Alright, I'm saying it: this is the most unique and most intricate murder mystery I've ever read—and I've read a lot of them!
For this reason, I'm not even sure how to explain it without giving away major spoilers, but I'll do my best.
Every tiny detail is important, from the moment you crack the book open until you finish the last page, and you'll be turning them faster than ever as the story unfolds. However, you'll quickly find that solving this mystery is easier said than done.
"How lost do you have to be to let the devil lead you home?"
Imagine waking up in the woods with no memory of who you are or how you got there. As you frantically try to find your bearings, you witness a murder. You don't know who the woman is, and you can't see the killer's face.
While you're paralyzed with fear, the killer walks up behind you. Curiously, he hands you a compass and says "East," before disappearing into the forest.
This is exactly how Day One starts out for Sebastian Bell, who, out of sheer desperation, follows the directions of the killer. This eventually leads him back to Blackheath House, where he had been attending a dinner party the previous evening. Clearly, things got a bit out of hand.
With the help of the other dinner guests, Bell begins to piece together the events of the night before. The last anyone saw of him, he was leaving the dinner table after one of the maids handed him a note. It seems that someone wanted to get Bell alone, and judging by the deep slash marks on his arm, it wasn't for a good reason.
"Life doesn't always have a choice in how you live it."
Now, imagine learning that you're not actually Sebastian Bell at all.
Your name is Aiden Bishop, and you've been tasked with solving a murder by reliving the same day eight times in the body of eight witnesses. Your only advice comes from a mysterious man in a plague doctor mask, who explains the rules: bring the name and proof of the killer to the lake at 11pm, or remain at Blackheath, living the same day, forever—and watch out for the footman, he's trying to kill you.
Confused? You should be. Especially since this is no ordinary dinner party.
The Hardcastle family, made up of Lord and Lady Hardcastle and their remaining children, Michael and Evelyn, haven't returned to Blackheath since the fateful party where Thomas Hardcastle was murdered.
Nineteen years later, the Hardcastles have decided to throw another party, inviting all the same guests. This time, it's Evelyn who will be murdered, and it's our job to find the killer.
As Aiden will soon discover, the story is much more complicated than one simple murder. He's going to need the knowledge and talents of each of his hosts to solve Evelyn's murder and gain his freedom—and figure out how he ended up here in the first place.
"I have no idea who I am beyond Blackheath, or how I think when I'm not wedged inside somebody else's mind. For all I know, I'm exactly like Bell... and would that truly be so bad? I envy him his compassion, as I envy Ravencourt's intelligence, and Dance's ability to see through the shroud to the heart of things. If I carry any of these qualities out of Blackheath, I'll be glad to have them."
Full of creative twists and boasting the most intricate plot I've ever encountered, The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a must-read for mystery lovers! It will keep you guessing until the very end, and have you questioning your own grip on reality.
As the mystery unfolds, you'll also find eye-opening themes of forgiveness, acknowledging and embracing our faults, and reminders to seize each day and all the beauty it holds.
"Tomorrow can be whatever I want it to be, which means for the first time in decades, I can look forward to it. Instead of being something to fear, it can be a promise I make myself. A chance to be braver or kinder, to make what was wrong right. To be better than I am today. Every day after this one is a gift. I just have to keep walking until I get there."
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