AUDIO

The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

14 CDs. Tantor. Sept. 2018. 17 hrs. ISBN 9781541411159. $49.99. digital download. F
COPY ISBN
OrangeReviewStarA man wakes up in a forest with no idea of who he is, where he is from, or why he is there. He only remembers the name "Anna." After witnessing what he is sure is someone's death, he escapes and makes his way to the nearest house, Blackheath. There, he is greeted by supposed friends and acquaintances and soon discovers that nothing is as it seems. An enigmatic masked figure imparts the rules of Blackheath. The protagonist learns that he is not in fact the man everyone believes him to be. Instead, he is Aiden Bishop, who will relive the same day eight times in eight different bodies in attempts to solve the murder of Evelyn Hardcastle. Listeners are escorted in and out of time as they slowly discover the clues, red herrings, and misunderstandings surrounding this mysterious death. Aiden must battle others who also want to solve the murder and win their release from this nightmare. The novel offers glimpses of truths and lies in a nonlinear order and introduces an unusual fantasy element. Reader James Cameron Stewart provides a masterly performance as he imparts Aiden's often perplexing story. Stewart makes subtle changes to his voice to differentiate among the ever-changing characters. His measured pacing helps listeners absorb the tale's twisty plotline without diminishing the ambiance.
VERDICT A worthy edition to most audio collections. Give this to mystery and horror lovers ready for a challenge and open to an innovative plot construction. ["Turton's debut is skillfully done. He expertly manages the many moving parts...while taking readers ever deeper into the story": LJ 7/18 starred review of the Sourcebooks Landmark hc.]
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