The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, by all accounts, should have been a book I devoured and adored. My opinion seems to be at odds with the majority of reviewers out there, because I find myself disappointed. I have seen all the comparisons and likenesses drawn...Quantum Leap, Groundhog Day, Edge of Tomorrow, Clue, Agatha Christie, and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, which is a list filled with plots, aspects of time travel, and characters I absolutely love. But throughout this book, I struggled to stay engaged.

The plot and its various threads were easy to follow. Aiden Bishop, our narrator, wakes up with no memory—he can't even tap into his name. Through the course of events, he is introduced to the body he is inhabiting, to a game he's caught up in—on which his very survival depends, and his own true name. Bishop learns that there are other players in this game, the object of which is to discover the true murderer of Evelyn Hardcastle.

Though she appears to commit suicide, Evelyn Hardcastle has someone else to blame for her death. She will die and Bishop will repeat the same day, but in a different body, until he can gather enough evidence to identify the person responsible and break free of the time loop.

Honestly, I am a sucker for time travel and detective stories, and I really should've loved this one, but the first blockade I hit was immediate and unending. First person, present tense. No way should an entire book be told in first person, present tense (let's go with FPPT for simplicity). While there are exceptions, the writing style that can hold up an entire book to this level of constantly being in the immediate is rare. To dip into FPPT for a suspenseful moment is fine—that would add the appropriate amount of tension for a scene which depends on a certain tautness or quickness. But to cover every movement with I go, I do, I see, I want, I know, I say, I walk, I stumble, I fall, I sit, etc., makes me physically agitated—and in a negative way, not in a suspenseful way that is conducive to enjoyable reading. To be constantly up against the immediate, constantly in the now, is oppressive. Yes, it can be powerful and intense, but to be used sparingly...like yelling.* Otherwise, it feels like a cheap and easy crutch for creating suspense.

While I liked some of the characters Aiden Bishop borrows, they all seem some level of dead or lifeless unless they are doing something Bishop has to suppress...lust, obesity, or too strong of a will. Other than that, there seems to be no point in dropping into these other people and inhabiting them—aside from the police officer, and uncoincidentally he was my favorite. The plot points surrounding these people are messy, and the construction of the loop falls apart and seems thrown away the closer we get to the ending. If you're looking for that moment when the odd things in the loop finally make sense, and the pieces slide together with a satisfying click, look elsewhere.

However, my main problem comes after the reveal. There were several items to be revealed as the novel's plot unfolded, and while one seemed fairly easy to predict, there's a twist to it that I just cannot fathom. Two twists, actually...and the novel just became absurd at that point. To the degree that I found that the end of the novel didn't match the rest of it.

As present tense is what, by the laws of physics, we watch happen in a movie, I could see this making a rather interesting film or miniseries...and any flaws in the characters could be patched up with the right actor. Though, I don't know if the ending could be saved, but some people like that sort of thing...I, however, do not.

#partner So ok, here’s the deal with this book. It’s mysterious. It’s dark. It’s classy. It’s complicated. For those reasons, I have put this one down but I am NOT calling it a DNF.
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I started The Seven and a Half Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle last week (thanks @sourcebooks for the free e-copy) and after a few chapters I was feeling a little confused. The reader is really in the dark on what is going on. So I read some other reviews and it’s sounding like you really have to get your mind into this book to fully enjoy it. And I really want to enjoy it!
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So since my mind has way too much in it right now, I’m going to save this one for a calmer time of year, maybe Christmastime. I love the atmosphere in it and definitely got ‘Clue’ vibes from the little bit I read.

I've been in a massive reading slump and this was just the book to break it.

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle was like nothing I’ve ever read before and I loved it. It’s a thrilling puzzle with a Groundhog Day element and the reader is as lost as the main character who lives the same day over, 8 times in 8 different bodies until he solves a murder.

Aiden Bell is a character we really never get to know as he lives each day in the life and body of another character. We follow him as he slowly follows the breadcrumbs to end the loop. I wasn’t sold on the synopsis but I was literally sucked into this story from the first page. Highly recommend it!

