I seek out works for the motives, the fallout, the folks on the periphery and the secrets they keep; I want a story about human nature that scrutinizes what makes people tick. I don’t want a puzzle box piece, one that neglects humanity and emotion in favor of intricately mapped out timelines of character placement and machinations.
On paper, intricately mapped out timelines of character placement and machinations is -exactly- what Stuart Turton’s novel THE 7 1/2 DEATHS OF EVELYN HARDCASTLE comprises. The novel’s protagonist, Aiden Bisop, has eight days and eight bodily hosts to solve the murder of Evelyn Hardcastle on the day of her birthday party. Each day sees Aiden inhabit a new body on the same party day. Each day he has to scrawl out the timing and positioning of everyone so he can maximize what he witness, and what information he can wring from someone.
Yes, on paper it sounds like a big ol’ puzzle box of a text.
In execution? Well, it’s still a big ol’ puzzle box of a text, but the puzzle is just a framework to examine human nature and drives, the ability to adapt and change, and questions who and what influences others.
It also dives into which minor remarks can snowball and change one’s perspective. Keeping with that theme, I will refrain from detailing any more about 7 1/2 DEATHS than what is mentioned above and simply state that it is more than it may seem.