Bookseller Reviews
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Poignant portrayal of the effect on a community of a senseless act of violence
Very interesting depiction of the current phenomena of mass shootings, conspiracy theorists and internet trolls. As the subjects are present day issues the... READ MORE
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From Page One on Day One I was Hooked!!!
From the very first page from Day One I was addicted by this staggering, richly compulsive and exceptional mystery which dives deep into the dark side of h... READ MORE
Brilliant!
I loved Girl A, so I was very excited when I received an early reader's copy of Day One! This more than lived up to my expectations, and Abigail Dean is al... READ MORE
Grabbed my attention fully from the first page
If you loved Girl A then you should absolutley give her latest book a go!!! I couldn't put it down! Totally gripping!!!
Thank you to the publishers for ... READ MORE
Complex, contemporary, emotionally engaging thriller
I loved Girl A, so snapped up the opportunity to get my hands on a proof copy of Day One by Abigail Dean - out in Spring 2024. This is another page turning... READ MORE
Hauntingly Good
Day One is a sensational masterpiece, just like Girl A, and is a gripping thriller, full of suspense, mystery and twists that I didn’t see coming. A heartb... READ MORE
A dark and compelling read!
Another dark and addictive read from Abigail Dean, which reminded me a little of elements of Three Hours and We Need To Talk About Kevin.
The book begi... READ MORE
Suspense, Trauma, and Survival: Day One Keeps You Hooked
Abigail Dean’s writing is sharp, tense, and addictive. She has an uncanny ability to balance psychological depth with fast-paced suspense, making the novel... READ MORE
Amazing
"Day One" by Abigail Dean is a gripping and emotionally charged novel that captures the essence of survival and resilience. Dean's storytelling is both pow... READ MORE
Abigail Dean delves into the complexities of trauma and survival in the aftermath of a devastating event.
Abigail Dean delves into the complexities of trauma and survival in the aftermath of a devastating event. Through the perspective of an insightful and resi... READ MORE
Synopsis
*The breathtaking new novel from the bestselling author of Girl A*
‘I couldn’t put this down’ Stacey Halls
What really happened on Day One?
Everyone has their own version of what happened to the school that day:
The survivor, who escaped but is now trapped in a lie.
The newspapers, hellbent on turning a tragedy into a spectacle.
And the outsider, who claims it never really happened at all…
They all want the truth.
But who’s ready to face it?
As events spiral out of control and conspiracies ignite, the true story is revealed. Piece by shocking piece.
*Praise for DAY ONE*
‘A devastating, beautiful novel’ Jennifer Saint
‘Gripping and beautifully written’ Emilia Hart
‘A chilling, thought-provoking read’ Shari Lapena
‘A beautiful writer’ Adele Parks
‘An exceptionally skillful book’ Clare Mackintosh
*What readers are saying about DAY ONE*‘Abigail Dean has pulled off an incredible feat with this unforgettable, searing but compassionate novel’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A gripping read which kept me trying to figure out the larger picture until the very last page’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘It's technically so impressive, but most importantly it's vital and human, and I will think about it for a long time’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Gripping and insightful’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘As a study of how conspiracies flourish and grow, it is superb. As an examination of loss, it is even better’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Oh my word this is a book you race through, desperate to know what happens next’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘It’s timely, it’s moving, it looks at the untruths we tell ourselves and others in an attempt to understand the real horrors of the world – it’s just brilliant’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A twisty story with genuine depth’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘This was an exceptionally well written book, both gripping and evocative’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Gut-wrenching truths are exposed little by little, leading to an agonisingly tender ending’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘This novel moved me to tears and broke my heart’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Publisher information
- Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
- ISBN: 9780008389260
- Number of pages: 384
- Dimensions: 240 x 159 x 38 mm
- Weight: 590g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
View allPoignant portrayal of the effect on a community of a senseless act of violence.
Very interesting depiction of the current phenomena of mass shootings, conspiracy theorists and internet trolls. As the subjects are present day issues ... READ MORE
Excellent Read
Thank you to the publishers for this early review copy, I read and loved Abigail's debut Girl A so this was a real treat to land early.
This starts off wit... READ MORE
Gripping and evocative
This author does not shy away from distressing events, as we saw in her debut novel, the exceptional Girl A. This book again centres on a harrowing event, ... READ MORE
Gripping & Moving
When a school shooting happens in the sleepy town of Stonesmere, it sends shockwaves through the community and the repercussions will have an affect for ye... READ MORE
Day One
"These days, in Stonesmere, there was always somebody a little sadder than you"
In picture postcard Stonesmere, Lake District its tradition for the olde... READ MORE
Such a good book to come out of such a tragic storyline
Such a good book to come out of such a tragic storyline. This is a tale about community, about love and about the different ways in which people try to rec... READ MORE
Gut-wrenching
A mass shooting at a primary school in a beautiful lakeside town, ten children and their teacher dead. After the event the town tries to come to terms wit... READ MORE
Day One by Abigail Dean
Day One by Abigail Dean is a story of a village, Stonesmere, that will be forever altered by the shooting in a primary school of pupils and a teacher. Th... READ MORE
Hard to put down
This is an uncomfortable read and sadly I believe most of what was described here in terms of the ‘truthers’ could actually happen. It’s quite a lengthy bl... READ MORE
The devastating aftermath of a tragedy
Abigail Dean has pulled off an incredible feat with this unforgettable, searing but compassionate novel about a horrific tragedy- a shooting at a primary s... READ MORE
not for me
I might be in the minority here but I found this quite slow and disjointed. I found myself skipping pages to know what really happened. Also, the writing w... READ MORE
Astonishingly good
Every July, in the picturesque Cumbrian village of Stonesmere, primary school pupils put on a special assembly for next year’s reception class called Day O... READ MORE
A compulsive read...
