Turton was coming to one of my local indie's for a signing, which is why I requested this book (as well as reading his previous two as well) and while I can say this was probably the one that surprised me the least (as in I figured out a bunch of things before the reveals occurred) I still very much enjoyed it. I find that Turton has a special way of blending (at least) two genres together with his stories, and this one was no exception. A mix of dystopian/apocalyptic and mystery/thriller I was fascinated to see where he took it, and overall I wasn't disappointed. The setting was certainly a big draw for me, and several of the ideas that he played with were interesting to see. I also really enjoyed our main character/sleuth, and appreciated the route that her characterization took. Watching the growth in this character over the course of less than a week was great. Not only does Turton write a great locked-room mystery, but he writes characters you want to read more about. I think my only real complaint here was that overall I was slightly frustrated by the fact that we have an omnipotent narrator for this story, and thus it seems a little pointless. After listening to him talk about where he was coming from I can see why he did it, and thus am more forgiving. Don't get me wrong, the mystery is still there, and it's a good one, and looking back on everything I can understand why he played it this way, but I do recall while reading the story going "what is the point of this book if the narrator already knows what happened?". I'll also admit that based on the synopsis we are told more or less who is going to die and that it's a race against the clock to find out who did it, but the murder itself doesn't happen until like a third of the way through the book (which is a good 100 or so pages in) and while I didn't mind the wait because I thought the worldbuilding was just, if not more, interesting, I can imagine there are going to be people who don't care for the wait. All of that being said I don't regret taking the time to read this book (nor any of the author's other novels) and I happily wrote a shelf-talker for this one the day it came out. Based on his previous publishing schedule I'm sure it will be a good two or so years before his next book, but I'll certainly be picking it up when it comes out, and would suggest fans of mystery stories to check out not only this but his other books as well.

I found Stuart Turton's The Last Murder at the End of the World enjoyable and loved the premise. It's a fun read, but does pose some interesting philosophical questions about humanity and community.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

A fun SciFi murder mystery. While the genre isn’t my first pick, the writing was enjoyable and I will be reading other books from this author

Earlier I read [book:The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle|36337550] by [author:Stuart Turton|17160667] and found it to be unique so I picked this one up to see where his mind went this time.

Description:
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.

And the clock is ticking.

My Thoughts:
This had a an inventive plot with good world building. This is a post-apocalyptic world where a small group of people have isolated to a "safe" island haven where a deadly fog has overtaken the rest of the world and somehow they have held it at bay. This is a mystery with some devastating secrets known only to a few - the elders. The villagers do the manual day-to-day work on the island and follow the rules of the elders without question - mostly. There are a couple of the villagers who don't quite fit the mold. This is a fascinating story that will appeal to those who like sci-fi and fantasy.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark through Netgalley for an advance copy.

This was on my most anticipated 5-star read and did not disappoint. It's hard to give a review without telling spoilers. This book needs to be experienced going in cold. Right now the author is 2 out of 3 for enjoyed books written. I'm definitely looking forward to his next book!!

#NETGALLEY
#STUARTTURTON
#THELASTMURDRRATTHEENDOFTHEWORLD

3.5

A post-apocalyptic, scifi, locked-room murder mystery. Not my favorite by this author, but not so bad that I won't read from him again. It was a bit hard to keep the characters and their relations to each other straight and it felt long even though it isn't particularly. I liked the small reference to his previous book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

I adore Stuart Turton’s writing and the richly detailed worlds he creates. The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle and The Devil and the Dark Water are among my favorite books of the last 5 years. While The Last Murder at the End of the World isn’t on my list of favorites, I appreciate the originality of this story. I’ll gladly continue to read everything Turton writes and believe he’s one of the most imaginatively fresh writers of this time.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I had high hopes for The Last Murder at the end of the World since I loved The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. Unfortunately, this one fell a little short for me. Like Hardcastle, I spent the first half of the book confused, but unlike Hardcastle, the pieces didn't fall into place as well by the end of the novel. Stuart Turton has a great imagination and writing syle. The potential was there for this to be a really good novel. It just unfolded in a weird, disjointed fashion that left me more baffled than satisfied. I think this will work for those who like a little sci-fi sprinkled in with their mystery.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read and review honestly an advanced digital copy.

This book was really fun! I felt the characters were a little underdeveloped, maybe because there were so many. I was in it for the mystery, and I felt really satisfied by the ending.

I had high hopes for this book based on the description, but it didn't impress me much. The characters were ok, but it was hard to follow at times and I almost had to force myself to finish it.

This one had me hooked, right from the beginning. Someone is going to die - we know this right from the title and the first chapter. But it's the orchestrating - where it feels like a play. I loved trying to keep track of each person who had injuries, each little sliver of memory, and each twist. I tried to figure out where each person was when and what they could have been doing. I twisted my mind in circles as I tried to figure out what could be in the box. I was completely absorbed in the mystery and wanted to know more. It's a good book to read all in one sitting - or in just a day or 2 - to keep each twist fresh in your mind. An adventure and what I've come to know as the author's signature storytelling style. I love it and can't wait to read more!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the eARC of The Last Murder at the End of the World! All opinions in this review are my own.