Quite an elaborate tale! Kudos to the author for such an imaginative story, beautiful language, and descriptive phrasing! For the first half of the book, I was totally intrigued, definitely thinking this would be a 5 star rating from me. By the second half, however, I was still enjoying the writing but getting lost and confused, dropping my rating to 4 stars. By two-thirds into the story, I almost gave up, putting it down for several days, and had to force myself to finish. Totally lost with too many hosts/deaths, dragging on and on, and no end in sight! 3 stars? Okay, the ending did help clear up some things but, by then, I was just glad the book was over. Still, much credit to Mr. Turton for the original premise, well developed (but too many) characters, eerie atmosphere, and beautiful prose. Perhaps if it had just been shorter, maybe The 4 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle? Then, perhaps, I could have given it 4 1/2 stars.

This book was extremely clever, smartly written and a page turner all at the same time. I’m still trying to wrap my head around how the author came up with such a clever idea and The was able to capture it in a book.

Murder mystery in an crumbling estate trying to be solved from seven people in seven days. It takes a bit of concentration but it is well worth it. Definitely in my top ten this year!

There will be a murder at the ball unless Aiden Bishop can solve the crime and stop the killer. It sounds like a basic mystery, doesn't it? You have your usual British mystery collection of a country estate, quirky characters, servants, balls, shooting expeditions, and fraught relationships. Then you realize that the crime occurs over and over and the day repeats time after time and Aiden has eight days and eight bodies to inhabit in order to solve the crime. This is not your usual British mystery.

That is all I am going to say about the plot because the less you know the more you will enjoy this book. It is really best read in massive gulps over a short period of time. It is a bit confusing at first as Aiden jumps from person to person and you, and he, try to figure out what is going on. If you read it slowly it would be easy to lose track of what each person knows and has done.

Since the story jumps from character to character you do not become attached to anyone in particular. This is a plot-driven, more than character-driven, book. That is necessary for the story but it does leave the reader a bit disengaged. Now that it has been a few weeks since I finished reading it the characters have all blended together a bit in my head. But while you are reading it you completely invested.

The ending felt a bit forced to me but I find that to be typical of books like this that sweep you along to an unknown conclusion. There is such a big build-up to the reveal that it can be hard to make that reveal completely live up to expectations. The book also leaves a lot of questions about the world Aiden lives in. I wouldn't mind another book that focused on the greater world or the world after the mystery is solved. It is hard to explain what I want without giving away too much of the plot but I wanted to know more about the society and Aiden in the future.

This was a fun and engrossing read. I don't think it is a book I will read over and over but it is a book that kept me up at night because I just had to know what happened next.

I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This has got to be one of the best books that I have read in 2018. I loved this book, what a great mystery with so many twists. I loved the characters, great character development. You will not go wrong by reading this book, will hook you from the start and have you guessing until the end.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was a classic case of it’s not you it’s me. I am so disappointed that I really couldn’t get into this book. I was so excited to receive it after reading all the reviews and see it’s already at the top of the list for best 2018 thrillers. For me this just wasn’t something I enjoyed reading and really couldn’t continue past the first half. I wasn’t a fan of the writing style, I think my issue was when it comes to books and movies I only like modern age stories. I am glad to see it’s doing well and might consider giving it another go in a few months but right now it’s a dnf.

Thank you to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for the free ebook copy in exchange for my honest review.

A solid 3/5 stars - I really enjoyed the mystery aspect and writing but there were many times I found myself confused as to what was happening. I loved how unique the premise was - waking up as a different character each day as they try to solve the murder. I would highly recommend to those that love the classic Agatha Christie type mysteries!

Set in the early 1920's, Aiden Bishop wakes up in the woods in another man's battered body. He has no memories or recollection of why he is there, he only has one name on his mind- Anna. With some help, Aiden finds his way back to Blackheath, the decrepit mansion he's been staying at along with several other guests who are gathered there for a party. The guests are made up of an array of sinister, manipulative people who all seem to be hiding dark secrets. The mysterious and masked "plague doctor" acts as Aiden's guide throughout the story and reveals his task: find out who murdered Evelyn Hardcastle before his rivals. Aiden is destined to relive the same day eight times, switching between eight transitory hosts whose personalities become increasingly harder to banish. In order to escape Blackheath, Aiden must solve the murder while trying to retain the traits that shape him.

