This was a moving novel about a couple who really loved each other, but after a dreadful home invasion attack, whether their love and marriage can survive. This was clever, with careful psychological examination of what crimes like this destroy and how they affect not only the victims, but others involved in the case too. I connected with the characters and found the journey they went very believable and authentic. I think Dean's focus on victims of crime in her novels make her books really stand out from the crowd and this is possibly the best of her work I've read so far. A compelling, moving read.
This honest review is given with thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

Oh My Days, this book takes the serial killer theme and puts it in a different light. We start in the present where former husband and wife, Edward and Isabel, are reunited for a very horrible reason. To give their victim impact statements at the sentencing of the serial killer who targeted them in their home decades ago. An event that was both harrowing to them at the time but which was also the catalyst for their eventual break up, and divorce.
The main theme for this book is the relationship between Edward and Isabel. This is told both in the past and the present with the timelines alternating seamlessly adding colour and clarity to each other as they progress. We watch their relationship start, blossom, get interrupted by the heinous crime, flounder, fail, and then when they meet again for the sentencing, we watch them together again.
It's very much a character driven novel, with Edward and Isabel standing out as two of the best characters I have met in a while. But, as well as these two main characters, there are a few other interesting ones herein. Mainly I am talking about other victims and what happened to them and how it affected them, in very different ways to Edward and Isabel, but also the officer in charge of the investigation and how she desperately tried to bring the killer to justice deserves more than just a cursory mention.
Obviously given the themes in this book, it's going to be a bit of an intense ride. But the author never glorifies the violence herein, I always felt safe in her hands. It's well balanced with lighter moments to offset the heavier ones so it doesn't get too dark overall.
Also due to the nature of the book and what happens, it's not a fast paced read. Its can't be. That wouldn't work. It's traumatic and raw and, given the time span between crime and punishment, the author would be doing the characters a disservice if she whizzed through it all.
All in all, a cracking addition to what is shaping up to be a well impressive back catalogue, all of which I can also recommend. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

The Death of Us is both brilliant and horrifying. Isabel and Edward were subject to a serial home invader in their 30s. Now in their 50s, he's finally been caught and the case is about to go to court. We hear the details through Edward talking about the events both then and now, as well as Isabel's viewpoint through a statement she intends to read to the perpetrator, and written like a letter to him. The event destroyed their lives and blew apart their marriage. For the families that followed Isabel and Edward, it wasn't just a prolonged and violent sexual assault, but murder as well, and we get to hear what it did to those people through Isabel and Edward's viewpoints as well as the victim statements in court.

Just like Abigail Dean's previous book, Day One, it focusses on the impact that a life changing event has on the characters. You both want to keep reading to find out what really happened, for example what did the attacker do to subdue Edward while Isabel was being attacked, and not really wanting to know the details of everything that happened as it's likely harrowing.

To summarise, it's awful (in a brilliant way), harrowing, terrifying and will stay with you for a long time afterwards.

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins for a free ARC in return for an honest review.

The Death of Us is a striking novel that continues Dean’s exploration of complex themes throughout her work in the lens of true crime.

I really love the way Dean explores the impact of trauma in her work. This was no exception with a nuanced and emotionally fraught look at the continuing impact of a horrific crime on two people. It asks difficult questions about justice, closure and vengeance with a focus on the exploitative nature that the true crime industry can sometimes have. There is such sensationalism about this case, rather than looking at the tragedy and the impact on those involved. The tone throughout is nuanced and deeply human, fractured in its messiness and therefore that much more authentic. It treads carefully but honestly, depicting trauma without gratuity. Dean makes the reader complicit in this at times but keeps the focus always on Edward and Isabel.

This is very much a character-driven narrative with these two distinct voices coming to the fore. I loved the way Dean played with the timelines here as well, slowing putting together the jigsaw pieces of their relationship and where it brought them to today. The framing device of the court case served as a stark reminder of the devastation of the case, contrasted by the deep-seated love between the two of them. It is incredibly tragic as you read the joyful start of their relationship when you know what is looming on the horizon for them. Without giving anything away, there are some stylistic choices that Dean makes that heightens this further and adds new layers to the already composite story.

The Death of Us is a multifaceted and considered narrative about the invisible scars we carry with us, love and family.

