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A review by tiredcath
The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
3.5 more likely.
I can’t deny this book is a really fun read.
When it’s good, it’s very good. It’s fast and tense and gripping. There are so many questions and interweaving stories that practically force you to keep reading. I just have to know how this ends.
The twist was surprisingly good. I had a weird suspicion it was going to end very lukewarmly because the premise was so good but I was happy with the ending and satisfied with the reveal of the killer.
I’ve never truly read a mystery, so I was surprised at how much I liked putting the pieces together and completing the puzzle along with Aiden.
[Very mild spoiler]
However, there’s a lot about this book that falls short. The number one reason this couldn’t be a 5 star read was the insane amount of fatphobic, ablest, and ageist comments littered throughout the book. I felt particularly... icky, during chapter eleven. (If you know, you know). A lot of the language when describing characters or how Aiden feels inside his host is very repetitive or downright insulting. He constantly talks about how slow or weak or difficult it is to be in his host bodies or goes on about their physical strength. At some point, it was like, “okay we get it! You’re able bodied again!”
The “villains” are a bit cartoonish but not enough to put me off. With the exception of two, there’s not one character I cared about. Found interesting? Yes. Cared for? Not really. This isn’t the book if you’re a reader for prefers characters driven stories. This is purely plot.
All in all, the book is a fun fast read. It’s very atmospheric and easily pulls you in with the initial first chapter. It’s not too complicated but has great “gasping” moments where I felt like I needed to read scenes other again to appreciate them. But I do feel like this book could’ve gone through some major editing. The third half of the book falls slightly short, after you understand the rules you want it to move a bit quicker, and for Turton to be finished with describing every characters’ physique.
— SPOILER —
why was the plague doctor’s name Oliver? I absolutely hated that.
I can’t deny this book is a really fun read.
When it’s good, it’s very good. It’s fast and tense and gripping. There are so many questions and interweaving stories that practically force you to keep reading. I just have to know how this ends.
The twist was surprisingly good. I had a weird suspicion it was going to end very lukewarmly because the premise was so good but I was happy with the ending and satisfied with the reveal of the killer.
I’ve never truly read a mystery, so I was surprised at how much I liked putting the pieces together and completing the puzzle along with Aiden.
[Very mild spoiler]
However, there’s a lot about this book that falls short. The number one reason this couldn’t be a 5 star read was the insane amount of fatphobic, ablest, and ageist comments littered throughout the book. I felt particularly... icky, during chapter eleven. (If you know, you know). A lot of the language when describing characters or how Aiden feels inside his host is very repetitive or downright insulting. He constantly talks about how slow or weak or difficult it is to be in his host bodies or goes on about their physical strength. At some point, it was like, “okay we get it! You’re able bodied again!”
The “villains” are a bit cartoonish but not enough to put me off. With the exception of two, there’s not one character I cared about. Found interesting? Yes. Cared for? Not really. This isn’t the book if you’re a reader for prefers characters driven stories. This is purely plot.
All in all, the book is a fun fast read. It’s very atmospheric and easily pulls you in with the initial first chapter. It’s not too complicated but has great “gasping” moments where I felt like I needed to read scenes other again to appreciate them. But I do feel like this book could’ve gone through some major editing. The third half of the book falls slightly short, after you understand the rules you want it to move a bit quicker, and for Turton to be finished with describing every characters’ physique.
— SPOILER —
why was the plague doctor’s name Oliver? I absolutely hated that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Fatphobia