At Stonesmere primary school in the Lake District, Day One refers to the first day of the next school year, albeit with the summer holidays between this and Day Two. Most primary schools might call it a ‘moving up’ day, organised to allow children to feel positive about the next school year. How ironic, then, that this Day One is the day that will mark the terrible legacy left after the school hall massacre perpetrated by one of Stonesmere’s own.
Whilst we don’t understand the killer’s motives until the final pages, we do know that many families have to live with the consequences of his actions, not least Martha (Marty) whose primary school teacher mother, Ava, is gunned down protecting her class.
Abigail Dean’s novel is an intelligent exploration of why individuals become involved in conspiracy theories and what attracts some to the Far Right, as well as being a sensitive, nuanced depiction of survivors’ guilt. The story is told through several points of view and is the stronger for this. Occasionally the back and forth timelines (there are several!) are irritating rather than enlightening. However, don’t let this put you off if you are looking for a more thoughtful interpretation than a simplistic portrayal of an horrific event.
My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

A book written in a very different way but one that kept me between the pages. Day one is a performance at a primary school so that when the youngest children begin term they don’t feel quite so new as it's now their second day. At the performance a man appears with a gun and there are several victims before he turns the gun on himself. Most of the narrative is from Martha’s (Marty) point of view as she was in the room at the time although each section is headed by different main characters. A short time after the incident there are rumours and gossip that it didn't happen quite as first thought and there's the start of a witch hunt to find out if the whole thing was a hoax or that there is more to it and the survivors know more than they are letting on.

I found this rather a staccato read which to me it comes across as rather choppy and disjointed which takes a little more than normal concentration. Although the descriptions are wonderful, I didn't get any warmth (or loathe) of character so felt like an outsider looking in- maybe this is the point? It is however very character driven as much is about them both before and after the incident rather than the pace of a thriller where more is happening both action and narrative wise. A complex, un-perspicuous read.
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I enjoyed Girl A and was eager to read this.

A school shooting, targeted to occur during a performance, several children dead, a much loved teacher killed trying to shield them.

The shooting happens on Day One and this is the story of what happens after, over months and years. It is mainly told through the eyes of the slain teacher's daughter Marty, and Trent, one of the locals who gets involved with conspiracy theorists determined to uncover and expose the truth.

It's empathetic I cared about the characters. There are multiple other points of view which all hold weight, children nervous about remembering their lines and the parents having to live with their loss. Dramatically, I found it a little indirect but it still held my interest.

Interesting and well worth a look, while I'm not getting too excited about it, I'll still be looking out for Abigail Dean's next book.

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK

I enjoyed reading this book, I love how the events of Day One unfolded bit by bit and that we also saw the aftermath. I thought it was really well written with Martha's (Marty's) story unfolding and finding out what really happened that day.

I loved reading everyone's different viewpoint as to how they were feeling and what they thought about the events that had occurred.

I thought that the storyline was very clever shown from the different angles, even the 'truthers'. I haven't read Abigail's previous book however love her writing style so will be off to find it!

I was excited the read this book as loved this authors previous novel! Though it was nothing like that book I really enjoyed it!. It did jump from character to character and past and future but I read each chapter carefully so didn’t get confused! I wasn’t sure of the outcome and it kept my interest right to the end

Omg talk about a roller coaster read wow this book kept me on the edge of my seat through out I just couldn't put it down this writer keeps you hooked and once your hooked your not letting go I found this book disturbing and dark in places but overall a solid four stars!

A gunman open fire in a school killing a teacher and her pupils, Marty the teachers Daughter survives to tell the story but people do not believe her story and want to find the truth.
Told from many perspectives and many timelines which was confusing at time and a twist at the end.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC and I`m leaving my review voluntarily
Posted to Goodreads

This was such a great read! Stonesmere is a picturesque town in the Lake District that is shattered by a massacre at the local primary school’s end-of-term play, and is further shattered by claims from conspiracy theorists that the event didn’t actually happen. The reader is taken on a journey to discover the truth surrounding that day.

