Mysteries are like comfort food for me - familiar, soothing, a pattern that never fails to please. Like with the best comfort food, even slight tweaks on the typical formula can keep the recipes fresh. But every once in a while, you find a recipe writer that does such unexpected, creative things that they force you to reconsider the category.

Stuart Turton is one such mystery writer, fusing sci-fi and fantasy with his mysteries to create something totally new. In The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, he plays with time travel, merging it with a perfect Golden Age mystery. In The Devil and the Dark Water, he takes on historical mystery and adds a bit of demonology. Both stories balance fair-play, intriguing mystery with an intriguing genre twist. And so, when I learned he was taking on a dystopian mystery, The Last Murder at the End of the World , I knew I had to read it.

(Before we get into the mystery itself, can we take a moment to appreciate the beauty of this first edition? I love a good sprayed edge and the publishers outdid themselves on this one. I was provided a review copy by NetGalley and SourceBooks - but was so excited I also purchased a copy for myself.)

The Last Murder at the End of the World takes place in a future dystopian world engulfed by deadly fog. One island village remains, run by three Elder scientists and their artificial intelligence assistant, Abi. The Elders impose strict rules on the villagers, but their lives are peaceful - until the oldest Elder, Niema, is murdered. Enter our protagonist, Emory, who has scant time to solve the case. Murder - with a somehow even more deadly twist.

The last murder… and the first

Turton, as usual, has imagined a murder mystery unlike any I’ve seen recently. The island society in his novel is carefully managed, and murders are unheard of. There are few, if any, mysteries to be had, and the villagers are generally happy and uncurious. In fact, Emory, the main character, is unusually inquisitive - and trained by reading detective fiction from the Old World. And so Turton gets to explore the introduction of murder as a societal concept, above any beyond any specific murder.

It’s a fascinating way to deconstruct what, exactly, makes murder so unsettling. Is it the suddenness of the death? Is it the concept of violence in general? Or the specificity with which it is levied against another being? A sense of uncertainty that permeates the book - because here, murder is truly unthinkable.

It also means that our protagonist has to invent much of her detection and logic from first principles. As far as Emory knows, nobody on this island has ever had to preserve a crime scene, or uncover and retain evidence. The entire island seems to be suffering from memory loss for the night of the murder, making the physical trail and the suspect psychology even more important. Watching Emory re-invent detection is fascinating, and adds a new element of challenge and puzzle to the story.

This is not a path well-traveled. I can’t think of many, if any, stories that center on murder in a society of innocents. The closest analogy I can think of is Speaker for the Dead; at least Ender was aware of murder conceptually. Here, every element of the investigation is novel, and leads to a feeling of discovery and reinvention.

Unreliable sentience

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Stuart Turton novel with just one storytelling trick - so we’ve got an unreliable narrator thrown into the mix. Abi, the island’s artificial intelligence, has eerie omniscience and omnipotence. She can speak mentally to every villager, and can use this ability to act as a village intercom when needed. Perhaps more nefariously, she can influence each villager’s thinking, shifting and molding it to meet the Elders’ needs and plans.

Abi herself narrates much of the story, using her omniscience to highlight the relevant villagers’ movements. Were she simply a reporter, this would be fine - but every once in a while, a line reminds you that she has influence over their thoughts and actions. Not only that, it’s clear that Abi can choose to withhold information - not just from villagers, but from you, the reader - until she deems it appropriate. It’s unsettling and unnerving and perfectly enhances the general atmosphere of unraveling Turton has created.

Turton uses Abi to explore many a theme - the tradeoffs between freedom and safety; surveillance and control; and, perhaps most interestingly, sentience. Abi, of course, manifests in villagers’ minds; she has to act through them, using her influence. Not only that, but she was created by the scientists at Blackheath, rather than organically. And yet, she clearly has a personality, goals, loyalty, opinions. She has control over herself and several aspects of village life, in a way that makes her a valued member of that society. Her relationship with the village - and her impact on it - raises an interesting question (though not many answers) in this age of burgeoning AI.

Atmospheric puzzles

Underneath all this speculative fiction and unreliable narration and philosophizing about sentience and the nature of society, there is, in fact, a murder mystery. And as other Stuart Turton stories, it’s a totally fine puzzle. The clues are there; readers can solve the puzzle. In fact, because it takes place in a hypothetical future, it’s perhaps even more rigorously fair-play; there’s no futzing around with trivia like rose varietals here.

Turton, in fact, writes layers on layers of mysteries, unfeeling as the investigation proceeds. There’s, of course, the major issue at hand - who killed Niema? Then there are more fundamental questions about how the island functions, and Abi’s role in that functioning. There are mysteries about Emory’s past, and that of the Elders’ relationships to each other.

None of these mysteries are, individually, the trickiest to solve. (I solved some just from fictional pattern-matching / metacognitive reading.) But none of the individual components are the actual point. Rather, the interest lies in how Turton puts all the pieces together to create an atmosphere - of mystery, of the world ending. Looking back, it’s easy to say that I guessed many of the puzzles while reading. Yet in the moment, I felt enthralled by the reveals and the explications, because Turton brings the island and its inhabitants to life. The layers of puzzle create a web that suspends disbelief just long enough for the story to trap you - and that’s a great mystery if I’ve ever read one.

