**This book will be published on 05/21/2024!**
I received this e-book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the author/publisher for the copy!

The villagers, 122 to be exact, and 3 scientists (or elders) are forced to live on the island because the rest of the world has been destroyed by the fog, that killed everyone it touched. As long as the villagers do as they are told by the elders, follow their nightly curfew, and do their other duties, everything will be okay......until one morning, they are all awaken to find that one of the elders is dead. Because of this death, the barrier holding the fog back has been taken down. They must solve the murder in order to save themselves and the last 2 elders. Add in the fact that their memories have been wiped of what happened the night before. Will they be able to save humanity and solve the murder?

Okay, wow. This was my first Stuart Turton book and I am impressed! I will say, I was kind of confused at the beginning of the story, since it was hard to say who was telling it, but as it went on it became clear. If you enjoy dystopian world books, I think you would enjoy this one!

At an unspecified point in the future, most of the world has been destroyed by a mysterious and deadly fog that devours anything it touches. A small group of people have managed to find safety on an island with technological barriers keeping the fog at bay, and have built a quiet life for themselves there. That is, until an unexpected murder shatters the island's peace and triggers a lowering of the safety defenses against the fog. Suddenly it's a race against the clock to find the murderer before the entire island is engulfed in the lethal fog.

This was a deliciously twisty post-apocalyptic murder mystery. I loved Stuart Turton's previous books and I absolutely devoured this one. To be honest, I probably read it a little bit too quickly to really appreciate all the intricate plotting and small clues dropped in, but I don't regret it. The premise was very original and fresh, and the stakes are high right from the get-go. Turton is excellent at building and sustaining tension and parceling out background information over the course of the story. The chapters are short and the book is fast-paced and easy to get through. There is a plausible mass amnesia scenario happening which makes the reader unsure who to trust and the twists even more shocking as they are revealed. I found the use of an omniscient AI narrator an interesting but effective choice as well. The author doesn't shy away from raising big picture questions about ethics, morality, and humanity, which adds a layer of depth to the story. This was a really emotional and engaging book, and I highly recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the early review copy via NetGalley (available 21 May 24)

“The secrets on this island have teeth, and they don’t like being dragged into the light.”

This is a multi-hyphenated genre: post-apocalyptic sci-fi closed-room-murder on a secluded island! Mysteries abound!

A mysterious fog destroyed everything it touched. All that remains is a small Greek island populated by three scientists (the elders), 122 content villagers, and now, a mystery to solve. One of the beloved scientists was murdered on the same night everyone’s memory was wiped clean. One villager must solve the mystery before the fog envelopes the island and the clock is counting down.

This is my first book from Turton, and I enjoyed the story! The characters were complicated, engaging, and compelling, the mysteries were revealed a perfect breadcrumb at a time, and the ending was satisfying. As a bonus, there was plenty to unpack about human nature. It would be a great book club choice.

A fascinating premise of a dystopian island where the last survivors of a terrible apocalypse live out their days. When a murder occurs, Emory and other memorable characters work to solve it, with or without the help of a highly unreliable guide and narrator. Mysteries are layered upon mysteries in this fast-paced chimera of a book.

This was my first Turton book and I look forward to reading others after experiencing the world that was built in this one. The story is a locked-room mystery that takes place on a dystopian island that seems to be the last bastion of civilization following a killer fog that has ostensibly killed everyone else on the planet. When one of the three remaining scientists, or elders, is murdered and the rest of the islanders have had their memories of that night erased, how is the murder to be solved? Enter Emory, who was my favorite character. Every other character we meet, other than the elders, is conditioned by the island (maybe?) or the weird narrating voice in their heads (maybe?) to be compliant and have a "place", but Emory is a gloriously flawed character with questions from the very start. This book was confusing to me at the beginning with the voice narrating in first person inside everyone's head, but once the mystery gets going it was a bit less distracting. I also enjoyed Niema since it was hard to tell if she was good or bad and I liked how her story unfolded after the fact. I look forward to recommending this book throughout the summer. Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the early access in exchange for my honest opinion.

I love reading, but I don’t want reading to be a chore. Unfortunately for me, THE LAST MURDER AT THE END OF THE WORLD was a major chore.

