Mind-bendingly magnificent! Takes you by the hand and drags you through a maze of masterful twists and turns, with an ending worthy of a standing ovation.

I really enjoyed Turton's new novel. He continues to surprise us with the variety of genres he writes in but each novel has a puzzle to solve at its heart. This dystopian novel, kept me guessing for a while as I tried to visualise the world he was depicting and the various narrations but eventually it all starts to become clear. The comments on society ultimately reflecting some of our own issues with the responsibility of the environment and power certainly makes you think. I'm not sure about whether I was completely satisfied with the ending. Overall a great read but not as complex or as complicated as he other books.

A new world ★★★★☆

Ninety years after the end of the world, a community survives on an island surrounded by poisonous fog, governed by three scientist elders – Neima, Hephaestus and Thea – and AI system Abi.

The rules are simple: respect the elders, don’t ask too many questions, curfew 8.45 to 7am. All the villagers die at 60.

Then Niema is murdered. the fail safes keeping the fog back are lifted, and everyone’s memories of the previous night are wiped.

Emory struggles to accept the status quo, especially after the deaths of her husband and grandfather. When she is tasked with investigating Niema’s murder, for the first time her ways of thinking and her tireless questions are key.

The island is full of secrets – from an abandoned lab to broken memory vials and a sleepwalking army of labourers – and Emory, her father Seth and her daughter Clara, one of Thea’s apprentices, only have 67 hours to solve the mystery and save the island.

An incredibly complex mystery centred in a truly imaginative world.

After reading the author's previous 2 novels I couldn’t wait to read Stuart Turton’s new offering ‘The last murder at the end of the world’. I was a bit dubious at first, as it completely different from his last two novels. But I wasn’t disappointed. This is another fabulous read.
The last murder at the end of the world is a typical ‘Locked room’ mystery but is also a post -apocalyptic tale of the last 125 people left on and island with 3 scientists, after the rest of the planet has been wiped out by a fog. When one of them is murdered but the next day they found out their memories have been wiped. They are wondering who is the killer and why? But that’s not all. As the scientist has been killed it is meant that the barrier that has been let down on the island and they have 92 hours before the fog engulfed the island killing everyone on it.
This is a tense twisty thriller, and the author is good at not giving anything away too quickly, so you keep guessing and guessing. The characters are well developed, and I thought this was quite a unique storyline, with the mix of mystery and post- apocalyptic adventure. It also thought it was quite thought provoking in a sense if there was a world like this where everyone could be equal. What kind of world would it be? This is another entertaining read from the author. 4 stars from me.

Having not read Turton previously, I was unsure what to expect but this blew my mind and i'm so happy to have been gifted this. There were real mysteriously intense moments that paid off.

Turton’s delivered a real mash up. It’s a real mix of Dystopian, sci fi and at the heart is a murder mystery with a locked room theme. It’s a cracker. Very clever because I found it impossible to second guess how the various threads would pull together. There’s a real sense of creepy eeriness as the last 122 survivors of the human race are drawn together and pulled apart by events. There’s a palpable feeling of claustrophobia as the deadly enveloping fog threatens to wipe them all out. Packed with characters including one who claims the ability to prophecy and twists and turns that keep the pace going right from the first page. Turton is an original and inventive author who creates scenario that are just on the right side of plausible and have moments of true scary horror. Enjoyed this enormously and can’t wait for more. This would make a cracking film.

At the heart of this book is a good old-fashioned whodunnit. I really struggled at first, partially because I always find dystopian novels difficult (no idea why, just a me trait), and partially because there was a lot of characters to get to know.
I'm so glad I persevered as the character building and plot were well worth it. It kept me guessing and held my interest.

I enjoyed this novel by Stuart Turton. Like his previous books there are lots of twists and turns before the mystery is solved and this keeps you on your toes and encourages you to keep reading. I do however think that his first book has been his best so far and for this reason have only given it 4 stars.

What I absolutely love about Turton’s books above everything else, is that you never know what to expect, because there are no rules. Each layer of each story uncovers more intrigue, more twists and turns, more mystery, more revelations, until eventually we find the truth. ‘The Last Murder at the End of the World’ is no different.

