Death at the White Hart by Chris Chibnall
Discover the debut crime novel from man behind the haunting TV series Broadchurch.
I discovered my latest read in an old-fashioned way. While on a short trip to Manchester, I popped into the Waterstones looking for something new to read. My eyes were caught by the display for Death at the White Hart*.
I hadn’t heard of the book, but was familiar with its author. Chris Chibnall has an incredible catalogue of work, including the haunting Broadchurch. That was enough to convince me to buy it - and I wasn’t disappointed.
From the first page I knew it would be a cracking read. A body is discovered in the middle of a road, tied to a chair, with deer antlers attached to its head.
Chibnall’s skill as a writer shines through every section of this book. He weaves together the murder investigation, a cast of interesting characters and a realism that keeps you glued to the page.
DI Nicola Bridge and DC Harry Ward are teamed up for the first time. Seeing their relationship develop is one of the most enjoyable elements of the story. Both have baggage and are wary of each other from the start. Chibnall builds their personalities and leaves you wanting to know more about their future cases.
Bridge actually reminded of Jen Rafferty from Ann Cleeves’ Two Rivers series. Both have moved down south from Liverpool, are sharp detectives and are juggling a lot in their personal lives alongside their day jobs.
What’s more, the whole story has a similar feel to some of the Shetland stories with the idea of local mythology and history.
Chibnall’s characters avoid stereotypes. One of my favourites is Reeta the pathologist/forensics specialist. Her cheery manner and quirky personality makes her stand out.
The only slight disappointment of the book was with the style of the ending. It didn’t seem to fit with the tense, character-driven story that was the rest of the book.
But it was still a riveting read and I hope there are more stories from Chibnall with Nicola Bridge and Harry Ward.
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