I really struggled to get into this book. As I “put” myself into stories, I was profoundly affected by not only the events but the aftermath. Well written but I would be hard pressed to say I ‘enjoyed’ it.

This is less a thriller and more a domestic suspense where the main character is the failed marriage between Isobel and Edward. Decades prior, a violent encounter changed their lives forever, shattering the foundation of their world and rocking their marriage and relationship. Now the man responsible has been caught and finally stands on trial and through memories and journaling, Isobel and Edward explore the fault lines of their marriage and perhaps rediscover something they thought lost forever.

This is a dark novel, focussed on the shattered lives left in the wake of violent and brutal attacks, forcing people to acknowledge that the safety of their very homes is a lie. It's a slow burn novel, dissecting the lives rocked by violence in a slow and methodical way. It's poignant and heart felt and explores the impact that trauma can have not just in the moment but for decades after, reverberating through lifetimes. The focus is very much on the victims, making this both haunting and powerful.

All in all, this won't be the last Abigail Dean novel I read. It may not be for everyone; it is slow, it is dark, it is tragic. Yet there's also a glimpse of light and hope that grows throughout the novel.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my free review copy of this title.

The Death of Us by Abigail Dean is a taught, tense yet highly emotional novel with a unique premise. As in, I haven’t read a crime thriller with this character POV before and I was hooked from the opening pages. Our lead character, Isabel, is writing her statement for a court case, it’s an open letter to the man who broke into her home and attacked her.

Twenty-five years ago, a man broke into Isabel and Edward’s house and now, he’s finally been caught. So The Death of Us is both Isabel and Edward (we get chapters from him too) processing the new information of the capture of Nigel Wood (AKA the South London Invader) and the court case which means they are being forced to reflect on what happened to them to write their witness statements.

In her retrospective, Isabel goes right back to telling Nigel how she first met Edward and then the story of their life so we, the reader, can see both how their relationship worked and how it has been damaged.

Isabel and Edward were both very rounded and real characters, I felt very invested in both of them from the beginning and really wanted to see how their story played out.

As well as the crime thriller element, which kept the pace ticking over nicely, The Death of Us is a look at relationships and how trauma affects people in different ways. Seeing how this terrible event takes its toll on Isabel, Edward and the other victims of Nigel, in the years that follow is heartbreaking and an exploration into how one man’s actions can damage so many people.

I appreciate I haven’t made this sound like the cheeriest book, and it isn’t, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a great read, because it absolutely is. The Death of Us is really wonderfully written, it balances the emotional and traumatic impact of a terrible crime like this with characters you care about and a commentary on trauma and crime.

This is a powerful, character driven story about the effects of trauma and the different coping strategies used by those affected.

The book starts after the terrible crime has already been committed, where the reader doesn't know what has happened. Slowly it comes out that people in South London, couples, have been put through an horrific and violent ordeal in their own homes. The story focuses on one couple, Isabel and Edward, where Isabel addresses her life in the past to the perpetrator, speaking in the first person. Edward's story, by contrast, occurs after the events as they meet up for the trial twenty years later.

An intense and poignant book that shows the far reaching consequences of fear and regret, of making and keeping connections. Introspective rather than a mystery or a crime novel, with a teeny bit of suspense at the end, this is a book about the mind, so fair to say psychological. Well written with an unusual perspective for victims of crime. Recommended.

The original idea for this book was to make it more about the victims of the crime than the perpetrator. It is to be congratulated for this but unfortunately I couldn’t make myself interested in the main characters Edward and Isabel so the result was rather a flat read.

The Death of Us is a slow burn psychological thriller that sinks its claws in early and never lets go. Some scenes are heartbreakingly raw, but they add a real emotional weight that lingers long after the final page. Just when I thought I had the story figured out, Abigail Dean pulled the rug out from under me, more than once, with twists that were as clever as they were devastating. The characters are flawed and utterly believable, and the tension builds so subtly that I didn’t realize how tense I was until I finished the book. Dark, deeply emotional, and incredibly well-plotted, this is a must-read for anyone who loves their thrillers smart, layered, and genuinely haunting.

Another gripping read from Abigail Dean although it is by turns bleak, tragic, disturbing and life affirming. It is the love story of two people who have survived the most horrendous experience and often appear to be coping well on the outside. As the case comes to court and they are asked to describe the impact the attack had on their lives, the story goes back 25 years and takes the reader through the long lasting aftermath. How the couple, and others who were attacked by the same perpetrator have managed to survive and in some cases prosper is testament to the strength of the human spirit, but the story does not hold back on describing both the attacks and the psychological effect they have had. This book could be unremittingly bleak, but is so full of compassion, love, generosity and hope that in the end it is a wonderful read.

Isabel and Edward's home is invaded by a serial killer and Edward is faced with listening to the attack on his wife. It's now thirty years later at the trial and they are reunited after being divorced and attend together.

This is a book about trauma and the impact it has not just on the victims but also the ripple effect it has on everyone connected to the crime.

Their love started so simply when they met when they were younger but it's not strong enough to glue them together after the violence they experienced

Their journey of recovery is told in an erratic style which I feel mirrors the healing process as it's not linear and at times for me it felt like it was one long letter to the perpetrator, describing the many ways that his crime against them affected them

A story of pain but love too

A uniquely talented female writer. A potential modern classic. This is quite likely going to be the best book I’ve read this year. To write this with such passion, empathy and strength is a rare talent. I liked the writer’s first two books but this is at another level akin to another female writer who looked at male murder/attacks from the female and victims’ perspectives. Let’s not dwell on the abuser but on the female view. And male victims views and their unique suffering. The story of Isabel and Edward is both heartbreaking and heartwarming (eww, I know that’s sickly. But it’s absolutely true). I sincerely don’t think I’ll forget this book for a long time. Breathtaking.

