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Bookapotamus (289 KP) rated The Seven Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle in Books
May 29, 2018
What a ride! Wow. I'm stumped as to how to even explain how detailed and twisty and turny and clever this book is! I read somewhere that Stuart Turton had to map out an 8-day timeline with post-its marking every 2 minutes so he could keep track of everything - and wow! Just wow. I cannot even imagine the thought and preparation that went into arranging this story!
There is such creativity to this mystery - reminiscent of the best Agatha Christie novels, the book is set at Blackheath, a sprawling ancient estate, which has seen better days. But back in it's glory, almost two decades ago, there was a murder of a little boy. Now, coming up on the 20th anniversary, a whole slew of characters is gathered at the crumbling estate by the matriarch of the family, and yet another murder occurs.
Evelyn Hardcastle is the sister of that little boy, and she will die every single day until Adrian Bishop can solve the murder. He's stuck in an 8-day loop, and needs to figure out the killer and break the cycle. Oh and did I mention that every time her falls asleep, or goes unconscious, he wakes up in the body (and mind!) of a different guest?!
I loved how this all played out - Imagine waking up in an obese body that stinks and can't even get out of a bathtub without assistance! And then in that of a constable with a sharp clever mind and gorgeous fiancé, and then a drug dealer! What a ride this was! I dove right into it not knowing what to expect and breezed through the first 1/3 of it. By 2/3 in I started getting a little bit mixed up. The timeline jumps across and back the span of 8 days and you never know where in the past or future you will end up - or in whose (of 8 guests) mind/body. But by the last 1/3 - I was ravenously flipping pages to find out who killed Evelyn and the end does NOT disappoint! Wow! Again - wow!
What really cool and clever idea. I've never read anything like this and it was seriously one of the most inventive and creative murder mysteries I've ever read.
There is such creativity to this mystery - reminiscent of the best Agatha Christie novels, the book is set at Blackheath, a sprawling ancient estate, which has seen better days. But back in it's glory, almost two decades ago, there was a murder of a little boy. Now, coming up on the 20th anniversary, a whole slew of characters is gathered at the crumbling estate by the matriarch of the family, and yet another murder occurs.
Evelyn Hardcastle is the sister of that little boy, and she will die every single day until Adrian Bishop can solve the murder. He's stuck in an 8-day loop, and needs to figure out the killer and break the cycle. Oh and did I mention that every time her falls asleep, or goes unconscious, he wakes up in the body (and mind!) of a different guest?!
I loved how this all played out - Imagine waking up in an obese body that stinks and can't even get out of a bathtub without assistance! And then in that of a constable with a sharp clever mind and gorgeous fiancé, and then a drug dealer! What a ride this was! I dove right into it not knowing what to expect and breezed through the first 1/3 of it. By 2/3 in I started getting a little bit mixed up. The timeline jumps across and back the span of 8 days and you never know where in the past or future you will end up - or in whose (of 8 guests) mind/body. But by the last 1/3 - I was ravenously flipping pages to find out who killed Evelyn and the end does NOT disappoint! Wow! Again - wow!
What really cool and clever idea. I've never read anything like this and it was seriously one of the most inventive and creative murder mysteries I've ever read.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2627 KP) rated Murder Knocks Twice in Books
Jun 14, 2019
Bringing 1929 Chicago to Life
Gina Ricci is thrilled when she lands a job at The Third Door, one of many speakeasies in 1929 Chicago. Her friend, Lulu, already works there, and she has promised the tips are good. Since Gina needs to support herself and her sick father, the promised money is very welcome, and the glitch, glamour, and possibility of meeting some celebrities captivates Gina. As Gina settles into her new job, she starts to hear that her predecessor was murdered, but no one seems willing to talk about it. Besides, it happened away from The Third Door, so surely the murder was unrelated to the job Gina has now, right? Gina has just convinced herself of that when she witnesses a murder. Is she safe in her new job? Can she figure out what is really happening?
