Cover Image: The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

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Member Reviews

I came to add read "The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle" after having been very underwhelmed by "The Devil and the Darkwater" and from what I can surmise, Turton has found himself a trope only he can win at. By this I mean, he leads readers on a merry dance, gives no clues and then comes to a tidy gotacha conclusion that is far from satisfying. I have said in other reviews that I don't mind being misled and duped if there's a reason that I can see for it having happened. I do not enjoy it when writers give me a story that can only be called smug because they've left no clues for me to follow. I'm sorry to leave a negative review and I always try to find something positive to say. My positive here, is that Turton will receive no more bad reviews from me because I won't be coming back for anymore of his work. Sorry.

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I loved the premise of this book as it's such a clever idea to wake up in a different body in order to solve a murder. However, it was so choppily done that I found it hard going, as did many in my book club. I think the author was trying just too hard to be clever and it didn't pay off. I also had to reads parts again to work out what was happening. It did get beter towards the end as the pace hotted up.

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This was a book I was very keen to read and then somehow it fell off my list. I am so glad I eventually got round to reading it but disappointed I wasn’t ahead of the curve, as I had the opportunity to be.

Not that I will have much to add to what has already been said… but "The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle" is a quite excellent genre-busting novel. It starts with a particularly dramatic scene which could certainly fit within a ‘Golden age’ crime novel, and indeed, the crux of the book certainly fits with the puzzle element and style of mid twentieth century mystery novels, but it quite quickly takes a turn toward what could very easily have been a plot from Doctor Who in its heyday.
But it is genuinely so much more that this; never losing sight of its crime novel basis nor its more ‘speculative’ fiction location, there is indeed a genuine crime to be solved but there is a lot more to be discovered other than a murderer. This is almost certainly the best novel of 2018 that I have read this year!

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A fun twisty read that has me guessing at every turn. Would have preferred if it was slightly shorter purely due to my own preferences on the length of books but I did find this one overall enjoyable!

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A man wakes in the middle of the woods and can remember nothing except the name “Anna”. Hearing noise nearby, he believes that Anna is being murdered, but has no idea why he believes this to be the case, or why she might be murdered, or who – for that matter – she is. So begins Aiden Bishop’s first day in Blackheath, although all the other people in attendance seem to think he is a man named Sebastian Bell. When a man in a plague doctor’s mask appears and informs him that he has eight days – and eight hosts – to solve the murder of Evelyn Hardcastle, daughter of the family who own Blackheath, Bishop can’t quite believe it, wasting precious time and hosts attempting to escape, or change the course of events. But Bishop soon discovers he’s not the only outsider in Blackheath – there are at least two others attempting to solve the murder of Evelyn Hardcastle, and only one person can gain their freedom by doing so. So, as the day repeats, and the deadline looms, Bishop puts his hosts to work, learning the dark secrets of Blackheath, the Hardcastles and the guests who have all been gathered here together once before.

From the outset, there is nothing to suggest that Stuart Turton’s debut is more than what it appears to be on the surface: an old-fashioned, Agatha Christie-style murder mystery. Not until we meet the stranger in the plague doctor mask do we begin to get a sense that this is a story in which Hercules Poirot would quickly feel very uncomfortable and out of his depth. At this point we begin to understand why Aiden Bishop’s memory is so spotty, if not necessarily the full story behind his seeming imprisonment in someone else’s body.

In essence, Turton presents us a single crime from eight different viewpoints, a common enough premise in a crime novel. But where The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle differs from those crime novels is in showing us the same crime eight times, as seen by the same man in a different body. This allows him to see things one day that he might have missed on others, and we discover the little clues that future hosts have left for him. What takes one day in real time takes eight days in Aiden Bishop’s life, allowing him to collate the evidence from his different hosts in the hope that it might help him solve the crime: who killed Evelyn Hardcastle?

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is not for the fainthearted. It’s a complex beast, referencing points in its past and future as we progress through the days. One has an image of Stuart Turton sat in the middle of a room full of notes, all connected by pieces of string, in an attempt to ensure that the story makes sense, and that one piece of evidence never contradicts any of the others. It’s an accomplished debut, and one that pays off in spades for the patient and careful reader.

