The Death of Us by Abigail Dean is a hauntingly compelling exploration of family, trauma, and the secrets we carry with us. While it took me a little time to settle into the narrative, once I did, I was absolutely hooked. Dean’s writing is striking in its depth and emotional resonance, making it difficult not to get fully immersed in the story.

The novel follows the complex dynamics of a family torn apart by tragedy. The way Dean weaves the characters’ individual struggles with their collective history is nothing short of masterful. Her prose is thoughtful and evocative, allowing the emotional weight of each scene to unfold gradually, but powerfully. As the characters' pasts and secrets are slowly revealed, the tension builds, making it hard to put the book down.

What stands out most in The Death of Us is Dean’s ability to capture the nuances of grief and guilt. The pacing, while initially slow, ultimately serves the story well, building a strong foundation before diving into the emotional chaos that unfolds. It's a book that requires patience at first, but once the layers begin to peel away, the payoff is more than worth it.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the ARC

The Death of Us by Abigail Dean is one of the most gripping and emotionally charged novels that I have read in a while. The story delves into the aftermath of a traumatic event and its long-lasting impact on the lives of those involved. with Isabel and Edward, at its centre, Their lives are forever changed by a violent encounter one fateful night in South London. The novel is primarily written in the form of dialogue, which is almost conversational as both Isabel and Edward put their thoughts forward but also Isabel 'speaks' to the man who altered their lives.

The book masterfully explores the psychological and emotional consequences of that night, not only on Isabel and Edward but also on other victims, the police handling the investigation, and their friends and family. The narrative is heart-wrenching as it delves into the ripple effects of trauma and the struggle for justice and closure.

Abigail Dean's writing is both poignant and powerful, capturing the raw emotions and complexities of the characters' experiences. The novel's structure, adds a unique and intimate perspective to the story, making it an engaging and thought-provoking read.

The Death of Us is a compelling and deeply moving novel that left me reflecting on the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring impact of trauma. If you were hooked by the synopsis, you're likely to find the book just as captivating and emotionally resonant.

As always with this author both the plot and the narrative are very original and the book itself hard to categorise. I did find it took me a while to connect with it but I’m so glad I stuck with it. Isobel is now in her 50’s, a successful writer and seemingly lives life to the full, despite a historic rape. Edward, her close friend and ex husband for the majority of her life was in the house at the same time but unable to prevent the assault. Told in dual POV, those of Isobel and Edwards and in multiple timeline.

Briefly, we first meet Isobel as she is writing out a Victim Impact Statement preparing for the sentencing of the man who assaulted and raped her some 30 odd years earlier. The assailant has only recently been identified and has pleaded guilty to 9 murders and numerous rapes including that of Isobel. So, as Isobel sets out her statement her voice tells the story of Edwards and her lives and those of their close friends particularly Freddie (Uni friend of Edward), Nina (9 years old when her parents were murdered by the same person) and Etta (detective originally handed the job of tracking the killer down).

It is a story of love and sorrow and the callous indifference of the attacker. How the author wrote the story in the form of Isobel’s thought as she writes her impact statement and considers how the perpetrators actions affect his victims and their families amazed me. A clever, dark and emotional read and a remarkable book!

I really enjoyed the authors previous book ‘Day One’. So, I was grateful to receive a copy of Abigail latest novel ‘The death of us.’
The story follows the aftermath of a home invasion, where the perpetrator is now on trial, and they find out that he is a serial killer. The story includes of the couple who was involved in the invasion and how they coped afterwards.
I found this book to be really, really slow for me personally and unfortunately after reading this. This wasn’t for me. Because of the slowness I couldn’t connect to the characters at all and for me found the story quite boring in parts and I also thought it was quite bleak. I couldn’t wait for it to end. 2 stars from me.

Ok, so this is my favourite Abigail Dean book so far.

After a tricky start, I was struggling with it - it became an absolute fantastic read that I couldn’t put down.

