Abigail Dean is a new author to me but one whose reputation preceded her thanks to the popular book, Girl A. I was eager to experience her latest novel and found myself intrigued by the engaging premise that explored the impact of tragedy on a small community. I’ll admit I went in with expectations of this being more of a mystery novel and while it certainly had elements of that, I’d not describe this as a thriller, rather a captivating drama featuring complex and layered characters which leave the reader thinking about what they would do in similar circumstances.

The story is told from multiple points of view and across various timelines with the central linking event as “Day One” during which a school shooting occurs. While not overly graphic in details, this theme may not something that is for everyone. The themes of loss and grief in the aftermath of such a tragedy are well presented and the questions asked about what motivates someone to commit such a heinous crime are explored here. I was drawn in by the hints about secrets and truth which left me anticipating more of a substantial reveal or twist when the story ultimately concluded. Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed the psychological aspects and moral dilemmas faced by the characters which left a lasting impression.

I would certainly be interested to explore more of Abigail Dean’s work in the future. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.

A powerful read about a school shooting in the Lake District. The fall out from the shooting is told by 2 main different points of view. It follows Marty, the daughter of Ava Ward, the heroic teacher who was a victim of the shooter. Interviewed whilst running from the school, she quickly becomes the face of the town.

Trent is a misfit who doesn't trust all that he sees. Known as a 'Truther' he sets out to disprove that the shooting even happened.

As their stories interwine, their backstories come to light and we unravel their secrets. It's a battle of truths.

Abigail Dean is a wonderful writer and I enjoyed Girl A. However I found Day One was a bit disjointed and didn't flow seamlessly. Time hops and different points of view all within one book was confusing and the narrative changed too. There was just too much going on which made it a hard read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins and Abigail Dean for this ARC.

Girl A was one of the outstanding books of 2021 and the very promising debut novel by Abigail Dean. It's been a long wait for her next book but Day One has certainly been worth waiting for.

The story revolves around a mass shooting in a primary school in the Lake District village of Stonesmere. In the aftermath it becomes apparent that some of those involved in the tragedy have differing memories of events that have serious repercussions for them and the traumatised community. This is picked up by conspiracy theorists who use their online channels to cast doubt on whether the whole thing actually happened at all causing further distress for the village,

A thought-provoking and intelligent book this is a story,like Girl A,of flawed and often deeply unlikable people living with the consequences of their actions. Very topical is the way that characters find themselves sucked down a rabbit hole and are affected by conspiracy theories, whether from fomenting them or being affected by them.

This is every bit as good as Girl A, told form the viewpoints of several characters and moving backwards and forwards through timelines it can initially be a bit confusing but as the story unfolds it's quite devastating.

Thank you @netgalley for this greart ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was quite an emotional book. It's powerful and very thought-provoking. I wouldn't say this falls under a thriller, but certainly an action-packed, heart shattering read. It's a slow burner of a story but builds extreme tension and suspense. I almost felt guilty for reading such harrowing events and enjoying the story.

This book may be very triggering for some and is by no means light-hearted. It's based around a tragic primary school shooting, focusing on the aftermath and devastation that shook a small village in Cumbria. Although fictional, it was relateable, and Dean captured the small town vibes well (I live in cumbria).

This is a very character driven story. Each chapter follows a different chracter and jumps between timelines. It's superbly narrated and easy to follow despite these variations. However, I recognise that this could be frustrating to some readers and appear slightly disjointed. I merely interpreted this as the core of what a local tragedy can provoke in people's mindsets and community spirit. The chracters were developed to the point I felt try emotions towards them, whether it be sadness, empathy or anger.

I found this a gripping read, with mystery and some twisted truths. Some parts focus on the conspiracy theorists who derail the judgements of a small town, and this effectively highlights how damaging false accusations can be.

Dean has a very provocative writing style, similar to her previous book, "Girl A." it's sometimes fragmented in narration to give that overall broken emotional effect.

I would recommend this book, I believe Dean has quite a unique and unusual writing style that I thoroughly enjoy.

The absolute horror of a mass shooting in a British school sends shockwaves across the world. The disbelief, outrage and immense sadness spreads. Condolences and sympathy pour in to the small lakeland town where the locals have no idea how to deal with this unimaginable tragedy. Ava is a dedicated teacher, her daughter Marty a teenager who is trying to find her way in life and Larkin, the local policeman who has already known tragedy are just some of the characters caught up in this truly awful event. Sympathy would of course be universal. Or would it? Rumours begin to circulate that someone may be lying and as the conspiracy theories gain momentum the grieving families have even more unwanted stress to contend with. The story is told from different perspectives and is cleverly told in that the truth could be seen in varying ways. As time goes by the complex truth emerges but above all this is a very sad story where there are no winners. It is definitely a page turner and most chapters leave the reader wanting to know more but usually switches to another character’s version of events. Well written and thought provoking, I thoroughly recommend this book.

