Thank you Netgalley, HarperCollins UK Audio and Abigail Dean for the audio Arc of The Death of Us
Narrated by Claire Skinner; John Hopkins

The Death of Us was a mixed bag for me. I enjoyed the themes of this book, if that the right wording. They are heavy, tackling themes of a home Invasion, assault, survival and how trauma affects both parties. I liked the very different POV with this book. Our FMC, Isabel who tells her story directly to the assailant within her court hearing was both heartbreaking and heart wrenching. It felt like you were listening to your closest friend pouring her heart out which made her narrative super immersive. Edward, her husband, told in 3rd person which portrays his denial and distance of what happened put in place the raw process of how trauma rips both of them apart. A stitch by painful stitch. It made for a very powerful character study. I just didn't really enjoy how slow the book was in general, which took the thriller side away for me but that's just a personal thing as I know these books are slow burners.

Claire Skinner and John Hopkins both did an excellent job in narrating this audio.

3.75 for Storygraph, 4 Stars for Netgalley

4 Stars – Quiet, Powerful, and Deeply Human

The Death of Us is a slow-burning psychological drama that explores the emotional fallout of a violent crime. Rather than focusing on the criminal, Abigail Dean centers the survivors—Edward and Isabel—whose marriage and lives are forever altered by a brutal home invasion.

Told through dual timelines, the novel captures the raw aftermath and the long, painful journey toward healing. Dean's writing is compassionate, intimate, and unflinchingly honest. It's not fast-paced, but its emotional depth and realism make it deeply affecting.

A standout for its focus on trauma, love, and resilience, this is a poignant, thought-provoking read that lingers long after the final page. Quietly devastating—and quietly hopeful.

This is my first title by Abigail Dean although I still have a copy of Girl A on my book shelf to read. I couldn’t pass up a book talking about death, not in the capacity I’ve grown to expect but something really deep, the death of a relationship. How did it come to that? All it takes is one single night, because one night can change lives.

Isabel and Edward were the victims of a home invasion and it took the police twenty years to arrest the man who did it. To be honest, I already can’t remember how they found their attacker (who turned out to become a serial killer in the years after), nor what he was sentenced. He’s in it but the story isn’t about him, and I never got all of the details of what he did that night either. I was curious though so yes I was left hungry to know more in that respect but it’s just not that kind of story. This story is about the aftermath and how it impacted Isabel and Edward.

The Death of Us is a book about trauma and how differently people react. Isabel wanted to talk about what had happened but under the guise of work Edward mostly fled their home and Isabel in the years to come. Other victims had an even different reaction, some never got over it. Abigail Deans shows how their strong marriage is hollowed out because of the chasm between them, the guilt and secrets standing in their way. They muddled along and survived the best they could but there was always a before and an after and it would never be the same again.

It’s such a shame this couple couldn’t communicate with each other and/or seek therapy. If there’s one valuable lesson to be learned from this novel, it must be this. At the start of the novel they’re not together anymore so I can’t say there are any surprises there. Personally I found the story slow and – dare I say it – even a bit boring, as I already knew the guy was caught and they wouldn’t make it together. Also Isabel talks a lot but I didn’t feel quite the emotion, the entire thing is quite detached. Is this one where you had to read between the lines? I’m not sure I was the right listener for this type of novel.

P.S. There was one scene where Isabel attends a line up in the hopes of recognizing ‘him’ although he wore a mask. She might not have seen his face but she heard his voice plenty in her ear so I don’t know why they didn’t let them say something. Also his DNA couldn’t be matched in the system. Is that even possible given his profession? I have to admit, I was probably too occupied with ‘catching him’ than I was involved in Isabel’s tragic decline. These were minor observations I made at the time, my fault entirely to be led astray like this.

This is an excellent literary thriller. Sometimes, you read thrillers for the twists and thrills; sometimes, you read them to be riveted and intrigued. This one will keep you awake reading into the night, but it will also blow you away with its depth of understanding of human nature and its brilliant writing.

Isabel and Edward are a young married couple living in London whose lives are overturned when the South London Invader (similar to the Golden State Killer) enters their home one night. He restrains Edward while he assaults Isabel before leaving and evading capture. 25 years and more victims later, he is on trial, and Isabel and Edward wait to give their statements in court.

This is not a book about a serial killer. This is a story about how a marriage can crumble after trauma; how a violent attack can affect people so hugely, they struggle to hold onto each other.