Whew! This book was absolutely mind-blowing. It was incredibly taxing on my brain and I think it would be helpful for some people to take notes in order to keep track of all of the characters. You may feel confused in the beginning but just keep going! It will be worth it. With that said, I loved every minute of this story and I could not put it down. The most fascinating part of this book for me was the examination of personality types and focus on human nature and instincts. The hosts that Aiden inhibited were completely different from one another and Aiden had to figure out how to work with their strengths and put aside their weaknesses. Aiden was also trying to hold onto some sliver of himself and figure out what kind of a man he was. Everyone in the story seemed to have their own motivations so Aiden didn't know who to trust. He was incredibly vulnerable throughout most of the story and I was glad to seem him find his strength toward the end.

This book is a perfect fall read. I was living for the eerie, supernatural atmosphere in the remote setting. The character of the Footman literally terrifying. He was a masked murderer who was trying to kill all of Aiden's hosts. I was constantly expecting him to pop up out of nowhere which left me on the edge of my seat. The tension and suspense throughout the novel was out of this world. Every time I thought I had a piece of this literary puzzle figured out, ten more twists were thrown in the loop. If you're looking for a unique, entertaining mystery with an intricately woven plot and a splash of magic, this is the book for you.

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

A delightful original concept with a new twist every day.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

SUMMARY
At a gala party thrown by her parents, Evelyn Hardcastle will be killed at 11p.m. – again. She’s been murdered hundreds of times, and each day, Aiden Bishop is too late to save her. Doomed to repeat the same day over and over, Aidan’s only escape is to solve Evelyn Hardcastle’s murder. He has eight days and each day he wakes up in the body of a different guest, if he fails to solve the murder, the cycle begins again – but nothing and no one are quite what they seem.

REVIEW
The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a convoluted murder mysteries that you cannot conceivable figure out, with an interesting science-fiction twist. It’s sort of a mix between Agatha Christie and Quantum Leap.

The concept of the book was my favorite part. While it requires a tremendous amount of attention to keep track of all the characters and motivations, but it’s well work the effort. Even Aiden had a hard time keeping track of all the puzzle pieces. I can’t even image how difficult it was to write this book. But the writing was sharp, clear and dramatic. Both the setting and the characters are perfect for the story, but I had an impossible time trying to figure out who my favorite character was...

Author Stuart Turton is a freelance journalist who lives in West London and The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is his first novel. Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher SourceBooks Landmark
Published September 18, 2018
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

DNF I could not finish this book. I found it too repetitive. I appreciate the opportunity to attempt to read it, but it was not to my taste. I will not be posting a review.

You are dropped into the body of a series of seven strangers and told that unless you solve the mystery of who killed Evelyn Hardcastle, you are doomed to relive this day, in these bodies, over and over until you or someone else answers that question. Interesting premise, right? As our hero inhabits each person we learn a little bit more about him, as well as the person he’s inhabiting and how all of the people in this book are connected. It’s a mystery within a mystery and whether our main character solves this mystery or loses his memories to start anew again keeps me reading until the end!

The first couple of characters our hero inhabits and the people he comes in contact with are really interesting. It took me a little while to catch on to what kind of mystery I was reading, but once I realized that every person was a clue, I started to pay more attention to the details of what was not only going on with our hero, but also the other characters in the book. As each person goes to sleep, he pops into another person starting another day seeing through their eyes. I thought one of the most interesting bits about how this mystery played out was that our hero had to dominate the personality of each person he inhabited. Over time, it became easier for the other personality to overcome him making his job of using that character to move forward to solve the mystery more challenging. As the day wore on and the approach of Evelyn’s death was closer, the characters became more demonic and terrifying in personality.

