Part Agatha Christie, part Groundhog Day, and all parts incredibly inventive. Turton has created a memorable tale centered on a murder mystery with plot twists galore to keep readers constantly on their toes. A few days later, I'm still wrapping my brain around all that happened and wondering if it truly hangs together successfully; a second time through knowing what happens in the end may be necessary to clear everything up, but I greatly enjoyed the wild ride. I was especially tickled as I got deeper into the book and details from the beginning started to explain themselves as the narrative bounces around in time. To say anything more would spoil the fun!

What a ride! Wow. I'm stumped as to how to even explain how detailed and twisty and turny and clever this book is! I read somewhere that Stuart Turton had to map out an 8-day timeline with post-its marking every 2 minutes so he could keep track of everything - and wow! Just wow. I cannot even imagine the thought and preparation that went into arranging this story!

There is such creativity to this mystery - reminiscent of the best Agatha Christie novels, the book is set at Blackheath, a sprawling ancient estate, which has seen better days. But back in it's glory, almost two decades ago, there was a murder of a little boy. Now, coming up on the 20th anniversary, a whole slew of characters is gathered at the crumbling estate by the matriarch of the family, and yet another murder occurs. 

Evelyn Hardcastle is the sister of that little boy, and she will die every single day until Adrian Bishop can solve the murder. He's stuck in an 8-day loop, and needs to figure out the killer and break the cycle. Oh and did I mention that every time her falls asleep, or goes unconscious, he wakes up in the body (and mind!) of a different guest?!

I loved how this all played out - Imagine waking up in an obese body that stinks and can't even get out of a bathtub without assistance! And then in that of a constable with a sharp clever mind and gorgeous fiancé, and then a drug dealer! What a ride this was! I dove right into it not knowing what to expect and breezed through the first 1/3 of it. By 2/3 in I started getting a little bit mixed up. The timeline jumps across and back the span of 8 days and you never know where in the past or future you will end up - or in whose (of 8 guests) mind/body. But by the last 1/3 - I was ravenously flipping pages to find out who killed Evelyn and the end does NOT disappoint! Wow! Again - wow! 

What really cool and clever idea. I've never read anything like this and it was seriously one of the most inventive and creative murder mysteries I've ever read.

This book is remarkably well-written, and the story kept me turning the pages to see how it would unfold.

There were some weird paradox aspects that were confusing and hard to wrap my brain around, but its easier if you just go "along for the ride" and stop trying to overthink the time-travel, one-life-in-multiple-bodies concept.

I'll go further in depth in my blog review, which will be posted closer to the US release date.

I received this  e-book from #netgalley and the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review.

**4.5 Stars**

I loved this book. There will be a murder. Such  a cute murder mystery where the main character gets to relive the same day 8 times to try and solve it but every day he's in a different body.  

It was also interesting to see how the different bodies/personalities affected the story and there were twists! I loved this story line. The author did a great job. 

I would highly recommend this book.

I love a good mystery. I really do. I love trying to constantly figure out what happened. And this book starts out strong: we're in the mind of someone, lost in the woods, who's absolutely positive that he witnesses a murder. But no one believes him. Maybe it's because I've been watching too much Black Mirror lately, or I'm not quite in the right mindset for Edwardian drama. But it starts strong, but the amnesia was getting to be too much. Maybe I'll give it another go when I'm in the right place for it!

I really liked this, though I think I admired it as an architectural feat more than anything else. At the beginning I felt it was getting very bogged down in the concept, though the ending tied up everything very cleverly. [ Although, despite the brilliant twist, I didn't really believe Aidan would forgive Anna so quickly and easily at the end. Structurally the ending worked well, but it didn't really ring true for the characters. (hide spoiler)] The author can really write a sinister character, though. I was terrified of The Footman (and later, [Daniel.

So I've never read anything like this.  In essence, it's an old-school murder mystery- all set at a mansion in disrepair out in nowhere-multiple people involved in a sinister plot--yet there was something more to this...something that kept me reading and finishing it within two days. As I've seen a few reviewers comment, I can completely agree-it's like a Groundhound day meets Agatha Christie.
The pacing was perfect-not to many people or clues all at once-just subtle clues throughout, that when I saw them again in a few chapters or so I was literally saying out loud-that's what that means!  The characters were each fully fleshed out-and could imagine them each doing what they did and why. 
The ending I did not see coming, and this book had kept me on the edge of my seat-not only to figure out all the clues and to figure out who is who and what is what, but to solve the biggest mystery these characters were hiding. 
All in all, this was a fun book-gripping- and cleverly written. I went ahead and ordered a copy from Book Depository since I cannot wait till the book comes out in the US.  Will be enjoyable to go back and reread this and see how many more clues I missed. 
I would highly recommend this one to anyone. 
My sincere thanks to Stuart Turton, Sourcebooks Landmark and to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

So - if you're reading this in the UK it's 7½ deaths - but in America, where it's already been published, it's just 7.  I'm not sure why we get an extra half a death over this side of the Atlantic - but I am assured it's the same book.

