A couple recount the vicious attack that changed their lives and the subsequent court case. Part literary thriller, part love story, this is Abigail Dean at her best. Definitely a slow burn, bringing the story of the Golden State Killer to the UK, interspersed with the story of Isabel and Edward as they drift together and apart again. A stand out novel.

“It's never been a question of loving you, Isabel. It's a question of how much loving you I can take.”

The Death Of Us follows Isabel and Edward, a couple in their thirties whose lives change forever when they become victims to a devastating home invasion. When their attacker is caught, it's finally time to tell the story of that night - to each other more than anyone else. This is a story of murder. This is a story of survival. But most of all, this is a story of love.

This is hands down one of the most powerful, compelling, haunting and raw books I have ever read. The way Abigail Dean writes is masterful and the hope I felt whilst reading drove me to finish this book within the day. Edward and Isabel are both heartbreaking and beautiful characters and I really found myself terrified, tearful and heartfelt throughout.

The Death Of Us is told over three parts alternating between Edward and Isabel, and between the past and present. I will say this was not an easy read, but it was written eloquently and with such emotional depth and psychological complexity that it will stay with me a while - and it is one I can’t recommend enough.

Thank you so much to Harper Fiction, Abigail Dean and Netgalley for sending me this advanced copy of The Death Of Us to read and review. My opinions are my own.

Isabel and Edward are beyond 30 when a devastating home invasion changes their lives forever; because the invader didnt just break into their home. He broke into their lives.

‘The Death Of Us’ follows both Isabel and Edward from before the home invasion, to the events that follow. I will never forget this book. It is a heart wrenching masterpiece, showcasing how trauma changes the trajectory of your life.

I felt truly unsettled whilst reading this, and Abigail Dean has written an absolutely exceptional book. My heart broke for the characters and I cried whilst reading, the plot evoking raw and gut wrenching emotion. It was not an easy read by any stretch of the imagination, but the subject of hope gave me the compulsion to continue.

A few truly compelling novel that I highly recommend.

5* The Death of Us - Abigail Dean. Absolutely brilliant - a gem of a book.

Isobel and Edward were once thirty somethings with the world at their feet. Edward a lawyer. Isobel a consultant and aspiring playwright. But their world was shattered when a serial 'home invader', murderer and rapist entered their home and subjected them to brutal crimes.

Thirty years on and the perpetrator has been caught. Edward, Isobel and other victims come together in the old Bailey to give statements to the court. Their marriage has not survived but their bond remains. This is a story of a horrific criminal but it is really a story about love, marriage and what both pulls people apart and together. Told across a timeline taking in the expanse of their marriage, this is a unique take putting not just victims but the impact on victims at the heart of the story.

This is Abigail Dean's third book. All character driven and all with a tight plot and a need for the reader to unspool what has happened in a methodical, slow burn but utterly compelling journey.

The Death of Us is truly brilliant. Beautifully written, often a tough read but compelling and difficult to put down. It cements the talent of Abigail Dean as someone with the ability to bring a new approach to the crime genre. I cannot wait to see what she writes next.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins (Hemlock Press) for an ARC.

Isabel and Edward's lives were changed for ever one night.
And they never talked about it - not to anyone or each other.
Then their attacker is caught and it is time to talk.

Communication is what the story for me , is all about or should I say lack of it. We are faced with a serial rapist and killer about to be sentenced however there have to be the victim statements first and this is when old feelings and things not said at the time begin to surface. The book is a slow burner and for good reason as it gives the reader time to contemplate their own feelings towards the guilty party, the victims and their families. It may not be for everyone however it is an addictive read.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review.

This was an interesting take on crime fiction, concentrating on the impact to the victims and how one night has changed their lives.

Isobel and Edward are a happy until a man dubbed ‘The South London invader’ breaks into their house one evening. The events of that night will change the couples lives forever.

Thirty years later the man responsible is found and whilst attending his trial Isobel reflects on the past. Edward’s chapters tell the present narrative and how the trial unfolds.

I enjoyed the mix of past and present to tell the story of both the South London invaders crimes as well as Isobel and Edward’s love story.

It kept me gripped throughout and I desperately wanted the story to have a happy ending.

Really good fresh take on the crime genre.

This is an exhilarating read! Isabel and Edward seemingly have it all: they are affluent, successful and have a great group of friends. They also have a passionate and happy marriage. However, all that changes when their home is invaded by a notorious serial rapist.

This novel isn’t so much about the attack itself, although some of the brutal details are revealed as the plot unravels. Instead, Dean focuses on the psychological impact of this violent encounter - on the victims, the police who work with them and the friends that try to help them through their trauma.

Written as a journal addressed to the perpetrator, the reader quickly delves into the lives of the Isabel and Edward and how their existence changes over the decades. They survived their ordeal but the attacker’s fingerprints leave horrifying marks on their identity, their relationship and their sense of place.

This is another gripping and unputdownable read from Abigail Dean - her best yet!

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

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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.