There were too many characters for me to keep straight, and a lot of world building to make sense of this post-apocalyptic Earth, where the remaining 125-ish people live on an island surrounded by deadly fog.

The plot (which whittles down to a murder) took waaaaaaay too long to get going, and once it did, I was already disengaged. I couldn’t relate to any of the characters: There was just something missing for me. I did enjoy the AI narrator but every time she spoke I got confused and had to read the passage again.

It’s clear that THE LAST MURDER AT THE END OF THE WORLD is meticulously plotted, much like The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. Although Evelyn was also a chore to read, its payoff was better. Honestly I was just glad to have this one end. If it hadn’t been an ARC, I would probably have DNFed halfway through and skimmed to the end to get a sense of the conclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinions. I’m sorry this one wasn’t for me!

Stuart Turton always seems to have a fresh way of telling a story, and The Last Murder at the End of the World is no exception. After a deadly fog decimated most of humanity, a remote island became the new home for the small population who survived. When one of the elders is murdered, the group discovers that unless her murderer is found and brought to justice within the next 4 days, the elements that keep the fog away from the island will stop functioning. As one villager begins investigating, what once seemed like a utopia begins to reveal dark secrets and deadly mysteries that none of them could have predicted. Turton raises tantalizing social questions, presents an inventive world structure, and definitely keeps readers intrigued and surprised throughout the novel. Perfect for fans of Hanna Jameson's The Last and Ben Winters' the Last Policeman, as well as readers who enjoyed Lowry's The Giver, and those missing the tv series Lost.

Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley for the eARC of one of my most anticipated books of the year! I have really enjoyed Stuart Turton's other books, and this was no exception! In a not-too distant future the world, outside of a single peaceful island, is covered in a deadly fog. The islanders are used to listening to the Elders for everything, but when a murder occurs they have to use all their skills to solve the mystery before the fog arrives.
This book is in some ways a classic "locked room" sort of mystery, but the storytelling is so compelling that it doesn't feel classic at all. One thing I love about Turton's stories is always the atmosphere and the setting ~ the peaceful island set against both the threat of fog from without and a murderer within is incredibly propulsive and engaging.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. This was actually my first Stuart Turton book, and WOW what an amazing one to start with. I loved the unique narrator/POV, and can't believe that I got to witness this book early. I was engrossed the ENTIRE time, and literally couldn't put it down. Also, so many twists and turns? Didn't expect the ending, nor all of the things we find out along the way, such a unique story, and take on the future. Thank you Mr. Turton for reminding me how much I love Sci-Fi!!!!! A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.

4.25 stars!

Thank you to Stuart Turton and Sourcebooks for an ARC of this book in exchange for my full, honest review!

I'm not known for enjoying mystery novels but the science fiction elements of this book really sold me. This is my first of Stuart Turton's books and I definitely want to look through his backlist because this was just so much fun. The Last Murder at the End of the World combines the classic 'whodunit' format with a wild speculative apocalypse story, resulting in one of the most entertaining mystery novels I've read.

First, the good about this book, and there's a lot. The world is very inventive and Turton builds up a lot of world-building very fast so you don't feel totally lost for half the book. The narrative style is REALLY cool, with Abi's voice giving first person accounts of all the people in the village. That in particular I think was super creative and really effective for story-telling. The end really does wrap up all of the little hints dropped throughout the story which, given the sheer number of them, is an achievement on its own.

There are two criticisms I have, one I think is potentially a problem with the book and the other is more a problem for me personally. The genuine fault I found is that Emory is always characterized as the one who asked questions and always has despite everyone else being pretty resistant to doing so. This is a pretty common protagonist archetype in dystopian fiction because the reader will more easily relate to and root for a character who pushes back against the regime. The issue is that I don't think it's ever explained why Emory in particular is like this. Genuinely no other villager is like this or potentially has ever been like this, and it's not like there's some inciting incident in Emory's life that leads her to question everything. I just think when you have a character born into a fixed regime, who grows up along complacent people, there needs to be a clear reason why they start to push back against it. The other issue is just that, either because I don't read mysteries that often or because I'm a little slow, I had trouble keeping track of all the clues and positions and who knows what and all that. As mentioned before in the compliments, there's a lot to keep track of! It's not really an issue with the book but it's something to be aware of as a reader.

