On an island at the end of the world, a small settlement of survivors lives. Outside the island there is nothing. Well, nothing but a murderous fog that contains insect-like creatures with a taste for human flesh. I may be exaggerating this a little, but trust me, you don't even want to dip a toe in that fog.

122-villagers and 3-valued scientists live on the island in harmony. It's a simple life, but they do need to abide by some stringent rules; all for their own good. We should trust the scientists, right? Well, the villagers certainly do. One day though, the unthinkable happens. One of their beloved scientists is found murdered, thus setting into motion a chain of events that could lead to the destruction of their world. They need to solve the murder within the next 107-hours, or risk bringing on the fog and all the terrible little creatures that come with it.

The Last Murder at the End of the World was one of my most anticipated releases of 2024. I've really enjoyed both of Turton's previously releases and was excited to see what sort of brain-teaser he was going to create for us next. Sadly, this one just wasn't suited to my tastes, but I can still appreciate the solid plot progression and creativity it took to create this whole world. IMO, this book would work best for Literary Fiction fans, who enjoy stories with Speculative, or Futuristic elements.

I did enjoy the very beginning; the introduction to the setting and characters. It was all very mysterious and murky. It was giving me serious LOST vibes. Not the attractive people suddenly stranded on a beach thing, though. More the disturbing community bits that they discover on the island way later...

I feel like I knew very early on, around page 37, what one of the big reveals was going to be. I don't normally care about that, actually, I don't. I don't care about that, but unfortunately for me, the reveal I felt was coming is a trope I don't tend to enjoy. True to trend, it didn't work for me here either. Obviously, I am not going to spoil for you what that is, but I'm aware that is strictly a personal taste issue, and is no way a reflection on Turton, or his work. In fact, I doff my cap to Turton's writing, creativity and overall mental prowess. It's clear, if you've ever read one of his books, that his brain works better than around 95% of the rest of us.

For me though, this failed to capture my attention. I feel like some of it was kept too obscure, meaning, I couldn't picture any of this. I was being told a lot of things, but I couldn't actually imagine it, in my mind's eye, playing out. I also did find the pace to be incredibly slow, and not in an enticing slow burn sort of way. More in a, I'm starting to fall asleep way. And once I started to feel that, I couldn't shake it. I really just wanted it to be over, which hurts me to say, but we're all about honesty in this house.

I was fortunate to receive an early copy of the audiobook, because that definitely helped me to get through this one. I did find the narration quite charming. At the end of the day, this just wasn't a great fit for my tastes. The content wasn't something I enjoyed. Nevertheless, I still love and admire Stuart Turton as an author and I cannot wait to see what he comes up with next!

Thank you to the publisher, Sourcebooks Landmark and Tantor Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. Even though this wasn't my cup of tea, I am still very glad I had the chance to pick it up!

Happy Pub Week to Stuart Turton's THE LAST MURDER AT THE END OF THE WORLD!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I had a blast listening to James Cameron Stuart read this dystopian, sci-fi, mysterious, community drama!

I don't even know how to describe this story. It is a murder mystery with layers and layers of insights into humanity and how we care for one another, or don't.

I loved the way my feelings for so many of the characters evolved. The weirdness of the deadly fog that encompasses the island of these last inhabitants was such a mystical threat and I was so fascinated by the power of it. Ultimately the final chapters which graciously spelled out what had happened helped me to fully appreciate this story. I knew it would come, and I was patient in my confusion and curiosity!

I loved the narration of this story. That said, if you like to have the ability to flip back and reacquaint yourself with earlier chapters quickly, you may want to grab the physical copy as well. I did choose my activities while reading this cautiously, as I knew this would demand more brain cells. I was happily content with my audio only reading (though the sprayed edges of the physical are making me pine a bit for it).

I absolutely loved Turton's debut, and this was so fantastical, I am a solid fan. Now I need to go back and read his 2nd!

Thank you to @tantoraudio & @netgalley for this memorable and delightful ALC!

