A post-apocalyptic, dystopian world which leaves the reader to piece together the events before the end of the world.
There is a raft of characters - I didn’t find them well-characterised enough to distinguish easily - and an intriguing plot with mad scientists and a murderer on the loose.
Turton certainly has imagination in spades and this reminded me of the TV series Lost: every episode (chapter) has a cliffhanger, and what it lacks in characterisation it makes up for in sensationalist drama.
Recommended if you like your sci-fi twisty and turny and don’t mind being kept guessing.

I really enjoyed this book - I read it in two sittings and struggled to put it down. A mixture of science fantasy and a murder investigation.

A murder on an island at the edge of the world - only 2 days to solve it before the fog descends and everyone dies.

Memories from that night have been wiped - so everyone on the island is a potential suspect.

Emory is tasked with finding the murderer by the two remaining elders. She is known to be defiant and questioning - two abnormal characteristics in this society. She is assisted by her daughter, Clara. Together they question the elders and pierce together the events of that night coming to a wholly unexpected discovery.

Niema is at the centre of the book - her choices frame how the island works and is governed. As Emory finds out what she has done she is challenged to find a better way forward.

The other main character is Abi - the AI who enacted Niema’s wishes. She guides and protects the villagers and maintains the safety of their environment.

I found this a fascinating mixture of murder mystery and science fantasy. Really enjoyable and to be recommended.

This novel is set in dystopian world where the majority of the world has been taken over by a mysterious black fog leaving only a single island habitable.
The author has a lot of great ideas and getting them all set up in this novel, took a lot of explanation. The majority of the first third of the novel set up as to the backstory of why the island is as it is.
There were some elements that confused me throughout the novel , the artificial intelligence is referred to in some occasions as a person, and in others as the first person “I” it took me a long time to realise what was going on here. Likewise, they were two first names, Adil and Abi which I frequently confused as I read, and since one of them was the artificial intelligence. This really left me feeling quite confused and I had trouble following the story because of this.

I was left feeling that the author add rather too many ideas for one novel. And some of the sci-fi elements could’ve been left out. Making a simpler storyline.
The author has a clear easily read prose style, and I did complete the novel however ultimately, this wasn’t really a book for me

I read an early copy of the novel on NetGalley UK. The book is published in the UK on the 28th of March 2024 by Bloomsbury publishing plc.

This review will appear on NetGalley, UK on Goodreads, and on my book blog bionicsarahsbooks.Wordpress.com after publication, it will appear on Amazon, UK

Having enjoyed The Devil and The Dark Water- the historical "locked room " mystery set on a ship travelling to Amsterdam the 1600s, a new Stuart Turton book appealed.
In a similar vein, this has the feel of a' locked room' murder mystery but now we venture into a future where the inhabitants of earth have been killed by a mysterious fog; a few survivors live on an island protected from the fog until one of the the surviving inhabitants is murdered. This triggers events that will lead to the fog engulfing the island within 72 hours.
The premise is really intriguing; the island community and a killer... however, this was quite a complicated read. The community work in harmony and their daily lives are organised to such an extent they all sleep simultaneously and often awake bruised or without any memory of events. The people are being controlled by scientists- the leaders.
This is science fiction- not a genre I usually read. The scientific machinations of the island were not always clear ( or maybe I was missing something) At times I wasn't sure who was narrating as each person's inner conscience voice appeared to be controlling them and manipulating their actions/thoughts
For a story with 122 residents - most who are subservient through control- the plot evolves around the 3 scientists and a small group of residents each trying to understand events of the past and how they have lead to the current situation.
This is a fascinating read and will open the door of Stuart Turton's writing to a new audience but for someone who prefers historical/contemporary settings this left a feeling of not fully being to empathise as much as normal.
Intriguing, unique, somewhat bewildering.... but will certainly grab many readers

If you’re going into this having read Stuart Turton’s previous work you will have some awareness that he doesn’t do ‘straight forward’ Crime/ Mystery. The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle and The Devil and the Dark Water both had genre bending slants to them and The Last Murder at the End of the World is no different: in a genre where ‘destination crime’ (typically an exotic location with a group of people each with their own secrets that lead to deaths) is and has been the flavour of the month with publishers for the past few years and shows no signs of abating, TLMatEotW might at first glance ‘fit’, but it is very, very different. Without spoilers, it’s fair to say it’s a post-apocalyptic tale – the apocalypse here coming via a killer fog that has apparently wiped out everyone save 122 villagers and 3 scientists living in peaceful harmony on a small island. Violence is unheard of…until it isn’t.
If you haven’t read Tutton before then this may seem challenging at first – again, without revealing any plot twist details there is a KEY point that is not revealed until around the 40% mark of the book: up to that point there is an element where you have to just trust the author: what at first might seem unnatural dialogue, shifting POVs, omnipotent description etc, becomes clear and very deliberately written as certain elements are revealed slowly. (A few reviewers have mentioned the various grammatical issues in the books - as always reading an ARC, it should be recognised this is an uncorrected final proof – so the typos/ grammatical issues (and formatting) will undoubtedly be updated before publication via line editing, but the style and delivery is most definitely a deliberate and intended author choice – so if you’re not familiar with the author’s work and in the first few chapters are feeling confused/ lost, I’d say just stick with it and you’ll be rewarded).
There’s a lot going on here and ideas/ touches reminiscent of a range of authors including Gibson, Dick, Asimov, even Shirley Jackson but as a ‘destination’ crime novel it finds a unique way of murder + amnesia to create a ‘whodunnit’ unlike any other published in recent times.

