I am going to admit that I should have known better. You see, it tells me on the blurb that The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle has a whole Groundhog Day quality to it. I hate the movie Groundhog Day. There is an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer that is similar that gets me very stressed out when I watch it. I get worn out when I have dreams whereby I am doing the same thing over and over and over again. I should have known I wouldn’t love The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle.

That is not to say that it isn’t written very well. Stuart Turton has masterfully created a murder mystery that I will admit had me guessing to the very end. The way her controls the story and drips nuggets of information and clues with each character is mindboggling.

If you like murder mysteries and time travel then this novel is totally up your street. If you get stressed out by character changes then maybe give the decision to read The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle a lot of thought beforehand.

The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton is available now.

For more information regarding Stuart Turton (@stu_turton) please visit www.stuturton.wordpress.com.

For more information regarding Sourcebooks (@Sourcebooks) please visit www.sourcebooks.com.

A murder mystery with a difference, this takes an Agatha Christie style setting and group of characters but gives it a new and fascinating twist. Every day Aiden Bishop, our protagonist , wakes up in the body of one of the characters, and spends his day trying to find the answer to one simple question, Who killed Evelyn Hardcastle? As he gains new perspectives from his time in the various other bodies , he seems to be getting further from the answer instead of closer, and to compound the difficulty he is not alone in his quest. A mysterious figure known only as the Plague Doctor because of the mask and costume he wears, warns Aiden that he is not the only one seeking the killer, and the first person to bring him the name will be freed from the curse that makes them relive the day over and over, while the rest will be doomed to repeat it over and over.
The author has taken a tried and tested genre, and successfully given it a new and exciting feel. Reliving the day from various perspectives gradually allows the true depth of the mystery to be revealed while at the same time giving us a variety of characters to root for or revile as the occasion demands. The presence of the Plague doctor and the threat to Aiden from the other "competitors" for want of a better term adds to the tension of the book, which is important as the murder of Evelyn occurs so early in the story.
The ultimate revelation of the reason why Aiden and the others are cursed to repeat the day turns the book on its head, in a delightfully original and interesting way.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

This book was fascinating!! I loved the whole concept of it. I don’t want to give too much away but this book was so suspenseful and addicting. I loved the Agatha Christie flavour. Highly recommend this book!

My mind is blown! This was such an intricately layered plot. I refuse to explain it. This is the kind of read that you absolutely need to jump into blindly. You will feel like you are flailing in the water, drowning. Just keep reading, treading through the chapters as you go. Grab hold of the bits that are sent your way and store them.

Honestly, it still won't be enough. I thought I was prepared for Turton. I read carefully, giving it full attention. I even re-read parts to be sure I understood what I thought I was meant to understand. Still, I did not see where I was being led. This was an outstanding literary puzzle! It was not only an expertly crafted whodunnit. It truly ends up being so much more.

What a debut! I can not wait to see where Turton's mind takes us next.

Please consider me in complete awe of Stuart Turton's ability to spin a story. My brain is still spinning from how unbelievably well plotted this novel is.
When people asked me what I was reading, I could only describe this as Groundhog Day meets the board game Clue. And it's not far from the truth. This whole book is a game, with each new host for Aiden Bishop being nothing more than a pawn moved across the board. Everything is so beautifully orchestrated and timed that no matter how hard he tries to change things as host number 4, he merely enables everything to happen as it would for host 6. I am *dying* to see Turton's mess of notes on this because for such a convoluted story I found there to be absolutely no plot holes, no loose threads to unravel.
This may not be the case for everyone, but I found the first section as Sebastian Bell hella confusing. I think it was mainly because you're having twenty characters thrown at you and you literally have no idea what the heck is happening. My advice if you feel that way, keep on. It all becomes clear soon and then once you have that eureka moment you are in for good.
The characters were wonderful! Each one so unique and with their own dark past that Bishop has to work around or learn. Likewise, the development of Bishop's character in Blackheath is fantastic! My one disappointment with this book, and this may be a tiny SPOILER, so beware, but I wish one of the eight hosts would have been a woman. It would have been a fun change, especially since I suspect Turton is not a writer who would spend an entire page and then drop a comment every other one about the breasts he now possesses.
My only regret with this book is it took me too long to read. It took me a while before I finally just sat down and just read, and boy was I glad I did that. This story is definitely one best enjoyed when read in long sittings. It's gripping, but you need to pay attention. And it will not let you down.

