Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book. Abigail Dean is an author whose Book Day One is on my list to read. So it was great to find out about her style of writing through her latest book The Death of Us.

A story about Edward and Isabel and how another's actions sent their marriage into free fall. One fateful night when a predator enters their life and does appalling things to Isabel whilst Edward is tied up in another room powerless. The guilt Edward carries at not being able to help Isabel is left unspoken, neither can talk about that night, Edward thinking she blames him for leaving her to the mercy of the predator and Isabel not telling Edward what happened to her.

Buried deep these feelings slowly tear them apart and Isabel into a mental and soul destroying decline of self worth for which Edward cannot control. One night when Edward is away Isabel goes to a bar and picks up men. This is the point of no return for Edward.

The story weaves around the predator but he is not the main part of this book, it is a book about the love of two people who he destroyed and the aftermath of what he did to other families. The twist at the end you don't see coming, but the clues were there throughout the book.
I found it difficult to warm to Isabel and Edward but that is because they are so complex, their emotions are graphic in detail. The story swings around to different years giving you the background of Edward to Isabel. It is not the sort of book that is easy to put down and pick up, it is best read in one sitting.

The story is told by Isabel so you are reading it though her eyes.
The sentences are short and to the point, because I was reading it on my mobile (which is how it was sent to me) it was sometimes difficult to see the full stop at the end of the sentence so it got a little confusing every so often. For this reason I found it didn't flow well for me.
I have never read a story like this before, where the predator isn't really the central storyline but Abigail Dean as produced a book that is not just thought provoking but a love story.

Slow burn mystery & thriller. My second book of Abigail Dean and I find it to be different and challenging.
I finished the book and I must say I find myself enjoying her work again.

This one is tragic, dark and an emotional story of individuals who suffered a traumatic experienced.

Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher HarperCollins Publishers Australia for the ARC.

‘Let me talk again, then, about the night you came to our house.’

Late one summer’s evening in South London, husband and wife Edward and Isabel’s home is violently invaded. They are thirty years old, and the experience destroys their marriage. The invader, labelled as the South London Invader, becomes increasingly violent. Isabel, who has followed his increasingly violent criminal life, has connected with some other survivors. Isabel waits for him to be caught and has prepared for a trial in which she will get to read her victim impact statement aloud in court. Edward, who has remarried, is less eager to relive those memories, but is still captured by them.

‘We’ve had his DNA for a while. What we don’t have is any match.’

And when the perpetrator is caught, his plea renders a trial unnecessary. Edward and Isabel, now aged fifty-eight attend court for his sentencing. Can confronting him in court and reading their victim impact statements help his victims?

‘It is so easy to hate someone once you’ve decided to.’

There are three parts to this novel. Both Isabel and Edward have a voice and the story shifts between present and past.
As I read this novel, I thought about the impact of such horrendous events on those subjected to them. There is no mystery about who the perpetrator is (the story opens in the sentencing phase) but the crimes are less the focus than their impact. And, while Isabel and Edward may no longer be married to each other, the aftermath of the home invasion provides an essentially unbreakable connection.

This is a confronting read. It is dark, sad, uncomfortable and tragic. But it made me wonder about the lives of those who survive and how they navigate their own lives long after the media hype (and any justice delivered) have moved on.

Unputdownable and recommended.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Another haunting story from Abigail Dean, this one about Isabel and Edward. Told in dual timelines documenting their meeting, relationship, a traumatic experience and the aftermath of that event, this story gives us a broad perspective of both characters. I don’t feel that this is a typical psychological thriller but a definite foray into the human psyche and how trauma affects people in different ways.

It took me a while to get into, but once I did I was hooked.
The Death of Us follows a husband and wife’s story as they navigate life, and their relationship following a traumatic event, taking the reader on a journey through two different narratives; hers being past tense and the lead up to the event, and his being the present tense and the aftermath.
Whilst it’s as a dark thriller it is well paced, with enough lighter scenes mixed in to give you enough time to process the darker scenes.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and the alternate narrative it gave, it was a dark thriller, but it was more than that. It was a love story to the support systems that arise, following the event.