Girl A by Abigail Dean was a book that I just could not get out of my head for months after reading it so when I saw the author had wrote another book, Day One I just knew I had to request it.

This follows the lives of individuals after the Stonesmere Massacre (a school shooting). While Day One’s storyline completely differs from Girl A, it still gives you that real feel story but fiction similar to Girl A.

The characters include Marty who’s mother was was a primary school teacher killed in the Stonesmere Massacre and Trent a conspiracy theorist who believes it was all just a hoax. Abigail Deans writing of the emotions and thoughts of her characters are so captivating they jump from the page making you feel like you are living the story not just reading it.

One criticism (and a very small one at that) is there are a lot of minor characters which initially can be hard to keep up with, however as the story progresses each character is easily distinguishable and the importance of each person story is evident.

A 5 star read. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Harper Collins U.K. for this advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Firstly thank you to NetGalley and the author for an ARC Of this book.

I wouldn’t categorise this as a thriller but more of a tense action story which is definitely sad. Trigger warning - school shooting. Set in the Lake District the book jumps back and forth a lot with multiple characters

I read Dean's debut "Girl A" and really enjoyed it, so was chuffed to be approved for an ARC of her new novel. Both books deal with tragic, traumatic storylines and both centre on a young woman who was involved and impacted. I really enjoy this original and fresh take, rather than focusing on the perpetrator(s).

In Day One the reader quickly learns that there's been a school shooting, but not any of the details. It felt very realistic as I imagine when these things happen it isn't immediately clear exactly how the event unfolded. It needs to be pieced together from various witness accounts. That's exactly how the story is presented; from many POV and a few different timelines. It took me a while to grasp who all the different POV were to begin with as there are quite a few.

I enjoyed how the story unfolded; the reader slowly learns new key details and the picture shifts as different facts come into focus. Dean is very deft at this and I enjoyed that we were given the viewpoints of "us" and "them", two camps: in one those scarred by the experience, and in the other 'truthers' these are people who believe the story was a fabrication. I found the second camp fascinating; I can understand someone wanting to believe the story is false because the truth is too awful to contemplate, but these are people campaigning against a conspiracy theory with the zeal of a cult.

For the most part this story was a compelling and fascinating read with a growing tension and foreboding which is well written. Due to the long timeline and many POV the plot felt a bit too drawn out in places for me, so that when the twist came I was glad the strands had come together. Recommended for those who like a fresh and original take in their crime stories which gives weight to both the circumstances of the perpetrator and the impact on those affected.

I adored Girl A and Day One is even better, if that's possible. It's gorgeous, terrifying, moving and gripping from the very first page. Abigail Dean really sets the bar for literary thrillers

Heartbreakingly sad and very beautiful. Not quite a thriller as it’s pretty clear what’s hapoenwd by halfway through, but it you keep turning pages (kindle style) anyway to see how it all unfolds.. there were bits that felt irrelevant and times it mov f too slowly, and it’s possible that without the jumping is timeline and random POV chapters it would prove a little empty. But Abigail Dean is a really great painter of nuanced characters and look forwards to her next..:

An absolutely brilliant book. The characters were really well written and the story was really interesting. Highly recommended.

I found this to be quite a tough read at points. The multiple perspectives and timelines were cleverly interwoven in this story of tragedy, family, community t loss. A beautiful setting and complex characters did keep me intrigued through the unravelling of the story and the people.

I tried to get into this book, but found the writing style kept me at a distance. Also the subject matter was very distressing (I have lost a son), so I decided not to go on with it. Didn't have the compulsively readable quality that Girl A possessed.

Abigail Dean’s second novel, Day One, has the lovely backdrop of a small town in the Lake District as its setting for the most horrific of crimes – a lone gunman who carries out a shooting at Stonesmere Primary School.

Multiple timelines are seamlessly woven together and the story is told from multiple viewpoints – notably those of Marty, the daughter of the primary school teacher, and Trent, a ‘truther’ (conspiracy theorist). The structure and characterisation were, for me, absolutely spot on.

A haunting, suspenseful, beautifully written novel with characters that felt so real they tugged at my heart strings.

Thanks Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for ARC.

I did not read Ms Dean's debut, Girl A, which was a huge success, so I had no idea what to expect from this.

The premise is intriguing, compelling, and may be triggering for some. It unfolds from the central point of a school shooting in a small tourist town, and the aftermath for those directly and tangentially involved, including some who were not involved but had reasons to want to insert themselves in the narrative. Over a long timescale and multiple points of view, the reader gets a chance to explore the impact, without ever losing empathy for the main players and without the thriller pace flagging.

