Absolutely Incredible, Unlike Anything I've Ever Read
“Too little information and you're blind, too much and you're blinded.”
I actually went into this one relatively blind, which left me super confused and lost at first but honestly? I’m glad. I had no idea what to expect and went through a lot of the confusion, disorientation, and shock right along our protagonist (who I’ll keep unnamed even though it’s not really a spoiler). My recommendation is if you read this and/or the synopsis, let the book sit in your tbr for a while and then go in with no idea what to expect.
But even if you think you know what to expect, you really don’t.
Before I tell you about the story itself I have to say a few things. The setting is so rich and perfect for a murder mystery. Blackheath House is eerie, neglected, large, cold, and in the middle of a forest from all directions. Turton’s writing is so atmospheric, so evocative, it just adds to the setting. While the plot is complex, the writing is so easy to read. I flew through this book. Now, what is this book about?
“The last time I entered this forest my mind never made it back.”
We start off right in the thick of things (in more ways than one!) with our main character waking up in the middle of a forest with a name on his lips, though he has no idea who the person he’s calling for is. He remembers nothing, not even his own name. Just as he’s starting to pick the pieces of a life he no longer recalls, he wakes up.
In another body. As someone else.
“Blackheath cannot be restored. The murder of Thomas Hardcastle hollowed it out forever, making it fit only for ruin, and yet, despite that, she’s invited the same guests to the same party, nineteen years later to the day. The past has been dug up and dressed up, but to what purpose?”
Nineteen years ago, Blackheath was a place full of beauty and happy memories. Now, it’s a reminder of things lost, never to be returned. Tonight, it will witness another murder, and our main character has to figure out who is behind it. He has eight versions of the same day (seen from eight different hosts/perspectives) to figure it out if he wants to get out of here. Otherwise, his memories are wiped and it all starts over again. But he’s not alone. There are two others who are also trying to solve their way out of this hell — and only one of them can leave.
“Blackheath speaks to the monster in us.”
This was just such an incredible read. The story was complex, the twists unexpected, and the perspectives unique. I loved being able to experience not just different parts of the day, but the same parts differently. Each person came with their own skillsets, their own baggage, their own temperaments, and to see how that played out was fascinating. Not going to lie, I totally wrote out different clues/hints and the like on a sheet of paper, along with the name of each host (as well as characteristics) on an actual sheet of paper. It really helped, and made me feel like part of the investigation. I caught things I otherwise wouldn’t. This was also especially helpful because the story isn’t told chronologically, and we don’t stay in one host all day, but often jump perspective.
The story is incredibly intricate and just when you think you’ve figured everything out, think again. And again. I’m not even kidding. I don’t know how Turton did it, how he was not only able to keep up with everything but eventually have all the puzzle pieces slowly fit into place. I’m just in complete awe at how unique and brilliant this story was. Even if I’m not sure how I felt about that very last part (or some questionable writing regarding a certain host), everything else was so cleverly done that I had to give the full five stars. I honestly couldn’t put this down until I was done. I haven’t been this engaged in a book in a very long time and can’t wait to see what the author has in store for us next.
1000000% recommend. Do it. Take notes. Enjoy the ride (and the confusion). Get lost in the sinister, foggy, isolated house full of mystery and secrets. Feel free to scream at me about it afterwards.
I actually went into this one relatively blind, which left me super confused and lost at first but honestly? I’m glad. I had no idea what to expect and went through a lot of the confusion, disorientation, and shock right along our protagonist (who I’ll keep unnamed even though it’s not really a spoiler). My recommendation is if you read this and/or the synopsis, let the book sit in your tbr for a while and then go in with no idea what to expect.
But even if you think you know what to expect, you really don’t.
Before I tell you about the story itself I have to say a few things. The setting is so rich and perfect for a murder mystery. Blackheath House is eerie, neglected, large, cold, and in the middle of a forest from all directions. Turton’s writing is so atmospheric, so evocative, it just adds to the setting. While the plot is complex, the writing is so easy to read. I flew through this book. Now, what is this book about?
“The last time I entered this forest my mind never made it back.”
We start off right in the thick of things (in more ways than one!) with our main character waking up in the middle of a forest with a name on his lips, though he has no idea who the person he’s calling for is. He remembers nothing, not even his own name. Just as he’s starting to pick the pieces of a life he no longer recalls, he wakes up.
In another body. As someone else.
“Blackheath cannot be restored. The murder of Thomas Hardcastle hollowed it out forever, making it fit only for ruin, and yet, despite that, she’s invited the same guests to the same party, nineteen years later to the day. The past has been dug up and dressed up, but to what purpose?”
Nineteen years ago, Blackheath was a place full of beauty and happy memories. Now, it’s a reminder of things lost, never to be returned. Tonight, it will witness another murder, and our main character has to figure out who is behind it. He has eight versions of the same day (seen from eight different hosts/perspectives) to figure it out if he wants to get out of here. Otherwise, his memories are wiped and it all starts over again. But he’s not alone. There are two others who are also trying to solve their way out of this hell — and only one of them can leave.
“Blackheath speaks to the monster in us.”
This was just such an incredible read. The story was complex, the twists unexpected, and the perspectives unique. I loved being able to experience not just different parts of the day, but the same parts differently. Each person came with their own skillsets, their own baggage, their own temperaments, and to see how that played out was fascinating. Not going to lie, I totally wrote out different clues/hints and the like on a sheet of paper, along with the name of each host (as well as characteristics) on an actual sheet of paper. It really helped, and made me feel like part of the investigation. I caught things I otherwise wouldn’t. This was also especially helpful because the story isn’t told chronologically, and we don’t stay in one host all day, but often jump perspective.
The story is incredibly intricate and just when you think you’ve figured everything out, think again. And again. I’m not even kidding. I don’t know how Turton did it, how he was not only able to keep up with everything but eventually have all the puzzle pieces slowly fit into place. I’m just in complete awe at how unique and brilliant this story was. Even if I’m not sure how I felt about that very last part (or some questionable writing regarding a certain host), everything else was so cleverly done that I had to give the full five stars. I honestly couldn’t put this down until I was done. I haven’t been this engaged in a book in a very long time and can’t wait to see what the author has in store for us next.
1000000% recommend. Do it. Take notes. Enjoy the ride (and the confusion). Get lost in the sinister, foggy, isolated house full of mystery and secrets. Feel free to scream at me about it afterwards.