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Book Reviewed by:A love triangle unearths dangerous, deadly secrets from the past in this thrilling tale perfect for fans of The Paper Palace and Where the Crawdads Sing.
"The farmer is dead. He is dead, and all anyone wants to know is who killed him."
Beth and her gentle, kind husband Frank are happily married, but their relationship relies on the past staying buried. But when Beth's brother-in-law shoots a dog going after their sheep, Beth doesn't realize that the gunshot will alter the course of their lives. For the dog belonged to none other than Gabriel Wolfe, the man Beth loved as a teenager—the man who broke her heart years ago. Gabriel has returned to the village with his young son Leo, a boy who reminds Beth very much of her own son, who died in a tragic accident.
As Beth is pulled back into Gabriel's life, tensions around the village rise and dangerous secrets and jealousies from the past resurface, this time with deadly consequences. Beth is forced to make a choice between the woman she once was, and the woman she has become.
A sweeping love story with the pace and twists of a thriller, Broken Country is a novel of simmering passion, impossible choices, and explosive consequences that toggles between the past and present to explore the far-reaching legacy of first love.
Part One
Gabriel
The farmer is dead, he is dead and all anyone wants to know is who killed him. Was it an accident or was it murder? It looks like murder, they say, with that gunshot wound to the heart, so precise it must have been intended.
They are waiting for me to speak. Two pairs of eyes relentless in their stares. But how can I tell them what he wants me to say, the words we have practiced over and over in the minutes before the police arrive?
I shake my head, I need more time.
It's true what they say: You can live a whole lifetime in a final moment. We are that boy and girl again with all of it ahead, a glory-stretch of light and wondrous beauty, of nights beneath the stars.
He is waiting for me to look at him and, when I do, he smiles to show me he is fine, the briefest nod of his head.
Say it, Beth. Say it now.
I look at his face again, beautiful to me then and now and always, one final glance between us before everything changes.
The Trial
Old Bailey, London, 1969
Nothing could prepare...
What are you reading this week? And what did you think of last week’s books? (1/8/2026)
...ur state. I also had the opportunity to hear Brianna speak on a book panel in Pittsburgh. And, speaking of libraries, I was finally able to check out Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall yesterday. I'm already halfway through and will likely finish it today. (Then, I'll be able to return it to the library so the next person waiting fo...
-Diane_Jones
What are you reading this week? And what did you think of last week’s books? (09-18-2025)
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall and an ARC by Barbara Hinske.
-Marcia_Kirby
Tessa manipulates Beth into thinking Gabriel doesn't care about her (p. 284). Do you think she’s acting in Gabriel’s best interests, or just being cruel? If you were Tessa, what would you have done? What would you have done in Beth’s position?
I am not convinced that Tessa was acting purely out of self-interest and/or cruelty towards Beth. I would like to think that Tessa was acting in a maternal fashion and saving Gabriel from the perceived threat that making the same foolish decision she had nearly made with her penniless lover would...
-Andrea_B
What audience would you recommend Broken Country to? Is there another book or author you’d recommend that you feel has a similar theme or style?
This novel broached the dangers of dwelling on the "what-ifs" in life. As older readers have had more time in which to entertain such thoughts, then I feel that they are the audience who would most connect with this book. I would also recommend it to someone looking for a compelling beach read fi...
-Andrea_B
Discuss Beth’s journey of coming to terms with her son’s death. How does the arrival of Leo and Gabriel affect her ability to cope with that loss?
I believe that Beth buries her grief until Gabriel's return with Leo and the reestablishment of trust with her "borrowed family." She is then able to begin acknowledging Bobby's loss through sharing her memories. It is when she reveals her deepest secret to Gabriel that I feel the healing process...
-Andrea_B
The novel ends with some explosive consequences and twists. Were you surprised by the revelations at the end? Did you see any of them coming? If so, when?
After meeting the characters, I had figured out the responsible party. It did not ruin the reading experience for me for I enjoyed the reveal and was glad that supportive consequences ensued.
-Andrea_B
What do you think the author is saying about the power of first love? Does it always leave a lasting impact? Was Beth’s past love with Gabriel a source of strength or pain for her? How does this effect the way she views herself and her current life?
I believe that the author stresses the power of first love and its impact. The characters create strong bonds through memorable experiences during their early relationships, which then become the standard of comparison for later encounters. What these comparisons then convey to me, however, is th...
-Andrea_B
If you were Beth, would you have chosen Frank or Gabriel? Why?