Evelyn Hardcastle is going to be murdered at 11pm every night until Aiden Bishop can name her killer. Aiden awakes every morning inhabiting a different body on the same day to view it from a new perspective and try to solve the impending murder. Can Aiden solve Evelyn’s murder before his eight day limit is over or will he be forced to repeat the cycle again?

The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is also published as The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle.

The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a beautifully construction mystery that left me guessing until the very end.
While the surrounding characters are well rounded, fleshed out and cover a variety of personalities, the reader sees everything from the perspective of Aiden Bishop — even if that’s someone else’s perspective as hosted by Aiden — which makes for a great whodunnit.

The feeling of isolation Turton has created around these characters lends a chilling backdrop to The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle that grabs onto you and doesn’t let go through its many twists and turns.

The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle has elements of Quantum Leap and Groundhog Day, but by combining those two very different things Turton has created something quite unique. If you love a good mystery and don’t mind the supernatural being intermingled, then The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is the 2018 mystery novel for you.

Rating: 5/5

What do you do when you wake up one morning with no idea who you are? What do you do when that happens 8 days in a row, but it's always a different person, and always the same day? If you're Aiden Bishop, you do your best to solve the murder that you know is going to happen at a party that very evening, just like you do every single day.

Aiden has 8 chances to solve this murder, at which point he will be able to leave the time loop and go back to his real life (whatever that is), but he's going to need to collect information from very different sources, in very different ways, to do it.

My Notes: A very original take on the murder mystery genre! This one was very twisty and turn-y, and I didn't have any idea whodunnit (which I love!). I love the aspect of multiple mysteries within the span of one day, with the added bonus that even the main character has no idea what's going on any more than the reader, since he starts with no memory of even himself, and has no background knowledge at all. This one is reminiscent of an Agatha Christie novel.

A man awakes in the forest beside a crumbling manor house. He has no memory of who he is, only that he is in a borrowed body, and has just heard a woman screaming for help. Someone has left him a compass to find his way to the house. With no knowledge of anything before this morning, he is given a challenge by a masked man: solve a murder that does not appear to be a murder, or be doomed to repeat this day and the same sequence of events, cycling through the eyes of the same eight men. The narrator takes you through a unique and powerful glimpse into living in another person's body and mind, with all their own individual strengths, weaknesses, and passions. Reminiscent of an Agatha Christie novel, this is a fast-paced suspenseful murder mystery you won't want to put down and your mind will race to solve with each new clue and “host.”

This book absolutely blew me away! I was trying to start diversifying my reading into mysteries but found too many of them predictable or boring. BUT NOT THIS ONE!!!

I absolutely love this book! It is so well written... It has multiple character voices and they are all so distinctive and different. But the underlying persona underneath all of them also progressively develops. The plot is full of twists and is deliciously well thought out and executed.

Everything about this book was unique and I loved it.

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a novel that is mysterious, captivating, and a must read for mystery, suspense, and adult fiction lovers. The novel starts out with a man staggering through the woods. He does not recognize himself, his thoughts, or where he is. His memories are non-existent except for one word .... Anna. Then he hears a gunshot and a woman screams. He goes searching for this woman... but he is lost in unfamiliar territory. Then a mysterious man gives him a compass and tells him to go East. Was there a murder? Who is Anna? and more importantly who is he? 

If that does not convince you to pre-order this book ASAP I am not sure what will. The writing is lyrical and beautiful written. Every scenario and detail is described in a manor that the reader can visualize. The author captivates readers with his descriptions which seem to transport you to the novel's atmosphere (not that you want to be anywhere close). You are unsure of everything as a reader nd you learn the characters identity, situation, and piece together the plot line along side the main character. 

Nothing is as it seems. The characters are deceitful and untrustworthy. The side characters' background stories are built so well and in-depth that you see everyone's fears, wants, and point of views. Yet nothing is as it seems....

I would compare this novel to the board game Clue. The story takes on the theme of a puzzle you have to piece together.. you start with a 1000 pieces then slowly narrow down until you solve the puzzle. Yet.. if one piece does not fit you have to start all over in selecting the missing piece. Just when you think you have come close to solving the mystery, another clue is placed in your path that does not add up to what you thought. This novel is so confusing, yet intriguing and the ending does not disappoint.

Mind blowing and unputdownable, this is one of those mystery thrillers that will keep you up at night until you see how it ends!

How do you stop a murder that’s already happened?
The Hardcastle family is hosting a masquerade at their home, and their daughter Evelyn Hardcastle will die. She will die every day 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.

