Dean returns with another heart-wrenching novel that will leave its impressions on you long after you turn the final page…

GIRL A was an absolute phenomenon and a book that caught me completely off guard. It’s etched itself on to my soul and I will never forget the experience of reading it. That’s quite an act to follow with a second novel, but Dean has well and truly done it again, as DAY ONE is another beautiful, heartbreaking novel that will stay with me forever. It focuses on the aftermath of a tragic school shooting in a small costal town, giving Dean the opportunity to explore all the reverberations of such a monumental event on the community over the following years. Much of the narrative around the events that day hinge on lead character Marty’s testimony (her mother is a teacher at the school, who loses her life), but as the narrative unravels, it’s clear that her testimony may not be entirely truthful. As we question why this may be, Dean also introduces Trent (a former resident of the town) who becomes embroiled in a group of conspiracy theorists who do not believe the man accused of the crime is guilty. This book is an incredibly complex and detailed exploration of how narratives around public tragedies are constructed, but it’s also an undeniably human story, with great depth of emotion and the peeling back of layers of personal tragedy. Marty’s life will forever be marred by the shooting, but also by her actions in the lead up to it. Dean perfectly weaves the mystery around Marty, the shooter, and Trent. I was eager to discover just how interwoven characters and events were and I enjoyed how the narrative moves around through different timeframes to gradually unpick the shocking moments of the opening chapter. To achieve this, Dean moves the story through many different years, which really reiterates how deep an impact such a tragedy carves on a place, community, and the wider population. Whilst exploring this, Dean also tackles a number of impactful themes, particularly around manipulation and abuse. Like with GIRL A, these are approached with sensitivity, therefore adding a truly affecting layer to the story. Whilst I definitely felt compelled to turn the pages and discover the truth at the heart of this story, this book is so much more than that. It’s an engrossing, slow burn masterpiece that will wrap you up in the lives of its characters; shroud you in layers of conspiracy theories; break your heart over the fundamentally human core; and ultimately shine a light of hope in the wake of the darkness.

I was also lucky to receive early access to the audiobook, which allowed me to combine listening and reading the physical book. The audio is absolutely fantastic and really brings the story to life. The narration really captures all the many layers of emotion. I both read and listened to the final chapter and OH MY WORD! It’s powerful, but when I listened to it, it hit me even harder. The beauty of Dean’s words is so vibrant when read aloud. If you enjoy audiobooks, I highly recommend this one.

Day One takes us to a beautiful Lake District area, to Stonemere Primary School. It’s Day One where the oldest children perform for next year’s newbies to prepare them for school. During the performance, what Ava thinks is a camera man, is actually a man with a rifle shooting at the audience.

I have to say I absolutely adored Girl A but Dean has taken it up another notch with this book. Just wow! I’m unsure that words can do this book justice because it is brilliant. My heart has literally been in my mouth, being a teacher I was fully in the school setting and could imagine the panic of all the children.

Dean has done a fantastic job. My emotions have been all over the place and I think my heart might still be racing from this one. What a brilliant but rollercoaster read this is.

This is tense and completely brilliant. This is powerful and begins with a real intense and terrifying beginning. We have very unreliable narrators in this one, we get their full perspective and I definitely have been unable to predict how this would play out.

This is totally immersive and completely captivating. Everything about this book has been brilliant. This is a book with brilliant characters, a wonderful setting and events that fill with horror.

Dean is a fantastic author and this is completely unputdownable. Everything about this book is a work of genius. The horror, the rollercoaster of emotions and the unpredictability of the plot. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this book to other readers.

A complete must for the TBR.

I read this in 24hrs, couldn’t put it down. A shocking, unsettling opening unfolds into a beautifully written, twisting story which I was very engaged by. A brilliant follow up to GIRL A

I remember reading Girl A, Abigail Dean’s first novel, with my book club. It was a real hit with the group and I’ve recommended it and bought it for several people since, because it was so good. Day One is even better.

It’s a page turner, not in a race to see ‘whodunnit’ way, more a ‘I can’t bring myself to look away’. I was so invested in and so deeply moved by this story of a small community living with and coming to terms with such a tragic event.

Abigail Dean tells the story from different view points and shifts in time from before and after the shooting. The effect of this is a peeling away of the different layers, until you eventually reach the heart of the story. I was fully immersed and the character’s feelings of loss, anguish and grief felt very real.

As well as being a story about a community living through a tragedy it also explores the obsession and the media frenzy which follow such devastating events. It looks at how conspiracy theories are born, how they quickly evolve and the far reaching effects they have on those who have survived.

It’s timely, it’s moving, it looks at the untruths we tell ourselves and others in an attempt to understand the real horrors of the world - it’s just brilliant.

This was a truly gripping, heart in the mouth read when you find yourself in Stonesmere a small rural village in Cumbria. In the very heart of the village a school is putting on a play called Day One' organised by Year eight teacher Ava Ward. During this play, someone decides to just open fire and kill as many children and adults as possible.
The book follows two main characters Martha and Trent and how they survive the massacre and their lives thereafter.
It's clear that witness testimony over the years can alter but the book is written with empathy. The author also highlights how quick wild theories online affect others, which is very true in today's world, suggesting that infact there never were any children killed? This was a brilliant read that written both in the past and present. Loved it!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and HarperCollinsUk, HarperFiction for allowing me a free copy to enjoy.

