When I started this book I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting into, but the further I read and as the story unfolded, I knew I had found a winner. The writing is nothing short of brilliant; it is hauntingly evocative of a dark, damp, brooding country manor inhabited by a cast of rather unsavory characters. No one is who they seem to be and the main character keeps changing the body he’s inhabiting. Add to that the fact he is part of a competition to solve the title mystery. Whoever solves the murder gets to leave the estate. Oh, one other little thing, he starts the book and week with no memories. Just plopped into a body and off we all go. Good times all around, especially for the reader!

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I will say that this book is pretty original in its concept. However, I just could not get into it at all and found myself wondering what the heck was happening. Also, the writing is very much like an Agatha Christie novel and way too British for my taste. However, if you really like those type of mysteries or the movie Gosford Park you will probably really like this novel. I like the concept and maybe if it was done in a different setting with different characters it would have worked better for me.

Stuart Turton must have the mind of a literary genius to have written this book with all its characters, twists and turns, mystery and thought process.
I'm not sure I can do this book justice by giving a summary of its contents so all in going to say is Read It for yourself and be transported inside Blackheath for a week of mystery and excitement. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.
Even better than Agatha Christie in my opinion loved it.

What you really need to know:

This beautiful book is essentially a larger scale Murder on the Orient Express* with a combination Every Day*/Groundhog Day* twist.

Other things to know:

I LOVED IT. This book is a masterpiece. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t have any idea what this book was going to be, so I was immediately put off by the realization that there was a male narrator (who was clearly not Evelyn Hardcastle). I had somehow thought that Evelyn was narrating and I don’t even know what. But as soon as I figured out what was going on (well, as much as the author allows), I was completely sucked in.

Characters:

All of the characters in this book were fantastically developed and interesting. No one, I repeat no one, is innocent in this book. Everyone has some kind of dark secret or past, and it is really impossible to know who to trust. The main character doesn’t even know what to make of himself, let alone the people around him. He is in a different body (as a different person) every day, so as he progresses through the book (and his time limit), his “hosts” become stronger and stronger and it becomes more and more difficult for him to focus on his mission. It’s nearly impossible to stay true to yourself and your morals/personality without actually knowing who you are (or anything about yourself), so naturally, that’s what he’s tasked with.

Plot:

OH MY GOODNESS the plot is so good. The author clearly worked out the timeline of this book many, many times to make it perfect, and it shows. The timeline makes sense. Even though there’s a Miss Peregrine type of loop, I was able to follow what was happening, and he kept everything that was supposed to be understood quite simple. There is so much happening in this book that it’s hard to even talk about, but it’s extremely well woven, and all of the backstory/past that is uncovered later on in the book ties in perfectly with the current timeline, and is kept separate in the best way.

Okay! Can we mention! I am so ridiculously pleased with how he wrapped up this story. I enjoyed the adventure as it was happening, but I was concerned that there wouldn’t be a real/good explanation for why all of this was happening and whether this was real, what the outside world was like, etc. Thankfully (amazingly) this was not the case, and when the circumstances were explained, it seemed natural, and it didn’t lose any of its magic.

Final thoughts:

Overall, I just really enjoyed this, and I highly highly recommend that you pick it up in September (or if you live outside of the US, maybe even sooner!). I will say, some of the darker parts of the story were quite dark (just how I like them), so just be aware that this is definitely an adult book. Other than some gory descriptions/topics, there’s really nothing to worry about with this book. I adored everything about it, and I just really hope it gets picked up and adapted to a movie. It would be incredible to see this play out on the big screen, and I can’t wait to see where Stuart Turton’s writing goes from here.

Unputdownable, unforgettable, unbelievable. Those are just some words to describe this book. This was a stunning journey and I loved every minute of it. It was original and fun, not to mention (again) unputdownable.

I don't usually read mystery/thriller but I'm so glad I read this one. It was very complex but it was not confusing and I had to read it when I didn't have any distractions.

I will reread this again in the near future it was that good.

Think of a cross between the best Agatha Christie novel you could imagine and the movie Groundhog Day and you will arrive at the premise of this novel. Our protagonist is tasked with finding the murderer as he is thrown into the different guests invited to a party. The plot thickens and we are mired in a struggle for our main character to find the murderer and repot him back to the Plague Doctor. This book is exquisitely written, with twists and turns that are worthy of the best true mystery writer. Reminiscent of early 20th century mysteries and a dash of Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children, I guarantee once you open this book it will be a struggle to put it back down until the very end.

Mind boggling. Intense. I finished this book several days ago and I really had to take some time to process and decide how I felt. I won’t lie, it is a tedious book to read between the multitude of characters and narrative and timing of everything. This book is probably the most unique book I have ever read. The main character must attempt to solve the death of a woman by inhabiting eight different hosts who are all tied to her death in some small manner. Because each day is in a new host with new personality, I find it difficult to grasp the character’s development throughout. Regardless, this is unlike anything you e ever read. Far from your typical murder mystery!!

I received an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley. This book had me from the very beginning. I love that it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I would highly recommend this book to my fellow readers. Thank you for the chance to review this book!!!!

