I really appreciated how original the concept of this book was. I liked how it dived right into the story, and yet still had an element of slow-burn mystery to it. Turton is a talented writer and conveyed the story well. I enjoyed it.

I know this is a book that has gotten great reviews, unfortunately I did not like it. My main issue was that I found the whole book boring. I didn't care for the plot or the characters. The reason why I haven't written the review until now was because I did not want to think about this book anymore. If it weren't for netgalley, I would have DNF'ed it.

I'm gonna start with the positive aspect. The writing. I really enjoyed some of the quotes in this book. I will not write them as I read an advance copy and do not know if some of them has changed.

Now let's move to the negatives. We follow a person who wakes up in a different body every day and in order to make the cycle stop, he has to figure out who killed Evelyn Hardcastle. The premise sounds very promising, but the characters were so unlikable that I did not care about who the murderer was. I was hoping to enjoy the ending, but unfortunately I could see it coming, and therefor it was not that enjoyable. I might have watched to many black mirror episodes before this, because it felt like an episode to me. If the plot twist had been more surprising, I think I would have given it a 3 star rating. Unfortunately this gets 2 stars from me.

This is a cross between Clue, Downton Abbey, and Quantum Leap. I really enjoyed the mystery though it required me paying attention as it can get confusing. Still thinking about the reveal days later

Outside of this being referred to as a fun read for Agatha Christie fans, I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. While I do love Christie, it tends to be a bit dry at times. Evelyn Hardcastle did not disappoint. Overall this was a quick and fun read, though the ending (while a bit of a twist!) felt like it wasn't sure where it wanted to go. It does require the reader to pay attention as it jumps around quite a bit, but after the first 70 or so pages, it's a bit easier to fall into the rhythm.

Overall, I would recommend this book to any mystery lover, especially one who loves a good twist or two, and am looking forward to seeing what the author does next.

One of the most amazing and puzzling books I have ever read! Definitely want to buy and put on my shelf. Unlike any mystery I've read before, it redefines the genre. Looking forward to more from this author.

"The Rules of Blackheath:
Evelyn Hardcastle will be murdered at 11:00 p.m.
There are eight days, and eight witnesses for you to inhabit.
We will only let you escape once you tell us the name of the killer.
Understood? Then let’s begin…"

Thrust into the story from page one, we follow the (at first) unnamed narrator who wakes up as Sebastian Bell, alone and wandering the forest after thinking he witnesses a murder. He soon finds himself a guest at Blackheath, invited by the Hardcastles to attend a party in honor of their daughter freshly returned from Paris after years abroad. But everything is not as it seems because Evelyn will be murdered at 11:00 p.m. The narrator, Aiden Bishop, has eight days to solve her murder, but with a twist: every morning he wakes up as a different guest to relive the same day over again. If he doesn’t solve the murder by 11:00 p.m. on the eighth day, he will have all of his memories removed to relive the cycle over again.

This was a really good read, full of twists and turns. I love the intricacy of this story and how the characters all connected to each other, between Aiden’s hosts as well as Anna and the others. It was a wild ride, and I honestly didn’t know what to expect from one page to the next.

I applaud the author for a job well done. This was such a unique thriller – a combination of a traditional murder mystery with a fantastical almost time-travel element with the entwining timelines – that once I got into it, I couldn’t put it down! There were so many characters to keep track of, which was one of the things that made reading this book over the span of a month a little difficult to keep everyone straight, but I love how their timelines all came together. It was an intricate web carefully spun, which the author did masterfully.

Thank you to NetGalley and BookishFirst for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

https://allisonsadventuresintowonderlands.wordpress.com/2019/01/02/stuart-turtons-the-7-1-2-deaths-of-evelyn-hardcastle/

I received this book from NetGalley, and all further opinions aside, I’m glad I had the opportunity to read it, as there has been quite the buzz around it and I’m pleased to be able to partake.

Getting into the book was really hard for me. I believe that up to 60% in there was nothing that I was invested in, not the story, not the characters. My curiosity kept me going, and I think that’s the best thing about the book – it makes you curious. The author managed successfully to create a very confusing world, and, if you’re stubborn like me, you can’t quit without knowing what it all means, in the end. So, taking that into consideration, I would say he succeeded.

