Wow what an ending! Stuart Turton knows how to jab a twist at you. I really enjoyed this dystopian mystery. It felt eerily relevant and I was turning the pages to see what was going to happen.

The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton had an interesting premise- there was a world ending fog that had taken over all but one island. When one of the elders in that island dies, one of the residents must figure out who the murderer is despite having no memory of the night of the murder. Otherwise the island will perish within a few short days.

This book fell very flat for me. I found the plot to be all over the place and very confusing. There was also a large cast of characters that were at times difficult to keep track of. Maybe frequent sci fi readers would find it more enjoyable.

On an island at the end of the world, a small settlement of survivors lives. Outside the island there is nothing. Well, nothing but a murderous fog that contains insect-like creatures with a taste for human flesh. I may be exaggerating this a little, but trust me, you don't even want to dip a toe in that fog.

122-villagers and 3-valued scientists live on the island in harmony. It's a simple life, but they do need to abide by some stringent rules; all for their own good. We should trust the scientists, right? Well, the villagers certainly do. One day though, the unthinkable happens. One of their beloved scientists is found murdered, thus setting into motion a chain of events that could lead to the destruction of their world. They need to solve the murder within the next 107-hours, or risk bringing on the fog and all the terrible little creatures that come with it.

The Last Murder at the End of the World was one of my most anticipated releases of 2024. I've really enjoyed both of Turton's previously releases and was excited to see what sort of brain-teaser he was going to create for us next. Sadly, this one just wasn't suited to my tastes, but I can still appreciate the solid plot progression and creativity it took to create this whole world. IMO, this book would work best for Literary Fiction fans, who enjoy stories with Speculative, or Futuristic elements.

I did enjoy the very beginning; the introduction to the setting and characters. It was all very mysterious and murky. It was giving me serious LOST vibes. Not the attractive people suddenly stranded on a beach thing, though. More the disturbing community bits that they discover on the island way later...

I feel like I knew very early on, around page 37, what one of the big reveals was going to be. I don't normally care about that, actually, I don't. I don't care about that, but unfortunately for me, the reveal I felt was coming is a trope I don't tend to enjoy. True to trend, it didn't work for me here either. Obviously, I am not going to spoil for you what that is, but I'm aware that is strictly a personal taste issue, and is no way a reflection on Turton, or his work. In fact, I doff my cap to Turton's writing, creativity and overall mental prowess. It's clear, if you've ever read one of his books, that his brain works better than around 95% of the rest of us.

For me though, this failed to capture my attention. I feel like some of it was kept too obscure, meaning, I couldn't picture any of this. I was being told a lot of things, but I couldn't actually imagine it, in my mind's eye, playing out. I also did find the pace to be incredibly slow, and not in an enticing slow burn sort of way. More in a, I'm starting to fall asleep way. And once I started to feel that, I couldn't shake it. I really just wanted it to be over, which hurts me to say, but we're all about honesty in this house.

I was fortunate to receive an early copy of the audiobook, because that definitely helped me to get through this one. I did find the narration quite charming. At the end of the day, this just wasn't a great fit for my tastes. The content wasn't something I enjoyed. Nevertheless, I still love and admire Stuart Turton as an author and I cannot wait to see what he comes up with next!

Thank you to the publisher, Sourcebooks Landmark and Tantor Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. Even though this wasn't my cup of tea, I am still very glad I had the chance to pick it up!

I wasn't sure about this book before I started reading it and I'll say it exceeded my expectations. I'm not sure how to categorize it, but if you like reading fantasy, futuristic books with a Sherlock Holmes slant, then I think you'll like this book.

One hundred and twenty-two villagers and three scientists are living in harmony, that is until someone gets killed. Emory, one of the villagers is tasked with find the killer within 107 hours, or the all will die.

I never quite knew where it was going, but I was never disappointed with where the storyline took me. It had me hooked from the beginning and the ending was GREAT!

I received this advance review copy from NetGalley & the publisher for my honest review.

I tried really hard to get into this one, but I just wasn't able to. I am still really thankful to the publisher, author, and netgalley for granting me advanced access to this digital collection before publication day.

DNF
There are a lot of characters and I had a hard time connecting with them. I struggled to figure out how old they were and how they related to others. So I was lost.
I love the premise, but I don't think now is the time for me to read this one and be able to focus in on everything.
I gave it 3 stars because I couldn't not rate it and didn't want a low star rating to lower the overall star rating.

This book was much more sci-fi than I usually like. And I really tried to keep in mind that this isn’t a genre I really enjoy but to be objective anyway. But I ended up liking it anyway which is an unexpected surprise.

