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Broadchurch #1
Убийство на пляже
В тихом омуте роковых тайн...
В небольшом городке исчез одиннадцатилетний Дэнни. Спустя сутки его тело нашли на берегу моря...
Детективы Алек Харди и Элли Миллер намерены вычислить убийцу. Один за другим под подозрение попадают добропорядочные горожане, среди которых викарий, владелец магазина и даже отец мальчика! Оказывается, что у каждого из них есть свой скелет в шкафу.
Но когда тайна перестанет быть тайной, городок содрогнется...
В небольшом городке исчез одиннадцатилетний Дэнни. Спустя сутки его тело нашли на берегу моря...
Детективы Алек Харди и Элли Миллер намерены вычислить убийцу. Один за другим под подозрение попадают добропорядочные горожане, среди которых викарий, владелец магазина и даже отец мальчика! Оказывается, что у каждого из них есть свой скелет в шкафу.
Но когда тайна перестанет быть тайной, городок содрогнется...
439 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 14, 2014
167 people are currently reading
3728 people want to read
About the author
Erin Kelly
53 books1,608 followersErin Kelly was born in London in 1976 and grew up in Essex. She read English at Warwick University and has been working as a journalist since 1998.
She has written for newspapers including the The Sunday Times, The Sunday Telegraph, the Daily Mail and the Express and magazines including Red, Psychologies, Marie Claire, Elle and Cosmopolitan.
She has written for newspapers including the The Sunday Times, The Sunday Telegraph, the Daily Mail and the Express and magazines including Red, Psychologies, Marie Claire, Elle and Cosmopolitan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 503 reviews
October 14, 2021
My husband and I watched the series Broadchurch and had to use closed caption because we could barely understand a word anyone was saying, especially the character that David Tennant played. I'm a Texan and don't seem to handle Irish accents well or very fast speaking speed. (Correction: David Tennant is Scottish, another accent I need to work on. Thanks for the correction Alison). Even with the closed caption, I felt like I missed a lot of what the characters were saying, because the closed caption apparently didn't understand some of the dialogue either. :-)
For this reason I borrowed the book from the library. It served the purpose of allowing me to know what was being said in the TV program and allowing me to catch things I had missed by watching the show. The book basically was the same as the program and I can't really say how I would have felt about it if I hadn't already seen the program but I wonder if I would have liked it less. I could picture the people and the places because I'd seen them on TV and I'm not sure there was enough description to allow me to picture everything adequately without having seen the series. I may look into more Erin Kelly books that aren't based on a TV series, to see how I like her writing style, just based on the book.
Published September 16th 2014 by Minotaur Books
For this reason I borrowed the book from the library. It served the purpose of allowing me to know what was being said in the TV program and allowing me to catch things I had missed by watching the show. The book basically was the same as the program and I can't really say how I would have felt about it if I hadn't already seen the program but I wonder if I would have liked it less. I could picture the people and the places because I'd seen them on TV and I'm not sure there was enough description to allow me to picture everything adequately without having seen the series. I may look into more Erin Kelly books that aren't based on a TV series, to see how I like her writing style, just based on the book.
Published September 16th 2014 by Minotaur Books
May 17, 2025
This novel is based upon the first season of the TV show with the same name as created by Chris Chibnell who was also did lead various seasons of the New Doctor Who series. So far the nerdy side of my interest.
the book is novelized by Erin Kelly and she did a decent job.
the story: A young boy is found killed on the beach. This is a huge blow against the small coastal community who live of tourism, of course it also puts everybody in this community under a spotlight. People always have their secrets and those are about to be uncovered with disasterous results.
The Police force in charge of the investigation of whom is responsible for the death of this young boy have their own problems that prove troublesome enough.
The press also play their own disaster on the Police and victims.
When the truth is finally found the community of Broadchurch will never be the same
a great tale on the subject of a small community and what murder of the young and innocent wrecks havoc on trust. If there was something like trust to begin with.
I am sure the TV show is excellent and so is this book for those like me that prefer reading.
the book is novelized by Erin Kelly and she did a decent job.
the story: A young boy is found killed on the beach. This is a huge blow against the small coastal community who live of tourism, of course it also puts everybody in this community under a spotlight. People always have their secrets and those are about to be uncovered with disasterous results.
The Police force in charge of the investigation of whom is responsible for the death of this young boy have their own problems that prove troublesome enough.
The press also play their own disaster on the Police and victims.
When the truth is finally found the community of Broadchurch will never be the same
a great tale on the subject of a small community and what murder of the young and innocent wrecks havoc on trust. If there was something like trust to begin with.
I am sure the TV show is excellent and so is this book for those like me that prefer reading.
January 29, 2024
Another group I was in was mentioning the television show Gracepoint, I am not a big television watcher with the exception of a few shows and sports. Anyway we decided to watch Gracepoint, at that point I was half way done with this book, and to mu surprise the case on the show was the exact same as the story in the book. Wonder if they will exactly follow the book?
This is set in rural Dorset, and the people in the town are a varied mix. Many are hiding secrets and I loved the mix of reporters and journalists. Who will find out what first. A ten year old boy is the victim and the author does a brilliant job showing the family as they try to stay together while dealing with their pain and grief.
She also did a wonderful job showing the best and worst of a small village. Everyone knows each other, but do they really? Who is actually telling the truth and who has the most to hide.
I loved this well done classic mystery, following the uncovering of evidence and the mix of personal and professional lives. Certainly hope Kelly goes on to write another.
This is set in rural Dorset, and the people in the town are a varied mix. Many are hiding secrets and I loved the mix of reporters and journalists. Who will find out what first. A ten year old boy is the victim and the author does a brilliant job showing the family as they try to stay together while dealing with their pain and grief.
She also did a wonderful job showing the best and worst of a small village. Everyone knows each other, but do they really? Who is actually telling the truth and who has the most to hide.
I loved this well done classic mystery, following the uncovering of evidence and the mix of personal and professional lives. Certainly hope Kelly goes on to write another.
July 2, 2014
Right, so, the UK tv sensation of 2013 completely passed me by. Oblivious was I, having watched 10 minutes of the opening episode, then getting distracted by a book or possibly even by chocolate. Luckily I also managed to avoid any and all spoilers, so for me, apart from the fact that there was a body on the beach, I knew nothing.
When I found out that the novel version was to be penned by the devilishly twisty mind of the lovely Erin Kelly I was literally chomping at the bit – for many reasons. Firstly because I adore her books anyway and secondly, being the only person on the planet who did NOT know who murdered Danny Latimer, I wondered if I could work it out. We’ll come back to that one. First lets look at the book overall.
This was a genuine page turner for me, haunting, evocative, looking at a small town coming apart at the seams after a most horrific event. As suspicion rises in all quarters, it was compelling stuff. Its probably good that I can’t make comparisons between the tv portrayal of David (swoon) Tennant and Olivia Coleman and the characterisation provided by Ms Kelly here of Alec Hardy and Ellie Miller, but both of those characters came to life in my head, as did every single one of the others. Emotionally speaking this was a shot straight through the heart – the grief bang in the centre of the Latimer family is brought into stark contrast by the police investigation going on around them – I did often have a tear in my eye especially when Danny’s mum Beth was having her darker moments, alone and in pain.
So yep, packing a definite emotional punch, one that I can’t imagine will be outdone by the viewing of it when I do that – I’ll move onto the heart of the mystery – just who DID kill Danny Latimer and why? Well according to many many people who I have spoken with, on the screen it was glaringly obvious. In the hands of Erin Kelly? Not so much. In fact I got it completely wrong. Utterly, I’m actually embarrassed that now she has had me twice on the twisty turny stuff, once with The Burning Air and now with Broadchurch. When I look back I realise that everything I needed to know was right there – what this author does so well is not hide the facts but make you look the other way. Misdirection. Cleverly done – especially since in this instance she was working from a story already told and to someone elses script. At which point I should say I am VERY much looking forward now to seeing Chris Chibnall’s vision of this story. I have planned to write another blogpost once I have done that to do a direct compare and contrast.