Told from the view point of Isobel, but more in the form of a letter to her abuser.
Isobel and Edward are a happy successful couple living in London, when the notorious house invader breaks into their home and holds them hostage torturously for over 5hrs.
The story flips to them pre, during and post home invasion.
If you know the story of the BTK killer in America, the perpetrator is very similar here, but equally as terrifying.
You learn early on that he has been charged and awaiting sentencing - the plot of the story is about Isobel’s thoughts on how her impact statement should read… how her life was before, and the detrimental effects the home invasion had on her and Edward’s life, those around them, the other victims. Isobel pens her statement directly to him, but this comes in the form of their life story. It’s brilliant.

Abigail Dean writes with such elegance, you feel the emotion, the trepidation, the anger. Such a tough topic to write, but wonderfully done.

Thank you Netgalley for my ARC, in return for an honest review!

The Death of Us is about the impact some actions may have on our personal lives. Even though I couldn't connect with the story and the characters as much as I expected to, I can appreciate the writing style and the work behind the book.
Thank you for the opportunity to read the book.

I really enjoyed the unique way in which this story was told, it really captures you and helps you feel what the characters were feeling. The story is heartbreakingly sad but also a story of overcoming, of surviving against all odds. I couldn’t stop reading.

Thanks to Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for ARC.

Wow. What a triumph. I would say Dean is at the top of her game but I suspect she has more to give over the course of her career.
The plot is simple enough - victims of a serial criminal gather to give victim statements at his sentencing hearing. So from the outset we know this person is guilty, and over the course of this powerful, often harrowing but always beautifully crafted novel we hear not just what the crimes are but the effect on several of those victims, centring on one now-estranged couple but expanding much wider to that. That this ends on such a hopeful note is simply astonishing.

Abigail Dean writes very different very challenging books and The Death of Us is no exception. Isabel and Edward were the victims of an horrific attack which affected their whole lives especially as their assailant was not captured for over 25 years and was prolific during that time. The narrative tells the story of their life. It jumps about from them meeting as teenagers to them attending their assailant's trial. It details the ongoing and sometimes tragic effects the assaults had on the lives of all those affected. It's not an easy read but it is worth persevering with as most good books are.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Abigail Dean does visceral and uncomfortable scenarios really well. Her books are always original in their plot and ‘The Death of Us’ is no different to her previous best sellers. A serial killer is on the lose and his awful crimes transect with our protagonists Isabel and Edward. Their lives change but this novel takes a unique approach with the narrative addressed to the perpetrator. Ultimately it is a story of survival and love but it’s a hard read. Shocking and beautiful in equal measures.

Unfortunately I didn’t gel with the characters, possibly because I have, thankfully, never been in the same situation as Isobel or Edward.
I can appreciate that an awful lot of work has been put into writing this book, but for me, I thought it was a little disjointed and bleak. Obviously it’s not a laugh a minute type of story, but I was optimistic that there would be some kind of hope for the couple.

Isabel and Edward are a married couple in their mid thirties living in London.
They’ve had their ups and downs but love each other deeply.
In 2001, The South London Invader breaks into their home and shatters their world.
But the book begins some 25 years later after he has finally been caught. Many of his victims are in court to ensure justice is done and to read their impact statements out to everyone.
Isabel and Edward transport us back and forth from the past to the present and we discover how they have tried to survive the aftermath of that horrific night.
Brutal, poweful and raw, I couldn’t put this book down and the words blurred on the pages through my tears. It’s about bravery, fragility, anger but above all, love.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I have enjoyed Abigail Dean's previous two novels very much and was delighted to be offered the opportunity to read The Death Of Us. Isabel and Edward are a normal couple living in London when they are attacked in their home by a man known as the South London Invader, who has already 'invaded' other homes and terrorised the occupants living there. The book is written from the perspective of Isabel in the first person, addressing the 'invader' himself, and Edward, through the third person thus making him rather distanced from the events. For both of them the trauma of the attack leads to their lives changing forever but redemption comes when the 'invader' finally comes to trial many years later. The novel is well constructed and the characters, particularly Isabel, believable but I did find it slow going at times. It is an unusual psychological drama and well worth reading. Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK/Harper Fiction for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is the third book I’ve read by Abigail Dean and like the others it offers a different perspective to other thrillers. Events unfold gradually and the main character unfolds as we learn what happened to her and her partner Edward. The narrative is addressed to the man who attacked them and is so well written I couldn’t put it down.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Absolutely beautiful read. Like others by the same author, the main ‘event’ draws heavily on a real life case and the real story is how the characters deal with it. Horrible and awful but also real and hopeful.

