Something slightly more different from Turton this time – full on science fiction, rather than some odd mixture of the two, and post-apocalyptic as well. I liked the pace of the plot, it was a fast read, and the concept was interesting. The mystery was kept mainly because there were certain things that weren’t stated to the reader, and it depends on if that’s your cup of tea whether you enjoy that, versus being able to solve it yourself.

I thought The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle was a brilliant novel, new, exciting and unpredictable. That is why I immediately read The Devil and the Dark Water that was not as good, but still interesting. Of course, I had to read Turton's new novel as soon as possible.
Really, saying almost anything about this novel is too much because revealing the plot makes Turton's magic vanish.
I liked the unusual narrator, the idea of a murder investigation in which the suspects and witnesses had their memories erased and don't know not only what happened, but whether they themselves are murderes.
The best thing Turton does is that he makes an unpredictable, exciting story with many unforseenable twists and turns. But the plot is too complex, complicated, too far fetched to be credible, if we could believe in all of it, maybe it would be easier to accept the whole story.
It works well as an adventure, a thought experiment of a possible future. An interesting dys/utopia filled with action and surprises, I think it would make a thrilling movie. But, I hoped for more... I am still waiting for a novel from Turton that can compare to Evelyn...

I honestly don't know how Stuart Turton does it. His debut, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, broke the boundaries of speculative and crime fiction whilst his follow-up, The Devil and the Dark Water, mashed together historical fiction and a locked-room mystery. For his third novel, The Last Murder at the End of the World, Turton is ripping up the rulebook yet again for a futuristic dystopian jaunt that, you guessed it, features a head-scratchingly complex murder at its heart.

The Last Murder at the End of the World is set on a Greek island that has become the last bastion of humanity in a world otherwise destroyed by a deadly fog. Life on the island is seemingly idyllic. One hundred and twenty-two villagers live peacefully alongside three 'elders': the last scientists who once worked the research outpost that now empty beneath them. Watching over them all is our narrator, Abi, an artificial intelligence who ensures their island home stays safe.

But when Niema, the de-facto leader of the elders, is found dead, the villagers have to contend with the sudden intrusion of violence into their idyll. Niema's death has lowered the intelligent security system that keeps the deadly fog at bay and they have 107 hours left to save what's left of humanity. Even worse, Abi was instructed to wipe everyone's memories of exactly what happened the night before. So someone on the island is not only a killer but they might not even know it...

Having absolutely adored Turton's last two novels, I went into The Last Murder at the End of the World with very high expectations and I am pleased to say that I was not disappointed. Although neither science-fiction nor dystopian fiction are my usual go-to genres, I found the setting and premise utterly compelling and, as the novel drip feeds information about what led to the creation of the fog, found myself really enjoying the eco-thriller elements as well.

Although less character-driven than his last novel, I also really warmed to Emery and Clara - the mother/daughter duo who end up playing 'detective' to try and solve Niema's murder before time runs out. The novel has something of an ensemble cast but certain characters - the remaining scientists Hephaestus and Thea. and Emery's father Seth - really stood out and, for all their flaws, I found myself interested in their characters and motivations, as well as in their secrets. Emery and Clara are fantastic leads and I found myself really rooting for them as they attempted to rebuild their somewhat strained relationship whilst racing against time to save the day.

As with Turton's previous books, The Last Murder at the End of the World makes good use of the crime genre to explore wider social issues. In this case, societal control, genetic engineering, and artificial intelligence all come in for a thorough examination. Although dealing with some weighty themes, however, the novel never felt overly moralistic. The suspense remained high throughout and, after a slightly slow start, I found myself absolutely flying through the pages.

As you can probably tell, this was another absolute winner of a book for me. With an interesting premise, compelling cast of characters, and a central mystery that provides plenty of twists, it really fulfilled its potential. Stuart Turton was already on my list of 'must buy' authors and with the promise of a contemporary thriller to come next, I think I can safely say I'll be reading more of his work in the future!

The end of the world is nigh in Stuart Turtons' latest offering. Well, I say nigh, it's pretty much done and dusted. A deadly fog wiped out humanity apart from less than 400 villagers who live on an idyllic island. They're living a simpler life. They farm and fish and at night go to sleep at curfew. No matter where or what they're doing. They're led with strict benevolence by 3 scientists. They're the oldest in the group and adored by the villagers, so they are all shocked when one is murdered. That's bad enough, but the sudden death of their elder has triggered the islands defences being lowered and letting the fog in. If the murder isn't solved within 4 days, everyone in the village will die.

This is one of those books that you have to persevere with a bit. It starts slowly and remains that way, but as this world is revealed to us, it really does grip you. There's so many questions it raises that you have to keep reading one more page. Great stuff.

