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.

Stuart Turton always writes an interesting novel. I appreciate his characters and the depth they each bring to the story. This book was good. I liked the premise about a group stranded by a "fog" that has killed everything outside their bubble, and the people inside who are trying to eke out a life for themselves. The idea of an omnipotent-ish voice that lives inside everyone's minds and can talk to them and influence their decisions is interesting. A different take on the murder mystery novel. I liked this one.

4.5 stars

Having had one hit and one miss from Turton's previous books, I had high hopes going into this one that Turton would deliver on the promised premise with his signature combination of incisive prose, intriguing social commentary, and insane twists. I am pleased to announce that The Last Murder at the End of the World delivered on all counts!

For me, this book is Turton's best so far. The action never stops moving, the reveals are grounded in the world but still manage to surprise, and this large cast of characters really allows him to explore the question: How do we stay human when humanity is all but lost? It's a message that while integral to the story and essential for readers to comprehend, never comes off as preachy or prescriptive. There is room in this book for multiple hard truths to exist at the same time and Turton balances each dichotomy beautifully. This book helped prove to me that my singular miss from Turton is most likely just a one-off and I sincerely hope that he continues to impress us with twisty, thought-provoking, and genre-bending murder mysteries for years to come!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

This one blew me away! I've tried this author in the past and didn't make it past the first few chapters, but the plot for this one really caught my interest. Basically the entire world has been destroyed by a mysterious and deadly fog, except from one island that is protected from it. When a murder takes place, the fog starts to roll in and the islands villagers are under the clock to solve the murder to prevent the fog from killing everyone.

This was a little slow to start, but was need to build up this post apocalyptic world. The world building was very well done, alongside good character development. I was sucked in wanting to learn more about this place, its people, what the island was like, and how this island was protected from the fog. Without giving anything away, the narration for this book was very unique and really made for a new way of storytelling. Definitely pay close attention in the beginning so you don't miss anything like I did! I enjoyed how the reveals were unraveled throughout the book, instead of everything all being thrown at you quickly in the end. Turton really kept me on my toes questioning everything right through the end. It was satisfying, a fun ride, and had me engaged from start to finish. If you are looking for a little change to your mystery reading, this would be a great one to pick up!

I really tried to like this book as I have enjoyed everything else written by the author. I can’t make too many comments about the plot because it would give away some of the information. But the sci fi tropes used didn’t quite work. There was one too many. I didn’t connect with any of the characters, even the ones you know were supposed to be sympathetic within this world that has some pretty awful things going on, The setting on this lonely island surrounded by fog makes the read pretty creepy as if the world itself were weighing down on the characters as they solve a murder. The island’s security system, connected to all of the other inhabitants, provides an interesting narrative of the events. The dystopian elements work to an extent, but the isolation of the last people on this island make it hard to imagine what they are working towards, or even against. I’m still a Turnton fan and will keep reading everything he writes, but this one wasn’t my favorite. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

Interesting novel with a sci-fi/dystopian mystery with a decent amount of twists. I enjoyed this novel felt it was written well maybe a few too many characters in the beginning took a little while to figure out who they all were to each other. That being said I think it was the perfect length and was a quick read once the mystery got going. Rating this 3/3.5 stars I really enjoyed the premise but didn't love how it ended definitely more of a sci-fi novel than a mystery. I want to thank NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Last Murder at the End of the World.

I loved the premise but the narrative fell short for a number of reasons:

1. There are too many characters, some with unusual names and you quickly forget who is who and what their direct relation they are to one another.

2. The mystery is unnecessarily long-winded, the investigation into the murder of a central character leading to multiple theories and suspects until the final anti-climatic reveal, like discovering the spy doesn't remember what happened because they submitted to a test that wipes your memories. Duh!

3. There's a 'shocking' twist midway through, and it's up to the reader if they choose to suspend disbelief or not. I liked it, it was a twist I expect in a post-apocalyptic novel, though I wasn't surprised about it. The not so subtle theme of this dystopian world hasn't changed now or in the future; the haves versus the have nots.

4. The writing is good, but wordy, verbose; great descriptions but the narrative is heavily bogged down in exposition and major and supporting characters, and back story that readers will quickly lose the plot thread.

5. I didn't like anyone nor did I sympathize with anyone; the only reason I finished reading this was to find out whodunit, and that was disappointing.

The premise of this book really drew me in- isolated community, post-apocalyptic world, a little bit of science, and secrets. Sadly, the writing style kind of threw me off in this book. I really enjoyed the ideas the book had but I wish the reading experience was a little better for me. Still, four stars for a really cool story.

I just concluded my last book of the evening (lies) it’s only 11:46pm and that mean I have one last one in me before my head hits the pillow.

I know, I know, you think I’m crazy but after a wild weekend the only way I know how to reset and recharge is when I sit down in my reading room with my books.

I saved the best for last (for the night)

Drumroll please…..

The Last Murder at the End of the World

I bounce around from thrillers to romcoms, I know, wild and drastically different but I love both so much!

A good friend of mine hooked me on Stuart Turton, a few years ago and I haven’t been the same since . I absolutely adore these books and The Last Murder at the End of the World, is no different! This book right here is literally and literary, everything.

I had to catch my breath a few times but never once lost interest. I was completely invested in the storyline from page one. I mean, this is to be expected, it’s Stuart Turton, we are talking about.

I felt the electricity in my soul and my just couldn’t believe what I was reading . This book has bestseller written all over it.

Don’t believe me, I dare you, instead, find out for yourself. Here’s a teaser:

From the bestselling author of The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle and The Devil and the Dark Water comes an inventive, high-concept murder mystery: an ingenious puzzle, an extraordinary backdrop, and an audacious solution.

Solve the murder to save what's left of the world.
Outside the island there is nothing: the world was destroyed by a fog that swept the planet, killing anyone it touched.

On the island: it is idyllic. One hundred and twenty-two villagers and three scientists, living in peaceful harmony. The villagers are content to fish, farm and feast, to obey their nightly curfew, to do what they're told by the scientists.

Until, to the horror of the islanders, one of their beloved scientists is found brutally stabbed to death. And then they learn that the murder has triggered a lowering of the security system around the island, the only thing that was keeping the fog at bay. If the murder isn't solved within 92 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.

And the clock is ticking.