You might find this book in the crime/thriller section of your local bookshop when it’s published, but let me assure you: it is science fiction.

This is the first time I read Stuart Turton, but I’m aware of his other two novels, so I expected a crime/murder mystery novel with a supernatural twist to it. That’s not what I got. A more accurate label for The Last Murder at the End of the World would be post-apocalyptic dystopia with a mystery at its centre.

That being said, this was in no way a negative for me. I’m a huge fan of dystopian worlds and the mystery at the heart of this story pulled me in from the very beginning. Every character seems to be up to something in this small society at the end of the world, which presents itself as idyllic and utopian but, of course, is everything but. The sense of intrigue and mystery remained throughout the whole book, and I didn’t see the twists coming.

If I have one criticism it’s that the narrator is an AI software that speaks to the rest of the characters and functions as a sort of conscience. While interesting, having a narrator devoid of emotion made me feel at arms length from the characters, and it hindered my emotional investment in the story.

Okay so Stuart Turton sure does know how to write a compelling story. I’ve thought as much from the very first time I read one of his books. Since then I have read Devil and the Dark Water and the Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle which truly had me on the edge of my seat, and same here. He is my true auto-buy author!

I was immediately hooked. And OH MY GOD. The plot. This is a book you stay up all night reading. Trust me, you will not be able to put it down. The intrigue. The plot forever thickens! You’re left stroking your imaginary beard as elements of the story start to unfold and you’re hanging off every snippet of information trying to piece together the story.

An apocalyptic expanse, all that remains of humanity, a murder and a countdown to extinction. I mean, couldn’t want for more!

I love how he dangles little snippets of information that deepens the story and starts to bring it together but still keeps you guessing. It was another masterpiece!! I will be anxiously waiting on the announcement for another one and any of his future books because they are honestly like no other!!

4* Stuart Turton, plotting genius, has done it again with The Last Murder at the End of the World.

The world has been wiped out by a mysterious fog which destroys all living creatures in its path. The one remaining enclave is a small private island which was previously the preserve of cutting edge scientists. However, having managed to build a fog-barrier off the coast of the island, the fog then infiltrated the underground laboratories, curtailing hope that a solution could be found.

The island's villagers live a hum-drum but content and crime-free existence, led by the Elders who were part of the original scientific colony. However, a murder in the village leads to catastrophe. It's not just the shock of crime and violence but no one can remember what happened. Worse still, the ripples of the crime have knocked out the barrier and in 3 days the deadly fog will envelop the island, unless the murder can be solved.

The Last Murder at the End of the World is Stuart Turton's third book. Each one is completely different from the others with the only similarities being brilliant writing and intricate plotting. It takes a little while to set and settle the scene in the book, not least because understanding village life (and all the oddities and unanswered questions) is a core part of the book. As with his other books, I knew to trust the author, as once the pace picks up it is spell biding. The one significant differentiator is that this book feels more thoughtful in purpose.

Perhaps running with a slightly lengthy cast list, there are a number of characters that I grew very fond of, notably Emory, Clara and Seth. The world they live in is unfurled in a way that makes you feel part of their community. I hugely enjoyed this book and will be strongly recommending it.

Huge thanks to Bloomsbury and Netgalley for an ARC.

Thanks to the publishers & Netgalley for the ARC! I was a huge fan of Mr. Turton's book 'The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle" (it made me ugly cry) and was super excited to read his follow up work "The Devil & the Dark Water". I only made it a few pages in to "The Devil & the Dark Water", because I found it confusing and weird. Well, this book was also very confusing and very weird, but I loved it. Side note: Going to pick "The Devil and the Dark Water" back up and give it another shot). It took me a solid hundred pages to get into it, but I liked where the book was going and once I got into it, I was hooked.
I'm not sure how to exactly describe this book... dystopian murder mystery? It's super weird with fantastical elements, deep character exploration and great dialogue. It's not an easy read; you have to pay attention or you will get confused. BUT it's worth it. I'd recommend this book to all dystopian fans, Turton fans, science nerds (said lovingly), questioners of AI and anyone who wants to really think about what the end of the world would look like. What would you do if the fog was closing in? Will you kill--or be killed? 5/5 stars *****

What a rollercoaster!!

