"Day One" by Abigail Dean presents a narrative labyrinth that initially poses a challenge to penetrate. My journey into its depths was marked by a sense of disconnection, as though Dean was conversant with a profound narrative truth that remained just beyond my grasp. This initial barrier stirred a feeling of frustration, akin to grappling with a puzzle without all the pieces.
As the story unfolded, however, a realisation dawned upon me: perhaps the initial vagueness, the sense of being adrift in a sea of ambiguity, was a deliberate narrative strategy. It mirrors the experience of the 'truthers' within the novel, inviting readers to question the reality presented to them and doubt and speculate alongside the characters. While disorienting, this technique deepens the engagement with the narrative, transforming readers from passive observers to active participants in the quest for truth.
Despite its intriguing premise, "Day One" is marred by peculiarities that persist throughout the narrative. The timeline is a convoluted tangle, weaving between periods with a fluidity that can disorient. Memories and events intertwine, blurring the lines of chronology and challenging the reader's ability to maintain a cohesive understanding of the narrative progression. This stylistic choice, while innovative, may not cater to those who prefer a linear storytelling approach.
The climax of the novel eschews the expectation of a dramatic revelation, opting instead for a resolution that ties up the narrative threads in a manner both comprehensive and satisfying. While some may yearn for a more explosive outcome, the strength of "Day One" lies in its methodical unravelling of the story's complexities, providing clarity and closure to the intricate web of events.
In retrospect, my initial struggle to immerse myself in Dean's world eventually gave way to appreciation. The novel, with its intricate plot and character dynamics, rewards perseverance with a richly layered narrative experience. Though the path to engagement was fraught with challenges, the journey culminated in a rewarding exploration of narrative depth and complexity. "Day One," with its unconventional structure and deliberate obfuscation, ultimately proves to be a compelling read, albeit one that demands patience and attentiveness from its audience.

What an awesome read!!
I loved Girl A, but this was even better!
It is a fast-paced read that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

The narrative unfolds in the quaint town of Stonesmere, a charming and peaceful place where the residents share a close-knit bond. Each year, as the academic year draws to a close in July, the eldest children of the primary school undertake a special tradition. They prepare and present a play for the four-year-olds who are eagerly anticipating their enrollment in September, a day fondly referred to as Day One.

This year, however, events took a horrible turn, resulting in Stonesmere becoming a topic of widespread discussion, not always in a positive light.
A former employee of the school, locked all the doors, and shot and killed 11 people before killing himself.

Ten children and their teacher, who bravely attempted to protect them, fell victim to a senseless act known as the Stonesmere Massacre. This tragic event left everyone in shock and disbelief.

We delve into the lives of those who lost their lives and those left behind, seeking answers to the haunting questions that linger. Why did this tragedy occur, and can we truly trust the accounts of that fateful day?

Conspiracy theories begin to circulate, fueled by a group known as the Truthers. Doubts arise, casting a shadow over the accuracy of the events.

This narrative illustrates the profound impact of the Internet, showcasing its potential to disseminate both truths and falsehoods. It serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting how individuals can be manipulated and swept into a frenzy by unscrupulous individuals. Moreover, it underscores the devastating consequences that can arise when one resorts to concealing the truth in an attempt at self-protection.

The two primary protagonists of the story are Marty, the daughter of the deceased teacher, and Trent, a former resident of the town who was acquainted with the perpetrator.
This story contains multiple perspectives and timelines, and I recommend reading it in one sitting to avoid losing track of the narrative.

Despite its complexity, it remains a brilliant and thought-provoking read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

Read if you like;
-Tragedy in small town
-Grief. Fiction
-Multiple POV
-Before and after

Thank you to NetGalley and HarpercollinsUK for proving me with this proof.

I don’t think I’ve read any books by Abigail Dean before but I will definitely be reading more!

Wow, this was truely a riveting read, I was so engrossed. It was such a page turner, that I just need to know what the truth was,

The story is taken straight from the headlines, as the author explores the aftermath and the effects a horrific school shooting has on the community and the victims!

I really loved that we hear about the crime from different perspectives and it was fascinating to go on that journey and find out what each person experienced that day and how it differs to others!

One point of view I was desperate to find out more about was Martha! She was such a deeply troubled girl, that has obviously gone through her own trauma and confusion. Some of the things she said throughout the book had me questioning her and wanting to know more!

