An intense read that blends a whodunit mystery in a dystopian future. When the lead scientist and creator of this idyllic and protected island is found murdered, the countdown begins. With only hours to figure out the truth, before the protective shield around the island falls, Emory is appointed to figure out the case. This book had a lot of ebbs and flows for me, but I got into the second half of the book it was hard to put down.

Outside the island is a fog that kills all living things. On the island, there is a murder that must be solved in order to save the world. 122 islanders and their elders (or scientists) have lived in harmony for hundreds of years. They are content in their work and their rules from the elders. When one of the elders is brutally murdered and their security system wipes away everyone's memories, it is up to one villager to discover what happened before the mist fog kills them all.

This was a puzzle I'm not sure still that I have worked out but it was fun trying to keep ahead of the investigation, while also trying to work out what exactly was going on on this bizarre island.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC! This book kept me engaged with short chapters and an intriguing premise. Things didn't pan out plotwise as I had thought and I found it to be a bit underwhelming. Overall, the book was interesting and engaging, but fell off about halfway through.

On a remote island at the end of the world, 122 villagers and 3 elder scientists exist in idyllic harmony, shielded from the great fog that swept the earth and destroyed humanity in its path. While it's not the most conventional community, the villagers enjoy the structure of their life on the island; farming, fishing, completing tasks for the scientists. Always an early curfew.

Then one day, the villagers awake to an unimaginable crime: Niema, their chief scientist and beloved elder, has been murdered. As Niema's death gives way to a whirlwind of hysteria and suspicion, a far greater danger looms in the horizon: somehow, her death has lowered the island's world-class security system, and the fog is drawing near. Unless her murder can be solved, the island and all who live on it are doomed to the same fate that met humanity those years ago.

If you're even a bit confused by the summary of Stuart Turton's latest, know that's precisely how I felt going into the book. Like in his astounding debut "The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle," Turton draws his readers in here with a sense of sinister unease; something is not what it seems. However, despite my best efforts, I never felt like I fully got my footing in "The Last Murder at the End of the World." The world of the island felt clunky and odd in ways that "7 1/2 Deaths" did not, and--no spoilers here--a mix of 1st and 3rd person dialogue throughout the story only added to my confusion. Having been plenty intrigued by the premise, I wanted so badly to love this but the execution simply wasn't there.

Overall I really enjoyed this book! I appreciated the twists even if I saw them coming, and how it really wasn't about the murder in the end, so much as the community we made along the way. That feels like a lazy high school response, but it IS actually the vibe of the book. You almost live in this village along side everyone.

At the end of the day, the book just confirms people are kind of the worst and that the planet will go on without us. The story raises some questions regarding AI and collection hive brain (boy did it take me a minute to realize THAT) but -- similar to the other Stuart Turton book I've read -- you really have to ride the vibe.

I heard very good things about this author. The pacing was a little difficult to deal with but overall it was a decent read. It kept me hooked for the most part but was slightly a struggle at some parts.

I was very intrigued from the beginning but as the book went on, I felt myself getting more and more uninterested. I was still able to finish the read and the mystery was fun, however it was a little disappointing.

🏝️🔎 🪦🌎

This might be one of the strangest books I've ever read, but that's a staple of Stuart Turton's writing. I was a huge fan of The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. Set on an idyllic island amidst a world ravaged by a deadly fog, this murder mystery challenges the villagers to uncover truths that defy their reality. Nothing is what it seems, and they are tasked with finding the killer when everything they know isn't what it seems. If you're a fan of T.J. Klune, then this might be the book for you!

After reading and loving 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, I felt let down by this book. It was dystopian fantasy, not a murder mystery with some imaginative elements.

I only picked this up because I've heard good things about this author's other books, both of which I have tried, and failed, to read. So I should have known that I would not be into this one either. I didn't like the supernatural talk and the audiobook narrator's voice got on my nerves so this is a big old DNF.