Happy pub day! (Yesterday!)
This is my first by this author. It was okay. I don’t usually read a lot of post-apocalyptic books. I listened to the audio and I didn’t like the narration style at all.
There were a lot of characters and lots of mystery but things moved along so slowly. I also didn’t like the ending/conclusion.
It wasn’t all bad! The writing was interesting. There were a lot of intricate details to the setting and the premise was definitely intriguing. Finding out more detail as I went along and seeing people’s motivations kept me reading.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced audio book!

I absolutely loved this novel that was about mankind being eviscerated except a select few who moved to a remote island where the "fog" couldn't reach them and kill them. I do not want to say too much more about the actual content of the book for fear I will give away spoilers. However, there is a murder that has occurred in the new society which has not happened before. Some people of the island try to figure out what happened to the person who was murdered and ends up finding out truths that completely shake their entire existence! This book was well paced. I thought I knew what was happening, but every time I was wrong. I love a book where it is not easy to figure out what is going on. I loved the characters (most of them, as some aren't the nicest), and the story unfolds with a timeline of when all humanity will die. Therefore, as the countdown continues, you feel anxious (in a good way) about how the community is going to solve the murder AND figure out how to survive the fog. Amazing and a must read!

DNF
There are a lot of characters and I had a hard time connecting with them. I struggled to figure out how old they were and how they related to others. So I was lost.
I love the premise, but I don't think now is the time for me to read this one and be able to focus in on everything.
I gave it 3 stars because I couldn't not rate it and didn't want a low star rating to lower the overall star rating.

The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton is magnificient! Original, organic and oddly entertaining,The Last Murder at the End of the World will intoxicate you. If you like a big cast of characters that are well-developed, existing within a closed circle mystery, you'll eat this book up.

I read a lot of closed circle mysteries with smaller cast of characters because usually they get very confusing but Turton does this very well. Brilliant writing and plot points to boot. This book has a lightheartedness, an innocence to it despite the subject-matter.... you know, murder! I've read other books by this author, all 5 stars and now Turton is an autobuy for me.

Fantastic audio quality with the perferct narrator!

Unfortunately, I tried to listen to this several times and couldn't complete it. I do feel like I listened to enough to review it with my honest opinion so thank you to the publisher for an early copy in exchange for my review.

First and foremost, there is nothing wrong with the actual narration and voice acting. The problem is, the concept for this story is seemingly understandable but for some reason I found the world difficulty to navigate, understand and figure out where we were going with the story. I listen to a lot of audiobooks and don't usually have a problem with this. I will say, the writing is good, it's just the way the story is told, order of events, the way details are given, it may be better read in physical form or a mixed approach with both the audio and the physical book.

I haven't read any other books by this author but I still plan to. What I really want to say in my review, especially for the audio was that I couldn't finish it because I didn't understand what was happening, and that's pretty unusual for me. I hope one day to come back to it in physical form but for now this is my honest review.

*3 stars since it's a DNF and nothing problematic with the book.*

This is a novel about a post-apocalyptic dystopian community on an island. There is a deadly fog that has been kept away from the island until someone is murdered. The fog was kept at bay by a security system and was lowered when the murder occurred and they have 107 hours to solve it. No one remembers a thing and they are trying to piece together the clues that will lead to the culprit.

It was written by Stuart Turton but the audiobook was narrated by James Cameron Stewart. The narrator captured the essence of each one of the characters with ease and portrayed them eccentrically.

The story is an odd one. I’m usually into post-apocalyptic books, movies and tv shows but this one was hard to follow. It seemed to jump all over the place. I picked this one out because of the cover. When I read what it was about before reading, I was intrigued. I was sorely disappointed with this novel.

Special thanks to #NetGalley and #TantorAudio for this #ARC to review.

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc and opportunity but I can’t even finish this. The narrator sounds like Robin Leach (I am aware I am dating myself). Kind of like an over dramatic news reporter, the intonations and the upturn of his voice at the end of sentences just killed me. I genuinely couldn’t focus on the content because I was just waiting to see if the narration would level out. It did not and I tapped out because 11 hours of listening to lifestyles of the rich and famous but talking about murder and dystopia was just not for me.

