Title: The 7 Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle
Author: Stuart Turton
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
First published: February 8th 2018
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Finished reading: August 12th 2018
Pages: 432
“Life doesn’t always leave you a choice in how you live it.”
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
I have been trying to write this review ever since I finished buddy reading The 7 Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle with Nicki @ Secret Library last weekend… But somehow I can’t seem to get a word on paper without either sounding like a raving fangirl or a blubbering mess. But I can’t NOT scream my love for this absolute masterpiece from the rooftops, so here is my attempt at writing a somewhat coherent review. Let’s start with another metaphor: even days after reaching the final page of a new all-time-favorite, I’m still picking up the pieces of my mindblown brain. The 7 Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle is unlike anything I’ve ever read before, and I have read my share of mystery/thrillers during my time on this planet. The plot is highly intricate and extremely well constructed with plot twists within plot twists not unlike a Russian doll. Each time you think you start figuring out the truth a new layer is discovered, leaving you both flabbergasted and wondering how this new information fits in the general story. I think The 7 Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle is one of the few books where the repetition of the same day over and over again actually enhances the plot considerably. Repetition you say? Isn’t that only supposed to slow don’t the pace and make you less invested in the plot? Think again. It seems like complicated and powerful magic and I bow to the writing skills of Stuart Turton, but there is no doubt this book is hands down one of the best debuts I’ve read to this date. Never has the phrase ‘had me guessing until the very last page’ been more true! I won’t be tiring of recommending this book to everyone I know. Brilliant. Mindblowing. Flabbergasting. Extremely well executed. And overall 200% worth your time.
There is one thing for sure: Evelyn Hardcastle will die, murdered at 11:00 P.M. Evelyn in fact will die over and over again until Aiden Bishop can identify her killer and break the cycle. He has eight days and eight witnesses to inhabit to do so, Aiden waking up in the body of a different guest every time the day starts anew. Not every host is as helpful though… And with nothing being as it seems, Aiden’s task might be almost impossible.
Claiming that The 7 Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle is absolutely brilliant and a true masterpiece might just be an understatement… I’m not sure how to properly describe my feelings for this book other than the phrase ‘just read the damn book‘, because that actually seems like the right thing to say here. Yes, this debut is THAT good, as you might have guessed from all the other (and most definitely more proper) reviews out there… What are you waiting for? My only complaint would be that this book might have ruined any future books of the same genre for me… How on earth can they still be satisfying after The 7 Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle has raised the bar that high?
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