Anyway, I absolutely recommend this and am glad to have discovered a new (to me) author who is doing fun things with sci-fi mysteries because I think it's a criminally underfed niche with a lot of potential. No matter which side you fall on, sci-fi or mystery, I think there's a lot in this novel to appeal to both kinds of readers.

Happy reading!

Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC of The Last Murder at the End of the World. This book drew me in from page 1. With lots of twists and turns, I never saw the ending coming! Fabulous dystopian that was a different take on the genre. Great character development and intriguing plot throughout. Highly recommend!

I loved the first half of this and then when the big reveal happened, I didn’t care as much as I could. It could. Turton is an excellent writer and I am going to always want to read what he writes. Just didn’t work for me.

I love dystopian, end of the world books, and this one was a super interesting and unique take on it. But for some reason, it just fell a little flat for me. I can’t really but my finger on it, but I just wasn’t invested in the plot or tje characters the way I expected or wanted to be. It was still a decent read, it just didn’t do it for me the way I wanted it to.

Thank you #Sourcebooks and #NetGalley for providing this #ARC Advance Reading Copy. Expected publication date is May 21, 2024.

• 368 pages • first pub 2024 • crime fiction • mystery • science fiction • dystopian • dark • 4 Stars

“The Last Murder at the End of the World” by Stuart Turton is a gripping mystery novel set in a dystopian world. In a world devastated by a deadly fog, a group of islanders find themselves trapped on an isolated retreat. The fog, which kills anyone it touches, is kept at bay by a security system. However, when one of their beloved scientists is brutally stabbed to death, panic ensues. The murder triggers a lowering of the security system, endangering everyone on the island. If the killer isn’t identified within 92 hours, the fog will engulf the island and its inhabitants. The story revolves around Darby, who investigates the murder. She discovers shocking secrets about the island’s billionaire organizer, Andy, and his family. As the tension rises, Darby must unravel the truth before time runs out. Paranoia, hidden motives, and complex relationships make this novel a thrilling read.

#TheLastMurderAtTheEndOfTheWorld #StuartTurton #Bookstagram

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the Advanced Copy in exchange for my honest review!

Having adored The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle and failed to click with The Devil and the Dark Water, I was hopeful for Turton's latest foray into everything-isn't-what-it-seems mystery novels. I am happy to report that I thoroughly enjoyed The Last Murder at the End of the World, which was a compelling exploration of what makes us human, what constitutes a family, and how we interact with the limits of right and wrong.

The book starts with a simple enough premise - on a small island in the Greek Archipelago, the last remnants of humanity are trapped by a mysterious fog and eke out a hard but peaceful existence. All is well until one of their scientists turns up dead and no one has any memory of what happened the night before. Emory, the social misfit of the isle, is tasked with discovering the truth of the murder as time ticks down to Turton's ominous "End of the World."

Turton is a master of constructing insanely complex and interwoven plotlines that leave the reader guessing until the last page while still making the story seem possible to solve. This holds true in TLMATEOFW, but even more impressive to me was his character building. Emory, her family, and the other islanders came alive, making me feel the hope they felt with every new lead and the disappointment of every setback. The decisions that the scientists made were frustrating, but only because they were so plausible and I could see how their value systems ruled their actions.

Overall, this was an excellent read for plot-lovers, character-lovers, and even world-building lovers. I will be reading it over and over to catch everything I missed the first time!

I loved how twisty and genre bending Turton's first book was- and this book did not disappoint! A dystopian murder mystery set in an apocalyptic world, Last Murder at the End of the World mixed all my favorite things about both genres (mystery and dystopian) to make a book that was compelling. I stayed up way to late finishing this book.

After a deadly fog kills most human life, what remains is an island holding three god-like scientists and a group of villagers. When one of the scientists is murdered, Emory, one of the villagers, is tasked with finding the killer. If she doesn't, the deadly fog will reach the village and end life as they all know it. But the island and the scientists have secrets, and nothing is really what it seems.

The cast of characters is so interesting- each one different from the last with differing motivations and personalities. The big reveal at the end did not disappoint! Turton definitely knows how to write a surprising ending. Highly recommend this fascinating and unique whodunit.

