An island surrounded by deadly fog remains clear the inhabitants live a peaceful existence guided by the three elders who supply them with the knowledge of a previous world. When one of the elders is suddenly murdered everyone begins to suspect maybe they’re not as peaceful as they once thought. Stuart Turton’s new novel takes you on an exciting journey of the island, through the human psyche and the question how far would you go to learn the truth. As all his books it keeps you engaged and wanting answers. 4⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Last Murder at the End of the World has been burning a hole in my TBR list since I received a copy back in October. I'm kicking myself for waiting so long to read this book because it was AMAZING! I was a little nervous to read this one because I feel like I was in the minority of people who didn't enjoy The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, and figured this one might end up a slog for me.

The story is about a group who are the last survivors on Earth living on an island surrounded by a fog that took over the planet many decades ago. The only thing separating them from the fog is a forcefield that was put into place by one of the scientists/elders when the fog began inhabiting the Earth. One night, someone on the island is murdered which sets into motion the forcefields being lowered, and the fog slowly moving in to take over the island . The only way to stop the demise of all who are on the island is to figure out who the murderer is.

This was equal parts murder mystery, commentary on humanity, and some sprinkles of a dystopian world all mixed together. There was enough slowly revealed to keep the story moving at a fast pace and with short chapters, the pages flew by very quickly. I can definitely see this being one of the best books of the year. I can't recommend it enough!

This was an interesting premise...a murder mystery combined with an end of the world plot. Basically a murder of one of the scientists on this island left after end of world must be solved to save humanity. This was a very creative premise with some interesting twists and unexpected events, it was a but slow for me in the first half but then had a satisfying ending.

While I started off NOT liking this book whatsoever, it totally flipped for me and I ended up loving it. One of those that you just have to push through and it is so worth it!!

I have been chasing the high of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle every time I pick up a book from this author. I remember reading The Devil and the Dark Water during Halloween-time in 2020 and while I did like it, Turton's writing didn't grab me like it did the first time. I was so intrigued by the synopsis of this, and it's by Stuart Turton, so I knew I had to give it a read. I liked it a good amount and thought it was an interesting ride. Basically, we are thrown into a society grappling with the aftermath of a dangerous fog sweeping the Earth. Everything in its path was wiped out, save a small community of humans. These people live on a Greek island which houses a laboratory which has shields that save them from the fog. The story comes to when the shields are starting to become less viable and someone commits the islands first murder. I thought that this was such an interesting setting for a story like this, and I enjoyed the fact that it balances between a murder mystery and a dystopia.
This book was longer than I expected, but I was compelled by the setting and the mystery to keep reading. The one part that I really wish had been expanded on was the fog and how it connects back to the people on the island--I feel that an explanation about that could have made the mystery even more impactful, but it wasn't bad with the explanation we did get. For how long this story was (400ish pages), I just found myself wanting a bit more from it; a bit more exploration, a few more threads tied off, a few more twists, etc. As it stands, this was a solid murder-mystery-dystopia, and while the culprit was pretty easy to figure out, it was still a compelling and pretty fun read.
3.5 Stars rounded up to 4 Stars

This is a twisty, complex whodunit that kept me guessing until the very end.

Nothing is quite as it seems on the idyllic Greek island where three scientists live with a group of a hundred or so villagers. They live quiet, peaceful lives working and pursuing their personal interests while outside their protected island the rest of the world lies in ruins from a deadly. fog. Their peaceful lives are thrown into chaos when one of the scientists are brutally murdered and the fog starts to roll closer to the island, threatening to destroy the last of humanity.

Turton is a master of storytelling. He slowly ramps up the tension as the fog creeps closer and the villagers, who have had their memories of the murder wiped, try to piece together what happened. The reader is given clues and information as the story unfolds--not only about the murder, but also the other secrets they have been hiding.

Recommended for fans of Turton's previous novels and anyone who loves mystery and science fiction.