Cards on the table. I didn't enjoy this as much as Stuart's previous novels but that said I still thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a compelling and original read.

the 7,5 deaths of evelyn hardcastle was one of my favourite reads so I was very excited to try this one


While still fun it was not brilliant and I struggled to finish it

Ingenious, Clever, Unlike any other author of this moment. If you like Turton’s other books there is no way you won’t LOVE this one, he truly plays with a story like nobody else
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HUGE thanks to the publisher for an early read of this one!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-Arc, all opinions are my own 😊
<b>Real Rating: </b> 3.5

Plot/story: 3.5
Setting/worldbuilding: 3.5
Characters: 3
Writing/ prose: 2
Unputdownable: 5

I did enjoy this book, it was a page turner and I couldn't stop reading for 2 days straight.

Very quick summary: dystopian post-apocalyptic world, this bizarre fog has decimated hunanity and all that's left is an island and 122 inhabitants that need to work together to fix this plague and reclaim the Earth. But some of their motives and methods rarely align and when the titular murder occurs this has a domino effect, causing secrets to get revealed, secrets which threaten the very existence of the last people.

I think I did myself a disservice having high expectations, Stuart Turton's 7 Deaths remains one of my top 5 favourite books of all time, and I was desperately hoping this would be a similar puzzle.

And on that front he did deliver, he can build a spider's web with incredible panache, but I was lost half the time as the story is overstuffed with side characters' histories and it did feel like we could have managed without a few side plots or characters.
Because of this some of the characters felt a bit two dimensional, however the villains were despicable and so many of the secrets revealed made me utterly loathe them.

A major issue for me was the AI Abi, who is ingrained in all characters' psyches at birth and casually and frequently converses with them at random moments, mid sentence, mid scene, this had me very confused as to who was currently talking and I re-read a lot of pages to get it clarified - however it may be a symptom of reading in my second language as reading words such as "she thought" to me don't necessarily mean "she thought *at* the AI, who replied instantly".

The setting was initially compelling, I was hungry to discover more of the island's secrets, but as more sections were revealed, it became more unbelievable. There's dystopian and then there's are you people friggin blind?

The pace was jarring, we have a time limit to solve this who-dun-it of 97h and while that in theory should have pushed the plot forward, the story takes a while to establish the key characters one by one and the actual murder happens very late, I admit I lost my patience a bit.

Unfortunately the big finale didn't quite stick the landing and I believe the secret uncovered in the middle of the book was much more impactful.

Overall it was a good read, I was blown away by many of the reveals and I would read a sequel, it did need some finessing.

Great setting and well written but not the best characters and a slightly convoluted plot. Easy to recommend for a holiday read but not the best book of 2024

Stu Turton is a marvel and a master of disguise. I have read all three of his books and have loved them all. His books have a habit of changing and you never quite know where you are. he more than writes, he crafts, he creates, he paints a picture with words and it develops so beautifully as you read. This is full of surprises. A really great read.

I'm happy to say that Stuart Turton did it again. "The Last Murder at The End of the World" is another genre-bending tal, but this time murder mystery intertwines with science fiction and post-apocalyptic dystopia. Set on the last habitable island in a world consumed by a deadly black fog, the story unfolds with the discovery of a murder victim, threatening the fragile existence of the island's inhabitants. Turton skillfully blends elements of mystery with themes of societal control, collective compliance, and the search for truth amid a backdrop of impending doom.

Through a captivating lens of unreliable narrator, Turton explores the islanders' eerie conformity and the unsettling influence of a collective conscience named Abi. As the main protagonist Emory (the only person on the island who' dares to question her reality) navigates the investigation, challenging the island's rigid social structure and unraveling long-held secrets, the story evolves beyond a mere whodunnit into a profound exploration of identity, agency, and familial reconciliation. Turton adeptly balances the dystopian setting with the familiar tropes of detective fiction, crafting a gripping narrative that keeps readers engaged until the final revelation.

While Turton's narrative may not surpass the novelty of his first work (I adored Evelyn Hardcastle), "The Last Murder at The End of The World" delivers a compelling blend of mystery, speculative fiction, and psychological intrigue. With its thought-provoking premise, richly developed characters, and immersive world-building, this novel offers a satisfying read for fans of both the mystery and dystopian genres, leaving me eagerly anticipating Turton's next imaginative endeavor.

This book was very enjoyable! I have been a fan of Stuart Turton since his first book and this one did not disappoint. The dystopian setting was striking and intriguing, and I loved the suspense that built through the book through the setting (no further detail to avoid spoilers!). I loved the twists and turns of the main plot and, as ever with a Stuart Turton book, I had no idea where it was going next, which I love!

A dystopian murder mystery set on an idyllic island. The island became home to the last of the world’s population after a mysterious fog swept the planet, killing everyone that it touched. One hundred and twenty-two villagers, and three scientists call the island home, and seemingly live in perfect harmony, with the villagers content to farm, fish, obey the nightly curfew, and do whatever the scientists tell them to.
That perfect harmony is shattered when one of the scientists is found stabbed to death, and the death has shut off the security system that protects the island from the fog. The islanders now have 107 hours to solve the murder, if they do then the security system will be reactivated, if they fail the last of the human race will be wiped out. Unfortunately for the islanders the security system has also wiped everyone’s memories of the night before, can the islanders figure out what happened and who is responsible before it is too late?