Very much a character-driven piece, it quickly becomes clear that we never quite meet the real Aiden Bishop. He influences the thoughts and actions of his hosts and, in return, they influence his, so that Aiden Bishop in the body of Sebastian Bell is a very different creature from Aiden Bishop in the body of Lord Ravencourt. The only constant Bishop has is the mysterious Anna, who seems inclined to help him, and to whom he appears to have made a promise to help her get free when he solves the crime. The only thing that stands between Bishop and freedom is the equally-mysterious Footman, who will stop at nothing to ensure that he fails. Through the eyes of Bishop, we meet not only his eight hosts, but the other guests at Blackheath. This is a special gathering: these people haven’t been together since the fateful day when one of the Hardcastle children disappeared, so there is an air of mistrust between the guests, all of whom – it would appear – have something to hide.

Turton shows great skill in telling his story, drip-feeding us information as and when it becomes relevant. As a result, we’re always one step behind, and when the final revelation comes, it’s shocking and brilliant, a piece of magic that leaves the reader gape-mouthed but very, very happy. Turning everything we thought we knew on its head, Turton manages to find the perfect ending for one of the most original pieces of fiction to appear in the past decade.

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is, quite simply, an incredible debut from a very talented new writer. A complex but tightly-plotted narrative grabs the reader from the first page and carries them effortlessly through the story. Agatha Christie by way of Quantum Leap and with a dash of Inception, Evelyn Hardcastle turns those old-fashioned mystery tropes on their head to produce something new and exciting, a story that will play on the reader’s mind long after the final page has been read. With a debut this good, I can’t wait for Stuart Turton’s next novel, but I have to be honest: if it’s as complex as this one, I fear for his sanity. Definitely one for my end-of-year list, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle has quickly become one of my favourite books of all time.

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Well. That was nothing if not original. Oh, and extremely complicated ⭐⭐💫/5

A man wakes lost in the countryside with the name "Anna" on his lips and the sound of a gunshot. With no memory of who or where he is he finds his way to a large nearby house to report Anna's murder. He discovers that he is a guest of the house where the aristocratic Hardcastle family are holding a lavish party to celebrate the return of their daughter, Evelyn, from Paris after 19 years. It soon becomes clear to our confused narrator that tensions are running high and that the house is full of deceit and ulterior motives. That night Evelyn Hardcastle dies and our MC (Aiden Bishop) wakes again to find himself in the body of another party guest, living the same day again from another perspective. It's a cycle that he can't break until unless he discovers Evelyn's killer.

It's a fascinating premise and the plotting is fantastically complex and it is a very impressive achievement. Unfortunately, the plotting also impacts on the quality of the story as a whole. While initially I was desperate to understand what was happening and how to solve the riddle of Evelyn's murder the length of the novel and the number of cycles meant that halfway through my focus started to slip. When they're are so many revelations it becomes difficult to care about them or even assimilate them. Another was the characters. They are all deeply unpleasant but not really interesting enough to transcend this. Party of the problem is the limited time we spend with them and when we do it always through the prism of Aiden's consciousness. And yet because he had so little knowledge of himself, I felt I didn't really know him either.

A big issue for me was why this was all happening. Why/how Aiden was reliving the same day and switching bodies Quantum Leap style felt quasi-supernatral and the wait for any story of explanation came far too late. When it did, I HATED it. It was under-developed, unconvincing and so disappointing. After that my interest hit rock-bottom. By the time the crime was solved (the circumstance were impossible to predict but the perpetrator was painfully obvious) I was just glad to finish. Fewer cycles, fewer twists and more attention paid to the central mystery and the motivations as well as character development and backstory would have served the story better

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I had two attempts at reading this book but never quite got in to it. I'm desperate to know what the fuss is about so I may pick it up for a third time - the hype around this book has definitely piqued my interest and the unusual plot makes me think I will love it.