The Death Of Us captured e from start to finish!!
The book is about two people, madly in love, married, comfortable until an event changes them forever. When Isobel and Edward meet through a friend they are instantly drawn together but Edward already has a girlfriend. They phone each other almost nightly and meet up for days out. Eventually they get together and everything is near perfect until the South London Invader chooses them next. What follows is an awful attack and here is where their marriage splinters. Years later the Invader is caught and brought to trial and they are each to read a victim impact statement. Will this bring them back together or rip them further apart?
This book got to me in ways I didn’t think it would do. The way it is set out brings out the best of the storyline and the characters. I liked how raw their feelings were and by having their own chapters you got to really know them and what they were thinking and not saying. It is an emotional read and made me want to be able to bang their heads together to avoid all the heart ache. The different types of characters also helped this book and there were some real likeable ones. I can’t wait to see what this author writes next!
I would like to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins, HarperFiction, Hemlock Press for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

The Death of Us is a haunting and tragic novel. It's a slow burner that tells of the aftermath and effects of a home invasion 20 years ago. 'The South London Invader' has thanks to modern technology now been caught and the book revolves around victims Edward and Isobel as they prepare for court to give their witness statements. As we read of their lives in the intervening years you can't help but sympathise and rage with them as their story unfolds. Definitely not an easy read but one I'm glad that I did. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an early e-copy.

Wow! This book pulled me in to the story from page one, an emotional, heart breaking and a thought provoking read.
When Isabel and Edward first meet through a mutual friend, they are drawn to one another, though Edward already has a girlfriend.
The two talk on the phone regularly and meet for outings, they are meant to be together, Isabel can feel it, she thinks about Edward constantly.
They have been happily married a number of years when the South London Invader chooses them, enters their home, this violent assault is not only devastating for them both, it rips their marriage apart. Edward can’t speak of it, Isabel wants him to ask her questions, but he remains silent. Can their marriage survive the trauma?
Years later the South London Invader has been caught, they are attending his trial, they have been given the opportunity to read a victim impact statement.
The story tells of the impact the assault has had on their lives, how they have both been affected differently, you can feel Isabel’s pain as she is curled up on the bedroom floor, face down night after night. It’s a raw story, very well written, the reader can feel the tension and hurts that grow between the couple. In their pain they loss each other, but the trial throws them together again and there is hope of a new chapter.
This book will be in my top reads for 2025.
Many thanks to Net Galley and Harper Collins UK for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review. This is my third book by Abigail Dean.

As always Abigail Dean always manages to keep me captivated all the way through, this book was a very poignant and powerful read.

I devoured Abigail Dean’s two previous novels, ‘Girl A’ and ‘Day One’, so could not believe my luck when I was gifted a free digital ARC of ‘The Death of Us’ to review for NetGalley. Thank you to the publishers too! My review is what follows.
As in her other novels, Dean meticulously charts a modern household, that of professional married couple Isabel and Edward. Successful and happily settled in South London, their contentedness is shattered when they become the victims of a brutal attacker in their own home. In the aftermath, Edward, whose timeline is in the present tense, bottles up his traumatic experiences whereas Isabel, whose points of view are delivered via victim impact statements, is keen to relive, talk about, and make sense of her trauma. Sadly, their marriage does not survive – but when Isabel and Edward meet again at the sentencing of their attacker several years later, will they be able to forge a new relationship and to finally heal the past? Slower in pace than Dean’s previous novels, this is nevertheless a book that provides lots of food for thought.

Girl A by Abigail D blew me away, so I had high expectations for her new book The Death of Us. It's a psychological thriller that centres on Isabel and Edward, a couple in love whose lives are torn apart one night by the invasion of a serial killer.

The story is told from the perspective of the characters in the current day, as they gather together to relive that nightmare as their attacker has been caught and is on trial. But as they build courage to face their assailant as witnesses in the dock, they must also face their own demons from the past as they finally share the truths of what happened that night and deal with the breakdown that happened after that fateful night.

The synopsis of the book reads, "This is a story of murder. This is a story of survival. But most of all, this is a story of love." This is a very apt description of The Death of Us, a slow-burn suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the e-ARC.

Second book I have read by Abigail Dean. For me it lacked a decent storyline and did not really grip me which is sad for a new author. Perhaps she might read some Peter James and Jeffrey Archer books and see how they include a lot of content and grip the reader. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

My thanks to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Death of Us’ written by Abigail Dean in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Isabel and Edward are at home when a serial killer breaks in and damages their lives forever. Some years later their serial killer is caught and identified as ‘The South London Invader’, a seventy-year-old retired police officer called Nigel Wood living in Dorset. Isabel and Edward are brought together again to attend Court on sentencing to give their victim statements.

‘The Death of Us’ is a dark and sometimes distressing novel of two people whose lives are irrevocably changed by a man who remains free for the next thirty years, as it charts the effect the trauma had on them. Although well-written, it’s a slow burn that at times is confusing as to the identity of the narrator who’s speaking. It’s a depressing though thought-provoking novel not helped by my not empathising with the characters, and I’m most likely in the minority with this when I say that the story didn’t work for me. I struggled to get involved but this is my own personal opinion and I don’t want to discourage anyone from reading it.