It’s a great page-turner of a book, but one that is also well written, which many ‘page turners’ are not. I would happily recommend this to fans of crime, crime thrillers and literary fiction.

Not the best book in this genre. Too long and too descriptive so sometimes boring. Many times I went few pages forward and still was able to be on track. Some characters appeared without explanation who os who and Marthy and Marty very confusing at the beginning.

Firstly thank you to NetGalley & Harper Collins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first Abigail Dean book, for some reason I expected a Thriller (my fault for not reading the synopsis properly), this book is NOT a thriller (do not expect twists) but a slow paced, character driven, thought provoking read! That said I loved it, the book kept me turning the pages. I was totally invested in the characters, their grief and the persecution they were facing from conspiracy theorists in the aftermath of a school shooting in a quiet little village in the North of England.

Abigail Dean did a great job of bringing the characters to life, I was however a little confused sometimes with character introduction and naming, I.e Marty and Martha are the same person, It took me a while to work that one out! The timeline jumps back and forwards in time too which takes a bit of concentration.

Overall this book is not my usual preferred genres but I am so glad I read it and I will definitely pick up GIrl A and any future books Abigail Dean writes.

In the picturesque town of Stonesmere, what should have been a memorable day for all good reasons, turns into the worst day imaginable. A primary school play… a lone gunman… and the devastating weeks and months that follow…
This story is a fascinating read. It focuses on the aftermath of the shooting and is written from the viewpoints of the main characters involved. Although it is slow moving, it still has the ability to pull you in and grip you there, not letting you go until the conclusion.
If you loved Abigail Deans, Girl A, you’ll love this!
With thanks to Netgallery and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review.

The second book I’ve read by this author and I’ve enjoyed both.

Martha lives in a small part of the Lake District with her teacher mum and popular dad. A seemingly peaceful existence until the Day One school performance one year which ends in unspeakable tragedy. And out of tragedy comes lies and stories and more horror.

I found this book a little hard to follow on my kindle as the storyline jumped around in time and using different narrators but would recommend it because it is a fantastic read.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review.

Day One by Abigail Dean

A village hall, a primary school play, a beautiful Lake District town. Into this idyllic scene steps a lone gunman whose actions set off a train of events that will have devastating consequences for the close-knit community of Stonesmere.
I'm not sure you can say you enjoy reading a book like this due to its subject matter. I'd be more inclined to say I followed the books journey . Wow , what a journey it was.
I live in Cumbria , near the lakes and mountains and arguably one of the most beautiful places in the UK , but this title goes a long way in showing that leaving in peaceful places doesn't always mean you get the same for life.
Hard hitting.

Day One is a gripping, suspenseful and darkly raw book. This is an uncomfortable read with some hard and horrific topics/events but this is also an amazing read. With some many twists I felt gripped whilst reading this and didn't want to put it down. If you enjoy darker thrillers I definitely recommend Day One as it is truly a page turner.

I was really looking forward to reading this after Girl A. Not so sure about this book at all.

I felt at times totally confused as to who was where and who was who. Disturbing reading especially with the school shootings and everyone with their views on the incident.

Now truth sayers really opened up a topic of discussion in the household. You hear about people like this but oh dear me. I felt sorry for the author who must have spent a lot of time analyzing this trait of behavior.

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this book prior to the general release.

I was desperate to read this book as loved Girl A. The story was promising and I was desperate to read to the end but I was confused at times. I’m not sure if it was the pre published editing or the jumping back and forth, but I did struggle with the flow of this book. I would rate it at 3.5 stars.

Thank you Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are AWLAYS honest.

Trigger warning: school shooting involving children | 4.5 rounded UP. NICHE BANGER ALERT.

Writing: that's my type! | Plot: slow, character-driven, depressy | Ending: right in the feels

SYNOPSIS

Marty and Trent navigate the aftermath of a tragic school shooting.

