A heavily detailed book that is both amazing and confusing in equal parts!!
Evelyn Hardcastle will die everyday,at a party,unless Aiden Bishop can identify her killer and break the cycle. Everyday,Aiden awakes in the body of a different party guest or suspect,and becomes privy to the various groups and confidences that they are party to. But,nobody tells the whole truth,there are secrets and riddles to solve,and it will challenge,frustrate and eventually amuse you,depending upon how many times you have thrown this book across the floor!!
It's like Groundhog Day meeting Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile,and it is intriguing from the first few pages. It can be said that this book is too cocky and full of itself,there is too much detail at the beginning and that can overwhelm the reader,but,if you love puzzles and fancy yourself as a detective,then this may be for you. Feel sorry for Aiden,he has to solve the mystery or be trapped for ever,you can just put the book,unfinished or completed upon your bookshelf!!
I enjoyed this book,but had to reread several pages. You do need all your ' little grey cells' ,it is a unique book that I think I enjoyed... eventually!
I have posted this review to Goodreads today. Thank you for such a challenging read.

This is a strange and eerie book that I highly recommend- it's a cross between Quantum Leap and Groundhog's Day. At first it felt somewhat tedious to keep up with all the characters but the pieces started fitting together and made for interesting reveals where I was uttering, "Ah Hah!" and got excited to keep reading.

I finished this yesterday night and I think I'll have to read the ending again (so unexpected) to see if I like the way the story wrapped up. Right now, I'm in the middle of intrigued and astounded (I'm not sure if it is in a good way). I will say that I had no idea any of this was coming. When I thought I solved it, I was completely taken aback by the storyline. Overall, a great debut book!

This is the book you have been longing to read!

For some time now I've been on the hunt for a book that would hit all my pleasure points; a book that was smart, thrilling, and fresh. This is all that and so much more. Categorically, I'm a pretty slow reader. I have many hobbies and while reading is one of my favorites, I don't get much time to focus my sole attention on it. I was watching a recent podcast that happened to mention this book as one that they were planning on reading again because they wanted to see what knowing all the answers to the riddles would do to the context of the whole book. I'm not usually a mystery reader, but I was fascinated by the concept and so I feel down this rabbit hole and didn't emerge until I finished the book two days later. It's an odd thing having a book affect you so much that it infiltrates your dreams and waking hours, but I swear to you this morning when my alarm went off for work I dreamingly reasoned that I could stay in bed for 10 more minutes and one of my "other lives" would kick in.

This leads me to the premise and I will be honest - I'm going to be vague here because I do not want to destroy this story for anyone. You are a person, trapped in a world in which you must solve a murder in one day, but you are not always the same person and you do not have consistent skills to solve the mystery. You are not alone - you are hunted and thwarted at many turns. If you do not solve the mystery the loop will begin again.

This book could easily have gone south, but the author did an outstanding job of keeping me captivated, as well as keeping me guessing - never right might I add. This was a story told with great skill and an intelligent mind. If you are going to pick up one book this year this is the book that you must grab. I hope that many readers find their way towards this book and I hope to read many more tales from this author.

Another book I regret waiting so long to read. As this book has been described it is Agatha Christie meets the movie Ground Hog Day. Our hero has 8 days or rather 8 lives to enter in order to save Evelyn. With the help, or maybe not help, of some other characters our hero and we learn what happens each time he falls asleep and what will happen if after the 7 sleeps/8 lives he does not solve the murder. This is a must-read for all mystery buffs! I am giving it a 4.5 rounded to 5 stars.

I am currently buying books for the library at school and I greatly enjoyed this title. I like to buy a good spread of books from YA to non-fiction so that the young people read as diverse a group of books as possible. I feel like this book would be a challenging, interesting and unusual pick, that would certainly give the young people at my school a great deal to talk about at our next Book Speed Dating events. I will certainly be recommending it to our school librarian and can't wait to hear what the kids think of it too!