For now though I think that if you did watch the show, and loved it as many did, then this novel will absolutely enhance and expand that experience. Because for me, it would not have mattered one little bit if I had already known the culprit, the heart of this novel is not in the whodunnit, but in the emotionally charged atmosphere of the people and place involved. In a community where everybody knows everybody else and there is nowhere to hide, still Broadchurch has many devastating secrets buried just below the surface. And as brilliant as ALL the actors who took part in the show surely are, you cannot see what they are thinking, feeling at depth or considering doing. That is where the novel will absolutely beat the visual medium I have no doubt. Because Erin Kelly can write characters straight out of real life and onto the page – in this case with a deft hand and an imaginative turn that will hold you gripped within the boundaries of Broadchurch for a good while.
Brilliantly done, loved it!
When I found out that the novel version was to be penned by the devilishly twisty mind of the lovely Erin Kelly I was literally chomping at the bit – for many reasons. Firstly because I adore her books anyway and secondly, being the only person on the planet who did NOT know who murdered Danny Latimer, I wondered if I could work it out. We’ll come back to that one. First lets look at the book overall.
This was a genuine page turner for me, haunting, evocative, looking at a small town coming apart at the seams after a most horrific event. As suspicion rises in all quarters, it was compelling stuff. Its probably good that I can’t make comparisons between the tv portrayal of David (swoon) Tennant and Olivia Coleman and the characterisation provided by Ms Kelly here of Alec Hardy and Ellie Miller, but both of those characters came to life in my head, as did every single one of the others. Emotionally speaking this was a shot straight through the heart – the grief bang in the centre of the Latimer family is brought into stark contrast by the police investigation going on around them – I did often have a tear in my eye especially when Danny’s mum Beth was having her darker moments, alone and in pain.
So yep, packing a definite emotional punch, one that I can’t imagine will be outdone by the viewing of it when I do that – I’ll move onto the heart of the mystery – just who DID kill Danny Latimer and why? Well according to many many people who I have spoken with, on the screen it was glaringly obvious. In the hands of Erin Kelly? Not so much. In fact I got it completely wrong. Utterly, I’m actually embarrassed that now she has had me twice on the twisty turny stuff, once with The Burning Air and now with Broadchurch. When I look back I realise that everything I needed to know was right there – what this author does so well is not hide the facts but make you look the other way. Misdirection. Cleverly done – especially since in this instance she was working from a story already told and to someone elses script. At which point I should say I am VERY much looking forward now to seeing Chris Chibnall’s vision of this story. I have planned to write another blogpost once I have done that to do a direct compare and contrast.
For now though I think that if you did watch the show, and loved it as many did, then this novel will absolutely enhance and expand that experience. Because for me, it would not have mattered one little bit if I had already known the culprit, the heart of this novel is not in the whodunnit, but in the emotionally charged atmosphere of the people and place involved. In a community where everybody knows everybody else and there is nowhere to hide, still Broadchurch has many devastating secrets buried just below the surface. And as brilliant as ALL the actors who took part in the show surely are, you cannot see what they are thinking, feeling at depth or considering doing. That is where the novel will absolutely beat the visual medium I have no doubt. Because Erin Kelly can write characters straight out of real life and onto the page – in this case with a deft hand and an imaginative turn that will hold you gripped within the boundaries of Broadchurch for a good while.
Brilliantly done, loved it!
September 16, 2015
*As of yet I haven't seen the series yet so I won't be comparing it to the TV show*
3.5 stars
It's an interesting mystery, semi-complex with a cast of characters you root for. I wasn't completely absorbed into the story but it did keep my interest, wanting to see who killed Danny and why.
Loved Alec Hardy, he can be a bit abrasive but once you get to know him you understand why and his determination to help find justice for Danny and his family. I wanted to shake him a few times for not taking proper care of himself, stubborn idiot.
Ellie grew on me, she's not hard to like but not easy either.
Everyone in town has their own secrets and some to come to light in a big way and others aren't what you thought they'd be.
As much I admired the one reporter somewhat for her dedication at times, I thought she was a bit too harsh and hasty at times. I understand she didn't have the complete picture but still it was hard to have sympathy for her.
Maggie and Olly were good characters, would have loved to know them. Olly's growth throughout the story was good (for lack of a better word, pity the 'under the weather' girl haha) to watch.
Who the killer was I didn't expect, and it had as bit of the 'out of the blue' feeling to it and felt a little rushed. It felt (to me) like it should have been fleshed out a little more, though I have no idea how they would have done it.
The writing? In the middle for me but never pulled me out of the story
Will I watch the show? Yeah one day, intrigued to see how this play out versus the book.
Side note: don't see how there could be a season two after that ending but I like the first series well enough, I'll give it a shot.
3.5 stars
It's an interesting mystery, semi-complex with a cast of characters you root for. I wasn't completely absorbed into the story but it did keep my interest, wanting to see who killed Danny and why.
Loved Alec Hardy, he can be a bit abrasive but once you get to know him you understand why and his determination to help find justice for Danny and his family. I wanted to shake him a few times for not taking proper care of himself, stubborn idiot.
Ellie grew on me, she's not hard to like but not easy either.
Everyone in town has their own secrets and some to come to light in a big way and others aren't what you thought they'd be.
As much I admired the one reporter somewhat for her dedication at times, I thought she was a bit too harsh and hasty at times. I understand she didn't have the complete picture but still it was hard to have sympathy for her.
Maggie and Olly were good characters, would have loved to know them. Olly's growth throughout the story was good (for lack of a better word, pity the 'under the weather' girl haha) to watch.
Who the killer was I didn't expect, and it had as bit of the 'out of the blue' feeling to it and felt a little rushed. It felt (to me) like it should have been fleshed out a little more, though I have no idea how they would have done it.
The writing? In the middle for me but never pulled me out of the story
Will I watch the show? Yeah one day, intrigued to see how this play out versus the book.
Side note: don't see how there could be a season two after that ending but I like the first series well enough, I'll give it a shot.
September 24, 2014
I received this ebook free from NetGalley.com. I requested it because a friend had recommended the tv show Broadchurch. The tv series is not currently showing on any US channel. The book blurb says it is based on the tv show--not the reverse.
I enjoyed reading this police procedural, which starts with the murder of a young boy, in a small town in England. The police investigation and newspaper reporters uncover people's secrets--illicit love affairs, criminal past and more. These people then become suspects and lives are damaged. I don't want to post any spoilers, but I can say that the police do find the killer.
I thought that characters were believable, with flaws, just like most humans. The plot moved along well, becoming hard to put down about halfway through.
I enjoyed reading this police procedural, which starts with the murder of a young boy, in a small town in England. The police investigation and newspaper reporters uncover people's secrets--illicit love affairs, criminal past and more. These people then become suspects and lives are damaged. I don't want to post any spoilers, but I can say that the police do find the killer.
I thought that characters were believable, with flaws, just like most humans. The plot moved along well, becoming hard to put down about halfway through.
July 20, 2016
Broadchurch is a difficult book to review for a number of reasons:
1. It's a novelisation of a TV series...
2. ... Which I didn't watch. (Unlike practically everybody else in the UK.)
3 It's an Erin Kelly novel - but at the same time it isn't; it was written by Kelly but based on a story that already existed, not a product of the author's own imagination. Given that I've read everything she's done, it's impossible not to compare this to her other novels, but at the same time it's not really fair to make that comparison.