Wow. This tough, absorbing thriller/family saga/anthropological study/exploration of ethics and the unreliable narrator that is memory is well worth anyone's time. It's harrowing, occasionally funny, uplifting and frustrating in turns. It's technically so impressive, but most importantly it's vital and human, and I will think about it for a long time.

I just finished reading this surprising book! I think that the reading requires a lot of attention and patience. Despite this, it is marvelous. How difficult can it be to survive a tragedy? It is very difficult indeed. Nonetheless, learned that it is possible during my life. This book is full of twistings and thoughts from a diversity of players; Marty's thoughts are immature at the beginning and somewhat loose at the end.

Day One is written in an interesting format, moving between different characters perspectives across an 8 year period following a critical incident in a small community. I thought it was well written, but unfortunately the storyline didn't hold my attention and it took me a while to finish. Not the book for me, but I'm sure other readers will have different views.

Thank you to Abigail Dean, NetGalley and the publishers for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Publication date: 28th March 2024.

Thank you to netgalley for allowing me an arc of this novel.
A village changed forever after one man makes a horrifying choice but there's more to that day than people realise.
Honestly, im not sure what I think about this book. It's an interesting concept but I struggled to really get into it. It did get better the further I went. The author did well to convey the pain of the survivors although I felt there was loose ends and subjects touched upon but never really examined. Definitely worth a read though.

A bit too slow for me. The story of a shorting tragedy in a stonesmere primary school and the effect this has in the members of familiars and the community. A lot of conspiracy theories and personal versions of different people. I felt this dragged a bit and focussed too much on Trent and his theories and Marty and where she really was.

My Rating: 4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ loved the format of this book, really captivating!!!

What really happened in the small English seaside town of Stonesmere on Day One? A lone gunman entered the primary school and began shooting. When ensued was a storm of devastation, depression, conspiracy and blame…

I am not going to do a big synopsis for this one, because in my honest opinion you are better off going in blind. The only reason I knew there was a shooting or a conspiracy theory was by reading Pink’s review and really that was all I needed before going in. But please feel free to read the GoodReads synopsis if you need more than this…

First off, I was to say if you hate changing POV, changing timelines and you dislike not knowing what direction the book is taking straight off the bat this WILL NOT BE FOR YOU… this book has POV’s a plenty and timeline jumps all over the place… for me this was heaven. I love a book like this. These are more often than not the books that keep me saying to myself into the late hours of the night.. just one more chapter… and maybe after 10 I might go to bed.

The timelines of course start at Day One, then move to Year 8 and back to Month 2 and so on… but almost always from a different person’s POV. There are mostly the same character POVs but we do get a few extras thrown in… and if I am honest with you… because I always am… I just loved that style. It was clear what was happening but the way the author writes it is not to hold your hand… you must read and wait and let the mystery unfold. If you are the kind of person who reads a piece of information that doesn’t make sense immediately and cannot wait for another 50% to find out why she said xyz then like I said this won’t be for you.

This book isn’t a fast paced thriller… it isn’t even a thriller in my opinion…. It’s as sad… and it was edge of your seat but not in an action way. I HAD to know what was happening and I really loved how the author drip fed information to me… I had to wait and get to know the characters and try to understand the reasons until all the information was unfolded…

I can’t say I have bothered to read bad reviews of this book… but I would suspect the lower ratings would not like the way the book ended… I personally did. I think it was enough. I think it was a lovely way to end such a sad book. Your MC, Marty… she was pretty unlikeable but you don’t quite know why most of the time… but then when you find out how Marty’s story unfolds… well I just felt sad again.

The author uses short sentences and nuance to express the points in this book… it is not long and drawn out and wordy… the writing is really good at showing not telling (as GirlWithThePinkSkiMask would say)… no super long epilogue at the end with letter to the editor style and no whiny inner monologue.

Where this fell down for me was a personal preference, I think it was a little heavy on the conspiracy theory and IMO not enough on the school shooting… I would have liked a bit more on the psyche of the shooter, a bit more on Marty’s state of mind and even her dad Justin… conspiracy theorists are weird to me… and I get that this was a huge part of this… but for me it was more about that than the shooting and I would have liked it to swing slightly back the other way… but by no means to do regret reading it I still really liked it and I will definitely be checking out Girl A by the same author.

Overall, I would recommend this to people who like multi-POV and multi-timeline books, those that like conspiracy theory tropes and so long as you aren’t expecting a action film thriller novel then you should like this one. Everyone else, definitely skip this. CarolG, if you haven’t read this then I think this one is definitely for you. Thank you to my girl, GirlWithThePinkSkiMask for putting me onto this author and encouraging me to give it a go.

Thank you to Harper Collins UK, NetGalley and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.