Aiden Bishop has eight days to solve the mystery of who killed Evelyn Hardcastle. The catch? He lives the same day over and over, waking up in a different body each day and has to elude a murderous madman at the same time.

This is not a story you can put aside and pick back up at a later time. The beginning was a little slow, so I set in down for a few days. When I picked it back up, I had to really pay attention as the action began. There are so many important but small details to pay attention to so you can start to see the larger picture of what is occurring at Blackheath. Once the story really started moving, I was swept away and totally invested. The reasons I'm giving it three stars is that the beginning was something I really had to push myself through and there were times that I felt like I was getting lost. The characters were connecting incidents that I did not remember at all, which could either mean that I wasn't paying close enough attention or it was barely mentioned in the book. It was a good mystery, and I was completely surprised by the ending.

Normally I love this type of quirky book. But sadly for me it didn’t quite gel. I found the writing to be a tad stilted and weirdly old fashioned. This one wasn’t for me but I am sure many will find it really enjoyable.

This book took me a couple chapters to really understand but once I realized what the premise was, I could not get enough. The story starts off by introducing us to a character who doesn't know who he is or where he is, so it puts the reader in that mindset as well. But the more you learn and the more characters you meet, the more you get to understand that this gala party and these people are much more than what these seem. Because of the multiple twists and turns in this book and because I really don't want to give too many spoilers, this review may be rather short, but let's get to it!

Synopsis: (Goodreads):
How do you stop a murder that’s already happened?

At a gala party thrown by her parents, Evelyn Hardcastle will be killed--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, 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.

No matter where I start in this book, I am going to give some twist or turn away and I really don't want to do that because that is part of what made this book so much fun. Why don't I tell you the basics, what I thought, and then we'll go from there, okay? Okay.

Each section of the book we find our main character, who is named Aiden Bishop, in the body of one of the guests at the gala party. Yes, that's right, our main character switches between being eight different people throughout the span of the book. Any writers out there (me included) might be wondering how you'd write a character who appears in the body of various other characters and solves a murder. My answer: I have no idea! I assume it takes lots of time and that you need to be some sort of genius. Stuart Turton weaves the plot and characters relationships together brilliantly. I wouldn't know where to start.

As each character, Aiden finds out more clues as to who is responsible for killing Evelyn Hardcastle, what each person's motives are, and how he can get himself (and possibly someone else) out of the in-a-different-person-everyday situation, all while trying to hide from the evil footman who is trying to kill him. (I imagined the footman as Thomas from Downton Abbey lol)

Now, my thoughts:
​
I LOVED THIS BOOK! The way Turton made this complicated plot simple to follow was pure brilliance. Every character that Aiden inhabited has their own unique characteristics, so I rarely got one character confused for another. Even when the thoughts of the person Aiden was living in infiltrated Aiden's thoughts, the narration still makes sure the reader knows what is Aiden and what is not. Imagine living in a person that you are not and also not knowing whether your thoughts are actually yours or the other persons!! 

And possibly my favorite twist of the book is the reason Aiden is at this party to begin with. It is just so satisfying and beautifully ties everything together. Read. this. book.

Can you tell I loved it?

Now for the rating. Out of 5 stars, I am giving The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton all 5 stars. It was so much fun to be immersed in this world for a little while and I hope you love it as much as I did.

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle came out February 8th, 2018.

Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Interesting concept but not a new favorite. It was hard to follow.

An interesting premise that I found confusing and a bit of a slog but nevertheless worth a read just for the inventedness. The ending was a let down, for all that build up I was hoping for more.

.5 stars.

I received a free e-book copy of this title from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Stuart Turton's The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a crime novel (with some sff sprinkles) that is engrossing, fascinating and occasionally infuriating. Sometimes all at the same time.

The protagonist finds himself in the Hardcastle residence, tasked with figuring out who is going to murder Evelyn, the daughter of the family. He has one day to do so-- but he lives this day out in eight different bodies with different personalities and sets of skills, and each of the hosts gives him more opportunities to conduct his detective work.

