Death at the White Hart

Broadchurch creator Chibnall flexes his talents for characterization and complex plotting in his engrossing first novel. Det. Sgt. Nicola Bridge, 38, has recently transferred from the Liverpool CID to her childhood home of Fleetcombe, a small West Dorset village. She hopes the transfer will bring her a quieter work life that doesn't put additional strain on her fraying marriage. Almost as soon as she arrives, however, Nicola is assigned to investigate a murder: the bloody body of Jim Tiernan, landlord of the White Hart pub, has been discovered tied to a chair in the middle of the road, a huge crown of deer antlers attached to his head. As Nicola and her rookie DC, Harry Ward, examine the theatrical murder, they discover an undercurrent of crime, lies, and cruelty flowing just beneath Fleetcombe's placid surface. Nicola is an exceptionally well-rounded sleuth whose personal challenges--including her philandering husband--help explain her aptitudes as a sensitive and skilled observer. As in his TV work, Chibnall gives equal depth to his supporting cast, making the potentially familiar premise feel lived-in and consequential. This deserves a sequel. Agent: Eugenie Furniss, 42MP. (June)

DEBUT Chibnall, who crafted a compelling whodunit as the creator of TV's Broadchurch series, brilliantly continues in that vein with his first novel. Detective Sergeant Nicola Bridges has moved with her husband and son from Liverpool to the village of Fleetcombe in a last-ditch effort to preserve her marriage. While she was consumed by her big-city job, her husband was cheating and growing emotionally distant; she hopes that sleepy Fleetcombe will bring a slower pace of work so that she can focus on her family. This proves to be wishful thinking when Bridges receives a call about a dead body on a nearby motorway. It's Jim Tiernan, owner of the White Hart pub, who knew most of the villagers' secrets. Initially, Bridges is frustrated. Homicides are rare in Fleetcombe, her resources are few, and her subordinate, Detective Constable Harry Ward, is inexperienced. Witnesses prevaricate, and a motive seems elusive. However, Bridges and Ward are persistent in investigating this case, no matter where it leads. VERDICT Chibnall's spectacular novel offers intriguing suspense and drama, plus an outstanding cast of characters and a mystery that will keep readers riveted until the fulfilling climax. Fans of Knives Out and Murder on the Orient Express should thoroughly enjoy.--Philip Zozzaro