I'd have to say I didn't really feel this should be categorised as a thriller but more a deep heartfelt action story. Not even sure if that's the right category but I'm rolling with it. Despite the basis of the story being about a tragic school shooting its not so much about that but more about exploring the aftermath and the characters themselves.

The story itself was intriguing, and there was this lingering tension as the story builds until the lead character finally speaks her truth.

Being told in multiple timelines and by multiple viewpoints I did expect it to be a bit confusing but actually it was seamless and came together really well.

Overall a really compelling yet quite sad at times story that I do recommend to other readers.

In Abigail Dean’s novel, Day One, she explores some tough themes, as she looks at the aftermath and the effects a horrific school shooting, has on the local community, and the victims. We see the trauma the case has inflicted on the innocent victims, and what makes matters for them even worse, is that there are conspiracy theorists out there, who insist that the shooting never happened, and they go to great and disturbing lengths, to try and prove their claims.

What I really liked about this book was that we hear about the crime from different perspectives. The shooting takes place while a year group are performing a play, and so there are not only pupils and teachers among the victims, when the gunman opens fire, but parents as well. The different perspectives make it really fascinating to see what each individual experienced that terrible day, and how their versions of the same event can differ from each other. With the rise of the conspiracy theorists, those who were there that fateful day, are forced to revisit the horror again, and even years down the line, you can see the effect recounting that day has on them. But it is also clear that there are some secrets that people are holding onto.

One point of view we hear from is Marty, whose mother, Ava, was killed on the day of the shooting, while she was trying to protect the pupils at the school from the gunman. Marty’s mother was a much loved, and respected teacher at the school, but soon Marty finds herself being the point of focus of some cruel conspiracy theories. Abigail Dean explores Marty’s emotions really well in her writing, and we see this come through strongly, as she deals with the shock of her mother’s death, and with how she finds herself in the spotlight as well. Marty’s relationship with her dad is a complex one, and this was also explored really well. We also meet Trent, who has become obsessed with the case, and he is embroiled in the conspiracy theories, which puts his path on a collision course with Marty.

The final chapters really were tense, and I loved how Abigail Dean turned the tension up a notch. Abigail Dean is a writer who knows how to delve into the emotions of her characters, and it comes through so strongly in her writing.

I really enjoyed reading Day One, and I’m looking forward to reading what Abigail Dean writes next.

I was a little unsure about this book at first after reading the preview but I am so pleased I read it. What a powerful book and storyline, it will certainly leave you stunned in parts. Characters are well portrayed and the whole story was done with great thought.
My thanks as always to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, Harperfiction for the early read

Abigail Dean's prose is unfiltered, sincere, and thought-provoking. In her latest novel, "Day One," she thrusts readers into the heart-wrenching scene of a heinous crime unfolding in a primary school in the Lake District. A masked gunman disrupts a school play, unleashing a barrage of gunfire upon children and their teachers.

The narrative weaves a gripping tale, offering multiple perspectives, with a focal point on Marty, the teacher's daughter. Trent Casey, an aspiring journalist with ties to the town where the tragic incident occurred, emerges as a central figure. The mystery deepens as readers are left to unravel Casey's connection to the assailant.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Well that’s a book I won’t forget in a hurry. I hadn’t read the synopsis for a while so I went in blind and oh my goodness! Stonesmere is a quintessential small Lake District village. A place where everyone knows everyone else and where Martha ‘Marty’ lives with her parents. But one day the peace is shattered when a man with a gun enters the primary school and kills ten people, including Marty’s mother, before turning the gun on himself. Told in multiple timelines and from multiple POV’s I did get a little confused at first with the timelines but that was a minor thing and it certainly didn’t affect my enjoyment of the book.

Briefly, immediately after the shooting Marty is found coming from the building and in her shocked state make a terrible miscalculation. As a result there are murmurings of conspiracy theories and a man, Trent Casey, who knew the shooter, is at the forefront, taking particular pleasure in attempting to blacken Marty’s character and prove the shootings didn’t happen!

Although it was quite slow paced it was an absorbing and compelling read. Very character driven this is quite dark at times and very emotional. The terrible tragedy provokes a heartbreaking grief within the community but it’s not until the bitter end that the whole shocking truth is revealed. The author has an amazing knack of writing about trauma that invokes the grief and raw emotion of the characters. Similarly the truthers, particularly Trent, are brilliantly drawn as you watch them getting more and more twisted and unbelievable. A wonderful piece of literary fiction.

What a clever story. Told from a number of different narrative points and a timeline that moves back and forth, this is a complex and totally satisfying tale with a strong sense of reality. It’s the worst nightmare scenario; gunman at loose in a school and someone dies. At one time, that would have been the story, but these days, every event gives rise to conspiracy theories. Alternative stories to the press narrative range from preposterous to plausible and Abigail Dean has very neatly woven the conspiracy plots into this tale leaving the reader wondering where the truth lies.