If I were Beth, then I am not sure that I would have returned to Frank after our first separation, but if I had, then I would have remained in my relationship with Frank. Their love weathered so much that it earned the right to be respected before risking a renewed relationship with Gabiel that w...
-Andrea_B
Overall, what did you think of Broken Country? (no spoilers, please!)
While the situation in this story was extreme, the character development was artful, delivery compelling, and the resolution healthy. The one aspect that eluded me was the choice of title, but otherwise, I found Broken Country to be a good summer reading selection.
-Andrea_B
Beth is conflicted because she loves both Gabriel and Frank (p. 132). Do you think she does, in fact, love each of them equally? Is it possible to love two people at the same time?
I think she was in love/infatuated with Gabriel, and as the affair was never resolved or allowed to play out, Beth was in love with the idea of Gabriel. Frank was safe, and stable, and I believe that she grew to love him as he accepted her and created a space for her. I think a lot of people hold...
-Micki_S
Did you enjoy the way Clare Leslie Hall teased out the details of the murder trial? Who did you initially suspect was on trial? Did it play out the way you thought it would?
I liked the way the trial unfolded, and I was surprised by the outcome. I thought that the solution played to the character of Frank, who was a generous and protective person. I thought Gabriel had shot Jimmy, and when it turned out to be Leo, it was believable that Frank would protect him.
-Micki_S
How did Beth and Frank’s marriage seem to you at the start of the novel? Once you read on, did your perception of their marriage change?
I thought that their marriage seemed strong at the beginning of the novel, but there were issues due to Bobby's death. They both recognized that it was an accident, but both were conflicted about having another child - no one could replace Bobby. I think that this caused some cracks in the marria...
-Shirley_Fentz
Beth keeps a favorite photograph in her purse of Bobby (p. 123). Do you think this helped or hurt her healing? Do you keep a photo of a loved one with you at all times? Why or why not?
I think that the photo helped her remember Bobby and the joy and love that he brought to her. The sudden tragic way that he died has left a hole in her heart, that I think the picture can help lessen the pain.
-Shirley_Fentz
Throughout the novel, Beth is confronted with the woman she once was versus the woman she has become. What do you think the author is saying about identity, particularly how it is shaped by love, grief and time?
Love and grief can be experienced differently throughout our lives depending on the time we experience it leading to a change in our identity. What happened in Beth's past resonated in the present, changing Beth's emotions. Despite the forces of love, grief, and time, she still had a degree of co...
-Lillian_T
What are you reading this week? (7/17/2025)
Just finished Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall. The writing was good, but I had a problem with the behaviors of two of the three main characters. Was so aggravated with them by the end of the book...
-Lana_Maskus
Discuss the role that grief and loss play in the novel. How do different characters respond to loss? How does the loss of Bobby affect Beth and Frank’s marriage? What role does grief play in shaping Beth’s relationship with Gabriel?
I agree with the opinions above. I think they all blamed themselves for Bobby's death and spent years trying to make up for it, which of course they couldn't. And I agree that Frank probably never felt that Beth truly loved him.
-Julie_P
What are you reading this week? (7/10/2025)
So glad I finally finished The Lost Continent by Bill Bryson. Just started Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall for my book club meeting next week. Am really hoping it breaks me out of my reading slump.
-Lana_Maskus
How does Gabriel’s return challenge Beth’s perception of her own life choices? Did you find Beth’s internal struggle between her past self and the woman she has become relatable?
I doubt that there are many among us who does not wonder about the road not taken and "what if" this had or had not happened? Beth had a great love and the interference of Gabriel's mother completely changed the trajectory of her life. It is amazing that she was not an angrier woman.
-Elizabeth_L
Discuss the small-town setting of Broken Country. How did the tight-knit atmosphere of the village contribute to the unfolding drama? Do you think the events of the novel would have played out differently if it weren’t set in a rural farming village?
If it was set in a city where everyone minds their own business, the affair would not have been noticed and a tree would not have fallen on Bobby.
-Elizabeth_L
Louisa and Beth have a conversation over drinks. What impact do you feel Louisa’s revelations and her opinion that Beth “ruined Gabriel for anyone else” (p. 147) had on Beth’s future actions? Do you think the affair still would have happened?
Perhaps the conversation with Louisa gave Beth just the nudge and justification or excuse she needed to act on her feelings for Gabriel?