This was a very well thought out mystery! How did the author keep track of all of these characters timelines, intertwine them and still make it all cohesive? Truly, the skill involved was pretty amazing. I will admit a couple of the characters were duds for me, and I sped through their scenes a little quicker than I’d normally like in a mystery novel, I usually savor the details. However, the resolution of this mystery was satisfying, fascinating, and felt true to the characters I’d just spent days reading and getting to know. I’m willing to forgive a little slowness in the middle for that feeling of satisfaction and resolution at the end. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I was given an ARC of this novel through NetGalley by the publisher for their honest review, and it was honest!

Four and a half stars.

What a brilliant, baffling, weird, intriguing novel.

Imagine a mash-up of an English country house murder mystery set in the 1920s. But also an old murder mystery from 20 years ago. A man who has 24 hours to solve the murder but eight different bodies in which to solve the murder. A Plague Doctor, a murderous footman and different players who have their own agendas. Oh, and a houseful of the nastiest group of people you could think of: rapists; blackmailers; murderers; drug dealers; and more.

Aiden Bishop first comes to awareness in the woods around Blackheath House, searching for Anna. He has no idea how he got there, who he is or who Anna is. What follows is a complex murder mystery where Aiden Bishop inhabits eight different bodies at different times during the same day, doomed to repeat the cycle over and over again until he uncovers who killed Evelyn Hardcastle, the daughter of his hosts.

At first I found this heavy going, heck I downloaded this book five months ago, started it and put it aside. But I hate to leave a book that I have been given to review so I started again. Soon I was part intrigued and part put-off. Then I was just intrigued. Like an onion Aiden Bishop and Anna uncover plots within plots, murderers who are not murderers, secrets from all of the guests and the servants. Aiden shifts hosts when they fall unconscious, through sleep or less gentle reasons, he then jumps into another host, including those from previous iterations, so that the narrative bounces backwards and forwards from different viewpoints and in time, watch Aiden watch himself in another body, see him influenced by the characters of the bodies he inhabits. It's dark and mysterious and utterly beguiling. I am thrilled that I kept reading.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I can summarize this book in one long sentence: Evelyn is going to die in her welcome party and Aiden Bishop needs to solve her murder by inhabiting 8 bodies over and over again until he solves it and get out before anyone else does.

I can also review it in one analogy: It's like riding to a destination I've always wanted to see, and the ride itself is great; beautiful sceneries and interesting experiences but the ride got too long, and I started to get bored and aggravated nearing the destination, but still happy upon arrival.

Simple, right? No, don't let me fool you. Because this book is anything but SIMPLE.

This must be one of the most complex book I've ever read. But I must admit, the story didn't pull me in right away. It started with scenes that aren't interesting enough to make me read more, that's why it took me 3 days before truly investing into it. The description on GR mentioned an Aiden Bishop yet I was introduced to a man who doesn't even know who he is. (a spoiler but you'll know this in chapter 1 so it's ok.) But this isn't a bad thing, reading through, I realized that those first scenes are the perfect opening scenes for this book. I'm saying this because I know there'll be readers that'll be tempted to give up on it. It's not the scenes really, it;s the character, I just don't care about him and what's happening to him. But again the novel needed to start that way.

This is a plot-driven book. The plot was so intricately woven, yet the flow was smooth. Well, once you really get into the story. As an aspiring author myself, I can say, I can't do what the author did and this is his debut. It's simply amazing. Well-structured and perfectly done. Even his writing. It's almost lyrical. And I even took quotes I'd live by. And there's no issue of telling though it seemed like there is. You see, I'm being TOLD by the writer but he's deceiving me, because he was telling interesting things I forgot I also have to look at what he's SHOWING. Good thing we all enjoy being tricked in our mystery novels.

And that's what this book is all about: DECEITs and TRICKS. From the title to everything else. This is like solving a puzzle. You think you already have all the pieces and you're good to go. No. You think you already know everything, NO. This book isn't an easy read. You won't read this one if you want to just relax, you need you're ultimate focus in order to enjoy this. But no worries because the story is so engaging and compelling, you have no choice but to FOCUS. And if you want to solve this puzzle hidden in a book, you CAN. Around 75 %- 80% I solved it but impossible before that mark. And you might wanna jot down notes and the NAMES...

