Isabel and Edward were attacked in their home by a serial rapist and murderer, and this book covers their complicated history and relationship over several decades following the attack. The story culminates at the sentencing trial of infamous London Invader. It’s hard to say I enjoyed a book with such brutal depictions of sexual assault, rape, and psychological terror for multiple victims. That said the book is an incredibly well done page turner, and the end result is that I’m finally going back to my shelf to read Abigail Dean’s Girl A. Thank you to Penguin Group Viking Penguin and NetGalley for my ARC. Add this to your TBR - out April 15, 2025.

This is a dark page-turner told from Edward and Isabel’s POVs. It focuses on their relationship before and after their home invasion. I appreciate that this book mainly focused on the victims and very little on the crime. I really enjoyed this book and finished it in one sitting.

The Death of Us is a multi-layered story. The story is of Edward and Isabel, a married couple who endure an unthinkable crime. Told from alternating perspectives, you immediately feel their terror. The book, however, centers primarily on the aftermath of the event and Edward and Isabel’s lives as they try to move forward.

The author provides an intimate view into Edward and Isabel’s marriage. You feel their terror the night of the event and their resulting raw pain and emotion. My heart ached for them at times as they attempted to navigate the next chapter, often in isolation.

The story shows in the most relatable way how two people can love each other fiercely but sometimes it just isn’t enough. Edward and Isabel try desperately to be there for each other, but in the author’s words,”There is no saving people.” You can surround them with love and compassion, but the rest is up to them.

Dean is a gifted writer, but within the alternating perspectives there were sometimes odd transitions that were a bit difficult to follow. My other criticism (and this was a big one for me) was the overuse of one of the most offensive words in the English language. It appears at least a dozen times in the book. I found it unnecessary and very off-putting.

Despite that, this book is well-written. It is labeled a thriller but is more a story about our fragile nature as humans, but also our ability to demonstrate remarkable resiliency. It reminded me of the phrase,,“Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.” If you met Edward or Isabel on the street, you would never guess what they had been through and how deeply it has affected their lives.

I went into this book thinking it would be a typical thriller. It proved to be so much more than that and I ended up really enjoying it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

The Death of Us is an excellent slow burn, character driven literary fiction with a true crime feel. Edward and Isabel are victims of a home invasion. While the crime is at the center, this novel is really more of an exploration of their marriage and the aftermath and long reaching effects from this tragedy. The crime itself is horrendous, but mostly occurs off page, with snippets of what happened, so it is not too gruesome or gory. I loved the alternating views between the wife and the husband, although some may not like the style of the wife’s story (2nd person). The voice is reminiscent of “Notes on an Execution” by Danya Kukafka, where the focus is more on the victims than on the perpetrator. I loved the raw, emotional, and intense writing. The characters are flawed but you can’t help feeling for them and rooting for them. While I really liked Girl A, this is by far my favorite from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Viking group for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

This novel offers a harrowing yet deeply insightful exploration of trauma and the intricate dynamics of human relationships. At its core, the story follows a couple who survive a brutal attack, with the aftermath rippling through their lives and the lives of those around them.

Admittedly, the writing style posed a challenge at first, making the initial chapters a bit harder to read. While this might make it difficult for some readers to engage right away, the payoff is worth the effort.

Overall, this is a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant read.

THE DEATH OF US is not only one of the best books I’ve read so far this year, it is also, hands down, one of the best literary thrillers I’ve read in a long, long time—and possibly ever. A forensic examination of the breakdown of a marriage in the wake of a horrifying crime, it was also an emotional tour de force, heart-wrenching and compulsively readable, a story I did not want to put down even after the final sentence. This was a truly excellent comeback for Abigail Dean, following up from her disappointing (in my opinion) sophomore outing, DAY ONE.

After falling in love as teenagers, thirtysomething married couple Edward and Isabel had been together for over a decade when their south London home was invaded by a serial killer; in the wake of this terrifying and life-altering violation, their (seemingly) picture-perfect relationship completely falls apart, as they struggle to reckon with their own, and each other’s, differing experiences of the event. Twenty years later, they reunite to give statements at the invader’s trial, where it soon becomes clear they may not be totally finished with each other—but in order to come back together, they must both face up to the damage and destruction they wrought upon each other over the course of their marriage.