This was my first book by Stuart Turton and I thought that it was very entertaining, plenty of twists and turns, and lots of red herrings.

Stuart Turton has a knack for creating original murder mysteries which traverse genres. His stand-out debut The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle used a time-travel mechanic and executed it brilliantly. His follow-up delved into historical fiction, and this new release offers us a murder mystery in the world of science-fiction and survival, set against a unique dystopian landscape.

A small Greek island has become a utopian world, housing the last of humanity. A dangerous fog has swept across the rest of the world, killing thousands, but it doesn't touch the island and the villagers residing there live simple, tranquil lives under the careful watch of the three Elders.

As the novel begins, their peace is quickly disrupted. A key member of their community is found dead, and the fog, which has always stayed at bay, begins to descend upon the island. They have a limited amount of time to uncover the truth behind the death before the island is swallowed by the fog.

It's an exciting premise, and Turton packs a lot into this multi-layered story and complex world. Our main protagonist is Emory, one of the villagers who has dared to question their idyllic life. Her inquisitive nature leads her to be put in charge of the murder investigation and she embarks on a race against time to find answers.

I knew with a Turton novel that this wouldn't be a straightforward murder mystery, but with this story I felt that the author added more complexity than usual. The island is a whole new world, and the story is very heavy on the science fiction. It's actually narrated by an AI being which lives in the islander's heads, there's mysterious labs beneath the island's surface, and dangerous experiments being carried out behind closed doors. The twists come thick and fast - some with little build-up - and the story became so convoluted it became difficult for me to even attempt to deduce the ending. But, despite everyone being a suspect at one point or another, I did like the lead characters of Emory and her family and I was rooting for them throughout.

Ultimately, this is a clever and ambitious story - I'd expect no less from this author - but I feel he may have tried to do just a little too much, which meant that some of the twists didn't have the impact they should have for me personally. Still, it's an original, creative and fast-paced sci-fi thriller which I'd recommend for fans of those genres.

I loved this novel. Stuart Turton never fails to surprise, and come up with such original stories. Set on a Greek island in a post-apocalyptic world a murder is committed but by whom and why. No spoilers as this story is best read blind. What a brilliant concept with well rounded wonderful characters and such believable world building. This book kept me reading to the early hours and I’m just sorry it has now ended. I can’t wait for the authors next novel. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this novel in return for an honest review.

Sometime in the future mankind has been wiped out by a deadly folk. On a remote island three scientists and a hundred & twenty two villagers live in harmony protected by a barrier erected by the scientists to keep the fog at bay. When the eldest scientist & village leader is found murdered it causes chaos- especially as it seems she has lowered the barrier & the fog will claim the island in a very short time. The villagers have always accepted the Elder's lead, but Emory, a villager who always asks questions, finds herself being tasked with looking for answers.

This was a fascinating story. Just when you thought you knew what was going on another piece of information was revealed. I became totally enthralled by this world & was sorry to leave it. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

PHEW! This was crazy confusing. but brilliant. Readers are thrown into a very strange world. I found I HAD to keep reading until I worked out what was actually happening, which meant I had to read all the way until the end. Even then, I wasn't 100% sure!

Turton has written yet another gripping tale of mystery. Focussing on the lives of an isolated community who follow a strict regime to minimise contact with the fog that has wiped out the greater population.

The commune is simplistic in approach, with each assigned a task due to aptitude. However, as the story unfolds revelations are exposed involving the production of children, the true whereabouts of the lost community that were sealed underground and the mysterious hidden lives of the village elders.

When the leader is found murdered, the peaceful community must face the realisation that there are darker powers at work controlling them and a brave few must question all they have known in order to find the culprit

With plenty of twists and turns and red herrings, The Last Murder. will keep you guessing right up to the end..

I see a book written by Stuart Turton and I WILL read it.

The Last Murder at the End of the World was absolutely brilliant. I feel like I don't have enough words to properly show how amazing this actually is. I absolutely loved 'The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle' and it is safe to say that this book lives up to the same standards as Evelyn Hardcastle.

The Last Murder at the End of the World combines a murder mystery with a post-apocalyptic setting and it kept me guessing until the very end. It is a clever book that is well planned out. The Last Murder at the End of the World is a difficult book to write about without spoiling too much. Stuart Turton's writing style is absolutely captivating, so rich and immersive that I could practically feel the fog closing in around me.

I adore Emery and Clara to death, I loved their developing relationship throughout the book. Let me also tell you, there is very little that unnerves me more than the thought of having an A.I called Abi control people and making choices for the "greater good", let me tell you that. The circumstances don't matter, I ain't trusting that.

I adored this book, and I will continue to keep an eye out for anything that Stuart Turton puts out!

I absolutely loved this very clever and wholly original book!

Such a brilliant concept and very unique. I don't think I've ever read a book quite like it.

It combined some of my favourite genres - dystopian, mystery and thriller into one page turning wonderful read that I could not put down.

As the story progresses, it becomes a more and more compulsive read - the the twists are just ingenious.

One of the best "who dunnits" I have read in a very long time and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book.