Broken Country

Beth lives in a quaint village in the English countryside. As a teenager in the 1950s, while most of her peers dream of marriage and babies, Beth, a studious girl, dreams of studying literature and poetry at Oxford. The summer before her final year of high school, she wanders through a meadow and meets Gabriel. They fall madly in love. Gabriel, a year older and extremely wealthy, shares her passion for writing. He is beautiful, gentle, and completely captivates Beth’s heart. However, his controlling mother disapproves, believing Beth isn’t good enough for her son. Determined to keep them apart, she does everything in her power to sabotage their relationship. Fast-forward to the late 1960s—Beth is married to Frank. Together, they run a large farm with his brother, Jimmy, while still mourning the loss of their son, Bobby. After a decade of silence, Gabriel suddenly returns. The village erupts in gossip, judging Beth for reconnecting with her first love. Through it all, kind and steadfast Frank remains unwavering in his commitment to their marriage and farm. Shifting between past and present, we are led to a courtroom trial. Someone stands accused of murder. But who is on trial? Who was killed? And why? This novel is a breathtaking rollercoaster of love, heartbreak, and secrets. Suspenseful and beautifully crafted these short, gripping chapters make it utterly unputdownable. The biggest compliment I can ever give a book: I didn’t want it to end. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