I have never struggled so much to write a review. This is beyond brilliant and I don’t know how it is even conceivable. Stuart Turton did not miss a beat in making the most insane connections and I’ll admit, I did not solve a single plot twist until being given the ending on a silver platter. The concept is hard to wrap your head around and I have to admit, I was often confused but that was my fault as I didn’t go into the book with full attention and the understanding of how complex this book would really be.

Turton does a remarkable job of writing characters as you feel like you really understand Aiden and the hosts. He also does a great job writing a unique mystery with even a moral concept of our own possible future of an important judicial system in which I can give no further detail without spoiling something.

This is a twisted tale that’s never been done in which I can’t wrap my head around ever being clever enough to write. For me, the confusion made me feel more like this was a 4 but that was strictly my fault. You must go into this book ready to think and give it your full attention. This makes it easily a five in which I feel obligated to give it. Bravo!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Raven Books, for a copy for my honest review!

This book was based on a very interesting concept. I like the fact that there seemed to be many variations of the possible outcome of murder. This goes to show how different things an event can turn out to be like. The writing style was mysterious and interesting. The plot line of the story flowed very well. This book will have found hooked throughout as you get to find out all of the different perspectives,

Summary:

Evelyn Hardcastle will be murdered.... again and again, and her killer is never caught. One man will relive that day eight times, as eight different men. If he can find out who killed Evelyn Hardcastle, he escapes. No more days on loop, no more hosts, he can have his life back. If he fails.... it begins again. At a house party where everyone seems suspect can he really be expected to figure who the murderer is? Will that even be enough for him? Moving from one host to another, one clue to another, one ally to another.... what happens if he finds something at Blackheath worth saving?

My Thoughts:

This was a stunning debut novel with a lot of great characters and world building. I was constantly surprised by how engrossed I became with the plot, the drama.... the lives of the hosts and Aiden's struggles. I literally have 26 pages (one sided) of notes saved for this book. There were so many twists and turns, descriptions and phrases.... it was a masterpiece.

At the beginning, Aiden is scared, angry. As he moves along, though, he finds reasons to move forward and play the game. People he cares about, people that were kind, promises and friendships springing up in a hellish environment. The relationship he has with Anna is one that truly intrigued me. Unlike Aiden she only has one body, and one day. She relives this again and again, never free. When the two team up, it's amazing watching them move together.

I loved the flow of the book, from host to host and sometimes back. It's definitely an intense mystery and one that kept me guessing. I am so enamored of this book that I cannot wait to see what the author comes out with next. Turton is a definitely an author to watch out for. Five stars!

On the adult content scale, there is a lot of violence, language and substance abuse. I would say that this one if for older teens and adults. I give it a six.

I was lucky enough to receive and eARC of this book from Netgalley and Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review. My thanks!

This must be the most clever book that I read so far in 2018. The story is so creative. Aiden receives the task of solving the mystery of Evelyn Hardcastle murder. For that he will have to relive the same day 8 times, in 8 different hosts - each host was a different guest to the party where Evelyn Hardcastle will be murdered by the end of the day. Mixing up mystery, murder investigation, and time travel, this book is very creatively constructed, and you get you wondering page after page who killed Evelyn Hardcastle after all.

The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Scott Turton is a mystery novel. Interesting that the book was originally titled The 7 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, but there was a conflict in the U.S. with another book, so we now have 7 ½ Deaths. Either way, poor Evelyn just keeps dying.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Sourcebooks Landmark, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My Synopsis:
Evelyn Hardcastle is going to die tonight at the ball, and every night for the next 8 nights, unless Aiden Bishop can solve her murder.

Every day, Aiden wakes up in a different body (host), and gets to see the day unfold from different perspectives. He gets the opportunity to learn more about the other guests and servants at Blackheath Hall. In this way, he hopes to find the murderer before Evelyn dies for good. But every night at 11pm, Evelyn dies.

All of his hosts have some strange quirks, and some are outright nasty, but he is determined to use what they know to solve this murder. Unfortunately, there are other “rivals” trying to do the same thing. There are also two unknown characters, known as the Plague Doctor, and the footman. When he meets Anna, he agrees to work with her so that they can both leave together. Aiden is not sure who to trust. All he knows is that whoever solves Evelyn’s murder gets to leave Blackheath. Aiden really wants to leave, but he is starting to wonder how many times this cycle has been repeated?

My Opinions:
Well, this was really different….really good. I think that the atmosphere that Turton created at Blackheath made you feel like you were in an Agatha Christie mystery, and the plot was a little like Groundhog Day. Overall, it was great!

I admit to being a trifle confused at the beginning, and then I “got it”. (Sometimes it pays to read the blurb about the book just a little closer.)