Anyway - I was very kindly given an advance review copy (well, advance for the UK market) from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

Here's the blurb:

"The Hardcastle family is hosting a masquerade at their home, and their daughter Evelyn Hardcastle will die. She will die everyday until Aiden Bishop is able identify her killer and break the cycle.

But every time the day begins again, Aiden wakes up each day in a different  body as one of the guests. 

Aiden’s only escape is to solve Evelyn Hardcastle’s murder and conquer the shadows of an enemy he struggles to even comprehend. But nothing and no one are quite what they seem. 

Deeply atmospheric and ingeniously plotted, The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a highly original debut that's an Agatha Christie mystery in a Groundhog Day Loop, with a bit of Quantum Leap to it. "

This really is an intriguing and very different book!  (Different in a much better way than when I described Donna Tartt's 'The Goldfinch' as different - before various friends get panicky!)

Each day Aiden Bishop wakes up in a different host's body.  He stays in that body for a day (during the host's waking hours) or until the host dies.  It therefore flips between hosts, days, hours of the same day, with alarming frequency.

I am very glad that I am on the wagon at the moment - as it was tricky enough to keep track of when stone cold sober - and definitely would not be a book to read when even mildly inebriated!! Even in my abstemious state, it was still tricky to keep a handle on entirely what was going on.......

Often with books I get cross with the author (and editor!) for not spotting loopholes in plots and inconsistencies - but it was pretty much impossible to even begin to dissect the plot with this one!  The interview with the author at the end says that he had a wall full of post it notes and a spreadsheet to ensure all of the characters and plot lines were consistent whilst writing the book - and unless I'd recreated this, I really don't think it was possible to keep up, you kind of just have to go with it (which for a control freak like me is a bit tricky!)

The hosts that Aiden uses each day are all very different - physically / emotionally / mentally - and that is very cleverly portrayed.  You're never quite sure who you're rooting for though.  The house where it's set - Blackheath - is also really well described and you can picture yourself inside it - and it's grounds. It is very atmospheric. 

Overall I enjoyed this - although I'm pretty exhausted having finished it - and am looking forward to something a bit lighter and less taxing for my next read!  Reading something with a new 'concept' is a refreshing change - and I'm already interested to see what the author writes next! 

Definitely put this on your list for when it's published in the Autumn.

Evelyn Hardcastle is set to die at 11pm unless Aiden Bishop can solve who will murder her. Each day will play out the same way, until the mystery is solved. Aiden wakes up in the body of someone else, a host body.  There are eight other witnesses/host bodies that Aiden will experience, each with their own advantages/disadvantages.  Aiden will not be released until he solves the mystery, he has eight days to do it or the loop will continue.  The location is Blackheath, a mansion set amongst many acres of forrest.  A Footman (like a prison guard) pops up every now and then he is the one that Aiden must give his answer to, to leave. Other hosts are trying to stop Aiden and strange caped people keep trying everything they can to kill him.  It is set in a historical setting, but with a futuristic type prison that people go to who have committed a crime and are put through this mentally twisted and challenging puzzle that will test their conscious. 

This book was quite enjoyable, however you really need to concentrate on it as there are a lot of things going on.  You can quite easily miss what is happening if you get a bit distracted.  This book was very well written, intriguing, clever, mysterious and entertaining.  It really was like reading something from an Agatha Christie movie, with some science fiction thrown into it.  Even though it is set in early times, the prison type setting is very futuristic which I found to be a fascinating concept.  

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I received a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book had a lot to untangle, in a good way. The questions just kept coming, and what you think are the answers, aren't. It was beautifully written, confusing at times, but still very good. Kept me guessing until the very end.

Wow! The 7 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is in the running for my favorite book of the year. It kept me on my toes as it transformed from an atmospheric period mystery to a time travel puzzle to a Black Mirror-inflected meditation on the nature of evil and redemption. It has something for both mystery lovers and speculative fiction fans, and is sure to be a hit with book clubs. Compulsively readable when it comes to the clever plot and an equal joy to read for its quirky descriptions and fluid, inventive prose. Highly recommended.

Waking up in the woods with no memory of who or where he is, Aiden finds himself overhearing a woman’s murder with only an old compass and a ghostly whispered direction of “East” to guide him. Finding himself on the doorstep of Blackheath House, he is helped to his room with no memory of either his hosts or fellow guests. After being examined by the doctor, Aiden chalks his condition up to a bump on the head that should be rectified by sleep. However, upon waking up the next morning in the body of a different guest, he soon realizes his nightmare has just begun.

