While the story was interesting I found the language stilted at best. I didn’t enjoy the way the author had the protagonist speak as if breaking the wall in a play. I found it uneven.

A shocking murder scene has been discovered in a small village. The victim, a local business owner, was well known and liked in the close-knit community. Having grown up in the area, the detective assigned to the case has come back and is dealing with her own personal domestic problems. With the help of her very green DC, they are determined to find who is responsible. This proves to be a challenge when they discover many of the village residents have secrets they would do just about anything for to keep hidden.

Way to go Chris Chibnall! If you loved Broadchurch, like so many of us did, this is one not to be missed. Death at the White Hart is suspenseful and fast paced with short chapters that will have you losing all track of time. With likable characters and a satisfying, believable ending, I can only hope this is the first in a new series. I will definitely be keeping my eyes and ears open for the next one. Fingers crossed!

Many thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Viking Penguin for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was everything I wanted from detective fiction! An interesting setting, realistic characters, sympathetic main characters with interesting emotional and intellectual lives and a mystery that rolls out in a satisfying and believable way. I will be looking for other titles by this author, especially with these characters.

Death at the White Hart is a thrilling murder mystery written by Chris Chibnall, the mastermind behind Broadchurch. It follows the story of a female detective (whose voice I heard in my head as Olivia Coleman) and a newbie detective who must solve a murder of a pub owner in a small English village. The small-town secrets and the impact of a murder on a close-knit community are the hallmarks of perfect British cozy murder fiction. Fans of this type of story will enjoy the quick paced short chapters that made me hope for a book two some day with these same characters.

Thank you to Penguin Group-Viking Penguin for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.