Stuart Turton

The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

Kaz P.

Lera D

Angela Zeiler

Doch statt wütend darüber zu werden, bemitleidet er mich. Das ist das Schlimmste. Wut ist greifbar, sie hat ein gewisses Gewicht. Man kann mit den Fäusten darauf einschlagen. Doch Mitleid ist ein Nebel, in dem man sich nur verirren kann.

Die Beschreibung einer Jagdgesellschaft, die das ganze als Zeitvertreib und Sport sieht. Treffend.

So wie sie da draußen stehen - befreit von der erdrückenden Atmosphäre des Hauses und erfüllt von der erfreulichen Aussicht auf ein fröhliches Schlachten - wirken sie fast menschlich.

Die Luft ist schwer und süß vom Parfüm der Damen und wird einzig durch eine kratzige, hässliche Musik ein wenig in Bewegung gebracht. Die Klänge schrauben sich in die Höhe, schweben von einer Ecke in die andere, prallen gegen die Wände und taumeln schließlich benommen zu Boden.

Die Gräber liegen erstickt unter gewaltigen Haufen aus verrottendem Laub, und die zerbröckelnden, von zahllosen Sprüngen durchsetzten Grabsteine haben die Namen der Toten mit sich ins Vergessen gezogen.

Es geht doch nichts über eine Maske, um die wahre Natur eines Menschen zu offenbaren.

Und wie bei allem, was Blackheath anbelangt, ist die Schönheit dieses Ortes darauf angewiesen, dass man ihn einzig und allein aus der Ferne betrachtet.

Sie sind eine seltsame Truppe. Gewiss, sie scheinen Freunde zu sein, aber das in einer geradezu verzweifelten Weise, als wären sie zusammen auf einer einsamen Insel gestrandet. Glücklicherweise bricht ihre gute Laune zusehends in sich zusammen, je weiter wir uns vom Haus entfernen. Ihr Lachen wird ihnen vom Wind und Regen aus dem Gesicht gepeitscht, und die Flasche verschwindet schon recht bald in einer warmen Hosentasche zusammen mit der kalten Hand, die sie gehalten hat.

Wenn dieser Ort nicht die Hölle ist, so steht doch auf jeden Fall der Teufel in den Kulissen und macht sich Notizen.

Ma Br

“Rischiamo di passare da un demonio all’altro”

“Forse” ribatte Hardcastle “ma io ho letto la mia dose di Dante, Philip. Non tutti gli infermi sono uguali.”

“Non sempre la vita ci permette di scegliere l’esistenza che preferiamo” osserva in tono tetro. “E ora andiamo, siamo attesi a un assassinio”.

jacqueline ortiz

“You’re a soul stripped bare, Doctor. No regrets, no wounds, none of the lies we tell ourselves so we can look in the mirror each morning. You’re… honest”

Annika McClintock

Wealth is poisonous to the soul, and my parents have been wealthy a very long time - as have most of the guests who will be at this party. Their manners are a mask; you’d do well to remember that. 

This wasn’t an easy read for me. The premise is original, but it’s definitely a demanding book. With so many details and characters, I often had to flip back to keep track, which felt overwhelming at times. I admired the creativity of the concept, but it took a while before I felt truly invested.

If you enjoy complex, layered mysteries that challenge you to piece everything together, this could be a great fit. For me, it landed somewhere between intrigue and frustration.

Baylea Fancher

This wasn’t an easy read for me. The premise is original, but it’s definitely a demanding book. With so many details and characters, I often had to flip back to keep track, which felt overwhelming at times. I admired the creativity of the concept, but it took a while before I felt truly invested.

If you enjoy complex, layered mysteries that challenge you to piece everything together, this could be a great fit. For me, it landed somewhere between intrigue and frustration.

As with all mystery novels I read, idk what's going on until the end. This one is no different, but I really enjoyed the concept and dream like scenario the story resides in. The ending felt slightly underwhelming, but overall a fun read! i will consider checking out the author again!