Honestly, the first couple of pages, I didn’t know where this book was going and whether I am going to enjoy it at all. But as you go through the chapters and get familiar with the story, you realise how clever this book is, and you enjoy it like you have never enjoyed any other book before.

As a debut novel, Stuart Turton did an incredible job with this book. It starts slowly, and grows into a great story. We follow the main character Aiden through many bodies, day by day. The book is set into one place, one town, one house and its surroundings, and sometimes moves backwards and forwards in time.

If you love mysteries and closed escape room books, you will enjoy this book so much!

I have always admired Aiden. Even though all the bodies he was in tried to make him forget about who he really is, he would always fight so his character can flow on the surface! I loved the sacrifices he makes towards Anna, and their relationship.

The ending, the last 30 pages are so smart, amazing and perfectly wrapped up that I couldn’t believe I never noticed those clues.

I am giving it 4 stars, because, even though I really, really enjoyed it, it was extremely hard for me to follow the times and bodies, and I couldn’t get along with the stories and solve the mystery together with Aiden - I always felt like I was falling behind, that put me under stress.

If you haven’t had the chance to read it yet, please grab a copy as soon as you can. This is the escape room mystery that we have all been waiting for!

I want to thank NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me an advanced reader e-copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! This book had me thinking about it for weeks upon completing it. It even sparked a heating conversation with my husband about the state of our current detention centers and the future of corrections. A great book that read like a movie.

The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a highly original mashup of genres. A “what if” concept mixing elements of Quantum Leap and Groundhog Day written as an Agatha Christie mystery. The conception is compelling, the story more-than-intriguing, and the fast-paced read irresistible. Congrats, Stuart Turton, on one incredible debut.

Set in the early 20th century, Aiden Bishop is a man with a mission: prevent the murder of socialite daughter Evelyn Hardcastle. He has eight chances to solve the mystery and stop the crime. These chances come as he leaps into different host bodies at the start of everyday, which happens to be the same day, looping over and over again. He deals with the confusion of awakening in different places and in separate situations while also attempting to retrace his steps as he is seeming setback to the go square any time he makes headway. Bishop learns to be resourceful and quickly comes up with plans of communicating between his various hosts as each day, and each host, provides a new clue, and a different viewpoint, on the events ahead.

Turton’s writing style is fresh and illustrative. He retains the cadence of a Hercule Poirot plot, of an old time dinner murder mystery, but brings in new world twists and ideas. Setting the story as a first-person narrative, the reader comes to understand Aiden Bishop, feels the anguish and uncertainty the character faces, and most importantly, learn to like the bloke. More than a man out his element, Bishop is man out of his time in a way. He questions his moves and his decisions. The same old day becomes unique with feelings of hope and promise trickled out amongst the dread and anger. His thought process allows the reader to absorb the mystery but not stray too far ahead. Turton could have easily gone all-out gonzo, striking forth as a disrupter of past genre reads. Instead, he crafts his tale as a careful homage, feeding off the literary past, and blossoming into a unique creation, one that is bright and inviting.

One might look for a scorecard to keep up with the characters, their references, a time stamp for activities. A word of advice? Simply pay attention to the story. Turton cleverly provides clues and details along the way allowing you, dear reader, to play the role of the ninth host.

Wow! I couldn't stop reading this book. It pulls you in and doesn't let go. It is written very well and has everything you could want in a book.

I received and ARC of this book to read through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. The 7 1/2 Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton is a murder mystery that will have you racing through the pages as if your life too depends on solving the mystery. Aiden Bishop has been unable to escape Blackheath for a very long time, every time he wakes up he is someone else trapped in an endless loop of the same day and if he doesn’t solve the mystery it will all begin again. The story reminiscent of both Memento and Ground Hog Day is intricately plotted each small mystery a piece of the larger puzzle. All the good stuff is here ... murder, blackmail, betrayal, evil, sacrifice, loyalty, trust and love. In order to solve the mystery Aiden is going to need qualities from each his hosts and time is running out because there is another murderer out there searching for him. I very much enjoyed this book and do recommend it. Publishing Date September 18, 2018
#NetGalley #thesevenandahalfdeathsofevelynhardcastle

If you like lateral puzzles, mysteries, escape rooms, chess, movies like "Memento," and futuristic mind-bending sci-fi shows like "Black Mirror," you'll love Stuart Turton's debut novel, "The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle."

Think of it as a six-hour extended escape room for your mind.

You wake up without any memories except one: the name "Anna" on your lips.