Abigail did an amazing job of talking about the media frenzy and obsession which follows such a terrible event! We look at how conspiracies are born, how they evolve and the effects they have on the victims and the families who are forced to relive those moments again.

One of those thrillers that I sadly failed to appreciate.

Thanks HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction , Hemlock Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Day One had a brilliant premise and a great setting in the small idyllic town of Stonesmere. I am not sure if it's the audio, but the initial part didn't grab me as I expected it to, although it was a high octane scene where a gunman ends up killing teachers and students during the school's flagship play being acted out.

The timelines in the alternating narratives were a bit confusing as I found it hard to shift between the character POVs and the day of the Day One play. Also, there were quite a few characters that get introduced and it was tough to keep track of them and interpret who was who.

In my view, the threads with the conspiracy theorists and the debate with the truthers didn't add much value to the plot and resulted in me losing interest as the book progressed.

The other major issue for me was that I couldn't connect or get invested in any of the characters, be it Marty, Larkin or Trent. This is very important in my view, as my enjoyment depends on how much I care about the characters and how much I feel a part of the storyline.

Unfortunately, I couldn't form a coherent visualisation of the reason behind the shooting, the connection of the gun man with the characters. The what and the whys felt unreasonable and immaterial towards the end.

I am sure other readers would still enjoy this, but it was just not for me.

Set in the beautiful location of the Lake District we are dragged into and extremely ugly world. At Stonesmere Primary School an assembly known as Day One is disrupted by a crazed gunman who changes the lives of everyone who lives here. Marty loses her mother, who was the teacher of the class performing in the assembly, many parents lose a child, then after this they find themselves dragged in to controversy destroying their chance to grieve and heal. What really happened that morning, who knows the truth?

I found the book a little hard to get in to at the beginning but once I did I found I was captured by the want to know what happens next. This being said I have only given 3 stars, my rating is because I didn’t find that I had a connection to the characters (except zombie, I worried what happened to her) as the book drew to an end I didn’t find myself think oh no please don’t say that person did that. I wholeheartedly wanted to know what happened and why but I felt the “why” was kind of rushed, this character wasn’t written very well and could have done with more of the backstory to feel like the end worked.

It was an interesting idea I just felt like it could have done with a lot more depth to the characters.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reading copy.

This book by Abigail Dean was based around a small town where everyone knew everyone , but outsiders had to work hard to get accepted into the fold!. An awful event happened at the local school that would change people’s lives forever.
. There are multiple characters telling parts of their story throughout this tragedy, and so it jumps from character to character. Coming to a final conclusion which tells all.
It was a good story, which I must admit I struggled with the idea of what happened, but as the tale unfolded, it started to get more interesting. I can’t say as I enjoyed the to-ing and fro-ing between characters either. So, it started a bit flat, but seemed to have more substance as the end became close. I wasn’t sure about the ending either! Not what I expected!!.
Thanks to Harper Collins for the opportunity to read this arc copy for review consideration via Netgalley.
#Netgalley, #HarperCollins, #AbigailSDean.

Marty knows what she told the reporters of how her mother died trying to protect them from a gunman. But things aren’t adding up – there are too many inconsistencies in the story to ring true. Cue the conspiracy theorists and keyboard warriors who want the truth and are keen for them to put themselves into the story by finding the truth. At the centre is a community who each has their own version of the dreaded Day One. As for Marty, well, there must be a reason why she’s not telling the whole truth.

I absolutely loved Day One, a highly original and believable novel that focuses on a Lake District community in the aftermath of a school shooting.
I won’t give too much detail about the plot as I came to this novel knowing very little about it and was completely immersed in the multi layered plot that slowly unfolded. Marty’s mother is one of the victims and as Marty’s version of events is questioned a group of conspiracy theorists question whether the incident took place and if the victims actually existed, This aspect of the novel is chilling and sadly, with the rise of conspiracy theories it felt like something that could actually happen. I enjoyed the two points of view of Marty and Trent, one of the conspiracy theorists and the portrayal of the small town community.
A very clever and compelling novel that I’d highly recommend. 4.5 stars
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

This book sounded really good but in reality it was too slow for me and felt very disjointed. It is the story of a shooting in a primary school in a small village, how it affected everyone and the conspiracy theories. The book jumped around timelines too much but never really gave me anything to get me hooked

I love this author’s first book and will read any future books she writes but this one, sadly, was not for me.