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton is an intricately woven tale of a man tasked with the seemingly impossible. This novel can be generally categorized as a time traveling Ground Hog’s Day, but there is so much more depth than that simple classification. With eight days to solve the murder of Evelyn Hardcastle, Aiden must utilize the eight hosts (fellow guests) to piece together the clues and solve the murder. Slowly unraveling the mystery and slotting together the puzzle pieces along with the narrator was quite entertaining. 

One element that I thought well integrated was the effect of each host on Aiden. So many decisions and actions were influenced by the different personalities, and I thought this was a clever way to flesh out the secondary characters without a ton of lengthy explanation. Many readers will say this makes the characters one dimensional, but I feel like Turton’s story is in keeping with the stereotypical characterizations of classic murder mysteries in the early 20th Century. Definitely recommend for fans of Agatha Christie’s work and anyone looking for a slightly confusing yet page turning read.

Reviewed for Goodreads under The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle as there was no option for 7 1/2.

Crackling with splendid dialogue, characters and conspiracies, this is a shoo-in for an audio book and a made for PBS Masterpiece Theatre on the order of Agatha Christie. How the author kept all the moving parts of this intricately tied plot strung together is beyond me. In all my reading, I don't think I have ever come across a novel such as this! Atmospheric in setting, the novel opens in England (time frame shifting between 1920's-30's)where the main character is set to attend a country estate party honoring Evelyn Hardcastle who has been in Paris for a long period of time. The party is dotted with a wide spectrum of upper class individuals as well as servants and laborers. What makes this story so unique is its "Groundhog Day" device whereby the central character embodies the life of a different individual in order to solve a 19 year old murder case of her youngest brother. However, because of so many characters and plot twists, it became very confusing at times. If I didn't read it straight through, I would imagine it would be even more baffling. It needs a chart with the characters and characteristics to help muddle through the morass. If you frustrate easily, this could indeed be a hindrance. However, I had such a keen appreciation for the author's skill, that this seemed a rather minor distraction.

Mind=blown. This is the perfect mystery for readers who think they're pretty good at predicting twists and figuring out whodunnit. Seriously, it's just...not what you're expecting, even if you (accurately) expect a murder mystery that's a mash-up of Groundhogs Day and Quantum Leap.
Don't let the number of pages fool you. You'll stay up late and cancel plans to finish reading this book.

I don't normally read mystery/thriller books, and while the premise of this book was very interesting and the main reason for wanting to read it, I struggled with staying interested. 
I don't even watch Mystery/thriller movies. 

The writing was very good, and the characters were great. I just kept getting a little bored. It's a case of "It's not you, it's me." I try so hard to read outside the Fantasy genre, but every time I do I am never able to stay interested in the book.

The 71/2 deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle has a twist at every turn. From the very beginning it throws up questions to be answered and it doesn't let up until every last one has been answered. This is an absolute powerhouse of a book - defying genre and expectations both with its sweeping grandiosity. If I had but one problem with the storytelling it is that, towards the end, much of the plot gets explained away very simply in one exposition-heavy bunch. Apart from that however, I absolutely loved this novel and will be recommending it to all and sundry,

This book is weird and unusual but very memorable. The premise is unlike anything I’ve ever read and draws you in to read more. A great whodunnit that I’d definitely recommend.

The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is one of the most unusual and memorable mysteries that I’ve read.  It is easy to compare it to Groundhog Day where the protagonist repeats the same day until he gets it right and Quantum Leap, where the protagonist inhabits the bodies of different people trying to make things right.  Both give you an idea of what to expect, but neither wholly encompasses the unique nature of The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. In this unusual murder mystery, you are trapped within a repeating scenario with one difference.  Each day you wake up as someone else. Your task is to uncover who killed Evelyn Hardcastle and how, but you are not alone - there are others also searching for the killer, competitors who do not have your best interests at heart.  The task is a dangerous one, your memories are fleeting and the lines between occupier and occupied are blurred as you seek out long hidden secrets and untangle the web of lies.


This novel is astounding, and if it was possible I would give it more than 5 stars.  It is definitely an unusual approach to the classic manor house mystery.


5 / 5


I received a copy of The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.


— Crittermom

Great whodunit book! Very Agatha Christie. I really enjoyed the twist and turns the book takes and I believe any one who reads this book will as well.

Complex and confusing as in life there is death but death is meant not as the final exit but rather a life to be celebrated.
Ok you still with me, because this cat has nine lives and man alive she refuses to die.
Enter Evelyn Hardcastle the main character who keeps getting shot up yet never is killed because well Aiden -- can you help us?
Ok , Aiden a house guest hops aboard and is to be the savior here but he keeps getting sucked up into different bodies.
Yup, you heard me right!
So I guess the only thing left to say is keep your thinking caps on and hope that Aiden can escape because if not everyone's lives are in jeopardy.
Thank you to Stuart, his publisher, NetGalley , and Aldiko for this rather interesting ARC e-read.