I read The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle and loved it. I haven’t gotten around to reading The Devil and the Dark Water yet bc I wasn’t sure it was my thing. But I think I’m going to read it soon. Bc THIS was definitely not my thing but it still hooked me. Despite the unusual premise and setting, I was invested in the mystery and I found myself interested in the characters. It didn’t get too lost in all the oddness.

At some point in the unknown future, humanity has been wiped out by a lethal fog that has engulfed the planet. The island the story is set on is the only refuge left on earth. There is a protective barrier around the island that keeps the fog at bay. The island is inhabited by a handful of survivors and three scientists, who are referred to as the elders. Then, one night one of the elders is brutally murdered and her death causes the protective barrier to come down. Now the islanders have 92 hours to figure out who the murderer is before they are engulfed by the fog and die. If the murderer is found and executed, the barrier will return to protect the islanders. Now it is up to Emory to solve the murder and save the island before it is too late. The problem is, everyone's memories from that night have been wiped by Abi, the artificial intelligence that guides everyone's thoughts and decisions.

Stuart Turton is an amazing writer, and once again he creates an intriguing story through his artful writing. If you are a fan, as I am, you should enjoy this book. This book will also appeal to fans of murder mysteries and books set in a dystopian future. I recommend it for book clubs, as well, because there are so many elements to this story that can lead to deeper discussions.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton is magnificient! Original, organic and oddly entertaining,The Last Murder at the End of the World will intoxicate you. If you like a big cast of characters that are well-developed, existing within a closed circle mystery, you'll eat this book up.

I read a lot of closed circle mysteries with smaller cast of characters because usually they get very confusing but Turton does this very well. Brilliant writing and plot points to boot. This book has a lightheartedness, an innocence to it despite the subject-matter.... you know, murder! I've read other books by this author, all 5 stars and now Turton is an autobuy for me.

I sadly DNF'd this one. It was too choppy and had too many characters introduced too quickly. I would still pick up another title by this author though.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions below are my own.

Boy can Turton write a unique and thought provoking novel! I think you should go into this one relatively blind just knowing that there is a future dystopian society living on an isolated island as the rest of the world is uninhabitable. There are three people from the pre-isolation time that guide how the society runs. Then the eldest leader is found murdered and they have a short period of time to solve it before the threat from the larger world reaches them and wipes them out. The one person challenged to solve it is the most disruptive person who has struggled in every role due to her personality, Emory. Now she is the only one who has the ability to step outside of their comfortable routine and challenge everything they know.

So far I've been 50/50 on Turton. Evelyn Hardcastle didn't really work for me but the Devil and the Dark Water is one of my absolute favorites. This new one is somewhere in the middle. I think because I am an Emory in my real life, I found this one played out exactly how I expected. Which meant some of the twists in the end were easy to spot as red herrings and therefore frustrated me. I guess you could read that as the right clues were there for me to figure it out. I just expected something more jaw dropping in the end based on the unique set up. Like his previous two works though, the depth of the character development was really great though.

After an apocalyptic fog destroyed much of humanity, a small outpost of safety – a scientific research facility that figured out a way to raise a barrier against the fog – provided a haven for survivors. Some generations on, one hundred and twenty-two villagers live happily under the guidance of three scientists known as Elders, with help from an artificial intelligence called Abi.

Now lead scientist Niema Mandripilias has figured out a way to secure the future for what’s left of humanity. She knows that her fellow scientists won’t be thrilled with her decisions, so relies on Abi and her belief in the villagers to help see her plan through.

But something goes terribly wrong. One of the Elders is murdered, and the barrier protecting the island against the fog begins to weaken. Unless the survivors can figure out whodunnit, the fog will sweep across the island within 107 hours, killing every living creature in its path.

The remaining Elders are infuriated, and the villagers – who’ve never been called on to do much more than survive in the morning, serve in the afternoon and celebrate in the evening – have no idea what to do. All except one woman, who’s spent her entire lifetime being a thorn in the side of nearly everyone else on the island. Not even her father understands her, asking:

QUOTE
“Why do you have to be…” Seth presses his forehead to the rough wood of the boat’s hull, too kind to say what he’s thinking, but not kind enough to stop hinting at it.

“Different?” she ventures.

He flings a frustrated arm at the laughter and music pouring through the gate. “Everybody else is happy, Emory. They’re just happy. It’s not complicated. They know what we have, and they’re grateful for it. Why do you have to question everything?”
END QUOTE

Emory has always been perhaps too observant and thus too inquisitive for her own good. She’s never been able to find a vocation, as the rest of the islanders have, either in service to the village or as an apprentice to the Elders. The only person who seems to tolerate her restlessness is Niema herself, who encourages Emory’s curiosity and even provides her with mystery novels that are considered contraband for the rest of the villagers. To Emory’s surprise, Niema has even started making noises about Emory taking over as village teacher, a role Niema has long relished and kept for herself.