Just couldn't get into it, unfortunately. "Every. book it's reader" means not every book is for every reader. I'm sure this book will have many happy readers.

A very interesting premise. I was hooked for most of the book. It definitely kept me guessing but I did feel as if we were just going around in circles towards the end.

I have loved Stuart Turton’s other novels but struggled with this one. The concept was enticing but I could not get into the pacing.

This book was strange but I did enjoy it! The mystery was intriguing, and the sci-fi elements were incorporated into it very well. I never really felt like I had a complete handle on what exactly was going on.

The story itself was truly unexpected. Stuart Turton's mysteries always have a few bizarre components that require you to suspend belief. This one was no exception. I've enjoyed his other books as well and look forward to seeing what he comes up with next.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I absolutely love this book. It was a very interesting. Take on a murder mystery set within a background of climate change. This was very unique and I am still thinking about it months later after reading it.

I knew nothing about this book when I started out other than it was by Stuart Turton, an author I’ve come to expect great things from. The beginning does take a minute to set up the dystopian world but once the groundwork is laid the story takes off. I loved the twists and turns of the mystery, the story propelled by a countdown of doom. The mystery was satisfying in that it keeps the reader guessing, but gives enough away to be a satisfying read. This would be a great book club pick. It offers plenty of points on human nature, morality, society, family, and authority to fuel discussion. This one surprised me but I’d happily recommend it to anyone looking for Sherlock dystopian.

After loving both of Stuart Turton’s other books, I went into The Last Murder at the End of the World with high expectations.

Let me tell you… those expectations were met! One of my favorite books of the year :)

Just the premise alone sucked me. It had SO many of my favorite buzzwords and phrases! A murder mystery set on an island. Sci-fi, speculative elements. A countdown clock. A close-knit, isolated group of people living together. From page one I was engrossed in this story and it never let up.

Turton’s world building and the way he crafts an intricate mystery puzzle stand out in the slew of mediocre thrillers and mysteries I often read. He takes care to write smart plots that keep you thinking. While I don’t know if he will ever top The Seven and a Half Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, this story came pretty close!

If you enjoy well-crafted, world building, a cleverly constructed plot, and fleshed-out, interesting characters in your mysteries, you need to pick up this book!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the digital arc. All opinions are my own.

This was a super interesting, complicated murder post apocalyptic-sci-fi murder mystery. It was difficult to follow at times, but I was intrigued the entire time and wanted to know what really happened. It was a smidgen convoluted, but the main idea and narrator were different from anything I’ve read before. Initially I was very annoyed by Emory (arguably the main character), but as soon as she was tasked with solving the murder, she was much more likeable and I found myself rooting for her. Despite everything that happens and the various people killed, I found it to have almost the happiest ending possible, which I generally prefer. This author is always super inventive with plotting and this book is no different. I’m sure I’ll want to read more from him in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me access to this eARC for my honest opinion!

Master of genre-bending crime thrillers, “The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle” and “The Devil and the Dark Water,” Stuart Turton has returned with another addictive closed-circle mystery.

In “The Last Murder at the End of the World,” Turton crafts a compelling whodunit within a dystopian, post-apocalyptic backdrop as Emory, a resident of a small, secluded island that holds the remainder of the world’s population, is driven to unravel the suspicious death of teacher, Niema, or face the fatal consequences: the defenses that keep a lethal black fog at bay will come to a halt.

With a disembodied AI voice that resonates in everyone’s minds, questions about the future of humanity and its relationship with technology and memory, and enough twists to keep the pages turning late into the night, Turton proves he’s at the top of his game.

I really enjoyed this blend of Sci-Fi and mystery! I love a good thriller and I love a good dystopian story, and this book combined both of those genres so well. I was a fan of Evelyn Hardcastle, so I was really hoping this one would be just as good. There are similar elements, such as an unreliable narrator and missing timelines. But the story fell fresh and unique. I flew through it! The only reason this wasn't the five stars is because the ending left me a little underwhelmed.