In Day One we are immersed in Stonesmere primary school, an idyllic Lake District town, where things will never be the same again after a masked shooter opens fire on the crowded school theatre.

The grief, anger and chaos can certainly be felt from the opening pages right through until the final moments and Dean really does a fantastic job of anchoring you within that terrifying moment. Multiple timelines and POVs that don’t really dive deep enough is where it unfortunately begins to get a bit messy.

In an interview Dean notes she really struggled writing this book, in fact she rewrote it twice and unfortunately this struggle is quite apparent. While her outstanding writing skill does shine through in places, it doesn’t mirror the heights that she was able to reach with Girl A.

I think if you approach the book as a slow burning mystery rather than the intense thriller it is marketed as, you will get much more enjoyment.

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