The beginning is rather slow: the plot takes a while to get going. But when it does, it is difficult to put the book down, as it becomes incredibly engaging, with twists coming from unexpected directions. However, while the twists and the pacing are the author's strength, they may also be his undoing, as the finale raises more questions than it should, providing an entirely new dimension to the book.

Overall, I think this is a good book to read, but not one to overthink while reading (or once the reader is finished), as some elements may start coming apart at their seams.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Stuart Turton's debut has one of the most exciting premises I've ever come across, but when starting it I was also worried and unsure if the author would succeed at handling such a difficult concept. I shouldn't have worried, because The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle turned out to be my favourite read of 2018 so far.

The plot was original, intricate and extremely confusing at times, but that's what I enjoyed the most about it. It is definitely a book which requires attention and dedication, but it is so worth it. I also think it's better to read it as quickly as possible, in order not to forget details. Several mysterious things which happen at the beginning are explained near the end (and it is so satisfying!), so you need to have a good memory. But don't worry - this book is impossible to put down, so you will fly through it!

While mainly a mystery, the book was a mix of genres: it had a strong supernatural element, and the creepy and oppressive atmosphere reminded me of a horror book. I was genuinely spooked by some parts and I became as scared of the footman as Aiden was! As for the mystery aspect, there were lots of twists and turns and many different layers to it. I loved how we gradually came to truth, and I was shocked by the final reveal. It was maybe a little too contrived and improbable, but it still worked.

Aiden was a well crafted main character. It was extremely interesting seeing how each of his hosts influenced him and how their personality and capabilities changed the investigation. I often found myself wondering how much of him was his own personality, and how much was an echo of his host. My favourite were Ravencourt, because he was so cunning, and Rashton, because as a mystery reader I really enjoyed his approach to the case as a constable.

His relationship with Anna was also a very interesting one. The truth about why she was in Blackheath, and Aiden's real intention for being there, were a total surprise.

Without a doubt, this is a book I will think about for a long time (and I already want to re-read it). It will surely end up on my top ten of the year!

I enjoyed this one! I found it a bit confusing in parts, but I was still compelled to keep reading. While I didn’t love it, the author is definitely skilled at creating an unusual plot, and weaving characters together. Requires a lot of concentration, but it’s a fun read!

“Somebody's going to be murdered at the ball tonight. It won't appear to be a murder so the murderer won't be caught. Rectify that injustice and I'll show you the way out."

a;lskdfjlaksjdf;klajsdfkjlsdkfjkl;shjfklajsdfka = my brain after reading this book.

If I were a thing made alive by an electrical current, then this book would have made me short circuit. It's a lot to process. But so, so much fun.

I would first advise not to look too much into what this book is about, for the payoff of not knowing what's going on is very fulfilling. Stuart Turton does an excellent job at feeding his reader bits of information as the story goes on, making you scratch your head for a while until some things come together and you lose your mind at the revelations and then he flips it on its head AGAIN AND AGAIN. There's no slowing down with this one. It's full speed ahead. I found it increasingly hard to put this book down to go to sleep. On the night I finished it, I looked at my phone and realized it was 2:30am. I didn't even mind being tired the next morning. To me, that's the sign of a good book.

Several times, I paused my reading just to reflect on the fact that Turton was able to craft this story so seamlessly. It boggles my mind. Sure, it's a combination of ideas (It *really* is like if Agatha Christie wrote an episode of Black Mirror that encompasses elements of Clue, Groundhog Day, and Quantum Leap), but it's entirely unique all put together. It truly works thanks to Turton's thoughtfulness and attention to detail. There's so many layers and so much complexity, both of the plot and with the characters. I feel the need to go back and read this book again to see it with knowing eyes. Because he GOT ME GOOD the first go round. Talk about blindsided.

If you're a fan of weird books, books that blend various genres together (particularly fantasy and mystery), books that make you realize you haven't been so mind-blown since you read Dark Matter by Blake Crouch, or books that make you feel like you've never in your life read anything quite like it, then pick this one up. It didn't disappoint me, and I hope you feel the same.

