I love books that blur the edges of genres, jumping between them in unexpected ways, books like The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett. The Last Murder at the End of the World is just such a book, blending post-apocalyptic science fiction and mystery. Narrated by an all-seeing AI, this is a book that starts slowly and then takes off in a sprint to the end. You won't be able to put it down until you reach the conclusion!

This is a dystopian science fiction with a dash of Sherlock Holmes vibes.

I really loved the world Stuart Turton has created in The Last Murder at the End of the World. The imagery of the island was vivid and I could easily picture this book becoming the next must-watch Apple TV series.

Each of the characters held their own - especially Emory. I will say, about 3/4 of the way through the book, Emory kind of "figured it all out" a bit too easily for my taste. But I also know that was her character -- someone uniquely observant. Mostly, the mystery surrounding the island and the mysterious fog that consumes it + the death of one of the beloved Elders kept me reading.

Overall, I really loved the sci-fi elements here and this deeper look into humanity in both its beauty and demise.

Staurt Turton delights again with a creative who-dun-it thriller, this time set against the backdrop of a post-apocalyptic Earth all but decimated by a terrifying biological contaminant. The last of humanity resides on an island in the Mediterranean home to a small village, an AI, a locked laboratory, and three mysterious "Elders" from Earth before its fall. When the peaceful community is rocked by a murder, the village must band together to solve crime before the biological contaminant overtakes the island and wipes out what remains.

Turton is incredibly talented at taking common tropes and putting them to inventive use: Groundhog Day took on a whole new meaning in The 7/12 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, and the amnesia trope takes center stage in Last Murder. It's hard to review the plot without getting into spoilers, but suffice to say it kept me guessing right up until the final page. There are seemingly infinite layers to Turton's mystery, with each revelation leading to a list of new questions.

My only caveat is the weakness of the characters, none of whom stand out as unique or memorable. It feels like Turton took cookie-cutter versions of classic murder mystery characters (The Detective, the Red Herring Villain, The Kindly Elder, the Precocious Child etc) and wove them into the narrative with minimal personalization. Despite this, he does succeed at crafting a tender tale of family, love, and loss, as several generations of the villages inhabitants must dig up old secrets and put to bed old grudges in order to save the island and themselves.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing this book, with my honest review below*

The Last Murder at the End of the World is a beautifully written book that met the high expectations its unique premise set. Set in the future, we follow Niema, an elder and scientist, as well as Emory, a villager, and other characters as they introduce us to the village on an island that is the last to house humanity in the far off future.

This book focuses on several mysteries, not just the culprit behind the murder but that of the village and the secrets associated with it, as well as our sometimes narrator and character Abi. Stuart Turton has done a wonderful job of world building and adding tension and questions to move the plot that hit the right balance for a reader to stay engaged without getting confused. I enjoyed this and believe any reader who enjoys a good mystery or a dose of sci fi will as well.

3.5 stars. This one was weird for me. I liked the concept but found the AI component a bit confusing. I also felt like there was a lot of repetition while trying to solve the mystery. The premise is fascinating and definitely makes you think.

WOW, I loved every minute of this! Did I stay up entirely too late one night because I just had to finish this book and couldn’t stop? Why, yes, yes I did. It’s easily going to be in my top reads of the year, I already know it. I know, that’s an ambitious thing to say about my first book of 2024, but I couldn’t have asked for a better way to start out my reading year.

It’s the best of both science-fiction and mystery/thriller. I loved everything about this book - the characters, the world-building, the plotting, the pacing. It was a perfect five star read for me. I was completely absorbed in the events and transported into the story world. I absolutely loved the writing and narration style. I want all of my reading experiences to feel as captivating and compelling as this one did.

I will be recommending this to everyone and will most likely still be raving about it years to come. I have had this author’s backlist books on my tbr for a while now and I won’t be putting them off any longer, they will definitely be getting read this year. Dare I say it, this one book alone was enough to solidify this author as a favorite and I will be auto-buying anything he writes from now on.