For a debut novel, I was really impressed. The organizational skills required by the author to produce this book must have been monumental. (I’m picturing wall after wall of charts). It was deep, well-thought out, and the twists kept coming. It was great how you got to put things together as Aiden did, and occasionally I was ahead, but often behind.

Highly recommend this book, but go in with your thinking cap on, and pay attention!

I always love a different concept and this book certainly has that.
Did struggle at t know times remembering which character was which, but did find this book highly enjoyable.
It is well written, with plenty of unforeseeable twists and turns and an ending you just won't GUESS........

Thank you netgalley, Stuart Turton and sourcebooks for allowing me to read and review this book.

I'm still somewhat not sure what rating I'm going to give this book. It's sitting somewhere at a 3 or 4 for me right this moment just after finishing the book.

The mystery of the story is very intriguing but also a bit confusing and almost so convoluted that I had trouble motivating myself to actually pick up the book after I'd set it down. The concept of having to solve this murder but switching bodies every time you fall asleep was so fascinating. But on the other hand, there were so many characters - not only including those that our main character embodied - that it was a struggle to keep up with the who's who as the mystery is coming unraveled.

Although it was very cool that I didn't see some of the twist coming, I also just didn't find it believable or realistic especially considering the aspect of the world system that I don't want to spoil you for but that was eventually vaguely explained.

Further going into that, I would have loved some more information on this world and why we're getting this weird almost magical place where Aidan is stuck experiencing multiple bodies to solve a murder. There is some explanation like I mentioned but it wasn't enough for me to fully grasp what the heck was going on.

There was a lot that I liked and a lot that I didn't so again, not quite decided on this star rating.

This book. WOW. Not quite what I was expecting, but quite a ride. How Turton keeps all of his characters straight as they overlap the way they do (just really can't say too much without ruining it) is brilliant. His writing is highly descriptive and almost lyrical with a sort of old-fashioned feel, but still highly readable. (Clearly, I am not a writer - I cannot describe his writing at all.) The plot is just so much PLOT, an absolute page turner, and yet he still fills the novel with insanely detailed character studies and all of these big themes without seeming to bat an eyelid. It is seamless, nearly flawless, one of the best books of the year and absolutely astounding for a debut. I only kept with 4 rather than 5 stars because I didn't love the ending, but details! I cannot WAIT for Turton's next book. He is brilliant.

Agatha Christie meets time travel meets thriller meets speculative fiction. Super compelling, though a little long. I had no idea where most of it was going until it unravelled at the end, which to me, is the sign of a good mystery. I wanted desperately to learn more about the world outside of Blackheath, but the few glimpses that I got were intriguing. The ending was satisfying-- and the plot itself so intricate and cleverly done I'm not surprised it took 3 years for the author to finish. On a purely aesthetic note, the front and back cover is gorgeous. Would recommend to those who like mystery, thrillers, and a little bit of the unexplainable.

Innovative plotting and world building fill the 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle.

What would make the replay of a day over and over immeasurably worse? How about also waking up as different people each time you fell asleep?

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a clever blend of fantasy and Agatha Christie. Not only does our first person narrator have to figure out how and why he keeps jumping from one person to another repeating the same day. He also must solve a murder that appears to be a suicide, while also racing against several other jumpers to win his freedom from the endless repetition. There are also mysterious players outside the action who may be friend or foe.

The mystery of Evelyn Hardcastle is relatively easy for armchair detectives to solve. However, the mystery of how and why the actions replay is more of a puzzler. The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is recommended for amateur detective fans jaded by reading too many similar books. It is stunningly original though the middle dragged for me a bit. Still 4 1/2 stars rounded up to 5!

Thanks to the publisher, Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley for an advance copy.

What an original and unique story! It took me a while to get into this one, but once I did I was hooked. It's been a while since I've read a thriller/mystery this good.

Review for The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

This book was nothing like I’ve ever read before. It had the feel of a classic mystery with a fun and interesting sci-fi twist. The premise is that Evelyn Hardcastle will be murdered at 11 pm each night and Aiden Bishop has to figure out the identity of the murderer. He has 8 days to do so but will wake up in a different host each morning. Each host has their own personality, with assets and limitations.

The beginning was initially confusing; which makes sense because Aiden wakes up with total memory loss and the reader learns alongside him what is going on. The characters we meet all have secrets, which makes them all suspects.

The intrigue of this book made it so hard to put down. The author kept revealing so many twists and turns, I felt I was on a roller coaster. I already want to re-read this book, just to fully understand all the secrets and motives. I loved this story immensely and while the ending was quite shocking, I wish the very last part of the book had ended differently. Aiden’s choice at the very end was less satisfying than I had wished for, and it’s the only part I would change. Therefore, I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.