It’s is set in a post apocalyptic world where only one tiny island of humans survive. The rest of the world has been wiped out by a mysterious ‘fog’ that now surrounds the island. As in other Turton novels, the setting plays a key role. Here, the island hides and exposes key information.

The narrator is Abi, an AI who is connected to each of the villagers. Abi is capable of communicating with the villagers simultaneously and is cognisant of the present, and possible future outcomes. The main protagonist, Emory, is at odds with the other villagers and with the mysterious Elders who take care of them. While all the villagers are content with the status quo, Emory questions everything. After the murder of one of the elders she is given permission to investigate, and to perhaps have some of her questions answered. But, if the murder isn’t solved within 92 hours, the fog will reach the island.

I can’t recommend ‘The last Murder at the End of the World’ highly enough. Just read it!

Turton proves once again that he is the master of the high concept thriller. This is such a clever novel, probably a little too clever for me but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Hats off to the author.

This was my first Stuart Turton novel and lived up to my expectations based off reviews of his previous books. Clever, twisty and absorbing. It took me a little while to get a sense of premise of the book and the post-apocalyptic world Turton has created, but once I got going I didn’t put it down. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

Not to be confused with Brit Marling "Murder At The End Of The World", Stuart Turton's title is a lot more literal with its use of The End Of The World. Its a post-apocalyptic tale of the last 125 people left in the world, on an idyllic island surrounded by the deal dealing fog which has rolled over on humanity causing madness and destruction. There are three long lived scientists on the island who maintain the barrier, and 122 islanders who "arrive" out of the blue when someone dies, and follow a very regimented by peaceful pastorl life. Evryone if connected by an all-knowing AI who makes sure tempers do not fray and all are content. Until one of the scientists gets murdered, the one who has maintained that barrier. And apparently unless her murder is solved, the barrier will fall and everyone will die.

This is much more science fiction than a mystery, though it does manage to keep both plates spinning pretty successfully. We get in the heads of a number of characters but our lead and main investigator is the islands malcontent, the only one of the villagers who has questioned their way of life - what makes her special makes her dangerous, to paraphrase Kate Bush. Turton does hold a few cards close to his chest, there are revelations that might be hard to hide in a more visual presentation of this story, and the very notion of murder is questioned at a couple of points. But it was always a compelling read, and its light touch catastrophising and small population did a good job at running through several of the big issues that face us with climate emergency. A thoughtful genre mash-up that is also a solidly compelling read too.

When you're looking for a story that's truly impossible to predict, Stuart Turton is the only way to go. I'm consistently amazed at the puzzles this man can conceive and the new ways of storytelling created, The Last Murder At The End Of The World takes a whole new direction.

In a post apocalyptic world where only one tiny island of humans survive, we're introduced to the villagers on a race to save the only liveable land they have left.

Every Turton novel is wildly different, this time narrated by 'Abi' a sort of artificial intelligence living in the minds of the villagers. Abi sees, hears and understands everything simultaneously alongside predicting future outcomes.
It took me a moment to understand the perspective as 'Abi' talks in first about themselves, in third describing to us and frequently engages in conversations inside each characters mind.
That may sound confusing but it soon clicked together and made for a unique style of writing.

For Turton's third novel he's built an entirely different world, this futuristic setting was fascinating. I thoroughly enjoyed all the inventive technology and new species hidden in laboratories outside of the crude rundown village.

Rather than focus on the main event, Turton distracts by piling up the mysteries, each new revelation raises more questions.
Main character Emory has been chided all her life for her curiosity, until now. Finally given free reign to investigate the death of Niema.

Perhaps the most unique plot point of this story- Abi has wiped everyones memory, including the killer themselves! It was interesting to watch the main characters consider their own culpability and possible motives.

Emory is a powerful protagonist, the only one of the village with a spark of temerity. A drive to understand what's really happening when every other person she's ever known refuses to question the elders.

Turton ratchets the tension by titling chapters with a measured countdown to the 'end of the world', a pace that picks up speed before hurtling to the shocking finale.