The Last Murder at the End of the World is a gorgeous post-apocalyptical genre mashup of a novel. On an island the last survivors from a deadly fog live and work together in harmony. The three scientists or elders rule the rest of the villagers with their knowledge and everything is peaceful until a murder occurs and the fog is unleashed. If the murderer isn't discovered in 92 hours, the fog will cover their island, killing everyone left in the world. What follows is described as a murder mystery, but is so much more. This story is also a survival story and a psychological thriller, there is romance and what it means to be a family, there is also the spirit of hope and resilience throughout. It's so beautifully and smartly told, I don't think there is anyone who would not enjoy this. First five star read of 2024.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

1: The Plot

The story starts ninety years after a deadly world-ending fog swept the earth. 122 villagers and 3 scientists make up the remainder of humanity, all living together in an island shielded from the fog.

After Niema Mandripilias, the head scientist, is murdered, the security system keeping the fog back goes down, giving the villagers 92 hours to solve the murder before everyone dies. But the AI, Abi, ingrained into the humans’ minds has mysteriously wiped everyone’s memory of the incident, meaning the killer could be anyone.

2: Narrative, Prose, and Story

The story is told through the AI Abi’s "eyes" so to speak. Abi has been integrated into every character’s psyche, but mostly follows Emory as she works to solve the case of Niema’s death and uncover the secrets the scientists (and Abi) have been keeping from the villagers.

Abi tells the story from both third and first person. It was really interesting. But I didn’t find it difficult to follow at all. The story is really well structured so as not to confuse the reader.

3: Characters

As with most of my reviews, I’ll only discuss the characters I feel I have something to say about.

Emory makes a good protagonist for this story. Despite Abi using subtle suggestion from birth to keep the villagers ignorant, Emory is still full of questions. And she’s determined to get answers. I really liked her and enjoyed following her throughout the story.

Clara is Emory’s daughter, with whom she has a difficult relationship as a result of Emory’s personality. Clara isn’t like her mother and at first, is perfect happy not asking questions. Then Clara’s best friend goes missing and the murder happens. Clara ends up teaming up with Emory to solve the case.

The scientists, Niema, Hephaestus, and Thea are pretty morally corrupt. But they’re interesting characters to learn about.

4: Conclusion

I enjoyed this mystery a lot. If this book is anything to go by, Turton writes an excellent novel. I can’t wait to check out his other works!

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Stuart Turton tackles a new genre mashup mixing sci-fi and mystery in The Last Murder at the End of the World. Unlike his prior book 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hargreaves, Turton struggles, in my opinion, blending these two genres but does create a compelling mystery.

4.5 stars

A murder mystery with a sci-fi post apocalyptic back drop made this such an intriguing puzzle to unravel. I really enjoyed my reading experience with this one, and had a hard time putting the book down.

The island in this story is inhabited by the villagers and 3 scientist, all of whom are stuck, surrounded by a deadly fog. Then the unthinkable happens, a murder, which triggers the island defenses to come down, and the fog starts to role in closer, unless the murder is solved.

I loved the set-up for this story, it made the mystery not only about the murder, but also about the island, and how it works. I think this added much more complexity to the story, and made the mystery element stronger. The characters were well drawn out, and interesting. You got to see their motivations, and understand them throughout the story. The viewpoints from other characters helped flesh out the story and gave more depth than if it was just from the viewpoint of the main narrator Emory. There were a lot of clues and suspects, which at times felt a bit too much, but amazingly it all came together at the end.


Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The world has been destroyed by a deadly fog, killing everything it touches. Except for a secluded island, inhabited by 125 people, designed by a team of scientists who are determined to destroy the fog and rebuild mankind. But that plan is endangered when one of the scientists, a beloved mentor to the villagers, is murdered. Only by solving the murder can the villagers save their island, and mankind. The Last Murder At The End Of The World is a dystopian story at its finest, mixing science fiction with a murder mystery, all while exploring basic human ethics, and the result is a thrilling apocalyptic tale of survival. While the story gets a bit confusing and long-winded at times, the reader is still gripped by a suspenseful and tension filled narrative, with fascinating characters and a thought-provoking, unique plot. Quite a read, book clubs will love it.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Free e-ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher for reviewing purposes.

