The Last Murder at the end of the World by Stuart Turton takes us to an idyllic island. Except it’s the only island left in the world since all was destroyed by a fog. There are 3 scientists and 122 villagers on the island. All is well until 1 of the scientists is found murdered. This triggers the system to stop functioning which keeps the island safe. The villagers must solve the murder to restore the system.

Very creative writing combining mystery, sci-fi and dystopian elements. The characters and scenes are vividly described. The author’s writing style kept me turning the page.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Trying to describe it, I’d say, The Giver meets LOST meets Agatha Christie - and yes, I realize how strange that sounds. The book may be strange, but I also found it fascinating. I read this book in less than a day. I've never read anything like this before, and it’s hard to describe because it’s so unique and also because I don’t want to give anything away. It’s a dystopian sci-fi locked room mystery with themes on what it means to be human and how our morals can be stripped away under the right circumstances.

Fog has been encroaching around the Earth and killing every living being it touches. Scientists were able to create a barrier for the fog on a Greek island and offered refuge to anyone who could make the journey. Now there is a small village living on the island, and while they are always aware that the fog is right past the barrier, they also manage to create a life for themselves. When the leader of the village is murdered and everyone’s memories have been wiped, the fog starts encroaching on the island.

Did I mention there’s also an all-knowing robot living in everyone’s consciousness who can reactivate the barriers but only agrees to do so if the murderer confesses and is executed? And the whole story is told from this weird omniscient robot’s POV? Yeah, so there’s that. The fog is getting closer and closer, and the only villager who seemingly possesses the ability to think critically is desperately trying to find the killer before the fog kills everyone. This character, Emory, is filled with rage and mistrust at the system that controls everything in her world, so naturally I absolutely adored her.

I am totally okay admitting that I didn’t understand everything about this book, but I still really enjoyed it. However, I felt somewhat detached from the characters and the doomsday countdown - almost like watching a science experiment from afar, which maybe is what the author wanted? I can’t imagine how much work went into writing a novel like this - everything has a deeper meaning and an underlying truth. This book won’t be for everybody, but if you’re looking for a unique mystery that will really make you think, I would absolutely recommend this one!

Stuart Turton has a way of making you feel like you know exactly what’s happening until you realize there is a lot more going on than you think. The Last Murder at the End of the World dives into the deeply interconnected relationships of people stranded together and brings the reader along for the ride. The author’s unique character development approach bonds reader and characters while building the mystery everyone is trying to solve until coming together for an epic ending. Stuart does it again!

This book was strange as well as a bit creepy, because the inter time I was reading it ,I kept going back and forth on wither the characters was talking to themselves or was there something more going on in the shadows that the author didn't want you to notice until it was to late .

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle was a gripping thriller that kept me guessing until the very last page. Stuart Turton has returned to form with this third book, an inventive, closed-room mystery that finds us on an island, the only place on Earth safe from the fog that killed the rest of the planet.

A murder on the island is about to breech the security that kept the fog out, and thus, kill everyone still alive. Turton excels at psychological thrillers, making you question the sanity of the perspective you're reading from. This is what he did well in The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle and this is what he does again here. He uses an amnesia plot that makes plausible some of the more hard to swallow elements of a story of this type.

This is an urgent, exciting book, sure to have you flipping pages until you get to the very end.

Oh boy was this a wild ride! I found myself wanting to understand so much that it was hard to put down. I loved the way that the context and world was built out as the mystery unfolded. I can see this one becoming on of the more popular releases this year, it does a good job of combining that wild mystery with an interesting dystopian sci-fi setting.

The more that I read by Turton, the more I fear that nothing will live up to his stellar debut. I found his sophomore effort disappointing, and while this book has several intriguing elements, overall it fell short of my expectations. In the beginning, I was digging the unique dystopian atmosphere and the threat of impending doom from the encroaching fog made everyone's actions feel incredibly urgent and important. The short chapters are both a blessing and a curse; their brief length helped me move through the book quickly, but I didn't feel like there was enough development with the characters to fully understand them or become invested in their fates, and at times I had to double-check whose perspective I was reading from. The book is much more science fiction than mystery, and after the titular murder occurs, its investigation is more concerned with why than who, resulting in many underwhelming reveals and an examination of multiple red herrings. Maybe this needed another pass to be a bit more cohesive, but it's frustrating to see so much promise fail to come together satisfyingly.

I thought this was really well written and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I think it will find readers at our library, so we will definitely be purchasing for the collection.

This is one of those books that I really wanted to love based on the blurb but really couldn’t get into. I didn’t find the writing style to be immersive or captivating at all for me. It just wasn’t something that I could get into and the story just fell flat.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this e-arc, all thoughts are my own.