I See Dead People...or more accurately I See One Dead Person over and over again!
This book has gotten a lot of hype and I really wanted to love it more than I did, but the plot was so convoluted that I had to work too hard and sometimes felt exhausted. The premise is definitely unique: Aiden wakes up every day in a different "host" body and repeatedly sees Evelyn killed. To break the vicious cycle he must solve the murder. I was drawn into it from the beginning but it just went on too long with so many different characters interacting as Aiden continues to be confused about his "role" in a new body. I did enjoy Turton's writing; clearly he is talented at his craft and it was so unusual and unlike anything I've ever read. Maybe my pea brain just couldn't keep up! But I don't like to have to work that hard to enjoy a story--and fantasy is not my go-to genre. But if this plot appeals to you, go for it! It has plenty of great reviews!

Finally! - a truly original mystery in the era of: "New Mystery! Just like (fill in the blank)".

This book was engaging, twisty, turny, and just a fantastic weaving of separate-yet-connected plot lines. The main character wakes up, unsure of who he is, where is is, or why he is, but he has a name on his lips: Anna. He's been brought to a house for a big party, with guests arriving constantly, maids and house servants bustling every which way, and an undercurrent of shady dealings with various unsavory character types. It happens to be the anniversary of a child's death at the same house long ago, and someone will die tonight, unless their yet-unknown murderer is found out and stopped. But that barely breaks the surface of what is actually going on here - and it's SO GOOD. Without giving too much away, just know it gives a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure vibe, for the main character, not the reader. The reader just goes along for the ride, and what a ride it is.

Loved everything about this book, including the historical setting, and the major reveal. And the ending didn't even ruin it! Bravo!

WOW!!!!!! Just wow....... I cant even.... This book still has my jaw dropped. It was that good. I really didn't even see a fraction of the twists and turns. This book kept my full attention as each character was introduced, with you never really knowing each one's motives until its too late, and the mask has "slipped off" so to speak. 

The plot to this book contained far more than what the synopsis ever could dare to describe. The sharpness and fluidity of the author strikes something that can not be erased. The development of each character was beautiful and flawless and will leave you reeling.

This book took me far out of my comfort zone , leading me on a path of a downward spiral, staying up reading till almost four am. This book was a mixture of the classic game of clue, mixed with the twists and turns of some most loved murder mystery classics!

A definite 5 star book in my opinion. I received this e-ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I thought this was fabulous. It took a little bit for me to get interested, but once I did it I couldn’t stop myself from devouring the book. I felt like this was a unique and timely contribution to a genre that can easily get stale and I would LOVE to read more by this author and see what their brain can come up with next.

Oh My! This book is so different from any book I have read, reminding me of a good Agatha Christy novel with all its plotting twists and turns. This book does not disappoint in keeping you thinking what is the resolution going to be. I can only imagine how hard it was for the author, Stuart Turton, to keep it all together. The premise behind the book, revealed late into the story, is a great one with an interesting answer to a problem currently face. I am not sure if this is the solution, but what an imaginative take on solving that problem!
I really liked, hated, despised, worried about, wondered about, and hoped for the various characters in this novel. The author does a great job in making the reader feel connected to each ones individuality and their role(s) in the book.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes their mysteries served with a challenge and is willing to work with the main character in unraveling it over and over. Thank you Net Galley for this advance copy of the book, I am betting it will be, and stay, on the best sellers list for awhile. I am also wondering who could play the various characters in the movie version!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC for my Kindle.
I really like the description of this book and the premise, but I found myself "lost" while trying to read it and had to go back to earlier chapters trying to figure what was going on and who was part of the current plot. It's a mystery that only became interesting for me toward the end. So, for me, it was just o.k.

Part Agatha Christie, part Groundhog Day, and all parts incredibly inventive. Turton has created a memorable tale centered on a murder mystery with plot twists galore to keep readers constantly on their toes. A few days later, I'm still wrapping my brain around all that happened and wondering if it truly hangs together successfully; a second time through knowing what happens in the end may be necessary to clear everything up, but I greatly enjoyed the wild ride. I was especially tickled as I got deeper into the book and details from the beginning started to explain themselves as the narrative bounces around in time. To say anything more would spoil the fun!

What a ride! Wow. I'm stumped as to how to even explain how detailed and twisty and turny and clever this book is! I read somewhere that Stuart Turton had to map out an 8-day timeline with post-its marking every 2 minutes so he could keep track of everything - and wow! Just wow. I cannot even imagine the thought and preparation that went into arranging this story!

