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The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
by
"Agatha Christie meets Groundhog Day . . . quite unlike anything I’ve ever read, and altogether triumphant.” - A. J. Finn, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of The Woman in the Window
Aiden Bishop knows the rules. Evelyn Hardcastle will die every day until he can identify her killer and break the cycle. But every time the day begins again, Aiden wakes up in the body of a ...more
Aiden Bishop knows the rules. Evelyn Hardcastle will die every day until he can identify her killer and break the cycle. But every time the day begins again, Aiden wakes up in the body of a ...more
Hardcover, US, 432 pages
Published
September 18th 2018
by Sourcebooks Landmark
(first published February 8th 2018)
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Start your review of The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

I didn't expect to tear through this book, but I did—there was just so much restlessness in my reading, an urgency to reach the ending. It’s been days and I am still so keenly, strangely, extensively aware of explosions still taking place inside my head. Honestly? If Hollywood doesn't turn this into a movie....I will personally riot.
Our narrator wakes up in a dripping forest, with nothing but the shade of an old unnameable fear, and the eerie sensation of b ...more
So, what's this book about?
Our narrator wakes up in a dripping forest, with nothing but the shade of an old unnameable fear, and the eerie sensation of b ...more

The Written Review
CLICK HERE for a Booktube Video about:
Ten Fabulous Book Reviews and One That Will Make You Go - doesn't that belong to Miranda Reads?
Now that you know this one made the list check the video review to see the rest (and find the stolen surprise)!
Read this one for TCE book club!
Lord and Lady Hardcastle are throwing a "party" at Blackheath, their crumbling British mansion.![]()
If this isn’t hell, the devil is surely taking notes.
This so-called-party takes place on the anniver ...more

🖤 Too little information and you're blind,
too much and you're blinded. 🖤

The above-quoted line perfectly sums up theMIND F literary puzzle that is The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle.
Let's not beat around the bush here, this book is bloody FANTASTIC!

Never have I been so excited about being so confused whilst reading a book.

Turton is a Master.
This was completely original, completely out there and completely compelling. I was so absorbed in every moment and....well, CONFUSED.

There is really n ...more
too much and you're blinded. 🖤

The above-quoted line perfectly sums up the
Let's not beat around the bush here, this book is bloody FANTASTIC!

Never have I been so excited about being so confused whilst reading a book.

Turton is a Master.
This was completely original, completely out there and completely compelling. I was so absorbed in every moment and....well, CONFUSED.

There is really n ...more

Mar 11, 2018
Emily (Books with Emily Fox)
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
favorites,
mystery-thriller-horror
(4.5) If you’re looking for a book to keep you awake at night because you NEED to finish it then this is it!
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.
I loved how unique the premise was, a 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 ...more
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.
I loved how unique the premise was, a 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 ...more

This was w i l d wow.

3.5 maybe it is just me? But never the less confusing stars🌟🌟🌟
The concept of this book was really quite brilliant... A little reminiscent of both Life After Life and Ground Hog Day.... with the added little twist of the body swapping....
Admittedly it is holiday time and I was not as focused on this book as I needed to be.... so as far as me being confused throughout the majority of this book, it could very likely just be a me problem.... I kept needing to go back and reread parts because I reall ...more

Reading The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle left me MIND BLOWN!🤯 What an intricately layered and amazing plot. If you haven't read this one yet, please jump into this book blindly and savor every moment. At times you will feel like you are flailing in the water, drowning in confusion. Just keep reading, treading through the chapters as you go. Grab hold of the bits that are sent your way and store them. It will all make sense in the end!
I thought I was prepared for Turton. I read carefully, gi ...more
I thought I was prepared for Turton. I read carefully, gi ...more

I need urgent extra brain cell transplantation right now! What a mind blowing- twisting- bending and also f*cking book! If it wasn’t so much captivating journey, I wouldn’t finish it! I loved it so much but I’m really tired right now. It takes too much of your energy to read it and totally worth it!