After loving The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, I have been waiting for Stuart Turton's next mind-blowing mystery. While I was disappointed by The Devil and the Dark Water, the premise of The Last Murder at the End of the World seemed like it was going to be amazing!

I don't think Turton could ever write a book that is twistier than The 7 1/2 Deaths, but The Last Murder at the End of the World delivered a similar kind of reading experience. I like going into his books not quite sure what is going on or who to trust. The Last Murder does an excellent job of slowly revealing details until the story comes together very quickly at the end. It is better knowing little about this book before reading and trying to avoid spoilers at all cost to make the experience better.

“A gripping tale that reads like a Sherlock Holmes novel set in a broken future…solve the murder to save what's left of the world.”

This immersive, post-apocalyptic murder mystery was a fun and compelling read that kept me constantly curious where the story would take us. Similar to his debut (The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle), Stuart Turton slowly drops little breadcrumb clues throughout the story that keeps you engaged, but also has you repeatedly asking: What the heck is going on? Just go with it.

The build-up to the ending became a little convoluted, but I still really enjoyed my reading experience with this one! There is no denying the author is extremely creative and his writing keeps getting better with each book!

If you’re a fan of futuristic doomsday novels or murder mysteries with sci-fi thrown in, I would recommend this book to you.

I want to thank Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark so much for an advanced copy!

The story had me pulled in from the beginning. I liked learning about the village and how they all interacted. There were many mysteries along the way that were all revealed by the end.

The story is as atmospheric as the fog that surrounds our island setting. We’re immersed in post-apocalyptic commune where the members all have roles and live in what appears to be harmony supporting each other in a small community and working really hard to survive. However, cracks are forming. The three leaders are practically gods to the community, unquestioned and respected by their power over the community, then one is murdered and the secrets of the years start to unravel. It’s a layered mystery that slowly, methodically chips away at what is real and what is manufactured history. Love the science fiction and the family/human nature dynamics.

The Last Murder at the End of the World

A Novel

By: Stuart Turton

Publish Date: 21 May 2024

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark/Sourcebooks Landmarks

General Fiction (adult), Mystery and thrillers, sci-fi and Fantasy

100 Book Reviews Professional Reader

I would like to thank both NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for allowing me to read and review this book.

Book Review:

I really enjoyed this book, and I gave it 4 stars. This book had me on the edge of my seat as I was reading it. I really enjoyed the family aspect and the friendships that were represented in the book. I couldn’t figure out who did it until it was reviled to me.

This book is about survival on an isolated island. The deadly fog is being held at bay for now, but it could come closer if the barrier fails. So far everything is going well and the people on the island are working together to survive. There are three elders who are in charge and run everything on this island. Then one day the oldest elder is found dead. She has been stabbed and 13 others are dead also. Who would do such a thing since the people don’t know anything about murder. One is bond to find answers and she needs to do so quickly because with the death of this elder the barrier is now down, and the fog is moving in. Can she solve the murder before they are all killed? You will have to read the book to find out.

Stuart Turton is an author that is amazing at taking something that seems relatively simple and giving it so much more meaning and this one is no different. This is not your typical dystopian fiction - it's a study in what makes a person human and how even the best intentions can fall short.

It doesn't take long to get attached to the characters in this book, which makes some revelations later on even harder to take. We witness classic family dynamics - parents and children with years of misunderstanding between them - but also things like close friendships where secrets are harbored and longstanding grudges dictate interactions (or lack thereof). But there's a lot going on in this book - it seems like a simple setup at first as far as solving a murder goes, but there's so much more going on behind the scenes, and small things that occur early on seem like curious afterthoughts only to discover they mean much more later on. Everything has importance, so it's worth paying close attention to everything that's said, done, and observed by all the characters. Even so, it's unlikely you'll see all the twists coming, which is a good thing.

This novel definitely keeps the suspense ratcheting up - after all, the characters have a looming deadline and the tension of it nearing is palpable throughout. It only grows more intense as the book goes on until the conclusion is right around the corner. There are reveals throughout that help to settle some pieces, but this is not going to be a title where everything is explained in one monologue at the end and I very much appreciate that. This book ensures you get caught up in caring about the characters but also wondering just what is going on and how it can all be repaired before it's too late.

Read this book if you:
- like dystopian sci-fi books
- don’t mind untangling a complex puzzle
- might find yourself playing a game of Clue during the end of the world

I have found I really enjoy a lot of dystopian reads, but this one was fairly complex and hard to follow at times. This felt a little too literary fiction for my taste. The premise is interesting, and the cover is BEAUTIFUL, but I had higher expectations for this book.

The narration was stellar. It was one I could easily listen to and I enjoyed the narrator’s voice.

If you like dystopian plots, literally fiction, and a complicated puzzle to try to solve - this is for you! I did enjoy the reveal of this one, but it dragged too much for my taste personally. But the concept was interesting and I am glad I read it.

4.5/5

CW: cruelty to animals, references to suicide/rape/child abuse, some gore, some others.