-Elizabeth_L
Before Beth and Gabriel consummate their affair, do you think Beth is being fair to Frank by concealing the extent of her emotional connection to Gabriel? Can someone fully move on from a past relationship if they haven’t completely healed from it?
I don't think it was fair how Beth became more involved with Gabriel without admitting that to Frank. As others have mentioned, Beth was selfish. Frank didn't deserve that from Beth, as he had once rescued her. The moving on part of this question is probably different for each person and circumst...
-Carla_A
Do the rural setting and the natural world have symbolic significance for the characters and the plot? How might the land and country itself mirror the emotional conflicts in the story?
Bravo another person who felt about the tree as I did!
-Carol_N
What’s your opinion of Frank’s actions after the murder (p. 274)? Did he do the right thing? What would you have done in his place?
Personally I had a hard time with his decision. As I finished the book I was left wondering about Frank's qualities. I wanted him not to be so "Casper Milk Toast" about life in general. Right or wrong, I can only say perhaps it could have been better described as an accident. I don't know what I ...
-Carol_N
The novel is full of hidden secrets and repressed emotions, especially in the way people in the village react to Gabriel’s return. What role do these secrets play in the novel? How do they affect Beth’s relationships and her sense of self?
Based on the reaction of certain people in Beth's sphere, I assumed a lot of villagers knew of the rekindled affair. They probably resented both Beth and Gabriel. "If only he had stayed away!!! none of this would have happened to Frank, and his brother would still be alive Why can you imagine?? T...
-NanK
What are you reading this week? (6/26/025)
I'm currently reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn for my Library Book Club, because the next month we will read James. I'm also listening to Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall, and yes, I consider listening, reading. I am also beta reading a friends manuscript.
-Louise_H
What books have you enjoyed so far in 2025, what books are you looking forward to reading?
My favorites so far are Nesting by RoisinO'Donnell Wild Dark Horses by Charlotte McConaghy Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall
-Maureen_Connolly
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall
Please join BookBrowse in our book club discussion of Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall
-kim.kovacs
What are you reading this week? (04/10/2025)
I'm reading Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall. It's fast-paced and hooked me right from the start.
-Holly_K
Clare Leslie Hall's novel Broken Country is a complex drama that explores themes of love and loss, betrayal and forgiveness. The year is 1968, and our narrator, Beth Johnson, is happily married to Frank, a sheep farmer in North Dorset. We learn early on that the couple had a nine-year-old son who died two years prior, and although they're still grieving, they have a strong marriage built on mutual love and respect. Their relationship is rocked, however, when wealthy author Gabriel Wolfe and his young son Leo return to their estate next door after living in America for the past decade. As the author braids three narratives together, she deftly engages her readers' curiosity. We're hooked from the very first sentence. Hall forces us to wait for answers, dribbling out bits of information as the plot unfolds, all the while raising even more questions. The format makes the book nearly unputdownable as each page offers clues to these and other secrets scattered throughout...continued
Full Review
(755 words)
(Reviewed by Kim Kovacs).
Delia Owens, New York Times bestselling author of Where the Crawdads Sing
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. Even on a quaint and quiet sheep farm of rural England, misguided passion brings murder and criminal charges against the most innocent of players because human nature is far from tame. Yet, even as love destroys, it can return to heal on the same sacred meadow where it was first conceived. This evocative, sensitive and compelling novel fires directly at the human heart and hits the mark. Jo Furniss, author of The Last to Know
Broken Country combines the intoxicating passion of Sally Rooney's Normal People with the hard-won wisdom of Ian McEwan's On Chesil Beach. It is also as romantic about the British countryside as Elena Ferrante is about Naples. Both a love story and a pulsing suspense, you could wait a lifetime for a novel as good as this. Miranda Cowley Heller, New York Times bestselling author of The Paper Palace
Broken Country is mesmerizing: delicate and forceful, lyrical, brutal, and passionate. I devoured it.
In Clare Leslie Hall's novel Broken Country, main characters Beth and Frank Johnson are sheep farmers in the North Dorset region of England. The book talks about the couple raising lambs that are then sold to market.
Sheep have been farmed on the British Isles since Roman times, and it remains a significant industry, particularly in the Southwest and Northern parts of England. The UK's Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board estimates that in 2023, there were nearly 32 million head of sheep in England spread across more than 26,000 farms. It was a £1.3 billion ($1.7 billion) industry in 2020 and employed approximately 150,000 people at that time.
Sheep can be farmed for a number of reasons—wool production, milk, ...
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