Abigail Dean is a master at this. In Girl A, again inspired by a real-life case, she focused on the aftermath of trauma and on recovery. In her second book, Day One, she looked at a community devastated by a school shooting. Her subject matter is truly gripping, but it's the focus on human response in the aftermath of trauma that fascinates me.

This book examines the characters' marriage before and after the event and doesn't run chronologically, but it's never confusing thanks to Dean's deft writing. Isabel's chapters are particularly powerful, written like a victim impact statement addressed to her attacker.

If you enjoy literary thrillers with an air of true crime but a focus on the victims - think Notes on an Execution or Bright Young Girls - you'll love this.

Just a note on the audiobook: The quality could have been better. During the female protagonist's sections, you can hear the turning of the pages, and the sounds coming from her mouth. The editing could be improved.

Abigail Dean’s psychological thriller, “The Death of Us,” will keep you on the edge of your seat. The audio is top-notch, featuring clear and engaging male and female voices. Claire Skinner and John Hopkins deliver outstanding performances as the narrators, bringing the story to life. While there were a few minor background noise issues, I’m confident they’ve been addressed prior to release.

A slow-burn psychological thriller. This starts with the brutal home invasion and attack of married couple Isobel and Edward, before weaving into a then-and-now perspective to create a powerful and unsettling love story and the impact of the horrific crime on them. A well written and heart-wrenching tale. With the dual perspectives of Isobel and Edward it works nicely as a two-handed narration audio book that builds the tension.

I’ve read the book and wondered how well it would work as an audio version. Whilst I was familiar with the story, I believe it’s a great audiobook as well. The narration is very good and delivered at just the right pace and tone. The story has a dual time line and explores a deeply disturbing domestic crime. It’s chilling, mainly because it’s plausible and it sets the listener thinking. The central characters are perfect in that they feel like real people, living in their domestic bliss and their lives are shattered. It’s a story hinted at by news headlines occasionally, but this fleshes out all the back detail and scrapes the veneer. It’s what I’d call a domestic noir. Haunting, uncomfortable at times, but really well written.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an audio version of the book.

Heartbreaking and so very disturbing but also memorising and extremely well written and narrated. This is a story that will stay with me as it went so far beyond the actual crime and on to the many, many repercussions like ripples on a pond.

So sorry

I listen to sooo many books but I found the audio was hard to follow even after like an hour.
So I’m not sure if I can continue

Thanks for approving me for this though
Maybe I’ll revisit reading it physically in future as I really liked Girl A.

This is a gripping, emotional rollercoaster. The story pulled me in right from the start, and the twists kept coming, making it hard to stop listening. The characters are complex, and you really feel for them as their secrets unravel. The narration was excellent, adding to the intensity. If you like thrillers that mix suspense with deep character exploration, definitely give this one a try!

This is the first audiobook I’ve dnf. Unfortunately I don’t know how good the story would have been as the narrators put me off. I’ve never noticed this in an audiobook before but they paused (presumable to turn a page) and made audible noises with their mouth like swallowing loudly that just started driving me nuts. I’m sure these could have been edited out. It was enough to make me turn the book out. It’s a shame as it had the beginnings of a good story.

This is a remarkable book about Isabel and Edward who are survivors of a horrific attack and rape in their home in south London. It’s narrated from both of their perspectives and set across two timescales, from back when it happened, and today, during the court proceedings.

I was utterly transfixed by the writing, the depth of the characters, the love story and marriage, which eventually unravels in light of the horrors Isabel and Edward experienced. I struggled a little with the female narration because there were a lot of pauses that seemed to break up the flow, particularly in the first part of the book, but otherwise this was absolutely a five-star book. Beautifully written, deeply emotive and very clever. Thoroughly recommend.

The Death Of Us I’d only my second novel by Abigail Dean, and I loved this every bit as much as Day One.

The story itself is delivered mainly in a split time line and in a two hander style from both Edward and Isabelle who were the victims of a prolific rapist and serial killer. Isabelle’s story is mainly told in a style of writing to her rapist in her impact statement, detailing the crime at the time and life since. Edward gives us more of the now and the lead up and event of the court case, because many years later he’s been caught and is about to go to trial.

While the writing is graphic and brutal and the horrific crimes are essentially the core of the story, the impact of his crimes on the couple are the strongest message throughout, and really the main story. The impact on them individually and their relationship. Dean doesn’t flinch from harsh brutality of the crimes, nor the shattering knock on effects. The ending had me choking on tears.

Claire Skinner and John Hopkins provide a fantastic performance in the narration, there were some little issues with background noise in the recording but as this is a proof I’m sure they’re now corrected for publication.

