When I heard of this book, I was intrigued because it was from the creator of the TV show Broadchurch, which I loved. Unfortunately, I didn't love this book. It was a solid mystery that ticked all the boxes; there just wasn't anything special about it. I made no connections with the characters, and really didn't care who the murderer was, or if the case even got solved. Thanks anyway to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks for the opportunity to read and review!

This really drew me in and I could definitely tell it had a relationship to Broadchurch - murder in a small town, lots of suspicious behavior, talented police officer with her own personal troubles etc. The author introduces a lot of characters early but it didn't bother me to spend time and meet a lot of different people. There's the salon owner Frankie, the delivery driver Eddie, the murder victim's sister Patricia and the victim's partner Irina. The case unwinds at a pace that I liked, though I've seen others comment it was too slow. My only fault with the book is that I guessed whodunnit before the book unveiled it, and I hate being right about things like this! Though I didn't guess the motive, it felt obvious who killed Jim. I also felt like (and maybe that's because I read the proof and not the final copy) that some things weren't wrapped up.

I do hope there are more books with the team of Nicola and Harry. I'm sure there are other small towns with their own troubles and resentments where a murder could happen!

Death at the White Hart by Chris Chibnall was my first read by this author, and it’s a gripping, atmospheric mystery that delivers both emotional depth and procedural precision. Set in the coastal village of Fleetcombe, the novel opens with the shocking discovery of a man tied to a chair in the middle of the road, adorned with stag antlers a murder scene as theatrical as it is disturbing. The victim, Jim Tiernan, was the well-known publican of the White Hart, and his death sends ripples through the tight-knit community, exposing long-held grudges and buried secrets.

At the heart of the story is Detective Sergeant Nicola Bridge, newly transferred from Liverpool and returning to her childhood home with her husband and son. Her arrival is met with both anticipation and resistance, especially from young DC Harry Ward, who’s eager to prove himself but quickly learns that small-town policing comes with its own complexities. The character conflict between Nicola’s seasoned pragmatism and Harry’s youthful ambition adds texture to the investigation, while the villagers’ evasiveness and tangled histories complicate every lead. Nicola must navigate not only the case but the emotional terrain of a community that knows how to close ranks.

The twist comes when forensic psychologist Dr. Eleanor Spencer, haunted by her sister’s disappearance, is drawn into the case and begins to suspect that the killer’s identity may be tied to her own past. As the investigation deepens, the line between professional detachment and personal reckoning blurs, and the real monster may be closer than anyone imagined. Chibnall’s debut novel is a masterclass in suspense, blending cinematic pacing with psychological nuance. It’s a compelling first read that left me eager to see what he writes next.

Beings with a shock, then a slow simmer of a mysterious death investigation. The small town and eccentric towns people make for interesting characters. This has a Tana French style to it, and that is a compliment.

I really liked this one! It was a really great mystery in the same vein as Broadchurch, which I loved as well. I loved Nicola and Harry and think a sequel/series would be fun. Thanks for the chance to read it.

2.5 Stars

There was nothing necessarily bad about this book, but it had a hard time keeping my attention. I would have preferred less POVs (perhaps just the detectives’).

I really wanted to like this. I was so excited for this book because I loved Broadchurch, but it may have been better as a TV show It took me 2 months to read (which is long for me), because I just didn't feel a pull toward the story nor the characters.

It also bothered me that Chibnall essentially exploited queerness as a plot point, and his non-binary character, Frankie, was a failed attempt to appear inclusive. Full disclaimer: I read the uncorrected proof because I received the ARC from NetGalley, but there is a section where Chibnall slips up and uses "he" as Frankie's pronouns (which are they/them) while using "they" in the same exact paragraph. It then goes on to explain how Frankie is dreading seeing their parents and being misgendered. I just find it highly ironic that, in that same section, Chibnall misgendered his own character. It seemed very disingenuous to me, and the way Frankie is written is very 2-dimensional (although I did picture Mae Martin in the role).

None of the characters were particularly memorable, the story really wasn't interesting or compelling, and queerness was weaponized for plot twists. This was just a big miss for me.