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a thriller following an investigation into the murder of a girl who is murdered every singe night. The main character switches bodies every day in an attempt to get different points of view. And yes, it is wild.
So the thing I’ve seen praised about this book is that the plot is ridiculously complex, and it very much is. I am in awe over the tight plotting used in this book. This must have taken a very long outline and the complexity certainly makes this st ...more
So the thing I’ve seen praised about this book is that the plot is ridiculously complex, and it very much is. I am in awe over the tight plotting used in this book. This must have taken a very long outline and the complexity certainly makes this st ...more

Stuart Turton has written an extraordinarily original, atmospheric, intelligent and fiendishly complex novel that I really loved! At one level it masquerades as an Agatha Christie style golden age classic crime, and indeed many of the tropes present in that genre are here such as the diverse range of characters at a country house party. It is no exaggeration to say it is so much more, including the presence of time leaps, and absolutely nothing is as it seems. Prior to the murder of Evelyn Hardc
...more

wow. this book is wild! i swear, i spent the majority of the story whispering ‘what the heck is going on???’ to myself over and over. i still dont even think i know what i just read, i just know i really enjoyed it.
this is a ‘whodunnit’ unlike anything i have read before. mainly because of how ambitious it is. there are so many characters, each with their own role and secrets, which creates multiple plot layers and forces different outcomes for various events, all while a murder is trying to be ...more
this is a ‘whodunnit’ unlike anything i have read before. mainly because of how ambitious it is. there are so many characters, each with their own role and secrets, which creates multiple plot layers and forces different outcomes for various events, all while a murder is trying to be ...more

Jun 10, 2019
emma
rated it
it was ok
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mystery-thriller-horror-etc,
historical,
reviewed,
unpopular-opinion,
non-ya,
2-stars,
comments,
eh
Well, yikes.
Here are the things I knew about this book before starting it:
1) Its original title (and current UK title) was The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, which, in pure coincidence, is very very similar to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and was therefore changed in the US. (I think this is awesome.)
2) It’s a murder mystery with quite possibly the coolest conceit of any book ever. (I think this is awesome.)
3) It’s teeming with gratuitous fat shaming. (I think this is one of the less a ...more
Here are the things I knew about this book before starting it:
1) Its original title (and current UK title) was The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, which, in pure coincidence, is very very similar to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and was therefore changed in the US. (I think this is awesome.)
2) It’s a murder mystery with quite possibly the coolest conceit of any book ever. (I think this is awesome.)
3) It’s teeming with gratuitous fat shaming. (I think this is one of the less a ...more

Holy crap on a cracker! First chapter and I’m in crazy town!

Well. That went downhill fast! I’m totally in the minority here! I usually love this kind of strange book. But I had to slog through this book. Seriously, I need to start dnfing because time is precious!
Sigh!! I’m happy for almost ALL of my friends that loved this!!

Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾 ...more

Well. That went downhill fast! I’m totally in the minority here! I usually love this kind of strange book. But I had to slog through this book. Seriously, I need to start dnfing because time is precious!
Sigh!! I’m happy for almost ALL of my friends that loved this!!

Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾 ...more

Jul 10, 2019
Beverly
rated it
did not like it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
time-travel-murder-mystery
I really can't express how much I hated this book. It felt like I was taken in, because it promises a lot up front, but it does not deliver. Too many characters, too much going back and forth between the same scenes with no clear road map made my head hurt. 512 pages of confusing gibberish later I thought there might be a stunning conclusion to wrap it all up neatly, no, that was way too much to hope for. Many of my smart Goodreads friends did not finish this, I wish I could have been among them
...more

fulfilling my 2019 goal to read (at least) one book each month that i bought in hardcover and put off reading long enough that it is now in paperback.
"Funny how things repeat, isn’t it?"
i have read a lot of books, but i have never read anything like this.
that’s one of those glib clichés; the book-blurb equivalent of picking a tattoo from the wall, but in this case, it’s the absolute truth. it’s a baller of a debut—an intricately plotted and wholly satisfying mix of sci-fi and mystery; their dif ...more
"Funny how things repeat, isn’t it?"
i have read a lot of books, but i have never read anything like this.
that’s one of those glib clichés; the book-blurb equivalent of picking a tattoo from the wall, but in this case, it’s the absolute truth. it’s a baller of a debut—an intricately plotted and wholly satisfying mix of sci-fi and mystery; their dif ...more

