4.5 rounding up because Broadchurch is one of my favorite shows ever and Chibnall was the co writer!
this was really solid and I hope it is only the first in a series with Nic and Harry! I did guess it ( why it was 4.5 to start with) but these characters are still occupying my thoughts! would it be too much to hope they will make a show out of this?
thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

This had a great British mystery feel to it, but with a more contemporary vibe. A sleepy village is shaken up by the murder of a very public figure- the bartender from one of the two local pubs. The local police force has their hands full as any of several locals could be guilty. I really enjoyed it!

A new series with a strong female detective. Nicola is having family issues and they need a change of scenery so she moves to a smaller town for less stress and immediately comes up against a macabre murder. She has fewer resources but is till determined to do a good job on the investigation.

This was well written but not enough action for me. I found myself speed reading through the middle but it did come to a satisfying conclusion. I would read the next one to see what happens to the characters we met.

Thanks Netgalley for an ARC to read and review. 3.5 STARS

I normally would not have picked this book. I love thrillers! But tend to not got for the crime one.

I got asked to read this one and boy am I happy I did. I enjoyed every minute of it and want more.

"From the internationally award-winning creator of Broadchurch comes a brilliant new detective story following one man's death and the secrets that unravel in a coastal English village.

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 coast.

But now, it's a disturbingly macabre crime scene.

A man is found dead, tied to a chair in the middle of the road, a stag's antlers on his head. The gruesome scene stuns the town, especially when the victim is identified: Jim Tiernan, who ran the White Hart pub. Tiernan's pub is at the center of village life and he knew everyone's secrets.

Detective Nicola Bridge grew up in Fleetcombe and has now returned, for the good of her family, from a life away in Liverpool. DC Harry Ward is ten years younger and, despite his newcomer status, determined to earn Nicola's trust. Because they don't have long to crack the storybook façade and find out just what the people of Fleetcombe have to hide.

And now, in the place she thought she knew so well, Detective Nicola Bridge is asking questions. Is she ready for what she's about to find?"

Remember when simply everyone was obsessed with Broadchurch? You will be well obsessed with this, only you won't to wait for weekly installments, how quickly you finish is up to you and how fast you can read.

Loved the characters, the setting, and the writing. This was a fast read because it was so thoroughly enjoyable.

Glad that I got to read this as it was well written. I will encourage patrons to read it. I look forward to more novels by this author. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

I led this one it was gripping and atmospheric and perfect for fans of British crime dramas . I felt it was well paced and just a good read . Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book

I absolutely loved this book! I felt completely drawn into the eerie, atmospheric setting and found myself instantly hooked by the shocking murder at the heart of the story. I appreciated how the mystery unfolded with layers of suspense, making me question every character’s motives. I connected with Detective Bridge as she navigated the town she thought she knew so well. I admired her determination and sharp investigative instincts, and I enjoyed the dynamic between her and DC Ward—it felt complex and added an intriguing personal dimension to the case. I was constantly engaged, eager to uncover the secrets hidden beneath the picturesque village façade. I thought the twists were well-crafted, keeping me guessing until the very end. I felt like the novel balanced its dark, macabre elements with a gripping investigative journey, making it both unsettling and addictive. I finished it feeling satisfied but also wishing for more—this story and its characters stayed with me long after I turned the last page.

After the man who runs a local pub turns up murdered with deer antlers attached to his head and his body strapped to a chair in the middle of the road, detective Nicola Bridge launches into the investigation.
Nicola moved to this small town with her husband and son to get away from murder cases and to focus on her family. This investigation threatens to upend the progress being made to repair her marriage.

A good mystery with twists and turns that kept me guessing the whole way.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Books for this ARC!

Who didn't love Broadchurch? I was really excited when I saw this on NetGalley, and rightfully so. Super engaging, and thrilling. The characters were likeable and sympathetic which many authors struggle to get across. Great read!

Gripping and Atmospheric—A Must-Read for Broadchurch Fans

Death at the White Hart is an absolutely gripping mystery that had me hooked from the first chapter. With its moody coastal setting, tightly-woven plot, and emotionally complex characters, it immediately brought to mind the brilliance of Broadchurch. The sense of place is so vivid, you can almost feel the sea mist and hear the whispers of secrets carried by the wind.

Much like Broadchurch, this novel masterfully explores how a small community unravels in the wake of tragedy. The tension builds slowly and steadily, as layers of hidden relationships, past wounds, and buried truths are revealed. The author doesn’t just give you a whodunit—this is a story about the impact of loss, the fragility of trust, and the resilience of human connection.

