I can't remember the last time I had so much fun with a book! The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is the very definiton of compulsively readable. Reminiscent of classic Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes murder mysteries with a twist that is all its own, this novel took me on a thrilling romp through eight different people, one mysterious murder, and one delightfully twisted day.
Aiden Bishop does not remember why he is in Blackheath house. In fact, he doesn't remember much of anything besides the name Anna and a vague sense of terror. He soon learns that he has been tasked with solving a strange murder, and that he has eight chances to do it, in the form of eight different guests who he will inhabit over the course of the same day. If he doesn't manage to solve the murder after the eighth host, his memories will be erased and the whole cycle will start anew.
I could not put this book down. Every chapter is deliciously tense and had my mind spinning out of control trying to pull the pieces of the mystery together. I also found the different hosts to be fascinating: each with their own personality and history to explore in addition to the ever-present undercurrent of Aiden's thoughts. I loved watching the house unfold like a puzzle box, as seemingly random events slotted together in an utterly satisfying manor. This book will delight fans of Clue and Black Mirror alike as it straddles the border of classic mystery and contemporary science fiction.
My one quibble with the book was the ending. I think I would have felt much more satisfied if the novel had actually taken place within the time-period of the story rather than revealing itself to be a simulation of the past. Still, I can't help but endorse it as a great read all around.
Aiden Bishop does not remember why he is in Blackheath house. In fact, he doesn't remember much of anything besides the name Anna and a vague sense of terror. He soon learns that he has been tasked with solving a strange murder, and that he has eight chances to do it, in the form of eight different guests who he will inhabit over the course of the same day. If he doesn't manage to solve the murder after the eighth host, his memories will be erased and the whole cycle will start anew.
I could not put this book down. Every chapter is deliciously tense and had my mind spinning out of control trying to pull the pieces of the mystery together. I also found the different hosts to be fascinating: each with their own personality and history to explore in addition to the ever-present undercurrent of Aiden's thoughts. I loved watching the house unfold like a puzzle box, as seemingly random events slotted together in an utterly satisfying manor. This book will delight fans of Clue and Black Mirror alike as it straddles the border of classic mystery and contemporary science fiction.
My one quibble with the book was the ending. I think I would have felt much more satisfied if the novel had actually taken place within the time-period of the story rather than revealing itself to be a simulation of the past. Still, I can't help but endorse it as a great read all around.