A debut novel from the creator of Broadchurch. Set in Fleetcombe which seems to be a quite picturesque village, the story starts with a murder. The local publican, Jim, is found on the main road out of the village, tied to a chair, naked and with antlers fixed onto his head. Nicola Bridge, an ex-CID detective who has relocated from Liverpool for personal reasons finds herself having to solve this murder with DC Harry Ward, who seems to be a sort of fast track officer who is rather in awe of his new boss. There is a cast of characters and suspects as details of Jim’s life and past are revealed. There is his partner, Irina and Ayesha who runs the only other pub in the village. There is his sister, Patricia and delivery man, Eddie and Deakins the farmer among others. And little Shannon. All the characters are well drawn and there are twists and turns as the story progresses. I never guessed the murderer and to be honest, when everything was revealed I did feel that my belief was a little stretched. However, it was a good read and if Nicola and Harry return, I will be quite happy.

Chris Chibnall already has a successful career as a TV writer. Writing for a different media isn't always an easy transition but this debut novel certainly is encouraging.
The plot isn't as complex as 'Broadchurch' but does keep the suspense building and is well-paced.
I did find some of the characterisation a little underwhelming (probably a direct consequence of the transition from TV to book) but a couple of the characters were very strong: Shannon, the little girl trapped in an abusive home; and the murderer. DC Harry Ward also appealed to me and I would like to see more of him if this is intended as the first in a series.
A sprinkling of Dorset myth added a subdued folklore element as a neat backdrop to Murder.

Nicola Bridge has moved back to Dorset after a stellar career in the Merseyside Police. Her team is not as expected and they are faced with a horrifying murder soon after setting up. A local pub landlord has been found tied to a chair in the middle of the road with a set of antlers stuck on his head. There are many suspects amongst the villagers and Bridge and her team have to look at all possibilities.
Chibnall is an experienced writer for the screen and this story does come across as one that will be adapted easily. However, it is a really good novel. There is a lot more depth than many in the genre, I really liked the exploration of all the characters and the different layers to the story. The outcome is believable and satisfying.

Death at the White Hart is a gripping whodunnit from the writer of Broadchurch. When a body is found tied to a chair and wearing antlers, it's a race against time to solve the crime before the murderer strikes again. Gripping

As I loved Broadchurch I was thrilled that Chris Chibnall had written a crime novel and it did not disappoint.
DS Nicola Bridge moves back to her home county of Dorset after years working in Liverpool and is immediately thrown into an investigation into the murder of Harry, a local publican. The small town setting is excellently portrayed and Chibnall’s skill in storytelling brings the place and the characters to life. I loved the relationship between Nicola and her colleague Harry and look forward to more in the series.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

4.25*

From the internationally award-winning creator of Broadchurch comes a new detective story following one man’s death and the secrets that unravel in a coastal English village and what a fantastic read this was! A gruesome crime and small town life with secrets and past misdeeds being brought to light is usually a winner for me and this was no different.

Immediately bringing to mind Broadchurch, Unforgotten and Vera, this is a great example of a British crime mystery tv show put to paper and it felt modern and classic at the same time with rich characters and settings, a truly solid mystery that I didn't guess the solution to (though it did stretch credibility a little) and most importantly it left me wanting more stories in the future featuring DS Nicola Bridge and her team.

It's no surprise that 'Death At The white Hart' has already been slated to be adapted for TV and I will certainly be watching. If you love British crime dramas I'm sure you'll love this too!

