Recently, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton won the Costa First Novel Award.
And I’m genuinely not even surprised.
There are just so many amazing things to mention in this book, but it’s probably easier to find faults. NONE. You’re welcome. Review over.
The plot:
At a party throw by her parents, Evelyn Hardcastle will be killed – again.
She’s been murdered hundreds of times, and each day, Aiden Bishop is too late to save her. The only way to break this cycle is to identify Evelyn’s killer. But every time the day begins again, Aiden wakes up in the body of a different guest.
And someone is desperate to stop him ever escaping Blackheath…
It is stunningly executed
I always find, that when you finish an absolutely amazing book, you can either write a review within 5 seconds, or have to dwell on it for a few days. My mind was totally blown, and I confess to the latter for this book. I posted a quick review over on Twitter and Instagram after finishing it, which just consisted of the ‘mind-blown’ emoji.
I read this in two sittings, so when quite a few of you asked me whether I was liking it or would give a full review, I answered “I’ve read half the book in one sitting” – if that doesn’t say it all, I don’t know what does. I was about 380 pages in when the book was announced the Costa category winner, but at the time I was like “welllllllllllll, is it really though?”, and then shit just got real. 0 to 100 style. It really wouldn’t surprise me if Seven Deaths went on to win the entire competition.
Continuously, there were hundreds of questions running through my mind, and I tried to play detective and work it all out, until I was hit with another plot twist. This book just goes around and around in circles (quite literally), with never a dull moment. I was on edge for 99% of the time reading this (joking, 100% of the time).
I guessed one small aspect, but other than that, I did NOT know what was going to happen. All I knew going into the book is what the blurb gives you – Evelyn Hardcastle is going to die again and again.
When you get down to the last 100 pages, I’d really suggest you just stop and dedicate the time to read it. I was fortunate enough to have the time to read the mammoth book across two days, but if you are reading it sporadically (props to you because I couldn’t put it down even if I wanted to), you should really concentrate on the last 100 pages, because I was confused having read it fluidly.
There are quite a lot of characters to keep up with, but you are never left wondering who is who. It is fluid and without a doubt one of the best murder-mysteries I have read with exceptional twists throughout. My mind was both a) blown and b) psychologically like “what on earth is my life?”
I have real admiration for Turton for coming up with the idea of Seven Deaths and is so original. If you’ve read this book, and found another like it, please let me know, because I need my FIX.
It is stunningly executed. With a story this huge with twists and turns, I found there were no plot holes, so props to Raven Books for this. I’d be really interested as to what the reading experience is like on a re-read, so you know I’m going to be picking this up again soon.
An absolute winner for me. 5/5 stars. Bookmark That BIGGGG stamp of approval.
The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, Stuart Turton, RRP £8.99 (paperback); Book Depository
Pages: 505
Genre: Murder Mystery
Publisher: Raven Books