A new author to watch. This and her last book have been a wild ride. If you need a smart thriller- you’ll want to pick this up!

The Stonesmere Massacre, as the media dubbed it, was a shocking event. 22 people murdered, 8 of them pupils, at the hands of a lone gunman who then turned his gun on himself. The older children in the local primary school had been performing a play to the 4 years old who would be joining in September and which was known as Day One. In previous years it had featured local landmarks in the seaside town but this year, dedicated teacher, Ava Ward, had based it around different countries. The older children would find out facts about their chosen country and entertain the new crop of pupils. However, it wasn’t only the children who were there but also their proud parents and relatives who were in the audience.
But in the chaos afterwards, a girl, Marty Ward, Ava’s daughter is found wandering and is caught on camera and claims that she was in the hall at the time of the attack. A ‘golden girl’ of the town or a ‘small town celebrity’ as a character describes her, didn’t achieve her grades and didn’t gone to university like her best friend, Leah. Instead, she made a dangerous choice.
However, in the eulogies and funerals and horror of it all, there are those who want to use the tragedy for their own ends and to push their own agendas. Conspiracy theorists and those that publicly insist that it never happened. Trent, a former local resident and aspiring journalist, becomes caught up in events and the dark web and falls deeper and deeper into it. A charismatic man called Ray Cleave, encourages Trent at a large meeting where he comes on stage to ‘Suspicious Minds’, and events begin to spiral. A waiter at a party sets fire to the house belonging to the family of a victim and refuses to accept that he has done any damage as he believes that the people inside ‘were actors’. I found myself wondering if they were really convinced that the event was staged or was it just too terrible to accept?
Finally, the two sides clash at the official inquest; one side is determined to ‘expose’ the star witness and the other about to make a courageous admission in front of the world’s media. What will happen next is anyone’s guess.
I really enjoyed the author’s previous book, ‘Girl A’, and was eagerly awaiting her next one. ‘Day One’, tackled two very strong themes; an unspeakable act of cruel destruction and those who peddle dangerous theories. Social media has led to people feeling that they ‘should have their say’ and be involved in some way with every large event. It has also given a platform to people who have an alternative view of events. I thought that the author deftly portrayed Trent’s descent into the outer reaches and how he became completely convinced. I felt that, in their own way, they destroyed as many lives as the gunman. Trent is soon abandoned by them when his usefulness is over.
With the massacre, the author didn’t dwell on the bloody event itself, but more on the reactions of those connected with it and how it rippled through peoples lives for years afterwards. It was ’Day One’ for the rest of their lives. A widowed father whose young son died in the attack disappears in the mountains of Nepal despite being an experienced mountaineer, a mother mourns her favourite son as his badly injured brother returns home from hospital and a small boy dies alone on a stairwell.
The conflicting timelines and multiple viewpoints occasionally made events difficult to follow but it enabled me to understand the characters more and the background to the massacre. However, I wasn’t entirely convinced that Marty would have been allowed to disappear as easily as she does. I felt sure that the proliferation of true crime podcasts that have appeared in recent years and in several crime novels that I’ve recently reviewed would have caught up with her.
This was not a comfortable book as was ‘Girl A’ due to its subject matter. But it was an absolutely gripping read which confirmed that the author is a real one to watch. Ambitiously plotted and, at times, absolutely heartbreaking and thought provoking, I am already anticipating the author’s next book.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.

“A village hall, a primary school play, a beautiful Lake District town, into this idyllic scene a lone gunman whose actions set off a train of events that will have devastating consequences for the close knit community of Stonesmere”
A slow deeply moving study, exploring the day of the tragedy, leading up to it as well as the aftermath.
Residents of Stonesmere are totally rocked by the shooting in a school assembly.
Told from multiple points of view, such as Marty, the teacher’s teenage daughter and Trent who is transfixed by the conspiracy theories around the shooting.
It explores the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ shades of grey, being forced to continue life after a horrendous tragedy.
But also having to the face scrutiny of the Truthers, aground of conspiracy theorists who think it was a hoax.
It was a very difficult read, but it does a beautiful sensitive job of touching different perspectives/reactions to the tragedy, of those who died and survived.
Thanks @abigailsdean, @harpercollins & @netgalley for the deeply moving read

Wow, this is such a harrowing read. Somehow setting the school and the massacre in the Lake District seemed to add an even more sinister edge, especially since there hasn't been a school shooting in the UK since Dunblane in 1996.