There is such creativity to this mystery - reminiscent of the best Agatha Christie novels, the book is set at Blackheath, a sprawling ancient estate, which has seen better days. But back in it's glory, almost two decades ago, there was a murder of a little boy. Now, coming up on the 20th anniversary, a whole slew of characters is gathered at the crumbling estate by the matriarch of the family, and yet another murder occurs.

Evelyn Hardcastle is the sister of that little boy, and she will die every single day until Adrian Bishop can solve the murder. He's stuck in an 8-day loop, and needs to figure out the killer and break the cycle. Oh and did I mention that every time her falls asleep, or goes unconscious, he wakes up in the body (and mind!) of a different guest?!

I loved how this all played out - Imagine waking up in an obese body that stinks and can't even get out of a bathtub without assistance! And then in that of a constable with a sharp clever mind and gorgeous fiancé, and then a drug dealer! What a ride this was! I dove right into it not knowing what to expect and breezed through the first 1/3 of it. By 2/3 in I started getting a little bit mixed up. The timeline jumps across and back the span of 8 days and you never know where in the past or future you will end up - or in whose (of 8 guests) mind/body. But by the last 1/3 - I was ravenously flipping pages to find out who killed Evelyn and the end does NOT disappoint! Wow! Again - wow!

What really cool and clever idea. I've never read anything like this and it was seriously one of the most inventive and creative murder mysteries I've ever read.

I received this e-book from #netgalley and the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review.

**4.5 Stars**

I loved this book. There will be a murder. Such a cute murder mystery where the main character gets to relive the same day 8 times to try and solve it but every day he's in a different body.

It was also interesting to see how the different bodies/personalities affected the story and there were twists! I loved this story line. The author did a great job.

I would highly recommend this book.

I love a good mystery. I really do. I love trying to constantly figure out what happened. And this book starts out strong: we're in the mind of someone, lost in the woods, who's absolutely positive that he witnesses a murder. But no one believes him. Maybe it's because I've been watching too much Black Mirror lately, or I'm not quite in the right mindset for Edwardian drama. But it starts strong, but the amnesia was getting to be too much. Maybe I'll give it another go when I'm in the right place for it!

I really liked this, though I think I admired it as an architectural feat more than anything else. At the beginning I felt it was getting very bogged down in the concept, though the ending tied up everything very cleverly. [ Although, despite the brilliant twist, I didn't really believe Aidan would forgive Anna so quickly and easily at the end. Structurally the ending worked well, but it didn't really ring true for the characters. (hide spoiler)] The author can really write a sinister character, though. I was terrified of The Footman (and later, [Daniel.

So I've never read anything like this. In essence, it's an old-school murder mystery- all set at a mansion in disrepair out in nowhere-multiple people involved in a sinister plot--yet there was something more to this...something that kept me reading and finishing it within two days. As I've seen a few reviewers comment, I can completely agree-it's like a Groundhound day meets Agatha Christie.
The pacing was perfect-not to many people or clues all at once-just subtle clues throughout, that when I saw them again in a few chapters or so I was literally saying out loud-that's what that means! The characters were each fully fleshed out-and could imagine them each doing what they did and why.
The ending I did not see coming, and this book had kept me on the edge of my seat-not only to figure out all the clues and to figure out who is who and what is what, but to solve the biggest mystery these characters were hiding.
All in all, this was a fun book-gripping- and cleverly written. I went ahead and ordered a copy from Book Depository since I cannot wait till the book comes out in the US. Will be enjoyable to go back and reread this and see how many more clues I missed.
I would highly recommend this one to anyone.
My sincere thanks to Stuart Turton, Sourcebooks Landmark and to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

So - if you're reading this in the UK it's 7½ deaths - but in America, where it's already been published, it's just 7.  I'm not sure why we get an extra half a death over this side of the Atlantic - but I am assured it's the same book.

Anyway - I was very kindly given an advance review copy (well, advance for the UK market) from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

Here's the blurb:

"The Hardcastle family is hosting a masquerade at their home, and their daughter Evelyn Hardcastle will die. She will die everyday 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. 