The protagonist—equal parts determined and emotionally raw—anchors the story with a performance that feels real and grounded, echoing the same emotional depth that made Alec Hardy and Ellie Miller unforgettable. The twists are sharp but believable, and the ending left me both satisfied and haunted in the best way.

If you loved the brooding intensity and emotional pull of Broadchurch, Death at the White Hart should be next on your list. It’s a beautifully written mystery that lingers long after the last page.

This is a classic-style murder mystery that kicks off with a disturbing death. It’s the kind of whodunit that keeps you guessing and the mystery had just the right amount of twists. I really liked it - the characters were engaging and I think this will be a fun, satisfying read for mystery lovers.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Death at the White Hart.

Detective Nicola Bridge has returned to her hometown of Fleetcombe to save her marriage and family. She's expecting some relative peace and quiet, a sharp change from her stint back in London, until she's called in to investigate the murder of a man positioned in a creepy way.

Guess village life isn't all that charming.

With an eager, young detective as her partner, the both of them pound the pavement, look for clues and interview witnesses hoping to crack the case before someone else gets hurt.

I started out not liking Nicola; she had a chip on her shoulder and was curt, haughty, and pissy. Then I learned why she was back in her hometown for a reason and I understood the reason behind her prickly nature.

I began to warm up to her especially toward the end when she calls her husband out for his adultering ways and voices her hurt, anger, and rage. Tell him exactly how you feel, Nicola!

I did like how Nicola's team are smart, competent and trustworthy and Harry Ward aka Westlife eventually demonstrates beauty does equal brains.

There are a lot of supporting and minor characters to keep track of and some chapters read as filler, which I could have done without.

I love the police procedural aspects of the narrative; interviewing suspects and witnesses, talking to family and friends of the victim, getting the lay of the land, investigating old murder cases and how it relates to the present.

There's nothing shocking or urgent about the narrative, just the usual tropes of people hiding secrets from each other, shady characters, typical misunderstandings that led to other misunderstandings, the main character's reluctance to return to his/her hometown because of personal reasons.

I did like how the antlers was in reference to the deaths that occurred decades ago and how they revolved around an urban legend; that made the narrative slightly more interesting and mysterious.

This wonderfully written crime novel is everything I love about a good abritish thriller. A wonderful descriptive cast if characters, a remarkably British atmosphere and an intriguing investigation into the death of a local in a small town. Creepy, wel-wriiten, and deeply intriguing. Not ro be missed.

While I thought that the idea for this novel was great, I found the execution to be rather lackluster. The vivid imagery of the murder draws you in and leaves you wanting to know who would do such a thing. However, it's quite the slow burn. This is a very character-driven story and there is a fairly large cast of characters to get to know. Most of them weren't very likable, but I did like Harry. Nicola was often too hard on him in my opinion, and I found her kind of annoying at times. Though I did want to know who the killer was, I found myself putting the book down frequently and not having much desire to pick it back up. While I did not guess who the murderer was, the denouement wasn't terribly exciting, as everything was over-explained in detail. Death at the White Hart isn't a bad novel, but it wasn't one I would recommend. Readers looking for a small town, character-driven, slow burn mystery will probably really enjoy it. 2.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Viking Penguin for the ARC.

Sufficiently creepy without verging into paranormal or horror, pleasantly paced with a satisfying conclusion. Yep.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of Death at the White Hart by Chris Chibnall due to be published June 10, 2025.
A man is found dead, tied to a chair in the middle of the road, a stag’s antlers on his head. The gruesome scene stuns the town, especially when the victim is identified: Jim Tiernan, who ran the White Hart pub. Detective Nicola Bridge grew up in Fleetcombe and has now returned. DC Harry Ward is ten years younger and helping her solve the case. Is she ready for what she might find?

This was my first book by this author – it was fast paced and kept my attention from the first page. I couldn’t wait to see who had committed this uniquely enthralling crime! I’m hoping for a sequel with these two detectives and some of the town’s quirky characters!

#NetGalley #ChrisChibnall #Penguin Group #DeathAtTheWhiteHart

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book!

In this captivating read, Chibnall draws readers into a suspenseful world filled with secrets where everyone is a suspect! A web of dangerous secrets and morally ambiguous choices will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Chibnall skillfully crafts a cast of characters that embodies the duality of human nature, with ulterior motives often expertly masked. The interplay between desperation and ambition drives the plot forward, inviting readers to explore themes of trust, deception, and the lengths one will go for a chance at keeping secrets hidden. This book is perfect for fans of tragedies that rock small coastal towns, country characters who all seem like they're hiding something, and macabre police procedurals that often leave more questions than they answer!

This is an interesting book. The plot is complicated and lots of characters who could be the killer. The main characters are well written. I hope this begins a long series