“Agatha Christie meets Groundhog Day . . . quite unlike anything I’ve ever read, and altogether triumphant.”—A. J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window
Aiden Bishop knows the rules. Evelyn Hardcastle will die every day until he can identify her killer and break the cycle. But every time the day begins again, Aiden wakes up in the body of a different guest at … Aiden wakes up in the body of a different guest at Blackheath Manor. And some of his hosts are more helpful than others. With a locked room mystery that Agatha Christie would envy, Stuart Turton unfurls a breakneck novel of intrigue and suspense.
For fans of Claire North, and Kate Atkinson, The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a breathlessly addictive mystery that follows one man’s race against time to find a killer, with an astonishing time-turning twist that means nothing and no one are quite what they seem.
This inventive debut twists together a thriller of such unexpected creativity it will leave readers guessing until the very last page.
Costa First Novel Award 2018 Winner
One of Stylist Magazine’s 20 Must-Read Books of 2018
One of Harper’s Bazaar’s 10 Must-Read Books of 2018
One of Guardian’s Best Books of 2018
One of Buzzfeed’s 17 Mystery Books You Won’t Be Able to Put Down
One of BookRiot’s 10 Mystery and Thriller Authors like Agatha Christie
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This was an amazing book! Well written, brilliant idea, and full of twists and turns. The only downside is there’s so many characters that it gets confusing but that only adds to the story.
I took all the time trying to figure out the mystery, that the ending was a totally mystery to me too.
I’m not sure if this book would hold up if I re-read it, but who cares? This was a wild, fun ride from beginning to end.
This is a long winded read, which I feel would have benefitted from editing, it needs to lose 75 pages or more. It’s certainly well written, and the idea original. I’m pleased, Stuart Turton put a cast of characters at the beginning of the book because I had problems keeping up with who was whom, and had to keep referring back to the list. The ending is well crafted, I hadn’t seen it coming, and I liked Stuart Turton’s writing style and atmospheric descriptive detail. That said, there was just a bit too much of it for my liking, because at times it stopped the pace of the story, and as much as I can admire Stuart’s writing talent, for me at least, this wasn’t a page turner and felt heavy going at times. But a great idea.
Meh. I was really looking forward to this book when I first read about it. While I can appreciate the creativity, thought and detail of the author in writing this book, for me, there were too many characters and too many stories. I never really cared about the lead voice in the story, or what happened to his companion, Anna. Maybe it was the voice since I listened to it on Audible, but getting through it was still a slog for me. I probably would have put it down if I had been reading it.
Like seriously WHAT?! I have a gazillion questions.
So many POVs, red herrings, characters and suspects! Great read! I am blown away by the plot of this book, but need to read it again to really understand it.
Did not expect the ending. I really like books that have me still guessing up to the end.
My brain still hurts from trying to keep track of everything happening in this book. Takes twists and turns to a whole other dimension – literally. An incredibly creative and original debut, can’t wait to see what comes next!
If you want to know what it’s like to be trapped inside a game of Cluedo, then read this book. You know that a murder will happen, but you have to figure out who commits the crime by seeing it (literally) with fresh eyes every day. Because the day will repeat over and over until the mystery is solved. Turton has done something truly wonderful with this story – he has taken a formula we are all familiar with (murder mystery) and created something original. He has also written one of the best opening sequences I’ve read in a long time. You are instantly in the middle of the action and rooting for the poor Sebastian Bell, who appears to have lost his memory but is adamant on finding a woman he thinks murdered in the woods. Since reading it, I wonder if the characters were written in a sequence to capture the reader, as much as they are to catch the murderer. THAT’S how clever it is! If you enjoy some retro Agatha Christie in a Groundhog Day mash up, all served with a twist, then this is the book for you.
I didn’t like it. The story was all over the place. Just not my cup of tea.
This is a book unlike any other book I’ve ever read. Very original – excellent read. I recommend it.
I listened to this on audiobook, so keep that in mind for this review. However, I think if anything my experience would have been better reading it, because I could have gone back to reread in places where I got “lost.”
