Another brilliant, page turning read. It's absolutely heartbreaking in parts. The characters go through such a devastating attack, that tears them apart. Fantastic plot, with a little bit of spice, Huge Congratulations to Abigail Dean for another bestseller. Highly, highly, highly recommend. LOVED IT.

A deep and devastating book that delves into the way a couple deal with a hugely traumatic event.
A dual timeline leads you, slowly, through a combination of a crime and love story.
Well written but a dark novel to read. It will stay with you long after the last page.

Just finished The Death of Us by Abigail Dean, and honestly, I’m still reeling. What a beautifully layered, utterly absorbing story. From the first page, I was hooked—there’s something quietly intense about it that made it impossible to put down.
I don’t even know where to shelve this in my head. It’s not quite a thriller, not really a crime novel either, despite there being a detective and a central incident. It leans more towards romantic contemporary fiction, but with such a dark, devastating undercurrent that it never feels light or predictable.
The characters were just so well-drawn—flawed, believable, and compelling. I felt deeply connected to Isabel; her voice guiding us through the past gave the narrative real heart. It was raw and reflective, full of grief, longing, and complexity. Then you have Edward in the present, whose perspective grounded the story and gave it a sense of inevitability. His chapters were quieter but carried so much weight, like the slow exhale after a storm.
The plot unfolded at just the right pace, never rushed, always purposeful. There’s a certain elegance to Dean’s writing—controlled, emotive, never overwrought. She handles painful subjects with such sensitivity, and there were moments that genuinely choked me up.
All in all, a stunning novel. Thoughtful, heartbreaking, and utterly immersive. I’ll be thinking about this one for a while.

Following married couple Isobel and Edward, The Death of Us shows how they navigate their lives after a traumatic event. Going back and forth though timelines showing before, during and after the event, this was a slow-burning, dark, yet absorbing read. With some good characterisation and a pov from Isobel directly to the perpetrator making for an interesting angle, I recommend this if you are in the mood for something dark, with the caveat that it did make me want to turn lights on and check doors were locked at night!

I am definitely a fan of Abigail Dean. No two books are alike. This was a fascinating tale of Isabel and Edward and the profound effect the serial killer/rapist Nigel had on their relationship when he invaded their home. It swings back and forth from their early days until their attendance at Nigel's sentencing. It is well written, pacy and very engaging .A recommended read.

Edward and Isabel are the victims of a home invasion, what impact can this incident have on their lives?

I found The Death of Us to be a torturous, slow burner that the author claims to be a psychological suspense. From the start I could not connect with this novel. The story is told from two points of view, Edward and Isabel, the husband and wife. But this is not a linear tale and wanders back and forth over a 35 year time frame. This tortures the reader with the constant time changing, very little progress and dwelling on the feelings of Edward and Isabel. It feels as though you are stuck in a lift and have no idea of how long it will be before it moves or are rescued.

The Death of Us really drags on and on. The story seems to be going nowhere. Both Edward and Isabel have thoughts of Nigel Wood, the South London Invader, in their heads and refer to him as “you” as though he is a living everyday part of their lives. Nigel Wood does not engage them since that night, it is all in their heads, which makes this novel childish and silly.

I found The Death of Us to be a frustrating read, with it all being in Edward’s and Isabel’s heads. For them to blame the incident on the breakdown of their marriage, that it is “The Death of Us” shows a couple full of easy excuses. As Edward says…

‘It’s never been a question of loving you, Isabel. It’s a question of how much loving you I can take.’

…which made me ask, how much of this book can I take?

The ending of The Death of Us is very disappointing and I was glad to finish this depressing, sad, 1 star BAD read.

Part crime, part love story, “The Death of Us” is a powerful novel from Abigail Dean. Isabel and Edward have known each other since their late teens, eventually fall in love and get married but are then subject to a horrific attack in their home. We already find at the start of the book that the attacker has been caught and we learn more about Isabel and Edward’s story and that night through their different perspectives. We read about the “past” from Isabel as she writes a history of herself, her relationship with Edward and how that night impacted their lives in a statement to their attacker. For Edward, we read more about his view as he witnesses the “present” and the trial.

