Broken Country

One such book that drew me in immediately, and I was completely immersed in it from the get go!The dual timeline narration - before and after, was handled so beautifully. The story unfolded piece by piece with such care, pulling me deeper with every chapter. The writing itself is absolutely gorgeous, so lyrical and emotionally resonant that I fell in love with the prose. I could feel everything: the grief, the love, the anger, the longing. Each emotion was so vividly drawn that it lingered with me long after l'd set the book down.Set in the English countryside, the atmosphere was rich and immersive. The cast was wonderfully complex, and deeply flawed, very human! There were moments when I questioned the choices characters made, but that only added to the realism. That's the beauty of this story: it doesn't simplify emotions or tie things up neatly. It trusts the reader to feel the messiness and truth of life.Broken Country is many things at its heart, it's a story of love and unrequited love, but it's also a murder mystery, a family drama, and a slow-burning thriller. It blends these genres seamlessly, with a twist near the end that I truly didn't see coming. The love triangle, the suspense, the emotional depth- this book had everything I crave as a reader.By the end, I was completely emotionally attached to the characters. The final poem left me in tears. Oh Frank, you sweet, sweet man! I closed the book with that rare ache you only feel after reading something truly special. I want more. Can't wait to see this one adapted one day!If you're looking for a beautifully written, emotionally rich novel that delivers romance, suspense, and heartbreak in equal measure- this is it.