It's been ninety years since a mysterious fog erupted from the earth, wiping out every living creature save the handful of humans who made it to a tiny Greek island housing an advanced laboratory. The lab's shields have carved out a bubble of peace for the close knit community. That peace is shattered when someone commits the island's first murder. Even worse, a dead man's switch means the shields are collapsing. The island's lone inquisitive villager has less than two days to fix the shields by solving the case, but everyone has amnesia and furthermore her whole life is a lie. 60% murder mystery, 40% dystopia.

There are many theories as to how our world will die, and this one couples the population's death with the murder of a person who was a scientist, in a team of three living with others on the only piece of land with survivors.

The three scientists are in control and the inhabitants of the island follow their instructions and rules to the letter. Interestingly, the residents are awakened nightly, unbeknownst to them, to work on projects around the island. This island is protected by a kind of barrier, a shield that offers the islanders an environment where peace and harmony reign.

However, with the death/murder of one of the scientists, the barrier is faltering and it seems like death comes to the island through the fog that has killed countless others.

Intriguingly, the faltering has also causes all to lose their memories making the supposed murder unaware that he or she is the culprit.

It a very interesting dilemma and one in which there are many surprises as well as scientific instruments to attest to the fact that this was a future event.

What will be their future? Will they survive by finding the murderer? Will they become the beings they so want to be leading happy, peaceful, joyous lives?

Thank you to Stuart Turton, Raven Books, and NetGalley for a copy of this story due out in May.

This is my first Stuart Turton book, and it won't be my last! The Last Murder At The End Of The World is without doubt one of the most original, genre defying books I've ever read.  This book blended elements of sci fi, post Apocalyptic horror, whodunit mystery, and psychological thriller and cleverly fit all the pieces together to form a riveting, multi faceted mystery that required me to pay close attention but which I thoroughly enjoyed. 


I loved the clever setup of this story and how, as the story progressed, it went in unexpected directions. My initial thoughts on the author's master plan for the story were totally wrong. Upon finishing the book, I'm in awe of both his imagination and ability to craft a complex mystery within a well developed, intriguing dystopian setting.


This book captivated me with its multi layered storytelling, creative setting, and many twists and turns. This is a very different take on the traditional isolated location murder mystery and was such a fun reading experience. 


Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read an early copy of this book.

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Sourcebooks for an advanced copy of this novel about the end of the world, the hubris of science, and the fact that humans or at least some continue to strive for victory, even when all seems lost.

. The end of the world seems to be on a lot of people's minds. This being an election year and the choices being so stark, with one person being a end it all in a whimper Make things great, and a bang of always winning. Planes are falling out of the sky, the police are rioting to make overtime, there is a lot going on. The draw of dystopian books is, the worst has finally happened, now we can get on with things. Unless the end is natural, a fog that is unstoppable, one that can't be reasoned with, or bargained with, or even bought off. One that is surrounding the last place on Earth where humans live, and one that has found a way in. If only people could remember how, or why. The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton is a nove of a future that could be ours, filled with humans who might be the last who act like us, dealing with puzzle that could mean the end of everything or the start of something magical.

One hundred and twenty-two people are among the last people on earth. Giant sinkholes have opened around the Earth, causing a fog that kills all human and animal life on Earth. A call went out from an island near Greece. Come here if you want to survive. Among these people are three scientists, who live outside of the others, and have found a way to keep the fog at bay. The people live a life that is fairly idyllic. Everyone has a task, they are alive and things are peaceful. Yes people don't live past the age of 60, but they have a nice send off before being put to sleep. And yes each one of them has a voice in their head, that watches and talks to them, keeping them safe and secure. There has only been one murder on the island, until the night there is another. A scientist is killed, which is horrible. Worse is that the security for the island is done, and within 96 hours the fog will come. Even worse is that the security blanked the minds of the people so no one is sure what happened or why. Or even who the murderer is, including the killer.