Now begins my painful wait for his next creation. Definitely my number one author.

I was curious from the beginning about this book because I enjoyed Stuart Turton's previous works and he definitely lived up to my expectations. When I thought I knew what's happening in the story I was proved wrong. I loved this book and I really like the cover of it.

Enjoyable and easy to read, a bit like the Richard Osman books in style. Will read more by the author.

4.5 stars!

As a huge fan of his previous two novels, I was once again delighted to see how Turton could twist and subvert the murder mystery genre into yet another wholly unique, engaging and highly cerebral tale. As with any of his work, providing an initial premise does not even begin to scratch the surface of the depths of this mystery, however, I thoroughly enjoyed the sci-fi elements and post-apocalyptic dystopian setting that he has adopted to tell this particular story. Emory lives in the last surviving village which is guided by three Elders and she is the only person to ask questions. When the entire village awakes one night to discover a murder has been committed, it is Emory's tenacity, curiosity and willingness to challenge the status quo that leads them to the answer. Perhaps most challengingly, however, the fog that decimated the rest of the world is now finally encroaching on their island. As always, the island itself is a key figure in the narrative and Turton uses its design, both the natural and sci-fi elements, to full effect. to captivate the reader and lead us towards the answer. The pacing of the book is not always perfectly balanced and, while the first third of the book does well to set up the landscape in which the characters find themselves, and the culture within the village, the mystery is not as immediate in the plot or as immediately gripping as in his previous work.

Emory is a highly likeable and empathetic figure but perhaps the most meaningful journeys are for the villagers who do not challenge the status quo with as much ease, including both her daughter, Clara, and her father, Sam, and, while more complex figures, Hephaestus, Niema and Thea as the village elders have so many shades to them that, as a reader, you are constantly seeking out both their light and their shadow. Given to narrative quirks in his previous novels, this one perhaps presents the most unique narrator yet in the form of the AI system which cares for and, in part, controls the characters and the story by being ever present in their mind. It draws up some fascinating questions around the role of artificial intelligence and, while ABI seems to be conveying events as factually as possible, there are lingering doubts over her motivations until the very end. The use of ABI is particularly effective in giving us an insight into the minds of numerous different characters across the island, and helping to convey both their merits and their vices as the computer acts as an amoral device bent only on the best possible collective outcome for the ever powerful Niema's wishes.

Perhaps the most striking point made in the book comes from Emory as she is finally given the power to investigate and explore all that she has previous known: 'simultaneously awed at the power of questions and dismayed at the limitations of answers.' Indeed, it feels that this story is a call to arms, urging us to question the powers that be, and yet to accept that the answers may not be immediately as satisfying as we wish. In casting the story in a world where both an external threat but, more importantly, humanity's own malice has torn the world apart, there is something particularly powerful about watching a group explore and navigate questions of punishment, crime, and authority afresh while maintaining the ultimate rule of kindness, always.

As with any Turton novel, there are constant twists, layer upon layer of intrigue and you must simply embrace confusion and the unknown in order to sink into the novel. The ever present threat of the countdown until the fog arrives leaves you unable to put the book down and you are left unravelling events until the very end. While I did predict who the killer was quite early on, placing all of the many moving parts together to make a cohesive narrative of the night of the murder is so thoroughly engaging and, at times, baffling that it did not detract at all from my enjoyment of the book. A twisty challenge of a book and one I would recommend to any fan of a mystery, dystopian literature or if you simply want to be challenged to accept and sit in confusion for a few hours!

Blog:

Forget your typical whodunnit. Turton's newest novel throws you headfirst into a genre-bending whirlwind of dystopian sci-fi, pulse-pounding thriller, and classic murder mystery, all set against the idyllic backdrop of a seemingly perfect island untouched by the world's deadly fog.

With multiple POVs and the omnipresent AI Abi whispering in everyone's ear, the narrative unfolds like a puzzle box slowly clicking into place with Emory, a would-be detective, at the heart of it.

This is no ordinary murder mystery. The memory-wiping security system adds a mind-bending twist, forcing suspects to grapple with the possibility of being a killer without any recollection of the act. It's a constant dance of uncovering and rediscovering, keeping you guessing at every turn. Each revelation feels like a victory, propelling you further into the heart of the island's secrets.