This may be Stuart Turton's debut novel, but he's an absolute devious mastermind, and I applaud this work wholeheartedly. I'm going to keep an eye out for Turton's next project. He immediately became an auto-buy author! The Seven 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle gets a 5/5 from me. Highly recommended!

“If this isn’t hell, the devil is surely taking notes."





TW: murder, violence, mentions of rape, fatphobia

This was complicated, sometimes hard to follow, and I honestly couldn’t tell you if it makes sense from a time-paradox standpoint (that always confuses me).

But I really enjoyed it. It was intricately plotted, hence the hard to follow, but it feels like it works. Beyond that, it’s a lot of fun trying to not only piece together the big whodunit, but how the day unfolds and follow the threads that come out of order. It feels like Agatha Christie meets Memento meets Groundhogs Day.

The only part that I was indifferent to was the how we ended up there in the first place but honestly, it seems like it’s included because there had to be an explanation. But there’s so many more interesting things going on that it’s not even something I let myself wonder about. It didn’t take up a whole lot of time so it doesn’t distract from the stuff that’s really at the center.

This was such an incredible concept, and executed with an absolutely brilliant eye for detail and connection. I cannot even imagine how difficult it must have been to write and plot this interwoven tale of Aiden Bishop and his quest to solve the murder of Evelyn Hardcastle. There are secrets and lies everywhere and no one is who they seem - including Bishop himself, who has no idea who he even is for much of the first third of the book, as he struggles to wake up each day in a different body with no idea why, where he is, or what he's supposed to be doing - other than staying alive. It's difficult to call those around him a supporting cast, since so many are iterations that Bell wakes up as, but regardless of how they're described, each and every person in this story is a tale unto him(or her-)self. The population at Blackheath is stunning in its complexity - almost as stunning as the mysterious setting itself. Blackheath's secrets are revealed with devastating slowness - in an absolutely spot-on display of the prowess of suspense-building... The Big Reveal took me utterly by surprise - as did many of the smaller mini-reveals along the way. That doesn't happen often. And while it was nowhere near where I thought things were going, and could easily have felt over-the-top or eye-rollingly odd, somehow it worked for me and felt satisfyingly plausible.

I couldn't put this one down. Turton has crafted a brilliant tale and demonstrated a master's eye - and ear - for storytelling. I do hope to see a lot more from him in future!

Aiden Bishop wakes up in someone else’s body in the middle of the forest, with no idea where, or in fact who, he is. What he does know is that Anna is in trouble and he has to help her.

Managing to find his way to Blackheath, a run-down mansion, Aiden discovers that there is going to be murder that night, a murder that won’t look like a murder, so the culprit will get away with it.

He is going to get 8 chances to solve this murder, reliving the day in 8 different bodies. If he succeeds he is freed from Blackheath and will regain his memories and body. But if he fails, he is doomed to go back to the beginning and start the 8 days over again, and again, and again.

But he’s not the only one trying to break free from Blackheath. There are two others there with him, and only one of them will be allowed to escape. So Aiden must try to solve the murders before they do, while also avoiding the violent footman who is trying to kill him, one host at a time.

This book. Oh my god, this book. I’m not entirely sure how to put into words how much I enjoyed this book.

As we all know I love a good whodunnit. But there’s so many of them around nowadays that it can be hard to get too excited about them. It can all get a bit samey. But let me tell you, you can get excited about this one.

The premise of The Seven and a Half Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is unique to this genre, while also fitting in quite easily. The best way I can think to describe it is a mash-up of Poirot and Cluedo with the gothic horror of Sleepy Hollow, all held together with the help of Groundhog Day. Now if that doesn’t intrigue you then I don’t know what will.

I love a book set in the 1920s. The glamorous atmosphere and over the top characters are fascinating to me. And the characters in this book don’t disappoint. They range from socialites to doctors, to maids, and stable boys and each of them has a unique voice, even if some of them are being inhabited by the same person. Each character that Aiden wakes up in still have their own personalities fighting through, so it’s interesting to see how they each react.