Wow - where to start??? Aiden Bishop wakes up reliving every day trying to figure out who murdered Evelyn Hardcastle.

Overall, I really liked this book - I found it completely different from anything else I have ever read - which I LOVED!!! Too many books lately feel like the same story I have already read.

I loved seeing the same day played out by different characters and really enjoyed how each of them influence the day. I enjoyed the setting (mansion party), it sort of reminded me of the movie/game Clue. While, I liked the bouncing between days/characters, I also found this to be extremely confusing at some points. There were definitely chapters that held my interest more than others. I think the book might have been drawn out and more lengthy than it needed to be - if it would have been a bit shorter, I think I would have enjoyed it more. There were times when it lagged and I really felt like abandoning it.

I really liked that the ending wasn't predictable at all for me.

I found this boom quite difficult to get into initially but after the 'rules' were established I enjoyed it much more. The storyline was very clever and well-written but the nature of time meant it was quite difficult to follow. The premise is strong and I can imagine that I would enjoy stories from the same universe.

I knew the premise of this book before reading but still wasn't prepared. The movement between the characters and 'days' was masterful. While it did take me a few chapters to get into the flow of the story, once there I was stuck.

So creative. I loved it. This would be a great Fall read. 4.5/5 stars.

Thanks to the publisher for providing an e-ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
The 7 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a murder mystery combined with the movie Groundhog Day. I’ll be honest. I hate the movie Groundhog’s Day. It’s personally a very frustrating concept for me. This story is the first instance where I immediately fell in love with this storytelling style, read the book in one sitting, and couldn’t get enough!
Evelyn Hardcastle will be killed again. Everyday Aiden Bishop tries to save her, without any success. Here’s the twist, though. Aiden Bishop wakes up in someone else’s body every day that he tries to save her. Aiden is given 8 days and 8 different identities in order to solve Evelyn’s murder.
Every identity and character is secretive and well-developed. As you are reading you only know what Aiden knows, which is both frustrating and exciting. I’ve never experienced such a limiting field-of-view as a reader before, and it’s done wonderfully.
This is definitely one of my top books for 2018. It’s such a unique experience, and it’s rich with information and mystery.

4.5* - recommended.
Aiden narrates Seven (and a half) Deaths. It begins with him waking up in a wood believing he has seen a murder, he makes it to a large house only to find that he is Dr Simon Bell and so begins this well written and well-crafted story.

Aiden finds out that he will wake up every day as another of the guests in this grand, but shabby home of the Hardcastle family and the only way to get back to being himself away from this house is to solve Evelyn Hardcastle’s murder.

We go with him and as the story unfolds we meet the different house guests and pieces of the puzzle slowly emerge. It is well written, gripping and layered as we learn what happened from one point of view we also see how the other protagonists are viewed by each other. Some of the ‘guests’ that Aiden inhabits aren’t what he thinks and other guests aren’t quite what they seem. Will he solve the murder? Will he escape, indeed will he escape alive?

Aiden is also wondering why him? And it is this storyline, for me, that brings a lovely, subtle sub story with a conclusion that makes this an even more gratifying read.

With this book you get a murder mystery with a mind boggling plot to enjoy over and over again. It delivers many levels and delivers on many levels. This is a terrific book and well worth reading. I enjoyed it and would certainly recommend.

With thanks to SourceBooksLandmark, via NetGalley, for providing me with an eBook of The Seven and a half Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. I have not received any payment in relation to my review.

Evelyn Hardcastle is going to die; that much has been foretold. But who did it? That is the question Aiden Bishop must answer if he ever hopes to be free of Blackheath. He has eight hosts – each a player on a deadly chessboard he can’t fully see. Eight different points of view, eight chances to solve a mystery before time runs out…

The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is an intense, evocative, intricately-plotted tale that will keep you on your toes. From the start, I was drawn into the rich imagery of the decaying world of Blackheath, its inhabitants unique and vividly drawn. There are so many secrets in this complex mystery, so many puzzle pieces and point of view jumps that it’s no wonder our protagonist needs eight hosts to even have a glimmer of a chance at solving Evelyn’s murder.

The more you know about a mystery going in, the less enjoyable it is, so I’m loathe to say much about what happens in the story. I will say that I loved watching Aiden put the pieces of this sizeable puzzle together. It’s no easy feat, as he’s hindered as well as aided by the hosts chosen for him. In the hands of another author, this story might have been a tangled mess. But Stuart Turton has done an exceptional job of weaving together a massive number of threads to form one solid mystery. The worldbuilding in this book is fantastic and I loved that I couldn’t tell what would happen next. With so many personalities swirling about, no one can be entirely predictable. There’s also a sinister presence dogging Aiden’s steps that adds a slightly chilling quality to the story, which I enjoyed. The only thing that kept me from absolutely loving this book was the ending. When it comes to stories like these, you really have to stick the landing or it’s a bit of a letdown and while the ending was satisfying enough, it did leave me wanting a bit more. That being said, I still highly recommend The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle to anyone looking for an original, engaging mystery and I’m looking forward to seeing what Mr. Turton comes up with next.

