated on the page. I understand this is going to be on TV – a given with the author surely! – and I hope it is.
The humour that was also woven into the TV shows he’s done – is well and truly on the page here. Characterisation is exceptional and I realise I am a visual reader but this flowed through my head like a film already made. If the TV show he makes is half as good as the version my brain has created, then it’s going to be great!
The whole story about the village and community dynamics are why this novel shines. A lovely little place but wait until you see what sits waiting beneath the surface of that peace. A really enjoyable reading and mystery experience.
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