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I was lucky enough to read this brilliant book via @netgalley a little while ago and I loved it!! Stuart Turton's weaves a brilliant mystery that keeps you guessing right to the end, highly recommended.

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Where do I begin? When I first embarked on this book I must admit I was slightly confused, much like Aiden Bishop/Sebastian Bell. After the first few chapters things started to become clearer and then I found it hard to put the book down.

I initially started taking notes just in case I got lost as the story does jump around between the characters quite a bit. However after meeting the first three characters, that Aiden embodied, I felt there was no longer any need for the notes. Stuart Turton does a great job of helping you follow the story line without being repetitive, I actually enjoyed the time travel and body hopping element and never found myself lost of confused.

Out of all the characters that Aiden became my favourites were Gold, Rashton and Dance. In these bodies I thought Aiden started to become more gutsy and focused. He made difficult decisions and being the remaining three hosts it was where he made the most progress and so the story picked up even more pace.I also liked the other hosts and elements, such as Anna that were included and the teamwork that came from that. Those things made it more than just a simple who dunnit.

To say this book plays with your head would be an understatement, you’d be more accurate in saying it blows your head completely apart! I didn’t even try to play detective during this book, like I usually do as it was clear from the start that this was a complex and multilayered case. I was proven right and once I got to the end I was flabbergasted and speechless, there was no way that I could of drawn that conclusion. Even now if I wanted to try and explain the ending I still feel that I’d miss some key information or get myself in a muddle trying to make sense of it. It all made sense when I read it but now my mind is mush!

It has been a while since I’ve stayed up late to finish a book and this was worth every bit of exhaustion I may feel later today. I would agree that you need to concentrate as there are vital clues you don’t want to miss but it was still a very enjoyable read.

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I really wanted to love this but unfortunately it was a little too confusing and complex for my tastes. I am the type of reader who settles in with a novel to switch off my brain and relax, and "The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle" is for a different type of reader: one who enjoys puzzles and cerebral mysteries requiring them to unravel cognitive knots. Not for me, but I know many readers would love it.

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An ingenius genre bending book that breaks all the rules and leaves you with a breath taking twist. It's impossible to pigeonhole this book or say too much about it without ruining it. Let's just say it deserves the awards and buzz it built up around it.

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Brilliant. Amazing. Outstanding. The best time travel read EVER. There is no end to this author’s talents. I loved it and really can’t wait to read his next book!

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A fantastic book let down by a poor ending, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle had it all - a twist on the classic crime novel - emulating Agatha Christie - with added science fiction. It promised to be one of the better crime debuts, but unfortunately too much exposition towards the end of the novel let it down. Turton knows how to craft a yarn and I'd be interested in seeing what he comes up with in future, but sometimes a writer should trust their reader and not seek to explain the world away.

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An enthralling and completely original book. The characterisation, world and plot are all excellent from the start. The author provides eight perspectives, and makes everyone feel real and distinct. Thoroughly recommended for fans of literature, mysteries, time loops or great writing.

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I think I made a huge error … I read this book via audio. This book was far too twisting and turney to read on audiobook. It would be similar to someone describing the film ‘Inception’ scene by scene. I had no idea what was happening 90% of the time. The bits that I managed to grasp I really enjoyed but I feel that I missed out on a lot of the cleverness of the book. The concept was brilliant, the plot was ridiculously engaging, and the characters were flawed.
However, it was unrealistic in the sense that the main character, Aiden, was coping very well trapped at this creepy stately home, full of strangers, reliving his days trapped in different peoples bodies!
Also, just a warning, this book contains vulgar descriptions and serious hate talk regarding weight. I don't know if this was to fit in with the ‘thoughts of the times’ but it did seem unnecessarily cruel

So overall, it is a great read. But don't ruin it like I did, read the physical copy, take your time and keep track of the characters and I think it would be a worthwhile read.

