The book is a countdown written through little chapters and the narrator is artificial intelligence in everyone's mind.

A post-apocalyptic mind control murder story is an intriguing premise, but not great as a mystery since the narrator makes things up on a whim and everyone's memories are taken for their benefit. Every time a lead is going somewhere or tension is building, the author wipes it away by some new arbitrary decree from the omniscient overseer! And while this new world was somewhat fascinating, my interest plummeted after it was revealed that the whole island (the only safe place left on earth) was sold off to save billionaires. Overall, "The Last Murder at the End of the World" landed on a dud.

Summed up: Billionaire's mind control vanity project goes awry.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

The world has been destroyed by a fog that kills every living thing in its path. The only thing left standing is an island and its surrounding waters where they have managed to hold off the fog. When one of the elders of the community dies, it triggers an event that lets the fog come in. If the community cannot solve the murder before the fog reaches their shores, they will all die.

It took me a while to get into this book because I couldn't figure out what was going on and who the narrator was. I read the first few chapters 3 times before I could figure it out. Once I got there though, I really liked the story. There are a lot of characters so it is confusing to keep them straight for a while, but I loved Emory and Clara so much. The twists and turns of this story will keep you guessing until the very end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC of this book.

This was one of my most anticipated books of the year, and it did not disappoint!

Stuart Turton is one of my favorite authors, and I always love seeing what concept he comes up with next. This one really intrigued me because I love a high stakes countdown, and the idea that the villagers have 107 hours to solve a murder before everyone dies had me hooked. Also that everyone is trapped on this island and things are weird because the world has ended.

The mystery of it all really had me in a chokehold. The first half I could not put down, because my mind was so wrapped up trying to figure out what the fuck was going on! It was so good!

I do think the last third could have been executed better, and I also wished the characters were a little more fleshed out. My favorite thing about The Devil in the Dark Water is that I found every character so interesting and three-dimensional. Here I just felt some distance from the characters, in part of the memory wipe plot device, but just wanted more from them.

Overall definitely a fun read and would recommend!

Awful. So boring. I was barely able to get through it. Disappointing from an author I’ve loved in the past!

Thank you Stuart Turton, Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a DNF for me. I also had a very hard time with his other books, so I do believe it is a me problem.

Reminiscent of watching the old series Lost or a grown up version of Shusterman’s Scythe series this book features a dystopian community clinging to survival on the edge of the world after human civilization has collapsed. Trouble and conflict splits the leaders’ unity until one of them is killed.

With chapter headings like “43 hours until Humanity’s Extinction” the tension is palpable. With an omniscient narrator who talks to all humans in their minds and also seemingly breaks the third wall readers wonder if the technology created by the murdered leader has gone badly rogue.

Villagers manipulated in their sleep with no memory but visible wounds; unreliable memories from everyone due to memory swipes the night of the murder, and the ticking time bomb of death delivering fog creeping ever closer.

Reads with a cinematic, propulsive energy that keeps readers guessing and pages turning. The plausible red herrings and unreliable memories makes the truth hard to tease out. A layered plot with plenty of discussion points make this the perfect book club selection. Be sure you have time carved out once you start, you won’t want to put it down.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

This one took me a long time to get through. I'm going through a lot of things right now, so my attention span when it comes to reading is not as long as it should be (meaning I'm having a hard time focusing). This is a book that requires a lot of focusing. But that's not a bad thing. It was very intricate and well-plotted, and even though I had to put it down for a few weeks to finish another book that had priority (because of book club), I was still able to pick it up and keep track of what had happened. It was an interesting read, and although I'm not sure of the motivations of some of the characters, it was still good.

I was so invested for the first half of the story. I was intrigued and wanted to know more. I loved the premise and couldn’t put the book down. That’s when I started the second half and I just wanted it to end. I was shocked at how much of a negative turn this took. I just didn’t care anymore and was so disappointed in the path that it took. I love both of Stuart Turton’s other books but this was a huge letdown.

Book - 2 Stars

I loved "The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle". Every. Single. Second. Of. It [even when I didn't know what was going on and even the divisive ending]. I quickly bought his second book [which has been languishing on my shelf] and when I saw this new one on NG, I hit the request button and was super happy to get it.

Yeah.

So, this book didn't work for me. At all [my poor Mom had to listen to me rant and rave about it for a couple days]. I liked most of the characters [at least initially], with Emory and Clara being the standouts, and I really loved the subtle nods and nudges toward behaviors and circumstances surrounding us today, but everything else was just...meh.
The whole "mystery' never engaged me [especially after we learn certain things] and I found I was only finishing it because I had to know if this was all of it [was I seriously missing something? Nope, I don't think I was] and by the time I got to the end [the end, minus the whole scene with Emory and her husband, which was beautiful, was very, very flat for me], I was left very disappointed.
Overall, I just felt that the author was trying too hard and just never got the execution right.

Audiobook - 4 Stars

James Cameron Stewart is one of my favorite go-to narrators right now; it is funny, when I first listened to him, I was not a fan, but then I had to listen to him over a 6-book series, and well, he totally grew on me and here we are.
Other than ABI's voice [which I heard as way more feminine than what I was getting, so its totally on me and not really a reflection of the narration overall], I felt he did a excellent job and there were parts where his narration was the best part of the story. If you choose to read this book [and I encourage you to do so, as everyone's reading experience is different and you may love this so much and I would love that for you], I highly recommend this audiobook; I believe it will enhance your reading experience.

Thank you to NetGalley, Stuart Turton, James Cameron Stewart - Narrator, SOURCEBOOKS Landmark, and RB Media for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.

