This is a gripping and emotionally charged novel that delves deep into the complexities of human relationships and the impact of past traumas. The writing is both poignant and powerful, which draws you into the lives of her well-crafted characters. The story unfolds with a perfect blend of suspense and emotional depth, keeping readers engaged from start to finish. This was a thought-provoking and compelling read. While the pacing can be a bit slow at times, the overall narrative remains strong and impactful. This novel is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of forgiveness and redemption.

Highly recommended for those who enjoy emotionally driven stories with a touch of mystery.

Told in multiple timelines and from both people's perspective, a married couple as young lovers as victims of a horrible crime, that took over parts of their lives, and as an older divorced couple. This is a book of great feeling and depth and of surviving past the worst. Strongly drawn main characters as well as strongly drawn potraits of other survivors, the detective, devoting her life to find the killer, their friends and family of creation.

I absolutely adored Abigail Dean's debut book so was very excited to receive her follow up from NetGalley (thank you!). This one felt completely different but I still devoured it..

This novel would be best read with as few details as possible, but the general plot revolves around a couple as they age and deal with the aftermath of a very serious crime. The history of the couple is alternated with chapters from the present. Dean really dives deep into characters and I felt that I knew them by the end of the book.

I did knock off 1 star because it took me a bit of time to become fully invested in the book. It felt like a slower start but I am very glad that I stuck with the book. This is not one to miss if you enjoy very good writing and extremely good character development.

Four stars.

When husband and wife Edward and Isabel are both thirty a serial killer and rapist breaks into their home. Their marriage never recovers from this invasion.

Twenty years later the two are reunited for the man’s trial and are forced to face their love that never really ended and all that still binds them. During those years Isabel followed the case obsessively and has met with other survivors. She feels that reading her victim impact statement at the trial will allow her to let the past go.

Meanwhile, Edward has spent those years trying to figure out how nearly losing their lives destroyed their marriage and he dreads reliving that part of the past. How much can love bear?

I found this to be a fascinating set up for a novel, sad, tragic and dark. The author also wrote GIRL A, which I remember enjoying. The whole time I was reading I kept wondering whether my own marriage could survive this, which was surely Dean’s intent. It’s not the easiest read, and the triggers are right out there in front street, but I’m so glad to have read it.

We meet Isabel & Edward when they are 19 years old. Edward admired Isabel's photo.. Their mutual friend Allison fixes them up even though Edward has a girlfriend, Louise, at college & Isabel has recently gotten out of a 6 month hospitalization for trying to commit suicide.

The book follows the ups & days of their life from 19-55. They've gone through so much together, especially as victims of a home invasion.

We get to know Isabel, Edward, Nina, Etta, Laura Bishop, Freddie and Nigel Wood.

I read the ARC on Christmas Day. It's well-written, honest, poignant, bleak, true to life. It's a lot. There are several triggers. I wouldn't recommend this book to ever. It's not light & fluffy. It reminded me a bit of Notes of an Execution, another heavy book.

I feel lucky having read the book. I'm giving it 4 out of 5 gin & tonics. This book is going to stick with me.

Abigail Dean’s The Death of Us is an emotionally resonant exploration of trauma, resilience, and the unbreakable ties of love. With a deft narrative that oscillates between past and present, Dean examines the devastating aftermath of violence and its ripple effects on a seemingly strong marriage.
What I like :-
1 Complex Characters: Isabel and Edward are deeply human, their flaws and strengths laid bare as they grapple with the fallout of a harrowing event. Isabel’s determination to confront the past contrasts poignantly with Edward’s reluctance, creating a nuanced portrayal of how people cope differently with trauma.
2 Engaging Dual Timeline: The story’s structure, shifting between the couple’s idyllic early years and their present confrontation with the past, allows readers to understand the depth of their bond while uncovering the cracks that violence exposed.
3 Powerful Themes: Dean tackles profound themes—love, justice, forgiveness, and closure—with sensitivity. The courtroom scenes, particularly Isabel’s victim impact statement, are raw and impactful, shedding light on the complexities of seeking justice.
What I didn't like :-
None.
Overall :- Abigail Dean has crafted a deeply moving novel that transcends the thriller genre, offering a profound meditation on survival and the scars that never fully fade. The Death of Us is as much a love story as it is a story of loss, and its exploration of human resilience is both heartbreaking and inspiring.
A hauntingly beautiful tale of survival, love, and the lingering shadow of violence that will leave readers reflecting on its emotional weight long after the final page.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Viking for giving me an advance copy.

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: April 15, 2025
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:

This was a very emotional and intense read for me. I enjoyed our authors writing and story and I loved how Abigail took care writing about trauma and how it effects everybody the same and differently. We follow a husband and wife who both escaped the hands of a ser!al unaliver and we watch as they navigate this path it’s taken them on and the aftermath such traumatic events can take people, we watch them bring all of this back up to the surface once again when he is caught decades later and they stand face to face with this again. Our characters in this book were well fleshed out/well developed/written. I felt so many emotions in this while reading and every single time a new chapter started it was as if I was gripping for the next emotion I was about to feel. This is a must read for 2025 and I would pay mind to the trigger warnings, but this is definitely an easy 5 star for me!

Large thank you to our Author, NetGalley as well as Penguin Group Viking Penguin, Viking.

This thriller was a bit too domestic for my tastes but people will EAT. THIS. UP. The characters were beautifully crafted and nuanced, and the plot was paced very well. I was engaged throughout, I just had a hard time connecting with the characters - but I think that's a me problem.

Something about the way this was written made me not enjoy it as much as I thought I would. It felt like it took forever to get through, which is disappointing because I think there was an interesting story in there.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.75 stars
Did this one destroy me as much as Girl A? No. But it definitely left me feeling a little bruised and battered - in a good way. A view on trauma and how it affects person to person.as well as the damage things left unsaid can cause.

Oh my gawd- this is so good! It is so realistic and shows how couples have a hard time staying together after a big tragic event. I love deep it goes into the hearts of victims. Some of us know how close to the truth it all is. Really well done. Will be easy to promote.

In the aftermath of their shared trauma, ex-spouses reunite to attend the long awaited capture and trial of their tormentor. A bittersweet look at the
slow destruction of a marriage after unbearable anguish.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book thoughtfully examines how different people react to trauma, focusing on a group of characters who are still deeply affected by a violent home invasion that happened years ago. The story becomes even more gripping when the attacker is finally caught decades later, forcing the characters to confront their past and process long-buried emotions. The author excels in character development, offering nuanced portrayals of how each person copes with their experience and how it shapes their present lives. The emotional depth and complex relationships between the characters kept me engaged from start to finish.

The Death of Us is a very dark, tence, slow burn of a psychological crime thriller. I had a good time with this story, it sucked me in and I just couldn't put down.
But will I still be thinking about this novel next week? Probably not. Would I still recommend this novel to thriller lovers, or even true crime lovers? Yes. Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Engaging and entertaining. A recommended purchase for collections where crime and thrillers are popular.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

How do different people react to trauma? This book explores the lives of characters years after a traumatic home invasion and what happens when their attacker is caught decades later? Very interesting and wonderful character development.