One of the best thrillers I’ve read in a long time. But The Death of Us is more than just a thriller; it’s a love story, a psychological exploration, and a journey through guilt, acceptance, and unexpected solace.

Abigail Dean masterfully weaves the narrative through alternating perspectives: Isabel, a victim of a horrific crime, and Edward, who witnessed it firsthand. This dual storytelling technique adds depth, allowing us to experience both the emotional aftermath and the tense buildup to the attack.

The novel’s structure is superb. Edward’s chapters guide us through the unfolding court case, while Isabel’s narration reveals the events leading up to the attack, including how their paths first crossed. The contrast between their perspectives makes for a gripping read, balancing suspense with raw emotion.

What makes The Death of Us truly stand out is its ability to blend genres seamlessly. It’s a thriller, yes, but also a “will-they-won’t-they” romance, a story of survival, and an exploration of the human psyche. Dean’s writing is sharp, immersive, and deeply affecting.

A must-read for anyone who loves thrillers with emotional depth.

Utterly gripping and hard to read at times. This is a brilliantly written slow burn tale that gradually unfolds to a story of unspeakable violence and sexual assault, of trying to build life again and of love that becomes so very complex. Just brilliant.

The Death of Us” is a gripping, slow-burn mystery with a strong emotional core. Dean weaves past and present together beautifully, exploring grief, secrets, and the quiet devastation of a small community. While not a fast-paced thriller, it’s deeply atmospheric and the characters felt real and flawed. A thoughtful, well-written read that lingers after the final page.

An absolutely incredible read - Abigail Dean has done it again, I literally could not put this down! Told from the perspective of victims of a serial rapist and killer, it lays the characters and all of their flaws bare, in a similar way to Girl A, and I was both rooting for and shouting at Isabel and Edward, the main characters. I cannot wait for Abigail Dean's next book!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

A dark mystery about the long term impact of severe crime on victims. I liked the premise but the two timelines and Isabel "writing" to her offender got in the way of some tender writing. I did not like Isabel and Edwards relationship.and as people they lacked warmth. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

Wow, this book was so extremely powerful. I was gripped from the start.
There's a lot of darkness to read about including murder and rape, but I think it genuinely gets the feelings of the victims across, like nothing else I've read.
Its a mix of a crime novel, & a love story, following Isobel and Edward, who are attacked in their own home.
I think this book will stay with me for a long time.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

**read electronic book and listened to the audiobook also**


I have found Abigail Dean really hit and miss - and unfortunately this was a real miss. I was so desperate to like this book. Feel its been given so much hype and lots of people have loved this book. Whereas I just couldn't get into it!!
I tried numerous time, and even the audiobook.
I didn't like the narrator... and found the opening really lack lustre too.

Maybe I will try again later down the line, but for now... I just couldn't keep going with it.

What a cracking, emotionally weighty novel. I devoured this raw wound of a tale as I was anxious to see how it would end. I was not disappointed as it has left quite a mark on me.

In The Death of Us we are introduced to Isabel and Edward, who were once married to each other. Their story unfolds in phases in this novel narrated as a one-sided conversation from Isabel to the man destroyed their happy existence when he invaded their home years earlier. We learn of Isabel and Edward's early lives, when they met, and hopscotch through their life together up until the night they encounter the South London Invader in their home. From there it is a painful story of the emotional wounds they must cope with and how it leads to the end of their marriage. Tough reading but it felt so honest as the after effects of such a traumatic event linger far longer than the one might wish.

What I enjoyed most was the way their lives, so closely entwined, break apart but still retain a distant closeness as Edward goes on to remarry. The life they envisioned did not not come to pass but what they gained, in the relationships with other survivors of the South London Invader and the police investigator, added a different kind of richness to their lives. Raw and difficult to process, at time, but slowly hope brings positive change.

This is a powerful story of suffering and redemption, too. I haven't read anything quite like it in a while and feel changed by its message of human resilience.

I finished this book a couple of days ago and couldn’t do my review straight away as I didn’t know what to say.
Wow, everyone should read this - I was left a bit speechless 😶
This is the best book by Abigail Dean so far.
A story of undeniable love and what happens after an awful event that would destroy any relationship and the ending was perfect.
Although this to me in a way is a crime book it is also a love story - I cried !!
Another on my best book list for 2025.
Thank you x

I love books by this author so I took this away to read on holiday. I was immediately immersed in this extremely dark story.
The story is narrated by Isabel and her husband Nathan. They have been happily married for a long time when they suffer a horrific intrusion and gruelling attack by a serial killer. The story goes back and forth to before and after the attack, from when they first met to the years after it.
They were such well written, believable characters and it was easy to emphasise with both of them. Their lives and love are so brilliantly portrayed and vividly brought to life.

I found this slow at the start, and I had difficulty getting into the book and relating to the characters. In part, I think it was because Isabel’s chapters are written in the form of a victim impact statement, addressing her assailant directly.

I did get past this - the chapters talking about their past, how Isabel and Edward met and fell in love, really pulled me in. Although I still didn’t find them relatable (well-off, successful at a young age, and carefree), their love story was interesting, and I became intrigued to find out what had happened to them.
The present-day chapters that dealt with their strained post-divorce relationship, the trial of their assailant, and their unresolved issues were tense and sad.

This is a book that’s disturbing and at times upsetting. Not an easy read, and definitely a slow burn, but one that examines love and trauma, and will make readers question what they would do in Isabel and Edward’s place.