An island inhabited by a hundred or so villagers and three elders is surrounded by fog, all that is left of human civilization. The fog is held back by barriers to keep everyone on the island safe. They all work together to maintain the island and keep humanity going. However, one night one of the elders is murdered, the barriers aren't working, and none of them can remember what happened the night before. With a ticking clock until the fog approaches the island, the villagers and other two elders need to work together to solve the crime.

Stuart Turton explores another genre through a murder mystery, this time in the realm of speculative science fiction. The characters and their complex relationships, especially Thea and Emory helped elevate the book a lot. The short chapters bounce around the many characters, which keeps the story moving and once the murder happens the book keeps at a steady pace until the grand climax. Turton builds out a familiar but unique society that makes the murder mystery a lot more challenging to solve. There were plenty of twists and reveals throughout to change how the reader views the characters. The solution was not the most surprising, but helped tie a lot of the book together. The class themes and unique setting make this book worth reading, even if it doesn't reach the heights of Turton's prior novels. Recommend this to people wanting a murder mystery in a new setting or a twist on a post-apocalyptic novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a copy of The Last Murder at the End of the World in exchange for an honest review.

I loved The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle so I was excited to read the latest by Stuart Turton. While his Evelyn Hardcastle is still my favorite book by the author I The Last Murder at the End of the World is an apocalyptic story that ties in science fiction and supernatural thriller elements which make for a fascinating mystery read.

Just when I think a new Stuart Turton book can't be more inventive and wildly entertaining than the last, I'm happily proven wrong. Turton has such a strong grasp on his writing style and is a master of high-concept murder mysteries. New and old fans alike will not be disappointed by this mystery set in such a broken future. I loved it!!!

Stuart Tarton simply doesn't miss. This was fun, weird, and disturbing all at once and I was on the edge of my seat despite and because of the literary nature of Turton's writing. I'll read everything this man produces.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2 stars

I normally love dystopian books but this was not for me.

I absolutely love a good dystopian apocalyptic novel, and this one had the added element of a mystery with a ticking clock. The story is told through the perspective of an AI that is in the head of all of the villagers. We race against time to uncover the identity of the murderer of the beloved elder on the island before the deadly fog consumes the last remnants of life on the planet.

The concept of the evolution of humanity and what they created was intriguing. I wished to learn more about how humans were able to survive for so long, as the characters did not seem to age or aged very slowly, with some being well over 100 years old. However, this didn't hinder the progression of the story. The book was full of gripping elements, with numerous twists and turns on every page, making the reader second guess everything they had put together about the murderer. As the extinction of humanity grew nearer, the urgency in the tone of the book also intensified, making the last few chapters particularly intense.

The characters were well-developed and evoked empathy. The world in the story was intricate, and I would have appreciated learning more about how and why we ended up on this island, beyond just the basics. Despite this, the book is definitely worth reading.

I must preface my review with a disclaimer that I generally don’t appreciate science fiction as much as some people. However, even if I did, I can’t say I would have enjoyed this book much more. The plot is convoluted, slow paced, full of plot holes and mostly a disappointment. Not a recommendation from me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

I've never read anything like this before. I may end up changing my rating after I think about it for a few days. It was soooo good.

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark | Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC! "The Last Murder at the End of the World" by Stuart Turton is a gripping and intricately crafted mystery that takes readers on a thrilling journey through time and suspense. Set against the backdrop of a remote and eerie island, the story follows an eclectic group of characters trapped in a deadly game where past sins come back to haunt them. Turton's writing is masterful, blending elements of psychological suspense with a touch of gothic horror. The characters are richly developed, each hiding secrets and motives that add layers to the intricate plot. The narrative unfolds through twists and turns, keeping readers guessing until the final, shocking revelation. With its atmospheric setting and compelling storytelling, "The Last Murder at the End of the World" is a must-read for fans of intricate mysteries and intricate puzzles that challenge both the characters and the readers alike.

Stuart Turton's The Last Murder at the End of the World mixes murder mystery with an end-of-the-world thriller, set on a remote island where survivors are facing both impending disaster and a spooky fog full of deadly creatures. The story starts strong with the island's eerie vibe and the looming threat of apocalypse, keeping readers hooked with suspense and unanswered questions as secrets about the island unravel.

But things shift gears when the focus turns to a murder investigation involving one of the island's scientists. Some readers might feel like the story loses steam here. The intricate details of the murder case, plus the flip-flopping between first and third-person perspectives, can leave readers feeling confused and disconnected. Despite its bold ideas and gripping start, the book struggles with pacing and overly complicated plot twists that might make it tough for some readers to stay engaged.

In the end, The Last Murder at the End of the World shows off Turton's imaginative storytelling, but it's probably best suited for fans of literary fiction mixed with speculative elements. If you dig deep mysteries, you might appreciate Turton's style, but if you prefer a simpler, more immersive read, you might find this one a bit of a challenge.

"The Last Murder at the End of the World" by Stuart Turton was a little different than the novels I read, but I enjoyed the blend of sci-fi and mystery overall. Perhaps I'm just not used to sci-fi books, but the plot started off quite slow for me taking its time to build momentum. The setting—a dystopian future on the brink of collapse—immediately grabs your attention, but the character's names and roles were at times difficult to follow in the early chapters. However, about halfway through the novel when the plot finally picked up, I could not put the book down!

Turton's ability to craft a world that feels both eerily familiar and completely unique is truly mesmerizing as he weaves in aspects of the human condition and moral dilemmas that every reader can relate to. Each chapter pulls you deeper into the mystery, with the tension ratcheting up as the clock ticks down. If you're a fan of clever, intricately plotted mysteries that keep you guessing until the very end, this book is a must-read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.