Written from the viewpoints of the main characters, Isabel and Edward, and with a dual timeline I found this totally gripping. There was a man terrorising the residents of South London and Isabel and Edward were two of his victims. This goes between how they met, the horrific incident that they were subjected to and the trial of the perpetrator. I found this to be a really interesting read that made me think about human nature and how people can experience the same trauma but deal with it so differently. This is so cleverly written and the way the main characters develop alongside the interactions they have with each other and others. Although it jumps back and forth it is easy to follow and I consumed this in one day. Thank you to Harper Collins and Netgalley for the ARC. I highly recommend reading this along with Abigail Dean’s other books.

From the synopsis, you kind of know that this is going to be a tough read as far as the content is concerned. One night that changed the lives of those involved.

The author frequently flits back and forth between the main characters and also in time. This is done very well, and I didn't have any issues with this at all. The characters tell their version of events, and this gives the reader access to the bigger picture, as all perspectives are covered and the emotions of each person are conveyed well.

The event of the night had a profound impact and continued to have lasting effects long after. It is only when the characters are in the present that they finally reveal what happened, what they felt and how they feel. The author does not go into details about the crime, but infers what took place. Having this revealed at trial means that they have to relive the experience. The way the victims have changed over the course of that night and to the trial shows how traumatic the event was and that PTSD is an ever-present shadow.

This is a very addictive book. I did enjoy reading it, but there was something that I couldn't quite connect to. I think it was the characters as they are understandably cut off, not emotionless, but cold. It is hard to explain.

This is one for those who like the tougher crime thriller genres, it is a very good book and one I would be happy to recommend.

That spring night in South London, when Isabel and Edward’s lives were torn apart.
The night Isabel learned that the worst things wait, just outside the door.
The night Edward learned that he was powerless to stop them.

This is a great read which I found a little confusing to start with but the quality of the writing shone through. The characters are real and likeable. The description of feelings is superb as is the way the story moves forward.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Fiction for an early copy to enjoy. After Abigails first debut book I was really looking forward to reading this! Her writing style is amazing and this book is about a deep and harrowing event of many years ago that tore a couple apart buy it didn't grip me like her first book. It was a slow burn that the light kept going out, I have to say but I did finish it. Not on the same level as her debut! 3*

It’s the story everyone wants to hear.

That spring night in South London, when Isabel and Edward’s lives were torn apart.

The night Isabel learned that the worst things wait, just outside the door.

The night Edward learned that he was powerless to stop them.

The night they never talk about.

When their attacker is caught, it's finally time to tell the story of that night.

Not to the world. Or to the man who did it. But to each other.

This is a story of murder. This is a story of survival. But most of all, this is a story of love.

The Death of Us is incredibly gripping, and beautifully written. A must read.

The Death of Us by Abigail Dean is an emotional crime thriller that will unfold the impact of crime on a marriage and emotional wellbeing.
It's different and usually, I like different but not this time. The writing style wasn't for me. The story was slow and I kept drifting away. Then there were some really good chapters and I got so excited but it didn't last for long and I was drifting away again.

The story of Isabel and Edward was so beautiful. It was sad to witness the dark cloud over their happiness when one day changed everything. The day their home was invaded by a serial killer. Now they must live with this trauma forever.

This will be a perfect read for readers who love deep and emotional slow burns.

Thank you, NetGalley for this copy :)

After a long, long police investigation following some of the most shocking crimes, the South London Invader has finally been caught. Now an elderly man in poor health, it’s hard to reconcile him with the evil monster who did irreparable damage to his victims.

This book follows the lives of Edward and Isabel, now in their fifties, from their first meeting at nineteen years old, right up to their days in court for the case of Nigel Wood, aka the South London Invader, twenty five years after the night he appeared in their bedroom.

Isabel’s POV is more or less chronological from her resurface into society after her troubled teens, through to facing her rapist and tormenter, Nigel Wood, on the stand. Edward’s POV is his current life and how the ordeal that he and Isabel, along with many other victims, has affected him and his relationships.

My goodness this author knows how to write about hard (terrifying!) subjects and certainly doesn’t avoid the human capacity for brutality and evil.

Another first class book, well written with the undercurrent of terror bubbling away constantly. Dark and deeply disturbing, this is not a story for the faint hearted.

A considered read, not a book to be rushed, and though at times it was very slow, every nuance is delivered with empathy and compassion.

A worthy read.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins UK.

I can’t honestly say I enjoyed this book but it did give me food for thought. We don’t give much thought to the ongoing effects of people who are subjected to horrific deeds - in truth whose lives are ruined by some awful excuse for a human being.
So many relationships lack communication but none more so than those who need it most. I don’t know if the author has been through something like this herself or if she has just researched the topic extremely well but either way it certainly seemed very authentic.
I just can’t give it five stars because I read for pleasure and this wasn’t a pleasurable read. It felt like non-fiction.

As always my thanks go to the author, the publishers and to NetGalley for an advanced e.copy of this book.