I’m hoping that this will be the actual return to more regular posting, but I’ve learned at this point to temper what I promise. But I hope, truly, to see you all again soon. Until then - stay cozy, and stay curious!

(Happy book birthday to The Last Murder at the End of the World!)

*This will count for my "features the ocean" entry for my 52 Book Club Challenge!

The synopsis of this was so interesting, getting me all excited but the actual book didn’t live up to it. The narrative style was dry, nothing much happened with the mystery till almost the end, and characters weren’t all that likable. Maybe the author just isn’t for me.

DnF at 10% I think it’s just me but I can never get into this guys writing style. It’s too flowery and bizarre despite how cool the premise sounds

The thing I enjoy the most about Thurton’s books is how unique they are, and his newest is no exception. From page one I had no idea what was going to happen in this story. The setting and characters were all fresh and exciting, and such a different type of novel is just fun to read.

I also think his books work so well because, despite how completely out there they can get, at the heart there is always a solid detective story. The mystery was complex but laid out in a way that was easy to follow, while leaving many suspects to pick from until the final reveal. It was well paced and plotted, and an enjoyable puzzle to piece together.

The whole thing is delivered by a charming, conversational narrator, who gives the reader enough world building context and breadcrumbs about the mystery to keep them engaged through the entire plot and intent on solving it. This will appeal to speculative fiction and whodunnit lovers alike, and is definitely a must read!

Thank you to Sourcebook and Netgalley for the ARC. The Last Murder at the End of the World is out tomorrow!

4.5/5

I loved Stuart Turton's other novels, "The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle" and "The Devil and The Dark Water." I love how he integrates science fiction elements with murder mysteries. Unfortunately, "The Last Murder at the End of the World" just did not work for me. I did not like the characters or the post-apocalypse story line. The writing is well done and the pace was good, so I'm sure there will be people who love this one. I would give Turton's next book a read since I loved his first two novels.

2.5 stars

Set in a post-apocalyptic time, 122 people live on an island and are the only ones left on Earth. They work together as a community to rebuild society until the fog surrounding the island may clear someday. When one of the elders is found dead and everyone's memory has been wiped from that night, how can they prove what happened and which of the 122 is guilty of murder?

I had a hard time getting through this book. I almost DNF'd multiple times, and finally there seemed to be more of a plot around the 25% mark. Even still, there were so many characters and strange sci-fi tangents that it was hard to really know what was going on at any given point. I wish it was more of a murder mystery and less of a confusing sci-fi novel. I read the ending and I'm still not sure what the ending was about!

The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton is a sci-fi post-apocalyptical murder mystery that piqued my interest right away. The people who live on the only safe island in the world know very little about themselves or their surroundings. They put their trust in a few scientists with all the knowledge, and barely register the voice in their heads. The voice is AI.
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Then one of their beloved scientists gets murdered and everyone’s memories have been wiped. How are they going to figure it all out? That pesky AI is there narrating to us every step of the way. It was a fun ride, learning all the secrets, getting to know all the characters, experiencing all the tech. Who will survive in the end? No spoilers of course but this story will keep you guessing.
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Thank you #netgalley and sourcebooks landmark for an arc in exchange for an honest review

2.75 stars - This was a highly anticipated book, as the concept was super interesting! The world has ended and one of the remaining people left on this island has been murdered...yeah, sounds interesting, right? Well, we go through some world building because the fog is coming and will end all of humanity. We go through several people being the possible murder suspect that just felt like unreliable narrator trope (because memories were wiped)...and the end was just such a big disappointment. It wasn't even surprising to be honest. Unfortunately, this one was not for me, but I am still interested in reading Stuart Turton's other books.

I was able to receive advanced readers copies of both the e-book and audiobook. Thank you to NetGalley, Stuart Turton, SOURCEBOOKS Landmark, and Tantor Audio for the opportunity to read/listen and review this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Lost meets Sherlock Holmes.

Emory just needs to solve the murder or else the island will be taken over by the killer fog and everything will be destroyed. NO PRESSURE. What would have helped is if everyone's memory the night before hadn't been wiped.

Post-apocalyptic world. Murder mystery. Thriller. Killer fog. FANTASTIC.

I read 7 1/2 Deaths a long time ago now and I loved it! I was excited to pick up another book by Turton. It was good! I liked the dytopian, mystery feel of this book. Abi confused me a bit in the beginning but I quickly got used to it and enjoyed it.