This isn’t always an easy book to read. The descriptions of the brutal attacks are quite horrific and play on fears which I’m sure will resonate with a lot of readers. But it is well balanced with the relationship between Isabel and Edward and you could imagine that everything that happened to them after the attack and their reactions were realistic rather than fantastical. While they’re not always likeable characters, I still found myself rooting for them as they tried to rebuild their lives.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

An overwhelmingly powerful and heartbreaking novel that had me catching my breath throughout. Forget the ironing and leave the gardening because once you begin to read this book you won’t be able to stop. Some of the subject matter is very dark and can be difficult to read, but it is so beautifully written and grips your heart. I felt wrecked at the end, and I know this story will stay with me forever. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the early copy. Very highly recommended.

The Death of Us by Abigail Dean
Published by: HarperCollins
Published on 10/4/25

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

NO SPOILERS

I loved this book but it took me longer to read it then most books do as the subject matter is dark and I had to keep putting it down and reflecting on what I had read.
A riveting and heart-breaking story about life and love after an earth shattering event, beautifully written and plotted it will stay with me for a long time.

Thanks to the author, publisher and to netgalley for providing me with this advance digital copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

This book explores the impact of a traumatic event on a married couple, revisited when the perpetrator is on trial for his crimes several years after the event, one of several committed by the defendant. It is a poignant and well-written depiction of the darkest of times in a relationship and the ripples caused by it, but the subject matter is not an easy read.

Amazing, heartfelt storyline with great character building allowing you to really get to know both Isabel and Edward. I loved how all of Isabel’s parts were written specifically to the perpetrator.
A really detailed and emotional story, beautifully written

The Death of Us tells the story of Isabel and Edward, a young couple that are two of the many victims of The South London Invader. The novel tracks the changes in their lives, starting from the beginning, meeting as mere teenagers, to a mature couple, as they seek retribution for the trauma inflicted on them.

Fans of Abigail Dean will find the same darkness in its tone and themes as her previous work. The characters are conflicted, and the story telling is careful and measured. Written from Isabel’s first person perspective, directly addressing the perpetrator, to following Edward in the present day, reflecting on the past, this story is tense, gripping and disturbing.

Whatever I say in this review will not do this book justice. As the blurb says it is a book about horror attacks, murder, survival and love. Isabel and Edward had been in love since the first time they met and although the actions of one terrible person would change their lives and claim the physical and some of the emotional parts of their love, he would not defeat them!

Everyone should have this sort of love in their lifetime

This was a thriller with a twist, except maybe not the twist a typical thriller reader would expect. The crime happens at the beginning of the story, and then shows the unravelling of a couple who seem destined to love each other forever. This book shows that when the worst thing you could imagine happens to you, the person that is supposed to love you the most may turn away from the pain caused. This was a thriller and a love story rolled into one. My gripe with it is that it was so deeply slow and boring. It felt more slow literary analysis than fast paced thriller, and I wasn't expecting it.

This is a bit of a slow burner, about the relationship between a couple and set in three parts. I found it difficult to follow due to the slow pace but if you like character driven novels then you will enjoy the read. it's just not for me and I gave up caring about Edward and Isobel by halfway through the book. I didn't like the jumping back and forwards to different timelines, although it picked up towards the end. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Dean has carved out a niche for herself in the telling of unspeakable events through the lens of normal, relatable people. She humanises the horrific which is both reassuring and slightly terrifying. The crimes she describes are quite American in feel: a ‘house of horrors’, a school shooting and, in this novel, a home invasion. For me, this gave the terror a bit of distance, which just stopped it from being too close to home. I’m glad I don’t live in the area of London where this is set because it does feel very immediate, and if you are of a nervous disposition you may need to give this a miss because parts of it are quite graphic.
Ultimately, this is a story of a relationship and of love, and the events of that one night are just an extreme set of circumstances which main characters Isabel and Edward have to navigate. It is this thread which makes the book so much more than just a sensationalist crime novel. We see the beginning of their relationship and then the fallout from the crime and then we see them revisiting events years later when the perpetrator is finally caught and they have to attend his sentencing.
Alternate chapters narrate Isabel’s experience (hers are in the second person and addressed to the perpetrator) and Edward’s, in the third person. This is an interesting structure which has the effect of a camera lens zooming in and out. There are a few twists that propel the plot and I loved the inclusion of the media response to the crimes which really made me think.
This is one of those books that is intensely readable whilst being hard-going emotionally but it is a rewarding and thoughtful story with flashes of humour that continues to showcase Dean’s considerable talents.