The plot isn't particularly fast-paced and it's no doubt somewhat of a slow burn but I think it matches perfectly given the topic and it just works. As we progress through the aftermath of the shooting, the author skilfully drip feeds information, helping create tension and I was (weirdly) eager to find out exactly what had happened that fateful day and how exactly Marty was involved. The timeline does jump around quite a bit but I found this was fairly easy to keep track of.

The character development of Marty and particularly Trent is fantastic and I found Trent's descent fascinating. I liked the little POV insights we got into some of the other characters although gosh, some (such as Kit) were simply heartbreaking. I'd go as far to say every character was really well fleshed out, however small a role they played.

Overall the author handles sensitive topics really thoughtfully and provides fascinating insight into other areas, especially conspiracy theorists and so-called 'truthers'.

This is by no means an easy read but it's an incredibly important and powerful one.

I loved the premise and was excited to get into this, but… oh no. It was anything but what I was expecting.

I found the writing style really bland, almost like reading a report. There was also a LOT of filler and I was really struggling to keep going, so I did scan read a lot of the book, just to get through to the end, desperately hoping there would be a big twist or reveal. There wasn’t.

The characters were all unremarkable and mostly unlikeable, except for Larkin, who seemed like a nice chap, but with very little character development, who can really say?

The main protagonist, Marty, well I just don’t know what the point of her was? Sure, her mum was killed in the shooting, but lots of characters lost family members and a character with something about them would have made the book more appealing.

I really wish I had saved my time and DNF’d much, much earlier.

I am really sorry, but I didn’t like anything about this book.

1 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

This author does not shy away from distressing events, as we saw in her debut novel, the exceptional Girl A. This book again centres on a harrowing event, that of a shooting at a primary school with Marty, the daughter of a beloved teacher in the close knit community of Stonesmere, a key witness to what happened. In the aftermaths we follow Marty in her grief, and Trent desperate to make his name as a journalist and to uncover the truth about what Marty saw that day. This was an exceptionally well written book, both gripping and evocative. It was not always an easy read given the subject matter, but the characters were authentic, the plot well developed and it proved to be a thought provoking read. The terror of the initial event was incredibly well written, and whilst some books that start with a shocking incident then lose momentum, this book proved to be tense and gripping throughout. Thanks to netgalley and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read.

Many thanks to NetGalley, publishers and Abigail Dean for my ARC in return for an honest review of ‘Day One’.

I struggled with following this from the first page. Maybe it was me but I loved her previous novel

I loved Abigail Dean's first novel Girl A, a powerful story about a girl who escapes from her family home after years of abuse. This new novel, Day One, tackles subject matter that is just as heartbreaking and traumatic: a school shooting in the small, idyllic Lake District town of Stonesmere. Both books are similar in that they don't just focus on the horror at hand; but, instead, dissect how human lives are affected in the aftermath. Dean's focus is on the people at the heart of the story.

When a lone gunman walks into a primary school play in Stonesmere's village hall, multiple lives are lost, including children and a teacher who tried to protect her pupils. It is that teacher's daughter, Martha (Marty), who is at the epicentre of his story. Marty is present at the scene, but what did she see? And how was she involved? As we hear from Marty, in her dedicated sections, Dean carefully peels back the layers to show how the tragedy played out for her.

We also hear from Trent, a former resident of Stonemere, who gets caught up in the conspiracy theories swirling around the shooting, and joins a movement to expose the "sham". His sections explore how a lonely, isolated person would feel drawn to and led by a tragedy. A host of other characters feature, and some are brought in and out of the story fleetingly, but it is how Marty and Trent's lives entwine as tension mounts around the case that becomes the focus of this immersive novel.

Day One is beautifully written using different narratives and a non-linear format, as the detail of the shooting unfolds. This is handled with skill by Dean, so it never feels disjointed or disarming. While it is upsetting subject matter, it is handled with sensitivity and empathy. No detail is used gratuitously in this exploration of how a community is left devastated. In fact, what is withheld is as important as what is said. And I really appreciate how Dean shares the POVs of conspiracy theorists’ without derision, because it added a fascinating element to the story.