This book is definitely out of my comfort zone, ser in a dystopian world,on an geek island with only 122 people left in the world. A deadly fog has covered the earth making it inhabitable. There are three leaders for this group called the elders. It took me awhile to figure out that the story is being told by the AI security system. Abi is able to get into the inhabitant’s minds and talk to them but it will,not give answers to questions asked. Most every one is happy and content and serve the elders happily. There is one named Emory who has come to start questioning everything, One the elder’s is murdered. Abi decides to wipe the inhabitant’s memories. Even though empties memories is not there she still has same curiosities she has before the murder this causes her to start investigating because the only have so many hours left to figure it out before the fog will engulf the island and kill everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for this ARC. I did not care for the narration of this book which is why I gave it a 3.5 star rating instread of 4 stars . I think this is one of those books I would have enjoyed reading



This book is definitely different!
Set in an isolated location in the future post apocalyptic. A fog has covered earth but a small Greek island is safe and 122 people live here along with three leaders who are called the elders. This story is also told in the POV of an AI security system, Abi, that speaks in their minds. Abi also knows all the answers but you won’t get them from her.
Most of the villagers are happy and content with serving the elders without asking questions. But Emory has many questions. After an elder is murdered and their memories are wiped by Abi, Emory must find out who the killer is before the fog kills them all

Excellent narration with very distinct characters. Tone and pace followed the action and events in book.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this novel. I liked it, but there was a lot to keep track of to be able to understand the story.

I received an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

This book has an interesting premise. The last remaining people on Earth all live on an island protected in a bubble from the fog that killed off everyone else. No one lives past 60 except "the elders" and there is all-knowing voice that knows everyone's thoughts and what is going on at all times. Everyone accepts this dystopian-like society until someone winds up murdered and the fog begins closing in. This reads as a part dystopian novel and part science fiction. The concept worked mostly well for me. There is a definite mystery aspect. I did not figure out the ending at all. That being said, the book was not as exciting as I hoped. I was bored at times and had a hard time liking many of the characters. The writing is well done and I did want to find out what happened in the end. It just read more literary (and slow) for me than the suspense I was hoping for.

I hate to say that the audio really did not work for me. The narrator did a falsetto-style voice for the women that was like nails on a chalkboard to me ears. I would say for this book I would stick to the print version.

If you like a dystopian society with sci-fi elements, I do think you may love this one. As I'm not the biggest fan of either, it just wasn't a love for me. I liked it but not enough that I would want to re-read in the future.

3.5 ⭐️’s
The future world has been covered by a killer fog, one that has left only 122 people remaining. Living on an idyllic island all seems fine until a scientist is murdered and the fog starts to move in. A mysterious/police procedural this book had some nice twists but might have been too clever for me. While Turton is a master storyteller, this one was one I didn’t connect well with, but I know others will. A dual read/listen helped in following the many characters and the narration was done very well. Thank you to Sourcebooks, Tantor Audio and NetGalley for an ARC and ALC of this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I started this book with a lot of anticipation and excitement. I listened to the audio version of 7.5 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle and enjoyed the unique story and mystery. Just like that book, I could not multitask much while listening like I do with other audiobooks. It takes me longer to finish Turton’s books because they take more concentration to understand the world he builds within the story. I was enjoying this up until about the 50% mark when it got harder for me to focus on the story. This could very well be due to a busy season of my life. I would try it again in the future and could see this being more enjoyable the second time around.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for this ARC opportunity.

As with the other books by this author, it's important to just go into the book without knowing too much and just go along for the ride of the story. The author is a master at worldbuilding, I could picture everything in my head as I was reading.

The gist of the story is that there is a group of people living isolated on an island. A mysterious fog has covered the earth that kills everything it touches and the island is the last place where a group of over one hundred villagers live in peace with one another. They are governed by three elders and all of them have Abi, a voice in their heads that can hear their thoughts and communicate with them. When a murder occurs, the technology that holds the fog back has been removed. Their only hope of survival is to find out who is responsible in order to stop the fog again.

That is a very, very simple explanation of a complex, twisty book. There are so many different plot threads and ways the story is told that it definitely requires a bit of concentration to follow all of them. I listened to this book partially as an audiobook, and while the narration is good, the choice to use James Cameron Stewart as the narrator really puzzled me. The book is essentially told to the reader in Abi's first person voice, and Abi is referred to as a female. So having a male to narrate "her" is a strange choice.