A pleasant enough read and the wouldn’t mind seeing more books with Nicola and Harry but the publisher’s description is wildly overselling pretty much everything. N and H’s work relationship is more satisfying and substantial than her marriage? Is it tho? The talk of the village’s secrets promises some deep, twisty secret history but that never really materializes. In the last portion Nicola puts the mystery together in the most remarkably vague way I’ve ever read. It’s all “She realized a (not described) thing and then she thought of another (not described) thing and then she considered another thing (not described) and voila! She has it figured out. I’m sure it will make a lovely BBC series with Emily Blunt and Theo James.

Nicola Bridge is a detective in quiet Fleetcombe, a coastal English village. It’s a big change from her previous posting in Liverpool, especially when a local man winds up dead. Definitely murdered. The victim, Jim Tiernan, the landlord of the White Hart Pub. And this isn’t your typical murder, Jim was found on the road in the middle of the night with antlers on his head. In such a small town, everyone knew Jim , and everyone is a suspect.

This book is not super long, but it’s really good. I liked the writing style and the different relationships between the characters. Nicola is well fleshed out, between her family life and work. I thought the story came together very well.

Thanks to Pamela Dorman Book/Viking and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — Classic cozy mystery with charm and suspense
Death at the White Hart offers a delightful blend of small-town charm and intriguing mystery. The setting feels warm and inviting, while the plot delivers plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. The characters are well-developed, and the pacing is just right for a cozy mystery. A satisfying read for fans of traditional whodunits with a modern touch.

The fact that this mystery is by the writer of Broadchurch is pretty clear - same detective working through her own problems, small town where everyone is connected, etc. It was a serviceable mystery, but not I'll remember.

I was surprised this was from the same creator as Broadchurch! But now the pacing of the story makes sense.. This is a slow story and investigation led by Detective Nicola Bridge and Detective Constable Harry Ward. As we are given the POVs of several of the town suspects, everyone seemed to have some connection to the victim, owner of the local pub, the White Hart, and maybe had a motive to kill him. I admired how Nicola handled this fragile situation, letting little clues lead her and Harry to the evidence they needed. And like Nicola, I was impressed with some of Harry's discoveries during their investigation, showing despite his lack of cases, he has good instincts for the job. In the end, I would never have guessed who the killer was, and why. While I do think the pacing could have been quicker, fans of police procedurals and/or British mysteries will enjoy the steady character driven build.

Thank you Netgalley for this eARC!

In Death at the White Hart, Chris Chibnall pulls back the curtain on a seemingly idyllic English village to reveal a chilling undercurrent of secrets, suspicion, and murder. Fleetcombe may appear postcard-perfect, nestled along the coast, but when the body of pub owner Jim Tiernan is discovered—bound to a chair in the middle of the road, stag antlers grotesquely affixed to his head—the illusion is shattered.

Jim wasn’t just any villager; he ran the White Hart, the pub that served as the beating heart of the community and a quiet vault for its many secrets. His death is more than a shock—it’s a warning.

Detective Nicola Bridge, recently returned to her hometown from Liverpool, finds herself at the center of a deeply personal investigation. Partnered with the eager and perceptive DC Harry Ward, Nicola must navigate both the haunting familiarity of her past and the guarded hostility of her neighbors. Together, they dig beneath Fleetcombe’s picture-perfect surface to expose long-buried truths and decades-old grudges.

Chibnall crafts a masterfully atmospheric mystery—claustrophobic, layered, and emotionally resonant. Death at the White Hart is more than just a whodunit; it’s a tense exploration of what small communities will do to protect their own—and the danger of assuming you know a place just because you once called it home. This one really surprised me in the best way possible!

Death at the White Hart had everything to grab my attention: a classic English village setting, the mysterious death of a local pub manager, a detective new to the area with personal baggage of her own—and the author is none other than the creator of Broadchurch, which set my expectations high.
I enjoyed the book overall. The premise was strong: a body found at night in the middle of the road, with antlers attached to the victim's head—a striking and macabre image that promised an atmospheric, gripping read. The setup of a female detective, Nicola Bridge, recently transferred from a big city and trying to find her footing within a small-town team, had the potential to add depth and tension to the narrative.
But for me, it didn't quite come together. The story felt oddly flat and repetitive, missing the spark I had hoped for. I found it difficult to connect with Nicola Bridge—she never quite came alive as a character.
That said, the book had undeniable potential. The setting was well-drawn, and the concept had enough intrigue to keep me reading. I couldn’t help thinking that the story might work better on screen. With the right cast and pacing, it could make for a gripping TV series—especially given the author's background in television.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the copy.

