The Death of Us follows Isabel and Edward in a dual point of view narrative - Isabel recounting past events leading up to the present and Edward’s view on events as they happen. The current day being the former couple attending a hearing for a man who terrorised residents in South London over a number of years.

I was about a tenth of the way through the book when I felt I had a good hold on the narrative and characters and was gripped by the storyline which at times is incredibly moving hearing about the distressing events that the characters suffered.

I really enjoyed the dual pov narrative and the structure of retelling their relationship and the impact the crimes committed had on their relationship. I also think Abigail Dean is a wonderful writer whose word always have such clarity and power. She manages to take horrific crimes, not describe them explicitly, but still make you as a reader feel strong emotions in response to them.

Overall, not quite 5 stars for me - I felt that in the last third of the book, the tension wasn’t sustained and I wasn’t wholly convinced by the need for the Pearson character’s actions in the final third of the story.

Deliciously dark, no one can make a reader quite as uncomfortable as Abigail Dean. I couldn’t put it down as the unapologetically raw characters revealed their life story. One to recommend.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

Just wow

The best Abigail Dean book so far!

A story of undeniable love through an awful event that would destroy anybody.

Edward and Isabel’s love story is through everything and the ending was perfect. This is the side of a crime book you do not usually see!

2025 is bringing the best books!!

A searing and memorable novel about the impact of a rapist invading a couple's home and terrorising them both. It's a remarkable account of the disintegration of a marriage. Edward and Isabel enjoy success in their careers but cannot get beyond the fact that Edward was banished to another room and forced to listen to his wife being repeatedly assaulted over several hours.
The invader went on to become notorious with his MO of watching seemingly happy middle class families, observing their movements and then striking. He moved on to become a murderer.
Edward believes Isabel sees him as a coward. He has never told her what the rapist said to him.
They are reunited for the trial of the murderer, which causes issues with Edward's second wife.
Although the killer is now 70 and not at liberty, things happen which strike terror into the couple again.
The narrative switches between Isabel's first person account, where she often addresses her attacker, and a third party version of Edward's version.
The changing timelines, and flipping backwards and forwards in time, can be distracting, as can Dean's habit of introducing characters who are new to us, without explaining who they are.

Abigail Dean’s novels get better and better. ‘The Death of Us’ could just as easily be called ‘Portrait of a Marriage’ but that title was taken half a century ago! The reader is introduced to Edward and Isobel on the cusp of adulthood. There is an immediate attraction, although they don’t become a couple for a while. They marry in their twenties, embark on highly regarded careers and buy a house in Camberwell. They like nothing more than spending time together; they are a ‘great fit’. Lucky them; so far, so good.
And then, one night, they are subject to an appalling attack. Nothing will be the same ever again.
Abigail Dean’s portrayal of their lives following this tragedy, its reverberations and ongoing repercussions is entirely convincing and beautifully written. ‘The Death of Us’ examines how a couple who seemed to have it all try to navigate their marriage in the aftermath of the crime. The love is undoubtedly there but recklessness, fear and loneliness also become intimate bedfellows in the years ahead. Finally, Edward and Isabel have to learn to live apart.
The South London Invader is eventually brought to trial. Edward and Isabel are reunited in court, face to face with the perpetrator of the trauma which all those decades ago made them who they are now. A thought-provoking, sensitively explored and thoroughly involving read. Highly recommended.
My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, Hemlock Press for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

Abigail Dean specialises in books which, while superficially thrillers, are really more about trauma and about how people cope after they become victims of crime. Her first novel, Girl A, dealt with the long-term trauma of growing up in an abusive family, while last year’s Day One was about the aftermath of a school shooting. Her books are astonishingly good and empathetic, taking care to centre the victims within their own stories.

The Death of Us is no exception to this, being astonishingly good and empathetic once again. In both the courtroom scenes and thematically, it reminded me at times of Apple Tree Yard. It does come with a big trigger warning for rape, something which I usually prefer not to read about, but which was handled with delicacy and care.

I absolutely loved Dean’s previous two books and was excited to receive a ARC of this. I devoured it in a night and was completely caught up with the characters. Dean is the master of psychology and complex characters that are morally grey. This was a gripping tale that had me feeling raw by the end.

An exceptional read. The slow unveiling of the horrendous assault and the destruction of a relationship is just heartbreaking. Hard to read at times but the author brings the characters to life so completely - it’s extraordinarily well written. Highly recommended.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review. I enjoyed Abigail Dean’s previous 2 books and I was excited to read the Death of us. I was thoroughly gripped by this intriguing and thought provoking story. The story is told from 2 perspectives and jumps back and forth in time while remaining easy to follow. The story looks at grief and trauma and how every individual deals differently with it. I found the characters to be strong and inspiring, especially Isabel. A fabulously written story that I will definitely be recommending. 5 stars.

