A Cross Between Quantum Leap, David Lynch, & a Country House Murder

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton is a twisty and clever mystery

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Aiden Bishop wakes up in a body that isn’t his. He doesn’t know who he is, but he knows one name — Anna. He believes she’s about to die and he wants to save her. This is how this book starts. With a confused, but terrified, narrator stuck in a body that feels too tall for him. It’s these subtle details, along with more narrative to explain it, that tell you what’s happening in this mystery.

I loved it. Every second of it. The characters are rich, the murder suspects dripping with vices and secrets, and the twists and bends of how Aiden Bishop is to solve it create a seriously entertaining mystery. For these reasons, and more, I give it my top mark: 5 stars.

Note: The titles are different depending on where you live. The US wanted it’s extra ½, so it is The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. The UK liked it simple, so it is The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle.

The plot

Aiden Bishop has eight days and eight hosts to solve the murder of Evelyn Hardcastle. It sounds easy enough, right? Each host sees something different on the day of Evelyn’s murder. But it’s not. Add in Anna, a…