What am I reading this week? The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton.
I’ve always had a soft spot for mysteries. From childhood favorites like The Boxcar Children, to cozies like The Cat Who… series, to grittier and suspenseful Karen Rose books.
I love trying to solve the mystery before the hero(ine) of the story does. I love curling up with a book that makes me want to stay up late, read just one more chapter, and generally not leave the author’s world until the very last page—sometimes, not even then.
The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle made me want to do all of those things.
My Honest Opinion of The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle…
The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is one of those books where the less you say, the better. To give away too much might not ruin the story, but it would steal the reader’s opportunity to stumble around every twist and turn the author expertly constructed.
The basic premise of the book is a whodunit, though a very complicated one. It takes place at a secluded manor where a large group of guests has been assembled for a party. The guest list is the same as the one 19 years before, when another murder happened at the estate.
The main character is Aiden Bishop, who wakes up each day in another guest’s body. His job is to solve the murder of Evelyn Hardcastle within eight days—or start the loop all over again. If he solves it, he’s free.
In a Q&A, the author said that he always loved Agatha Christie and Quantum Leap. Put those two things together and you have a pretty good idea of what The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is like.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a tightly-crafted, intricate mystery. I am in awe of the writing and editing of this book because every time one little thing changed, it rippled out into the future. I didn’t find one loose thread or dropped ball anywhere in the story. This was one of the best murder mysteries I’ve ever read.
At over 500 pages, The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is no short read. But I still spent the majority my Sunday with my eyes glued to the pages, not happy until I read it to the end.
And then I was sad that it was over. Now that’s a really good book.
Happy Reading!
*Note: If you come across The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, this is the same book. It was renamed as 7½ when it was published in America.*
(The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is available for FREE in audiobook form. Just sign up for the FREE AUDIBLE trial and cancel whenever you want!)
So, what are you reading this week? Have any suggestions for me?
Interested in more on books? Then check out these posts:
Why I Read So Much & How You Can Read More, Too
What I’m Reading… Harry’s Trees
[Disclaimer: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This post contains affiliate links. So, if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission, at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own and I never recommend anything I haven’t used myself and loved.]
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