On the island it is lovely and idyllic. The villagers are living in harmony with 3 scientists who are in charge. Outside the island, the world has been destroyed by a deadly fog. As long as no one leaves the safety and security of the island (and the scientists' rule), everything will be fine. The villagers are content to fish, farm and feast, to obey their nightly curfew, to do what they're told by the scientists.
But one of the scientists is murdered and this triggers a lowering of the security system that keeps the fog from engulfing the island. 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.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this e-arc.*

This is definitely a unique book, and if you've read books by Stuart Turton in the past that's probably not a surprise. This is also a multi-genre story- mystery, sci-fi, hints of cli-fi? It is a unique one with a few different perspectives thrown in along the way, and because of the way the story is structured I didn't find this one predictable at all. There is just enough explained in this book, but it doesn't waste time with any unnecessary world building or information. It's super readable, even if at times I felt like I wasn't exactly *getting* it.

I only realized what was going on (at least part of it) at the 40 percent mark- when there's a big reveal so no spoilers from me because other readers deserve that same aha moment. The world has ended in a black fog everywhere but the island and now even that is threatened when Niema dies. Emory, who questions everything, investigates- did Thea do it? Did Niema's son? What about Adil, who had been exiled for attacking her once before? And who is Abi? Emory's daughter Clara helps her on her quest for answers and they press on even after certain truths are revealed. The world building is interesting, as it's layered into the story and the twists are relevant. I found myself caught up in this and rooting for Emory. This one is so hard to review to keep the secrets and it's not going to be for everyone (I wouldn't have read it had I known some of them) but Turton made me care and that's what makes this interesting. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. An excellent read.

I’ve been a fan of Stuart Turton ever since I read 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, one of my absolute favorite books of all time! ❤️ And let me tell you, he did not disappoint this time around! 🙌

This is a post-apocalyptic murder mystery that keeps you guessing up until the end!! 🔍 The world building was excellent and I absolutely loved the Emory character! 🕵️‍♀️ This book definitely had me thinking about humanity and just how inhumane we can be! 💔

Definite proof of why Turton is a must-buy author for me!! This book right here! 🙌

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Stuart Turton for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️

I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I loved this mystery with the added sci-fi. This is a much different book than Evelyn Hardcastle, so if you have expectations that this one will be similar, it's not. There were moments in this book that I genuinely felt anxious and completely consumed by the story. This book proves just how vast Stuart Turton's talent is.

What a book! Stuart Turton really knows how to craft unique and interesting stories, and this might be my favorite of his so far. This will be an easy book to recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Last Murder at the End of the World suffered from misplaced expectations for me. I was expecting a dystopian murder mystery, but instead this book is more sci fi with murder mystery elements. This was my first Turton novel, so if I'd read some of his other work first, I may have had different expectations. I didn't dislike the book, but I also didn't love it.

I really liked the world that Turton wrote. It built on some common sci-fi themes and ideas, while still being different from other books I have read. I never knew quite what reveals would lie ahead. The pacing was also great. There was also something happening to keep me engaged, while still allowing for slower moments between characters. This is a balance that can be hard to strike and that I always appreciate.

Where I had some problems was with the narration style and characters. The story is told through the point of view of Abi, an AI who can control most of the equipment on the island and has access to the minds of everyone who lives there. This choice made me feel detached from the characters and events, as Abi is pretty emotionless. I also would forget it wasn't just an unnamed omniscient narrator, which made it jarring anytime Abi switched from narrating the events to first person narration.

3/5 stars

Recommend if you like:
-Unique sci-fi worlds
-Thematic sci-fi
-Genre mashups

This was an interesting book and I enjoyed reading it. There is a lot going on in this book to keep you guessing at what is really going on. It’s 90 years after some mysterious apocalypse, 122 people and 3 scientists trying to save what’s left of humanity. A closed room mystery on an island 90 years after the end of the world. It’s a fun book and some things you might figure out on your own and others you probably won’t. The story moves along quickly and nothing is as it seems.

Release May 21.

I at first took "At the End of the World" to be linear and chronological, as in "it's the end of the world as we know it [and I'm feeling fine]," so to discover it's a geographical reference is a little unsettling. However, it also is a chronological reference, as the 122 citizens plus 3 Scientists co-existing on an isolated rocky island, formerly [long, long ago] a naval base, are the entire remaining human population. The remainder were destroyed by a very mysterious nearly-world-encompassing Black Fog. Around the island the fog is kept at bay by sensor devices. One night, one of the Scientists is murdered, and the memories of all have been eradicated. So, the innocent can't know the identity of the killer; but neither can the killer.

Intriguing are the pervasive and fatal nature of the fog, and the intelligence which telepathically communes with all these remaining humans: Abi.

Such a good story! Like so, so good.
Fair warning. this novel spins wildly away from what I was expecting and it does have a very weird and sci-fi-esc vibe. If you can strap yourself in for a a semi-wild ride, then this one is for you.
The characters, especially Emory, are so well-written and I found myself unable to put this book down in a quest to make sure she, and the others, are "okay".
And don't even get me started on the ending (sans spoilers, I promise). I was so unsure of how it would end throughout the whole book, but I loved the conclusion when I finally got there!
I will say, while it was clearly written to be "futuristic" there were some parts that seems really unrealistic. A whole chapter towards the end had me thinking, "yeah, that doesn't seem realistic" - but, the plot has to advance that way for the ending to be a rock solid as it was.
Absolutely worth the read, and may even be better then his last story!