This is a beautifully written book dealing with dark themes and the effect of violent crime on the victims. It is also a story of love and survival. The author has the gift of creating well-developed, believable characters. This is a powerful, emotional read that stays with you after you finish the book.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Abigail Dean’s The Death of Us isn’t just a book—it’s a full-body experience. Raw, emotional, and at times, as gut-wrenching as watching a slow-motion car crash, it dives headfirst into love, loss, and the messy truths in between.

The story revolves around Isabel and Edward, a couple whose lives are shattered by a home invasion that changes everything. Decades later, they reunite for the trial of their attacker, reopening old wounds and forcing them to reckon with the past. Each is on their own journey, but the trial binds them together once again.

Dean masterfully weaves psychological suspense with a crime thriller’s intensity, making every page hum with tension. The character work here is next-level—Isabel and Edward feel so real, you half expect them to step out of the pages and ask you for a cup of tea.

It’s not always easy to read, but it’s impossible to put down. Brace yourself—this one’s going to win awards, and deservedly so.

Thank You NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for a Review Copy

The Death of Us is a book that will be with me forever. Edward and Isabel meet when they were students and have a deep relationship based on trust and communication. They are at the point in their lives where everything is coming together personally and professionally, and then suddenly everything is destroyed. A violent attacker targets their home and sexually assaults Isabel for hours while Edward is forced to listen outside.
Several years later the man has finally been caught and the couple have come to make statements at his sentencing. No longer together, it’s time to talk to each other about what happened that night.
Abigail Dean writes brilliantly about how a relationship can be blown apart when communication dies and how people can hurt each other time and time again. I ached for Isabel and Edward, they were so lost without each other but couldn’t find a way back to what they once had. The surrounding characters such as Freddie and Nina gave the story real depth and developed our understanding of the couple in other ways.
Brilliant writen, relatable and also absolutely horrifying, this is a 5 star read.

Abigail Dean is one of my favourite current writers, taking very serious subjects and centring a story around them without ever feeling exploitative or sensationalist. This could have been a very different book in other hands, but Dean is wonderful at looking at devastating events from the viewpoint of those affected rather than centring it around the event itself and the result is always utterly engrossing.

The Death of Us follows Isabel and Edward from their first meeting as students and through their marriage which is irrevocably changed by a hugely traumatic violent attack in their own home. The narrative is split between Edward and Isabel – Isabel mostly talks about the past, recounting their lives together and the impact of the attack, while Edward is talking in the present as they attend the sentencing of their attacker, who has finally been caught. It’s a very interesting device as we never really see either of them fully – less about how Edward felt about Isabel and their situation over the years or how Isabel currently feels about him – and that reflects very well the fact that even a close marriage can never really know the other person fully. Similarly, Isabel gives no details of the attack itself and we don’t learn what happened to Edward until near the end, reflecting what they keep from each other over the years.

There is so much compassion in the writing – the main characters are not always likeable but their actions are believable and emotional and you can’t help feeling how deeply they are affected. Other victims and the family of the attacker are also present at the sentencing and their varying responses to what has happened to them is equally sensitively handled. Once I started this book I couldn’t put it down – the subject matter may be difficult for many people but it’s beautifully written and highly, highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.