Member Reviews

I really struggled with this one. It started really slow and didn't really pick up. I only made it through about 70% of this one.

Was this review helpful?

Have to admit I am not sure if this would be easier to follow as a book vs audio. At times I had to go back and re-listen to what had just happened because I was getting lost in the story. Have to say the paperback that is coming out soon has a fabulous sprayed edge on it.

Was this review helpful?

I'm not sure if I'm more impressed with the audacity of the concept of this story or the skill with which it's told.

A small Greek island is home to 122 villagers and 3 scientists. Outside the island is a deadly fog that has swept the earth and is only kept at bay by a barrier designed by the scientists. Now one of the scientists, Niema, has been murdered and everyone's memory has been wiped of the events of the last 12 hours. The AI controlling the barrier has been instructed to turn off the barrier if the murder isn't solved by the time the clock runs out. And not even the murderer knows who it is.

The villagers are happy to go about their assigned daily tasks, listening to the AI voice, ABI, in their head that directs them and even makes them go to sleep every night at 8:45 pm, whether they've made it to their bed or not. Emory is a bit different. She has lots of questions and doesn't know what her role is. That makes her the perfect person to conduct the investigation. But what she discovers are some uncomfortable truths. And truths that upend what everyone believes are the hardest ones to get people to accept.

This book defies easy categorization. It's part dystopian novel, part post-apocalyptic thriller, and part murder mystery. All of it works. An AI narrator guides you along. Emory is a wonderful character who is easy to identify with. Many of the other characters are wonderful in their stubbornness and unwillingness to let go of the beliefs on which their lives have been based, even with the end of the world staring them in the face. The mystery of the island and the murder are both beautifully layered and intertwined. Spooling out in a way that keeps you both one step ahead and still in the dark.

I was spellbound by this book and the wonderful narration of James Cameron Stewart, who captured the various voices of the characters and the AI. A truly wonderful experience.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Was this review helpful?

I started and stopped this one too many times- had to DNF. The story just didn’t grab me. However, the narrator’s voice was great and pacing was perfect.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for my gifted copy of The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton. This was one that I heard a lot about so I requested it and honestly have no desire now to listen to it. But, as I have said, I heard many great reviews, I just cannot get into this one.

Was this review helpful?

I was really looking forward to reading this book because I enjoyed "The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle," but unfortunately it wasn't for me. It had a very intriguing premise, but I just couldn't get into it. I was grateful to have the audiobook, because I don't think I could have finished it otherwise. The short chapters and multiple POVs helped a bit, but I just didn't find myself picking this up or really wanting to finish it. Definitely a unique plot, but maybe dystopian/sci-fi novels just aren't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Mystery. Mythology. Fantasy. Well written. Fascinating premise. I wish I could spend a day in the author’s imagination

Was this review helpful?

A great read from one of my favorite authors. It was just dystopian enough. It was just mysterious enough. It was an insightful and entertaining (in a good way) read. I can't wait to see what Turton offers next!

Was this review helpful?

Unfortunately, audio format didn't work for me for this one. Originally, I was very interested in the book, but as more and more characters were introduced, it was hard for me to keep track of who was who without being able to have a physical copy in front of me.

I have it on my TBR to read a physical copy as I did enjoy the story and the narrator. It just wasn't the right format for me personally and wasn't able to finish.

Was this review helpful?

Better suited for those looking for a post-apocalyptic setting than a mystery. Would make for an interesting discussion if done as a buddy read or book club. There are some confusing parts that might benefit from deconstruction or a second reading. Unfortunately I wasn't engaged enough to reread and probably missed a significant part of the plot. Will look forward to and read Turton's next novel.

Audiobook is well narrated, but the novel has so many layers that it is difficult to follow in a audio format. Best done as a print read.

Was this review helpful?

I struggled hard to get into this. I really enjoyed Turton's previous books but I couldn't connected with thus at all. The pacing was slow and I wasn;t invested. DNF for me.

Was this review helpful?

What a hard fall for me. I loved The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, and I guess I shouldn't have held this book to that standard. However, this just didn't have any similar allure or effect on me. I didn't feel connected to any of the characters, and maybe that was the idea, but I couldn't get passed that feeling of zero direction. I hope Turton's next book is more captivating.

Was this review helpful?

3.5⭐️ I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading THE LAST MURDER AT THE END OF THE WORLD, but it was a fun ride!

I paired the book and audio for a fully immersive read, which was such a treat!

*many thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark, Tantor Audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

Was this review helpful?

3.5 Another fascinating world of mysteries to unravel by Stuart Turton. It was interesting seeing the different cultural touchstones that have been affecting us recently make up the back drop to this story: a pandemic, AI, and the haves vs the have nots. The story centers around an island on Earth many decades into the future, after a deadly fog has spread around the world. We find ourselves in a pocket of the planet that has been spared it's destruction, but in the midst of all this there is a murder that needs to be solved by an unlikely person.

I always appreciate Turton's world building and the quest his MCs have to go on. Worth a read if you like sci-fi and mysteries.

Was this review helpful?

After the end of the world, some people survived in an isolated island. Everyone, except for the 3 elders, die when they turn 60s. But one day they wake up someone is dead. How can there be a murdered among them?

The first chapter of this book is a bit hard to follow, but after you understand who the narrator is thinks flow a bit better. I love the whodunnit aspect of it and the ticking time bomb that was the fog approaching the island to kill everyone.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was chock full of bits of so many different genres. There were so many characters that at points it was hard to keep track of who was who, but I enjoyed the premise of the story. I was dying to know more about how and why the apocalypse hit the world and why the killing fog rolled in. This world was a very interesting one and I could not wait to find out what would happen.

Was this review helpful?

Stuart Turton’s The Last Murder at the End of the World is a high-stakes mystery set on an isolated island threatened by a deadly fog. With memories erased and a ticking clock to solve a murder, tension mounts as villagers race to uncover the truth. Though the concept is unique and the twists are satisfying, the pacing can feel slow at times, with long stretches of theorizing. However, as a complex, sci-fi-tinged mystery, the final act delivers suspense and intrigue, making it a worthwhile read.

Was this review helpful?

I will say I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery of this novel. Not only trying to figure out the murder but also figure out what is going on in the island. I think it's difficult to write a review for this book without giving anything away. What I will say is the pace does feel on the slower side and at times IO wish there was more happening. Other than that I felt like this world was well developed.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

While this was an interesting read, it just didn't keep my attention in audio form. I wasn't always following who was who and got lost a few times, so I think this would have been more enjoyable for me as a physical copy. Nothing against the narrator, they did just fine!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley for this advance copy of The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton. I loved the futuristic dystopian setting on a remote island. It was a bit difficult to follow, but overall I enjoyed it. I would recommend this to fans of Lost.

Was this review helpful?