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The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

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'The 71/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle' by Stuart Turton is a complex murder mystery novel set in a country estate where the protagonist, Aiden Bishop, wakes up in a different body each day to solve the murder of Evelyn Hardcastle. The plot unfolds in a Groundhog Day-like scenario where Aiden must navigate through various perspectives and characters to unravel the mystery. The writing style is described as intricate, original, and engaging, offering a unique blend of genres like murder mystery, time travel, and psychological thriller.

Characters:

The characters are intricately developed, often morally ambiguous, adding depth and complexity to the narrative.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is described as lyrical and engaging, with a mix of cleverness and wit that keeps the reader involved.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot features an innovative blend of mystery and time loops, where the protagonist must solve a murder while inhabiting different characters.

Setting:

The setting of a decaying manor house contributes to the gothic atmosphere and adds depth to the mystery.

Pacing:

The pacing fluctuates, with some slow sections but an overall build-up of tension leading to a gripping climax.
My mind has gone blank. I don’t know who Anna is or why I’m calling her name. I don’t even know how I got here. I’m standing in a forest, shielding my eyes from the spitting rain. My heart’s thumping,...

Notes:

The novel combines elements of Agatha Christie style mysteries with a sci-fi twist similar to Groundhog Day.
The protagonist, Aiden Bishop, must solve the murder of Evelyn Hardcastle by inhabiting the bodies of different guests over eight days.
Each day resets, presenting Aiden with a different host and perspective, making it a unique time loop narrative.
The story features an intricate plot with many twists, red herrings, and unreliable narrators, challenging the reader to keep track of numerous characters.
The book has been praised for its clever writing and imaginative narrative, making it stand out in the mystery genre.
Themes of morality, betrayal, and the nature of good versus evil are woven throughout the narrative, adding depth to the story.
Visual and atmospheric descriptions of the crumbling estate contribute to the gothic feel of the narrative, enhancing the mystery.
The narrative structure includes a range of characters, each with their own secrets, contributing to the complexity of the plot.
Reviews indicate that the book may require readers to pay close attention to detail due to its complex plot and multiple timelines.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of murder, violence, mental health issues, suicidal ideation, and fatphobia.

Has Romance?

There is a subtle element of romance as Aiden navigates his feelings for Anna, but the primary focus remains on solving the mystery.

From The Publisher:

Can you solve the mystery of Evelyn Hardcastle?

WINNER OF THE COSTA FIRST NOVEL AWARD

WINNER OF THE BOOKS ARE MY BAG NOVEL AWARD

A WATERSTONES THRILLER OF THE MONTH

SHORTLISTED FOR THE SPECSAVERS NATIONAL BOOK AWARDS

SHORTLISTED FOR THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS DEBUT OF THE YEAR

LONGLISTED FOR THE THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR

Gosford Park meets Groundhog Day by way of Agatha Christie and Black Mirror - the most inventive story you'll read

Tonight, Evelyn Hardcastle will be killed ... Again

It is meant to be a celebration but it ends in tragedy. As fireworks explode overhead, Evelyn Hardcastle, the young and beautiful daughter of the house, is killed.

But Evelyn will not die just once. Until Aiden - one of the guests summoned to Blackheath for the party - can solve her murder, the day will repeat itself, over and over again. Every time ending with the fateful pistol shot.

The only way to break this cycle is to identify the killer. But each time the day begins again, Aiden wakes in the body of a different guest. And someone is determined to prevent him ever escaping Blackheath...

SELECTED AS A BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE GUARDIAN, I PAPER, FINANCIAL TIMES AND DAILY TELEGRAPH AND CURRENTLY BEING ADAPTED BY NETFLIX INTO A SEVEN PART SERIES

The mind-blowing new murder mystery from Stuart Turton, The Devil and the Dark Water, is OUT NOW.

Ratings (276)

Incredible (51)
Loved It (76)
Liked It (65)
It Was OK (36)
Did Not Like (43)
Hated It (5)

Reader Stats (770):

Read It (280)
Currently Reading (7)
Want To Read (368)
Did Not Finish (24)
Not Interested (91)

7 comment(s)

It Was OK
1 week

3.5 start. It was a good book, however I think I hyped it up in my head to much for me to enjoy it properly when I finely read it.

Found it a bit confusing but like I said it was a good book, just not a five stars book I had hoped

 
Incredible
2 months

An amazing adventure that constantly left me trying to figure out the mystery. The story will keep you captivated until the very end

 
Liked It
3 months

“Clue” meets “The Time Traveler’s Wife”. Very complex with lots of moving parts…def not a beach read.

 
Loved It
3 months

Such a fun way to figure out the killer and get all the perspectives.

 
Liked It
5 months

Loved the writing. I really did enjoy this one, but it was held up by 2 things: it was too long and by the time I got to the last 20%, I was so confused by all the details that I was just waiting to get to the end. A strong ending overall, though.

 
Loved It
8 months

This book is a murder mystery.

It also has:

- Time loops

- Time loops within those time loops

- Amnesiac narrator

- Multiple competing body snatchers

AMAZINGLY, it isn't confusing. This book has body snatchers who forget their pasts going through time loops on top of time loops (and plot twists) all blended together, and IT MAKES SENSE. It's a masterpiece of expositional clarity.

 
Incredible
9 months

If you're looking for a great, complex story where all the little details matter and at some point they start to come together into one coherent piece, this is the story.


One of the themes that I particularly like is when different people tell about the same events, and each version is a little different from the previous one. Gradually we learn more and more and wonder what is true. This is a theme that rarely appears in books, you can find it more often in movies. That's why this story was perfect for me. And it certainly did not disappoint me.


This is a really complicated story, and we discover all its nuances with each new embodiment of the main character. It's also a story that you really need to focus on. I tried reading this book while traveling by train, but too many things distracted me, and that was not a good idea. There are many characters here, Aiden, the main character himself, appears as eight different people. Jumps between his successive incarnations happen quite often. So many little things matter, so if you want to really enjoy this story, you need to focus on it. It's also better not to put this book aside for too long.


I love the idea that Aiden is limited by the characters his body is in. He must, to some extent, behave as their nature allows him. He is also limited by their mental abilities. If the person can easily make up facts, Aiden can take advantage of this as well. But if a person is not very bright, Aiden will be limited in this. This is a really great idea.


And all the twists and turns! I loved it! I very rarely re-read thrillers, but this is one of those stories that would probably even benefit from rereading. I could discover so many more little details. I will definitely read other books by this author.

 
 
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