’”I wish he were a fiction. I mean, Christ. How easy would that be? If I’d never known him at all.”’

Several years ago I was utterly blown away by Abigail Dean’s debut ’Girl A’ so naturally I was eager to check ’Day One’ out as well. And let’s just say it did not disappoint in the slightest. If you like your thrillers with a devastating, harrowing, emotional edge then this is absolutely the book for you.

One thing that everyone should probably be aware of before going into this book is that it’s not an easy read, although given the subject matter that’s to be expected really. There’s a lot of potentially triggering content and it can be emotionally unsettling reading this book. That very factor is part of this novel’s beauty though; it should be uncomfortable reading about a massacre at a school. It should put you through an emotional ringer and leave you feeling hollowed out. It should make you despair and experience a sense of horror. And this book manages to do just that; yet it does so without revelling in any gory details. Instead it puts the focus on the characters involved and makes them so vividly real that it can be hard to carry on at times.

The emotional depth and believability of the characters really does seem to be a major strength of the author, within both of her books. Two viewpoints you see frequently throughout the novel during ‘day one’ itself and over the following eight years. Everybody else you only view on the day itself but it’s so beautifully crafted that they feel perfectly filled out regardless. You learn a little about everybody’s background, you discover their usual day to day routine and you feel the total devastation that follows. There’s something utterly horrifying about seeing a normal family morning, knowing what will come after. Who knew such commonplace moments could come with such an emotional blow?

Alongside the story of ‘day one’ itself you learn about the aftermath that follows. The media frenzy, the devastating secrets someone struggles with and a conspiracy theory that causes such chaos that it broke my heart. Some of what’s said – let alone done – haunted me to read about. This book captures the obsessive nature that can follow in an eerily believable manner. It balanced its two main narratives wonderfully and kept me riveted – albeit uncomfortably so on many an occasion – throughout.

So it goes without saying that I recommend ’Day One’ although given it’s dark subject matter it isn’t an easy read. Haunting, harrowing and utterly human too; the beauty of this novel truly is in how realistically it brings its characters to life and how thoroughly it immerses you within their viewpoints. It’s also an eye opening look into just how much devastation and despair conspiracy theories can cause. Whatever Abigail Dean decides to write next it’s going to be a ‘must read’ for me.

I loved Girl A when I read it a while back, so I was quite excited to see what the author had in store this time. And I wasn't disappointed!
This time the action is set in Stonesmere, an English town with a strong sense of history, tradition, and community. But it is shocked when, one day in July, a lone gunman interrupts the school assembly with a shower of bullets throwing everyone into shock, horror and disarray.
The title of the book actually comes from the name of the assembly - Day One is where the oldest schoolchildren perform for those who will be joining the school the next academic year. A break the ice kinda thing. Teacher Ava is presiding and, as one of the children is about to speak, she looks up and sees what she thinks to be a photographer at the back of the hall. But she finds out that it is not a camera he is holding when the shots start to ring out... Ava's daughter Marty gets all embroiled in the aftermath as she appears to be first out of the hall and first to tell what happened...
Meanwhile, during the fallout, in the years that follow, there are those who deny that it ever happened in the first place. I know but stay with me, it's a real thing. There are conspiracy theorists who just can't quite match what happened with what was said to have happened. One of these, Ray, encourages another "truther" journalist Trent to go to Stonesmere and expose the incident for the sham it really is. And first on his radar is Marty whose account has never sat right...
Blooming heck... once you scratch the surface of this book, once the foundations have been laid, the characters introduced and the initial story told, it really all does kick off. So, hold onto your hat, you're in for a wild ride indeed!
There's so much more I want to say about this book. So many things I want to shout about but I imply can't cos, you know, spoilers. Yes it's a wee bit slow initially as the scene is set but it never really drags as it delivers interesting and intriguing information along with the narrative.
I always struggle when I say that I have thoroughly enjoyed a book like this one. One which depicts the worst of humanity. But I did. And I think it's sad that the things depicted within this book have actually happened in real life. And that there are people who deny such thing happened. It's heartbreaking. But, as with Girl A, the author deals with all aspects of the tragedy with care and respect.
With two winners (for me) now under her belt, I am more than excited to find out where the author goes next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I'm a huge fan of abigails debut novel..and I was apprehensive about how she would follow it up. I needn't have worried about it as this was exceptional.

Stonesmere is a lovely village in the Lake District, known as a place for sightseers to visit & enjoy the quaint village shops & the lovely scenery. That was its claim to fame until a lone gunman opens fire at a school performance killing a teacher & a number of children. The story is told on the day of the shooting & the aftermath. The main narrators are Marty, the daughter of the beloved teacher who was shot & Trent, a young man who lived at Stonesmere briefly & becomes involved in the murky world of the 'Truthers' who proclaim the whole shooting was a hoax.