Where to begin when reviewing this book? This was an ideal mystery to read at the end of the year. It's deliciously immersive; because of the setting and limited outside world, the narrative makes you feel trapped and maybe a little claustrophobic. We join a peaceful village, the only surviving civilization, protected from the poisonous fog that has enveloped the rest of the world, populated by three scientists and 122 villagers. Narrated by the omniscient AI that monitors and controls the villagers, you get the sense that this is more of a dystopia than the villagers understand. And when one of the scientists is murdered in the night, and everyone wakes up with their memories erased, things get very serious. Particularly because of the triggered dead man's switch that has started a countdown to drop the island's safety shields- if the murderer is not discovered, the fog will descend upon them.

I would recommend this book to fans of SciFi, dystopian fiction, and mysteries. It's not such a straightforward mystery that I can say all fans of Agatha Christie will love it- the worldbuilding is different, and the narration by the AI may put some people off. Not to get too specific, but you have to be pretty into the book already to suspend your disbelief for some parts of the story and I can see some readers taking issue with that. Definitely, if you've enjoyed Stuart Turton's previous books, you'll enjoy this one. I really liked it, and it left me with a lot to think about after I finished it, but I can tell it's not going to be for everybody. Also, I imagine people may get this confused with the TV show "A Murder At The End Of The World"...

Stuart Turton is one of my favorite authors! His two prior books, The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle and The Devil and the Dark Water were both five star stunners for me so I couldn't wait to dive into this one!

The Last Murder at the End of the World is set on an idyllic island where all 122 residents and 3 scientists live in blissful peace. Outside of the isle, there is a fog that has destroyed the rest of the world killing anything it touches.

To the resident's horror, they find one of their scientists murdered. The murder triggered the security system around the island that has kept the dangerous fog from rolling in. The security system on the island has also wiped away everyone’s memory of the night before, which means one of them is a murderer and they don’t even realize it. If the murder is not solved within 92 hours, the fog will roll in.

I had some very high expectations going into this one and I'm happy to report that it did not disappoint! This dystopian whodunnit had me gripping the pages and I absolutely could not put it down. Written in Turton’s smart writing style, the book is a bit different from his other books but not in a bad way. This genre-bending story, Full of twists and turns, kept me engrossed from page one until the very end. If you are looking for an entertaining mystery or are a fan of Turton’s prior works, then I highly recommend this one!

The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton will be available on May 21. Many thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley for the gifted copy!

The Last Murder at the End of the World is a sort of locked room, time-is-running-out-to-save-the-world whodunnit. It's set against a post-apocalyptic world where a deadly fog has swept over the planet and killed mostly everyone, save the few villagers and scientists who have managed to survive on a tiny island. When one of the lead scientists is murdered in cold blood, it is up to Emory, a villager who has always been on the outs for asking too many questions, to solve it before the fog destroys everything and everyone she loves.

With the clock ticking, and only 92 hours to go, Emory must leave no stone unturned, whittling down the answer in a place where everyone is a suspect.

I liked that this had sensibilities of The Ferryman by Justin Cronin with its utopia/dystopia polarity and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak with its amoral and omniscient AI narrator. It gave the plot a cerebral sci-fi pulse that I thought was interesting. It enabled readers to look at what was happening to and with the characters from a more detached perspective. Emory was a good protagonist. Willful. Defiant. Constantly asking questions. Unabashed about her proclivity towards critical thinking. I liked being with her as she sorted through clues, motives, and false leads.