To expand further on the above:
1. Novelisations of existing films or TV shows kind of confuse me, to be honest. I may be wrong, but I don't think I've read any other than the book version of Independence Day when I was about 12 years old, and I had some Buffy novels (though most of those were original stories, as I remember), and the book of scripts of the original (British) series of The Office. But all of this was before online streaming, video downloads, YouTube, and before I was able to afford to buy DVDs as soon as they were released. With this book, I wonder - honestly wonder, no shade - who the audience is. How many people who watched the series will want to read a book which contains exactly the same story, when they already know the ending? Yes, people watch shows and films again after knowing how they end, but if the show already exists, won't they just re-watch it on DVD rather than reading the book version? I guess it will be a hit just because people will be drawn to something they recognise, but it's all a bit baffling to me.
2. I watched the first couple of episodes of Broadchurch the TV show after I started this book (never watching further than I'd read), partly to get a feel for the setting and characters, partly to see how similar the book is to the show. The answer to the latter is that they are very similar - this is a very (although not exhaustively) faithful adaptation, it just fleshes out the characters more. You get to see more of their motivations and private thoughts, though much of this is implied in the show anyway through body language and so on.
3. Since I didn't watch the show and I don't really see the point of novelisations, you might be wondering why I chose to read this at all. I have to admit it's purely because of Kelly's involvement. She's probably my favourite crime writer, and I've really enjoyed all her books, with The Poison Tree remaining a personal favourite and The Burning Air one of the best mysteries I've read. This is not as good as any of her 'own' books. I didn't find the writing to be comparable to her usual quality, but I think this is just because Kelly is usually quite descriptive and the amount of stuff that happens in this story - naturally - doesn't allow much room for elaboration. Even with this trunctuated style, the book is still 450 pages. It also has a lot of characters, and I sometimes found it hard to keep track of them - much easier on screen when you have a visual reference for them.
Many readers will already know something about the plot, but for the uninitiated, the fictional town of Broadchurch is a small, close-knit community located somewhere on the coast of Devon. The story begins with an 11-year-old boy being found dead on the beach, and the book spans the entirety of what quickly becomes a murder investigation. The death is the catalyst for a number of convoluted subplots: the officer leading the case has a murky past and a tarnished reputation; the boy's parents' marriage is in trouble; a man in the town has a prior conviction for underage sex; a couple of outsiders are behaving very strangely indeed; there are various journalists trying to get to the truth before the police do.
It seems that now I've finished this, I have a lot more to say about the idea of TV series vs. novelisation than I do about the story itself. It was good - but not great. Readable and interesting - but not compulsively gripping. I didn't guess the killer - but I found the reveal a bit too sensational and random to be truly shocking (and yes, I realise this is a bit of a daft thing to say about a crime novel). I quite enjoyed it overall - but it doesn't match up to the author's other books.
Just okay. Next time I'll just watch the show... Or, considering how unlikely that is, I'll remember that TV and books don't really mix.
1. It's a novelisation of a TV series...
2. ... Which I didn't watch. (Unlike practically everybody else in the UK.)
3 It's an Erin Kelly novel - but at the same time it isn't; it was written by Kelly but based on a story that already existed, not a product of the author's own imagination. Given that I've read everything she's done, it's impossible not to compare this to her other novels, but at the same time it's not really fair to make that comparison.
To expand further on the above:
1. Novelisations of existing films or TV shows kind of confuse me, to be honest. I may be wrong, but I don't think I've read any other than the book version of Independence Day when I was about 12 years old, and I had some Buffy novels (though most of those were original stories, as I remember), and the book of scripts of the original (British) series of The Office. But all of this was before online streaming, video downloads, YouTube, and before I was able to afford to buy DVDs as soon as they were released. With this book, I wonder - honestly wonder, no shade - who the audience is. How many people who watched the series will want to read a book which contains exactly the same story, when they already know the ending? Yes, people watch shows and films again after knowing how they end, but if the show already exists, won't they just re-watch it on DVD rather than reading the book version? I guess it will be a hit just because people will be drawn to something they recognise, but it's all a bit baffling to me.
2. I watched the first couple of episodes of Broadchurch the TV show after I started this book (never watching further than I'd read), partly to get a feel for the setting and characters, partly to see how similar the book is to the show. The answer to the latter is that they are very similar - this is a very (although not exhaustively) faithful adaptation, it just fleshes out the characters more. You get to see more of their motivations and private thoughts, though much of this is implied in the show anyway through body language and so on.
3. Since I didn't watch the show and I don't really see the point of novelisations, you might be wondering why I chose to read this at all. I have to admit it's purely because of Kelly's involvement. She's probably my favourite crime writer, and I've really enjoyed all her books, with The Poison Tree remaining a personal favourite and The Burning Air one of the best mysteries I've read. This is not as good as any of her 'own' books. I didn't find the writing to be comparable to her usual quality, but I think this is just because Kelly is usually quite descriptive and the amount of stuff that happens in this story - naturally - doesn't allow much room for elaboration. Even with this trunctuated style, the book is still 450 pages. It also has a lot of characters, and I sometimes found it hard to keep track of them - much easier on screen when you have a visual reference for them.
Many readers will already know something about the plot, but for the uninitiated, the fictional town of Broadchurch is a small, close-knit community located somewhere on the coast of Devon. The story begins with an 11-year-old boy being found dead on the beach, and the book spans the entirety of what quickly becomes a murder investigation. The death is the catalyst for a number of convoluted subplots: the officer leading the case has a murky past and a tarnished reputation; the boy's parents' marriage is in trouble; a man in the town has a prior conviction for underage sex; a couple of outsiders are behaving very strangely indeed; there are various journalists trying to get to the truth before the police do.
It seems that now I've finished this, I have a lot more to say about the idea of TV series vs. novelisation than I do about the story itself. It was good - but not great. Readable and interesting - but not compulsively gripping. I didn't guess the killer - but I found the reveal a bit too sensational and random to be truly shocking (and yes, I realise this is a bit of a daft thing to say about a crime novel). I quite enjoyed it overall - but it doesn't match up to the author's other books.
Just okay. Next time I'll just watch the show... Or, considering how unlikely that is, I'll remember that TV and books don't really mix.
November 11, 2018
DISCLAIMER: At the time of writing this review, I haven't watched the TV series but have been to both West Bay and Clevedon where the series was filmed!
I'm not going to lie, I really found Broadchurch to be quite a disappointing read for a number of reasons. Firstly, there was a huge list of characters being introduced on and off and after a while, it got harder to track who was who. Then, the pacing itself was extremely slow. I tend to like my thrillers to be fast-paced and get to the point, rather than a lot of backstory being mentioned. I really struggled to connect to any of the characters and found a few of them in particular to be unlikeable. I disliked the ending. Overall, the storyline just didn't gel for me.
When the body of a young boy is found at the beach in Broadchurch, two detectives Ellie and Hardy are to investigate who the murderer was. A quiet town where nothing much happens now has the attention of international press. Funnily enough, I'm really missing West Bay now...
I'm not going to lie, I really found Broadchurch to be quite a disappointing read for a number of reasons. Firstly, there was a huge list of characters being introduced on and off and after a while, it got harder to track who was who. Then, the pacing itself was extremely slow. I tend to like my thrillers to be fast-paced and get to the point, rather than a lot of backstory being mentioned. I really struggled to connect to any of the characters and found a few of them in particular to be unlikeable. I disliked the ending. Overall, the storyline just didn't gel for me.
When the body of a young boy is found at the beach in Broadchurch, two detectives Ellie and Hardy are to investigate who the murderer was. A quiet town where nothing much happens now has the attention of international press. Funnily enough, I'm really missing West Bay now...
April 20, 2015
Liked the mystery surrounding the small town of Broadchurch. The characters were well done & so was the mystery. The killer came as a complete shock to me. I wanted to read this before I watched the series ( the show actually came first) but I always want to read first before I watch anything. Now that I'm done I can't wait to finally watch Broadchurch, especially since I love David Tennant!
April 23, 2015
Good murder mystery. Kept me guessing the whole time!!
January 3, 2022
Worst crime book I' ve read in a long time.Predictable,badly written,cardboard characters,everything seems fake.Awful.