The pacing and timing of the novel is perfect, and I really enjoyed how things came to light as I read. Again, this isn't just a story about the events of a shooting: it is the tale of a close-knit community and their traditions; the trauma that follows tragedy; victims and their truth; and what it means to be human when faced with the worst of humanity.

Day One is not a propulsive thriller made of quick thrills, but it is a layered, thought-provoking, and moving novel delivered with consideration and skill. Dean is a very special storyteller, and she is now firmly on my auto-read list.

The story:
In the picturesque Lake District town of Stonesmere there is a close community, many of whom have lived there all their lives. A community that is rocked by a horrific tragedy in the local primary school that takes the lives of children and their devoted teacher Mrs Ward.

When Martha Ward stumbles away from the chaos that day, she tells what she witnessed to a clamouring and eager press. But as the weeks go by, inconsistencies emerge. What really happened on Day One, and who can really be believed?

My thoughts:
“Day One” by Abigail Dean begins with a shocking opening chapter that grabs hold of the reader and doesn’t let go until the final, tragic conclusion.

Ava Ward is a teacher at Stonesmere Primary School, who is good at her job and who genuinely cares about her students; and they love her in return. Her class, in their final year at the school, is responsible for an annual end-of-year play, dubbed ‘Day One’; designed to welcome the children due to start at the school the following September. But this year ends in horror and tragedy, when a gunman, a local loner, enters the packed hall and take the lives of ten children and their teacher, before turning the gun on himself.

The story moves forward from the events of that day, told from different characters’ points of view, the first from that of teacher Ava Ward. And although we move forward from that point, the story is also interspersed with other perspectives from the day of the massacre, each filling in some blanks on what occurred.

Tragically, the events that day spark conspiracy theories and self-appointed investigators, with people questioning the varying accounts of what happened that day or even whether it happened at all.

Martha Ward, daughter of Mrs Ward, is one of those who tells her account of what happened in the school hall, but something isn’t quite right about what she’s telling the Press and the police. Could she be lying, and if so, why?

One of the people to question Marty’s story is Trent Casey — an aspiring journalist (although actually a night security guard) who starts a website dubbed the Stonesmere Exposer. Trent is certain the world is being lied to, and goes to increasingly extreme lengths to uncover what he thinks is the truth.

As the story progresses towards the official inquest, taking place a year after the Day One massacre, tensions reach boiling point between so-called ‘truthers’ and the grieving families of Stonesmere. And the final revelations of the inquest are both shocking and tragic.

This is a well-written and impactful story, and one that feels particularly timely, with characters judging others grief and filling gaps in information with their own theories, some wilder than others, but often seemingly without pity for those involved. Overall, an intelligent and twisting psychological thriller that is by turns shocking and heartbreaking.

Stonesmere primary school always put on a performance in June to introduce the new intake to the school. However when Mrs Ward's class approach the stage and nervous Kit Larkin prepares to make his well researched speech a gunman enters the assembly hall and starts shooting.
What follows is a literary delight, although rather slow in places and possibly confusing due to the timelines, this novel follows many people affected by this heinous act. However most of the story is told from the point of view of Martha, Mrs Wards daughter and Trent Casey who used to live in the village.
There appears to be a mystery surrounding the shootings and plenty of conspiracy theories.
This was a great novel but I found I needed to fully concentrate on the book due to the timelines

DAY ONE

After such a strong albeit emotional start I really struggled, and not because of the sensitive subject, which I thought I might.
Having loved Dean’s previous book, Girl A I was expecting to enjoy this one equally too.
Unfortunately, this wasn’t to be, and I found myself persevering with Day One.

What I anticipated to be a novel with a steady pace, which would steadily increase as the story progressed, I found myself disappointed with the slow and arduous pace throughout.

And I’m sorry, but unfortunately, as much as I tried, and I really did try to finish this book, but I just couldn’t continue with Day One. I found myself becoming so frustrated with each new page.

With such a strong start it pains me to mark this book as a DNF and only awarding two for the well written, emotional start.
But thank you #NetGalley and #HarperCollinsUK for my e-Arc copy of #DayOne in exchange for my honest review.

#DNF #slowpaced #arduous #disappointed
#emotion #emotionalstory #sensitivesubject #NetGalleyRead