”How lost do you have to be to let the devil lead you home?”
The answer is VERY! Considering that our MC has no memories and wakes up in a totally foreign body this doesn’t really come as a surprise though. I guess we’d all be scared if we’d experience something like that. I mean at first Aiden doesn’t even know his own name, all he knows is a name that dropped from his lips before he witnessed a murder. What a way to start your day! And this is just the first one.
8 days.
8 different hosts.
A hug ...more
The answer is VERY! Considering that our MC has no memories and wakes up in a totally foreign body this doesn’t really come as a surprise though. I guess we’d all be scared if we’d experience something like that. I mean at first Aiden doesn’t even know his own name, all he knows is a name that dropped from his lips before he witnessed a murder. What a way to start your day! And this is just the first one.
8 days.
8 different hosts.
A hug ...more

I just finished my September 2019 reread for my IRL book club, and I am still in love with this book! Also, I just came up with a completely different theory on what the “7 1/2 deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle” REALLY means, and I’m so curious to know if I’m right. It’s horribly spoilery, and it’s behind spoiler tags at the end of this review.
All the stars! Review first posted on Fantasy Literature.
Debut author Stuart Turton’s The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, originally published earlier this ye ...more
All the stars! Review first posted on Fantasy Literature.
Debut author Stuart Turton’s The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, originally published earlier this ye ...more

Well this is awkward.
Ok so please don’t @ me, I really wanted to like this. I’ll take part blame - I didn’t realise the time travel element was quite so heavy, if I had then I’d probably have skipped it. Too much moving between characters at different parts of the day leaving each other notes and I’m sat here like what?
There are way too many characters. Even with the list in the beginning, it went straight past enjoyment to just hard work.
The big twist at the end wasn’t even much cop. It migh ...more
Ok so please don’t @ me, I really wanted to like this. I’ll take part blame - I didn’t realise the time travel element was quite so heavy, if I had then I’d probably have skipped it. Too much moving between characters at different parts of the day leaving each other notes and I’m sat here like what?
There are way too many characters. Even with the list in the beginning, it went straight past enjoyment to just hard work.
The big twist at the end wasn’t even much cop. It migh ...more

4.5 stars!
Whew, what a ride! Stuart Turton’s debut novel is the kind of debut we all yearn for: explosive, energetic, engaging and truly something fresh and new on the scene. The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a brilliant, high-concept murder mystery that had the cogs in my mind turning from the very start (imagine waking up in the forest with no memory of who you are and immediately seeing a young woman murdered!). This, in fact, was the first mystery narrative in a very long time that ha ...more
Whew, what a ride! Stuart Turton’s debut novel is the kind of debut we all yearn for: explosive, energetic, engaging and truly something fresh and new on the scene. The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a brilliant, high-concept murder mystery that had the cogs in my mind turning from the very start (imagine waking up in the forest with no memory of who you are and immediately seeing a young woman murdered!). This, in fact, was the first mystery narrative in a very long time that ha ...more

‘’I’m a man in Purgatory, blind to the sins that chased me here.’’
What would it be like if one day we found ourselves in an another body? What if this happened on a daily basis? Us changing the vessel but retaining most of the traits that make us who we are? What if by changing identities we could turn back the time and prevent an injustice, a horrible crime? This is the wonderful premise of this exquisite novel by Stuart Turton, one of the most unique books of the year.
A man has the opportunit ...more
What would it be like if one day we found ourselves in an another body? What if this happened on a daily basis? Us changing the vessel but retaining most of the traits that make us who we are? What if by changing identities we could turn back the time and prevent an injustice, a horrible crime? This is the wonderful premise of this exquisite novel by Stuart Turton, one of the most unique books of the year.
A man has the opportunit ...more