A horrific tragedy in a quiet Lake District village is the setting for this fast paced book. From the first page it made for a compulsive read. Thankfully ... READ MORE
Great Read!
An absolutely brilliant book. The characters were really well written and the story was really interesting. Highly recommended.
Well written, but a constant shift in pace
I was a big fan of Girl A so I knew I had to immediately request Day One when I spotted it on Netgalley. I’ve ended up with really mixed feelings about it!... READ MORE
Day One
There is a school shooting in a village called Stonesmere. Marty (Martha) helps at the school is supposed to be at the school watching her mother’s Day On... READ MORE
A real page turner.
Day One by Abigail Dean
Published by HarperCollins Uk
Publication Date: 28 March 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tense and chilling this unpredictable story about ... READ MORE
A totally absorbing read
What an incredible read!There are a variety of viewpoints to this tragic event, as well as different timelines. This enables the reader to gradually build... READ MORE
Earth-shattering
Day One is an earth-shattering aftershock of a book. It is moving, messy and dealing with the ongoing reaches of a horror that sends shivers down your spin... READ MORE
Haunting, Harrowing & Utterly Human; Abigail Dean Does It Again
Several years ago I was utterly blown away by Abigail Dean’s debut ’Girl A’ so naturally I was eager to check ’Day One’ out as well. And let’s just say it ... READ MORE
Perfect read
Day One is a real page turning and gripping yet heartbreaking read that was hard to put down. The pace of the story is just right not rushed at all so you ... READ MORE
Overwhelming
Do you know when you read a blurb of a book and when you are excited to read it and when you read it. It is completely different to what you thought it wou... READ MORE
High School shooting mixed with conspiracy theorists
If you've read "Girl A" then you are going to want to read "Day One" by Abigail Dean. She covers another subject that rocks a community: a school shooting... READ MORE
Excellent
A great story, well written and unexpected. I liked the different angle rather than just a straight school shooting and the backstory was really interestin... READ MORE
Mystery and worry galore
Oh M G! I loved it I didn’t want it to end!
I love all the different perspectives and the twists. A great mystery, So many feelings so many worries.
... READ MORE
A bit slow
This book sounded really good but in reality it was too slow for me and felt very disjointed. It is the story of a shooting in a primary school in a small ... READ MORE
A different school shooting perspective
3⭐️
Having been wowed by Girl A I was excited to read this book.
This books looks at the tragedy of a school shooting in a small village in the Lake... READ MORE
The tension and fear is on every page
A lone gunman stalks the corridors of Stonesmere, randomly killing those before him. Marty Ward is a pupil at the school and witnesses her mother being gun... READ MORE
Page turner
Having read 'Girl A' by this author my expectations were really high for her latest offering and it didn't disappoint.
Day One is a slow paced, character ... READ MORE
Not for me, sorry
I know I’m in the minority here but I was so confused at times that I couldn’t follow the story. I had to re-read the first 7% because I thought I’d misse... READ MORE
A Compulsive Read
A gunman enters a Primary school and kills pupils and a teacher. This is told mainly by the daughter of that teacher and how it affects her life. Then it s... READ MORE
A Thought Provoking Story
Set in a small village in the Lake District ,this is a very slow and disjointed read. Full of tragedy there is a conspiracy story and confusing horror. The... READ MORE
Day One
I loved Girl A when I read it a while back, so I was quite excited to see what the author had in store this time. And I wasn't disappointed!
This time the... READ MORE
The story of a tragedy and its aftermath!
Ava Ward has been a teacher at Stonesmere Primary School for the past twenty years and as her class performs their Day One concert in the school hall a gun... READ MORE
Outstanding
The focus of Abigail Deans latest novel is on Stonesmere primary school where Ava Ward has taught for over twenty years. This idyllic, beautiful Lake Distr... READ MORE
Secrets, lies, what is the truth?
4.5 Stars
Stonesmere a small town in the Lake District, North West England is the setting of this book.