Since I love history, especially US history, I’m always looking for promising sounding new historical mysteries to add to my to be read list. This one does a great job of bringing the era and location to life as we get plenty of discussions about life during the time, including celebrities of the day. However, this detail took away from the mystery. The murder I teased takes place a third of the way into the book, and that does make the plot move forward a little faster, but still, we could have used some more clues and red herrings. The climax does explain everything, but it feels very rushed. The characters are a little thin as well, although I did feel we got to know Gina and a couple others well. In you are interested in the time or location, I definitely recommend you pick up the book. Hopefully, with some things now established, the next in the series will be stronger.
Since I love history, especially US history, I’m always looking for promising sounding new historical mysteries to add to my to be read list. This one does a great job of bringing the era and location to life as we get plenty of discussions about life during the time, including celebrities of the day. However, this detail took away from the mystery. The murder I teased takes place a third of the way into the book, and that does make the plot move forward a little faster, but still, we could have used some more clues and red herrings. The climax does explain everything, but it feels very rushed. The characters are a little thin as well, although I did feel we got to know Gina and a couple others well. In you are interested in the time or location, I definitely recommend you pick up the book. Hopefully, with some things now established, the next in the series will be stronger.
Marshall Hall: A Law Unto Himself
Sally Smith and Clive Anderson
Book
Sir Edward Marshall Hall KC saved more people from the hangman's noose than any other known...
The Collini Case
Book
Ferdinand von Schirach's The Collini Case has been at the top of the German charts since publication...
The Yard: Book 1
8.0
Rate It
Book
A gripping debut from Alex Grecian, The Yard evokes London in the wake of Jack the Ripper. Victorian...
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post
Jul 30, 2021
Laura Doe (1350 KP) rated The Thursday Murder Club in Books
Jul 2, 2021
Humour (2 more)
Plot
Kept me guessing
This was not what I expected at all. I’d heard all the hype around it and tried to keep an open mind to be able to honestly review it.
I loved it, it started off quite slow at first but as soon as I got to a part about 4 pensioners somehow making a detective feel uncomfortable with a cup of tea and some cake I knew that it could only go up from there. There are some really funny quotes that I couldn’t contain my snorts of laughter whilst reading, luckily reading it at home meant there weren’t too many funny looks.
Following the Thursday Murder Club around their investigations and them somehow getting to the same place as the police investigating at around the same time was entertaining. I am still none the wiser as to what Elizabeth actually did for a living, and I think that really adds to the fun of the book, not knowing who else she can ask for a “favour” in order to further her investigations. When one murder turned into two and then a third was added into the mix, I really was kept guessing throughout as to who the murderer or murderers were. Each time I was sure, something else was thrown into the works as to why it couldn’t be them. I really was kept guessing until the very end, which I love when it comes to murder mysteries! The humour in the book also made it live up to the hype, and after having had conversations with my Nan this week about Whatsapp, I was loving when they found out how to use Skype and having lessons on how to text people nicely and abbreviations in texts. I am very much looking forward to the second instalment of the series!
I loved it, it started off quite slow at first but as soon as I got to a part about 4 pensioners somehow making a detective feel uncomfortable with a cup of tea and some cake I knew that it could only go up from there. There are some really funny quotes that I couldn’t contain my snorts of laughter whilst reading, luckily reading it at home meant there weren’t too many funny looks.
Following the Thursday Murder Club around their investigations and them somehow getting to the same place as the police investigating at around the same time was entertaining. I am still none the wiser as to what Elizabeth actually did for a living, and I think that really adds to the fun of the book, not knowing who else she can ask for a “favour” in order to further her investigations. When one murder turned into two and then a third was added into the mix, I really was kept guessing throughout as to who the murderer or murderers were. Each time I was sure, something else was thrown into the works as to why it couldn’t be them. I really was kept guessing until the very end, which I love when it comes to murder mysteries! The humour in the book also made it live up to the hype, and after having had conversations with my Nan this week about Whatsapp, I was loving when they found out how to use Skype and having lessons on how to text people nicely and abbreviations in texts. I am very much looking forward to the second instalment of the series!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2627 KP) rated A Pairing to Die For in Books
Jan 29, 2021
Can Parker Pair the Victim with the Correct Killer?
