Day One centres on a primary school shooting and the aftermath. It looks at the horrific events through the different perspectives of those involved including some people who do not believe it happened at all. Possibly due to the sensitive way the subject is approached and the number of characters involved, the book is quite slow paced. I have read many thriller novels involving murder etc, but found this book quite difficult to read and questioned whether this subject is suitable for entertainment purposes.

Thank you Netgalley, Abigail Dean and Harpercollins Audio for the audio Arc of Day One.
Narrated by Emma Atkins; Sarah Durham

I really enjoyed Abigail Deans style of writing. This narrative starts when a gunman opens fire at a school in Stonemere primary school. The village are stunned as so is the nation and try to come to terms with what happened as the day unfold.

What intrigued me with this storyline is the villagers recounting the events of that day, while trying to combat the truthers, These Truthers feel that the events didn't happen and the dead are only actors. By collecting all the perspectives of what happened leading up to that dreadful day are we forced to look beyond the storyline as we listen to this reverse thriller.

I felt that Abigail handed this very triggering subject very sensitively. All across the world, most countries have experienced this sort of crime and how it affects not just the immediate people but worldwide. It's also interesting how these truthers ( they appear with any event) can influence peoples perception of events.

I would say that the narrative as a whole is a slow burn, I felt that it needed to be to gather the information and character build. It definitely sits with you for a bit one you have read/listened to this.

The narrators Emma Atkins; Sarah Durham did a great job to build the emotions, the atmosphere, dread with their lovely voices.

4 star

This is a really engaging book and quite different from any I have read before. While it deals with the aftermath of a dreadful event, the perspectives are not typical There is the impact on bereaved families but it also focuses on "deniers" - how they get sucked in and the effect they have on the families. I really enjoyed it and it is a book which will stay with me for some time.

I feel like this book should have been a better story than it turned out to be. there was much potential but I must admit that I got bored with what I felt were inconsistencies. There were times when i felt that the police just wouldn't have acted as they did eg ignoring the account of a would be key witness. The bit I know about police investigation, they are interested in every little scrap of information. I also believe that as humans, we are more resilient than some of the characters here. I found that I just didn't get behind any of them. Good idea for a tale but for me, it just didn't hit the mark.

Thank you for the Audiobook ARC!

Abigail Dean is an incredibly skilled and talented writer. Her prose is exquisite. Girl A is one of my favourite books of the past few years, so I had extremely high hopes for Day One. While I enjoyed the read, however, I ended up disappointed.

Day One tells the story of the Stonesmere massacre, in which a disgruntled psychopath shot up a primary school in a small British town. We hear the story from Marty—the daughter of one of the teachers who was killed—and Trent—a young man who becomes obsessed with what he sees as inconsistencies in the events and joins up with "Truthers" who believe it was all a hoax, and various other people involved in the tragedy. Due to the subject matter, it's a harrowing read, although Dean never crosses into sensationalism or exploitation. There's no graphic violence, none needed for the novel to make its points.

My main issue was Marty. She has no personality, and given her sections are told in first person, where the reader is inside her thought process, this made her sections feel dry and uninvolving. We're frequently told that she was the town's golden girl. People see her as arrogant and full of herself, but it's a mystery as to why as she never exhibits that kind of behaviour. I couldn't tell you much about her. Facts, yes: she's an athlete, she's relatively popular. But the book reveals very little detail about her otherwise. She wasn't interesting, so her sections weren't interesting. She didn't feel like a real, fleshed out person, just a cypher responding to evens around her. The narrative tension of the novel rests almost entirely on Marty holding back vital information from the reader, which was irritating, and added to her inscrutability. I never understood why she held back the truth for so long. She didn't feel real or interesting to me and I couldn't empathise with her.

I empathised a lot more with Trent, disturbingly. He read to me as a possibly neurodivergent outsider. And despite his horrible actions, I felt for him. Still—I don't think the book made his choices believable enough. Or the rest of the Truthers. What was Susan's motivation for being so convinced the shooting had been a hoax? How did they maintain their delusion in the face of concrete evidence and actual human beings who'd suffered enormous tragedies? Why did they care so much about these strangers? What was their evidence? They were mentally ill, I get that. But there needed to be a lot more detail provided for it to be believable that any of them would go as far as they did.

