A Unique & Complex Mystery
This book was published in the UK in February(The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle) and with 7 ½ months until the US release date, I knew I would suffer at least '7 ½ book deaths' waiting to get my hands on this one( published in the US as The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle). Lucky for me, I won a copy from Bookish First, so I didn't have to wait until September. I've been doing most of my summer reading at the beach, but I'd seen quite a few comments that the plot was extremely complex, so I saved it for a rainy weekend without distractions. This isn't one that had me furiously flipping pages. Everything I have read said pay attention to the details as there is an awful lot going on and I didn't want to suddenly realize I was totally lost. Apparently, I did the right reading thing since I kept up with all the characters and at no point had to go back and reread a section.
A man wakes up in the woods with no idea who he is or where he is. We learn he is a guest at Blackheath House, a creepy old manor house owned by the Hardcastles. Our mystery man is told that Evelyn Hardcastle will be murdered at exactly 11 pm and unless he can identify the murderer, he will be doomed to relive the murder again and again, though each day, in a different guest's body.
As a reader, I had the luxury of following the author's plot. I can't even imagine how he kept all of the dizzying 'body changes' and 'time jumps' straight. Stuart Turton pulled it off and this one had me desperately trying to figure out what was really happening. If you love a good puzzle, you should enjoy working your way through all the twists and turns.
I loved everything about this book, except the ending. It didn't take away from my enjoyment of the many mysteries that were presented, but I suppose everything up to that point made me think it would be an unbelievable 'wow' ending, and I just didn't get that. I think I may have read one too many psychological thrillers this year where you think you just read the last twist, and then the author adds one more. There is no doubt that this was the most unique mystery I have read so far this year. I look forward to the author's next book.
I won a copy from Sourcebooks through Bookish First.
A man wakes up in the woods with no idea who he is or where he is. We learn he is a guest at Blackheath House, a creepy old manor house owned by the Hardcastles. Our mystery man is told that Evelyn Hardcastle will be murdered at exactly 11 pm and unless he can identify the murderer, he will be doomed to relive the murder again and again, though each day, in a different guest's body.
As a reader, I had the luxury of following the author's plot. I can't even imagine how he kept all of the dizzying 'body changes' and 'time jumps' straight. Stuart Turton pulled it off and this one had me desperately trying to figure out what was really happening. If you love a good puzzle, you should enjoy working your way through all the twists and turns.
I loved everything about this book, except the ending. It didn't take away from my enjoyment of the many mysteries that were presented, but I suppose everything up to that point made me think it would be an unbelievable 'wow' ending, and I just didn't get that. I think I may have read one too many psychological thrillers this year where you think you just read the last twist, and then the author adds one more. There is no doubt that this was the most unique mystery I have read so far this year. I look forward to the author's next book.
I won a copy from Sourcebooks through Bookish First.