"I still dream about nights like that, every now and then. A wistfulness creeps across my life tightening each time I realize something or other will not happen again"

Trigger warnings for the book at the bottom.

I would like to start by saying Thank you to Netgalley and Hemlock Press for sending an ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This novel is not the usual genre I have read lately; a dark psychological drama. I immediately found it was beautiful and heart wrenching.

This novel centres around a couple who experienced a significantly traumatic event when they were younger. It switches from Isabel telling the story of her time and love with Edward and the impact the event had on their relationship. It switches to Edward experiencing the court proceedings at the trial of the perpetrator in the present.

This book immediately captured my interest; I read it in three days. I felt a happy, sad, ache knowing what would happen to this couple; the tumultuous beginning of their relationship with unnecessary dramas that can only occur when one is in their late teens, early 20s. The rise of their prospective careers followed by the impact of pre-existing mental illness and untreated PTSD.

At times, this story will make you want to laugh and make you want to cry within moments. You will feel hopelessness and then hopefulness.

The Death of Us is a reminder that we may question what could have been, but need to remember to look for love and support in the people around us.


Trigger warnings for potential readers; this book contains references, discussions and descriptions of rape and murder.

This is a brilliant read. I have not encountered Abigail Dean before. I will now check out her other books.

Edward and Isabel meet at 19 at University. He has a girlfriend. They obviously care for each other and later marry. He becomes an esteemed barrister and she becomes a playwright. When they are 30, the South London Invader, who later becomes a serial killer, enters their home, rapes Isabel, threatens Edward and causes devastation in their lives. Edward always blames himself for not doing more on the night of the attack. The offender goes on to kill people, including Nina a four year old’s parents.

25 years later, the offender is caught owing to forensic developments. He’s a former police officer. He pleads guilty to the offences, so there is no trial. At his sentencing, Edward and Isabel are allowed to read their victim impact statements in court, as do other victims. They had split up some years earlier but remained friends. Edward tells the story of that terrible night and how it so adversely affected their relationship and lives. He says things in court that the offender said to him on the night that he had never told anyone, even Isabel.

Nina is now grown up. Edward and Isabel befriended her at 10 years of age and were like quasi parents to her. She too gives a victim impact statement. As she speaks, the offender gives a derisive snort. Edward is infuriated, stomps through the court and nearly gets into the dock to attack the offender, Nigel. He’s stopped by a security guard. As he’s led out of court Nina says he’s family, which he’s touched to hear.

The investigating officer, Etta became close to Isabel over the years. She gets attacked by the offender. Her partner Alicia couldn’t stand Isabel as she saw her as the spectre at the feast, a reminder to Etta that she never caught the offender. Etta died just two years before the offender was apprehended. Freddie, Edward’s lifelong friend also features. He loves both Edward and Isabel dearly. Andrew Pearson, whose wife was killed by the offender never recovers mentally from the attack also plays a part. He has survivors’ guilt. There’s also a posturing annoying character, Zachary (a surgeon) another of Nigel’s victims who features in the story.

This is an engrossing and absorbing story about love and about the pain caused by the offender, Nigel in Edward and Isabel’s lives and the lives of others he has attacked and killed, as well as their family members. It is a very well written book. I found it to be a quick read.

I highly recommend this book to others. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC they provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

It took me a while to get into this novel and work out what was going on. However, it builds up into an extraordinary look at the impact one man’s crimes had on so many people, but especially Isabel and Edward. Their reactions and ways of coping with the trauma eventually lead them to split. However, at the sentencing of the perpetrator, they come together again and realise all that they had to value. The side characters of Etta, Freddy and Nina especially add depth, and Andrew for sheer sadness. For those who like to ponder issues about love, life and loyalty, this is a book to savour.
Thanks to NetGalley for a chance to read and review this book.

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.