This book is perfect for all Agatha Christie fans who are looking for their next great read. The story is disorienting but never overly confusing. Turton does an excellent job keeping everything straight for the reader.

This book is something I really love: Different. And in a good way. I had read no more than a few chapters when I thought it was like playing the game of Clue! My GR friend Sandy already said that in her review but the interesting thing is that we had that same feeling separately, so it must really be true!
I can't believe this is a debut novel. It's incredible how the author could keep trace of everything. I'm not sure the plot is completely believable, but how can I say if something was missing while I was lost most of the time!? I didn't try to read it with too much attention, I choose to enjoy the mood and the strangeness of it as a whole thing, made to be admired rather than dissected. I would have never discovered who was the coulprit and I didn't bother to try. In the end I am happy to have read it that way because in my opinion the wodunnit wasn't the important thing. I can't say more because it would spoil the ending which in my opinion was terrific!
When I start reading a book I usually decide my rating very early on, than it could change on the way. A very good ending could gain the novel one more star. A bad ending could detract even two if it spoiled my memories of the story. In that case it was a five stars from beginning to end. The middle was a bit to long maybe, but there was no part I would have cut out. In fact while I was in the middle I was having nightmares at night because I couldn't stop trying to solve the plot (not the whodunnit, they are two different thing, I wasn't wondering who was the killer but why the MC was there)
I have to admit this book is maybe not for everyone, but if you find the plot summary interesting you should give it a try. And yes, the plot summary probably gives away too much of the story, but I don't know how it would be possible to describe the book without giving away at least something, and anyway I was happy to know a little of what was going on, otherwise I could have had worst nightmares!!
I recommend that book with all of my heart! (My mind is still a bit numb)

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for giving me ARC of that book in exchange for an honest review.

Turton has created a true mystery with his debut. When Mr. Bell wakes up in the woods remembering only the name "Anna" and that she is in grave danger. Bell quickly finds himself embroiled in a plot to stop the death of Evelyn Hardcastle, but not all is as it seems. Turton had me guessing constantly, while never leaving me feeling duped by the true ending. He has a masterful sense of writing that will keep even reluctant readers enthralled. Turton has written a perfect bridge for readers moving from YA to Adult fiction by having his debut be so reminiscent of Kristen Cashore's "Jane Unlimited". Highly Recommend.

The Hardcastle family is hosting a masquerade ball and you are invited. Thank you to netgalley and Sourcebooks for allowing me to read this in exchange for my review.

Evelyn Hardcastle has returned from Paris and her parents are throwing a masquerade to celebrate. Only, the ending of this party isn't as extravagant as you can imagine. The story starts off as Aiden (currently a guest named Sebastian) who wakes up in the woods to find that Anna is missing and presumed dead. He doesn't remember who Alice is nor remembers who he is. Before long, he meets the Hardcastle family and starts to piece the mystery together before he wakes up in a different body, seeing the same story happen over again. He keeps waking up in a different body, trying to solve the murder. Who is Anna? Will Aiden ever solve the mystery? How long will it take?

I actually went in on this blindly. I was extremely intrigued about the story at first, but got kind of lost and bored after the main event happened (the first death). I was actually caught off guard once I realized Aiden became a new person the next day and I was intrigued all over again. What a roller coaster ride! I think this is the coolest premise for a story and would make a wonderful movie to watch (kind of like Clue!). It's a nail bitter! You find yourself rooting for Aiden to solve the murder each time and maybe going slightly crazy when he wakes up in a new body. This is a must-read for the year - highly recommended!

4/5 Stars

This is one of those books- you either love it and can't put it down, OR you like the idea and plan, but the follow through is too much to keep up with...

I found myself in the middle of that- some chapters kept me turning pages, and others literally had me falling asleep. The book takes the concept of Ground Hog Day and alters it, as the main character, Aiden, gets to CHANGE bodies every time the day starts over. And as an oddity, he gets to keep the knowledge he has learned from the previous day, while now in a different body. You sense early on that there is a game at foot that is not being disclosed, and that there is much more to the tale than Aiden understands. After reading the mind blowing ending, I found myself having to go BACK and reread some chapters, as obviously there had been clues but they got swept under the carpet and it was hard for the reader to understand they WERE a clue.

So all in all, it's not a bad book, just one that requires stick-to-itness and a willingness to see the forest for the trees.

If you are looking for a 5-star, twisted, mind-bending mystery #readthisbook. Think David Mitchell or Marisha Pessl for read-a-likes; although I’ve never read anything quite like it

It’s nearly impossible to review this book without giving too much away but I’ll give you just a couple of statements about what readers can expect from this one.

I’m going to suggest you enter this macabre mystery without reading anything else about it. That will put you on the same level as the book’s narrator. Entering this mysterious fun-house is kind of like walking into a gothic Downton Abbey setting and then finding yourself in a maze. You follow one path until it ends and then pick up another trail and follow that one until it ends and so it goes.

This book is for those who like puzzles. It’s a big one so set aside some time. You won’t want to stop reading until you figure out what is going on and then you won’t want to stop until you find out what happens.