I really wanted to give this book a 10-rating, to put it in my Top 10 of 2021 list later in December. Unfortunately, while The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle was interesting and certainly novel, I just couldn’t fall in love with this book.
The Plot:
Aiden Bishop finds himself trapped at Blackheath Manor, where he has been invited to attend the homecoming party for Evelyn Hardcastle. It should have been a happy occasion. But night after night, Aiden finds his “spirit” transmigrated to the body of a different guest at Blackheath — all on the same day. If Aiden can figure out who wants to kill Evelyn, he can escape this repetitive time-loop. Trouble is, Aiden has “competitors” in this game, and only one victor can escape Blackheath.
My Thoughts:
I have come to expect a certain structure from mystery books: there’s a crime, and our detective has to figure out the culprit, motive and method. Turton doesn’t follow this traditional structure: the crime hasn’t happened yet, the detective keeps changing, the method can be anything you please. Add in the time-loop aspect, with no specific pattern! Turton changes it all, and kudos to him for the multi-juggling.
But to me, it felt like a randomized video game/ mock simulation, where the developers throw everything possible at you. You simply had to hop on for the ride and wait for some good soul to explain rules on-the-go. All very interesting, but I never became emotionally invested in Aiden or anybody else in the book.
The action is non-stop. Someone gets a message, someone is hit on the head, Aiden swaps bodies, someone steals something, someone chases, Aiden swaps bodies, someone lies, someone gets assaulted, Aiden swaps bodies, someone blackmails, someone is poisoned, Aiden swaps bodies … This rigmarole has appeal, but I was tired of this after Chapter 40.
Blackheath itself is an interesting concept, but I have come across similar fictional worlds where Death is NOT the End. So the revelation about Blackheath was not all that unexpected. The ending — and I do mean the very plodding end in Chapter 59 — was also not the Fabulous Explanation that I’d expected. I mean, take away the context of Blackheath, and there’s not much “mystery” there.
Perhaps I don’t like the Supernatural mixing with Mystery. Perhaps this was not the right moment for reading this book. It’s too bad, but The 7½ Deaths just didn’t work out that well for me.
22 replies on “The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton”
Great review! I haven’t seen the best reviews of this book in the past so I’m not super surprised that you didn’t fully love it as well.
Really? My experience has been the reverse — I’ve seen waaaay too many 5-star reviews of this book. 🤔 I’m glad I’m not the only one who didn’t like this!
Really enjoyed reading your take on this book. I remember when this one was getting a lot of buzz and it is on my TBR list. It’s interesting about the supernatural and the mystery, I can think of some books that have had that and it worked for me so maybe I’ll like this one.
In that case, hope you give it a try some day. Would love to compare notes!
Ok, that sounds super annoying.
Haha, you really summed it up for me! 😂
I’ve been super curious about this, without *really* knowing what it was about, I guess. the idea of a time loop has me curious! Having read your review though (and I’m glad I did), I’m just not… sure? Sounds like too MUCH body swapping methinks. I might have to pass on this one…
I would say mine is a very very subjective opinion. I was kind of annoyed by the multiple body swapping and nobody really laying out the rules of this supernatural place. But so many other readers loved exactly that aspect. Very confused! “Not sure” goes for me too 🧐
Of course, I just bought a copy of this on sale at Target. I trust your opinion, so I will not be rushing to it anytime soon. What a disappointment! (So often the highly touted novels are not worth it.)
Oh dear! I hope you don’t put it aside because of this review. A lot of bloggers have loved this book, it just wasn’t for me because I have seen a few shows on this theme and so the plot didn’t quite catch me by surprise… Would be great to know your thoughts on this book!
Hmmmm…Interesting review. Now I actually want to read it even more! It’s on my kindle. Need to get to it! Everybody seems to rant and rave about it, but we tend to have similar tastes. Let’s see how I feel about it!
I love how honest you can be in your reviews.
Have a good week and take care!
Elza Reads
Haha, I felt like ranting, honesty followed. I hope you get to read it, would love some fresh perspective!
I enjoyed this because of the unusual structure and concept – I had never read anything else like it before. It did feel like a video game, though, and I can understand why you didn’t like it!
I have watched a lot of time loop shows on this theme, so I guess it wasn’t that new to me. 😕
I’ve seen this around a lot but hadn’t taken the time to actually see what it’s about. I don’t know that it would be my kind of book. Sorry it didn’t work well for you but thanks for the honest review!
Supernatural + Mystery + Action : I thought it could work for me, but I guess not.
I totally understand your points, but I really loved it. For me, it was different from a lot of books I read and I appreciated that.
I hear you. It’s definitely an innovative and a very different take on mysteries.
Based on the description, I thought I would love this book but I couldn’t get past the first chapter. Maybe it would work better for me as an audiobook.
I completely get that unfortunate beginning to the book. I think this would make a great movie, along the lines of Murder on the Orient Express or And then there were None… but as a book, I really couldn’t work with it. Just leave it aside for a day when you feel like playing video games or just want to test yourself over a (long) puzzle — that might work better!
I agree with you on this one, the mystery and the premise were interesting but it was all too twisty and by the end of it I didn’t feel any attachment to the characters.
Exactly! Zero emotional investment. At one point, I though that’s what happens when they try to make the plot “too clever”. Glad there are other readers with the same impression — I keep wondering where I went wrong with it