The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle tells the story of a man who wakes up in the forest, not knowing who he is and what he is doing there. From this point on he starts investigating, more or less successfully, until he is able to name the murderer of Evelyn Hardcastle, who will continue dying every day until he does so.

As for my issues with the book, there were two:

1. It all started very slowly and the worst kind of repetitively. It wasn’t that the day was repeating, but that the pointless inner monologues, as well as the conversations of the main character with the others, kept repeating leading to more or less nothing. At one point I felt like I was somehow the one being slowly and repetitively killed, instead of Evelyn Hardcastle.

All of that changed exactly when Aiden Bishop, the main character, himself started changing. The moment that he stopped doing the same idiotic things every day, the story started truly moving. I will never know if that was the purpose of the author, but in his position, and with his world-building abilities, I would have given Aiden Bishop’s stupid stubbornness less of a chance to ruin the story. Once we were introduced to Rashton things started going pretty smoothly and I finally found myself truly engaged with the story and its resolution.

2. I had a general issue with the characters. As imaginative as the story was, the characters were the worst people imaginable, from the ones who were supposed to be such, to the ones who were supposedly nice and friendly. I really wanted to know what had happened, but I couldn’t care less who it happened to. I wasn’t rooting for Evelyn Hardcastle, I definitely wasn’t rooting for Bishop, and I never really got Anna’s significance at all. Upon finishing the book, I obviously know why she was there and what purpose she was supposed to serve, but in all honesty, had I been in Bishop’s shoes, I wouldn’t have bat an eyelash to leave things as they were, instead of doing what he actually did.

As far as debut novels go, this is a really good one, so I think we will be hearing Turton’s name in the future, though I deeply hope his future characters are ones that I will like more.

This book was absolutely AMAZING! The plot on this was so unique for a murder mystery and I was absolutely pulled in to where I binge read it in a sitting neglecting things I was supposed to do. Definitely recommend!!!

What about that book? Well, for those who love The butterfly effect, you'll be in for a ride! Someone is playing tricks, or god, or really bad jokes to Aiden Bishop. Every day, or more to the point, each time he wakes up, he's in someone else body and has to find a murderer. And if he doesn't succeed, he won't be able to escape the never ending loops of finding the murderer. He has only a few days (and a few hosts) to find the murderer but soon discover it's not his first rodeo. What's the hell happening? And what's the most important? To find a murderer or to stop a murder? And who's that strange guy with a strange mask and stranger way of showing up?

I found it refreshing as story, it's different from the other books, definitely not something you see oftentimes. What's good in that story is to see Aiden's struggle, first to understand his situation, when obviously, it's not his first round. Then to see him trying to do things differently and sometimes failing. Which bring the question: are we doomed to always do the same things, given the same context?

So you'll have different mysteries to solve: who's the murderer, of course, whom can we trust, who behind that cruel masquerade, does one change overtime or is domed from the beginning... So much stuff happening and you'll have all your answer in the end!

In a nutshell, an intriguing, interesting and different story that'll make time fly!
Disclaimer: An e-galley of this title was provided to me by the publisher. No review was promised and the above is an unbiased review of the novel. Thanks Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley for the book!
(Originally posted at http://vanessa-s-bookshelves.blogspot...)

It's been a very long time since a mystery has stumped me, and this one had me working hard the whole way through. Just when you think you've got everything figured out, a new twist gets thrown in. A very inventive story with a huge cast of characters that all seem real with their hopes and desires. For a debut novel, this is awesome! I look forward to what the author does next!

A twisty book that will keep you guessing until the end! One of most interesting books I've read in 2018. A few confusing elements and a bit formidable due to the length but I will definitely be reading more by this author in the future.

When I imagine Stuart Turton writing this book I picture him consulting a complicated flowchart with arrows pointing in all directions - so he can stay on track with this complex, inventive story.

The premise: Lord and Lady Hardcastle are hosting an extended house party at their crumbling estate, Blackheath House.

There's plenty of food and liquor, nighttime revelry, a men's hunting party, and - the pièce de résistance - a glamorous costume ball. On the night of the gala, the daughter of the house, twentysomething Evelyn Hardcastle, is shot dead at 11:00 P.M., just when the fireworks go off. Aiden Bishop, a guest at the house party, has to discover the identity of the murderer. Sounds simple....but it's not.

