The 7 ½ Deaths ofEvelyn Hardcastle (2018) by Stuart Turton
Aiden Church wakes
up in a forest. He has no idea who he is, where he is or what’s
going on. There’s a scream, a gunshot, and somewhere a girl named
Anna. Before his ordeal is over he will possess eight people’s
bodies, be beaten, and die as he searches for the answer to a single
question. Who killed Evelyn Hardcastle?
up in a forest. He has no idea who he is, where he is or what’s
going on. There’s a scream, a gunshot, and somewhere a girl named
Anna. Before his ordeal is over he will possess eight people’s
bodies, be beaten, and die as he searches for the answer to a single
question. Who killed Evelyn Hardcastle?
I’ll just say it
upfront – this is one of the best books I’ve read in a while.
Part murder mystery, part science, and part horror story, Stuart
Turton weaves a twisted tale. Church leaps back and forth in time,
re-living moments from different points of view. If he finds the
answers, he will be free. Or Anna will. Or both of them. Very little
is clear to him or the reader until Aiden can untangle the web that
surrounds all the people with him at the English country manor called
Blackheath.
upfront – this is one of the best books I’ve read in a while.
Part murder mystery, part science, and part horror story, Stuart
Turton weaves a twisted tale. Church leaps back and forth in time,
re-living moments from different points of view. If he finds the
answers, he will be free. Or Anna will. Or both of them. Very little
is clear to him or the reader until Aiden can untangle the web that
surrounds all the people with him at the English country manor called
Blackheath.
Telling this kind of
story is incredibly difficult. Turton does an amazing job of holding
the reader’s attention even as we (and Aiden) are buried in a
thousand seemingly unrelated details. That he pulls off such a
writing trick with this kind of finesse is impressive.
story is incredibly difficult. Turton does an amazing job of holding
the reader’s attention even as we (and Aiden) are buried in a
thousand seemingly unrelated details. That he pulls off such a
writing trick with this kind of finesse is impressive.
I was also impressed
by his ability to walk the borders between genres. Mixing the three
together as smoothly and subtlyas it is done here is literary “cooking” of the
highest order. This book keeps popping back into my mind, weeks after I’ve finished it. So many great things to say about it, but I’ll boil it down to this – read this book.
by his ability to walk the borders between genres. Mixing the three
together as smoothly and subtlyas it is done here is literary “cooking” of the
highest order. This book keeps popping back into my mind, weeks after I’ve finished it. So many great things to say about it, but I’ll boil it down to this – read this book.
FYI, you may come across this book with a cover that reads “The 7 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle”. It’s not a typo. For whatever arcane publishing reason, the book is “7 Deaths” in the U.K. and “71/2 Deaths” in the U.S. Same book, different titles.
“The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle” is due for release September 18, 2018.
This review was based on an Advance Reader Copy provided by the publisher and is consistent with our Review Policy.
Why You Will Like It
– A story that will challenge, confound and compel you.
– A story that will challenge, confound and compel you.
Rating – ****
Recommended
Recommended
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