MY OPINION

OOHHWEEE!!!!! J'ADORE!!!! This is a NICHE banger. If you liked Girl A, The Favor by Nicci French NOT Nora Murphy (dnfed that one) and S.E. Lynes (prose alone, not her plots), then you may enjoy this. If you expect thrills, chills, twists, and turns, as well as linear timelines and more straight-forward writing (Alice Feeney, CoHo, Freida, Megan Goldin, Riley Sager, etc) then SKIP. This is most certainly NOT a thriller. It is very bleak, very character driven, and rather 'slow'. Not one twist in sight my friends.

I see that Abigail Dean likes to fictionalize bleak af tragedies. Girl A is the Turpin case, and Day One is Sandy Hook. Tbh I didn't really read the synopsis, so when the school shooting occurred, I was a lil shook. There are a lot of similarities between this book and Sandy Hook, mostly around the conspiracy theory shitstorm egged on by the nefarious Alex Jones. I always enjoy books that really get into the mind of a conspiracy theorist and demonstrate how a 'normal' person has devolved into such a whackadoodle state. Dean does a fantastic job SHOWING not telling how Trent descended into madness.

The writing is *chefs kiss* FOR MEEEEE. The streets might call this writing style 'awkward', 'disjointed', 'choppy'. I'm always tickled pink when I see an author stretching the confines of syntax to carve out their own style and tone. Do I sound like a pretentious wanker? Yes. Anyways. Here's an example of what I mean:

...And however tired she was, it was the first thing she asked. However tired—even when the tiredness was right there on her face. When it had crept into her bones, and become a tiredness he should have recognized—

And what did he say? Fine. OK.

She would have listened though. She would have listened.

Unlike The Quiet Tenant ot All the Dangerous Things which leans heavily on melodramatic similes and flowery language to force emotion into mundane scenes, Dean stays fairly simile-free and chooses the right moments to hit you where it hurts. My fave quote of this book (for context: Marty is being interviewed right after the school shooting)

'What happened,' the woman said, 'in the hall?'

My memories trembled. I reassembled the room, just as it should have been. Gathered the children back to the stage. Put the chairs back in place. Dried the floor. Tucked phones back into pockets, handbags, palms. There I was, in the heart of the audience, with my mother's hand in mine.

Broseffff?????? What a beautiful way to SHOW that Marty wishes she could go back in time before the tragedy struck and that she regrets not being there with her mother. Basic writing would go with: I wish I could go back in time and make sure I had been in the audience with my mom like I promised I would be.

Anyways, if you're a pretentious wanker like me, you may enjoy this one. It's definitely more 'litfic' without being too dramatic. It's an uncomfortable read. It's a sad read. It's a read that'll make even the soulless feel something. It could spark some juicy book club debates. Dean can definitely handle sensitive topics with grace and I look forward to what she tackles next.

PROS AND CONS

Pros: beautiful and unique prose, thoughtful deep-dive into a fictionalized version of the Sandy Hook shooting, well-drawn characters, controversial in a good way that challenges you

Cons: definitely slow, some stilted dialogue, timeline was a tad confusing at first because I thought 'Year Eight' was referring to a grade, not the fact we were jumping 8 years forward from the Day One event

An uncomfortable read is the best way to describe this book. You almost feel guilty reading it as the events are so horrific. Since Dunblane is, thankfully, the only shooting of this kind in the UK, it's impossible not to remember the real life death toll of innocent young children and staff. The conspiracy theorists element just made the whole thing even more awful. It's hard to imagine what makes people act like this.
I finished this book just feeling very sad.

Day One is a very gripping novel, that will make you turn page after page to see what happens next! Highly enjoyed this and recommend!

It's an uncomfortable read at times, because everyone is hurting.
Everyone in their own way.
The huge amount of grief after the school shooting is immense, but then to have people demand THE TRUTH.

Honestly, it made me hurt a little bit for those characters.
What marvelous characters they were too , all with their own issues and problems before the main event.
Told from multiple points of view, and with a slow reveal of every last single lie, this held my attention fully.
This book puts Dean firmly in my auto buy authors list.