3.5 stars 🌟
I have no idea how I actually feel about this one!
This was probably one of the most confusing and complex novels that I have ever read. I actually quite enjoyed the premise of this story as it definitely was quite clever and really made me think but in the end I was a little disappointed with the “what just happened?” ending which left me feeling a little unsatisfied. I felt a little bit cheated as I was so hoping the ending would have been just as complex and clever as the rest of t ...more
I have no idea how I actually feel about this one!
This was probably one of the most confusing and complex novels that I have ever read. I actually quite enjoyed the premise of this story as it definitely was quite clever and really made me think but in the end I was a little disappointed with the “what just happened?” ending which left me feeling a little unsatisfied. I felt a little bit cheated as I was so hoping the ending would have been just as complex and clever as the rest of t ...more

Dec 07, 2018
Kylie D
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mystery-crime,
seasonal-challenges
I really don't know how to write a review for this book. Not because I didn't like it, it was fantastic, but because the plot is so intricate and woven I don't want to give anything away. So let's just say it's the story of Aiden, who wakes with no memory at all, just the word 'Anna' on his lips. He finds he's in the middle of a forest, and then manages to stumble across a murder taking place. Aiden is then destined to relive the same day over and over again, until he can solve the murder of Eve
...more

Get ready for the most unusual, overwhelmingly impressive journey through this puzzle land of "Murder at the Masquerade Ball".
You won't need a ticket to get in, just get a copy of the book (the hard copy so you can enjoy the map of Blackheath, a cozy and quiet place to read (you won't want any distractions), time to ponder all the twists that are going to keep your brain busy!!
I loved it, but needed to pace myself and take my time to enjoy all the twisty turns that the narrator, Aiden Bish ...more
You won't need a ticket to get in, just get a copy of the book (the hard copy so you can enjoy the map of Blackheath, a cozy and quiet place to read (you won't want any distractions), time to ponder all the twists that are going to keep your brain busy!!
I loved it, but needed to pace myself and take my time to enjoy all the twisty turns that the narrator, Aiden Bish ...more

This is not 'Gosford Park' meets 'Groundhog Day'. This is 'Friday' meets 'Revolution 9' by way of Miley Cyrus (is she still relevant?). I'm sorry, but this bundle of cheap thrills had no redeeming feature.
The very first paragraph hit me unpleasantly. It was as if a movie had started with the hero walking away from a gigantic explosion that he barely notices. This is like a supercomputer that can beat anyone at chess yet cannot play tic tac toe.
It's not literature in any way shape or form. I hope ...more
The very first paragraph hit me unpleasantly. It was as if a movie had started with the hero walking away from a gigantic explosion that he barely notices. This is like a supercomputer that can beat anyone at chess yet cannot play tic tac toe.
It's not literature in any way shape or form. I hope ...more

Jun 03, 2018
Petrik
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Mystery/thriller fans
3.5/5 stars
The less you know about this mystery thriller book, the better your experience will be.
First of all, take that rating rounding up or down with a grain of salt, this is a 3.5 stars book for me. As for the review, I honestly have no idea how to review this book, not only mystery/thriller is not my usual read or books that I review, I genuinely think that anything I say can be considered a spoiler for a book like this. I’ll keep this review brief, try to go into this one as blind as poss ...more
The less you know about this mystery thriller book, the better your experience will be.
First of all, take that rating rounding up or down with a grain of salt, this is a 3.5 stars book for me. As for the review, I honestly have no idea how to review this book, not only mystery/thriller is not my usual read or books that I review, I genuinely think that anything I say can be considered a spoiler for a book like this. I’ll keep this review brief, try to go into this one as blind as poss ...more