Now Emory finds herself in the unique position of being the only person suitable in both temperament and skillset to figure out who the murderer is and how to save the island from destruction. With an array of unexpected allies by her side and obstacles in her way, she’ll have to fight both human nature and the terror of impending doom in order to get to the truth. But who can she trust, and who can she believe? Not even Abi is free of a secret agenda:

QUOTE
For [all these] years, I’ve run the village with only the slightest of guidance from Niema, making hundreds of small decisions every day on her behalf. As she’s grown fonder of the villagers, she’s found it increasingly difficult to put them in harm’s way, leaving the more unsavory aspects of the work to my best judgment.

Niema doesn’t realize that if her plan is to succeed, I’ll have to treat her like everybody else, concealing information while subtly manipulating her actions. As with every other human, her emotions make her erratic. She can’t be trusted to act logically, even in service of her own goals, which is what I’m for. Sometimes the only way to win a game is to let the pieces think they’re the ones playing it.
END QUOTE

Fast-paced and gripping, this dystopian murder mystery is filled with the kind of high concept puzzles that fans of Stuart Turton, like myself, will adore. The author deftly sidesteps the typical tropes to present a dazzling thriller that is very much rooted in commonplace emotions and aspirations, with the trappings of science fiction only serving to underscore the very important questions of survival and legacy that have long driven the human race. The emotional heft cannot be overstated, as the plot doesn’t just consider these to be abstract notions. Instead, it sincerely examines what it means to be a good person and what it means to matter in the grander scheme of life.

Intelligent and vividly imagined, this is a classic detective story dressed in the clothes of apocalyptic fiction. The Last Murder At The End Of The World is a genuine treat for fans of either genre, and especially for those of us who enjoy the mashup of both. Above all, however, it’s perfect for anyone who likes to be entertained while contemplating the really important questions of humanity’s ongoing existence.

One of my favorite authors who always delivers a good story. Interesting concept and entertaining story. I will not be forgetting this book soon. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to review.

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕃𝕒𝕤𝕥 𝕄𝕦𝕣𝕕𝕖𝕣 𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝔼𝕟𝕕 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕎𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕 by Stuart Turton
𝘚𝘤𝘪-𝘍𝘪 • 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳 • 𝘔𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘺 • 𝘚𝘶𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦
𝘗𝘶𝘣 𝘋𝘢𝘵𝘦: 21 May 2024

A dystopian setting. A future world where an omniscient AI is implanted in everyone’s brain. A world in which a deadly fog has descended upon the earth, obliterating every living thing in its path. One last stand for humanity exists on a remote island at the end of the world, where the villagers farm their own crops, cultivating the land through days of hard work followed by singing, art, and music in the evenings. Underneath this idyllic landscape however, there are mysterious deaths, a saboteur at large, and not everything is as it seems...

Read if you love unreliable characters, questionable morality, whether the ends justify the means, and murder mystery style twists and turns. I found myself binging this one. I read it in just a couple of days. I’m not sure it’s going to stick in permanent memory, but it was an enjoyable read. I really loved the main character Emory. Everyone else was unlikeable to me and I did not trust a single one of them! This was my first Stuart Turton and I am inclined to pick up the The 7.5 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle which I have heard is excellent.

Thanks to @bookish_boy.mom for setting up the #buddyread! Also, thank you to @netgalley and Source Books for allowing me to read an advanced reader copy - this book is out now!

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this novel. I liked it, but there was a lot to keep track of to be able to understand the story.

I received an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

This book has an interesting premise. The last remaining people on Earth all live on an island protected in a bubble from the fog that killed off everyone else. No one lives past 60 except "the elders" and there is all-knowing voice that knows everyone's thoughts and what is going on at all times. Everyone accepts this dystopian-like society until someone winds up murdered and the fog begins closing in. This reads as a part dystopian novel and part science fiction. The concept worked mostly well for me. There is a definite mystery aspect. I did not figure out the ending at all. That being said, the book was not as exciting as I hoped. I was bored at times and had a hard time liking many of the characters. The writing is well done and I did want to find out what happened in the end. It just read more literary (and slow) for me than the suspense I was hoping for. If you like a dystopian society with sci-fi elements, I do think you may love this one. As I'm not the biggest fan of either, it just wasn't a love for me. I liked it but not enough that I would want to re-read in the future.

A deadly fog suddenly sweeps the planet, killing anything it touches. The remaining people, 3 scientists and 122 villagers, live on an island protected by a dome. Life is simple, in a somewhat utopian manner; everyone works to be of service to the community with each person having a share in tasks. The scientists serve as “elders” and the villagers happily obey their instructions. When an “elder” is killed, the security system is affected leaving 107 hours to solve the murder before the deadly fog overtakes them. An especially daunting task, since THEY ALL had their memories wiped!