If you're looking for a book that will bend your brain and keep you guessing until the last page The Last Murder at the End of the World is it.

Goodreads:

Stuart Turton is one of those authors whose books are instant reads for me. The 7 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle broke me out of a two-year-long reading slump and reminded me why I loved reading, so this is a very exciting release.

It’s very different from his last two books; it is a little less like a typical whodunnit (not that his stories are ever predictable) and more of a play with multiple genres, including dystopian, sci-fi, thriller, and classic murder mystery elements. It's a mind-twisting book with multiple POV characters and one common POV, the AI Abi, who is present in all of their brains. Because Abi always knows more than each of the characters, it makes for a unique mystery, where the reveals are delivered constantly throughout the book, making it difficult to put down.

It takes a few chapters to settle into its unusual style, really finding its footing once we're mostly focused on Emory, our detective character. I found some of the characters to be less fleshed out and the world-building a little lighter than I wanted, but this was very minor as I had a lot of fun with this book.

Because Stuart Turton's books always pair so eerily well with an indie game (Evelyn Hardcastle with The Sexy Brutale, Devil and the Dark Water with Return of the Obra Dinn), I'll carry on the tradition and recommend playing Dredge with this one.

Stuart Turton has delivered, once again, a book that I could not put down. I read this in one day.
Not only are the characters well developed and the plot full and twisty throughout, the world building is also superb. A dystopian murder mystery that is extremely thought provoking.

While Stuart Turton’s books are not necessarily my type of genre, I always have a good time reading them. I just really get on with his style of writing and, even when I don’t think it’s the best book, I can appreciate what he is trying to do.

The Last Murder at the End of the World isn’t my favourite book of his but that’s just for one reason that I will get into in a moment. Firstly though, I did love the premise. The already apocalyptic world is ending and the only way to stop it is to solve a murder. This is the part of the book that I loved. The concept is very original and Turton tells it in a very engaging fashion.

3.5/5

The world is also magnificently realised. It’s very unlike anything I have read before and I love it for that. All of Turton’s books that I have read have all had very different world building and I really like how he can come up with such different settings for his stories.

The only thing that stopped me from loving this book were the characters. For me, the most important part of a novel isn’t the plot or the world, it’s the characters and, unfortunately, the characters in this book weren’t my favourite. They were rather forgettable and I have indeed forgotten most of their names. Except Hephaestus, and that’s only because that name’s from Greek mythology. They just didn’t connect with me and I found that I didn’t really know anything about them.

I found The Last Murder at the End of the World to be an almost excellent book. If you like a good plot and excellent world building then you’re probably going to enjoy this one a lot. For me, though, the lack of depth with the characters hampered my enjoyment somewhat and I didn’t like it as much as the other Turton books I have read.

Stuart Turton is known for writing unusual fiction, and "The Last Murder at the End of the World" is no exception.

Ellory and her community live on an island surrounded by a deadly fog. Each year, their leader, teacher and community elder, Niema, takes the children out on a boat to explain the limits of their world. Apart from Ellory no one questions this, nor the fact that a AI called Abi talks to people in their heads, monitors their actions and sends them to sleep at curfew; or that at 60yrs old members of the village die, while the three elders live on into their hundreds.

For as long as Ellory can remember she has asked unanswered questions. She has notebooks full. This doesn't win her any friendships and instead she is partially ostracised for failing to be of service. All this changes however when one among them dies. Unless the killer is located, the world will come to an end.

Turton is an amazing writer. Throughout I was dazzled at his world building, and the way in which the plot twists and develops. However, this wasn't at the detriment of his characters, which were well rounded and complex. I would love to see inside Turton's mind or to receive a lesson from him in story telling. The only confusing aspect for me was Abi's narration, which moved the prose from third person to first person and sometimes it took me a minute to catch up. Perhaps in the final manuscript the demarcation between Abi and the other characters will be marked by a different font. However, I liked that the reader is treated as intelligent and able to cope with some uncertainty. I would highly recommend this to all.