Location: Mowgli

Chosen by: It’s a mystery… but not as mysterious as this book.

Stuart Turton’s debut is certainly one worth talking about. Ten years in the writing, winner of several accolades including the Costa First Novel Award, bestseller, and original murder mystery concept.

The basic premise of the novel (if it can be boiled down to basics) is this: the protagonist, Aiden, wakes up in the body of an unknown host at dilapidated country house, somewhere around the 1920s. He quickly finds that he’s embroiled in a murder mystery—only the murder hasn’t happened yet. To solve the murder and escape the house, he gets to occupy eight host bodies at various points during the course of one day, though he can’t control the order or the rules of engagement.

If he solves the murder, he gets to leave. If he fails, he will relive the day again, constantly trying to solve that evening’s murder. There are challenges too, as each host comes with their own set of problems. There’s also a mysterious Plague Doctor and a terrifying footman. Add to this an entrancing atmosphere created by the run-down house and the shadowy forest. Basically, think Groundhog Day with body-swapping meets Cluedo on acid.

Unsurprisingly, it takes some time to settle into this novel—and you’d be forgiven for having no clue what’s going on at the beginning. In fact, several of us gave up (or almost gave up) a few hundred pages in. That said, it’s the kind of novel that comes together the more you read it, with abundant twists and turns along the way of this mammoth 528-page novel.

There is a lot to pay attention to, from plot details and character interactions to heavily-painted descriptions and minute clues. In fact, it would be almost impossible for any reader to find the answer to the riddle. Just when you feel you’re beginning to catch sight of the solution, Aiden is thrust into another host. The ending is fascinating, and our only wish was that the author had dedicated more time to the grand finale, which felt a little rushed in comparison to the detailed beginning.

To say that The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is clever and well-written doesn’t quite seem to cover it. It’s certainly not an easy read. Some found it overcomplicated, too surreal, or “bemusing and bewildering” as one book-clubber put it. But on the whole, it’s so imaginative and innovative that it’s hard to dislike this book. We hugely admired the fact that Stuart could write something so complex, and the ten-year writing process felt pretty reasonable considering the level of detail.

This isn’t just a whodunnit—it’s like nothing you’ve ever read before.

Score: 9/10

If you’ve read The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, feel free to score it using the star rating above.