What Critics and Readers Are Saying about ‘Broken Country’ by Clare Leslie Hall
What Reviewers Are Saying:
Glowing Praise & Highlights
- People magazine describes the novel as “layered and lyrical,” lauding how it expertly builds suspense while exploring deep truths about love and loss.
- Reese Witherspoon raved that the ending was wholly unexpected: “Seriously, that ending?! I did not see it coming.”
- The Irish Times praised it as “a vivid, forceful love story that plays out like a thriller,” noting its dual timelines and sharp reveals, especially during the courtroom scenes
- BookCLB highlighted Hall’s five-part structure—titled after key characters—and its successful handling of shifting timelines to build suspense and emotional depth. They also emphasized the rural Dorset setting as immersive, almost like another character, and the prose as genuinely lyrical.
- The Gloss described the book as a blend of “romance and thriller,” praised its elegant yet accessible writing style, and how seamlessly it navigates alternating timelines.
- Independent bloggers like Kaitlyn’s Bookshelves found it “beautiful, heartbreaking, and ultimately redemptive,” combining emotional depth with narrative tension that lingers.
- On Goodreads, readers shared that the setting felt alive, the emotional weight was profound, and even predictable moments were outweighed by emotional resonance. Comments like “I was pulled into their lives from the first page” and “I finished it in less than 24 hours” were common.
Some Pushback
- A review on Book Club Chat mentioned that the love triangle felt underdeveloped. The reviewer craved more insight into Frank’s and Gabriel’s perspectives, and found the emotional weight sometimes overwhelming.
- TheTypedWriter was much more critical—calling the writing poor, pacing abysmal, and characters one-dimensional. The reviewer described Beth as “selfish, impulsive, and lacking moral integrity,” and felt her betrayal of Frank lacked consequences, diminishing the story’s impact.
Overall Summary: What Works and What Might Not
Strengths
- A lyrical writing style that evokes place and emotion, particularly within its rural Dorset setting.
- Dual timelines and structured shifts that deliver suspense and slow-burn emotional momentum.
- Emotional resonance and intensity—many readers found themselves deeply affected, often moved to tears.
- Genre blending: part murder mystery, part love story, part courtroom drama—keeping audiences hooked.
Potential Drawbacks
- Some readers found the love triangle simplistic or underexplored, wishing for more depth or alternative perspectives.
- The narrative can be emotionally heavy and tragic, potentially overwhelming for some readers.
- A few critiques point to issues with character development or pacing, particularly in dialogue and scene execution.
Verdict
If you’re drawn to emotionally charged stories with atmospheric settings, lyrical prose, and layered tension, Broken Country is highly likely to resonate—even if it doesn’t please everyone. Its strong narrative voice and moral complexity have earned it wide acclaim and heartfelt responses. That said, expect raw emotional impact and potentially uneven character depth along the way.