Another great book by Turton who continues to come up ideas that shouldn't seem to work, or that seem familiar, but in Turton's hands become something quite more. This story has a world building, human nature, a good puzzle, and a twist ending that makes one go wha??? but at the same time the clues are there, the story backs it up, and boy if it isn't satisfying. The characters are all well done, especially Emory, who tries to figure out what is going on. Turton has a interesting way of presenting the characters in that one thinks one is seeing the world from the characters point of view, but are really seeing everything from the voice inside their head. There are many interesting scenes, a bit of humour, and a lot of why is this important, why is that important, until one goes ohhh, I see where this is going. Turton also throws in some Easter eggs from earlier works, which for longtime readers is a treat.

Recommended for fans who like to think while reading and are tired of humdrum stories about characters who don't seem to do anything and stories without stakes. For old readers they will love this, and new readers will find a new favorite to follow and enjoy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishers for providing this ARC in exchange for a review.

This was the first time that I had read a book by this author, and I will probably give some of his other works a try.

Now, I feel like my opinion differs from many of the reviews I see posted already, but I did predict who was the killer and some of the other plot twists along the way. That may just be because I love mysteries and thrillers and was like "Well, this would be a shock to the characters." and that's what got me to those conclusions.

It's really well written, I will give the book that. There were a lot of explanations for things that I could get behind, but I did wish we had some more explanation at the very end about this fog and it's relation to the people on this island. There were a lot of aspects of this book that just kept me wanting, and that's why I rated it a 3.5 rounded down to 3.

This book was not at all what I expected, but in a good way! Although technically this is a murder mystery, the real focus of the book is the very strange post-apocalyptic civilization where it takes place--a small Greek island with only 125 inhabitants. Just offshore is a fog that will kill everyone if it breaches the defenses that have been set up to protect the island. There's also an AI "conscience" who can read everyone's thoughts and talk to them inside their heads.

A huge impediment to solving the murder is the fact that everyone's memories of the relevant time period have been wiped. And did I mention that if the murder isn't solved in the next few days, the defenses will automatically disappear, allowing the fog to overtake the island?

All of this makes for a fascinating and suspenseful novel. The stakes are astronomically higher than in an ordinary mystery. And the world created by the author, including the well-drawn and complex characters, make for a great read. If you're looking for something a little out of the ordinary, this is the book for you!

The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton. Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Pub Date: May 21, 2024. If you’re into dystopian and sci-fi, then this book is for you. Honestly, I’m not a huge dystopian fiction reader but this book took me by surprise. Filled with intrigue, suspense, murder and a race against time plot to keep the story moving, this book became an unputdownable read for me. Many characters were presented, but the execution of the story and how all the characters intersected made it easy to follow. Highly recommend this novel even if this isn’t your usual genre! Thanks to #netgalley and #sourcebookslandmark for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review. #bookstagram #bibliophile #bookworm #igreads #thelastmurderattheendoftheworld #stuartturton

I would describe The Last Murder at the End of the World as a dystopian fantasy. 120 villagers and three scientists are all that remain on the Earth. The rest of the world was swallowed up by a strange fog that destroys everything it touches. The remaining 123 people live on a small island and have been able to hold back the fog for more than 100 years. But now there's been a murder on the island and what was holding the fog back has been destroyed. They only have a number of days to solve the murder and save their lives. I was really enjoying the book up until the murder. It was reminding me of the TV show, Lost. After the murder, things got a bit convoluted, and the ending was unsatisfying for me. But I'm glad I read it and would definitely recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC.

Stuart Turton's "The Last Murder at the End of the World" throws you headfirst into a chilling scenario. The world has succumbed to a deadly fog, leaving only a small island community as the last bastion of humanity. But this fragile paradise is shattered when one of the island's three scientists is found murdered. The stakes couldn't be higher: with the murder, the island's protective shield begins to fail, threatening to expose them all to the same fate as the rest of the world.

The novel excels in its chilling atmosphere. The idyllic island setting is constantly overshadowed by the looming threat of the fog and the ticking clock of the failing shield. Turton skillfully builds suspense, keeping you guessing about the killer's identity and motives. The mystery itself is cleverly constructed, with red herrings and twists that will keep you turning pages.

While not quite reaching the mind-bending complexity of Turton's previous work like "The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle," "The Last Murder at the End of the World" offers a satisfying blend of murder mystery and science fiction. The characters, though not always deeply developed, are engaging enough to root for in their desperate race against time.

