2026 CWA Gold Dagger
2026 CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger (longlist)
2026 CWA Twisted Dagger (longlist)
2026 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year (shortlist)
‘A page-tuner par excellence, written with unobtrusive brilliance, [and] full of sharply observed lines. . . . The Death of Us lives up to the hype.’
—Stephen King
‘Astonishingly good—Abigail Dean’s the real thing.’
—Mick Herron
‘Spectacular . . . a chilling and unforgettable psychodrama.’
—Lisa Jewell
‘A mesmerizing blend of crime and romance.''
—The Sunday Times
‘Haunting, stunning, impossibily accomplished''
—Chris Whitaker
‘An absolute triumph of a book!’
—Clare Leslie Hall
Isabel and Edward meet as teenagers. When she tells him she loves him, it feels like the bravest thing she’s ever done. But years later, a stranger walks into their home and tears their world apart.
This is where their story really begins.
‘From the master of the literary thriller,’* The Death of Us is the story of a marriage and its implosion, and a captivating exploration of the stories we tell ourselves about love—and everything love can bear.
*Emilia Hart
Genre: Mystery
—Stephen King
‘Astonishingly good—Abigail Dean’s the real thing.’
—Mick Herron
‘Spectacular . . . a chilling and unforgettable psychodrama.’
—Lisa Jewell
‘A mesmerizing blend of crime and romance.''
—The Sunday Times
‘Haunting, stunning, impossibily accomplished''
—Chris Whitaker
‘An absolute triumph of a book!’
—Clare Leslie Hall
Isabel and Edward meet as teenagers. When she tells him she loves him, it feels like the bravest thing she’s ever done. But years later, a stranger walks into their home and tears their world apart.
This is where their story really begins.
‘From the master of the literary thriller,’* The Death of Us is the story of a marriage and its implosion, and a captivating exploration of the stories we tell ourselves about love—and everything love can bear.
*Emilia Hart
Genre: Mystery
Praise for this book
"Beautifully crafted, taut, elegant and heartbreaking." - Monica Ali
"Gut-punching, heart-wrenching and as poignant as it is twisted." - Lizzy Barber
"The most beautiful, intimate novel ... An absolute masterpiece." - Jane Casey
"Unflinching, elegant and so compelling." - Nicci Cloke
"So powerful and sad and beautiful." - Mark Edwards
"Such beautiful, confident writing. Abigail Dean at her stunning best." - Jane Fallon
"Terrifyingly good ... I was utterly mesmerised." - Katherine Faulkner
"Absolutely sublime-ly incredible flawless masterpiece. My book of the year." - Sophie Hannah
"Gripping, disturbing and beautifully written." - Emilia Hart
"The Death of Us is astonishingly good - Abigail Dean's the real thing." - Mick Herron
"This heartbreaking story will stay with me for a long time." - Sam Holland
"I couldn't recommend it more." - Erin Kelly
"A terrifying exploration of unspeakable crimes." - Vaseem Khan
"Wonderful... The Death of Us lives up to the hype." - Stephen King
"A book that will both break and stop your heart... Utterly masterful!" - Ellery Lloyd
"Incredible, truly remarkable." - John Marrs
"A beautifully written thriller that is infused with love." - Liz Nugent
"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
"The Death of Us is an extraordinary achievement." - S J Parris
"Emotionally astute and effortlessly devastating. Excellent." - Catherine Ryan Howard
"I was completely blown away." - Nikki Smith
"Gut-punching, heart-wrenching and as poignant as it is twisted." - Lizzy Barber
"The most beautiful, intimate novel ... An absolute masterpiece." - Jane Casey
"Unflinching, elegant and so compelling." - Nicci Cloke
"So powerful and sad and beautiful." - Mark Edwards
"Such beautiful, confident writing. Abigail Dean at her stunning best." - Jane Fallon
"Terrifyingly good ... I was utterly mesmerised." - Katherine Faulkner
"Absolutely sublime-ly incredible flawless masterpiece. My book of the year." - Sophie Hannah
"Gripping, disturbing and beautifully written." - Emilia Hart
"The Death of Us is astonishingly good - Abigail Dean's the real thing." - Mick Herron
"This heartbreaking story will stay with me for a long time." - Sam Holland
"I couldn't recommend it more." - Erin Kelly
"A terrifying exploration of unspeakable crimes." - Vaseem Khan
"Wonderful... The Death of Us lives up to the hype." - Stephen King
"A book that will both break and stop your heart... Utterly masterful!" - Ellery Lloyd
"Incredible, truly remarkable." - John Marrs
"A beautifully written thriller that is infused with love." - Liz Nugent
"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
"The Death of Us is an extraordinary achievement." - S J Parris
"Emotionally astute and effortlessly devastating. Excellent." - Catherine Ryan Howard
"I was completely blown away." - Nikki Smith
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Used availability for Abigail Dean's The Death of Us