Abigail Dean has very quickly made herself a reputation for thought-provoking and powerful books and "The Death of Us" is typically hard-hitting and involving.

Unusually while the book revolves around the crimes and trial of a serial home-invading predator it's mainly the story of the victims, their lives before and after their ordeal ,how they cope,or don't,with the lasting trauma and mental scars.

Young couple Isabel and Edward have their lives ahead of them until they're taken unawares by a sadistic intruder who subdues Edward while he subjects Isabel to a degrading assault.
With timelines switching timelines in a non-linear manner from the couple meeting as teenagers to events during and after the eventual trial of their tormentor the story can take a bit of effort to follow but is more effective for taking this form, filling in the gaps in the narrative in often surprising ways.

This isn't just Isabel and Edward's story,there are several other victims they connect with along the way ,affected in different ways and the difference in how these people's lives are changed by their ordeal is often stark and heartbreaking.

As with all of Abigail Dean's books this is one you'll still be thinking about for a long time after you've finished 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.

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.

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

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!

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 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

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.

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.

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!!

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.