I’m usually pretty iffy about dual timelines, because no matter what, without fail, I leave the book feeling like one of the timelines was completely unnecessary by comparison to the other. Not so with THE DEATH OF US. Isabel narrates the events of the past, told in second-person via the form of a letter (or possibly her victim impact statement?) addressed to Nigel, the invader; this was a bold move on Dean’s part, but made Isabel’s narration of the beginnings of hers and Edward’s relationship, not to mention the crime itself, all the stronger and more emotionally intense. She speaks to Nigel with a degree of uncomfortable familiarity, as if he were… well, maybe not a friend, but not quite a stranger either, impressing upon the reader how closely Isabel has carried his crime and its effects on her life in all the years since. Edward, meanwhile, narrates the events of the present, which also makes perfect sense: he was the one who shut down, in a sense, after the crime, the one who built a wall behind which he could hide his grief and trauma, the one who attempted to carry on as if life were completely normal and unaffected—but he is also the one who never fully told his experience of the night he and Isabel were invaded, believing his trauma the lesser, so stands the most to lose by having to share that story at Nigel’s trial. Isabel’s openness in her narration might make her easier to connect with as a reader, but Edward is certainly the one who undergoes the bigger evolution on the page. The strength of their connection was obvious and impenetrable—the life-blood of this entire story. As is the way with literary thrillers, the point is rarely ever the crime itself, but everything else happening around it; Isabel and Edward’s relationship was perfectly executed to carry this slow-burn narrative through to conclusion.

If I had one quibble, it would be the ending: the stalker subplot weaved through Edward’s chapters felt unnecessary, and its wrap-up deflated some of the drama and emotion of the trial’s conclusion. In every other sense, however, this book was utter perfection, a true must-read and not to be missed. I can’t wait to buy it and read it again on release.

So many of the so-called "psychological suspense" novels seem a little lame to me, a fan of Patricia Highsmith and Ruth Rendell. But the Death of Us did not. This novel is tough and twisty, the characters complex, the story nightmarish. What's it about?

When they were 30, Isabel and Edward were victims of The Invader, who broke into homes and raped and tortured young couples. They were actually lucky--the next sets of victims were also murdered. They are now 58, and the perpetrator has been caught. Although Isabel has been quite open about what happened to her, Edward has never spoken about it. They have the opportunity to give statements at the sentencing. Will he speak then?

The novel catches them at various points in their lives before and after the crime. We know they're no longer married, but how did that happen? How did they survive the guilt of survival and the trauma of the event? They never sought professional help, no matter how much the detective in charge of these cases encouraged them to. Would it have helped? Abigail Dean lays her story out carefully and subtly. There are plenty of surprises but they are of the gentle twist of the knife in a most tender area kind of thing. Devastating.

I did have a nightmare about this book, so be prepared. I checked the doors and switched to something brighter on TV. But I could not stop reading.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for access to this title in exchange for an honest review.

In The Death of Us, Abigail Dean delivers a haunting exploration of love, trauma, and the long shadows cast by violence. This is not a thriller that fixates on the criminal—it is a story about those left in the wreckage, the ones who must learn to live with what happened, even when survival itself feels impossible.

Edward and Isabel were young and in love, building a life in London when, one spring night, everything changed. Their home was invaded by a man who would later become known as the South London Invader, a serial killer whose crimes would haunt the city. But long before he became infamous, he shattered their world. In the aftermath, Edward and Isabel, once inseparable, found themselves unable to bridge the silence between them. Their marriage, much like their sense of safety, slowly unraveled.

Twenty-five years later, the man who nearly ended their lives is finally caught, and they are called upon to deliver their victim impact statements in court. Isabel has waited decades for justice. Edward has spent those same years trying not to think about it at all. Now, as they prepare to face the man who altered the course of their lives, they must also confront what remains between them: the love, the resentment, the things left unsaid.

Unlike traditional crime novels that focus on the chase, The Death of Us turns inward, centering the victims and the unbearable weight of what they’ve endured. Through Isabel and Edward’s perspectives, as well as those of the officers, reporters, and others whose lives were touched by the crime, Dean crafts a deeply human narrative. DCI Etta Eliogu, the detective who spent years pursuing the Invader, is given her own space in the story, adding another layer of emotional depth.

This novel is a slow burn, but one that rewards patience. It is raw, painful, and unflinching in its depiction of trauma,. Dean does not offer easy answers—there are no neat resolutions, no perfect moments of closure. Instead, she gives us something far more real: the possibility of understanding, of reconciliation, and, perhaps, of hope.
#TheDeathOfUs #AbigailDean #Viking #PenguinBooks #LiteraryThriller #CrimeFiction

Wow what a 5 star read! My emotions were everywhere and I loved both main characters equally! My heart felt deeply and I was in tears.

Abigail Dean delivers a gripping, deeply psychological novel in The Death of Us, blending crime, trauma, and the unraveling of a once-promising marriage. When Edward and Isabel survive a brutal home invasion by a serial killer, their relationship is forever altered. Twenty-five years later, as they reunite for the sentencing of the man who shattered their lives, they must finally confront the secrets and emotions they’ve buried for decades.

Dean’s writing is sharp and evocative, pulling readers into the intimate, fractured world of Edward and Isabel. Rather than focusing solely on the crime itself, the novel explores the long-term psychological impact of surviving an unimaginable horror. The shifting timelines—moving between the early years of their love, the aftermath of the attack, and their later reunion—add to the novel’s richness, allowing the full weight of their experiences to unfold naturally.

