Chris Chibnall has made a name for himself as the creator of
the long-running murder mystery Broadchurch on TV. Death at the White Hart appears to be his
first detective novel. We are again in a small coastal British town that seems more
outwardly normal than it is. Our main sleuth Nicola Bridge grew up there and
has returned from a good career in Liverpool to make a better family life. Of
course, the outward calm of the town turns out to be false, and shortly after
her arrival, Nicola and her young assistant are faced with a macabre murder.
The victim is displayed on a backcountry road, sitting in a chair with antlers
glued to his head. The backstory is fueled by competition between the town’s
two pubs, and your guess as to the real murderer is as good as mine. A pleasant
read that introduces a fine detective duo that could produce another long-running series.
4 out of 5