*****

As the story opens, Aiden Bishop 'wakes up' in a woodland with no memory of who he is, and the name Anna on his lips. Bishop has seen a woman named Anna being chased by a man intent on killing her, but he isn't able to catch up with them. When Bishop makes his way back to Blackheath House to get help, people address him as 'Sebastian Bell'.....which is very puzzling.

Bishop is soon brought up to speed by a mysterious figure dressed as a plague doctor.

The plague doctor informs Bishop that Evelyn Hardcastle will be killed during the costume party that night, and Bishop has to identify the killer. Bishop will be forced to relive the day of the murder up to eight times, in the bodies of eight different people, unless he fingers the wrongdoer. If Bishop doesn't name the killer by the eighth day the cycle will repeat again and again and again.....ad infinitum.

Moreover, other people are also trying to find the killer, and ONLY one 'sleuth' can 'win.' The first person to name the killer will be permitted to leave Blackheath. The others will be trapped there forever, in a sort of purgatory. Bishop has no memories of himself - or his life - outside Blackheath, but he knows he wants out.

As the story ambles along, Bishop occupies various bodies, including a drug-dealing doctor; an obese banker; a wealthy dilettante; a lascivious playboy; a disfigured butler; a dissolute artist; and more.

The story gets even more complicated because Aiden has to spend the equivalent of a full day in each body, and 'jumps hosts' every time he falls asleep. So Bishop might be the banker for few hours, then doze off and become the butler, then zonk out and become the banker again, and so on.....until he's spent the correct amount of time in each body. To add to the drama, there's a murderous footman skulking around, bent on killing each and every host.

As Bishop advances through the eight-day-cycle, minute by minute.....hour by hour.....and day by day, he accumulates clues to the identity of the killer and even tries to change the course of events. Along the way Bishop makes 'allies' - some of whom are true friends and some of whom are dirty backstabbers.

Bishop eventually learns that the current situation at Blackheath has a connection to events that occurred nineteen years ago; that Lord Hardcastle has squandered the family fortune; that there's a vile blackmailer at work; and that things aren't always as they seem.

The plot is cleverly constructed and I enjoyed the book, though the ending is a bit too drawn out (IMO). A few other things bothered me as well:

- It's hard to believe that uppity aristocrats like the Hardcastles would have a house party in a decaying estate that's literally falling apart - with threadbare furnishings; peeling wallpaper; dirt and cobwebs everywhere; a crummy stable; a falling down boathouse; and so on. The snobby British upper-class gossipers would rip them apart.

- Bishop's growing obsession to be the 'hero' to a 'damsel in distress' - no matter her flaws - strikes a wrong note.

- It would have been interesting to see Bishop have at least one female host (just for fun). 😊

These are minor criticisms though, and I strongly recommend the book to mystery fans.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author (Stuart Turton) and the publisher (Sourcebooks Landmark) for a copy of the book.

I have complicated feelings about The 7 1./2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. I enjoyed aspects of this book tremendously. I also found it a titch irritating, mostly because I don't think I have the kind of brain that can handle plots this intricate. (This book takes intricacy to a whole new level - kudos to Turton for managing all of the threads). But, I think it's saying something that in spite of being frustrated at times with the feeling of, "I have no idea what is going on here?... What is going on here?... Can someone PLEASE TELL ME WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?" I couldn't stop reading and took great pleasure in different elements of this story.

Here's what I loved:
- It has Downton Abbey vibes (5 gold stars for all of the upstairs-downstairs, rich people drama).
- There are many English people being Very English.
- Agatha Christie would be very jealous because Turton is clever, oh so clever.
- Who doesn't love a crumbling country estate with a tragic past?
- The twist is excellent, and quite thought-provoking. I wasn't expecting to think deep thoughts at the end of this book and I did.

BUT, there is only so much of a book where a girl can be clueless before she starts to feel a shade miffed. This is probably written for people who love puzzles a lot more than I do (and who finish the NYT cryptic crossword with one hand tied behind their back), so I can't really fault the author, but I wonder if perhaps he might have offered us mere mortals a little more explanation a bit earlier on. Like a breadcrumb in the forest, or two. Still, the Downton-gone-badly-wrong vibes kept me happily reading. Clueless, but happy.