This book is available in the U.S. on September 18th so if this sounds like a book you'd like, you won't have to wait much longer.

I can't be the only one who started this and 25 percent through abandoned it because, well, I couldn't figure out what was going on or why I should care. I'm not even sure who the main character is. I went back to the blurb to see what the plot is meant to be and even with that and all the positive reviews as incentive, I DNF. This is nicely written, to be sure, and it's intricate but it left me cold. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

This book is definitely different from any other book I've read so far. It was a bit confusing at first, the reader is thrown in the middle of the action from page one without any information, which makes it easy to relate to the main character, who is as lost as we are.
The story reveals itself in layers and can be puzzling at times. Whenever you think you know something, it turns out you don't. The characters are interesting and the story develops at a really good pace, keeping your interest all along.
I was very pleasantly surprised not only by the story itself, but also by the innovative way in which it was written and how it moved forward. Highly recommended to anyone looking for a good original thriller. Amazing debut by Stuart Turton, can't wait to read the next one.

This is a very unique book, unlike any I've read. I nearly gave up on reading this at 50% because the nature of the story overwhelmed me in its complexity. This is a story of a gentleman named Aiden Bishop who finds himself caught in a nightmare loop of sorts where he has to solve a murder in order to get out. It takes place in an English country manor named Blackheath tucked away in a forest, its former grandeur a thing long past. You see, a child named Thomas Hardcastle was murdered 19 years ago, and for some twisted, distasteful and sick reason the same people who were there on that day have been invited once again. Aiden Bishop has the opportunity to occupy the body of 8 different "hosts" on his pathway to potentially solving the murder. As the book begins, he has no distinct memory of who he really is as he occupies the body of his first host, stumbling frightfully through the forest surrounding Blackheath.

However, the murder to be solved this time around is that of Thomas Hardcastle's older sister, Evelyn. One thing is sure, at eleven each night Evelyn Hardcastle will die. Whoever solves the mystery of her murder will be freed from Blackheath. You see, the same day is relived over and over again in a loop. Little things can be changed to effect different outcomes and glean more information, utilizing the intellectual and physical gifts of each host. Each time the day is relived Aiden is occupying a different body, and occasionally even does so in multiple bodies during a singular day. Each host gets a 24-hour duration, but depending on what happens to them, they might not last a full 24 hours. So, this requires going back into different hosts at different times. Sometimes the facts of a day change depending on what the people do and as more information unfolds or changes a little, it gets quite mind boggling to keep track of it all. Since I read in short spurts during the day, I would pick up the book again and find myself lost for a bit. Not wanting to give up on this book (having already invested reading 50% worth), I recently made a concerted effort to stick with it during most of my evening. I would recommend this, as it reached a momentous conclusion whilst I rode it like a storm.

This was a gothic mystery, a whodunnit, and a purgatory of sorts. 50% into this I was grudgingly going to award the book three stars, but ultimately upgraded my rating to four stars- because of its high quality writing, sheer originality of plot and rich conclusion. You will experience mental somersaults keeping track of the recurring day, but I recommend persevering for the payoff of a good read.

I'm going to try to write a review worthy of this amazing début novel by Stuart Turton. The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a mind-twisting story with characters that leap off the page. This multi-perspective mystery has murder, manipulation, and a feeling of desperation, but in the end delivers a message of kindness, forgiveness, and self-acceptance. The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is one of the BEST BOOKS I have EVER read. I'll try to keep this post at a reasonable length because I could ramble for pages about the writing quality, descriptions, and symbolism.

I have NEVER read a book with so many moving parts. Turton must have lost his mind trying to keep track of who was doing what, and when. Mentioned a few times in the novel, chess is a symbol of the theme of dark and light throughout the story with Aiden moving each host towards checkmate. Trying to figure out who killed Evelyn is like putting together the most complicated puzzle you've ever seen.

As Aiden embodies the eight hosts he initially complains about their limitations, but learns to focus on their unique talents. The plot is very twisty, at times confusing, and I loved every second. The ending clearly explained all the confusing parts and I felt extremely satisfied.

The characters are FANTASTIC. I could picture each unique person clearly in my mind. The mansion, Blackheath, is one of my favourite characters. "Blackheath shrinks around me, shriveling like a spider touched to the flame." The Plague Doctor is a mysterious character who keeps you wondering if he's good or bad. Anna is "fierce and fearless". I love to see authors write about strong, smart, women.

Hooked from beginning to end, I recommend The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle to fans of mystery/thriller who like a dash of magical realism (time travel).