Ava Ward is the much loved primary school teach... READ MORE
a story of our times- disturbing , unsettling and very thought provoking
In 2021 the astonishingly disturbing and intriguing Girl A was published launching Abigail Dean into the literary world - her new book Day One is another t... READ MORE
Beautifully written
Beautifully written with huge emotion albeit in a very disjointed and jerky timeline. It skips from character to character, backwards and forwards in time... READ MORE
Gripping Read
When a lone gunman enters a primary school in a beautiful Lake District town, the effects of the tragedy radiate through idyllic Stonesmere with devastatin... READ MORE
difficult to engage with the characters
This is a very difficult subject to write, and read, about and I was interested to see if Ms Dean was able to add new insights. Sadly, although I enjoyed h... READ MORE
Compelling and harrowing
When a gunman massacres a group of children and their teacher at a small primary school, the life of one of the survivors will never be the same again.
... READ MORE
Suspense at its best!
I loved Girl A as I did Day One. A rollercoaster of emotions read as the story is told from several points of view which kept my interest from start to fin... READ MORE
A mass shooting - truth or conspiracy?
The absolute horror of a mass shooting in a British school sends shockwaves across the world. The disbelief, outrage and immense sadness spreads. Condolenc... READ MORE
Literary Murder Story
The primary school hall is full when the shooter opens up. In the aftermath, while the country mourns, conspiracy theorists claim it’s a hoax perpetrated ... READ MORE
Thoughtful and beautifully written.
Stonesmere primary school in the Lake District is where teacher Ava Ward has worked for many years. Stonesmere is a small town where life just plods along,... READ MORE
Original approach; character driven
Although the opening of this book is a school shooting that is not the focus of this story. Abigail Dean focusses on Matty (the teacher's daughter), her fa... READ MORE
A twisty story with genuine depth
Day One opens with the shock of a school shooting in the Lake District and unfolds through the eyes of a variety of characters, primarily Marty, the daught... READ MORE
A gripping story about a school shooting
A gripping story about a school shooting, told from the POV of many of the people who were there, both at the time it happened and afterwards. The thing I... READ MORE
Day One
I just finished reading this surprising book! It requires a lot of attention and patience, but it is marvelous despite this. How difficult can it be to sur... READ MORE
Secrets,lies and internet conspiracies
Day One by Abigail Dean
I give this book 4.5 stars.
I read Girl A so was interested by what the author would write next.
A devastating subject matte... READ MORE
A bit of a struggle
This book by Abigail Dean was based around a small town where everyone knew everyone , but outsiders had to work hard to get accepted into the fold!. An a... READ MORE
Brilliant!
Well that’s a book I won’t forget in a hurry. I hadn’t read the synopsis for a while so I went in blind and oh my goodness! Stonesmere is a quintessent... READ MORE
A must-read for fans of Girl A
At Stonesmere Primary, teacher Ava Ward is preparing her class to perform their traditional ‘Day One’ performance. That is until a lone gunman massacres th... READ MORE
A compulsive read
A gunman enters a Primary school and kills pupils and a teacher. This is told mainly by the daughter of that teacher and how it affects her life. Then it s... READ MORE
Complex and gripping
What a clever story. Told from a number of different narrative points and a timeline that moves back and forth, this is a complex and totally satisfying ta... READ MORE
Secrets and lies
The book starts with a shooting in a school. At this point I made comparisons with “We need to talk about Kevin” but the book, although about the horror of... READ MORE
A very compelling read ❤️
I was excited to read this second book from Abigail Dean - I loved Girl A!
I did however find this book disjointed initially, so a word to the wise - mak... READ MORE
A good atmospheric novel
When reading this novel I was reminded of the Dunblane shooting with a terrible outcome- it too was a primary school. To say I enjoyed it just doesn’t feel... READ MORE
A heartfelt and gripping thriller
Day One is set in a picturesque village called Stonesmere. It epitomises a sleepy rural place where a terrible event changes everyone’s life in a couple o... READ MORE
Gripping and insightful
The aftermath of a school massacre in which 10 children and their teacher are killed is explored mostly through the eyes of Marty, the young adult daughter... READ MORE
Gripping story
I found this book a little hard to get into initially but once I did I was invested in the story. I don't usually like stories that jump from timeline to t... READ MORE
Bit slow at times
While the subject of the book is a bit harrowing, it was still an interesting read. After a gunman enters a school leaving dead and wounded, the book looks... READ MORE
Compelling & Sad
In the aftermath of a primary school shooting in a picturesque lakeside village, Marty mourns her mother, Trent doesn’t believe the shooter is guilty, the ... READ MORE
The worst novel I’ve ever read.
A completely plodding novel and not worth the paper it’s printed on. Aside from the purchase price, I deeply regret wasting my time reading a meaningless p... READ MORE
An engaging read
Stonesmere is a lovely village in the Lake District, known as a place for sightseers to visit & enjoy the quaint village shops & the lovely scenery. That w... READ MORE
Another great read from Abigail Dean.
This novel deals with the ongoing trauma and repercussions of a tragic school shooting that engulfs the members of a small community on 'Day One'.
Startin... READ MORE
Gripping
Set in a small community in The Lakes, this is a story about tragedy & how secrets never truly stay buried. The author is skilled at creating a menacing s... READ MORE
Not sure why the hype
I struggled with this book
Despite all the good reviews I found this a tad boring and struggled to finish it and when I did I was left confused and disappo... READ MORE