I’ve read and enjoyed the author’s previous novels so was hugely looking forward to reading The Death of Us. It tells the story of Isabel and Edward and how their lives and relationship are impacted when Isabel is attacked during a home invasion. The narrative moves back and forwards over the course of 30 years from when they first met, to the court case when the man charged with multiple crimes is finally on trial.
This is an intense and emotional read, filled with sadness and I found that I was holding my breath throughout it. The author sensitively and insightfully follows the relationship of the couple and shows the impact trauma has on our lives. It’s a powerful portrayal of love and trauma and I was completely drawn into the lives of Isabel and Edward. On occasion I did get confused with the different timelines but overall this did not impact the quality of the novel.
An intense and powerful novel that I would recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.
4.5 stars

5 stars all the way. This book is simply brilliant. The development of the characters, the plot, and the circumstances are all well thought out, not a detail wasted. Reading this book is like going on an emotional rollercoaster, you are completely emotionally vulnerable to the twists and turns and hope you make it out intact. I spent all night reading it, hooked all the way to the end. The characters have such a depth to them that makes them feel real, and the emotions that they make you feel. This is the first book I've read by Abigail Dean, and I will be going back and checking out her previous works after this gripping one. A must-read for 2025!

If you read one book in 2025, make it this one. Harrowing and emotional I couldn't put it down.

Isabel didn't die the night a serial killer entered her house and neither did her husband Edward, but the effect it had on their marriage was catastrophic. Twenty eight years later he's been caught and they'll see him in court.

Told in chapters that move back and forth from the events of that night the characterisation is superb. A tale of survival and hope against a backdrop of loss and devastation.

Totally recommended.

This book was a powerful, compelling and really an emotive read it explored how trauma can affect people in many different ways after such a horrendous ordeal.

The book has stayed with me long after I’ve read it and I read it within a day! There were many characters from Edward to Isabel all entwined by traumatic events. It had many twists and turns and I found myself not knowing what would happen next.

This book was beautifully written and will a must read when it comes out in April! I’d highly recommend this book and would love to see this turned into a film or a series.

Spanning decades in the lives of Isabel and Edward, The Death of Us is bold, bleak and brilliant.

Victims of a serial attacker whose crimes have escalated over the years. Their lives were torn apart one night. This book is incredibly empathetic to the victims and survivors, not just Isabel and Edward, the other victims, the families and police.

Their attacker is finally facing trial, encouraging communication, openness and honesty.

The character writing, the development and progression over the years is extraordinary. It’s deeply emotionally involving, and once it gets going it’s absolutely compelling.

Two great books it made me think of were The Nothing Man - Catherine Ryan Howard, in that the perpetrator is identified very early on, and Our Little Cruelties (Liz Nugent) with the flitting around in time to to create full and complete portraits of these characters and the changes they face over the years.

This book will win awards. It won’t be for everyone but if you want to read some of the very best and most complete character writing then you can’t miss it.

An incredible achievement.

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction

Having enjoyed Abigail Dean's earlier books I was pleased to have an early copy of The Death of Us. An engaging and thoughtful narrative about the changing nature of love and how it is impacted by not only traumatic events but also time. The main characters have depth and felt very real. Despite the reflective style of writing it also conveyed the urgency of the characters having a story they needed to share. A great book and one I will recommend. ,

I've honestly never read a book which has made me feel like this. Every single turn of a page left me with a sick feeling in the pit my stomach, like someone has taken my worst fear and laid it out bare.

The Death of Us tells the story of Isabel and Edward dealing with the consequences of a brutal crime committed against them. The story moves between perspectives and time frames as we come to understand the heinous nature of the crime, the devastating consequences and the fallout all at the same time.

Now having read this book with a sadness hanging over every word, how do I recommend it? By saying it is one of the most powerful novels I've read in a long time.

For every word of pain and suffering, there is a tinge of hope. For every victim, there is a survivor.

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction | Hemlock Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

An outstanding 5 star read.
This felt fresh and different, Abigail Dean is a phenomenal talent.
I had to sit and read this in one go. It's sensitive and powerful, the characters are incredibly well written.
A must read for 2025, I'm going to be telling everyone about it.

I don't know how this book has not received a 5 star from everyone who has read it. What an amazing novel. If ever a book deserved to be turned into a film - this is it. The horror is hinted at but never given in grisly detail. The emotion is there. The characters are warm, real. This made me cry at the end. It's original, different and keeps you hooked to the very end. When I had to pause reading, all I could think about was what was going to happen next. This is a book which really addresses trauma, how people react to it in different ways. It's an amazing story.