Halfway through this book, I realized that writing this review was going to be a challenge - mostly because it’s so different from anything I normally read or that might seem similar from the synopsis. So I turned to the trusty CAWPILE method (with personal modifications) to help. The math gives 3.5 stars, rounded to 3, which feels right. Details below:

Characters (4/5) - Lots of characters but not hard to keep them all straight based on how they are introduced.The main characters are multi-dimensional - they grow, evolve, and become more complex as the story unfolds.

Atmosphere/Setting (5/5) - Incredible scene setting and world building. The island feels like a foreign land out of place in time. It’s the end of the world. The author’s writing style is so descriptive, you feel like you’re there. I’m hoping the final print version will have a map of the island, that would have been really helpful.

Writing style (5/5) - Descriptive but not overly flowery. Writes to show you rather than tell you what you need to know.

Plot (3.5/5) - Wildly unique premise, solidly executed, per usual for this author. I didn’t particularly LIKE the plot itself (it kind of gave me the ick, as the youths say), but I think others will really enjoy it. The plot shephards an important and powerful message - that humans are terrible to each other and if we don’t change, we’re going to cause the world to end. The author shares this message overtly through a character’s stated mission, but it’s also apparently subtly, in the way our characters behave in response to challenging circumstances. So so powerful.

Intrigue (3.5/5) - The book is compulsively readable, but the pacing felt off. I was so eager to know what was going on and to get my questions answered that it started to take away the enjoyment of reading. I wanted to know more and it wasn’t coming fast enough. There are small reveals along the way, but so many of them were from characters we couldn’t trust. The BIG reveal about halfway through was almost too big - it could take the storyline in so many directions that it opened up more questions than answers… and I just really wanted some answers!

Logic (2.5/5) - The story blurs the boundary of sci-fi and magical realism in a way that I found confusing and distracting.

Enjoyment (2/5) - For much of the book, I was compulsively reading because I had to know what happened. It’s challenging to enjoy the journey when you’re that eager for the finish line…

Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you, NetGalley and publishers.

One of the best and most well loved mysteries is the classic locked room mystery. The Last Murder at the End of the World takes all of the intrigue of a locked room mystery, set on an island in the future where all the humans left alive still list. And one of them is a murderer. But which one? And why?

What a wild ride. A dystopian novel with terrific narrative pace, allowing a slow reveal on an island where myth confronts reality over a week's time. Our central heroine emerges, evolves and dares challenge the falsehood of their origins as the community's identity unravels.
All while the island's AI proves to be a very unreliable narrator....

I really wanted to read this book for three big reasons:

* I’d read The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by this author and loved it.
* The GORGEOUS cover.
* The blurb reminded me of a return to traditional dystopia.

The Last Murder at the End of the World takes place in a world where most of the planet has been destroyed by a poisonous fog. The last safe haven is a little island where one hundred twenty-two villagers and three scientists live in harmony. The villagers are content to fish, farm, and do as they’re told — including treating the scientists, or “elders,” with the utmost reverence. And then one of the scientists turns up dead, and the shield protecting their island from the fog goes down. It’s up to Emory — one of the more curious villagers, to figure out what happened. There’s one big problem: everyone’s memories have been erased.

I do think there’s a bit of a learning curve with the world-building and the sheer amount of characters. I myself had to reread the beginning chapters a few times just to remember the names.

Once the plot really gets into the thick of it, however, it became very interesting. This is probably what I would call a “slow burn mystery.” The pieces are carefully laid out and slowly revealed as Emory herself discovers more clues and uncovers the truth about the world.

I think the book was at its strongest when we were following Emory, who was made the most interesting by her imperfection and lack of knowledge. I actually wish we followed her more instead of the other characters, like Abi, the island’s resident artificial intelligence. While it’s a really interesting idea and I understand how Emory’s perspective might’ve read too much like a typical, cliché dystopia, I felt like everyone else’s narration was just a little too robotic and monotonous, whereas Emory’s was refreshingly full of life and chaos.

Overall, I feel like this was objectively well-written and thought out, but I never felt completely emotionally invested in any characters other than Emory. I’d still highly recommend this to readers of science fiction and speculative fiction, since there’s a lot we can discuss about human nature as we read this book. And I’d love to see this world adapted to film.