Job:- Author
Website:- https://www.abigail-dean.com
Instagram- @AbigailSDean.
Introduction
Abigail Dean is a former lawyer turned author. She is the author of three books. Her debut novel Girl A was published in 2021 and was a SundayTimes and New York Times bestseller. She was one of the Observer's best new novelists in 2021, and was shortlisted for the Women's Prize, Good Housekeeping Futures Award in 2022. Girl A won the inaugural Fingerprint Debut novel in 2022 and the CrimeFest E-dunnit Award. It was also shortlisted for the Barry Award, The British Book Award Crime and Thriller Book of the Year, Crimefest Sounds of Crime Award and Debut Novel, ITW (International Thrillers Award) and Macavity Award for Best First Novel, and Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award. Her second book Day One was published in 2024.
Her third and most recent novel The Death of Us won the 2026 CWA Gold Dagger, was shortlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award and was longlisted for the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger and the CWA Twisted Dagger. The Death of Us was a book of the year in The Times, the Guardian, Good Housekeeping and iPaper, and film rights have sold at auction.
Current book? (This can either be the current book that you are reading or writing or both)
I’m editing my fourth novel, which tells the story of a little boy who disappears from his bed in 1970, the youngest son of a famous Cambridge scholar. We see his family and the investigators every five years as they change, age – and search.
Why do you think anti-heroes are so interesting to readers
I don’t think our interest in anti-heroes can be separated from our interest in good characters more generally. Characters who are purely bad can be great fun – I’m thinking of the vast majority of Bond villains – but those who harbour questionable motivations or are forced into heroism against their will are much more human and relatable.
How do you relax?
I run, read, and watch films and TV.
Which anti hero would you like to be on your side in a difficult situation.
I’ll take Amy Dunne from Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl, who seems capable of manipulating, lying or murdering her way out of any situation.
If you were to write a book involving an anti-hero where would you set it and why?
I would take inspiration from Patricia Highsmith’s Tom Ripley and set it in an Italian coastal town. Months of research would surely be required.
How would you describe your latest published book?
The Death of Us follows a young couple who are the victims of a terrible home invasion - and asks what romance can endure. It’s a love story interrupted by a crime novel.
With Bad Apples: crime fiction’s enemies and anti-heroes theme at St Hilda's this year, who are you three favourite anti-heroes
I love Jessica Jones, Hilary Mantel’s Thomas Cromwell, and Tony Soprano.
Which 3 films or television series featuring anti-heroes would you rewatch and why. I’ve been rewatching a few in preparation for my talk! I’ll always be happy to revisit The Sopranos, Breaking Bad, and Slow Horses.
What are you looking forward to at St Hilda's?
Everybody else’s talks! There are a whole bunch of great, inspiring speakers, and I’m looking forward to stealing all of their wisdom.
The Death of us by Abigail Dean (HarperCollins Publishers)
It’s the story everyone wants to hear. That spring night in South London, when Isabel and Edward’s lives were torn apart. The night Isabel learned that the worst things wait, just outside the door. The night Edward learned that he was powerless to stop them. The night they never talk about. When their attacker is caught, it's finally time to tell the story of that night. Not to the world. Or to the man who did it. But to each other. This is a story of murder. This is a story of survival. But most of all, this is a story of love.
More information about St Hilda's and how to purchase online tickets can be found here.
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