Thank you to Netgalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for a digital review copy of "Death At The White Hart" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

Apart from the fact that this is obviously written to ease its translation to the screen, this was a good solid book that grabbed me from the off and left me mostly satisfied at its conclusion.
We start with a rather nasty murder. A man is found dead in the middle of the road. He is tied to a chair and has a stag's antlers strapped to his head. No mean feat as these are rather heavy items. He is swiftly identified as Jim Tiernan, landlord of the White Hart pub in nearby village.
Investigating this most gruesome of scenes is DS Nicola Bridge who has recently relocated to the area in which she grew up, bringing with her husband and their daughter. Assisting her is DC Harry Ward, ten years her junior, and initially the two don't quite gel. But they start their investigation in earnest, first informing Jim's partner and sister.
And so begins a twisty turny tale in which pretty much the whole village becomes suspected of being involved. And they are an eclectic bunch, especially Eddie the delivery driver, and Frankie the hairdresser, oh and Shannon too.
One thing I will say, and it is the main reason for the dropped star, is that, at the end of the day, when all was eventually revealed and explained, I did find it all to be a wee bit on the far fetched side. There were simply too many stars that had to align for the murder to take place that it just didn't feel as credible as it should have done, and left me somewhat disappointed. Which is a shame really as up to a point, it was all going so well...
But, that said, I really did gel with Nicola and Harry and, fingers crossed, this is the start of a series. Meanwhile I'm off to binge Broadchurch which for some reason I never watched. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Chis Chibnell's first novel and as you'd expect it's very good. Nicola Bridge returns to her home town after years in C I D. The landlord of The White Hart if found dead (so much for the quiet life). A well written thriller with well drawn chracters and a mystery that keeps you guessing. Roll on Chris's next book. Thanks to Michael Joseph, Penquin Random House and Netgalley for this review ARC.

I enjoyed the debut book from this author. A solid four star read. Great premise. Well written. Good characters. Page turner. Plenty of suspense to keep me guessing. I wouldI definitely would read the next novel. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

An enjoyable read. Nicola moves back to her hometown for a quieter life and to reconnect with her family, the a mysterious murder happens. The murder is of a local publication, who seems well liked and looks out for a local child. It took a bit of time to get into the various characters and their backstory’s. I really wanted to find out who the murder was and the connection of ten young girl Shannon. There were a few turns, which kept me on my toes. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy for an honest review.

Having enjoyed Chris Chibnall's writing for television I was looking forward to seeing what he would make of crime fiction; the answer is that he is a natural. Great plotting, fine characters and credible dialogue. A picturesque village is rocked by the murder of the local landlord, and the detective in charge is a local who has moved back from big city policing. Excellent!

When you hear of a tv listing that has Chris Chibnall behind it you know it’s going to be a good watch and this is the reason I read his book I know it would be good. Everything you need for a crime book, a mysterious murder, a vast amount of suspects and the new detective and her young sidekick. An excellent whodunnit that kept me guessing until the end. Nicola is a great lead detective ready for quiet in her new position but finds herself with a murder to solve within days of starting her job. I can totally see this being made into a tv programme and I do hope there will be more titles from Chris Chibnall. Will be definitely recommending

DS Nicola Bridge, wanting some peace and quiet, recently moved back to her childhood hometown, Bredy, to work things out with her hubby. They planned a quiet life, a fresh start and she never expected to get tangled up in a brutal murder.

A body was found in the road, sitting upright on a wooden chair, seemingly naked, with the lower part inside an old sack. Attached to the head was a huge crown of deer antlers. The body turned out to be that of Jim Tiernan, the landlord and manager of the White Hart pub.

What could be the motive behind this strange killing? It bears resemblance to the 1925 killings, where three bodies were discovered with antlers affixed to their heads. Could this indicate the possibility of further discoveries?

This book was very entertaining and suspenseful and kept me on the edge of my seat, with a killer twist at the end and awesome characters! It took a bit to get into it, but then I couldn't put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

After DS Nicola Bridges moves back home to Dorset from Liverpool, she is wanting a quieter life with her hubby and son! However, one night, a body is found on an isolated road staged in a terrifying way. Nicola, DC Harry Ward and DC Mel Hardiman need to determine the means, motives and opportunity behind the crime. They need answers to understand the thought process of the killer. I found the characters of Nicola, Harry and Mel believable and from the start, they work well together. The book is full of twists, turns and suspense, that is all woven together to a dramatic ending! It was an unputdownable read. More please.