A dark mystery thriller, The Death of Us (2025) by Abigail Dean recounts the grizzly crimes of Nigel Wood who came to be known as the South London Invader. Almost three decades after Isabel survived the serial killer, Nigel is finally arrested and put on trial, found guilty and about to be sentenced. This reunites Isabel with her former husband, Edward, who has remarried. Isabel has closely followed the reporting of the Invader’s numerous violent murders and connected with many of his victims. A dark punchy narrative moves back and forth over time to reveal how that one act destroyed their love and marriage. A difficult read at times, with its unreliable narrators and some graphic scene descriptions (content warning) makes for a bleak domestic noir, with a three star rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given. With thanks to HarperCollins Publishing and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes.

I found this a challenging book to read. It tells the story of Isabel and Edward - their meeting, marriage, and then the breakdown of that marriage following a traumatic home invasion. They are now meeting up again, years later, as the perpetrator is put on trial for his many crimes.
My difficulty is that there isn’t a lot in this book that is upbeat. While I understand that’s possibly in the nature of the subject, I do like to feel a little uplifted when I’m reading, and I just didn’t. Having said that, the characters are well crafted and believable, and the storyline moves deftly through the different time periods.

Abigail Dean has written a perfect slow burn psychological thriller/human interest story that follows a couple from their first meeting through marriage, divorce to their reunion at the court case of The South London Invader who has finally been caught after an almost thirty year reign of terror.
Isabel, a troubled free spirit and Edward a budding solicitor both have other partners but find themselves drawn together and building a life. But a terrifying home invasion has caused cracks to appear and the ramifications are far reaching.
The story is told along two timelines and from both perspectives. It is raw, emotional and heart breaking. The focus is on the victims, DCI Etta Eliogu, a long serving police officer working the case who becomes a friend, and Nina, another victim who weaves her way into Isabel and Edward’s hearts.
I was totally immersed in this gripping read and highly recommend to those looking for an intelligent, well written tale.
Thanks to NetGalleyfor the ARC.

This was the first book offered to me on NetGalley.
It is not my preferred genre but I was keen to give it a go. I was disappointed & found it to be crass with too many c bombs littered throughout the text.
It wasn’t a particularly well written novel but I can appreciate it may appeal to some audiences.
I would not recommend this book & would not look for more novels from Abigail Dean.

Abigail Dean is a new author to me and I am so glad I decided to request this book.

From the first page I was totally engrossed in this story and felt every emotion a human being can feel, extremely intense and I am sure this book is going to stay with me for a long time, gut renching to put it mildly. Isobel and Edward who meet when they are very young are then at age thirty are the victims of a shocking crime in their South London home, a place that should be a safe haven and a crime that will have far reaching effects on their lives for many years after.

I believe this is one of those books that the least you know the better. An incredibly powerful book that demonstrates how brutal assaults can effect each of us differently and the price you need to pay to find peace.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.

This is one of those books that I struggled to get into. I picked it up, put it down picked it up again. Deciding to restart from the beginning, I sat and read a good portion of it in one go. The writing style is quite different and I had trouble following at first (obviously just me as all the reviewers love this book)
It’s a story of a marriage torn apart by a tragedy, parts narrated by the husband and the other the wife. The wife Isabel narrates her story to Nigel, the man who had broken into their home and raped her while he made her husband, Edward, stay in the bathroom and listen. The violence and horror of the crime is almost second to the aftermath of how it affected their lives and their subsequent divorce.
The story starts where they are to give witness statements at Nigel’s trial, almost 30 years after the event, they are not alone. There are other people there to tell their story.
It’s quite a horrific read of how events can change and shape peoples lives and not just the victims but the police involved in the hunt for the intruder who turned from raping his victims to murdering them. As Isabel and Edward narrate their stories you can see that despite the cracks in the relationship they loved each other and maybe they still do.

#TheDeathOfUs. #NetGalley

Many readers know the sheer delight of discovering a new release from a favourite author, and the agonising holding of breath to see if this latest book will meet expectations. Any apprehension about Abigail Dean’s third novel evaporated in the first tiny ARC pages of “The Death of Us.” I was utterly captivated by this devastating, compelling story and it kept me awake in the most wonderful bookish way!