I was also frustrated by the lack of visual descriptions of the characters. I have no idea what colour Marty's hair was or what she looked like, what Trent looked like outside the "geek" stereotype assumptions applied to him. I always find it bizarre when writers hold that kind of information back. It made it hard for me to visualise a lot of the scenes.

There's very little plot, other than the slow reveal of previously withheld information. The ending was satisfying, nevertheless, and I was relieved it didn't dissolve into violence. The final scene was devastating, but I felt a little emotionally manipulated, because of course it was.

Ultimately, after Girl A, I'd hoped for more. I think it could have been a brilliant novel, but it needs more fleshing out into the characters' psychology.

Another dark and addictive read from Abigail Dean, which reminded me a little of elements of Three Hours and We Need To Talk About Kevin.

The book begins with an absolutely devastating scenario, and then goes in a totally unexpected direction. I never know quite where to place these books, as we’re exploring the impact of a traumatic crime on the characters, rather than trying to work out who did it or sitting on tenterhooks waiting for something terrible to happen - it’s so different to other suspense novels, but really delves deep into the psychology and after effects.

Obviously there is an element of mystery and drama to it, as we have this battle between the awful “truthers” and the people of Stonesmere - in particular with Marty and Trent as he unravels the truth of where she was on the day it all happened. I felt so much rage at these people who could look at another person’s tragedy and insist it never happened - you’ll definitely feel a lot of emotions reading this!

Whilst I do think the ending could’ve been a bit more exciting, as I kept waiting for something more to happen, I still found this a really compelling and fascinating story, unlike anything I’d read before!

On Day One, a small village is ripped apart by a horrifying shooting at a local school. The first people on the scene are told by a beloved teachers daughter,Marty, that she saw her mother die protecting her students. But her story doesn't quite add up, and soon, Internet conspiracy theorists start their whispers of cover ups and faked tragedies. As a town reels and should be able to pull together distrust and paranoia infests instead.

This is a really engrossing story that shouldn't feel impossible but sadly really doesn't. There are too many keyboard warriors sat safely at home throwing around accusations. That's bad enough, but there are a few who feel entitled to harass mourning families. This is the main theme of this novel with flashbacks to the shooting and the buildup to it. These are sensitively handled and written extremely well.

The narrators of the audiobook are excellent. Sarah Durham is a well established reader who can always be relied on. Nigel Pilkington and Emma Atkins are new to me but also add so much to the reading experience.

It is a great story, sometimes shocking, often sad.

Anyone who read Girl A would be sprinting to Waterstones to grab this beaut, so well written, her writing style is just perfection, a loved the thrill ride of this murky lil number, kinda reminded me of The Push and also We Need to Talk About Kevin in parts

Left me guessing right thru nd a like it when books are pitched at a level where ya mite be able to have a good stab, but not always get the ending right, it’s tricky to get that balance but she does it so well. The did she, didn’t she had me uber focused

A loved the Welsh setting, av also just read A Terrible Kindness so feel like av learnt a bit as well as smashing two good books

A did it on audio and the narrator is perfectly matched, a unique twisty thriller that got gobbled up in literally 3 days, nd a wudda done it in one go if a hadn’t been working, am poised on the edge of me settee for the next

Smashing read, defo recommend

#oneday #thriller #bookstagram

I really enjoyed this book which was written in such a sympathetic and respectful way as it looks as sensitive topics. I loved the way the story unfolded and written from different accounts and multiple timelines created tension and mystery. I would definitely recommend.

I requested this title for audio review, not realising I’d read the ebook recently. However, the audio version has added a whole new dimension to the book and I’ve no hesitation in recommending the audio title. I’m usually quite hardened to thrillers but I found this really chilling. So much so that listening to it in the early hours, I turned it off as I began to find the tension and threat in the story quite unsettling.