Read via NetGalley. “The Last Murder at the End of the World” is available now.

I don’t really know how you classify this sort of book, but at a guess I’d call it a locked room dystopian sci-fi murder mystery. It’s weird, it’s unique, and you’re either going to love it or hate it.

90 years ago, a great fog began rolling over the earth, killing every living thing in its path. A call went out, summoning all who could get there to a tiny island where they would be safe from the fog. Now, the last remnants of humanity live on this island. The villagers go about their daily routine, happy and content and safe. Until, one day, a murder occurs. The fog begins closing in, everyone’s memory of the night before has been wiped, and the race is on to solve the mystery and save humanity.

Full disclosure—if I hadn’t read (and loved) “The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle” first, I would have been incredibly confused by this book, and I don’t know if I would have liked it as much. I did, however, read the aforementioned book, so I was at least a little bit prepared for this one to be…unusual. Which it was, but it was also a lot of fun.

Let me start by saying that this book is absolutely not one you can read while only paying half attention. It’s not a bedtime, almost-asleep, partial context will do sort of thing. This is what I affectionately have termed a “thinky” sort of book. A “whole brain” book. In case it isn’t clear—you’re going to have to pay attention or, if you’re anything like me, you’ll get horribly lost somewhere in the middle and have to read the whole page over again. Sometimes twice. That being said, it’s an incredibly enjoyable adventure, and I found that I didn’t mind reading some things twice because I got to see even more information on the second go, which was very fun. The author is genius at weaving complex, detailed stories that all come together in such a way that you never saw it coming, but you probably could have if you’d been just a little smarter (it doesn’t matter how smart you are; you’re going to have missed at least 30% of the important bits because you didn’t know yet that they were important).

The thing I probably loved the most about this particular story is the delivery. We’re watching things unfold from the perspective of a narrator who is somehow both involved in and outside of the actual events. Better yet, that narration consists of a lot of twisted, morbid, eery statements delivered in a dry, matter of fact tone that’s so disconcerting as to be amusing. Using that narration, we also get to see enough of the setting, in vibrant and solid detail, to know what the setting looks and feels like to our characters without the action being upstaged by the world building. It’s the perfect balance of information, and it makes it that much easier to sink into the story as it unfolds.

This is the sort of book that sinks its teeth into you and won’t let go until you have all the answers. It was a little slow to kick off, and yet I couldn’t put it down. The whole thing is just one riveting occurrence after another, all snowballing up to a frantic, deliciously complex, “I’m so stressed about this I couldn’t possibly stop reading even if you pried this book out of my hands,” remarkably satisfactory ending. And if that wasn’t enough, scattered throughout the story are some of the most beautiful, understated, brain-altering turns of phrase that I’ve had the pleasure of reading. This man makes excellence look easy, and if he ever decides to stop writing and try to conquer the world, we’re in trouble.

Obviously, I loved this book. I did find it a little slower to get into than “7 ½ Deaths,” but I think that’s mostly to do with the background of this one being much more ‘dystopian fiction,’ which is a little out of my usual wheelhouse. At the end of the day, though, this is a locked room mystery with all the intrigue and moving parts that I so love in that sort of thing. Despite the obvious time differences, the book gives off the same sort of vibe as Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None,” and I can’t think of a higher compliment than a comparison to the queen of mysteries herself. The story makes a lot of statements— about humanity, about nature, even about those things that are given value and weight. I’ll be honest, it was a hard read at times; those statements were brutal, and they weren’t always flattering. But if you can get past how incredibly oddly specific the setting is, those statements are housed in one of the most enjoyable murder mysteries I’ve ever read.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

I LOVED 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, and to a slightly lesser extent The Devil and the Dark Water, so was therefore very excited to jump into the latest by Stuart Turton.

The Last Murder at the End of the World takes place on a small unnamed Greek Island, which is the last such place on Earth due to a deadly black fog having destroyed the rest of humanity 90 years ago. There are 122 villagers and 3 elders on the island, which sits atop an advanced scientific research facility that has unfortunately been sealed off due to the fog.

Except that the villagers are controlled by the elders and by "Abi', an AI voice in everyone's head that acts as a conscience and can wipe their memories. She also puts them to sleep at a specific time every night and wakes them at a specific time every morning. None of the villagers know what happens during those hours. Additionally, every villager dies at age 60 (regardless of whether they are healthy or not) and are replaced with a new 8-yr old child. So, it's weird. And it gets weirder as the story goes on.

Then one of the elders, Niema, gets murdered. This triggers the barriers that keep out the fog to lower, and a countdown clock to begin. One of the villagers, Emory, who has a penchant for asking questions, must solve the murder in order to save the island and all of the villagers from the impending fog. She uncovers a lot of hidden truths and secrets along the way.

The book is very twisty and turny, and just when you think you have the murder solved -- BAM -- you don't. The "killer" is not who you would suspect! It definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat all the way until the end. While '7 1/2 Deaths' is still my favorite, this book is a close second, and I would definitely recommend it for fans of dystopian thrillers and murder mysteries.