Deeply atmospheric and ingeniously plotted, The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a highly original debut that's an Agatha Christie mystery in a Groundhog Day Loop, with a bit of Quantum Leap to it. "

This really is an intriguing and very different book!  (Different in a much better way than when I described Donna Tartt's 'The Goldfinch' as different - before various friends get panicky!)

Each day Aiden Bishop wakes up in a different host's body.  He stays in that body for a day (during the host's waking hours) or until the host dies.  It therefore flips between hosts, days, hours of the same day, with alarming frequency.

I am very glad that I am on the wagon at the moment - as it was tricky enough to keep track of when stone cold sober - and definitely would not be a book to read when even mildly inebriated!! Even in my abstemious state, it was still tricky to keep a handle on entirely what was going on.......

Often with books I get cross with the author (and editor!) for not spotting loopholes in plots and inconsistencies - but it was pretty much impossible to even begin to dissect the plot with this one!  The interview with the author at the end says that he had a wall full of post it notes and a spreadsheet to ensure all of the characters and plot lines were consistent whilst writing the book - and unless I'd recreated this, I really don't think it was possible to keep up, you kind of just have to go with it (which for a control freak like me is a bit tricky!)

The hosts that Aiden uses each day are all very different - physically / emotionally / mentally - and that is very cleverly portrayed.  You're never quite sure who you're rooting for though.  The house where it's set - Blackheath - is also really well described and you can picture yourself inside it - and it's grounds. It is very atmospheric. 

Overall I enjoyed this - although I'm pretty exhausted having finished it - and am looking forward to something a bit lighter and less taxing for my next read!  Reading something with a new 'concept' is a refreshing change - and I'm already interested to see what the author writes next! 

Definitely put this on your list for when it's published in the Autumn.

Evelyn Hardcastle is set to die at 11pm unless Aiden Bishop can solve who will murder her. Each day will play out the same way, until the mystery is solved. Aiden wakes up in the body of someone else, a host body. There are eight other witnesses/host bodies that Aiden will experience, each with their own advantages/disadvantages. Aiden will not be released until he solves the mystery, he has eight days to do it or the loop will continue. The location is Blackheath, a mansion set amongst many acres of forrest. A Footman (like a prison guard) pops up every now and then he is the one that Aiden must give his answer to, to leave. Other hosts are trying to stop Aiden and strange caped people keep trying everything they can to kill him. It is set in a historical setting, but with a futuristic type prison that people go to who have committed a crime and are put through this mentally twisted and challenging puzzle that will test their conscious.

This book was quite enjoyable, however you really need to concentrate on it as there are a lot of things going on. You can quite easily miss what is happening if you get a bit distracted. This book was very well written, intriguing, clever, mysterious and entertaining. It really was like reading something from an Agatha Christie movie, with some science fiction thrown into it. Even though it is set in early times, the prison type setting is very futuristic which I found to be a fascinating concept.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Waking up in the woods with no memory of who or where he is, Aiden finds himself overhearing a woman’s murder with only an old compass and a ghostly whispered direction of “East” to guide him. Finding himself on the doorstep of Blackheath House, he is helped to his room with no memory of either his hosts or fellow guests. After being examined by the doctor, Aiden chalks his condition up to a bump on the head that should be rectified by sleep. However, upon waking up the next morning in the body of a different guest, he soon realizes his nightmare has just begun.

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton is an intricately woven tale of a man tasked with the seemingly impossible. This novel can be generally categorized as a time traveling Ground Hog’s Day, but there is so much more depth than that simple classification. With eight days to solve the murder of Evelyn Hardcastle, Aiden must utilize the eight hosts (fellow guests) to piece together the clues and solve the murder. Slowly unraveling the mystery and slotting together the puzzle pieces along with the narrator was quite entertaining.

One element that I thought well integrated was the effect of each host on Aiden. So many decisions and actions were influenced by the different personalities, and I thought this was a clever way to flesh out the secondary characters without a ton of lengthy explanation. Many readers will say this makes the characters one dimensional, but I feel like Turton’s story is in keeping with the stereotypical characterizations of classic murder mysteries in the early 20th Century. Definitely recommend for fans of Agatha Christie’s work and anyone looking for a slightly confusing yet page turning read.