Huge thanks to HarperCollins UK audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this audiobook which is available now.

I loved this.
All the stars 🌟
#Jorecommends

This was a very good psychological thriller. It was a slow burn but worked well as we go through Isabel and Edward's life and love with the event. It is interesting and I have never listened to a book like this before and I am glad that I did.

The Death Of Us by Abigail Dean, the book starts with the man who is just like the Golden State killer is finally found after 25 years and we hear this from Izzabell who her and her husband Edward were one of the victims and due to the attack there now divorced it’s 25 years later and they come together For the final chapter of the trauma this man has visited on their life. And the book it seems he has moved on and is remarried where she doesn’t seem like she did it all. I found it hard to get into this book although a very original take on a crime and it affects the victims IDK why I did listen until the end but it took me three different settings to finish it I thought the narrator both of them did a great job Claire Skinner and Tom Hopkins are great performers so it wasn’t the narration. I really just think I am not an emotional person I’m not a person who loves to read sad books for the sake of being sad so it’s not that this book wasn’t good I think this book just wasn’t for me. #NetGalley, #HemlockPress, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,#AbigailDean, #TheDeathOfUs,

Absolutely loved diving into “The Death of Us” by Abigail Dean. As someone who appreciates dark, emotionally intense stories, this novel truly hit the mark. Narrated by Claire Skinner and John Hopkins, the audiobook felt almost like listening to a gripping true crime podcast—rich, immersive, and hauntingly real.
The story begins with that fateful spring night in South London, a night that shatters the lives of Isabel and Edward forever. Dean masterfully weaves a dual timeline, taking us back to their life before the attack and then unfolding the harrowing aftermath. I found the early chapters beautifully done—showing their hopes, dreams, and the love they shared—making the subsequent trauma even more heartbreaking.
The portrayal of the home invader, known as the South London Invader, was disturbingly vivid and raw. The graphic details were unsettling but felt necessary—they underscore the horror of what these victims endured. Dean doesn’t shy away from the brutality, and I appreciated her honesty, even if it was tough to read at times. It’s a stark reminder of how horrific crimes can be, and I think the author’s intent was to confront that head-on.
What struck me most was how the novel explores the ripple effects of trauma—not just on Isabel and Edward, but on their marriage, friendships, and sense of self. The characters felt incredibly real; Dean’s character development is subtle yet profound. I was wholly invested in their journey of survival, hope, and ultimately, healing.
Dean’s writing is both brutal and compassionate—she captures human behaviour with such care and insight. The book felt like a perfect blend of crime, psychological study, and a deeply human love story. It’s a slow burn, but every piece is worth the wait. As the trial unfolds after 25 years, the narrative builds tension beautifully, culminating in a powerful revelation.
In short, “The Death of Us” is a gripping, emotionally charged novel that I couldn’t put down. It’s a story about survival, resilience, and the enduring strength of love amidst unimaginable darkness. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a thought-provoking, unputdownable read. Abigail Dean has truly outdone herself with this one.

This is a very slow burner. Well written though and enjoyed the characters and narration. I would recommend this audiobook

I was recommended this book by a friend, and it was definitely worth a listen.
Immediately I knew this was going to be brilliant. A woman is writing what appears to be a witness statement to the man convicted of attacking her and her husband. It's an incredibly strong opening, and I was hooked straight away. It felt much more than a thriller, more literary fiction and thought provoking.
I thought the ending felt a little abrupt, I actually had to rewind to see how I missed the end! But on the whole it is wonderfully written.

On some level most crime fiction is concerned mainly with what happened after the crime is committed - the impact on those targeted and the finding of the perpetrator. The Death of Us takes this to another level, with main character Isabel writing an impact statement to Nigel Woods, the home invader who attacked her and her husband Edward.

Their marriage doesn’t survive the aftermath - Edward is horrified that he was unable to protect his wife and Isabel is understandably traumatised by her horrific and alienating experience. On the surface both have successful careers and even find themselves able to form family bonds with Nina, the orphaned daughter of another couple Nigel attacks (and, this time, murders). But they are no longer able to share everything with each other and to some extent Nigel’s invasion of their home and their lives spells the death of their relationship.

But love is love and when DNA identifies Nigel decades later, Isabel and Edward are drawn back into each other’s daily lives. And, like Larkin’s Arundel Tomb, Dean’s novel illustrates in painful detail that when all is said and done, “What’s left of us is love.”

Interesting concept and definitely a slow burn. Took me time to get into the book but I enjoyed the journey either way