I mentioned earlier about not caring about the character in the opening scenes. Truth is, because of how the story flows, it's hard to be invested in any of the characters. But it's okay, really. If I have a complain, it's not about that. I said in my analogy of a review above that before I reached the destination, I got aggravated. Maybe it's because I solved it already that the reveals aren't that surprising much anymore.

Or maybe it's because of this one thing that I just don't like personally. It just didn't sit well with me even now. It bothered me. I got what's the author was trying to say or convey but still... But again this is just me. (more about this at the end of the review)

The ending though is very clever. I just love it. Not as dramatic as I expected it to be but it was a good one.

Overall I HIGHLY recommend this book. And I suggest you go into it blind, forget everything you heard/read/know about it. If this is a puzzle, then this is a game. And it maybe the same game but the play changes when the players change. This may play out differently for you. :)

MIGHT BE A SPOILER BUT NOT SPECIFIC:

About the thing that didn't sit well with me, I just mean that if someone killed one of the people I love I will never forgive the killer. Not even if they've changed and even if they died over and over again. Not even after reincarnation (No reincarnation in the novel, I'm merely trying to make a point)... I WILL NEVER FORGET AND FORGIVE. MY soul will never forget it.

I'm from a family of readers, and my father has always been the one who when you tell him that he HAS to read a book, it makes him less likely to actually read it. I've inherited a lot of this from him. But as much as both of my parents love to toss books at me and say that they'd recommend them, when my father specifically seeks me out to say "this book is on NetGalley and you REALLY SHOULD READ IT"...I know I'm likely in for a treat. That being said, I do walk in with a small piece of trepidation. I am very much my father's child, but we can have highly different opinions on media and entertainment. But if he's this excited...

Well, he's the reason I found NetGalley in the first place, so I'll give it a try.

And holy cow, was I not left wanting. This book came out in the US on 09/18 and I fully recommend buying it RIGHT NOW.

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There is precious little I can really say about the book that won't spoil some piece of it, so I'm sure I'll truly just end up rehashing what it says on the back. This is Clue meets Quantum Leap meets Groundhog Day in the best sense of all of those things. This is the premise: Aiden Bishop is at a party, where Evelyn Hardcastle will be killed. She will continue to be killed at the end of the night, every night, until Aiden solves the murder. The catch: Aiden wakes up as a different guest at the party every day. And he's got a set number of guests until the cycle starts over again.

It's brilliant. I can't even fathom how the author storyboarded any of it, because it makes my poor pantser brain sore just thinking about it. But it is absolutely brilliant.

Every time you think you have something figure out, Turton pulls a detail out of a corner you weren't watching closely enough and says "oh no, but look over here now..." and leads you off somewhere else. Each time you think you have the answer, there's just a faint twist built in to make you start doubting yourself. Friends could be foes at the turn of a hat--one guest's ally is another's enemy. And yet, it does all this bouncing around and maneuvering without being utterly complicated and impossible to follow. We start lost, much like our narrator, but he keeps a solid hand on us as the book progresses and never lets us get too far behind. It's masterful and brilliant--and I know I've used that word too many times in this review already, but I honestly think it's the best one I have. Turton is simply brilliant in this book.

It released in the UK back in February under the title "The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle" but as his Goodreads page assures you, the only difference is the title.

Want to know the real kicker? This is his debut novel.

This is the type of author who simultaneously makes me want to hang up my keyboard and never write again, and keep writing constantly until my fingers bleed in the desperate hope of coming even close to this level of (I'm going to do it again) brilliance.

I cannot speak enough good to do this book justice. I am the type of person who is always a step ahead of the movie plot, and this one kept surprising me until the final page. Go get this book.

Rating: ***** (Highly Recommended)

This book is the most inventive book I've read since the Time Travelers Wife. Aiden Bishop is trapped in a loop trying to figure out who killed Evelyn Hardcastle. Only he isn't the only one trying to solve the mystery. He is however the only one who is jumping from body to body and the only one who retains some sense of what happened the time before. Can he piece all the clues together and solve this?