At times, the pacing slows as the novel leans heavily into introspection, but the raw emotional depth keeps the story compelling. The characters feel painfully real, their choices and flaws making them all the more human.

4.5. When I started reading this book, I thought it would be a DNF. I thought “oh no,” this is going to be disturbing and something like “We Need to Talk About Kevin,” which was a great book but very difficult to read. I didn’t think I liked the main character, and I didn't really like the narrative style. HOWEVER, suddenly I couldn’t stop reading. I realized this book is all about hope and survival and, in the end, uplifting. I watched each character experience something horrible, but evolve and survive. I really liked this book. I would recommend!

The Death of Us follows a couple, Edward and Isable. Set with dual perspectives and timelines, the chapters flash back and forth between Isabel who is chronologically telling their life story. She starts with how they met when she was just going off to college and lays out their love story chapter by chapter, while sharing how a crime committed against them affected their lives. Edwards chapters stay in current time where he talks about the trial of their tormentor.
This book was beautifully written, I laughed in the beginning and cried at the end. All the while I couldn't put the book down until I had reached the end. Abaigail Dean did an amazing job of tying together a love story in a thriller while still portraying life as it is and the trauma that is endured.

Sadly I chose to DNF this one. The story just isn't pulling me in at all. The writing isn't working for me either.

Some of these reviews aren't passing the vibe check, so I'm sharing brief thoughts now while I'm still processing this book. TL;DR: It's a masterpiece. If you've read an Abigail Dean book, you know she's going to some very dark, dark places. But if you can handle dark, you're in for what is the best relationship drama I've read in years. I could not put it down. Those who can manage it will be rewarded, but do be careful here. This is not an easy read.

Thank you, PENGUIN GROUP Viking Penguin | Viking for the copy of The Death of Us by Abigail Dean. I don’t think this book was for me. I loved the description, but I had problems following the timelines and I never connected with Isabel or Edward. None of the characters were fully drawn, and the writing style was dispassionate so it never made me really care about the characters or even the worst events. I loved the idea of the story, and I appreciated how Isabel’s POV was (probably) her impact statement, and was used to help tell what had gone on. I wanted to feel some emotion and I never did. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars

Incredibly intense and heartbreaking! A couple’s life changes when they are victims of a crime. It’s a deep, emotional book that doesn’t turn away from the pain.

The Death of Us follows the relationship between Edward and Isabel, told via both of their points of view as well as from present and past timelines. They were victims of an in-home invasion and we are introduced to them as they are getting ready to provide their victim impact statements at the sentencing phase of their attacker. This book focuses entirely on their relationship both before the crime and after.

The book is broken up into three parts and part one for me was very difficult to get through. It moved along very slowly, and I was having a hard time connecting to the authors writing style. The prose made it difficult for me to fully invest into the story. Also, we know straight away, who the culprit is as this is the sentencing phase, so there is no mystery on who the attacker was. At this point I almost put it down as I just could not get into it, but I did want to know where it went. I’m glad I stuck with it as part two was much more interesting as it dealt into their early relationship up until that point.

Overall, I think this is a very good book. I just wasn’t the right reader for it. It delves deep into the main characters relationships whether it be the good times or the lowest points possible. For those who really find themselves drawn into books that lean towards more of a character driven novel, this would certainly be for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

This was a slow burn story that focuses on the aftermath and unraveling of a couple who are faced with in unimaginable tragedy. Something most of us cannot imagine going through. It was an amazing portrayal of a marriage.

This book goes back-and-forth with the timeline from when this couple is attacked by a serial killer and then present day when they have sent split and come back together to face this person in court.

I found a story to be very raw in human emotion. It was an amazing story.

This was my first Abigail Dean book, and I found it extremely dark.. I don't say that negatively...just that she strips human emotion in the face of violence and suffering quite bare, and so it maintains a very stark tone most of the time. Narrated by Isabel, a mid-50's woman who was the victim of a horrific crime 25 years ago, it tells the story of her perpetrator's trial while also exploring the breakdown of her marriage in the aftermath of the crime. She and Edward, her ex-husband, are drawn back together again during this trial, and it explores not only the trauma they experienced during the initial crime, but also how it affected them as a couple, and why it is their relationship couldn't recover from the violence inflicted upon them. As so many books are today, it's told in alternating timelines, and Isabel is an original voice and narrator, often veering into moments that leave the reader both uncomfortable and reflective. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

Such a quiet, compelling novel. Narrated by Isabel and Edward in both the present, at a trial, and tracking their relationship over the past 30 years. As often happens with dual timeline stories, I preferred one over the other: the present day, which is pretty much only seen through Edward's perspective. I'm just so much more interested in the story of the justice system than the story of a marriage. I think most people felt the opposite, though, because the past is where you get answers to why this is all happening.

As you'd expect from a character-driven book, the people in it felt so real they could walk off the page and into actual life. Not just Isabel and Edward, but all the ancillary characters. I could see this becoming a miniseries.