Reid Wallace’s estranged family has come for a visit to Boulder, Colorado, and Parker Valentine is hoping to make a good impression on her boyfriend’s family. However, things aren’t going well as Reid’s family is constantly judging everything she says as not being up to their standards. Never mind their opinions of her wine. The visit is interrupted when Reid is arrested for murder. Oscar, the sous chef at Reid’s restaurant and his long-time friend, was murder behind the restaurant, and the police are certain that Reid did it. Parker doesn’t believe that Reid is capable of murder and sets out to figure out what really happened. Can she free her boyfriend from jail?
The first in this series was one of my favorite books from 2020, so I had high hopes for this one. I’m pleased to say I enjoyed it. There is plenty of conflict in this book to keep us hooked. I did think the pacing started to slow in the middle, but about the time I thought that, it picked up again and kept going until we reached the end. The characters are still rich, and I appreciated the growth in their relationships, while the new characters fit perfectly into Parker’s world. For those interested because of the wine theme, there are plenty of scenes in Parker’s winery. I’d forgotten that this series is written in the present tense, which I don’t mind once my brain adjusts. There are three delicious sounding recipes with suggested wine pairings at the end of the book. If you haven’t started this series, you need to fix that. If you’ve read the first, this book will please you.
The first in this series was one of my favorite books from 2020, so I had high hopes for this one. I’m pleased to say I enjoyed it. There is plenty of conflict in this book to keep us hooked. I did think the pacing started to slow in the middle, but about the time I thought that, it picked up again and kept going until we reached the end. The characters are still rich, and I appreciated the growth in their relationships, while the new characters fit perfectly into Parker’s world. For those interested because of the wine theme, there are plenty of scenes in Parker’s winery. I’d forgotten that this series is written in the present tense, which I don’t mind once my brain adjusts. There are three delicious sounding recipes with suggested wine pairings at the end of the book. If you haven’t started this series, you need to fix that. If you’ve read the first, this book will please you.
Tombland (The Shardlake series Book 7)
Book
Summer, 1549. Two years after the death of Henry VIII, England is sliding into chaos . . . The...
Merissa (14142 KP) rated Festive Fugitive (Murder and Mistletoe #3) in Books
Oct 31, 2025
FESTIVE FUGITIVE is the third book in the Murder and Mistletoe series, but you can read it as a standalone, as I have. It is listed as a dark romance, so please take note of that if you have any triggers.
The story begins with Cesar asking his 'boss' for a final tattoo - that sounds okay, right? Well, it turns out, he gets a tattoo to celebrate the best job of the year, and his boss has been delaying it for two years. Oh, and I guess I should mention that his boss is also his sort-of adopted father, who has trained and tortured him to become a sociopathic assassin! When said boss is killed by someone pushed to their very limits, Cesar decides that the skinny, surely-soon-to-be-captured killer is his new boss, and helps him out every way he can. Let the fun begin.
This was a quick and easy read, surprisingly cute and fluffy in amidst all the murder and violence, with s3x on pretty much every page once Cesar and Eli get together. They become each other's safe space in a world where they haven't had that in far too long. Now, if I'm talking reality (which I'm not!), then their relationship is probably toxic as hell, but they are so happy in their little murder bubble, so why not!
My first festive book of the year, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Definitely recommended by me.
** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Oct 31, 2025
The story begins with Cesar asking his 'boss' for a final tattoo - that sounds okay, right? Well, it turns out, he gets a tattoo to celebrate the best job of the year, and his boss has been delaying it for two years. Oh, and I guess I should mention that his boss is also his sort-of adopted father, who has trained and tortured him to become a sociopathic assassin! When said boss is killed by someone pushed to their very limits, Cesar decides that the skinny, surely-soon-to-be-captured killer is his new boss, and helps him out every way he can. Let the fun begin.
This was a quick and easy read, surprisingly cute and fluffy in amidst all the murder and violence, with s3x on pretty much every page once Cesar and Eli get together. They become each other's safe space in a world where they haven't had that in far too long. Now, if I'm talking reality (which I'm not!), then their relationship is probably toxic as hell, but they are so happy in their little murder bubble, so why not!
My first festive book of the year, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Definitely recommended by me.
** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Oct 31, 2025