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After a year that has been taken over my blog tours, I have found very little time reading my own books. So at the Christmas period, I found some time! I gave Rae and Eva the chance to choose me any book, any book that I should read..so they chose this. I can’t repeat the conversation because there was a lot of shouting that I hadn’t already read this! Psst…there may have even been some swearing! I know right! So logged onto Goodreads to mark it as being read and then I spied the page count! I mean how many pages?! I started to get a cold sweat now I knew I wouldn’t read my book total of 180 it was going to take me forever..ok after I got over the drama and the shouting at the girls I settled down and opened the book.

I will be completely honest, I wasn’t gripped from the start, and I was worried it might be a case of a book that has been over-hyped to me and I wouldn’t be able to read it. Eva told me to put my big girl pants on or she would disown me so I went back on and something magical happened…

I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN!!

I mean it took me a while to read it as I was on the run down to Xmas and I had been out and about but when I had the chance to sit and read, I sat and read. I got annoyed with interruptions, I got annoyed when I couldn’t read it. I was completely 1000% hooked!

Seven deaths is one of the most amazing, clever books I have read in a long time! How Mr Turton has managed to wind 8 lives into 1 story in such a unique way = mind blown!

I loved how Mr Aiden lived a different whole life each day and when all the characters started working together. I didn’t get confused I was just sitting there trying to figure it all with Aiden. How did someone know that Aiden would be in a certain place at a certain time? It was just so clever and still hurts my brain trying to figure it all out! There were certain bits where sweeping comments had been made and then later on in the book I was like OMG I remember that from before!

Even with solving the murder, I did not have a scooby! I mean how could you! Just when you think you were close to solving it something new happened! I can hand on my heart say I had zero eureka moments, I didn’t even bother trying to figure out what was going on I just followed Aiden, Anna and the Doctor!

I think this would be a fantastic book to see on the big screen. Yeah, it’s a huge book, so you know 2 hours 40-3 hours would be perfect as I think it would work wonders. It’s a bit of a Poirot story if Poirot could change bodies every day!

I will admit I was bereft at the ending, in one hand it was satisfying and on the other hand no it frigging wasn’t! I wanted more, but I do not know what that more I want is. My world has been turned upside down and inside out. I have been recommending it loads to people but trying to explain what this book about just confused them, I was like “Well you have this guy, he has to solve a murder and it’s like Groundhog Day and it’s just awesome when he meets himself but doesn’t know it’s him and then has to live the day as someone new but no one else knows. Oh, and someone is trying to kill and then there’s is a girl.” And through my excited babble, they just stare at me so what I have resorted to is “Just go and buy the book”

I have heard that Turton is writing another book. I don’t know what it’s about but yeah I want to be first in line to read it. He has blown my world away with this book and I need an author like this in my life. Rae and Eva you work here is done! Now can we be friends again?!

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I really enjoyed this book, fantastic premise and well executed. A definite must read! A bendy, twisty mind stretching whodunit, Essentially a classic crime drama with a twist of magical realism thrown in to keep you on your toes.. Well written plot that probably needs to be read in big chunks to really feel the benefit of the fast pace. Will definitely be recommending this to our customers.

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An old fashioned murder mystery with a huge difference. I'm always attracted by books that have an unusual narrative so thought this would be perfect for me. I did enjoy it, however, I think for most people it's a book that would need to be read when they've time to linger. I feel I didn't enjoy this book as much as I could because I could only snatch a few paragraphs at a time. It was well written, and it felt authentic to the time period.

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Thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury for this electronic ARC.
This follows an unnamed protagonist who over the course of seven days wakes up in different bodies and is tasked with the job of solving the murder of Evelyn Hardcastle in exchange of being set free from this absurd purgatory state. This is Groundhog Day meets Agatha Christie. I thoroughly enjoyed this intricate locked room mystery. The prose was gripping and there is a whole cast of characters. Despite the elaborate set-up I found this is an immersive read. An atmospheric, clever and original with plenty of twists and turns. 5/5

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An incredibly compelling murder mystery with a twist. Gripping until the very end, this thrilling tale borrows much from Agatha Christie; from the old crumbling mansion setting to the cast of untrustworthy characters.

The unique concept was utterly refreshing and the reader is left feeling as unsettled as our protagonist. And wonderful to hear that they will be making a tv adaptation of this!

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