The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

Sourcebooks Landmark, 2018

ISBN-13: 978-1492657965

Available: Hardcover, paperback, Kindle edition, audiobook, audio CD

Sebastian Bell wakes up in the rain in the woods, completely disoriented, and without any memories except the name Anna. He hears screaming nearby and is convinced he’s witnessed a murder. Stumbling to the nearest house, a deteriorating Gothic heap called Blackheath, owned by the wealthy Hardcastle family, he discovers he is a guest at a bizarre weekend party commemorating the nineteenth anniversary of the death of young Thomas Hardcastle and also celebrating the arrival home of his older sister, Evelyn. In a striking similarity to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, the invited guests, all present the day Thomas Hardcastle died, are, for the most part unlikable, judgmental, selfish, and greedy, although a few have hidden, redeeming, characteristics. Some of them, or at least one of them, is a murderer. All of them are trapped at Blackheath. But that’s where the similarity ends.

In a reality-bending twist worthy of David Lynch, it turns out that everyone at the party is unwittingly repeating the same day over and over again. Sebastian (or is he Sebastian?), is told that he has eight opportunities to solve the murder and escape the cycle before he starts repeating the day again without memories and has to start the process over from scratch. In a surrealistic, time-traveling, body-hopping puzzle of a story with echoes of 1930s mystery novels, Gothic family secrets, and ominous suggestions about the future, Turton manages to say quite a lot about the human condition, the advantages and disadvantages of memory, the choices we make, and our ability to change, forgive, and redeem ourselves.

We see the story from our main character’s point of view. Since he’s disoriented, wounded, easily deceived, and has no idea what’s going on or who he actually is, it is completely bewildering and terrifying. It is work to keep track of the various threads of the plot as they twist and tangle with one another, but the story is compelling and worth the effort, and the payoff is fantastic.

I have already said too much and can’t say more without completely spoiling the plot. If you’re bored with straightforward mystery novels or enjoyed The Time Traveler’s Wife, and are ready to suspend disbelief, this is a perfect choice. Highly recommended.