4.5 stars
The early reviews I read of this book were mixed, but the last two months, I’ve watched so many high ratings come in, I succumbed to temptation and requested. This was one of the most challenging reviews I’ve had to write to ensure I didn’t give a speck of the fun away.
This book. Wow. The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a book you have to give a chance, and if you do, the pay-off is immense if mysteries are your cuppa.
I’m offering a basic synopsis because it is best to go into th ...more
The early reviews I read of this book were mixed, but the last two months, I’ve watched so many high ratings come in, I succumbed to temptation and requested. This was one of the most challenging reviews I’ve had to write to ensure I didn’t give a speck of the fun away.
This book. Wow. The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a book you have to give a chance, and if you do, the pay-off is immense if mysteries are your cuppa.
I’m offering a basic synopsis because it is best to go into th ...more

I’m at a loss for words as where to begin with my review. I don’t know that I will be able to convey into words my love of Stuart Turton’s book, “The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle.” A work of genius and for anyone who loves mysteries or the true old-fashioned “who dunnit”, this is your book. This is not a modern day mystery/thriller but an honest to goodness murder mystery with a multilayered plot.
This work of art requires your complete focus and attention otherwise you might miss one of th ...more
This work of art requires your complete focus and attention otherwise you might miss one of th ...more

Jan 02, 2019
Aqsa (On Hiatus)
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Anyone who loves thrillers any mystery.
5 deserving stars!!! The best book!! (04/04/19 Update: I cannot believe this will be adapted!)
Read for January Buddy Read in Buddy Reads.
How lost do you have to be to let the devil lead you home?
This lost, I decide. Precisely this lost.
When Bell Sabastian finds himself walking in a forest, lost and stripped of his memories; the only word on his lips a name: Anna, he finds himself utterly terrified. The distant cries of a girl being chased by a murderer and then hearing a bullet go off, doesn ...more
Read for January Buddy Read in Buddy Reads.
How lost do you have to be to let the devil lead you home?
This lost, I decide. Precisely this lost.
When Bell Sabastian finds himself walking in a forest, lost and stripped of his memories; the only word on his lips a name: Anna, he finds himself utterly terrified. The distant cries of a girl being chased by a murderer and then hearing a bullet go off, doesn ...more

4 STARS! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is going to be a tough review to write. Not because I didn't love it, but what to say so that I don’t give anything away.
This review is going to be short and to the point. The less you know about this book, the more you will enjoy it!
The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle was a mixture of a Agatha Christie novel and the sci-fi television series, Quantum Leap.
So, if you’ve never heard of Quantum Leap, the premise of the television series is the main character Dr. Sam Beckett ...more
This is going to be a tough review to write. Not because I didn't love it, but what to say so that I don’t give anything away.
This review is going to be short and to the point. The less you know about this book, the more you will enjoy it!
The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle was a mixture of a Agatha Christie novel and the sci-fi television series, Quantum Leap.
So, if you’ve never heard of Quantum Leap, the premise of the television series is the main character Dr. Sam Beckett ...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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What the fuck was this book? | 6 | 66 | Feb 21, 2021 09:58AM |
Stuart lives in London with his amazing wife and daughter. He drinks lots of tea.
What else?
When he left university he went travelling for three months and stayed away for five years. Every time his parents asked when he’d be back he told them next week, and meant it.
Stuart is not to be trusted. In the nicest possible way.
He’s got a degree in English and Philosophy, which makes him excellent at a ...more
What else?
When he left university he went travelling for three months and stayed away for five years. Every time his parents asked when he’d be back he told them next week, and meant it.
Stuart is not to be trusted. In the nicest possible way.
He’s got a degree in English and Philosophy, which makes him excellent at a ...more
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“How lost do you have to be to let the devil lead you home?”
—
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“If this isn’t hell, the devil is surely taking notes.”
—
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