The 7 1/2 Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle

Author: Stuart Turton
Genre: Mystery/Sci-Fi
432 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark, 2018

Synopsis
Evelyn Hardcastle will be murdered at 11:00 p.m.

There are eight days, and eight witnesses for you to inhabit.

We will only let you escape once you tell us the name of the killer.

Understood? Then let’s begin . . .

Evelyn Hardcastle will die. Every day until Aiden Bishop can identify her killer and break the cycle. But every time the day begins again, Aiden wakes up in the body of a different guest. And some of his hosts are more helpful than others . . .

The most inventive debut of the year twists together a mystery of such unexpected creativity it will leave listeners guessing until the very last second.

My review
The 7 1/2 Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton is a mind-blowing and complex mystery with an intriguing sci-fi twist. After thoroughly enjoying The Last Murder at the End of the World, I’m glad I was finally able to dive into Turton’s debut novel, and what a ride it was! My rating of 4 stars reflects my admiration for Turton’s ability to construct a wildly intricate plot and intertwine character arcs into a seamless, fascinating, and sometimes challenging narrative.

This novel demands patience. The plot is ridiculously complex, especially in the first half until I was more familiar with the characters. Turton’s meticulous planning is evident in the way each piece of the puzzle is revealed, tying everything together in clever, unexpected ways. I can only imagine the massive outline Turton must have put together to keep track of all the characters!

The story follows Aiden Bishop, who wakes up in a stranger’s body with no memory of who he is. Soon, a masked figure informs him that he must solve a murder, one disguised to look like an accident, to escape this bizarre time loop. Bishop has eight chances to relive the day, each time waking up in a different person’s body. If he fails, he starts over again with no memory of his previous attempts. To make matters worse, two others are trapped in this loop alongside him, and a knife-wielding footman is hunting them all down.

Turton weaves a multi-layered mystery where the characters felt like pieces on a chessboard. The neglected and decaying setting of Blackheath is a fascinating contrast to the glamorous English elite gathered there and the interactions between characters are shrouded in lies, half-truths, and deception. As Bishop uncovers Blackheath’s secrets, I was completely pulled into its mysterious world, trying to piece the story together right along with him.

The book isn’t without flaws. The fat-shaming of one character is glaringly unnecessary and came across as insensitive. Additionally, at times, the story felt overly long, and I found Bishop’s fixation on being a “hero” to a “damsel in distress” annoying. Despite these criticisms, I was thoroughly engrossed in the storyline as I tried to untangle the twists and turns.

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a complex, mind-bending mystery that delivered a fresh twist on the genre. Turton’s imagination and execution are brilliant, and while it’s a demanding read, it’s one that rewards patience. And the ending? Let’s just say this seasoned mystery reader didn’t see it coming. Well played, Turton!

My recommendation: it’s a wild read and definitely worth your time!