August 8, 2023
I apologize for having so much to say but this book is one I’ll definitely enjoy rereading. (And probably rewatching)
It killed me when Miller said, “all along you said don’t trust.” I died. Still slightly dead.
I also found It interesting that Alec Hardy’s health seemed to flow with the ups and downs of the case. It was a great way of showing exactly how much his work meant to him. He was prepared to let it kill him.
This was really well written.
It took me awhile to realize that the author was intentionally writing scenes where we noted the strength or size of several suspects hands, such as Nige or Paul Coates. And also the strength and anger of Mark Latimer.
The only thing I can remember disliking was when Miller took Hardy’s pulse with her thumb, which wouldn’t work.
Whatever annoyance I suffered at this mistake was improved if not righted by the way they wrote Hardy’s dreams. Mixing Sandbrook’s pendent with Broadchurch skateboard until it’s all muddled together into one horror is exactly how Reality fueled nightmares work.
I don’t usually want to bring my interest of actual justice system into it but in this case I feel like I need to explain a little.
Almost all of my collage classes had us analyzing how different reality is versus television crime. It’s called the C.S.I effect and this book/tv show doesn’t have as much of the issues as most shows you find. Granted, I didn’t study the U.K justice system so I can’t vouch for the procedures but I did want to explain why I love it so much.
It’s not even about the case really, it’s about the family and solving it.
It actually shows the complexity of cases instead of the one episode, solved in 24 hour style that 99 percent of crime shows and books have.
It leads you down a dozen different paths and you don’t know where it’s going to end.
It shows the family grieving instead of leaving them as 2D characters you don’t even remember the names of.
I prefer the book to the show because of how much more we can see into the minds of the characters, and all the different thoughts we can glimpse.
The wording is great as well. For some reason the book was just easier to follow.
It killed me when Miller said, “all along you said don’t trust.” I died. Still slightly dead.
I also found It interesting that Alec Hardy’s health seemed to flow with the ups and downs of the case. It was a great way of showing exactly how much his work meant to him. He was prepared to let it kill him.
This was really well written.
It took me awhile to realize that the author was intentionally writing scenes where we noted the strength or size of several suspects hands, such as Nige or Paul Coates. And also the strength and anger of Mark Latimer.
The only thing I can remember disliking was when Miller took Hardy’s pulse with her thumb, which wouldn’t work.
Whatever annoyance I suffered at this mistake was improved if not righted by the way they wrote Hardy’s dreams. Mixing Sandbrook’s pendent with Broadchurch skateboard until it’s all muddled together into one horror is exactly how Reality fueled nightmares work.
I don’t usually want to bring my interest of actual justice system into it but in this case I feel like I need to explain a little.
Almost all of my collage classes had us analyzing how different reality is versus television crime. It’s called the C.S.I effect and this book/tv show doesn’t have as much of the issues as most shows you find. Granted, I didn’t study the U.K justice system so I can’t vouch for the procedures but I did want to explain why I love it so much.
It’s not even about the case really, it’s about the family and solving it.
It actually shows the complexity of cases instead of the one episode, solved in 24 hour style that 99 percent of crime shows and books have.
It leads you down a dozen different paths and you don’t know where it’s going to end.
It shows the family grieving instead of leaving them as 2D characters you don’t even remember the names of.
I prefer the book to the show because of how much more we can see into the minds of the characters, and all the different thoughts we can glimpse.
The wording is great as well. For some reason the book was just easier to follow.
January 23, 2024
I obviously read this book because I am a dear fan of the TV show Broadchurch. Reading the show in book format illuminated a new light on the characters thoughts and feelings, especially Alec Hardy. You get to see some of his inner most thoughts and understand him more as a character. There’s also added scenes and differentiated scenes from the TV show which was cool to read. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed it, the narration is great.
August 21, 2020
I haven't seen the television serials.... Must be about the only person in the UK who hasn't! I understand that the book was written post programmes.
A decent read and very realistic.
Picked up halfway for me... Found beginning slightly slow . Quite emotional towards the end.
A decent read and very realistic.
Picked up halfway for me... Found beginning slightly slow . Quite emotional towards the end.
February 8, 2015
"Everyone is capable of murder," says Hardy. "It just takes the right circumstances."
Ellie snorted. "And there's your view of the world. I don't know how you sleep."
"Who says I sleep?"
Okay, so it's pretty obvious that I got this book because I am obsessed with the BBC show, Broadchurch. But even aside from that, I am really glad I picked this up, because it was even better than the show (which is often the truth when it comes to books, isn't it?).
This is the story of the murder of a young boy, Danny Latimer, and the way in which it tore apart the small, Dorset town in which he lived. In Broadchurch, everyone knew everybody else. Or did they? As the days after the murder pile up, and the list of suspects gets longer instead of shorter, the people of Broadchurch begin to look at one another with not only grief but suspicion as well. How well do we really know our spouses, neighbors, and friends?
It is also the story of the unlikely friendship between Detective Sergeant Alec Hardy and Detective Inspector Ellie Miller. He is curt, unfriendly, and darkened by a haunted and tragic past. She is sweet, social, and absolutely a part of the town and finds it hard to believe anyone could commit such a heinous crime. But despite their rough start they form an uneasy alliance and friendship. And watching that develop between these two completely different characters was just such a delight.
This book (and show) is pure police drama but also psychological thriller as well. You get to witness the way that group dynamics shatter and splinter apart by tragedy and the way the bonds between people are either strengthened or severed forever. One of my favorite aspects of the book is the way that it is told from multiple points of view, so we get to see not only the inside of Hardy and Ellie's minds, but also the mind of the Latimer parents, and various other members of the town.
This is a fantastic book, and the sort of story that you will keep with you a long time after you are finished with it.
"People are unknowable. And...you can never really know what's in someone else's heart."
Ellie snorted. "And there's your view of the world. I don't know how you sleep."
"Who says I sleep?"
Okay, so it's pretty obvious that I got this book because I am obsessed with the BBC show, Broadchurch. But even aside from that, I am really glad I picked this up, because it was even better than the show (which is often the truth when it comes to books, isn't it?).
This is the story of the murder of a young boy, Danny Latimer, and the way in which it tore apart the small, Dorset town in which he lived. In Broadchurch, everyone knew everybody else. Or did they? As the days after the murder pile up, and the list of suspects gets longer instead of shorter, the people of Broadchurch begin to look at one another with not only grief but suspicion as well. How well do we really know our spouses, neighbors, and friends?
It is also the story of the unlikely friendship between Detective Sergeant Alec Hardy and Detective Inspector Ellie Miller. He is curt, unfriendly, and darkened by a haunted and tragic past. She is sweet, social, and absolutely a part of the town and finds it hard to believe anyone could commit such a heinous crime. But despite their rough start they form an uneasy alliance and friendship. And watching that develop between these two completely different characters was just such a delight.
This book (and show) is pure police drama but also psychological thriller as well. You get to witness the way that group dynamics shatter and splinter apart by tragedy and the way the bonds between people are either strengthened or severed forever. One of my favorite aspects of the book is the way that it is told from multiple points of view, so we get to see not only the inside of Hardy and Ellie's minds, but also the mind of the Latimer parents, and various other members of the town.
This is a fantastic book, and the sort of story that you will keep with you a long time after you are finished with it.
"People are unknowable. And...you can never really know what's in someone else's heart."
September 14, 2014
I have read books that TV shows and movies are based on but I think it's the first book I've read that's based on a TV show. If you were lucky enough to see the mini-series "Broadchurch" with the excellent David Tennant, then you have no reason to read this book. It slavishly sticks to the series and I found only very minor difference. If you missed "Broadchurch" I would suggest renting a copy.
The Americans are remaking the series and calling it "Gracepoint" starting this month. Why does it need to be redone? David Tennant is in this one too but the reviews I've read said his performance as an American falls flat. Get the original.
