The Death of Us by Abigail Dean review: Harrowing but unforgettable

The Death of Us by Abigail Dean: The review

Dark, haunting and beautiful, I have absolutely adored The Death of Us. That said, it’s a hard book to recommend given its harrowing subject matter. This is the story of Isabel and Edward, a couple in the aftermath of a home invasion. Isabel was assaulted in the worst way possible, while Edward simply had to look on. It’s gut-wrenching and devastating, but Abigail Dean’s writing is so beautiful, so emotive, that I simply could not put this down.

This isn’t a book about the crime itself. It isn’t a thriller, and it’s also not a voyeuristic examination of a heinous crime. While details on the incident are sparing, there’s enough to understand exactly what happened, and in some ways this light peppering of details is even worse than a stark description. It haunts you, lingers in your mind as you reluctantly fill in the blanks yourself.

Going back and forth in time over the course of Isabel and Edward’s relationship, The Death of Us is primarily set during the trial of the perpetrator, a man named Nigel. While the book switches between Isabel and Edward’s perspectives, Isabel’s narration is presented as a letter to Nigel. How his attack affected her life, her relationship, her mental health. It’s her testimony, written with so much heart and emotion that is palpable on every page.

As you’d expect given the subject matter, The Death of Us is a very difficult book to read at times. But it feels oh-so real. Isabel and Edward’s emotions are raw and tangible, and while they are both flawed characters in many ways (who of us isn’t?) it’s impossible not to care for them and empathise with them. Edward’s voice may not be quite as poignant as Abigail’s, but that’s a narrative choice made by Dean. Edward is more pragmatic as a character; more suited to finding solutions than dwelling on feelings. But the effects the incident have had on him are still clear to see. Both characters are deeply wounded, and it shows, cleverly in different ways.

But there are lighter moments here. This is the story of a relationship, and it’s not always devastating. We’ll read about Isabel and Edward as they met during university, their dating and early endeavours. The Death of Us is, ultimately, a love story, just not the usual pink-and-fluffy kind. Anyone who has been in love will connect with this novel on some level. And while (hopefully) very few of us will ever experience something as tragic and harrowing as this pair did, it’s also easy to put yourself in their position and think about how you’d cope.

As long as this subject matter won’t be too difficult for you, and as long as you don’t mind a novel loaded with challenging emotions, I cannot hesitate to recommend The Death of Us enough. Gorgeously written with real characters, this is an exploration of love, of life, how humans continue living when they’ve endured the worst thing possible. It’s tender, raw, sometimes abrasive and shocking, but it’s always loaded with emotion and beauty.