If I had to pick something bad about this book (and I’m only doing it for the sake of being a well-rounded reviewer) it’s that it does take a lot of effort to get through it. There are a lot of characters to keep up with, and you have to pay attention to every single thing that happens. Every step the characters take, every word they say, it’s all important. So don’t start reading until you’re ready for that kind of commitment.

In saying that, it’s worth every single second of that effort you have to put in. Seeing how everything intertwines together, how one thing affects another so seamlessly, is amazing. I can only imagine the copious amount of notes and planning Turton must have had when he was writing. He is obviously a fantastic writer because he’s able to write an extremely complex plot without making it so confusing that you get frustrated. At no point did I want to stop reading.

The Seven and a Half Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is such an original premise for a murder-mystery but doesn’t go so far as to give up any of the good things about the genre. You still get a good plot, clues dropped throughout, and a satisfying ending. There’s nothing about this book that would make me say don’t read it. So go read it!

Unique premise kept me reading but the ending felt a little out of the blue without enough foundation to support the 'reveal'.

Hmm, what to say? I did want to enjoy this book but unfortunately, because I read it over a period of eight days, it was just too confusing. I couldn't remember who some of the characters were and what they had done and it all got just a bit too much. I recognise that it is well written and if you have the time to read it all in one go, I am sure it would be amazing. However, I stuck with it to the end and did enjoy it to a degree, but I don't feel I got out of it what I could have done in a single reading.

This book slots neatly in to the period, time travel, stuck in hell, detective, thriller section of your bookshelf. Yes, there is a lot going on, if the reader doesn't know what is going on that is probably because the main character is struggling alongside you. However it is well worth taking a deep breath, and carrying on, slowly little glimpses of comprehension light the pages and the book delivers as a page turning thriller.

Stuart Turton has my full admiration for writing this book. The walls of his writing room must have been covered with layers and layers of post it notes and string. Even when I thought I had got a grip on the events at Blackheath the plot managed to take another twist, even in the last few pages.

A great read, probably best not read just before you fall asleep as if you can't remember everything that has gone on you will be mighty confused!

This book was a hell of a mystery and something I’ve never read before. It’s twisty and confusing and so tricky, I had to concentrate and work as hard as Aiden to find the real murderer. The writing is excellent and I have to give points to the author for coming up with such an idea. Kudos.

All in all a good book.

Was hard to follow all the characters in this book in addition to the 8 hosts that the narrator must go through.

Writing was very well done!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book!

It was a thrilling read. The title and the blurb had me hooked from the beginning. But the first chapter was pretty confusing so I didn't continue reading. I'm glad I gave it a second try. Once you know your way around the book is unputdownable. There were times when I was confused as hell, but at the end all the puzzle pieces fit together.Hats off to the author 's imagination and the way how he connects all the dots. Even though the climax has some great twists, I felt something was missing. It reminded me of Agatha Christie novels. It is recommended to read the book in one sitting so that you don't forget all the clues left by the author. Eventhough the law of crime thrillers say that the person whom you least expect will be the killer, the twists surprised me

What the actual fudge was that? I don't even know how to review this book.
The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is definitely one of a kind. The Hardcastles are having a sweet party to celebrate their daughter's return from France. Instead, she's murdered in a time loop repetition until someone can solve her murder. The main character, Aiden Bishop, possesses eight different people to help solve the case. The suspects are many and the secrets literally cover the walls of Blackheath.
It feels like Agatha Christie meets Groundhog Day. It's different and the plot is interesting, but confusing. The mystery of Evelyn's murder is only a piece of the larger puzzle and it's big and I find it confusing with such a big reveal.
The characters never seem to feel real, like stock characters in a play.
It's an OK book, but make sure you put on your thinking cap when you read it.

I really struggled with this book for all the wrong reasons. The language/writing is period set which isn't what I normally would read. I found it hard to keep focus as it was too intricate. I've picked this up and put it back down more than a handful of times. I am sure its an amazing story, the concept alone dragged me in. But I just couldn't get into it at all. I'm classing it as a DNF but ask that my review be ignored as I feel if it were not for the language issues and writing style this would have been a 5 star read.