I have just finished The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle and. Saw this on NetGalley , needless to say I was made up to be accepted for the Arc of The Last Murder at the End of the World. A post-apocalyptic island, murder took place and a deadly fog. Excellent read from start to end.

A devastating plague is unleashed on the world, killing everything in its path. A small group of survivors travels to an island where a clever group of scientist has created a way to keep the fog at bay. When one of the inhabitants of the island is murdered, the fog is no longer kept at bay. They have 92 hours to solve the murder, or they all die.

I've heard of the author and his beloved novel The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, so I went in expecting a great read, and it did not disappoint. It was really well-paced and you were sucker-punched with twists every 10 pages. The character development was great as well, with the reveals being balanced well with exploring each character's motives and mindsets. I loved how the nature of the island sets the mystery up from the start. There is so much that the villagers don't know because they're told not to question the status quo. You are just as shocked as each bit of the puzzle comes together.

Overall, this is a unique mystery that is thrilling, gripping and will you have finishing it in one sitting.

Having read “The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle” I was eager to get my hands on a copy of this, the authors latest offering. "The Last Murder at the End of the World” depicts life on a post-apocalyptic island where a murder took place and the race is on to find the murderer before they all die from the deadly fog. It’s an exhilarating rollercoaster of a read, one that entices and holds your attention from start to finish.

It is really interesting reading Stuart Turton's novels and I do hope he keeps up writing unique, quirky mysteries that get the brain thinking. Is it too soon to name him the new "Claire North"? Anyway "The Last Murder at the End of the World" kept me gripped from beginning to end. I like the dystopian qualities about how the survivors on this island have managed to keep the fog at bay, the fog that has wiped out the rest of humanity. The murder element is somewhat complicated as we, along with the villagers, have no idea who did it. We are brought along for the investigation and we discover other plot twists and turns along the way. The only reason I am not giving it 5 stars is because there were a few character name errors which caused great confusion. However, I am sure this will be ironed out once it is finally published.

It was a really intriguing concept and I think he nailed how humanity would have reacted to that type of tragedy/attack. There was enough mystery to the murder to solve and I think the audience being as completely blind as the characters to what happened is good. You learn the clues as they do.

There were a few grammatical errors and in two instances I think he accidentally transposed the names of Emory and Clara as they were assigned actions/dialogue in scenes they weren't in. Also, the chapter numbering misspelled 'forty' throughout those sections (it was 'Fourty'), but I am not sure if that is in the printed book or just an error on the Kindle version.

I have read his first book as well, and overall, I find that Stuart has very interesting concepts but his delivery is usually slightly underwhelming. This was a nice read but it was fairly average.

Stuart Turton is an excellent mystery writer, as proved by his two previous books. The mystery writing is still wonderful here, but the world building around it doesn’t quite work. A lot of the plot seems very disjointed, and none of the characters are quite fleshed out enough to care about. A good, twisty murder though!

I have read The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton and this one hooked me just as much, building suspense throughout.

A Solid Puzzle..
The world is destroyed, one island remains idyllic - a small group of villagers and scientists seemingly living in unison and in harmony. When one of the scientists is discovered murdered, security is lowered, and they learn that the island will be the next to be destroyed. Can they prevent it? Perhaps, but there is something else that they cannot possibly understand. A high concept murder mystery with a solid puzzle at its very heart, meticulously crafted and well executed and which consistently remains, remarkably, wholly credible.

Having been a fan of Stuart’s debut, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, still a book I urge others to read, I was expecting much from his third high concept novel. I was not disappointed – it was a complicated, layered work where you’re never quite sure if what you’re reading is the truth. Picture an island with fewer than 130 inhabitants. Everyone else is dead, the world as we know it is gone, destroyed by a deadly fog. Over 120 villagers and three scientists have made their lives work, the former abiding by the latter’s decisions. All is well until one scientist is found stabbed to death. The murder has triggered a lowering of the security system, meaning the fog is on its way. The villagers have less than four days to find the murderer and save themselves – and try and remember what happened the night before. A carefully crafted novel that will have you holding your breath at times. Wonderful.

What I wanted was a sequel to dark water but the author has stated he doesn’t do sequels, that gripe out of the way I thoroughly enjoyed this book, good story, good characters

4.5 stars

The Last Murder at the End of the World is Stuart Turton's new book, and once again he delivers a complex, fast-paced story. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the reader will follow the investigations through the island with twists and turns at every corner. Nothing is as it seems and you'll need to reach the very end to discover the truth. I was captivated from the beginning and, like his previous books, I couldn't guess who the murderer was. He truly knows how to develop compelling and elaborate stories. Totally recommend it if you want to read a good mystery book!