The story did stall at times, with the murder mystery portions dragging on in spots and with a bevy of characters who felt tangential to the plot at best, but all in all, this was complex and multilayered. I enjoyed the way it dangled questions of humanity and morality under my nose, especially since the answers were almost always ambiguous.

3.5 stars

Special thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC in exchange for my review!

Stuart Turton does it again! What a wonderful story teller. Turton never ceases to amaze me with his character & world building. I continuously look forward to everything he puts out.

In Stuart Turton's latest masterpiece, "The Last Murder at the End of the World," readers are plunged into a gripping whodunit set against the backdrop of a post-apocalyptic world. The story unfolds on an idyllic island, the last refuge in a world decimated by a deadly fog, where survival is contingent on solving a murder that could expose the inhabitants to the same deadly fate that befell the rest of the planet.

The island, sheltering 122 villagers and three scientists, seems like a peaceful haven, but the murder of one of the revered scientists sends shockwaves through the community. With a ticking clock of 92 hours, the islanders must unravel the mystery, as failure to do so will result in the encroaching fog swallowing everything in its path.

What sets Turton's narrative apart is the ingenious use of an amnesia plot device. The island's security system erases everyone's memory of the night of the murder, turning each inhabitant into a potential unwitting killer. The tension escalates as the protagonist, Emory, takes on the challenge of solving the murder with the fate of humanity hanging in the balance.

Turton's storytelling prowess shines through as he seamlessly blends elements of mystery, science fiction, and dystopian fiction. The island, described with vivid detail, becomes a character in itself—idyllic yet eerie against the backdrop of the fog-shrouded world outside.

The countdown of 92 hours adds urgency to the narrative, propelling readers through short, addictive chapters that unveil twists and turns. The characters are fully fleshed out, and Emory emerges as a tenacious and relatable heroine, driving the story forward with her quest for the truth.

Turton's ability to navigate the complexities of the plot and intertwine genres is commendable. "The Last Murder at the End of the World" is not just a murder mystery; it's a survival tale, a psychological thriller, and a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

Overall, Stuart Turton's latest novel is a triumph of storytelling, combining intellectual stimulation with emotional engagement. For fans of innovative mysteries and science fiction, this book is a must-read, promising an enthralling journey that challenges the boundaries of conventional genres. Get ready for a wild ride that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Many thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for sharing this amazing book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.

I had a hard time getting into this one in the beginning. Science fiction and dystopian is usually hit or miss for me as I don't always understand the complexities. While this one was not for me, I will still recommend it to those that really enjoy the genre.

While I enjoyed this book, it took so long to get into. If I didn’t receive an ARC, I probably would have not finished. I love the author’s two other novels, but this one did not draw me in nor did it keep my attention. I cannot give any specific reason why- the characters were fleshed out and multidimensional and the atmosphere was great; just like in his other novels. This one was just a miss for me.

Great book! Accidentally posted this earlier than I meant to I was thinking this was his second book--will have a full review on our website once the book is out!

Turton has devised an incredibly complicated and apocalyptic setting in which to set his mystery. The actual murder from the title doesn't occur until nearly halfway through the book. This is necessary to set up some kind of foundation for the reader as nothing quite makes sense. Set on an island surrounded by a toxic fog, a group of villagers attempt to preserve some semblance of civilization by learning as much as they can from the three "elders." These individuals are the original founders of the community who arrived as refugees, seeking a safe haven from the fog that consumed the earth. When one of the elders dies, Emory is tasked with solving the murder. The story is narratated by a character named Abi, a kind of AI powered being implanted into the all of the villagers.

As the book progresses, futuristic elements become more and more present requiring increased suspension of belief by the reader. There's a fairly big reveal about a third of the way through that completely changes the tonality of the story (spoilers: <spoiler>the villagers are all expensive robots purchased by billionaries to terraform the island while they sleep and await for a new liveable society </spoiler> and made me roll my eyes a bit. The investigative piece itself was overly complicated, and the cast of characters too big. "Last Murder" is just a bit too much of everything.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!