I will definitely pick up what this author writes next.

I loved this book. The beginning was really confusing and I had to put down the book thrice before I picked it up again when I heard nothing but amazing reviews from some of my favourite YouTubers. Once I went past the hurdle this book was just captivating as I heard from numerous people. The ending was completely unexpected and I had to let it sink in for a week before I picked another book to read. Safe to say this book will pull you out of a book slump but if readers like me will love this book, will go right back into one as soon as done with this book. A 4 star read for me.

This is a very detailed and intricate story surrounding the death of Evelyn Hardcastle. I completely agree with many of the reviews on this one...if you love Agatha Christie with a Groundhog Day/Caraval kind of twist, you'll love this book. If you try to map out the evens in the story in order to solve this murder mystery, you'll only make yourself crazy. You won't do it. Many have tried. All have failed. 
This is a classic case of "nobody is who they seem" but Stuart Turton keeps you so involved in the story, you can't wait to find out who is who! This was a good audio book for me because I feel like if I read it in paperback I would have given up. I had to rewind a lot and listen to certain parts several times but it was one of those books I was determined to finish as it has been on my list since release day! It was a very unique read and a change of pace. I'm very happy to be able to check it off my list! 
This was Stuart Turton's debut novel. His writing style is extremely unique and it's obvious he is very talented. Even though at times it was challenging, that's what made it fun to read! Sometimes not being able to figure it out is very exciting. I have no idea how he was able to weave together the events in this story as the characters kept going back and forth between bodies! I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a challenge and has time to sit down uninterrupted!

Stuart Turton has written a truly inventive murder mystery plot. Here, Aidan Bishop wakes to find himself trapped in a bizarre nightmare in an isolated, decrepit manor. To escape the nightmare, Bishop must discover who murders Evelyn Hardcastle, but each time Bishop falls asleep, he wakes to find he has assumed the body of another character at the manor and must relive the events leading to the murder from each of their perspectives. If Bishop fails to reveal the murderer by the predetermined time and place, his memory will be wiped, and he will be forced to relive the nightmare again.

Turton deserves respect for what he has undertaken here, as he is a master craftsman to construct this exceedingly complex plot. However, it becomes nearly impossible for the reader to follow this story as Bishop jumps back and forth in time in the same series of events and between various hosts, each of whom reveal another layer of details, This is a novel for those seeking a challenge.

I was able to read this from Netgalley, and I am very happy about it. Thank you to Netgalley/Sourcebooks Landmark for allowing me to do so.

I was very excited to read this, and when I started, I hesitated a bit. It was confusing from the start, and then it went out of control. It takes so many different twists and turns I didn't think I would ever catch up by the end. It does clear up in the end, and that's most of the reason why I gave it four stars.

There are many characters that you almost get attached to, and then something will happen to make you change your mind. It's one of those stories where you won't find a favorite. You sit back and witness everything. I felt like I was a wallflower at the party watching all of the chaos ensue.

It's a good-sized book, but it reads quite fast. I recommend it to anyone that likes a confusing, chaotic, fast-paced mystery. I enjoyed it because I never knew what was going to happen next. There is always a treat waiting for the reader on every page. Not anything that blew my mind, but I would definitely buy it.

I really really did not like the book so decided to not do a video review for it as not to hurt it's chances with other readers. I did however mention this book in my general wrap up video.

I'm in the minority on this one, but at 50% through just decided I didn't care any more. The premise was interesting, but I needed more solid leads to keep me going, it was just too hard to follow for me personally, and I my interest has unraveled.

I am so grateful to Sourcebooks Landmark for the eARC of this book!
I love good, more character driven, mystery stories, and this book absolutely fit that bill! 20 years after the death of the young Thomas Hardcastle, his family returns to Blackheath, the place he was killed. His older sister, Evelyn Hardcastle will be killed, and someone has to figure out how and why.
If you like puzzles and trying to fit pieces of a mystery together, I think you would love this book! There are so many twists & turns that kept me guessing the whole time!