Although the event is horrific, the book focuses on the way it affects people. I liked Marty & I hoped at the end she might find some peace. Trent was also something of a tragic character his need to belong, got him tied up with the poisonous characters that get rich by stirring people up with lies & then slope off when the heat is on. I did find the timeline jumps a bit confusing at times, but overall it was an engaging read. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

This is an uncomfortable read and sadly I believe most of what was described here in terms of the ‘truthers’ could actually happen. It’s quite a lengthy blurb and highlights a few of the potential triggers. I didn’t particularly like Marty or Trent but that didn’t stop me from getting drawn into their stories. I did have to remind myself that the setting was England rather than USA. I saw a review which compares this to the Sandy Hook shooting and that may have been influencing my reading. I have read Girl A so that coupled with the blurb meant that I had a reasonable idea of what to expect. Did I enjoy this book? I enjoyed parts of it when I was reading it and reached a point where I found it hard to put down. At the same time I found lots of it just made me sad. I could imagine this would work well for a book club read.

As a huge fan of Abigail's debut, I was nervous about how she could follow it up. I didn't need to worry! Day One is accomplished, heartbreaking and utterly absorbing.

A riveting read that's powerful from the first line to the last.

I won't forget this book in a while!

Although the opening of this book is a school shooting that is not the focus of this story. Abigail Dean focusses on Matty (the teacher's daughter), her father and the police officer who are bereaved - how they have to deal with the press and the attitude of the rest of their small town. Also as the book progresses what led up to the disaster and how members of the community are in certain ways responsible to some extent. Yet again, an original take on an event. As her debut, this is character driven and also deals with conspiracy theorists who deny what has happened.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Abigail Dean/Harper Collins UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

I was very intrigued by the blurb of this book which made me think that it revolved around one day of a school assassination and some of its aftermath, But the day that the assassination happened is called "Day One" at this school.

But I found the whole of it to be meh. It lacks any clear direction. There are two main protagonists. Marty and Trent, are two struggling people who aren't fleshed out very well. There's nothing about either of them that makes you care or root for them.

The narrative also leads nowhere. There are conspiracy theorists and the people who suffered but I felt like giving up a few times because there are no mysteries and it wasn't thrilling.

I did find Ava, Kit, Leah and Larkin to be the interesting ones and wished we had more of their lives. Ultimately, this wasn't a novel for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for the advanced readers' copy!

This book was not for me I'm afraid. I couldn't get in to it and really struggled to get through to the end. I found it a real slow burn and wasn't gripped.

Another tremendously gripping thriller from the excellent Abigail Dean. Girl A was a very impressive debut and, in Day One, she proves that it was no fluke. Well written and fast paced, it tells the story of a shooting in a school, but the generally accepted account of what happens, from the daughter of the teacher who was killed, may not be accurate....Very enjoyable.

Day One and a small community will never be the same.
But did the shootings and killings ever take place?
Who is telling the truth and who is lying?
Ans why are some people trying to change the truth?

Day One by Abigail Dean
I give this book 4.5 stars.

Marty told the reporters that she saw the gunman enter the hall. She saw her mother die trying to protect them all
But strange inconsistencies in her story begin to surface. Details that don’t add up.
But what did Marty really see?
And why would she lie?

I read Girl A so was interested by what the author would write next.
A devastating subject matter (school shooting) handled with empathy.A chilling and intricate plot with a cast of well depicted human and flawed characters. Set in the Lake District and told from several POV’s and a backwards and forwards timeline to build up a bigger picture of how people interpret the truth, the impact of such an unthinkable tragedy on the victims and the community and living with the aftermath.Marty as a main character is dealing with the death of her teacher mother, the complexities of her relationship with her father and something far deeper ……. that explains her unreliable narrative .Filled with secrets,lies and internet conspiracies this complex story is brilliantly written with a depth and intrigue that made it impossible to put down and like every reader there is a similar real life event that has stayed with me (Dunblane) so be warned this is not going to be an easy read.
With thanks to Netgalley,Abigail Dean and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, Hemlock Press for my chance to read and review this book.

Wow. What a book.
A story about a school shooting and the effects the aftermath have on a small town in the beautiful setting of the Lake District. It’s full of lies, secrets and conspiracy.
It’s sensitively written. I enjoy the way the author writes, and with well developed characters. The story is told through multiple POV’s, but mainly Marty and Trent and is over different timelines too. This kept me hooked, I couldn’t put it down. I loved the twists and turns and the rollercoaster of emotions as you read.
A brilliant suspenseful gripping book.I thoroughly enjoyed it. Definitely recommend.
With thanks to #NetGallery #HarperCollinsUK @HarperFiction for an arc of #OneDay in exchange for a honest review.
Book publishes 28 March 2024.

A heart breaking read when you realise what is going to happen. The story evolves with the characters in the story, especially Martha whose mother is affected. It makes you want to keep reading to find out the final outcome. Would thoroughly recommend.

I have been reading this book for quite a while now. I am 70% in and about to give up. I personally love some of the story and the different reactions, however I just find it too slow and it is difficult to keep track of all the different viewpoints, timescales and remembering who is who.
Well done to the author for keeping track of everything but sadly it was a little overdone for me.