I love science fiction. I love Downton Abbey. Did I ever think that I would find a book that would meld the two together in a plausible manner? No. Did I actually find such a book?
Yes.
This is probably the most unique book I have read in a long time. I don’t even know how exactly to classify it. It’s mostly mystery, but there’s more to it than that. I don’t know how to describe it without giving major plot points away, because just the story arc itself is unique. The writer keeps the reader as off balance as the characters are, and that’s no easy feat. If you’re looking for something out of the norm that will take up a few days of reading and make you forget about other stuff, find this book. It will draw you in and hold you until the end. My Goodreads review is below:
The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Every once in a while, there comes a book that forces you to slow down your reading and really savor the story being told. This is that book. It’s Downton Abbey, as written by Agatha Christie, starring Sam Beckett (from Quantum Leap). And it all works. Ultimately a mystery, this book is also a stunning tapestry of the lives of the characters, both the rich and the servants. In that regard, I suppose it’s a little bit like Upstairs, Downstairs as well. Regardless, it is a highly atmospheric book with very vivid characters. The author does a fantastic job of creating a feeling of foreboding that the reader shares with the main character as the plot progresses. I really can’t go into the plot, because it is truly a book that needs to be discovered and unraveled slowly. Which brings me to another point: clear time to read this. It is not a fast read. You’ll need to take your time to really get all of the nuances (and to keep all of the characters straight). Highly innovative and intriguing, I hope this author writes more like it! Definite five stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and the author for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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