I really have nothing to say about the book. If you haven't seen the British show then the book will entertain you. It is a captivating story about the murder of an 11 year old boy. The investigation uncovers many of the town's secrets to horrible results. It's a very layered mystery. Get the book if you haven't seen the show but forget it if you have.
The Americans are remaking the series and calling it "Gracepoint" starting this month. Why does it need to be redone? David Tennant is in this one too but the reviews I've read said his performance as an American falls flat. Get the original.
I really have nothing to say about the book. If you haven't seen the British show then the book will entertain you. It is a captivating story about the murder of an 11 year old boy. The investigation uncovers many of the town's secrets to horrible results. It's a very layered mystery. Get the book if you haven't seen the show but forget it if you have.
August 26, 2024
4.5, this was really good but felt a bit screenplay-ish at times
March 24, 2017
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, my thanks for the opportunity.
I am a big fan of British crime fiction, but have never read any of Erin Kelly's books prior to this one, nor have I seen the TV show so I went into reading it with a really open mind.
A young boy is found dead in the quiet coastal town of Broadchurch, the type of place where everyone knows everyone and the impact ripples across the whole community. The police hunt is on quickly in the hunt for the killer of this much loved boy. Murders involving children I find pull on the heart strings a bit more in crime books.
It's a hot July morning in the Dorset town of Broadchurch when Beth Latimer realises that her eleven-year-old son, Danny, is missing. As Beth searches desperately for her boy, her best friend, local police officer DS Ellie Miller, arrives at work to find that the promotion she was promised has been given to disreputable Scottish outsider DI Alec Hardy.
When Danny's body is found on the beach Ellie must put her feelings aside as she works with DI Hardy to solve the mystery of Danny's death. As the case becomes a murder investigation the news hits the national press, jolting sleepy Broadchurch into the national spotlight.
The book blends nicely police procedural information and progress with in depth insight into many of the residents of Broadchurch, we get to know their thoughts, feelings, some secrets and more. Seems this town is not as simple as it first appears. Emotions run high and fingers point in all directions, at times in the wrong direction and I honestly did not guess the actually killer until it was revealed, often I can but this book did such a good job of having so many alternatives in there it was not obvious to the reader.
DI Alex Hardy in particular is a great character, full of flaws and human aspects that made it very easy to relate to him.
My one criticism I found with this novel, which I did really enjoy was keeping track of the number of characters, and who was related to who etc, there is quite a few and sometimes I had to stop and flick back to make the connection then off I went again.
I found the ending quite emotive and powerful, and really liked this novel very much. A good solid crime read whether you are a fan of the TV series or not.
I am a big fan of British crime fiction, but have never read any of Erin Kelly's books prior to this one, nor have I seen the TV show so I went into reading it with a really open mind.
A young boy is found dead in the quiet coastal town of Broadchurch, the type of place where everyone knows everyone and the impact ripples across the whole community. The police hunt is on quickly in the hunt for the killer of this much loved boy. Murders involving children I find pull on the heart strings a bit more in crime books.
It's a hot July morning in the Dorset town of Broadchurch when Beth Latimer realises that her eleven-year-old son, Danny, is missing. As Beth searches desperately for her boy, her best friend, local police officer DS Ellie Miller, arrives at work to find that the promotion she was promised has been given to disreputable Scottish outsider DI Alec Hardy.
When Danny's body is found on the beach Ellie must put her feelings aside as she works with DI Hardy to solve the mystery of Danny's death. As the case becomes a murder investigation the news hits the national press, jolting sleepy Broadchurch into the national spotlight.
The book blends nicely police procedural information and progress with in depth insight into many of the residents of Broadchurch, we get to know their thoughts, feelings, some secrets and more. Seems this town is not as simple as it first appears. Emotions run high and fingers point in all directions, at times in the wrong direction and I honestly did not guess the actually killer until it was revealed, often I can but this book did such a good job of having so many alternatives in there it was not obvious to the reader.
DI Alex Hardy in particular is a great character, full of flaws and human aspects that made it very easy to relate to him.
My one criticism I found with this novel, which I did really enjoy was keeping track of the number of characters, and who was related to who etc, there is quite a few and sometimes I had to stop and flick back to make the connection then off I went again.
I found the ending quite emotive and powerful, and really liked this novel very much. A good solid crime read whether you are a fan of the TV series or not.
August 16, 2014
4.0 out of 5 stars -- I had no idea when I began reading this book that there was a BBC television series that I could watch! So, I had no preconceptions other than the basic plot premise and the fact that the novel is in the police procedural category and set in a small British West Bay town on the coast. The landscape of Dorset provides the cliffs, beach and sea that are extremely important aspects of the drama played out there when the body of 11 year old Danny Latimer is found one morning in summer season. The town in the book is known as Broadchurch.
DS Ellie Miller is recently returned to work from a family holiday when she is rudely denied an expected promotion and passed over for Detective Inspector by another whose reputation precedes him -- DI Alec Hardy. In a matter of moments, still reeling after that disappointment, she is thrust into a murder investigation when the call comes to the police station about Danny's body. Ellie is shaken because Danny is her son's best friend and the son of her own girlfriend, Beth. The Latimers and Millers were a tight group and the town is close knit. Without any immediate suspects or clues, Ellie can't believe that anyone she knows could have committed this murder. The extremely well plotted investigation proceeds from there and involves many of the townspeople whose secrets and lies are unearthed slowly but surely. Red herrings are dangled as first one and then another comes under the scrutiny of DI Hardy and DS Miller. An unlikely partnership between personality and style on the opposite spectrum, Hardy and Miller are at odds with each other and with those whom they interrogate as they search for answers.
The characters are complex and well drawn; the narrative shifts in point of view revealing tantalizing snippets and details as the plot thickens. I thought every one was guilty -- and they were -- of something. Who knew the neighbors as well as they thought they did?
I can see where this would be a great show and I plan to get the DVDs and watch it as soon as possible. I really enjoyed the novel and the ending was perfect given the somber tone of the book. I'd like to read other books by this author. I will definitely be recommending this novelization to any who enjoy British crime novels.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press (Minotaur Books) for the e-book ARC to review.
DS Ellie Miller is recently returned to work from a family holiday when she is rudely denied an expected promotion and passed over for Detective Inspector by another whose reputation precedes him -- DI Alec Hardy. In a matter of moments, still reeling after that disappointment, she is thrust into a murder investigation when the call comes to the police station about Danny's body. Ellie is shaken because Danny is her son's best friend and the son of her own girlfriend, Beth. The Latimers and Millers were a tight group and the town is close knit. Without any immediate suspects or clues, Ellie can't believe that anyone she knows could have committed this murder. The extremely well plotted investigation proceeds from there and involves many of the townspeople whose secrets and lies are unearthed slowly but surely. Red herrings are dangled as first one and then another comes under the scrutiny of DI Hardy and DS Miller. An unlikely partnership between personality and style on the opposite spectrum, Hardy and Miller are at odds with each other and with those whom they interrogate as they search for answers.
The characters are complex and well drawn; the narrative shifts in point of view revealing tantalizing snippets and details as the plot thickens. I thought every one was guilty -- and they were -- of something. Who knew the neighbors as well as they thought they did?
I can see where this would be a great show and I plan to get the DVDs and watch it as soon as possible. I really enjoyed the novel and the ending was perfect given the somber tone of the book. I'd like to read other books by this author. I will definitely be recommending this novelization to any who enjoy British crime novels.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press (Minotaur Books) for the e-book ARC to review.
November 26, 2024
Netter Thriller, aber kein Meisterwerk. Nicht allzu spannend, dafür aber ganz schön geschrieben. Hat Spaß gemacht zu lesen!
March 8, 2018
This is the best book I have read so far this year. Characters are well developed. Mystery story well told and engaging through to the end . Believeable and heartbreaking . Reccommended to all who enjoy mystery and suspense. 5 stars
July 17, 2014
Disclaimer: ARC read via Netgalley.