If you know anything about Broadchurch, you know how excited I was to receive a galley copy of this book. It sucks you in immediately with a horrific murder, but the characters leave you gripped to the story the whole time. I was worried initially that it was a little *too* much like Broadchurch, but as the story got going, I realized that I needn't have worried. The mystery, the characters, and the fantastic storytelling that just *feels* like TV episodes were all A+. I can't recommend enough. Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for letting me read!

JIM Tieman, owner of the White Hart Pub was found murdered. His body, left in a public place was set up in a gruesome scene. Detective Nicola Bridge and her partner, Harry Ward set off to solve the homicide in the quaint village of Fleetcome. The investigation, similar to Broadchurch, (by the same author), is a five-star read. The police procedural is riveting and intense. The characters were believable and likable. I recommend this book for readers of character-driven police procedurals written with depth and intelligence.

You mention Broadchurch and I am there. That is one show you must watch. I mean this is where I feel in love with Olivia Coleman. I knew I needed to dive into this book, and it is a slow burn. That nestles down deep and does not let up until the very end. It definitely starts off with a bang, making for an intensely creepy atmosphere. A body found in the middle of the road with antlers tied to their head. What is the meaning and why? The story builds slowly from there. The characters are salt of the earth. Each having their own trials and tribulations. The police having their own issues. A small force that must spread their resources thin. Not enough people and a murder like this one makes it hard to run down all of the suspects and details of the case.

Which leads me to Detective Nicola Bridge. Who has just moved back to Fleetcombe. Hoping for a quieter life for her family. To be able to grow from their issues. This murder has thrown that to the wind. Leaving Nicola running and learning to depend on someone she does not know. Which has left her pleasantly surprised that Detective Harry Ward has his head between his shoulders. As Nicola lets her guard down and allows others to help, the entire investigation takes on a life of its own. Leading them down a twisty road of jealousy and deceit.

The last few chapters did tend to drag on a bit. It tied up all of the loose ends, not leaving you flapping in the strong ocean breeze. Wondering what happened to whom and why. I loved Nicola. She is strong, stubborn, and does not take no for an answer. Thank you to Chris Chibnall and Pamela Dorman Books for my gifted copy.

Thank you to Viking Books for my copy of DEATH AT THE WHITE HART.

I enjoyed this book and the mystery it sent me on. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and it feels like there's room for more from these detectives. This book won't change your life but if you're into detective style mysteries, this one is for you.

Nothing keeps a village together like secrets.
The villagers of Fleetcombe like to think of it as one of the most picturesque spots on England’s seaside.
But now, it’s a crime scene.
A man is found dead, tied to a chair in the middle of the road, with a stag’s antler’s on his head. The gruesome scene stuns the town, especially when they learn that it is Jim Tiernan, owner of the White Hart pub, who has been found murdered.
Is it a personal vendetta, or something more macabre? Tierney’s pub is at the center of village life and he knew everyone’s secrets.
Detective Nicola Bridge grew up in Fleetcombe, and has been craving a juicy case ever since she moved back from the big city. DC Harry Ward is ten years younger, and their partnership is somehow stronger, and more satisfying even than her marriage. Together, they are determined to crack the storybook façade to find out just what the people of Fleetcombe have to hide.

Went into this one blind but after discovered that the author was a writer on the Britain based series Broadchurch. While I am not familiar with the series, I did enjoy this for the most part. I did feel that it dragged on a bit longer than it needed even though the chapters were short and less characters with shady pasts would have made it a bit more believable and easier to follow.

Thank you NetGalley and Pamela Dorman Books for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A great British crime novel by the creator of Broadchurch! Pick up this book if you love the slow burn of a procedural with many small town characters and many potential bad guys. Loved the vibe of the setting with its local pubs and the coastal countryside. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.