Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. Post contains affiliate links; if you make a purchase, I may receive commission. Opinions shared are mine.
I won an advance copy of The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle over a year ago, but put off reading it because of 400+ pages. It just seemed like a huge commitment. In the interest of whittling down my toppling TBR list, I finally unearthed the book from its hiding place in the book closet and started reading it about a week ago. I was right — this book did require some commitment. It was so worth it, though. It gets 5 stars from me!
Though I rarely reduce a review to bullet points, it seems warranted for this book. It’s not the type of story that can be glossed over in a generally vague statement. You should know what you’re getting into with 7 1/2 Deaths.
What I Liked
- Writing style — Stuart Turton is such a gifted writer. Every page was descriptive and beautiful, painting a vivid picture for the reader’s mind.
- Characters — There were a lot of them, but they were all so perfectly described that they stood out individually.
- Incredibly organized plot — Creating this world must have been similar to The Big Bang. I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been to plan out this book!
- Clever story line — This book was unlike any other I’ve read.
What I Liked Less
- Characters — There were a lot of them. It was hard to keep up with the people and events by the middle of the book.
- Incredibly complicated plot — I understood the basic idea of the story (Groundhog Day) but tired of the tiny details by the middle of the book.
- Length — It was a looooonnnnggg book. I feel like it should count as 2 reads toward my Goodreads challenge. The story plays out in my mind like episodes in a TV series, but in print form that becomes overwhelming. I can see many people quitting before they really get to the main story.
I’m keeping an eye out for Stuart Turton’s next book. Fans of mystery and character-driven plots will enjoy The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle!
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Wow on the jumbo size of the read. It is a commitment…hee hee
I have been wanting to give this book a try forever! The 400 pages has me a little bit intimidated, too. I look forward to getting to it someday. I am thrilled to hear that you enjoyed it so much.
Lori recently posted…Review: Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva
I like reading mystery books the most. This sounds like a very good one.