The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

 

Kirkus Style Review

The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle 

By Stuart Turton 

Release Date September 18, 2018

Genre: Mystery, Fantasy




Evelyn Hardcastle will die tonight. And tonight will happen again and again until Aiden can solve the mystery of who kills her; though along the way, he would like to know how he got here, who he can trust, and if there is anyone who isn’t hiding something at Blackheath Manor.

Upon waking in the forest, a man finds himself lost with no memory of how he came to be here or even his own name. A stranger crashes into him, dropping a compass into his coat pocket and as he whispers just one word, “North”. Making his way to the imposing, though woefully neglected, Blackheath Manor, he discovers himself to be Sebastian Bell, a doctor who has been invited to the manor, infamous for his access to drugs, and one of many disreputable persons attending the lavish affair. All is not as it seems though and after a visit from the “Plague Doctor” he steadily uncovers that he, Aiden Bishop, has been trapped in this day at Blackheath for decades, along with two others. The only way out? Solve the murder of Evelyn Hardcastle, the daughter of Blackheath’s aristocratic owners who have plenty of their own secrets. Evelyn dies this night, over and over and over. Where Turton’s debut novel twists into something completely unexpected and compelling appears quickly; not only must Aiden solve the murder, but he will live the same day eight different times, in the body of eight different guests. Follow along as he finds allies, uses the strengths and weaknesses of each host to further the case, and tries to keep track of his own mind. He soon learns to use time to his advantage, setting up events while in one body, and uncovering the outcome in his next. The race is on, as Aiden connects the dots, desperate to solve the murder before his mysterious competitors-after all, only the first to solve it gets to leave.

An incredible puzzle, with a mystery within a mystery and beautifully connected moving parts, that I could not put down. The clues come together for the reader as they do for Aiden, leaving you guessing until the very last page.

Comments

  1. Candace WellsFebruary 21, 2021 at 2:28 PM

    Good job on the Kirkus review, Jennifer. You provided an interesting review on the novel that makes me want to borrow it from the library and see what happens to Aiden. As you stated there is a mystery within the mystery in solving the murder of Evelyn and discovering why Aiden is trapped at this manor.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Bambino KidFebruary 21, 2021 at 6:00 PM

    Jennifer,

    I have to say I am hooked by your brief writeup of the general setup. I enjoy thrillers with an obvious setup for the protagonist to engage with and figure out as shadowy onlookers quietly overlook the progress. The Game starring Sean Penn and Michael Douglas is a classic, favorite movie of mine and your description definitely conjures up the same mood of controlled chaos. I will keep this in mind for a future read.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Erin CataldiFebruary 22, 2021 at 11:18 AM

    I am 100% in on this book after your masterful write up! Fantastic closing as well - who wouldn't want to read this now? Full points!

    ReplyDelete
  4. jennifer humphreyFebruary 22, 2021 at 1:07 PM

    I really love this book! The ending wasn't a huge surprise or the biggest twist I've ever read, but oh my goodness, the writing, the story, the incredible way the characters are woven together, it was amazing to read!

    ReplyDelete

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