The novel delves into the harrowing events of a school shooting in the quaint English village of Stonesmere and meticulously examines the rippling effects on the community.

The author's portrayal of Marty, the daughter of a beloved teacher who perished in the tragedy, is both compelling and heart-wrenching. Marty’s struggle to reconcile her version of events with emerging inconsistencies adds layers of tension and intrigue. Simultaneously, the character of Trent, who becomes entangled in conspiracy theories surrounding the incident, offers a disturbing yet insightful look into the allure of misinformation.

The narrative is structured through multiple perspectives, allowing readers to grasp the multifaceted nature of grief, guilt, and the search for truth. The sensitive handling of such a delicate subject matter is commendable, avoiding gratuitous details while focusing on the emotional and psychological landscapes of her characters.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't feel the Thriller vibe that this one promised, it was dramatic and there were elements of a thrill, but they didn't surface.

I felt like Dean wasn't sure which angle she wanted to focus on and with the multiple POV's I found the read at times a little jittery and jagged in the flow.

This had the potential to be a great book, whilst I enjoyed it, it didn't live up to my expectations.

I started this book back in November 2023 but struggled to finish it. I'm a fan of true crime stories and thrillers but this one is a bit slow paced. Also the agony of the horrific effect that an unfortunate event, such as a school shootout is a bit mentally heavy. Maybe I'll pick up a light hearted romantic comedy after finishing it. If you are a fan of true crime stories then this book is definitely recommended.
Now in Oct 2024 I have finally given up on this book.
Rating 3.6/5

In Day One, Abigail Dean delves into the complexities of trauma and survival in the aftermath of a devastating event. Through the perspective of an insightful and resilient protagonist, Dean unpacks the psychological and emotional layers that follow a life-altering experience, capturing the struggle to rebuild one’s life and identity. Known for her sharp, empathetic storytelling, Dean crafts a compelling narrative that questions what it means to move forward while haunted by the past. Day One is a gripping, introspective read, sure to resonate with fans of deeply human psychological dramas.

Day One was a book I kept picking up just to find out the truth.
Stonesmere Primary School is in a small village in the Lake District. Ava has been a primary school teacher here for years and every July her class puts on a day one performance for the children starting in the September. This year though something tragic happens and Ava dies whilst protecting the children. The village is shaken and Ava’s daughter, Martha is interviewed as she managed to escape but something isn’t just adding up quite right, could she know more than she does or is she genuinely in shock? As the village try to get to the bottom of this awful incident there is another group closing in these people don’t believe any of it has happened and will use every trick in the book to get the knowledge and the people they need.
This was a shock reading this book as I didn’t read the blurb as I’d had it for a while on my kindle and the opening chapters were awful but gave a really good opening to this book. The characters, there were a lot of them and I did get a little confused at times but it wasn’t too bad. Martha was a character with many layers and I liked how the book progressed you dug deeper into her life. This was a good read, the pace was good all the way through and I enjoyed the storyline.
I would like to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

I started this book only to discover that it involves a shooting at a primary school in the north of England. I could not continue as it brought back memories of the Dunblane massacre in March 1996. I see the book is to be published in March 2025. I rarely give up on a book but as a Scottish mum, this was just too sensitive for me. I am conflicted as to ‘star’ rating. My rating in no way reflects the quality of the writing or the interest in the characters. I just don’t feel able to review.

I couldn't read this as an ebook for some reason so will get it when it comes out! Sorry! (Leaving a 4 star review to be fair.)

A shooting in a village primary school, told across the years and through a multitude of voices. The shooting naturally attracts media attention and with that, conspiracy theorists who believe that it is all a hoax and the victims are actors.

Lonely teenager Trent Casey gets sucked into the Truthers world, becoming obsessed with the incident and the lies that he thinks they're being told. Marty Ward, teenage daughter of the Y5 teacher who died in the accident, is hailed as a hero and becomes the face of the incident. Trent and his gang are obsessed with Marty and her dad, taking his determination to get back to some kind of normality as a sign that he isn't grieving, or that they're smiling too much.

The story jumps back and forth from Day One- the performance where the attack takes place- to eight years later, when truths are still coming out about what happened. Its heartbreaking to hear the children's excited voices, looking forward to Day One as a celebration of their school years, as we know what's in store for them.

Its beautifully written and doesnt rush to reach a conclusion. The characters are all given time to develop and reveal themselves, their flaws as well as the more public face. The story felt a bit slow at times, but looking back I think the pace was spot on, with key details revealed in a timely way throughout the book.

This was a tough one for me if I’m completely honest. I liked the idea, and I loved girl A so I had really high hopes for this book but I just did not feel like it captured my attention, it was a struggle to finish it. The writing is good I just don’t think I was on board with the story. The changing of POV just felt stilted to me and I didn’t feel emotionally invested in any of the characters. 2/5.

