✨Book Review✨
The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton
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I don't even really have the words to describe this book. It was just so weird. I really liked the concept, but it was a little hard to follow a lot of the time. Reading it gave me that feeling like when something is on the tip of your tongue. Like you can follow it, but can't quite grasp it and retain it. It is also definitely more apocalyptic/sci-fi than thriller, so make sure that's what you go into it expecting.
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When the Fog came, it killed everything in its path. Plants, animals, humans, they all perished when covered by the Fog. Except for one island. On that island, owned by a scientist, shields were developed that repelled the Fog and kept it away and those on the island survived.
Now there are one hundred and twenty-two villagers and three elders, or scientists. It is a paradise where everyone lives and eats communally and there is no violence. Abi is a type of computer which can track everyone's thinking and trains everyone to be kind above all.

That is, until this morning when the body of the main scientist the woman the villagers regard as a mother, is found dead. She has been stabbed and hit on the head with something heavy, then the building in which she was found set on fire. Who could have done such a thing? The remaining scientists, her son and her best friend enlist a villager Emory, to solve the murder. It must be done quickly because when she was killed, the shields came down and the Fog is approaching. There are only ninety hours until it gets there and kills everyone and everything.

I've read Stuart Turton's books before and I can't imagine what must go on in his head on a daily basis. Each of his books are involved and full of twists. The story is narrated by Abi, the computer like entity that knows what everyone is thinking and all the secrets of the island. But is Abi a reliable narrator? The secrets are slowly unearthed to reveal that the villagers have been living in a world of artifice and falsehoods and the tension mounts as Emory attempts to solve the murder. This book is recommended for both mystery and science fiction readers.

This "who done it" is unique and quirky. It was in an almost pot-apocalyptic world where the protagonist had to solve a murder or else the world would end. Some parts dragged a bit but overall a good read.

Plot twist after plot twist I ended up with more questions than answers and that, my friends, is the sign of a good book.

ST’s narration is the perfect breath of fresh air between everything you might’ve been reading; it's simple but so effective that you might think of ruining your sleep schedule for just one more chapter (it's never just one), it makes you visualize every little detail without boring you with too many descriptions, and it'll make you cry even if he's speaking about AI.

Furthermore, I've seen many comparisons with his first book but, unfortunately, I still haven't read it, so I can't say if it's better or worse; what I can say it's that this one is a nice story, set in a future not that unlikely, with the undercover message of what it means being human.

Thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

A thrilling dystopian novel perfect for fans of Neal Shusterman, Stuart Turton’s The Last Murder at the End of the World explores a post-apocalyptic island where the last of humanity has survived, and the lengths they go to to prevent the virus that ended the world from infecting their space. With prevalent comments on global warming, the use of technology and AI, and what it means to be human, Turton’s novel follows a cast of characters as they spend their last 107 hours alive trying to solve a murder, which has the potential to either doom them to “the fog” or save them from inevitable death. Unfortunately, everyone’s memories have been wiped, the other leaders are being evasive, and the only person who seems to see the truth is labeled crazy. In a desperate and thrilling countdown, Turton’s characters must go where they’ve never gone before, asked questions they never dreamt of, and perform tasks they previously deemed impossible.

This book hooked me from the get-go, and was impossible to put down from page one. Turton has a truly brilliant mind, and his ability to weave mystery and doubt into the mind of the reader is unmatched. Featuring gasp-worthy reveals, white-knuckled scenes of stress, and an important message for humanity, The Last Murder at the End of the World is a stand-out novel for 2024, and a beautiful revival od the dystopian genre. Fans of the Arc of Scythe series will love this book.

This book is a fascinating journey into some pretty deep topics - all wrapped up in a murder mystery. The inhabitants of an island are living their lives, after escaping a dark cloud that has surrounded the earth and killed everyone and everything it touched. They have a device that keeps the cloud at bay, but one night the device goes offline, someone is killed, and the cloud is getting closer. They need to solve the mystery or all be exterminated by the incoming cloud. We follow an interesting case of characters as they navigate the dark secrets and twists and turns to try to stay alive. I loved the pacing of this book and the characters were so interesting. The twist and turns kept me guessing and I enjoyed the fresh take on a locked room mystery. Another Stuart Turton hit!

I finished this book but I am not sure why I kept reading. It was a weird for me and not my normal genre. I didn't hate it but I didn't love it!

Stuart Turton's The Last Murder at the End of the World is a thrilling ride through a wild, dystopian world. The story follows a detective on a mission to solve a murder in a reality where time and truth are anything but straightforward. Turton’s writing is sharp and engaging, pulling you into a suspenseful plot filled with twists that keep you guessing.

The characters are well-crafted, each hiding their own secrets, which adds an intriguing layer to the mystery. It’s not just about figuring out whodunit; it’s a deeper dive into what justice really means. With a mix of mystery, sci-fi, and thought-provoking themes, this book stands out as something fresh and exciting. If you’re into gripping stories that challenge your thinking, The Last Murder at the End of the World is definitely worth picking up!