The story is told from the perspective of Abi, a voice that is in every villagers mind. Abi is as much a character as anyone else and I was unsure of Abi’s motivations or intent, or if Abi was simply a tool. Emory is one of the villagers and doesn’t quite fit in with everyone else. She questions everything, and even writes down unanswered questions that plague her. She can’t understand why no one else questions certain routines, methods, or traditions in the village. I adored Emory and her ability to stay true to herself and think outside the box, in spite her family’s embarrassment of her. Guess who ends up investigating the murder?

The Last Murder at The End of The World is an intelligent and clever locked room mystery in a dystopian setting. I loved the analytical nature and homage to the way Holmes would investigate a murder. I was intrigued right from the beginning and all the way through to the heart touching conclusion. With themes of family, kindness, and appreciating that EVERYONE has something to offer, I was entertained but also moved. If you enjoy a great whodunnit mystery, mixed with science fiction and the human condition, don’t miss this gem! Thank you Stuart Turton, Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
———-

Potential spoiler content warnings listed below.






















⚠️Content Warnings: depression, grief, loss of a spouse, assault, brief animal harm, violence, death

3.5 ⭐️’s
The future world has been covered by a killer fog, one that has left only 122 people remaining. Living on an idyllic island all seems fine until a scientist is murdered and the fog starts to move in. A mysterious/police procedural this book had some nice twists but might have been too clever for me. While Turton is a master storyteller, this one was one I didn’t connect well with, but I know others will. A dual read/listen helped in following the many characters and the narration was done very well. Thank you to Sourcebooks, Tantor Audio and NetGalley for an ARC and ALC of this book.

Stuart Turton does it again with "The Last Murder at the End of the World." If you enjoyed his previous works, you're in for a treat. This book blends elements of mystery, dystopian fiction, and a classic whodunit, all wrapped up in a high-concept plot that keeps you turning pages.

The story is set on a small island, the last refuge in a world devastated by a deadly fog that kills everyone it touches. The island's 122 villagers and three scientists live a peaceful, controlled life until one of the scientists is found brutally murdered. This murder sets off a deadly chain reaction: if the killer isn't found within 107 hours, the island's protective barriers will fall, letting the fog in to finish off the survivors.

What makes this setup even more intriguing is that the island's security system erases everyone's memory of the night before. So, not only is there a murderer among them, but even the killer doesn't know they're the culprit. This memory-wipe twist adds a unique and compelling layer to the mystery.

Turton's writing is immersive and vivid, painting a picture of an idyllic yet eerie island against the backdrop of the encroaching fog. The tension is palpable, and the stakes couldn't be higher. The protagonist, Emory, is a determined and relatable character who drives the story forward with her relentless pursuit of the truth.

The narrative is fast-paced with short, punchy chapters that make it hard to put the book down. Each twist and turn keeps you guessing, and the final reveal is both surprising and satisfying. The characters are well-developed, and the plot is intricately woven, showcasing Turton's talent for storytelling.

While some readers might find the plot a bit crowded with subplots and technological elements, these aspects didn't detract too much from the overall enjoyment. The blend of genres and the innovative plot make this a standout read.

Overall, "The Last Murder at the End of the World" is a thrilling and inventive mystery that keeps you hooked from start to finish. If you're a fan of Turton's previous books or enjoy a good dystopian mystery, this one is definitely worth picking up.

As with the other books by this author, it's important to just go into the book without knowing too much and just go along for the ride of the story. The author is a master at worldbuilding, I could picture everything in my head as I was reading.

The gist of the story is that there is a group of people living isolated on an island. A mysterious fog has covered the earth that kills everything it touches and the island is the last place where a group of over one hundred villagers live in peace with one another. They are governed by three elders and all of them have Abi, a voice in their heads that can hear their thoughts and communicate with them. When a murder occurs, the technology that holds the fog back has been removed. Their only hope of survival is to find out who is responsible in order to stop the fog again.

That is a very, very simple explanation of a complex, twisty book. There are so many different plot threads and ways the story is told that it definitely requires a bit of concentration to follow all of them. I listened to this book partially as an audiobook, and while the narration is good, the choice to use James Cameron Stewart as the narrator really puzzled me. The book is essentially told to the reader in Abi's first person voice, and Abi is referred to as a female. So having a male to narrate "her" is a strange choice.

Overall, I enjoyed this dystopian murder mystery. While not at all similar plot-wise, it did have the same feel as The Ferryman by Justin Cronin, a mysterious tale set in the future after an apocalyptic event. I really look forward to seeing what Turton comes up with next!