I love the oddity of this author. This book isn't like others. It's very odd and creative. It's a mix of a classic murder mystery plus iRobot. Piecing this story together was fun.

Stuart Turton is one of my favorite authors. He could write a phone book and make you thrilled you read it. His stories are outside the box, thought provoking, and thrilling to read. We have an island of people, just about 122 of them that survived the end of the world. Rest of the world parishes in a deadly fog. Except for them due to scientists finding a way to put up a wall to keep the fog at bay. We meet several of the islanders as they celebrate a funeral with the still live deceased. On this island no one lives past 60 and the day before they die there is a big celebration to honor them. Unfortunately there’s a body found that didn’t die naturally and it is one of the leaders of the island. This starts a panic that show cracks in the foundation of the island. It leads us to more and more questions about who and what is inhabiting the island.
This book was one of those page turners that wouldn’t let you sleep at night. The story is masterfully written so that you are on that island, you are going on the adventure to solve this murder. The fog is closing in and you have days before you need to solve it before the island is gone forever.

This was such an enjoyable read. It kept me on the edge of my seat at times while also building this world that’s been destroyed by some mysterious fog. I was frustrated that life got in the way of my reading most of the time. The end was both surprising and predictable in some ways. I had guessed some of the outcome but was still largely surprised by the turn of events. I was committed to the characters and their survival, even the ones that I was suspicious of right from the beginning, looking at you Elders. A beautiful story that rivals the web weaving found in The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, my first and favorite read by Turton.

The Last Murder at the End of the World was such a fun new take on the classic murder mystery. I don't want to give too much set up, because much of the fun of reading this book is figuring out what exactly is going on! If you like murder mysteries, but you are tired of the same old tropes, this new twist on the genre will be perfect for you.

I love Stuart Turton. He’s an auto-read author for me and The Last Murder at the End of the World did not disappoint. Part Agatha Christie (locked island murder rather than locked room); part Lord of the Flies (everyone turning on each other); part Three Body Problem (or pick your apocalyptic sci-fi here). It was a fascinating read, he left clues out in the open where the reader could recall them, and had a really great twist. Highly recommend and I can’t wait to see what’s next. Sourcebook and Bloomsbury Raven should be really proud of this great book!

An intriguing premise and setting made this an engaging read. I enjoyed the mystery and slow reveal of what was actually taking place on the island and the events that had led to a communtiy forming there. I plan to purchase this title for my high school library.

5 stars- I would absolutely recommend this book. This story captivated me from the prologue and it kept getting more and more intriguing as the story went on as more and more pieces unfolded. It was hard for me to put this book down when I needed to without thinking about what was going to happen next. I felt like there was a new twist over and over. As my sister likes to say, “books are like little movies in your mind,” and this truly was like reading a great movie. I have loved everything this author has written and I already cannot wait for what’s next.

I received a copy of this ebook from NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark.

Wow, wow, wow! I really enjoyed this book! It was practically perfect in every way for me. I loved the important questions about humanity and the true depths of our depravity. I loved the society that the villagers had created for themselves. I really enjoyed the mystery of who-dunnit and Emory's quest for the truth.

There was just so much going on here in regards to thought provoking storytelling, but it was done in such an entertaining way. I love it when an author makes me think deeply about something while also entertaining me. Often I feel like authors sacrifice one for the other, but when I get both, I am truly delighted. This one gave me both, and I love it for that. The characters are so well developed, and watching them evolve throughout the story was really cool - especially when you learn all there is to learn about the nature of the island and its inhabitants (nothing more on that because spoilers). The morphing of Emory's world view and relationships as she explored her reality was really well written and believable. The atmosphere was so well written that I found myself transported to this remote island where everything is riding on one woman asking the right questions to the right people.

I have zero complaints. This book really worked for me.

A new Stuart Turton novel is always met with great anticipation and high expectations. The author, who frequently draws inspiration from Golden Age crime fiction, is undoubtedly skilled at crafting original mysteries. In his latest high-concept thriller he creates an entirely fictitious and post-apocalyptic setting on a remote Greek island.

Link to full review on Crime Fiction Lover: https://westwordsreviews.wordpress.com/2024/04/05/the-last-murder-at-the-end-of-the-world-stuart-turton/

Book Title: The Last Murder at the End of the World
Author: Stuart Turton
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Genre: Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Pub Date: May 21, 2024
My Rating: 3 Stars!
Pages: 368

Sometime in the future a man-made fog is created that gradually covered the planet, inhabited by insects that are nourished by the fog and destroy every living thing. There was only one place spared, a small Greek island, It’s not clear why the fog didn’t reach this island, but it does hover in the distance, a constant threat.
There are 122 villagers and three scientists living on the island. The murder of one of the scientists creates shockwaves.
This story is not just about solving the murder but also how to survive. Since the title is murder at the end of the world I expected no one will survive and wasn’t sure this story was for me.
I hung in there and discovered there is a survival part of this story.

