It sounds a bit melodramatic, but I fear The Death of Us has ruined thrillers for me—forever.
Let me explain.
From bestselling author of GIRL A and DAY ONE, Abigail Dean, comes this heart-wrenching novel about love, tragedy, and forgiveness.
The Death of Us tells the story of a home invasion, but in truth, it is the story of a life invasion. How a marriage can be turned inside out by a horrendously violent encounter. How two people who love each other deeply can drift apart in the aftermath of something horrible.
On a summer evening in South London, Edward and Isabel’s home is invaded by a serial killer. After tying Isabel’s hands and feet, Edward is forced to wait in another room until the ordeal is over. They survive, but their relationship flounders.
At fifty-eight, they are reunited at the trial and forced to confront their lifelong love, the secrets, passions, and the encounter that bind them still. I found this book fascinating. I was captivated from the first page. I loved Isabel’s brain, how she saw the world, how she processed everything.
We get such amazing insight as Isabel recounts her feelings and tells of her relationship with Edward, before, during, and after the horrific events of that night. We follow two narratives: Edward, reserved, calm, coping on the surface, and Isabel, someone that things happen to, fraying at the edges. And two timelines, from their college days until the present moment.
But it’s all handled so deftly that it flows beautifully. Even the handling of the details of the crimes is explained so well, without plunging into gore or melodrama.
This book, while possibly triggering for many and too slow to be classified as a traditional thriller, is one of the best-written books I’ve read in years. It is at times shocking, difficult to read, and heartbreaking. But then, within pages, it is beautiful, hopeful, and funny. I laughed out loud and cried, and when I put the book down, I stared into space for a long, long time.
And I haven’t been able to enjoy another book since. They all seem to lack the exceptional substance of this unforgettable book.
You’re going to hear a lot of hype about this book, and for once, it’s true. An absolute masterpiece.
Kate Toon
Bookshop Owner