This is a truly tense thriller. Clever plotting and relatable characters. Loved the book and the narrated version is, in my view, even better.

When a gunman opens fire in the Stonemere village primary school, the community and indeed the nation become embroiled in the quest to understand the true events of the day.

While the community's loyalties are tested, as they seek to find the truth and recover from that shocking day. They must stand together to fight the social media lies spread by the Truthers...who cruelly claim that the massacre didn't happen and the dead were just actors.

Following a number of those impacted by the atrocity, in the lead up to and aftermath of the Day One massacre. We're encouraged to look beyond the initial story to determine the truth in this reverse crime thriller.

One of those thrillers that I sadly failed to appreciate.

Thanks HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction , Hemlock Press for the ARC and HarperCollins UK Audio and NetGalley for the audiobook in exchange of an honest review.

Day One had a brilliant premise and a great setting in the small idyllic town of Stonesmere. I am not sure if it's the audio, but the initial part didn't grab me as I expected it to, although it was a high octane scene where a gunman ends up killing teachers and students during the school's flagship play being acted out.

The timelines in the alternating narratives were a bit confusing as I found it hard to shift between the character POVs and the day of the Day One play. Also, there were quite a few characters that get introduced and it was tough to keep track of them and interpret who was who.

In my view, the threads with the conspiracy theorists and the debate with the truthers didn't add much value to the plot and resulted in me losing interest as the book progressed.

The other major issue for me was that I couldn't connect or get invested in any of the characters, be it Marty, Larkin or Trent. This is very important in my view, as my enjoyment depends on how much I care about the characters and how much I feel a part of the storyline.

Unfortunately, I couldn't form a coherent visualisation of the reason behind the shooting, the connection of the gun man with the characters. The what and the whys felt unreasonable and immaterial towards the end.

I am sure other readers would still enjoy this, but it was just not for me.

Having LOVED Girl A, I counted myself very lucky when my NetGalley request for the audioARC of Day One was approved.

Given that a school shooting is at the heart of the novel, I was slightly wary, but I trusted that Dean would be more interested in the impact of the incident on the small community in which it took place than in the shooter himself. My trust was not misplaced, and Day One delivers my favourite kind of fiction - an examination of what happens to people who survive a crime.

In this case, we have Marty, whose schoolteacher mother dies with her class, and who is sure that she died saving them. We also meet other survivors, like Samuel, who suffered life-changing injuries, and, of course, Marty's Dad, who is as shocked as we readers are to discover early on in the book that somehow it was his gun that was stolen and used in the crime.

There is also an interesting narrative that accompanies Trent Casey, a young man who gets swept up with a group of cynics fervent to prove that Marty and her village are lying and that no school shooting ever took place.

Can Marty recover from the events leading up to the shooting, from her survivor guilt, and from the persecution she and the community face from the "Truthers" who fail to see them as the grieving families they are? Can she live up to her mother's image of her as someone who will live a good and wonderful life?

In leaving us with this question, Dean performs the magic of moving our attention away from the gunman and his motivations to the heart of the village his terrible actions impact. It's a rare trick, to move us from the loud to the quiet; from the quick drama to the longterm effects, but Dean manages it with aplomb.

She also manages to leave us with hope, on a summer day reminiscent of Mary Oliver's poem:
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?"

In short: I loved this book and, having listened to the audioARC, am off to buy a copy of the hardback so I can read it slowly and really take it all in.

Three Word Review: Marty's wild life.

A gripping story about a school shooting, told from the POV of many of the people who were there, both at the time it happened and afterwards. The thing I like most about Abigail Dean's books, both Girl A and Day One, is that she really puts you into the shoes of the characters, so you can see and experience the traumatic events in the story through their own eyes and really come to understand their actions and how they came to be this way. This can be confusing at first because the characters don't know the whole story, and in this book it takes many different perspectives to piece together everything that happened but it is well worth the wait.