If you're looking for a fast-paced, suspenseful thriller with a unique apocalyptic twist, then "The Last Murder at the End of the World" is definitely worth checking out. Just be prepared to stay up late, racing to solve the puzzle alongside the islanders before the fog claims them all.

Stuart Turton is the master of creativity, his meticulously thought out and plotted books are all amazing. This one felt like Lost (the TV show) meets Agatha Christie meets “The Father -thing” (by Philip K. Dick). As with all his books you have to go slow and ease into the story because the details are important and sometimes you have to go back a few pages to be sure you are following. I did love this book but it felt a little slow, and slightly long in the middle - but the beginning and ultimate ending were fabulous. Highly recommend. I received and ARC from the publisher Sourcebooks Landmark through NetGalley and appreciate the opportunity to read this book - this did not impact my opinion.

Plagued by bottomless curiosity, and general ineptitude for most menial tasks, Emory is a social outcast on the island at the end of the world. When the murder of an elder sets into motion a chain of events that threatens extinction, she must put aside her self-doubt and “be of service” as the world’s last detective.
With this third stand-alone novel, Turton establishes himself as a master of the mystery mash-up. This dystopian detective story expertly follows the conventions of both genres without feeling forced. The clues are dropped early and often, while the science fiction conceits satisfactorily introduce a ticking clock without bogging down with excessive jargon. The steady pace leaves just enough room to connect with characters and second guess their red herring status. Ultimately, the mystery is fair, the dystopia is a fine morality tale, and the ending is pleasantly satisfying for fans or newcomers alike.

I search from time-to-time for science fiction stories combined with mysteries. And I found one recently written by Stuart Turton entitled “ The Last Murder at the End of the World.” Our world has ceased to be as we are left with a single island surrounded by a dense fog that has killed off everything else on earth. And thus begins this unique story.
So did I like the book? Yes I did for I enjoy an author taking chances writing a narrative that is uniquely singular. (Nobody but Stuart Turton could have written “The Last Murder…” Did I always enjoy the plot? Nope. Sometimes the story dragged a bit for my tastes. Contrarily, the mystery took many twists and turns and kept me guessing till the very end.
So I am assigning “The Last Murder at the End of the World “ a respectable 3 stars and, as always, my thanks to NetGalley for the chance to enjoy this book.

Whodunit? That’s the big question. This original story takes the reader somewhere into the future with a murder that must be solved within 91 hours.

The Greek islands seems like a pleasant place to live but maybe it's not. Ninety years ago, a global disaster occurred everywhere except this small place on earth with only three surviving scientists and 122 farm workers. The narrator was Abi, an AI system, who was aware of all of their thoughts.

It was very interesting to read about how this place was set up to carry on. The scientists were referred to as “elders” with a great deal of wisdom. All the workers died when they turned 60. There were no prayers or afterlife beliefs. “The reward for a good life is the living of it.” Each person accepted what they had to do everyday with a curfew at night. They cared for each other. It was inspiring!

It was easy to visualize the main characters with their work and feelings for each other. I found the first half of the book to be full of imagination with this futuristic world that was on the edge of existing. Yet, when the focus was on the murder, my mind kept drifting and was glad to finally get to the end. For those that love science fiction with an adventure, this may be one that flows fast and furiously with the visionary words.

My thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of May 21, 2024.

Another one of those books where the title pulls me in. But I do love a post-apocalyptic story that has some mystery to it. I didn’t expect the sci-fi part of it but that’s okay. So, a fog spreads throughout the world and insects inside the fog devour anything and anyone. On a Greek island, where there was once a research facility, they keep the fog at bay and have survived numerous decades. Then one of the elders is murdered which leads a chain of events that turns off the mechanism that stops the fog from approaching the island. The inhabitants have a few days to find the murder which would turn it back on and save the island.

That said, it was an okay story. I was a little consumed at first. Too many characters to keep track off and so much going on, sometimes it was hard to follow. But that’s just me, I am not much of a science fiction fan but overall it was okay.