The island houses the last of humanity after a fog wiped out the rest of the earth’s population. All that remain are 122 villagers and the elders (3 scientists) that are unlike the others on the island. They live peacefully amongst each other and do their daily jobs. All that peace is suddenly ripped away when someone is murdered on the island. If they don’t figure out who did it their system that keeps the fog at bay will cease to protect them anymore. They have 96 hours before all that is left of humanity is gone forever.

I absolutely loved this post apocalyptic, locked room mystery! The island setting was written in such great detail and the characters were really brought to life. I read this so quickly and the story just kept unfolding into a greater tale as you learned all of the details and missing memories of the islanders.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book before publication! My review will appear on my blog on 5/16/24. I will also feature the review on Instagram that same day and post my review to Goodreads, The Storygraph, Fable, and retail sites.

Review:

I'd heard so much buzz about this book that I knew I needed to check it out as soon as I could get my hands on it. I loved the concept, and I totally get why people either love it or hate it. I fall somewhere in the middle.

In this book, readers are taken on a thrilling and thought-provoking journey to an isolated island where a murder threatens to unravel the fragile peace maintained in this small community for so long. Turton weaves elements of mystery, suspense, and intrigue in a dystopian world hovering on extinction to create a story that keeps readers on their toes until the very last page.

The world as we know it has ended, and only a small group of 122 people remain, all of them living on a small island somewhere near Greece. A dangerous fog that wiped out the rest of humanity surrounds the island but is kept at bay by a shield put in place by a group of three scientists who oversee the day-to-day activities. One evening, a murder occurs, triggering a countdown to the release of the killer fog that will destroy the last of humanity unless the murderer is found before the countdown ends. As the islanders race against time to solve the murder, they are faced with the realization that their memories have been wiped clean, leaving them without any clues as to who the killer might be. With the stakes higher than ever, tensions rise, and suspicions run rampant as the clock ticks down toward the inevitable.

Turton's writing is bold and captivating, drawing readers in with vivid descriptions and a sense of urgency that keeps the story moving at a breakneck pace. The characters, each with their own intricate motives and secrets, are well-developed and complex. These layers of complexity add depth to the mystery at hand, making every character both relatable and intriguing. This is both good and bad because it took me a while to get a good handle on everyone. This is really more of a me thing than an issue with the book. I have this deep need to really understand who is who from the beginning - especially when there's a large cast. Couple that with trying to settle into a world with its own set of rules AND a murder mystery - my poor little pea brain was a little in knots. I found myself reading entire pages (and sometimes chapters) over again because I constantly felt as though I was missing something. It all eventually fell into place, but it took a while for me to feel fully settled.

As the plot unfolds, Turton slowly unravels the layers of deceit and betrayal that have been lurking beneath the surface of the island's idyllic facade. With each twist and turn, readers are kept guessing as to the true identity of the killer, leading to a shocking and satisfying conclusion. My only problem (and again, this is a me thing) is that it took me so long to feel settled in the world that it made the reading experience a little tedious. My recommendation to readers like me would be to just let go of your control issues and accept that you will eventually get your answers, and things will fall into place.

Despite my frustration with feeling untethered during the first half, I did end up enjoying the book. This is definitely a bold concept that will likely captivate mystery and suspense fans - especially if you like your books with a side of dystopian society and intrigue. If it takes you a while to settle into unfamiliar worlds like it does me, stick with it. It does pay off in the end.

A jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces, a poignant and moving story of what it means to be human, a love letter to classic whodunits… atmospheric, suspenseful and peopled with the most complex characters, this is possibly one of the best books of the year. I had no idea what was going on, in a good way. Not since Evelyn Hardcastle’s story had I been so confused and engrossed by a book. After the world ended, life endures on an idyllic island where Emory doesn’t seem to fit. Her time to shine may come too late, when she’s tasked with finding the murderer of their most cherished elder. If she’s successful, the deadly fog that ended the rest of the world will be stopped. Otherwise she, her daughter, her father and everyone she knows will die. Her problem is that everybody’s memories have been wiped, so she can’t even interrogate the suspects. Did I mention that she only has 2 days? This novel will make you think, feel and choke, even as you cringe at every setback, every twist and reveal that changes everything. I loved Emery’s voice, she is nothing like me and yet I could relate to her. The ending is just perfect. This book accomplishes something very difficult, it is deep and smart and original, but also addictive, suspenseful and entertaining. As close to perfection as a book can ever get.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Sourcebooks Landmark.