Author Tturton is the author of “The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle”.
Although I didn’t love the audio performer, I did find the story interesting and believe that is why I wanted to read this story.
Unfortunately I didn’t love – doesn’t mean other readers will feel the same.
It was a different read for me and sometimes I need to go outside my comfort zone.


Want to thank NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for granting me this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for May 21, 2024.

**This book will be published on 05/21/2024!**
I received this e-book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the author/publisher for the copy!

The villagers, 122 to be exact, and 3 scientists (or elders) are forced to live on the island because the rest of the world has been destroyed by the fog, that killed everyone it touched. As long as the villagers do as they are told by the elders, follow their nightly curfew, and do their other duties, everything will be okay......until one morning, they are all awaken to find that one of the elders is dead. Because of this death, the barrier holding the fog back has been taken down. They must solve the murder in order to save themselves and the last 2 elders. Add in the fact that their memories have been wiped of what happened the night before. Will they be able to save humanity and solve the murder?

Okay, wow. This was my first Stuart Turton book and I am impressed! I will say, I was kind of confused at the beginning of the story, since it was hard to say who was telling it, but as it went on it became clear. If you enjoy dystopian world books, I think you would enjoy this one!

At an unspecified point in the future, most of the world has been destroyed by a mysterious and deadly fog that devours anything it touches. A small group of people have managed to find safety on an island with technological barriers keeping the fog at bay, and have built a quiet life for themselves there. That is, until an unexpected murder shatters the island's peace and triggers a lowering of the safety defenses against the fog. Suddenly it's a race against the clock to find the murderer before the entire island is engulfed in the lethal fog.

This was a deliciously twisty post-apocalyptic murder mystery. I loved Stuart Turton's previous books and I absolutely devoured this one. To be honest, I probably read it a little bit too quickly to really appreciate all the intricate plotting and small clues dropped in, but I don't regret it. The premise was very original and fresh, and the stakes are high right from the get-go. Turton is excellent at building and sustaining tension and parceling out background information over the course of the story. The chapters are short and the book is fast-paced and easy to get through. There is a plausible mass amnesia scenario happening which makes the reader unsure who to trust and the twists even more shocking as they are revealed. I found the use of an omniscient AI narrator an interesting but effective choice as well. The author doesn't shy away from raising big picture questions about ethics, morality, and humanity, which adds a layer of depth to the story. This was a really emotional and engaging book, and I highly recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the early review copy via NetGalley (available 21 May 24)

“The secrets on this island have teeth, and they don’t like being dragged into the light.”

This is a multi-hyphenated genre: post-apocalyptic sci-fi closed-room-murder on a secluded island! Mysteries abound!

A mysterious fog destroyed everything it touched. All that remains is a small Greek island populated by three scientists (the elders), 122 content villagers, and now, a mystery to solve. One of the beloved scientists was murdered on the same night everyone’s memory was wiped clean. One villager must solve the mystery before the fog envelopes the island and the clock is counting down.

This is my first book from Turton, and I enjoyed the story! The characters were complicated, engaging, and compelling, the mysteries were revealed a perfect breadcrumb at a time, and the ending was satisfying. As a bonus, there was plenty to unpack about human nature. It would be a great book club choice.

A fascinating premise of a dystopian island where the last survivors of a terrible apocalypse live out their days. When a murder occurs, Emory and other memorable characters work to solve it, with or without the help of a highly unreliable guide and narrator. Mysteries are layered upon mysteries in this fast-paced chimera of a book.

This was my first Turton book and I look forward to reading others after experiencing the world that was built in this one. The story is a locked-room mystery that takes place on a dystopian island that seems to be the last bastion of civilization following a killer fog that has ostensibly killed everyone else on the planet. When one of the three remaining scientists, or elders, is murdered and the rest of the islanders have had their memories of that night erased, how is the murder to be solved? Enter Emory, who was my favorite character. Every other character we meet, other than the elders, is conditioned by the island (maybe?) or the weird narrating voice in their heads (maybe?) to be compliant and have a "place", but Emory is a gloriously flawed character with questions from the very start. This book was confusing to me at the beginning with the voice narrating in first person inside everyone's head, but once the mystery gets going it was a bit less distracting. I also enjoyed Niema since it was hard to tell if she was good or bad and I liked how her story unfolded after the fact. I look forward to recommending this book throughout the summer. Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the early access in exchange for my honest opinion.

