#16 The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

Well goodness gracious me, long time no read (hah). How are we all? Is 2019 being nice to you?

So over the Christmas period I came to the realisation that I was putting a lot of pressure on myself trying to read a book in a week, and so slightly fell out of love with reading (gasp shock horror I know). It had become a sport and I'm not a fan in taking part of those things. So on 2nd January, I decided to read a chunky book and take my time and that is what I did.

So without further ado, let me introduce you to the work of Stuart Turton.

This book is a more complex and fictional Agatha Christie book. Set in the 1920s, Aiden Bishop wakes up one morning, with no idea who or where he is. He spends the whole day trying to work out what he is doing at Blackheath House. The next morning, he sees that he has woken in a body he doesn't recognise. Panicked and confused, he tries to run away and that's when he meets a strange character who he decides to call 'The Plague Doctor'.

The Plague Doctor tells Bishop that he is trapped at Blackheath House until he can solve the murder of Evelyn Hardcastle. Every night Evelyn will shoot herself at 11pm, it is Bishop's job to solve the impossible case. There are 18 house guests who have been invited to a masquerade ball, and one them has planned her murder. However, Bishop has eight days in total to work out the murder, every day he is in a different host that has different skills and limitations. Every day is the same day.

After eight days, Bishop's memory is wiped and he starts all over again.

This story has a similar effect to how Hermione Granger's time turner does in 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'. All the hosts are acting independently during the day, but make up the same continual loop and help one another...

Is any of this making sense?

Hopefully it is, because this truly is an amazing murder mystery. I was a tad baffled at times about what was going on but with Turton's writing I was able to catch up quickly. This book is seriously satisfying, and is really worth pursuing to find out how everything slots together.

Definitely one to demolish on a holiday, if not then its a good length to keep by your bed and read a chapter or two before sleep.

Don't know how long until I finish another book but this has been fun,

Caio

H x