This is a slow burn, multi layered reveal which I really enjoyed. It’s one to savour and enjoy.

Really enjoyed this. Would definitely recommend! What an incredibly powerful book. I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel when I first started reading this but it was really great. I enjoyed trying piece the puzzle together myself and simply could not put it down.

I find Abigail Dean’s ability to weave an unreliable narrative fascinating and completely gripping. Even as I began to understand parts of what happened at Day One, I didn’t know everything, all the final puzzle pieces, until Dean gave them to us. We are primarily following two narrators, Marty and Trent, across multiple timelines. I have to say I found it really hard to keep track at times of what was happening in a particular timeline, as it jumps between them constantly, and between characters, with a lot of different things going on. However, it was really interesting to see the story from such contrasting viewpoints. Marty, a teenager at the heart of speculation surrounding the Day One massacre, and Trent, a conspiracy theorist and journalist determined to reveal what he believes to be lies - using some questionable means. These young characters are both troubled for different reasons and it’s easy to empathise with them both, though it’s definitely hard to like either of them. We see their relationships with the people in their lives, the good and the bad, and their struggles in moving through the world. But we also see the effect the massacre has on the community, sometimes through different perspectives. At times this is a very emotional read, especially with the accounts from the massacre itself, and it’s naturally very dark but the search for the truth made this difficult to put down. This isn’t a book where you’ll like the characters (though I may have a soft spot for Kit and Larkin) and you’ll be left feeling like you still don’t know these people.

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

Day One, whilst a beautiful read, just didn’t grip me as much as I wanted it to. Saying that, I enjoyed the read and would definitely recommend.

This book was amazing from start to finish. You really felt as though you were right there in the middle of action and with the characters. A totally brilliant second novel.

Wow, what an amazing gripping book with complex intriguing characters in it, I just didn’t want it to end. A school shooting, a teacher, her daughter and several other characters and told from different viewpoints. A fabulous read

I was a massive fan of Girl, A and recommended it to so many people so I was excited to read another book by Abigail Dean. Whilst I was gripped from the opening page, I found it slightly repetitive and that the plot slowed after the intriguing opening. Having said that, it left me with much to think about and would be a solid read for a book group, offering plenty to discuss.

I enjoyed this book having loved Girl A, but I found this didn't grip me the same.
I liked the multiple narrators but found the timeline jumps irritating and I didn't find Matty very likeable.
I predicted what had happened which felt a bit too easy. Overall I felt the book went on a bit & was over long and so less gripping than it could have been.
My thanks to Netgalley & the Publisher for my E-ARC in return for my honest review.

This book gripped me from the very first page.
It is so incredibly well written and such an absorbing story.

The characters have depth, the storyline flows well with just enough twists to keep me hooked!

What an absolute belter of a thriller. Set in the Lake District, the setting is an important part of the story, adding atmosphere and drama. Following a traumatic event on day one, the story follows conspiracy theorists who are sure it was a hoax. We also follow the lives of victims in the aftermath. We aren't sure who was telling the truth right up to the end, which was really emotional. Wonderful, will be one of my favourite 2024 books.

Dean has used her understanding of the human condition under unusual pressure to once again turn out a thoughtful and considered portrait of a town recovering after a school shooting. She has artfully woven in contemporary concerns over fake news and conspiracy theories, reflecting the psychology on both sides of the equation with sensitivity and empathy. After Girl A, a reader might be expecting something more sensational than this quiet slow-burn of a book, but Day One does not disappoint for all it hangs away from the gory details and focuses instead on what it is to survive and attempt to return to 'normal'.

Day One is a real page turning and gripping yet heartbreaking read that was hard to put down. The pace of the story is just right not rushed at all so you really get the feel of every character and all the emotions they are going through. Abigail Dean has the great ability to draw you into a story and keep you held till the very last page. Recommend. Thanks to netgalley and Harper Collins Uk for the arc.

Though I loved Girl A, I really didn’t like this book! The characters didn’t seem real enough to be true. The book jumps about from different perspectives and characters too much. I couldn’t get into it at all.

A School shooting. A favorite teacher and many young primary school children killed. Who did it and why. A rather confusing story which goes back and forth in time lines, uncovering gradually the person involved and why. I did not enjoy this story as much as I had hoped due to the jumping around. You really needed to be on the ball and it would probably have been easier if I had read the book in longer spells. Not something you could pick up and drop after just a few pages. An interesting read in the psychology of young people and how hurt and pass happenings can be processed in their minds - rightly or wrongly.

Having read Girl A, to say I was keen to get my hands on Day One would be the understatement of the year!
I was completely engrossed from the very first page, however, it is a harrowing and particularly unsettling read that you’ll find yourself needing to walk away from time to time.
Top tip - Make sure you read the chapter headings to avoid timeline confusion
A gripping 5⭐️ read, I look forward to Abigail Deans next offering.