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!

Agatha Christie takes on the apocalypse in this stark and moving tale of betrayal, love and hope!

Everything you could want in a murder mystery with added sci-fi elements, plus the future of the world at stake - it’s a twisty logic puzzle with complex characters and intrigue. I think you’ll love the simmering discontent, the high stakes and the big heart beating through it all.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks, and Tantor audio for my copies. These opinions are my own.

After an apocalyptic event, there are one hundred and twenty-five people left in the world, all living on a small island surrounded by the deadly fog that destroyed the world. The islanders are watched and guided by an all-seeing, all-knowing AI, Abi. Abi can read its humans’ thoughts and even bring them in and out of consciousness at will. Abi both protects and controls the residents of the island – all except for the three elders, who lead the island and age far slower than the rest of the population. But when the residents of the island wake to find one of the elders murdered – and everyone’s memories of the night before erased – they must race to find the answers before the security system keeping the fog at bay goes down and everyone on the island dies.

I love a sci-fi murder mystery! Your standard murder mystery doesn’t often appeal to me, but throw in a genre twist and I’m completely in. I felt like I never saw what was coming in this story, but in the best possible way. Nothing felt like it came out of nowhere, everything came together like pieces of a puzzle. The characters and their relationships are complex and the sci-fi setting is interesting. Overall I really enjoyed this book!

Representation: POC characters, LGBTQ+ characters

I was provided both an ebook and audio ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

I mainly listened to the audiobook version, however it was extremely helpful to have the ebook handy while reading this book as there are a lot of characters to keep track of as this story unfolds. I found myself referring to the print version often to keep track of relationships. The narrator was good for the most part, however he did a very high pitched voice for one of the female characters. It was almost whiny, which I didn't enjoy, the other characters were fine.

As for the plot, I found the first half of the book to be very engaging. We get the first major plot twist around the halfway point, then the remainder of the book seemed to drag after that major reveal. The plot is fairly convoluted as one of the main characters is found murdered, and an investigation ensues to find out what really happened. The investigation takes a round about approach to get to the bottom of what is going on, mainly because the inhabitants of the island can't remember what happened the night before. With only hours left to save everyone on the island before a deadly fog covers the island, Emory and Clara must solve the murder and uncover the secrets of the island itself.

This is a really hard book to review without giving spoilers. The twist in the middle of the book was great, then it went down hill for me from there. The murder investigation itself, was more procedural than suspenseful. If you have read Turton's previous books you will get that same high concept storytelling that takes a complex path to get to the end. The author often wants the reader to stay in the dark until the very end to prevent the reveal of whodunit, however I often found myself losing interest as I wasn't connected to the characters or the world. The concept of this dystopian, science fiction society was really interesting. As I mentioned, I really enjoyed the first half, but the author lost me in the second half as the investigation lacked action and thrilling moments to keep me engaged.

After having a lukewarm experience with The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, I wasn't sure if Stuart Turton's books were for me. But when I read the description of The Last Murder at the End of the World, I was immediately intrigued. A post-apocalyptic whodunnit? Sign me alllll the way up!

Last Murder takes place in a future where the world has been swallowed by a toxic fog, all except for one idyllic island where 122 villagers live in a utopic society. But then something shocking happens: Someone is murdered, and the fog starts closing in. If they don't solve the murder in 107 hours, the fog will overtake the island, and everyone on it.

It's a high concept with high stakes, and the book starts off strong. It's got a little sci-fi, a little cli-fi, and a little dystopia thrown into the mix with the whodunnit, which is such an intriguing combination. Turton's world-building is fascinating, and he explores some deep themes not always typically found in a locked-room sort of mystery: what it means to be human; the nature of grief; the danger, and sometimes the necessity, of keeping secrets.

Things fell apart for me in the execution, though. The mystery gets pretty complex, and there are a lot of characters to keep straight who are a bit underdeveloped. I felt off-balance and slightly perplexed throughout the entire book, feeling like I was missing something. Unfortunately, I wasn't engaged enough to ever feel truly invested in the fate of the island and its villagers.

This is definitely a book I appreciated for its originality and concept much more than I enjoyed actually reading it. Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for the early reading opportunity.

Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Landmark for the gifted book!

I was so excited for this one especially after seeing all the fun early marketing!

I really tried to get into it but could not grasp the characters or the setting. I even tried restarting the book at one point to see if that helped if I really focused but ultimately could not find myself invested.

I still hope this is a big hit for the author!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this title.

So: I loved The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, and liked The Devil and the Dark Water, and was excited to see where Stuart Turton would go next. If _Devil_'s realism and straight-forward mystery wasn't for you, this is going to be back in the puzzle-y, sci-fi space that his debut was, so jump on in.

There's a lot of ideas here, and I kind of wonder if there's one too many spinning about - the book isn't quite as clever as it thinks it is, and I was able to figure out a few plot twist-y things well ahead of time. That wasn't a problem for me, though, and this was a really fun ride to the end. _Evelyn Hardcastle_ is a really strong debut, and I hope Turton keeps trying to find new ways to be clever instead of trying to live up to that incredibly tricky shadow.

The Last Murder at the End of the World is “1985” x “Catching Fire” (specifically the fog piece of the clock arena) x “The 100”. When a scientist of the village is murdered, it’s up to one of the villagers to solve the murder before a deadly fog that has taken over the entire world invades their village and kills everyone left. This book is best read in a couple sittings without long lapses in reading. There are so many characters involved in the story and only minimal descriptions of their features to distinguish them, only their relation to other people on the island so it made it hard for me to keep track of who’s who sometimes. The plot and story are there, I just think this once wasn’t as enjoyable for be due to having to keep up with all the different villagers and scientists. The few twists in the book were not as shocking as his past books but I still enjoyed the story as a whole. I would recommend this to anyone who loves whodunnits, dystopian societies, and who is capable of keeping track of a large cast of characters. Overall a solid read: 3/5 ⭐️

Wow, what an excellent read this was. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an e-arc. Masterfully written, storytelling at it's finest, I could not put this book down once picked up.

It is the end of the world, there's no one left on earth except a tiny village, and they are surrounded by deadly fog that wiped out the rest of humanity. But, there's been a murder, the fog is closing in, and there's not much time to solve this murder and save all of humanity from being lost.

This is not usually my type of book because of the sci-fi elements, I would say that sci-fi as a genre is more my husband and son's thing. However, I absolutely adored this book including the sci-fi elements which added so much to the mystery elements of the murder. This is a well crafted book, intricately woven, yet easy to read. I absolutely loved it!