Apparently Aiden Bishop has chosen to live this time over and over in order to do something else, unfortunately Aiden can't remember what that is and with each jump he loses another piece of himself making it harder to maintain control of the body he is in and remember why he is there in the first place.

This is a fresh well written story that may have your head spinning in circles but its worth every minute of confusion. Dark, atmospheric and compelling I loved that each of the people that Aiden jumps into has different strengths and weaknesses that he must utilize to solve this crime. I can't say much more without giving too much away but this book is brilliant.

He wakes up in the woods and has no memories — no idea where he is, who he is or what he’s doing. He only remembers the name Anna.

Thus begins a day that Aiden Bishop lives eight times, in the bodies of eight different people. He’s stuck on a crumbling-down estate in England in 1925. Evelyn Hardcastle, the oldest daughter of the family, has returned from living in France, and her parents have thrown a party and gathered together many old acquaintances. But late that night, Evelyn is murdered. Aiden is tasked with finding out who the killer was. He’s been through thousands of these eight-day “loops,” waking up at the beginning of each loop with no memories. All because he has never solved the murder. And that’s his only way of ever escaping this nightmare.

If that weren’t enough, each host seems to have something to hide. And evil is just hanging in the air, danger and darkness lurking around every corner. He does seem to have one friend. And one mysterious watcher who may or may not be helping him.

This is the coolest book. It’s a murder mystery but with a “Groundhog Day”-type twist. It’s a mystery who did the killing, why Aiden is there in the first place and what this whole nightmare is even for. It’s a solid 500 pages and I just tore through it in huge chunks of reading because it was so fascinating and gripping and, dare I say it, unique. I don’t want to say a whole lot more other than what I have already. Dig in!

This is a unique mystery. It’s Groundhog Day meets Freaky Friday in an Agatha Christie novel.

I couldn’t put this book down for hours. There were loads of twists at the beginning so I had no idea where the story was heading.

I liked how the story ended. However, I didn’t like the explanation for how the main character entered the loop of living the day over and over to solve Evelyn Hardcastle’s murder. I wish that background was either explored more in the story or simplified. It seemed like the start of a side story but it wasn’t detailed enough.

The title is confusing I’m not sure why sometimes it is the 7 deaths and other times it’s the 7 1/2 deaths. I understand what the deaths are, but not why there are two different numbers in the titles. If anyone knows, I’d love to hear it.

I loved this book! If you like a suspenseful thriller in the style of Agatha Christie, you’ll love this book.

I was fascinated by the premise of this book. And curious to see if it worked. It most certainly did!
Hooked from the very first page I didn’t want to put it down. There is always a new mystery around the corner and many questions yet to answer.

But I didn’t only fall in love with the intricately woven mystery/plot but with all the characters as well. And there are many of them!
All are very distinct, have their unique way of thinking and tackling problems which became all the more clear because we get to experience eight of them from first person POV.

You can tell that the author Stuart Turton was inspired by Agatha Christie. Similar to her ruthless way of describing characters, Stuart Turton gives all his characters vices and virtues, makes them unlikeable and flawed, which only made me appreciate them more. Especially later in the book the lines between Aiden and his host get blurred and we get glimpses into the live and the past of his host. I loved that. Even though we got to see some flaws that aren’t even flaws anymore but way worse. But also some hopeful little tidbits.
(Two of his hosts were my favorite (both more in the middle) but they were all useful in their own way and more or less dear to my heart).
But this book also shows that the flaws and unique limitations can be used or rather that you have to work with what you got, use your strengths and not mourn the limitations.

A book like this with time travel-ish elements, where the impossible is possible and to make that understandable is really hard to pull of but mesmerizing when it works.

The writing style was brilliant, not only quite beautiful but easily understandable with distinct voices for each of the characters while still retaining an underlying similarity that ties them all together.

The world and rules of Blackheath are intriguing and fascinating and the perfect ground for the themes of this book: revenge and justice, trust and betrayal, punishment and redemption.

If you like a mystery, flawed and unique characters, intricately woven plotlines and a book to keep you reading all night this is for you.
It will certainly stay with me for a while!