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By Clare Leslie Hall (Author)
In Broken Country, Clare Leslie Hall weaves a haunting tale of love, loss, and buried secrets set against the backdrop of rural England. This novel, a Reese's Book Club pick, masterfully combines elements of romance, mystery, and suspense to explore the complexities of human relationships and the enduring impact of past choices.
Beth and her gentle, kind husband Frank lead a seemingly content life on their sheep farm. However, their tranquil existence is disrupted when Beth's brother-in-law shoots a dog threatening their flock—a dog belonging to Gabriel Wolfe, Beth's first love who vanished years ago. Gabriel's unexpected return to the village with his young son Leo stirs up memories of Beth's own tragic past and reignites unresolved emotions.
As Beth becomes entangled in Gabriel's life once more, long-hidden secrets and old jealousies resurface, leading to dangerous consequences. The narrative oscillates between past and present, unraveling the intricate web of Beth's relationships and the choices that have shaped her life.
"Stirring, poetic, and mysterious, Clare Leslie Hall’s novel, Broken Country, reveals how tender and innocent love between a boy and a girl can alter the lives of families for generations." — Delia Owens, New York Times bestselling author of Where the Crawdads Sing
"Broken Country is a beautifully observed and brilliantly constructed page-turner of a novel. It has everything – love, loss, fury, forgiveness – and I was absolutely immersed from page one." — Mary Beth Keane, New York Times bestselling author of Ask Again, Yes
Clare Leslie Hall is a novelist and journalist residing in Dorset, England, with her family. Under the name Clare Empson, she authored two domestic noir thrillers, Him and Mine, published in the UK and Germany. Inspired by L.P. Hartley's The Go-Between, Broken Country is her U.S. debut, featuring a forbidden love affair with catastrophic repercussions.
If you're seeking a novel that delves into the depths of first love, the weight of past decisions, and the intricate ties that bind us, Broken Country is a compelling read that will resonate long after the final page.