I love reading, but I don’t want reading to be a chore. Unfortunately for me, THE LAST MURDER AT THE END OF THE WORLD was a major chore.

There were too many characters for me to keep straight, and a lot of world building to make sense of this post-apocalyptic Earth, where the remaining 125-ish people live on an island surrounded by deadly fog.

The plot (which whittles down to a murder) took waaaaaaay too long to get going, and once it did, I was already disengaged. I couldn’t relate to any of the characters: There was just something missing for me. I did enjoy the AI narrator but every time she spoke I got confused and had to read the passage again.

It’s clear that THE LAST MURDER AT THE END OF THE WORLD is meticulously plotted, much like The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. Although Evelyn was also a chore to read, its payoff was better. Honestly I was just glad to have this one end. If it hadn’t been an ARC, I would probably have DNFed halfway through and skimmed to the end to get a sense of the conclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinions. I’m sorry this one wasn’t for me!

Stuart Turton always seems to have a fresh way of telling a story, and The Last Murder at the End of the World is no exception. After a deadly fog decimated most of humanity, a remote island became the new home for the small population who survived. When one of the elders is murdered, the group discovers that unless her murderer is found and brought to justice within the next 4 days, the elements that keep the fog away from the island will stop functioning. As one villager begins investigating, what once seemed like a utopia begins to reveal dark secrets and deadly mysteries that none of them could have predicted. Turton raises tantalizing social questions, presents an inventive world structure, and definitely keeps readers intrigued and surprised throughout the novel. Perfect for fans of Hanna Jameson's The Last and Ben Winters' the Last Policeman, as well as readers who enjoyed Lowry's The Giver, and those missing the tv series Lost.

Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley for the eARC of one of my most anticipated books of the year! I have really enjoyed Stuart Turton's other books, and this was no exception! In a not-too distant future the world, outside of a single peaceful island, is covered in a deadly fog. The islanders are used to listening to the Elders for everything, but when a murder occurs they have to use all their skills to solve the mystery before the fog arrives.
This book is in some ways a classic "locked room" sort of mystery, but the storytelling is so compelling that it doesn't feel classic at all. One thing I love about Turton's stories is always the atmosphere and the setting ~ the peaceful island set against both the threat of fog from without and a murderer within is incredibly propulsive and engaging.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. This was actually my first Stuart Turton book, and WOW what an amazing one to start with. I loved the unique narrator/POV, and can't believe that I got to witness this book early. I was engrossed the ENTIRE time, and literally couldn't put it down. Also, so many twists and turns? Didn't expect the ending, nor all of the things we find out along the way, such a unique story, and take on the future. Thank you Mr. Turton for reminding me how much I love Sci-Fi!!!!! A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.

4.25 stars!

Thank you to Stuart Turton and Sourcebooks for an ARC of this book in exchange for my full, honest review!

I'm not known for enjoying mystery novels but the science fiction elements of this book really sold me. This is my first of Stuart Turton's books and I definitely want to look through his backlist because this was just so much fun. The Last Murder at the End of the World combines the classic 'whodunit' format with a wild speculative apocalypse story, resulting in one of the most entertaining mystery novels I've read.

First, the good about this book, and there's a lot. The world is very inventive and Turton builds up a lot of world-building very fast so you don't feel totally lost for half the book. The narrative style is REALLY cool, with Abi's voice giving first person accounts of all the people in the village. That in particular I think was super creative and really effective for story-telling. The end really does wrap up all of the little hints dropped throughout the story which, given the sheer number of them, is an achievement on its own.

There are two criticisms I have, one I think is potentially a problem with the book and the other is more a problem for me personally. The genuine fault I found is that Emory is always characterized as the one who asked questions and always has despite everyone else being pretty resistant to doing so. This is a pretty common protagonist archetype in dystopian fiction because the reader will more easily relate to and root for a character who pushes back against the regime. The issue is that I don't think it's ever explained why Emory in particular is like this. Genuinely no other villager is like this or potentially has ever been like this, and it's not like there's some inciting incident in Emory's life that leads her to question everything. I just think when you have a character born into a fixed regime, who grows up along complacent people, there needs to be a clear reason why they start to push back against it. The other issue is just that, either because I don't read mysteries that often or because I'm a little slow, I had trouble keeping track of all the clues and positions and who knows what and all that. As mentioned before in the compliments, there's a lot to keep track of! It's not really an issue with the book but it's something to be aware of as a reader.

Anyway, I absolutely recommend this and am glad to have discovered a new (to me) author who is doing fun things with sci-fi mysteries because I think it's a criminally underfed niche with a lot of potential. No matter which side you fall on, sci-fi or mystery, I think there's a lot in this novel to appeal to both kinds of readers.

Happy reading!