A new detective team ready to work their magic. I was captivated from the beginning and swept along with the investigation and its nuances. Nicola as the lead brought interesting thought processes to the crime and we met the support characters in her personal life and working life. Many likeable individuals who are well portrayed

This is an excellent police procedural and a very enjoyable read. It was a little slow to start, as it introduced quite a number of villagers into the storyline. I loved that most of the characters were fully developed, so the reader could relate to them, and understand their place in the life of the village.
DS Nicola Bridges, a highly successful investigating officer in the city, has taken the decision to move to a much slower pace of life in a village in the area where she grew up.
She is introduced to her new DC Harry, a fast track newby who is eager to please, but has minimal investigating experience.
Nicola is immediately faced with the bizarre murder of the local inn- keeper. As we follow the criminal investigation, so many secrets and lies are revealed amongst the villagers. Nicola is plunged headlong into a very full workload with a minimum of resources, and is hardly at home throughout the investigation.
The plotting is very good, the narrative flows well, and the addition of a young girl to the story is deftly handled. A very frightening situation the child had found herself in becomes key to helping Nicola to solve the murder.
I did not guess in advance who the murderer turned out to be, so it was a surprise for this reader.
I had forgotten that the author is also the screenplay writer for Broadchurch, so I had no expectations of a similar storyline. I did think as I read that the story would make a good tv series, but many crime novels would.
I would love to see how Nicola progresses in her career, and particularly Harry, who seemed to be shaping up well as a detective. I really hope there will be a follow- up book to this first- rate debut novel.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book.

Chibnall who established himself as a screenwriter on ITV's Broadchurch again foists upon us a small-town with a murder in it narrative. Set in Dorset, the story is a crisp standalone tale featuring a forthright female protagonist who recently moved back to the area from Bootle, Liverpool and will not rest until the murderer is found.

Small time hoodlums and nefarious individuals abound and attempt to throw DCI Nicola Bridge off the scent, yet she and her younger helper, Harry (a familiar name for newbies) are not so easily thrown.

Light and crisp in its telling with a surprising twist. Already set to be adapted to a series for ITV and you can see why

I absolutely adored this book and devoured it over a couple of days! It has easily been one of my favourite books of the year and I can’t wait to read more from the author in the future

Death at the White Hart leaves dirt under your fingernails in this taut, tense and striking thriller.

I was craving a good thriller. This delivered me an excellent one – gritty and raw, tied up in the messiness of humanity and our tangled relationships.

This has all the elements of your classic small town mystery set-up: long-held secrets, increasingly claustrophobic atmosphere, petty grudges, rivalries and even a touch of old folklore horror. Chibnall takes all of these and dials them up to eleven. His characterisation is stellar, as you would expect from his previous work. These people spring to life – there is that touch of authenticity to the dialogue that makes it catch your ear. You find yourself caring about these characters and the town in which they inhabit. They are messy and flawed and all the more believable because of it.

The actual mystery is well-constructed and compelling. Right from the start, you are hooked. That opening sequence was excellent and from there on I knew I wasn’t going to be able to put this down. Chibnall leads the reader and Nicola Bridge on a merry dance through this grisly murder and the complex context behind it. There are plenty of twists and turns to uncover. Overall, I loved the writing style in this. It felt engaging and cinematic with a visual element that captures your attention. You could easily see this adapted for the screen. For me, the standout was the balance of action and emotion. You are interested in the dark shadows of the idyllic locale because of the people involved. Chibnall has a deft hand for this push and pull without losing momentum.

Death at the White Hart is a pitch-perfect thriller that will keep you glued to the pages.

Really good plotting and memorable characters. I’m hoping this is the first in a series. The setting is lovely too, especially the distinction between Devon and Dorset. Would make a great tv show.