The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle – A book review

If you have been reading my reviews for a while you might know that I love jumping into a book without even reading the synopsis of a book. And I solely depend on recommendations and reviews of other bloggers and my mood swings to pick a book. 

When I assumed that it was a contemporary murder mystery, I could not have been more wrong about The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton when I picked it up, after three other bookworms suggested it to me. I can’t wait to rave talk about the book to you all. Shall we get on with the review now?

When I assumed that it was a mere #contemporaryMurderMystery, I could not have been more wrong about #TheSevenDeathsofEvelynHardcastle by Stuart Turton when I picked it up. I can't wait to rave about it. Read on! Click To Tweet

About The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

Book Name: The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

Author: Stuart Turton

Genre: Fiction – Thriller, Paranormal

Characters: Evelyn Hardcastle, Sebastian Bell, Dr Dickie, Aiden Bishop, Daniel Coleridge, Michael Hardcastle, Charles Cunningham

Setting: The UK

Plot summary of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

Our protagonist wakes up with just a name in his mind and no other memory what so ever. He does not know his name or his history, except that he has to save Anna. He finds his name to be Sebastian Bell, a drug peddling doctor who is invited to a party at the Blackheath estate. 

Soon he realizes Bell is just one of his hosts and has eight days and eight lives each in a different person’s body tasked to find the murderer of Evelyn Hardcastle, one of the heirs to the Blackheath. 

He discovers that he is Aiden Bishop who is stuck in a time rut and until he finds the murderer he has to relive these eight days for eternity. What brings Aiden to Blackheath and does he solve the murder forms the rest of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle.

Book review of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a perfect blend of mystery novel with time travel fantasy. It took me a few pages to get into the story especially since I was not sure what to expect. But once I did, I just couldn’t put the book down until the end. 

I should start with I have not read a book as complicated as The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle in the recent while, or maybe in a long time. 
And it reads like a puzzle than a typical mystery novel.

It offers more than unexpected twists and suspense that is maintained till the last page. There are quite a number of captivating plot lines and characters that make us question our trust and their perceptions. 

Things that worked for me

  • As a newbie to the time travel genre, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle blew my mind and I am sure it would be as good even if you are a regular.
  • I loved the methodical approach in solving the mystery, which is becoming a rarity these days.
  • And also, here is another unreliable narrator to love and rave about.

Things that didn’t work for me

  • Being a vividly plotted novel, many may consider the pace to be slow, especially for a murder mystery
  • I felt The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle was a little long winded during the last few chapters. 

Bottom-line

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is one of those rare books that I would not mind rereading for the plot itself, just to make sure I had not missed out anything. And I am sure The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle will be worth reading twice. Just pick it up already. 

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Let us chat

Have you read The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle? Do you have any other recommendation in time travel as a genre? Let us talk. 

17 Comments

  1. Katiria Rodriguez

    Great review I keep on hearing amazing reviews about this book and I do want to check out this book soon. I am really glad you fully enjoyed reading this book. Thank you so much for sharing your awesome post.

    Reply
  2. Megan | Ginger Mom and Company

    This sounds fantastic! I love picking books either by others’ reviews or by the synopsis but then letting them sit until I forget what the book is about. Going in somewhat blind gives more of a wow factor for the plot twists 🙂 Great review!

    Reply
  3. Kathy West

    Such a great review!!!

    Reply
    • Gayathri

      Thank you..

      Reply
  4. Whispering Stories

    I read and reviewed this book too, it is a little repetitive but that is what makes the story. Great review.

    Reply
  5. Tasha

    Great review. I really need to get around to reading this. I’ve had it for quiet a while now.

    Reply
  6. Jo Linsdell

    I loved this book. It was like Agatha Christie meets Quantum Leap.

    Reply
  7. Jane

    I’ve seen so many people talking about this book! It frequents my Book Bub recs and keeps throwing me for a loop because of “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” (although the US version is 7 1/2 to differentiate the conflict). I totally added this to my TBR! I’m moving and needn’t buy anymore books until I read more of what I have and settle in, but I will get to it eventually (hopefully).

    Reply
  8. Jenn @ Bound to Writing

    Great review! I had no idea that this book deals with time travel. Though I’ve heard good things about it, I definitely need to add it to my TBR list!

    Reply
  9. Tressa @ Wishful Endings

    This was definitely a fun and unique read. It’s not my norm either, but I really enjoyed trying to piece things together and I thought the writing was excellent. The ending was a little drawn out, but still twists there too. Glad you enjoyed it!

    Reply
  10. Genesis @ Whispering Chapters

    I hadn’t heard of this one. Or maybe I saw it in passing. I haven’t read a time travel book in forever! It really sounds interesting. Glad you enjoyed it 🙂

    Reply
    • Gayathri

      It is a fun book. I loved it.

      Reply
  11. Dani @ Perspective of a Writer

    I totally forgot this was time travel!! I should have included it on my list. My writing partner enjoyed it for the most part and told me a ton about it. It sounds like a murder mystery that breaks the norm.

    Reply
    • Gayathri

      YES murder mystery but with time travel. If someone had told me this I would not have picked it up though.

      Reply
    • Gayathri

      Yes please. I made a similar jump and I am glad I did.

      Reply

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Gayathri

Gayathri

Gayathri has been reviewing books since 2010. When she is not reading books or creating online content, she works as a writer and a digital marketer. Head over to meet me!