The Death of Us is the most amazing book I have read in such a long while. So insightful, so loving, so chilling, so real. The aftermath of hideous trauma really does have a ripple effect and affects everyone very differently and Dean addresses this so beautifully, so authentically, a real tearjerker.

A powerful, emotive read detailing the impact a home invasion has on a married couple. The horror of that night is only touched upon briefly but the event has long reaching consequences for Isabel and Edward.
The story starts as the perpetrator faces his sentencing and the couple are asked to present their victim statements. As the story unfolds we hear both sides and the effects this one night had on their future lives.
It's a slow burn novel but don't let this fool you into thinking it's not a good book. You cannot race through this without feeling the trauma. It's raw emotion but touching, it's filled with love. The characters are troubled but this endears them to you more. It's thought provoking and brilliantly written.
I'm grateful to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for the opportunity to read this advanced copy, my opinions are my own and not expected.
I will leave my review on Goodreads, Bookmory, Storygraph and Fable now and on Amazon and Waterstones on publication day

Isabel and Edward were a fairly normal couple until the night they were victims of the South London Invader, a psychopathic murderer and rapist called Nigel Wood. The story is about the aftermath, the other victims, the police, the eventual sentencing and about how everyone involved has to try to rebuild their lives after such a catastrophic event – that’s if they survive.

Alternately, Isabel and Edward recount how they try to live on after the trauma of the attack and how their lives are forever changed by it. They form friendships with the policewoman leading the team investigating cases and some of the other victims while they are hounded by the press. Eventually, advances in DNA matching lead to the capture and sentencing of Wood, an ex-policeman and, apparently, a normal husband and father.

It is the focus on Isabel and, to a lesser extent, Edward which makes the book such a powerful read. The damage done is unravelled slowly and in factual detail, which makes the book both gripping and disturbing. There is no happy ending but there is some kind of dénouement and some hope.

As a novel, it is superbly constructed to keep the tension rolling along while awful events and consequences are quietly unrolled. It’s a stunning read from a maturing novelist!

My wife read this book so this is her review.
In Abigail Dean’s gripping novel The Death of Us, readers are taken on an emotional rollercoaster that is beautifully crafted.
Dean introduces us to a cast of complex, well-developed characters, each with their own secrets and flaws.
Isabel and Edward’s life is left in tatters after a serial killer invades their home. Told in 2 POVs with multiple timelines this psychological thriller slowly draws you in, as they try to navigate how to carry on living together.
The pacing is expertly controlled, keeping readers on edge while allowing moments of introspection and emotional depth. Dean’s ability to build suspense is matched only by her talent for creating deeply moving scenes.
The Death of Us delves into the human psyche, examining the impact of grief, guilt, and the search for meaning in the face of tragedy.
In conclusion, The Death of Us is a testament to Abigail Dean’s extraordinary storytelling skills. It’s a novel that not only captures the imagination but also touches the heart.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for the ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this one wasn’t for me. I think it was the writing style—I found it really slow-paced, and it felt like it took forever to get through. I only kept going because of the great reviews, but despite the interesting premise, the book just missed the mark for me personally.