The Death of Us - by Abigail Dean (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Bringing together the slow-burn simmer of psychological suspense and the propulsive drive of crime thrillers, THE DEATH OF US is the story of a marriage turned inside out by a violent encounter that sets fire to the hairline faults that were there from the start Late on a summer's evening when they are thirty years old, husband and wife Edward and Isabel's home is invaded by a serial killer. Theirs was a classic story of young love that moves into true partnership--but their solid foundation implodes in the wake of this violence. At fifty-eight, they are reunited for their tormenter's trial and forced to confront their lifelong love affair: the secrets, passions, and encounter that bind them still. Isabel has waited years for the man who nearly ended her life to be caught. As she's tracked news of his increasingly violent criminal life, she's connected with other survivors and prepared for the moment that she'd get to read her victim impact statement aloud in court. She is sure she'll speak her truth and finally let the past go. Edward has spent the years since the break-in--and the breakdown or his marriage--trying to figure out how a near-miss with death killed so much else in their shared life. Unlike Isabel, he's not eager to relive these terrible memories. Even though he's moved on--he's remarried, his old life almost unrecognizable to him now--he can't resist accompanying Isabel to their intruder's sentencing. What would revenge or justice feel like? Can closure set Isabel free? And what might that freedom mean for Edward?"--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

"A page-turner par excellence, written with unobtrusive brilliance, [and] full of sharply observed lines . . . The Death of Us lives up to the hype."
--Stephen King

"The Death of Us is astonishingly good--Abigail Dean's the real thing."
--Mick Herron, bestselling author of Slow Horses

"A devastating exploration of the long-term effects of violence . . . [b]y focusing on the victims rather than on, say, the drama around the police investigation, this wrenching book subverts the normal conventions of a serial killer novel. It's an unusual and effective approach."
--The New York Times Book Review

It's the night we never talk about.
It's the story the world wants to hear.
But this isn't the story of that night. This is the story of us.

Together, Edward and Isabel move to London. They are young and in love, occupied by friends, work and fun. But late on a spring evening when they are thirty years old, their home is invaded by a serial killer. In the wake of this violation, each tries to come to terms with a night that changed everything--and their marriage begins to crumble.

Twenty-five years later, their tormentor is caught, and Edward and Isabel reunite for his sentencing. Isabel has waited years for the man who nearly ended her life to be brought to justice. Edward has tried to think about anything else. As they prepare to deliver impact statements in the public eye, it is time to revisit their love story. Will they finally be able to confront the secrets, longings and lies that tore them apart?

Or will the horror of that night be the death of them?

A captivating portrait of a marriage and its implosion, The Death of Us digs into the stories we tell ourselves about love--and everything love can bear.

Review Quotes

"This wonderful novel is a page-turner par excellence, written with unobtrusive brilliance, [and] full of sharply observed lines . . . Dean has taken a case that closely resembles California's Golden State Killer and combined it with the story of Isabel and Edward, a couple whose love is put under a breaking strain by an almost unimaginable tragedy . . . The Death of Us lives up to the hype. Read it for story, always appreciating the no-showing-off clarity of its prose."
--Stephen King

"A devastating exploration of the long-term effects of violence . . . [b]y focusing on the victims rather than on, say, the drama around the police investigation, this wrenching book subverts the normal conventions of a serial killer novel. It's an unusual and effective approach."
--The New York Times Book Review

"Abigail Dean has already proven to be a skilled observer of ordinary humans in extraordinary circumstances, and her latest is her most affecting study yet."
--CrimeReads (Most Anticipated list)

"Dean transforms tragedy into art with surgical prose and a steely gaze. It's a triumph."
--Publisher's Weekly (starred review)

"In a sea of thrillers that feel dishearteningly similar or too reliant on shocking twists, this book stands out, not only for its propulsive energy but also for its riveting, unorthodox examination of the devastating aftermath of violence."
--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"The Death of Us is astonishingly good--Abigail Dean's the real thing."
--Mick Herron, bestselling author of Slow Horses

"In The Death of Us, Dean captures the best and worst of humanity with exceptional skill: Isabel and Edward felt completely real to me. I laughed with them, cried with them and rooted for their survival--and the survival of their love--from the very first page. I can't remember when I last read a novel that was this gripping, disturbing and beautifully written. I simply couldn't bear to look away. After three remarkable novels, Abigail Dean has proven herself to be the master of the literary thriller."
--Emilia Hart, bestselling author of Weyward

"A book that will both break and stop your heart, Dean weaves a lifelong love story with a taut, page-turning thriller. Utterly masterful!"
--Ellery Lloyd, bestselling author of The Club

"You haven't read anything like this beautiful, brilliant, brave novel, and you are unlikely to ever do so again. A rare mix of propulsive thriller and beautifully drawn characters, it is in a class of its own."
--Adele Parks, author of Woman Last Seen

"The Death of Us is terrifyingly good--not only a seriously superior thriller, but a heartbreaking and beautiful portrait of a marriage in free fall following a horrifying crime. I was utterly mesmerized by the stunning prose and vivid characters--Abigail Dean is in a league of her own."
--Katherine Faulkner, author of Greenwich Park and The Other Mothers

"Beautifully crafted, taut, elegant and heartbreaking."
--Monica Ali, author of Love Marriage

"Such beautiful, confident writing. Abigail Dean at her stunning best"
--Jane Fallon, author of Getting Rid of Matthew

"A beautifully written thriller that is infused with love; the plot hovers like a threat around the event that destroyed two lives irreparably."
--Liz Nugent, author of Strange Sally Diamond

"It's an incredibly different thing to bring something new to the psychological thriller, but Abigail Dean has done it here, blending the character-driven, achingly human love story of David Nicholls with a pulse-thumping cat-and-mouse crime story. Beautifully written, even as Edward and Isabel live out their unthinkable ordeal, there is still something recognizable on every page. I couldn't recommend it more."
--Erin Kelly, author of The Skeleton Key

"The best book I've read this year and I doubt anyone will better it in 2025. It's the most beautiful, intimate novel--a love story, a manhunt, a reflection on grief and loss and heartbreak and betrayal that is somehow still a gripping thriller. The Death of Us will make your heart beat faster and then break it, over and over again. An absolute masterpiece."
--Jane Casey, author of Close

"I was completely blown away by this emotional rollercoaster of a book. I loved Edward and Isabel's story--a triumph of love over brutality, having endured one of the worst things imaginable. I have read and loved all of Abigail's books but this really is a stand out triumph."
--Nikki Smith, author of Unsolved

"Adored this book. Everything about Isabel and Edward felt true, from their very real reactions to the awful event to how they interacted as a couple. I loved them, cheered with them, cried for them. This heartbreaking story will stay with me for a long time."
--Sam Holland, author of The Echo Man

"A deeply moving story of a marriage with the gripping pace of a thriller. Unflinching, elegant, and so compelling. My heart ached for these characters and I'll be thinking about them for a long time."
--Nicci Cloke, author of Her Many Faces

"A phenomenal read. A deeply moving love story, it goes beyond the happy ever after to explore the lasting effects of trauma on a marriage. Heartbreaking, redemptive, and written with such sensitivity, I couldn't put it down."
--Theresa Howes, bestselling author of The Secrets We Keep

About the Author

Abigail Dean started her career as a bookseller, then worked as a lawyer for ten years, most recently for Google. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller Girl A and Day One. She is at work on her fourth novel. She lives in London with her husband, children, and cat.