The crimes that form the center of the plot expose some of the cruelest ways one human can treat another: inflicting humiliation and terror in the place that is supposed to be our refuge. ‘The South London Invader’ and his proclivities truly turn the stomach. However what elevates this novel is that while there is no shying away from the horror of these crimes, it is the relational, psychological and emotional impact of sharing this type of experience that is the primary focus. This is compelling literary fiction at its best. That this book could just as easily be described as a love story as a psychological thriller says it all.

I’ve heard several reviewers describe this as a slow burn novel, but honestly I found it one of the most enthralling and gripping books I’ve read, even though it spans several decades. Dean’s ability to orient the story with such subtly, and insight, and her utterly masterful use of language (reminiscent of Lionel Shriver) is a great contributor to the absorbing experience for the reader.

I must be honest and say that trigger warnings definitely apply (violence, sexual assault, strong language etc), but it is not gratuitous and has integrity within the story.

So grateful to @netgalley @vikingpress and @abigail for access to an ARC which meant I didn’t have to wait until April!

The Death of Us // Abigail Dean April 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I devoured this one over two nights. Part psychological thriller, part police procedural, part love story, this novel was brilliant. As frightening as it was devastating. And yet, there was hope fluttering throughout its pages. It tells the story of a couple who were the victims of a brutal home invasion when they were in their early thirties. Twenty years on, they are facing their attacker as he finally, in his late seventies, faces trial for his serial crimes that spanned decades and increased from prowling to rape, and then to murder. Told from both perspectives, Isabel and Edward, who were then married, but are no longer. The attack was the beginning of the death of their relationship.

Edward's perspective is told in real time, from the trial, and his recollections of their marriage are all in hindsight, and the version of Isabel in the present day that we get to know is from his viewpoint only. Isabel's perspective however unfolds as a story, an historical timeline of her entire relationship with Edward, prior to the attack and beyond. She is recounting this story to her attacker, as if in the form of a victim impact statement. It's unflinchingly honest. I found this dual narration with the differing techniques an impactful way to tell a story like this one.

This story is a complex study of relationships and the far-reaching impact of crime on a person's life. It's done so well, and I really felt deeply affected by the story, as well as Isabel's and Edward's relationship. I cannot even fathom how you move on from such terror, and I suppose, in many ways, each of you in the relationship would be a constant reminder of it, of that shared experience. Above all though, it is the love story between Isabel and Edward that had the greatest impact on me from reading this novel. The story was a timely reminder to me that sometimes love is not enough. Sometimes even, love can be too much.

I highly recommend The Death of Us and look forward to reading more by this author.

Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.

The Death of Us was not at all what I expected, and I found its shifting focus to be one of the most interesting aspects of the novel. Abigail Dean structures the story in a way that keeps the reader engaged, alternating between our FMC, Isabel, narrating the history of her life and marriage, and the present-day perspectives of both Isabel and her ex-husband, Edward.

The central event tying everything together is a deeply traumatic home invasion that left lasting scars on both Isabel and Edward. The present-day timeline sees them reluctantly reunited after years apart to attend the sentencing of the invader who forever changed their lives. Meanwhile, Isabel’s retrospective narration traces the evolution of their relationship—from their first meeting at 19, through the highs and lows of marriage, the invasion itself, and the aftermath that ultimately led to their divorce.

While I appreciated the novel’s realistic portrayal of marriage, trauma, and the way people handle grief and fear in different ways, I did find it quite slow at times. Isabel, in particular, was a character I really struggled to like. I completely understand that trauma shapes a person, but even before the invasion, I felt that her and Edward’s relationship was quite toxic. Their difficulties only worsened in the aftermath, making their divorce feel inevitable. That being said, I did appreciate the way the book methodically showed how they got there—it never romanticised relationships or marriage, instead giving us an intimate and sometimes uncomfortable look at two people unraveling.

There’s a slight mystery element woven throughout the novel, which I found somewhat unnecessary. It added some intrigue, but I kept expecting a bigger reveal—especially regarding what really happened to Edward during the invasion. When that moment finally came, it felt anticlimactic.