A twisty dystopian mystery that will keep you guessing. I enjoy books where all is not what it seems to be. "The Last Murder at the End of the World" by Stuart Turton starts bleakly. The world has been destroyed by a mysterious black fog and the story takes place on an island where the black fog does not go. Villagers live basic lives while Elders (who live hundreds of years) lead them. The murder of one of the Elders starts a cascade of revelations when Emory, a villager, is asked to solve the mystery. Recommended for dystopian collections and library collections where Turton's other novels are popular.

Wow, this novel was a trip! I wasn't sure what to expect with a sci-fi mystery but it delivered.

The setting is an isolated island 'at the end of the world' surrounded by some sort of menacing fog. It appears that the last living inhabitants of Earth are the ones left on this island. What happened to everyone else is only a small portion of the mystery. It's an interesting look at a dystopian society and the lengths the characters will go through to keep the human race alive.

Liked this one a lot. Definitely creative and engaging. Absolutely recommend for anyone looking for a thought-provoking story.

*4.5 stars rounded up*

The Last Murder at the End of the World is a new murder mystery with a sci fi twist. A fog has destroyed all of humanity except for an island was a little over 100 people on it. They have a dome it keeps the fog out. When someone is murdered and the fog barriers fail, they have to find the killer. Oh also, everyone’s memories were wiped.

This book was so good! It was a lot more sci-fi than I expected. I don’t typically like sci-fi but I did really like this one. While the murder is at the center of everything, there are a lot of different things that the villagers are solving. Everything unfolds and some of the twists surprised me. We also have an AI voice in everyone’s head and I loved that addition to this book. I loved the amnesia element in this one too.

I read this book really quick because it sucked me in. The setting and the story were very unique.

I loved Evelyn Hardcastle so I was very excited for this book. It definitely lived up to the hype for me! I love the writing style as well. I will continue to read more from this author as they come out! His stories are so interesting and different than other books out there.

I do feel like we ran around in circles a bit throughout and that annoyed me just a bit. However, I still really liked this book.

Thank you so much to netgalley and sourcebooks for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Another inventive mystery by a master storyteller. In a dystopian future, a dangerous fog has covered the world, and a mysterious island is one of the last bastions of civilization. Residents work together in an idyllic community, but something dark simmers under the surface. One day, the villagers wake up to find that one of their own has been murdered, triggering a dead-man's switch that threatens to allow the fog to overtake them. To make matters worse, no one remembers what happened the night before.

In a race against time, the villagers must recover their lost memories, solve the murder, and uncover the secrets that have been hidden from them for years. A truly inventive mystery that will stump even the savviest reader, this one will keep you guessing until the very end. Perfect for anyone who loves a good whodunnit.

A fog has covered Earth and the last 125 people live protected on an idyllic island until one of them is murdered. This triggers the defense system against the fog to fail and the villagers must race the clock to solve the murder before the fog takes over this last piece of the world.

I love a good dystopian novel and this had all the makings of a great one: an apocalyptic event, a utopia created in the aftermath, and a sinister plot where nothing is actually as it seems. In the beginning I was unsure where this story was going, but about 45% in there's a twist that has everything falling apart so it can come back together.

I have previously read The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hugo, and like that book, this has an intricate plot full of twists. I really liked the narrator and how that character was interconnected to the other characters in the story. I appreciated how characters grew and without spoiling the storyline, how they came to their own realizations that things were not as they seem.

In the end though, this didn't come together as seamlessly as I wanted it to. While I was highly entertained by this story, and even satisfied with the overall ending, I was left with some questions and wanted more detail.

If you like dystopian novels, science fiction, and/or murder mysteries, I'd highly recommend this book.

Thank you Sourcebooks and Netgalley for the early review copy.

I received an ARC from Sourcebooks Landmark via Net Galley. This post-apocalyptic mystery is an intriguing premise. A group of island residents look to the guidance of 3 elders who were alive during the apocalypse when a fog engrossed the world. Now they are at the edge of the world, the elders science educating and protecting them. One of the elders is murdered and their time is now limited. All their memories from the night of the murder have been wiped and they must solve the murder to ensure their survival.

While the writing style is one I had to adjust to – I was absorbed and couldn’t wait to get to the end. I was impressed by the twists and turns. I would have liked more backstory to what brought about the fog, but this is a story of their current lifestyle and humanity after the end times. I’m always a fan of a good dystopian world.

"Thea's is arguing with the tides trying to convince the moon to change shape. "
This is a beautifully written, genre bender – part dystopic fantasy – part murder mystery. It was really well written in an absolute page turner-full of twists. It has a Holmsian leader, who finally finds her purpose.

This was my first title by Stuart Turton. The Last Murder at the End of the World, is a unique and interesting read. The cover art is what first grabbed my attention; followed, of course by the description.