Overall, I enjoyed this dystopian murder mystery. While not at all similar plot-wise, it did have the same feel as The Ferryman by Justin Cronin, a mysterious tale set in the future after an apocalyptic event. I really look forward to seeing what Turton comes up with next!

I think I would have liked this one better if I had read it instead of listening to it. I found it very difficult to follow.

The narrator did a great job, and the pace was great, it was just the content and the sheer number of characters that was hard to follow.

The book centers around a group of last remaining humans living on an island.

I couldn't tell if it was supposed to be magical realism or futuristic sci-fi technology. I also struggled to keep up with who the narrator was, and how all the characters were related to one another.

Overall, the story was fairly unique and interesting for the parts I could follow. I didn't hate it, I just personally struggled with the audio.

3.5⭐️ rounded up!

This book was tough for me to rate. There was a lot that I liked about it, and a bit I didn’t like about it, so I landed on 3.5.

I really love dystopian books and so this plot was a good fit for me. I found it intriguing, and I enjoyed the picture the author painted of the future world(even if it was not a good future 😳). There were plot twists that I thought were really clever, and I really loved the end. The last 2 minutes of the audiobook really enhanced the entire story.

However, I did find this book to be a bit difficult to follow. There are A LOT of characters with a lot of different relationships, and it was really difficult to keep everyone straight. I found myself having to piece the story together at times because I just couldn’t follow it all. I was confused for the first two thirds of the book because I could not figure out who the narrator was. There were certain aspects of this new world that I wish had been elaborated on a bit more, and some of the pacing was slow. The last quarter of the book felt like hot potato, and every single character felt like a suspect in this whodunnit.

The narrator did a good job, but I wish a female narrator had been chosen. It didn’t really make sense to me that a man was chosen to narrate this book!

Overall, this book was intriguing and entertaining. This was a highly anticipated release for me and I was a bit disappointed in the execution of this story, but I still enjoyed it, for the most part.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tantor Audio for the gifted copy of this audiobook!

Agatha Christie takes on the apocalypse in this stark and moving tale of betrayal, love and hope!

Everything you could want in a murder mystery with added sci-fi elements, plus the future of the world at stake - it’s a twisty logic puzzle with complex characters and intrigue. I think you’ll love the simmering discontent, the high stakes and the big heart beating through it all.

I was only disappointed in the narration that, while not done badly, didn’t seem appropriate - a male voice used when all the main characters present as female. Missed the mark there.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks, and Tantor audio for my copies. These opinions are my own.

A dystopian, apocalyptic, science fiction book with a murder mystery? Immediately hooked! In this dystopian future, all of the world has been consumed by a fog that kills anything it touches except for an island sanctuary made up of villagers and 3 scientists. The villagers live peacefully and happily doing what they must to survive and thrive on the island listening to the scientists and to Abi, the artificial intelligence that "lives" in all the villager's heads. While there is still work to be done, sickness, and death, their island is a sort of utopia for all the villagers except for Emory, who isn't as content and satisfied as everyone else and seems to be the only villager who questions their world and the revered scientists. When one of the scientists is found murdered, a kill switch has been triggered that will stop their technology from keeping the deadly fog out. Abi notifies the remaining scientists that they have 92 hours to find the murderer and bring them to justice or else the world will end. Unfortunately, everyone's memories of the night have been wiped. Emory's questioning nature is what the scientists decide they need to uncover the mystery and to find the murderer.

I was a little confused at first listening to this audiobook because it is told in Abi's voice (which the description doesn't explain what Abi is) and until I was able to figure out that Abi was "all-knowing", I thought I was changing POV's very quickly- but once, I understood the premise and the rules of this world, I was quickly hooked. There were still some aspects of the story that left me with questions and I didn't feel were fully explained, so that's the only reason I knocked off a star. I wanted to fully understand the rules. I think this would make a great movie because I believe some of this story really could be aided with some visual support. There were things that were explained that I couldn't "see" which might be why they confused me. But again like I said in the first sentence, this is a dystopian science fiction murder mystery so it really hit all the check marks for me!

Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for an advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.