You're not sure who she is, what she looks like or how you know her — just that she's somehow tied to you and you're tied to her. She's the mystery who will help you unravel who you are, but she's in trouble.

Maybe she was murdered. You're not sure. You can't quite see.

But Anna's the key to unlocking your memories and defining your purpose.

Later you get more details like how this game works, what you're escaping from and how long you have to figure it out.

I can fill some of those in if you want. Just knock for some clues.

Did you do it?

No?

Then stop reading this review and pick up Turton's novel. Might be more fun the less you know.

Oh, you do want some hints?

Oh, alright, I supposed I can do that.

Your real name is Aiden Bishop.

You're an unreliable narrator, but that's not quite your fault.

You did wake up with no memories and are about to discover that you're about to repeat the same day eight times in the bodies of eight different unsavory characters who are about to witness the murder of Lord Peter and Lady Helena Hardcastle's only daughter, Evelyn Hardcastle, on the 19th anniversary of when their son, Thomas, died by a lake by Blackheath House, the Hardcastle's family manor.

Your job is to figure out who killed Evelyn by the time you've finished living the same day in your eighth host.

Can you do it?

There are 58 chapters before you're given all the clues necessary to solve this mystery, but along the way, Turton is like a Grandmaster in chess, delivering just as many plot twists and red herrings.

Trying to solve "The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle" might be the most fun I've ever had while reading.

Disclaimer: I received a free eARC of “The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle" from NetGalley in exchange for this honest review.

I love the *in media res* of this book. Just as the main character (characters?) is endlessly confused at the beginning, so are we, the reader. As the character learns more about the world and his role in it, the reader expands on theories. I can honestly say this book is unlike anything I've read. I would recommend it to anyone interested in murder mysteries, fantasy, or even historical fiction.

This book was brilliant. It was reminiscent of the film Groundhog Day but with a murder mystery to solve.

The protagonist’s identity is hidden from us (and from him) at first. The story begins when a man finds himself lost in the woods, aware that a woman is in danger. He can’t remember his name or how he got there. The only thing he remembers is a woman’s name—Anna.

As the story unfolds we become aware that the protagonist is stuck inside some sort of high stakes game. He has to inhabit the bodies of eight different guests present at a party hosted by the Hardcastles. If he doesn’t solve the mystery of who has murdered Evelyn Hardcastle by the time he becomes the eighth host, the game begins all over again. Each day, he wakes up in another body, another guest at the Hardcastles crumbling manor home.

It is a mystery within a mystery. He must solve the murder of Evelyn Hardcastle in order to leave this hellish existence but he also feels compelled to solve a mystery from twenty years before. Who killed Evelyn’s little brother twenty years ago? Is it the same person who is attempting to kill Evelyn now?

This book was original, riveting, and with lots of intriguing twists and turns.

I must admit I guessed the circumstances surrounding the death of Evelyn’s little brother fairly early on, but the twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end.

The setting and time period are my absolute favorites. This read like a much darker Agatha Christie with just as many ingenious elements.

I highly recommend this fascinating mystery.

As hard as I tried, i just couldn't get into this book, so it was a DNF for me. I typically don't enjoy books where the main narrator is male (besides John Grisham) so I had a hard time with this one. I may pick it back up when I can devote more time to it or get the actual book in my hand. Sometimes, books I can't get into on kindle are easier for me to enjoy if I hold the actual copy in my hand.

This book was something new. It was like Agatha Christie story with really unexpected twist.

Evelyn Hardastle will die. She died all the nights before and she will die today. The only way to get out of this is find out who killed her.

The premise of the book made me curious, but once I started reading, it was impossible to put down. The suspense and the need to know what the hell is going on was stronger than my tired eyes.

It is one of those books where you have to be focused. Nothing is served on a silver platter, every single hint or clue revealed is relevant later in the book, but not at the moment when you read it. But when it all starts to fit together, it is definitely worth the wait.

I really liked this book, it was clever, unusual and deeply addictive. The writing was on really high level, the story was alluring, and the ending got me by surprise. There was a lot of unsuspected plot twists, which is my favourite thing ever. The moment you just stare at the page speechless.

Sometimes, especially in the first half of the book, it was little too much complicated and I was little lost in between the characters and wasn’t sure who is who. But as the book went on I caught up and it got better.

I definitely recommend this book, it was a crazy roller-coaster full of mystery. My advice to you, don't read what this book is about. Or read it, put it to your tbr and then forget. Becasue it will be so much more enjoyable when you have no idea what is going on :)