Book Description 

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.

My Review 

This book first caught my eye on a list of upcoming mystery and thriller books and I was very excited about the opportunity to read an early copy of it. 

The narrative shifts between two distinct timelines: the first is the present day, in which Edward and Isabel, the two protagonists, reunite for the sentencing of the man who brutally attacked them decades ago. The second timeline focuses on a chronological history of Isabel and Edward’s relationship, from the first time they met until the aftermath of the attack. The two timelines alternate between chapters, eventually converging as the present day syncs up with the past. 

Throughout everything, one cannot help but wonder exactly what drove these two people, who appear to enjoy each other, apart. Obviously, it was the horrific attack, but what specifically? Second, there’s an unsettling sense of dread knowing that something bad is going to happen and knowing that the characters have no idea that it’s going to happen. Worse yet, they know for years that there’s a monster terrorizing their part of London, yet they have no idea that they will be attacked. 

I would absolutely recommend The Death of Us. This is a fascinating book about an attack, but also about so much more than an attack. The multiple perspectives and timelines give the narrative an sense of depth as the reader must put together the puzzle pieces. The pacing is much more pensive than fast-paced, but that’s because the whole thing wouldn’t work if it was fast-paced. Either way, the result is such an interesting book and I am definitely going to seek out Dean’s other books. 

I received a digital ARC of this book from Viking Penguin/NetGalley.