If you are a fan of David Tennant (and why wouldn’t you be) than odds are you have seen Broadchurch, which was shown here in the U.S. on BBC America. If you haven’t seen it, then you might have heard about it. If you haven’t, there is an American version of the show coming out in the fall; it is called Gracepoint. Mr. Tennant is in that as well. Olivia Colman, who in many ways was more nuanced performer in the series, isn’t, sadly (though Anna Gunn is a wonderful actress).
Broadchurch is about two detectives as they struggle to find the murderer of a young boy in a small coastal community, that community where everyone knows of everyone if not knows everyone. This book is a novelization of the television series, so if you haven’t seen the series and are planning to watch it or the U.S. version, the book has major spoilers. The butler did it type of spoilers – don’t worry there isn’t a butler.
Ellie Miller returns from a vacation in Florida to discover that her promotion has been given to an outsider, a male outsider, Alec Hardy. If that isn’t enough of a problem, a boy’s body has been discovered on the beach. The boy, Danny, is a close family friend. In such a small town, this means that dirty secrets are brought to light as community distrust and infighting begin to take a toll.
What makes Broadchurch, show or novel, so good is its refusal to use cliché types. It might at first glance look that way. The relationship between Hardy and Miller is one that we seem to see in every blasted cop show today, but soon it transcends that. No one comes out as a saint or sinner, but simply people. It is this that makes Broadchurch far more compelling. Karen White, for instance, the reporter who has made it her mission to call Hardy to account for a mistake in his past, could at first come across as the ambitious star reporter who should be pistol whipped, but she is more than that. Miller could simply be the emotional cop, but she is more than that. Hardy could be the dick cop who is always right, but he is more than that. The only character that might be one dimension is the character of Beth, Danny’s mother. “An English rose” is how one reporter describes her, perhaps she is, but she is not perfect. She is simply good and far more complex than that description would let anyone to believe.
It is the normalcy of both the place and the people that make the story gut wrenching and compelling. You may not live in a community as small as Broadchurch, but if you are a member of a neighborhood many of the truths or problems are also present in the small individual sections of big cities. Instead of the convoluted plot lines of some crime stories, the crime here isn’t so much shocking because of its victim, but because of its intimacy, because of the suspect pool. The reader may not know Miller, Beth, Ellie, Alec and the dozen or so other people in the novel, but the reader knows people like them. When Ellie wonders if it was the man whose name she doesn’t know but who she nods hello to everyday, it is something anyone can relate to.
The novelization keeps the basic plot but aids more details. The relationship between Karen and Olly works better in the novel than on the television screen due to the use of inner monologue. The writing it is good, containing lines like: “Maybe the small town mentality is sexually transmitted.” (Loc 2152). Despite the reader knowing the outcome, the book itself is gripping and near impossible to put down. This is unusual for a novelization, and Erin Kelley deserves full marks for it. Overall, the writing is smooth, though there are times when some dialogue feels very stilted, almost like an info dump. At this point, it should be noted that the edition I read was an uncorrected ARC, so perhaps this problem will be smoothed out by final publication.
That criticism aside, while the book is not as good as Ruth Rendell or P.D. James at their top form, it is far better than most novelizations.
If you are a fan of David Tennant (and why wouldn’t you be) than odds are you have seen Broadchurch, which was shown here in the U.S. on BBC America. If you haven’t seen it, then you might have heard about it. If you haven’t, there is an American version of the show coming out in the fall; it is called Gracepoint. Mr. Tennant is in that as well. Olivia Colman, who in many ways was more nuanced performer in the series, isn’t, sadly (though Anna Gunn is a wonderful actress).
Broadchurch is about two detectives as they struggle to find the murderer of a young boy in a small coastal community, that community where everyone knows of everyone if not knows everyone. This book is a novelization of the television series, so if you haven’t seen the series and are planning to watch it or the U.S. version, the book has major spoilers. The butler did it type of spoilers – don’t worry there isn’t a butler.
Ellie Miller returns from a vacation in Florida to discover that her promotion has been given to an outsider, a male outsider, Alec Hardy. If that isn’t enough of a problem, a boy’s body has been discovered on the beach. The boy, Danny, is a close family friend. In such a small town, this means that dirty secrets are brought to light as community distrust and infighting begin to take a toll.
What makes Broadchurch, show or novel, so good is its refusal to use cliché types. It might at first glance look that way. The relationship between Hardy and Miller is one that we seem to see in every blasted cop show today, but soon it transcends that. No one comes out as a saint or sinner, but simply people. It is this that makes Broadchurch far more compelling. Karen White, for instance, the reporter who has made it her mission to call Hardy to account for a mistake in his past, could at first come across as the ambitious star reporter who should be pistol whipped, but she is more than that. Miller could simply be the emotional cop, but she is more than that. Hardy could be the dick cop who is always right, but he is more than that. The only character that might be one dimension is the character of Beth, Danny’s mother. “An English rose” is how one reporter describes her, perhaps she is, but she is not perfect. She is simply good and far more complex than that description would let anyone to believe.
It is the normalcy of both the place and the people that make the story gut wrenching and compelling. You may not live in a community as small as Broadchurch, but if you are a member of a neighborhood many of the truths or problems are also present in the small individual sections of big cities. Instead of the convoluted plot lines of some crime stories, the crime here isn’t so much shocking because of its victim, but because of its intimacy, because of the suspect pool. The reader may not know Miller, Beth, Ellie, Alec and the dozen or so other people in the novel, but the reader knows people like them. When Ellie wonders if it was the man whose name she doesn’t know but who she nods hello to everyday, it is something anyone can relate to.
The novelization keeps the basic plot but aids more details. The relationship between Karen and Olly works better in the novel than on the television screen due to the use of inner monologue. The writing it is good, containing lines like: “Maybe the small town mentality is sexually transmitted.” (Loc 2152). Despite the reader knowing the outcome, the book itself is gripping and near impossible to put down. This is unusual for a novelization, and Erin Kelley deserves full marks for it. Overall, the writing is smooth, though there are times when some dialogue feels very stilted, almost like an info dump. At this point, it should be noted that the edition I read was an uncorrected ARC, so perhaps this problem will be smoothed out by final publication.
That criticism aside, while the book is not as good as Ruth Rendell or P.D. James at their top form, it is far better than most novelizations.
November 1, 2014
Normally, I hate reading the book after I've seen the movie or TV show (in fact, I could count the number of times I've done that on the fingers of one hand and have four left over). This one, then, is quite the exception - but it's with good reason. I started watching the Fox Broadcasting TV show Gracepoint from the beginning - it's an adaptation of the popular BBC show Broadchurch. But by the third episode of the American version, I was more than a little confused about who's who and what's what. And then, I spotted this book.
Correct me if I've got it wrong, but I believe the book is a novelization of the BBC series rather than a book on which the series is based. Still, I decided to give it a try, hoping to get my head more clearly around the Fox series (I'm now recording the episodes). The book does read a bit like a screenplay, and of course I'm now visualizing the TV characters as I read rather than conjuring up my own idea of what they look like (which I hate, BTW - one of the reasons I always read the book first). Also for the record, the very capable actor David Tennant stars in both versions of the TV productions - and I probably couldn't conjure up anyone better suited for the role).
For those who haven't seen either TV show, the setting is the small-ish British town of Broadchurch. Detective Ellie Miller has returned from a much-needed vacation, thinking she'll be returning to a new, better position within the department. But that's not to be; instead, an outsider with a questionable past, Alec Hardy, has been given the job instead, putting her under his command. On top of that insult, his attitude toward her is at best aloof, and at worst downright rude.
But before she can sort it out, an 11-year old boy, Danny Latimer, is found on the beach. At first, it appears to be a suicide - he's jumped from the high cliffs above - but a closer look reveals that it's murder. Not only is it a travesty never before experienced in this on-the-sea town, it hits close to home for both Miller and Hardy; the boy was close friends with Miller's own son. For Hardy, it brings back uncomfortable memories of a similar case that drove him from his previous job to this sleepy, rather sheltered community.
