Abigail Dean Wins Golden Dragon Award

Abigail Dean's novel The Death of Us has won the Crime Writers’ Association’s (CWA) Golden Dragon Award this year.

The novel presents an in-depth psychological study of the survivor of a rape, Isabel Nolan, and her husband Edward Hennessy.

The story revolves around the 'South London Invader', a malevolent presence who targets happy and successful couples, subjecting the women to brutal sexual attacks and humiliating the husbands.

Later, he starts killing couples in horrific manners, leaving a trail of devastation and a city cowering in terror.

The Invader breaks into Isabel and Edward's home, forcing Edward to tie up Isabel and then leaving him in another room, helpless and paralyzed by fear.

This incident leaves Edward feeling like a coward, as society expects a man to protect his family.

He refuses to tell Isabel what transpired, opening up only years later in court when the perpetrator is finally apprehended 25 years later.

The novel subverts the conventional crime fiction genre by focusing not on the predator but on the wreckage of grief and helpless rage he leaves in his wake.

The chief investigator, Etta Eliogue, makes it a personal crusade to hunt for the rapist-killer, even when the media and police have lost interest.

The novel highlights the different ways women and men process trauma and the scars left on their minds and bodies.

The Death of Us is written from the points of view of Isabel and Edward, with hers being a first-person account addressing the attacker, and Edward’s in the third person.

This structure provides a compassionate look at gendered trauma and the struggle against victimhood.

The novel does not dwell on the incident as much as on the aftermath, avoiding the voyeuristic gaze that often reduces women to passive targets of brutality.

Abigail Dean's novel is a gripping story of hope and recovery, offering a fresh perspective on the crime fiction genre.

It is a testament to the power of the human spirit to survive and overcome even the most traumatic experiences.

The Golden Dragon Award is a prestigious recognition of Dean's work, and The Death of Us is a must-read for fans of crime fiction and psychological thrillers.

The novel's unique approach to trauma and survival makes it a standout in the genre, and its exploration of gendered trauma is both thought-provoking and timely.

In conclusion, Abigail Dean's The Death of Us is a remarkable novel that subverts the crime fiction genre and rewrites the rules of trauma.

It is a powerful and moving story that will leave readers thinking long after they finish the book.

The novel's focus on the aftermath of trauma and the struggle against victimhood makes it a valuable contribution to the genre.

It is a story that will resonate with readers and leave a lasting impact, making it a worthy winner of the Golden Dragon Award.