What is your favourite type of book? My go-to read is a good old psychological thriller or whodunnit. (I have always marvelled at this, as being a deeply impatient person, how on earth can I stand reading a 400 page book when only the ending can shed light on a twisty book?)
Clare Leslie Hall’s Broken Country is my latest read that deftly crosses genres. It just so happens to be a barn-stormer of a drama with a slow-burn thriller twist, with a dash of romance throw in for good measure.
I didn’t realise it was genre crossing fiction until the twist hit me. Teen boy (Gabriel) meets teen girl (Elizabeth / Beth), they fall in love, break up due to a misunderstanding then reconnect years later with baggage in tow. The book’s dual timeline did take me a few seconds to reorient myself as I found myself wavering between the ‘before’ and present day set in 1968.
It helps, but you don’t have to like the main character. I just need to believe that what I am reading on the page, is happening in real life, that the narrative is immersive that it pulls me along. So, although I’m not the biggest fan of Beth – I found her selfish and not really a very nice person – I believed she acted with conviction.
This feels like a good time to say that I am Team Frank, who although is a flawed character, is selfless and good.
I don’t want to give too much away, apart from the double-twist ending that had me floored.
It has been a few weeks since I finished reading the book, and I didn’t really need to consult my notes, which I usually have to do when writing a book review. I think this points to the fact that the book was so well written, recall came quickly and easily.
There was a point in the book where I thought, where is this going? It was obvious from the outset that a person is on trial, the who, the crime, all gets laid out as the story progresses and characters are set up for that jaw-dropping finale.
The ending got me thinking – it felt like it was the right thing to do by all characters.
I can’t not talk about the big reveal without giving away spoilers, so if you haven’t read the book, leave this review now. :-)
Frank returning home, him staying with Beth, Gabriel out of the picture yet never far, it felt right. Gabriel and Beth, bound by heady first love then tragedy, were not destined to be together.
Frank’s sacrifice is one for the ages. I think I would like to know him in real life.
I, along with millions across the world, loved the book. Accolades include Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller, and book club picks by Fearne Cotton and Reese Witherspoon. A film adaptation is in the works, being produced by Reese Witherspoon’s company Hello Sunshine.
This book is heart-breaking and rooted in one life-changing catastrophe, yet I wouldn’t change a single thing. Grab your trainers and go run out to buy this book now, I promise you, you won’t be disappointed.