Nigel Pilkington, Emma Atkins and Sarah Durham did a fantastic job of narrating the audiobook, I could really feel the emotions all the characters were going through. It was a bit difficult to follow the story by only listening to the audiobook, because there are some parts where I wanted to go back and reread a previous chapter, but luckily I was able to get a copy of the ebook as well and with both it was a fantastic reading experience.

I loved the way this was written, following each of the characters after the tragedy, and skipping back to their version of Day One, later on reflecting on how that day shaped their future. It's also a thought-provoking read on the origins of and obsessions with conspiracy theories. Easily read, and thoroughly addictive.

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.

The book's adept use of shifting timelines adds a captivating layer of complexity to the narrative. Seamlessly transitioning between past and present, the story unfolds in a non-linear fashion, keeping readers on their toes as they navigate through the interconnected events.

This dynamic storytelling technique enhances the depth and richness of the plot, allowing readers to piece together the puzzle of the characters' lives and motivations. By weaving between different moments in time, the author creates a sense of anticipation and intrigue, compelling readers to delve deeper into the story.

The back-and-forth between past and present not only provides a deeper understanding of the characters and their experiences but also adds a sense of tension and suspense to the narrative. It's a refreshing approach that keeps the story engaging and leaves readers eagerly turning the pages to uncover the next twist or revelation.

Overall, the seamless integration of multiple timelines makes for a compelling reading experience. It's a testament to the author's skillful storytelling ability, providing readers with a thought-provoking journey through time and memory.

Wow! Just wow!
I have just finished list to this audiobook, my 1st from this author. It is beautifully written, with believable, relatable characters.

Day One is the annual performance held at the local primary school in Stonesmere. This performance has been a tradition for many years. The older children in the school, welcoming the newest pupils to join the school the following September. On this particular Day One the teacher is Mrs Ava Ward, with her class the main act. However this Day One does not go to plan. A gun man enters the school and the tragedy that follows is horrific. Small children left for dead, families broken and children and parents left injured and terrified.

Everyone remembers something different from the day, their recollections depending upon where exactly they were when the incident happens. This results in some memnof the public believing this tragedy never act happened. These conspiracy theorists led on by things they read and hear online.

In this story we hear Ava’s version of events as it occurs, her daughter Martha’s experiences during and after. The versions of several people affected and that of one particular conspiracy theorist Trent, who knew the shooter when he was younger and struggles to Belle could do something so horrific, led on by others he investigates and reacts to what is happening.

This story is told from Day One and continues over the next 8 years in small snippets. Chapters from the main characters at different points of those years.

I felt so many emowhen listening to this, the characters felt so realistic and relatable.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this title. I am keen to explore more from this author

Thank you to Harper Collins UK Audio and NetGalley for my audiobook of Day One by Abigail Dean.

I literally couldn’t do anything else but listen to this book it had me enthralled from the very first chapter.

There are multiple timelines which all lead back to Day One, which is the name of the event where a horrific school shooting takes place.

Abigail Dean has created a complex cast of characters with backstory’s which add depth. Some characters you were rooting for and some you were hoping for their downfall. This story is told from multiple perspectives and as the story progresses you see how they are all interlinked.

There are 3 Narrators - Emma Atkins. Sarah Durham and Nigel Pilkington. I unfortunately found it difficult to connect with Nigel as a narrator however as the story developed I understood why and it was probably due to the character they were narrating.

I know this is one that will stay with me. You’ll enjoy this if you like complex characters, slow burn storytelling and intense stories.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6359624519

Day One, a day that a school shooting happened at Stonesmere at a primary school. Opening with the horrific events that aren’t easy to read or listen to. We hear the story of the people of the town, the survivors and the people that believe the whole 5ing is a conspiracy.

The narrators were fantastic, making the characters easy to recognise and there are many. I listened to this over a few days and each time I pressed play I was completely lost in the story.

This is an emotional story, so many senseless deaths. I was also shaking my head at some of the characters opinions on other characters and events. How easily people can be manipulated.

Thanks so much to Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. Published on March 28th.