Max Riley

Captivating, with an unforeseen plot twist. I wish more of the architecture around Blackheath was explained because that would have been satisfying- but I think the omission was done in purpose to highlight the themes rather than the semantics. 

Elyse 

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

The Sunday Times Bestseller and Winner of the Costa First Novel Award

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

I liked the concept of this book going into it and honestly I think it did it really well but around 3/4 of the way through it lost me and it did manage to get me back but I was very over it by the time it got me back

Abbi Brown 

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle was an amazing read that will definitely keep the reader hooked until the very end with a bunch of twists and turns. You will never know who you can trust or who you can’t. For me, this book was a solid 4.5 stars. I’ve even recommended the book to others already.

Chulandon leanday Bradley 


The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle was an amazing read that will definitely keep the reader hooked until the very end with a bunch of twists and turns. You will never know who you can trust or who you can’t. For me, this book was a solid 4.5 stars. I’ve even recommended the book to others already.

Was extremely difficult to get into. Not until halfway did I get sucked in however the last half and ending was addicting and twisting! 

Sarah Wilson

Super disorienting at the beginning, but once you understand the setting it’s thrilling and fun. 

Jack Lucie

Interesting concept but left me feeling more confused than I wanted to be for a majority of the book

Emily Lucie

There were too many characters in this book and it was difficult for me to remember the relationship held between each character. Because of my lack of investment, the ending held no significance or meaning. 

Alicia Evans

so fun to read!!!!! gets a bit convoluted at the end but still an easy, interesting read :D

chloe

"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 Shortlisted for the Costa Award One of Stylist Magazine's 20 Must-Read Books of 2018 One of Harper's Bazaar's 10 Must-Read Books of 2018 One of Guardian's Best Books of 2018 The Rules of Blackheath 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 readers guessing until the very last page.

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

(3.75) This was a really great book. I loved all the characters and the plot was amazing as well. The thing I loved most was the writing style. I kept getting lost in the world of Blackheath and overall was mesmerized. Sometimes, I did feel as if things were moving fast and I was clueless. Still, did not expect the plot twist at the end. Overall, very nice time.

Abbie Duggan

Such a fun read! I felt like I was part of a game, each character an intriguing piece of the puzzle. Equal parts a light read and a challenging one. Loved it!

there are two main reasons I rated this book 5 stars -

1) it is such a unique story. it is so rare that I come across a book with a storyline unlike any other that I have ever read. 

2) it kept me guessing up until the very end. 

this read was thoroughly entertaining and gave my brain a real workout in the process!

emily learmont

wow wow WOW. 

there are two main reasons I rated this book 5 stars -

1) it is such a unique story. it is so rare that I come across a book with a storyline unlike any other that I have ever read. 

2) it kept me guessing up until the very end. 

this read was thoroughly entertaining and gave my brain a real workout in the process!

"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 The Rules of Blackheath 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. For fans of Claire North and Kate Atkinson, The 71/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a breathlessly addictive novel that follows one man's race against time to find a killer-- but an astonishing time-turning twist means that nothing and no one are quite what they seem. Praise for The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle: Costa First Novel Award 2018 Winner One of Stylist Magazine's 20 Must-Read Books of 2018 One of Harper's Bazaar's 10 Must-Read Books of 2018 One of Guardian's Best Books of 2018

Target Book Club Edition

7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle Target Bk Club

Elisavet Rozaki 

Helena

it’s a really good book. the only thing missing for me was that i did not like any of the characters, they annoyed me a bit so i was just waiting to find out about the killer and that’s it, which i’m not used to doing.

Riley Bell

DNF…I really would like to know how it ends but could not get through figuring out the how of how it ends….if that makes any sense at all. Just too slow in the beginning with way too many questions and not enough answers to satisfy the continuous build of questions. I refuse to find spoilers though. Maybe one day I’ll come back to it.