Overall, The Death of Us was an interesting read, but the slow pacing and underwhelming conclusion left me feeling a bit unsatisfied. I enjoyed the deep dive into complex relationships and the long-term effects of trauma, but I think I was expecting something a little more gripping. If you enjoy character-driven stories that explore the messiness of human relationships, you might find this one compelling—just be prepared for a slow burn.

I read the first sentence and knew this book would be unputdownable. From the beginning Isabel is speaking, in her head, to the evil monster who tore apart the life she and Edward had built together as well as the lives of his many other victims.

But this is the story of Isabel and Edward and the progression of their relationship from their first meeting, a blind date although they were each involved with others at the time, to the realisation that they had fallen in love, to their unfolding careers. Abigail Dean’s writing is sensitive, beautiful, captivating: what more can I say? At the same time it is shocking and honest and goes straight to the heart of the matter. Edward’s story is told in each alternate chapter, and in the past tense. The enormity of the wrong done to Isabel and Edward is such that it is always there, metaphorically, watching every move they make. There are always going to be tiny cracks in even the most perfect of lives and it becomes inevitable that these particular cracks are headed for breaking point. It’s a long story, though, and Isabel the playwright and Edward the corporate man are such lovely characters, with all their flaws, that I stayed mesmerised to the end.

So far the best book I’ve read this year. Thank you NetGalley for my arc.

Published by Harper Collins

3.5 stars

Something quite different here. Found it a slow read, but not one I wanted to walk away from.

It's a love story in essence, of Isobel and Edward, who meet in their youth and a relationship forms. But through time slip, we learn they are the victims of a crime; the story oscillates between their earlier years and time leading up to the crime, and time post event - but both current time at the court case of the perpetrator and the years intervening those two dates.

Definitely mesmerizing seeing the changes in their loves and in their love as they deal with the crime in different ways.

A very raw, heavy, slow burn and thought provoking read. Lots of very heavy themes were explored including divorce, marriage, corruption, murder, manslaughter and rape. Some chapters were a bit too drawn out for me. I enjoyed the survivor theme and seeing all their journeys moving forward. I received an ARC copy and am leaving this review voluntarily.

I will freely admit that it's not for me. Yes, sometimes the event is confronting and really visually eviscerating. When it's slow, it drags. Even though the alternating timelines and points of view is to create a rhythm, like a wave pulling back before rushing towards the shore, repeat it too often and it becomes normal.

The novel is unflinching in its portrayal of grief, resilience, and the desperate search for closure. Yet, despite its darkness, it also carries a whisper of hope—of healing. Better yet, sometimes moving forward doesn't mean moving forward together.

While I might not be a huge fan, I think it is for slow-burn psychological thriller fans that prioritise character depth over plot twists.

Edward and Isabel are victims of a violent home invasion. This book is a raw, honest and heart rending look at the effects of trauma on individuals, couples, and friends. The characters in this story are very real and well developed, and relatable. I really enjoyed the clever writing style, and can highly recommend this book to lovers of psychological thrillers, true crime and drama. Highly recommended.

Edward and Isabel, a young and vibrant couple, meet during their University years introduced by a mutual friend. After ten years of marriage, their lives are impacted by the actions of a home invader who imparts violence and brutality on the couple, seeking gratification from the humiliation he creates. Now in their late fifties, the attacker is finally brought to trial. Edward and Isabel are asked to provide victim impact statements in court.

This story is about their relationship before and after the traumatic event, and the impact the event and subsequent trial has had on their lives. The story is told from both main characters in alternate chapters, and moves between the past and the present day.

There are other characters introduced throughout the story line, these characters add background and colour to the story. They include police officers, lawyers, family members and friends. Importantly, we also hear about other victims of the intruder and the devastation and heartbreak he has brought to their lives, not only from the violence they have endured, but also from the resultant emotional trauma wreaked upon them.

Abigail Dean has succeeded in writing a disturbing yet engaging story of a marriage devastated by violence and inhumanity. The book is written in an emotional but not overly sentimental style. The characters in the book are totally authentic; the author has skilfully portrayed the impact of dark and harrowing events on those characters.

Overall it is a compelling though disturbing story. I would recommend the book to readers who enjoy murder mysteries, psychological thrillers and contemporary fiction.