It is not hard to get into this book – it drew me immediately – but after a few chapter you learn that you have no idea what is going on. I was, however, down for the ride. I had read the blurbs here and on Amazon, but still was not expecting what actually happened. The unfolding as you learn, alongside the narrator, what is going on is superb and incredibly well put together. While things are hidden from you (which I usually hate), it is done in a way that makes sense and the way it’s revealed feels incredibly natural. The end of the book flew by and while it continued to surprise me, I really felt like the author earned every surprise.
This book was very finely crafted, with many twists and turns. I should have kept a list of dates and times and the various characters. It would’ve been easier to keep things straight. I am amazed that the author was able to do it.
I did not see the ending coming, it was very interesting to see all the layers peeled back. Very clever mystery.
The novel starts off with a man running through the words, disoriented. He can only think of one thing – a name, Anna. He tries to find her, but can’t. He arrives at Blackheath, but cannot remember anything. That is when things really get interesting. The character has 8 days to solve a murder, but the way he has to get the clues is incredible. Who is his friend, who can he trust, who is he? Well done!!
#The71/2deathsofEvelynHardcastle #StuartTurton
Story was hard to follow with constantly changing characters
A great book that kept me turning the pages and wondering throughout. Original premise. I enjoyed the time I spent on it and missed it when it was over.
As the story opens, a man is running through the forest yelling, “Anna.” He is wearing someone else’s dinner jacket and has another person’s hands. He has no memory of who he is, how he made his way to the forest, or why he is inside another person’s body. A silver compass drops from his pocket. A voice whispers one word: “East.”
In his debut novel, author Stuart Turton asks, through an eclectic variety of characters, plot machinations, and a healthy dose of science fiction, “How do you stop a murder that’s already happened?”
In an inventive and unique story, the Hardcastle family is hosting a masquerade ball at their dilapidated English manor. Their daughter, Evelyn Hardcastle, will die every day until invited guest Aiden Bishop identifies her killer and breaks the cycle. It’s like Groundhog Day. Every time the day begins again, Aiden wakes up in a different body, each one of the guests.
Aiden may be trapped for eternity if he can’t solve Evelyn’s murder and satisfy the enemy he can’t even identify conclusively or comprehend. On the bizarre Hardcastle estate, no one is who or what they seem, and no one can be trusted as they present themselves to be allies but quickly prove to anything but.
Turton himself describes the work as a mash-up of Agatha Christie, Groundhog Day, and Quantum Leap, and that’s an apt summary. He infuses the story with characters of all ages, shapes, and sizes, making Aiden’s daily challenge even more interesting. One of the bodies he inhabits is not just old, but extremely overweight, making it difficult for him to navigate the estate. Another has been severely beaten and is trying to recover from his injuries.
He also includes enough plot twists and surprising developments to keep readers guessing until the very end. The pace of the book is uneven. It slows significantly mid-way, then picks up again and races to the all-revealing climax. Why Aiden is there proves to be an elusive mystery that, when finally revealed, makes sense. Well, as much as anything in this unusual tale can make sense.
Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader’s Copy of the book.
While reading this book, I felt like I needed a navigational system to guide the various occurrences happening. One of the most confusing books I ever picked up. And the message the author was trying to relate got lost in all of that. It was an interesting concept, but the delivery of the story left me not caring what happened.
http://www.premeditatedfiction.com/book-review-the-7%C2%BD-deaths-of-evelyn-hardcastle-by-stuart-turton/
The suspense and plot twists begin right from the start, and the reader wonders, “What have I gotten myself into with this book?” for the first 30 or so pages. I stayed up well past bedtime many nights because I had to see what would be revealed on the next page…The numerous questions raised by the events and by the main character’s choices are answered in the highly satisfying ending. I am eager to see Stuart Turton’s next offering.
Sorry – It was kind of Downton Abby meets Murder on the Orient Express in a time warp. Not for the casual reader.