Fairly early on, it becomes clear that the murderer is someone close to the boy - someone very well known to everyone involved including Miller and her family as well as Danny's. As the plot unfolds, plenty of secrets are revealed, and relationships become strained. And throughout, everyone involved - including readers - knows that once the killer is identified, nothing will ever be the same. Readers are left guessing till the end - as it should be.
The book is outstanding despite being written in the present tense - of which I'm not particularly fond. It also provided what I need to watch the rest of the series and fully understand what's going on. That said, I'm not sure I'll bother returning to the series now even though it's very well done (personally, I'm not sure whether my uncertainty is a plus or a minus, but I am sure which side of the issue the TV producers and advertisers will be on).
Also happily, I've found a new (to me) author: Kelly. She's written at least three other mysteries that garnered decent reviews and sound interesting, and after sampling this one, I'm more than willing to try another. Her co-author, Chris Chibnall, is an English playwright, TV writer and producer perhaps best known for work on the science fiction series Doctor Who.
Correct me if I've got it wrong, but I believe the book is a novelization of the BBC series rather than a book on which the series is based. Still, I decided to give it a try, hoping to get my head more clearly around the Fox series (I'm now recording the episodes). The book does read a bit like a screenplay, and of course I'm now visualizing the TV characters as I read rather than conjuring up my own idea of what they look like (which I hate, BTW - one of the reasons I always read the book first). Also for the record, the very capable actor David Tennant stars in both versions of the TV productions - and I probably couldn't conjure up anyone better suited for the role).
For those who haven't seen either TV show, the setting is the small-ish British town of Broadchurch. Detective Ellie Miller has returned from a much-needed vacation, thinking she'll be returning to a new, better position within the department. But that's not to be; instead, an outsider with a questionable past, Alec Hardy, has been given the job instead, putting her under his command. On top of that insult, his attitude toward her is at best aloof, and at worst downright rude.
But before she can sort it out, an 11-year old boy, Danny Latimer, is found on the beach. At first, it appears to be a suicide - he's jumped from the high cliffs above - but a closer look reveals that it's murder. Not only is it a travesty never before experienced in this on-the-sea town, it hits close to home for both Miller and Hardy; the boy was close friends with Miller's own son. For Hardy, it brings back uncomfortable memories of a similar case that drove him from his previous job to this sleepy, rather sheltered community.
Fairly early on, it becomes clear that the murderer is someone close to the boy - someone very well known to everyone involved including Miller and her family as well as Danny's. As the plot unfolds, plenty of secrets are revealed, and relationships become strained. And throughout, everyone involved - including readers - knows that once the killer is identified, nothing will ever be the same. Readers are left guessing till the end - as it should be.
The book is outstanding despite being written in the present tense - of which I'm not particularly fond. It also provided what I need to watch the rest of the series and fully understand what's going on. That said, I'm not sure I'll bother returning to the series now even though it's very well done (personally, I'm not sure whether my uncertainty is a plus or a minus, but I am sure which side of the issue the TV producers and advertisers will be on).
Also happily, I've found a new (to me) author: Kelly. She's written at least three other mysteries that garnered decent reviews and sound interesting, and after sampling this one, I'm more than willing to try another. Her co-author, Chris Chibnall, is an English playwright, TV writer and producer perhaps best known for work on the science fiction series Doctor Who.
August 14, 2014
Broadchurch aired as a British Crime drama in the UK in 2013, a labour of love from the creator, Chris Chibnall, who aim was to create a big ensemble drama which concentrated on what happens to a community when a death happens within its midst, particularly when that death is that of a child.
Set in Dorset the book starts with a brief introduction to the Latimer household along with the introduction to Detective Inspector Alec Hardy who has been relocated for mysterious reasons to Broadchurch where he now holds the position which Ellie Miller had hoped would be hers. With the death of Danny Latimer the whole town suspect each other of the murder while the police battle to find the truth and the media battle to tell the best story.
I think this is the first time that I have read a book based on a TV series, it usually works the other way around, and in the early chapters it did feel like a different type of reading experience and I could clearly imagine a silent shoot of a darkened town as the book opened.
Obviously this tale has an incredibly strong plot and what Erin Kelly has done is translate this into a great read, handling the sheer number of characters alone must have been quite a task and she does it magnificently. This is a clear-sighted read, with the language used to conjure up the fear in the town flawless, the grief of the Latimer’s acute and the actions of those with secrets to keep gently exposed. I’m fairly sure that the roots to the dry humour were present in the show but the author has managed to translate all those looks into inspired words which say so much
There are so many themes of grief, secrets, love and trust that at times this was an emotional read, I have to confess shedding a few tears at one point which rarely happens when reading and it is even rarer while reading crime fiction. There really is something for everyone in this book as well as a being a big fat juicy whodunit.
This has my wholehearted recommendation, I will definitely make sure I watch the next series and for those of you who are Broadchurch aficionados apparently there is a clue to the second series early on it this book, I missed it but apparently if you know the show well there is a line that doesn’t fit.
I’d like to say an enormous thank you to The Little Brown Book Group UK for my copy of this book in return for my honest opinion; it’s a brilliant read! Broadchurch is due to be published on 14 August 2014
Set in Dorset the book starts with a brief introduction to the Latimer household along with the introduction to Detective Inspector Alec Hardy who has been relocated for mysterious reasons to Broadchurch where he now holds the position which Ellie Miller had hoped would be hers. With the death of Danny Latimer the whole town suspect each other of the murder while the police battle to find the truth and the media battle to tell the best story.
I think this is the first time that I have read a book based on a TV series, it usually works the other way around, and in the early chapters it did feel like a different type of reading experience and I could clearly imagine a silent shoot of a darkened town as the book opened.
Obviously this tale has an incredibly strong plot and what Erin Kelly has done is translate this into a great read, handling the sheer number of characters alone must have been quite a task and she does it magnificently. This is a clear-sighted read, with the language used to conjure up the fear in the town flawless, the grief of the Latimer’s acute and the actions of those with secrets to keep gently exposed. I’m fairly sure that the roots to the dry humour were present in the show but the author has managed to translate all those looks into inspired words which say so much
There are so many themes of grief, secrets, love and trust that at times this was an emotional read, I have to confess shedding a few tears at one point which rarely happens when reading and it is even rarer while reading crime fiction. There really is something for everyone in this book as well as a being a big fat juicy whodunit.
This has my wholehearted recommendation, I will definitely make sure I watch the next series and for those of you who are Broadchurch aficionados apparently there is a clue to the second series early on it this book, I missed it but apparently if you know the show well there is a line that doesn’t fit.
I’d like to say an enormous thank you to The Little Brown Book Group UK for my copy of this book in return for my honest opinion; it’s a brilliant read! Broadchurch is due to be published on 14 August 2014
June 18, 2016
I listened to the audio version--extremely well done!! Listening to this book was like watching Masterpiece Theater! Richly developed characters, quite diverse. Lots of niggling clues about who might have killed 11-year-old Danny. Lots of hints about what might be coming, but it still caught me off guard. There were so many quirky, complicated people involved--with numerous subplots. I highly recommend this story, and the audio version specifically.
February 2, 2019
Das Mystery-Crime-Drama ist nervenaufreibend und Kellys melancholisch-düsterer Stil ist die perfekte Art diese Geschichte zu erzählen. Wie der Außenseiter Hardy ankommt, die Ermittlungen aber nur langsam vorankommen und eher nebenbei ins aktuelle Geschehen eingeflochten werden, hat mir super gefallen.
Broadchurch - eine kleine Küstenstadt authentisch aber unbehaglich gibt ein mega gutes Setting für einen modernen englischen Krimi. Man spürt, wie sich die vermeintliche Idylle auflöst und die Stadt an den vielen Geheimnissen zerfällt.