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for the complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a fine and head-muddling twist on your good old murder mystery. It has an outstanding plot. It has hints and clues dropped by the author that you still can’t make heads or tails of. For example, I was so sure the title “7 ½ Deaths” is a dead giveaway (pun intended), but I was wrong. What, Evelyn dies 7.5 times? Or is it our hero Aidan fails 7 times and almost succeeds on the 8th time? I still couldn’t figure it out even when I was 70% through. The author carefully crafted twists and turns that are sure to keep readers guessing.

Reading Stuart Turton’s writing, I get the feeling that every sentence is precise, in the sense that it’s doing what it’s supposed to do. Not a word was wasted, every word serves a purpose. There is no wishy-washy sentences or clichès that fills up the paragraphs. Stuart Turton utilises personification techniques liberally in his work. The effect it has is astonishing – readers get a precise and immersive setting where they can lose themselves.

One thing that’s highlighted in every review ever for this book is the absence of emotional engagement with readers. To be perfectly honest, I didn’t notice it until after I’ve finished the book and read reviews because I was wholly engrossed in the convoluted mystery. However, I think emotional engagement with readers is a very important thing to establish but this book is an exception. It’s such a complex, time-restrained conundrum that the readers are just holding their breaths for that final reveal.

And oh boy, that finale? Worth holding your breath for.

Right. So. I'm giving this book five stars.

This is a surprise.

To me.

Because I'm not entirely sure what I just read but... apparently I loved it? *shrugs*

My experience reading this... gotta be honest, I'm not even sure how how to classify this book so let's say... this book by Stuart Turton went something like this...

*while reading*

me: ooh, historical fiction murder mystery, I like
me: huh?
me: oh that makes...
me: no, that doesn't make sense at all
me: now it's starting to make sense
me: no, it's really not... is this dude (is he Sebastian or Aiden?!?! like, originally) inhabiting other people's bodies?! wtf?!
me: this is such a... weird way to tell this story
me: these people take a lot of naps
me: huh?
me: and also, huh???
me: why I am emotionally invested in Evelyn Hardcastle and who murdered (or didn't... and also keeps murdering) her?
me: I accept my emotional investment in these people, how many ever of them are in one body at the same damn time
me: still a little bit huh?
me: omg, I did not expect that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
me: that was a ridiculous and perfect ending! it should not be the same ending with those two words
me: I've gotta read this again
me: also, Stuart Turton, sir? are you writing a prequel? a sequel? a series? more to explain the twist? I'd totally read them! I have no idea why, but I will!

(Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC copy of this book, which I reviewed in happy confusion, or tried to, with all honesty.)

This book turned out to be a pleasant surprise! When my children were younger, we watched several of those television shows with a plot about every day being Christmas or a birthday. When I saw this book, I didn’t honestly think I’d like it, but when I noticed all the great reviews it has received, I decided to give it a whirl.

I like how the author sets the scene with a home that is in disrepair and a cast of characters who for the most part, are not all that nice. Even the name of the property, Blackheath, adds an element of darkness to the the book. When the main character ends up trapped in a cycle of taking over the body and personality of a different person in the household everyday until he can figure out who the murderer is, it definitely made for some interesting scenes especially when a Plague Doctor and mysterious Footman are added to the mix.

The ending was a surprise and not at all what I expected.

Aiden Bishop, a man unknown to himself, has one day to solve the murder of Evelyn Hardcastle. The twist? He will live the same day as 8 different party guests whose personalities will either help, or hinder, his investigation. 

Blackheath is a Victorian manner populated by rapists, drug peddlers, and blackmailers who have arrived in celebration; all the same guests who attended the party years earlier that was the scene of a horrific event that changed the lives of the Hardcastle family. 

So what do the guests, the past, and Evelyn's murder have to do with each other? That's for Aiden Bishop to find out. That is, if he can fight his way through his host's predilections and his own lack of memory. 

This was my first Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) that I've ever received and I can't tell you how excited I was to be in on the "ground floor". Especially as this is author, Stuart Turton's, debut novel. 

I'm an avid reader of suspense thrillers, who-dun-its, and high fantasy (weird, I know). I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I jumped into The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. After finishing the novel, I can picture this book as an episode of Black Mirror. That's the best way to describe it. 

This book kept me swiping pages the whole time. It would be easy to consider this book "un-put-downable". 

Don't go into this book expecting a suspenseful build up like your average suspense novel. This book read more Sherlock Holmes-y. I never had a real "I think this is what happened" moment because the information was fed to me as it was discovered by Aiden. 

I think this was a great debut novel by Stuart Turton and I look forward to reading what he comes up with next. 

Lastly, I would like to say that Aiden Bishop is a better person than I am.