Les sept morts d'Evelyn Hardcastle

Sarah

J’ai juste rompiche durant la lecture, sûrement un des pires polar que j’ai pu lire

Christine

and i thought i knew what was going on

April 2020: reread b/c made friend read it n he loved it n I suddenly realized I couldn't remember what happened in this book
Incredible as always, now I'm dizzy xD

Lili

Molly Bridge

Sandrin

best murder mystery i have ever read!!! Agatha Christie could never
the plot was very entertaining and it kept me in my toes the whole time

[Rating: 3 out of 5 stars] 


Jan 30, 2023 - Feb 13, 2023

Possible spoilers ahead, be warned.... 

The mystery of this plot should be objectively compelling and intriguing, and it is for the most part. The predestined events where a lot of what happened were fully interconnected to one another, one trying to prevent something from happening by intervening but that intervention itself is the very cause of that event. As if an animal chasing its tail, without a visible end. It should be keeping me on the edge of my seat from anticipation. But I can barely keep my attention. This book shorten my considerable attention span. I even started making this review even before I reached halfway through the story. 

My mind is constantly wandering while reading this, but I don't think it's because of the plot itself, but rather because of the characters. I don't connect with any of them and even less interested in following them. Especially the 'characters' Aiden used as his hosts for eight days. 



Aiden was created as someone who's determined to save Evelyn regardless of whose body he's using, and it should make him atleast likeable, especially with the strong justice he wants to uphold, but it's not so easy to like him, personally. His original personality was affected by the people he's inhabiting, people who have different levels of detestable nature, that I can't seem to root for him. He's not an idiot but he's foolish, in my opinion. He makes unwise decisions every now and then. He's a flawed character, but he's flawed to the point where he went over my tolerance threshold. Sometimes, I can't make sense of his deductions, especially the first half of the book. He would usually go for the very first conclusion that would spring to his mind. He saw Evelyn shot herself and he was like, 'it's a suicide' knowing full well that it's not that easy. He saw the murder weapon, the silver pistol, in one of the characters hands and he was like, 'he must be the murderer'. He even once think that stealing and hiding the very pistol Evelyn used to 'kill herself' would stop her death, not even considering that it's no use doing that, just like how each of his decisions affected the course of all the events happening. I was losing my mind out of frustration because of him.

And maybe because of this whole situation he's in, he has a low sense of adaptability. I think it took him his 4th or 5th host for him to take the situation seriously and really think of a way not to run away but to solve the mystery, and he wasted four or five days of his chance. He also has this annoying sense of justice he persistently wants to uphold that lasts until the very end. I commend you for that, if you're not in this kind of situation. I was like dude, maybe you're a good man in nature but you have to know when to go about your justice or when to retreat. He's also naive. He often plans to 'finish this here and now' in his different body, not even learning from his previous failure. Maybe because I'm reading another book alongside this where the main character is clear-headed, sensible, clever and cautious, it's affecting my impression on the protagonist here, and I know it's not fair for him. But I think I will still not like him regardless. 

This book mostly frustrated me. It took me exactly 2 weeks to finish this, and this is not even that big of a book. To be honest, I could have DNFed this if it wasn't for the plot. The story itself is what kept me going, the twist and turn of events is what pushed me to finish this. I'm telling you, the unveiling of truth is mind blowing, objectively. But the characters just lessen my enjoyment of this read and unfortunately, I can't rate this higher than 3 stars because of it. I rate my books depending on my enjoyment and no matter how good the plot is, if the character ruins it in an unnecessary way, then I'm sorry. 


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4.5*! This broke me out of my reading slump and I read it in one sitting but I didn't really like the ending or the time loop explanation/backstory. But the mystery and build up was really good and had a classic flavour with a spec twist which was cool

Bethany s. 

Ah. Glorious. I love every second of this intriguing, well built premise with its intricate details and fast pace. 

It holds up on a reread too. Ugh, it’s too too good!