I found this one hard to get into and it was my first time reading something from this author. I think it's a weird one because I would recommend, but not to everyone.

The first half of this story focuses on the end of the world, and that was my favorite part of the book. I was absolutely riveted, turning the pages as fast I could, trying to figure out what was going on. I enjoyed the story, but I didn’t love it. It is surprising, and it is inventive, and yet I never found myself fully engaged with the fate of these people.

I haven't read 7 1/2 deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, but I likely will!

From my point of view, The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton is a mixed experience. The premise is undeniably fascinating—an isolated island setting with a final murder mystery at the end of the world, which immediately hooked me. The atmosphere is thick with tension, and Turton’s talent for weaving intricate, mind-bending puzzles is on full display. However, I found the execution a bit overwhelming at times. The multiple perspectives and shifting timelines, while ambitious, left me feeling more confused than intrigued on occasion. Some of the plot twists were brilliant, but others felt unnecessarily complicated, which took away from the pacing and flow. If you're a fan of complex, layered narratives, there's a lot to appreciate, but personally, I wished for a bit more clarity and cohesion in the storytelling.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. I highly enjoyed it and will be recommending it to others.

I'm a huge fan of mysteries, especially ones of the "locked room" variety, and Turton is an author who really knows how to nail the claustrophobic build up of, "What is really happening here?" This is my second book by the author and I've loved both so much - so twisty, they absolutely keep you on your toes throughout.

What a creative take on the whodunnit. Classic Stuart Turton outside-the-box concept and wonderful execution. Thank you for the chance to read early!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC! I could not finish this one. I tried but it got so convoluted and I think I got lost in the sci-fi. It might not be my style of writing but that’s definitely personal preference. I was definitely intrigued by the characters and the content at first, the premise is cool.

Did I step out of my comfort zone with this one? Heck yes I did! But I still had an okay time and became highly infatuated with the outcome.

I will admit it did take me about 40-50 pages to become invested and unfortunately if I DNF'd books, I feel this book would have been one I would have sat down based on the vibes it was giving me in the very beginning. I truly had no idea what I was getting myself into

But I am glad I pushed through because I became so entranced with finding out what was going to transpire from this apocalyptic murder mystery of a story.

It had so many relevant quotes and insights to the real world today I always had to have my highlighter nearby. Just in case!

And the story line was very intriguing and always kept me guessing! I really did have a hard time figuring out who the actual villain of this story was up until the very end.

The predictability is minimal because the suspect list is quite expansive and doesnt give you much time to ponder on one single person for long before quickly moving on to the next suspect. And it does become a going down the list and follow the clues to find the guilty party type of story that moved somewhat fairly quickly.

It felt like something you would experience with a Neil Gaiman and Agatha Christie mash up.

Things that I really didn't care for were the characters. They all seemed quite juvenile for the ages they were wrote as. And the audio was just not my cup of tea. The voice actor was great don't get me wrong. But it just felt dry and one dimensional for all the out of this world kind of things that were happening in this plot. But this is probably a me preference more than anything.

Even with the negatives I still found myself pondering back to the story and wanting to get back into the plot every time I sat it down. And even tho it wasn't entirely my jam I do highly recommend if your looking for something entirely different and keeps you guessing.

A fantastic sci-fi murder mystery! Not as good at 7 1/2 Death of Evelyn Hardcastle but still worth the read!

Ambitious but hard to crack into. Started strong but lost me halfway through because I can’t stand characters who are not real (spoilers!)

Thank you to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for an e-ARC.

Wow! I loved this fast-paced sci-fi murder mystery novel. There are 122 people stranded on an island staving off a humanity killing fog. That's all I'm going to tell you. I was quickly turning the pages toward the end to figure out "whodunnit". This isn't a hard sci-fi, so don't let that turn you off. The pacing was quick and I churned through this book in a matter of days.

This was my first Stuart Turton novel and it most certainly won't be my last. I would definitely recommend to both sci-fi and mystery/thriller readers alike.

I absolutely adored the 71/2 deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle and I picked up this title because it was by Stuart Turton. It was a different type of read for me but I found myself enjoying this take on the end of the world. It's quite different for the numerous books out there. Solve the murder to save what's left of the world.
Outside the island there is nothing: the world was destroyed by a fog that swept the planet, killing anyone it touched.
On the island: it is idyllic. One hundred and twenty-two villagers and three scientists, living in peaceful harmony. The villagers are content to fish, farm and feast, to obey their nightly curfew, to do what they're told by the scientists.
Until, to the horror of the islanders, one of their beloved scientists is found brutally stabbed to death. And then they learn that the murder has triggered a lowering of the security system around the island, the only thing that was keeping the fog at bay. If the murder isn't solved within 107 hours, the fog will smother the island—and everyone on it.
But the security system has also wiped everyone's memories of exactly what happened the night before, which means that someone on the island is a murderer—and they don't even know it.