Der kleine Danny wurde ermordet. Keiner kann sich vorstellen wer es gewesen sein könnte. Es gibt jede Menge Verdachte und falsche Beschuldigungen, jeder der Bewohner hat seine verstrickten Geheimnisse, alles zusammen macht die gesamte Ermittlung schwierig. Klar ist, dieses Ereignis verändert Broadchurch für immer.
Die vielen, ganz unterschiedlichen Bewohner, können etwas verwirren, es sind einfach sehr viele Namen. Dafür sind es starke, authentische Figuren, toll und menschlich gezeichnet.
Vor allem Beth - ihr Schmerz und ihre Verzweiflung waren richtig greifbar. Aber auch Vater Mark und Schwester Chloe - alle gehen ganz anders mit Dannys Tod um.
Nur fand ich es seltsam wie erwachsen, sowohl im Handeln, als auch im Denken, Danny und sein bester Freund Tom sind. Viel zu reif für 11-Jährige.
Der Kontrast zwischen Ermittlung, Trauer und persönlichen Geschichten ist richtig gut und hält die angespannte Atmosphäre. Und am Ende kommt es doch ganz anders. Zumindest für mich war es überhaupt nicht absehbar - schockierend und wirklich gut. Nur wie die Auflösung abgelaufen ist, hätte ich mir anders vorgestellt.
Broadchurch - eine kleine Küstenstadt authentisch aber unbehaglich gibt ein mega gutes Setting für einen modernen englischen Krimi. Man spürt, wie sich die vermeintliche Idylle auflöst und die Stadt an den vielen Geheimnissen zerfällt.
Der kleine Danny wurde ermordet. Keiner kann sich vorstellen wer es gewesen sein könnte. Es gibt jede Menge Verdachte und falsche Beschuldigungen, jeder der Bewohner hat seine verstrickten Geheimnisse, alles zusammen macht die gesamte Ermittlung schwierig. Klar ist, dieses Ereignis verändert Broadchurch für immer.
Die vielen, ganz unterschiedlichen Bewohner, können etwas verwirren, es sind einfach sehr viele Namen. Dafür sind es starke, authentische Figuren, toll und menschlich gezeichnet.
Vor allem Beth - ihr Schmerz und ihre Verzweiflung waren richtig greifbar. Aber auch Vater Mark und Schwester Chloe - alle gehen ganz anders mit Dannys Tod um.
Nur fand ich es seltsam wie erwachsen, sowohl im Handeln, als auch im Denken, Danny und sein bester Freund Tom sind. Viel zu reif für 11-Jährige.
Der Kontrast zwischen Ermittlung, Trauer und persönlichen Geschichten ist richtig gut und hält die angespannte Atmosphäre. Und am Ende kommt es doch ganz anders. Zumindest für mich war es überhaupt nicht absehbar - schockierend und wirklich gut. Nur wie die Auflösung abgelaufen ist, hätte ich mir anders vorgestellt.
November 5, 2014
First Sentence: One road in, one road out.
There are no murders in sea-side town of Broadchurch; until now. The body of young Danny Latimer has been found lying on the beach at the bottom a cliff. Rather than DS Ellie receiving the promotion she expected, she returns from vacation to learn DI Alex Hardy has been brought in from the outside. Although she resents it, the Latimers are best friends to her family, so Hardy will lead the investigation. With all the suspects being friends of the boy’s family, this is a case to tear apart a town and uncover all the buried secrets, including that of DI Hardy.
Some people may have seen the BBC series. Whether you have or not, this is still an excellent read.
The prologue immediately provides a sense of place, but also leaves us with a sense of dread.
The characters are succinctly introduced, giving that sense of a small, close community where people either know one another or they are outsiders. Emotions are very well captured here.
The story is told in third person. For those who watched the television series, the book gives an greater insight into each of the characters.
What is wonderful is that “Broadchurch” is truly an old-fashioned who-done-it mystery with plenty of suspects, interesting characters, plenty of red herrings, good suspense and a “wow” climax, yet an epilogue that touches the heart. I highly recommend you read the book and, if you can, watch the UK version of the show. Honesty compels me to admit I’ve not seen the American version renamed “Gracepoint.”
BROADCHURCH (Pol Proc-DI Hardy/DS Miller/England-Contemp) – Ex
Kelly, Erin (Based on the story of series creator Chris Chibnall) – standalone
Minotaur Books, 2014
There are no murders in sea-side town of Broadchurch; until now. The body of young Danny Latimer has been found lying on the beach at the bottom a cliff. Rather than DS Ellie receiving the promotion she expected, she returns from vacation to learn DI Alex Hardy has been brought in from the outside. Although she resents it, the Latimers are best friends to her family, so Hardy will lead the investigation. With all the suspects being friends of the boy’s family, this is a case to tear apart a town and uncover all the buried secrets, including that of DI Hardy.
Some people may have seen the BBC series. Whether you have or not, this is still an excellent read.
The prologue immediately provides a sense of place, but also leaves us with a sense of dread.
The characters are succinctly introduced, giving that sense of a small, close community where people either know one another or they are outsiders. Emotions are very well captured here.
The story is told in third person. For those who watched the television series, the book gives an greater insight into each of the characters.
What is wonderful is that “Broadchurch” is truly an old-fashioned who-done-it mystery with plenty of suspects, interesting characters, plenty of red herrings, good suspense and a “wow” climax, yet an epilogue that touches the heart. I highly recommend you read the book and, if you can, watch the UK version of the show. Honesty compels me to admit I’ve not seen the American version renamed “Gracepoint.”
BROADCHURCH (Pol Proc-DI Hardy/DS Miller/England-Contemp) – Ex
Kelly, Erin (Based on the story of series creator Chris Chibnall) – standalone
Minotaur Books, 2014
May 26, 2018
Such as splendid unputdownable novel. Broadchurch contains never-before-seen material. It takes you inside the minds and motivations of the unforgettable cast of characters. Your heart will ache for Beth Latimer and her family.
There is only one road in, and one road out. Nobody comes in to Broadchurch and nobody leaves.
In the Dorset town Beth Latimer is searching desperately for missing eleven-year old son Danny. He was not in his bed early in the morning, but the family presumed he went to school. Danny failed to turn up to do his paper round and did not attened school that fateful morning.
Beth's best friend Ellie Miller is a local police officer she arrives at work to find out that the promotion she was offered has been given to a Scottish outsider DI Alec Hardy.
When Danny's body is found on the beach Ellie has to tell her best friend Beth that her son has been found dead.
Ellie now has to put her feelings to one side as she works with DI Alec Hardy to solve the mystery of Danny's death as the case becomes a murder investigation.
I can not recommend readers reading Broadchurch highly enough. It is most certainly a book to add to all readers reading list.
There is only one road in, and one road out. Nobody comes in to Broadchurch and nobody leaves.
In the Dorset town Beth Latimer is searching desperately for missing eleven-year old son Danny. He was not in his bed early in the morning, but the family presumed he went to school. Danny failed to turn up to do his paper round and did not attened school that fateful morning.
Beth's best friend Ellie Miller is a local police officer she arrives at work to find out that the promotion she was offered has been given to a Scottish outsider DI Alec Hardy.
When Danny's body is found on the beach Ellie has to tell her best friend Beth that her son has been found dead.
Ellie now has to put her feelings to one side as she works with DI Alec Hardy to solve the mystery of Danny's death as the case becomes a murder investigation.
I can not recommend readers reading Broadchurch highly enough. It is most certainly a book to add to all readers reading list.
June 16, 2015
First of all it is a novelization of TV series and it's exactly how it is written - as a elongated script with many visual details. I've heard that the series is pretty awesome, but frankly I did not feel it while reading. Just another "who killed?" story (and to be honest there will never be another "who killed Laura Palmer?" situation) with a twist that is not a twist at all. It was a decent crime story, however nothing more and I will forget it in a month. Maybe then I will watch the series? :)
October 22, 2014
"People are unknowable. And ... you can never really know what's in someone else's heart."
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