Unfortunately I have not been able to connect with this book and after multiple attempts have had to admit defeat and mark as dnf

Day One at Stonesmere Primary, a day of celebration. The children have worked hard to learn their lines. A community has gathered to watch. Then an intruder appears at the back and a nightmare is unleashed!
A dark story about the aftermath of a school shooting. Martha claims to have been there, but she was running late. Her mother, Ava, a long serving and much loved school teacher is killed trying to shield her pupils. A community devastated, but the shooter was known to many. Secrets are ready to be spilled.
A very emotional read, focusing on the journey of grief and lives changed forever. Each chapter was told from a different character and there was a lot of changing timelines, so it’s important to note the chapter headings. An interesting story, similar to Jodi Picoult’s Nineteen Minutes.

This book gripped me from the first page. I couldn't work out what was happening! Had Marty been in the school hall during the tragic shooting. Was she lying about where she'd been and why?
I loved the dual narrative with the timeline that moved before and after the shooting. Trent was a fascinating character and I enjoyed working out how he was going to be involved in the school tradegy and the years that followed. The slow build of events worked brilliantly and made me keep turning the pages.
I thought this was an original, dark thriller. I'm looking forward to reading Girl A which is also on my tbr!

This story is a bot of rollercoaster.

The subjuect of a school shooter is emotive and in todays world it happens too often,

We get to read about a community, their views and opinions and also about two people specially involved with the event..

There are lies, secrets and although there is the harrowing shooting and it's aftermath there is a softer ending.

I loved this book. It is well written with lots of drama and unfolds beautifully.

Just not for me I'm afraid....the multiple pov's confuse the narrative, as does the sometimes confusing language used. Theres no plessure in continually re reading paragraphs to ascertain meaning...If I'd been able to latch onto one character at the beginning I might have tried to complete this, but it just didn't happen. Such a shame and I had high expectations; just have to admit this was not my style.

Who is lying and why? You won't know, and when you finally find out, you won't believe it.
This novel is about lies and family secrets, terrorism and forgiveness, conspiration and truths. It's dark and gripping, cleverly done.

Day One by Abigail Dean

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Hemlock Press (HarperCollins UK) and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Marty seems to do no wrong. Trent can’t seem to get things right. When they are thrown together by tragedy, their futures may be defined by one What really happened on Day One?

Stonesmere is an English seaside suburb defined by poignant traditions passed from generation to generation, and the bonds of small town community spirit. But when a lone gunman disrupts a school assembly, he sets of a chain of events that throws this close-kint town into turmoil.

Marty is a golden girl, albeit one sometimes in the shadow of her father’s accomplishments and the care of her mother—an outsider who became a beloved teacher. Meanwhile, Trent’s home life is in the only child of a mother forever on the lookout for the boyfriend who can remake their lives, Trent longs for Stonesmere’s stability. But he and his mother only pass through. 

In the wake of the violence in Stonesmere, Trent is transfixed by the news coverage of his former home, and his sense that something doesn't quite add up. As he dives deeper, he falls under the spell of a slick online media personality and the conspiracies he peddles. As Marty fumbles to play the part of the grieving good girl, she becomes the focus of these conspiracies—and Trent’s attention.  

My Opinion

I really enjoyed Girl A so I was excited when I saw that Abigail Dean had a new release coming out. Day One gives the reader an insight into the thoughts and feelings of the victims of Day One whilst slowly revealing what happened on that day. The timeline jumps around but for me this was easy to follow. A gripping read that I knew I would enjoy from the opening pages.

Rating 4/5

In Day One we are immersed in Stonesmere primary school, an idyllic Lake District town, where things will never be the same again after a masked shooter opens fire on the crowded school theatre.

The grief, anger and chaos can certainly be felt from the opening pages right through until the final moments and Dean really does a fantastic job of anchoring you within that terrifying moment. Multiple timelines and POVs that don’t really dive deep enough is where it unfortunately begins to get a bit messy.

In an interview Dean notes she really struggled writing this book, in fact she rewrote it twice and unfortunately this struggle is quite apparent. While her outstanding writing skill does shine through in places, it doesn’t mirror the heights that she was able to reach with Girl A.

I think if you approach the book as a slow burning mystery rather than the intense thriller it is marketed as, you will get much more enjoyment.

This book is harrowing and dark simply because of its subject matter. You can’t help but keep reading to try to learn more and piece together the narrative.
At times I found it challenging to follow as we moved between characters and viewpoints but this did not detract from my overall enjoyment of this book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy of this book.

Day One, by Abigail Dean
Rating: 4/5
Published: NOW
A lone gunman walks into a school assembly, and opens fire on the teachers and children. The village of Stonesmere is thrown into turmoil, and grief haunts each and every resident. However, a group of conspiracy theorists don’t believe that the shooting ever took place, and set out to torment and terrorise the survivors. In the midst of the turmoil, the daughter of a deceased teacher, Marty, begins to lie about where she was during the shooting, and is slowly exposed for it. Nothing is as it seems though. This book is a brilliant exploration into how people grieve, and how societies respond to mass tragedy. It also sheds light on the damaging nature of conspiracy and those that end up embroiled within it. A fantastic book. I loved it.

"Girl A" is a psychological thriller by Abigail Dean that delves into the story of a girl who escapes a house of horrors where she and her siblings were held captive by their parents. It's a gripping and intense read that explores themes of resilience, family dynamics, and the lasting impact of childhood trauma. If you enjoy psychological thrillers, this book is definitely worth checking out!