I love the concept, and I love anything dystopian/apocalyptic, so I was very excited to get to this! Unfortunately I think there were a few things that didn't quite work for me. I think that this is really a story of two halves, and as soon as the story actually got going into the murder investigation, I started losing interest. The end of the world side of things was far more interesting to me than the murder, possibly because we're reading from this omniscient narrator perspective (a kind of AI presence that I never really understood where it was coming from - it was in everyone's heads? But was it a computer? A CCTV system? Who knows) which knows everything but hinders the investigation at all times, and it felt a bit stilted. Also where did the deadly fog covering the planet come from and why is only this tiny island safe from it? I think this story would have actually been a lot stronger without the AI narrator or the reveal about the villagers; it was like too much was going on at once.

This is a sci-fi mystery like you've never read before. An interesting, unique whodunnit that makes you think and keeps you reading.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Last Murder at the End of the World, and will be looking to find other books by this author.

This book sounded so promising. An island with a small population is surviving after the end of the world when the murder of a beloved community member occurs. They have to solve it before their settlement is destroyed...
But I just struggled to care. Some of these characters are so unlikeable and some of them barely seemed to have a personality. The various turns that the story took didn't seem as impactful as they perhaps should have been, and some I had guessed already.
Ultimately this was fine but forgettable.

A bit of a strange book. It took me quite a while to get in to and even then, there were elements that were not explained and I did not understand. I persevered and it was interesting story and plot but overall it was not for me. I felt it took a long time to bilud up through solving the murder to the finale, which I felt was a bit rushed.

I love Stuart Turton and his mysteries! This was another strange ride, a desert paradise gone wrong. I liked how sciencey it was! I wasn’t sure where it was going- time loop perhaps? Another tech prison? But Turton had more surprises for me!

Loved the intertextual references to his other works, please keep those in future!

Already recommended this title to our customers. Thoroughly enjoyed.

The story’s premise is really cool: a toxic fog-enshrouded island, the last of humanity, and a community dependent on three scientists of dubious morals for survival. Turton’s use of a first-person narrator initially took me some time to adjust but was a good tool to understand the unfolding of events.

Emory is a standout character. Curious and driven, they serve as the perfect foil to the carefully curated peace of the island. Her dynamics with Matis, Niema, her daughter and Seth are richly textured, adding emotional depth to the story. The layered plot is skillfully peppered with breadcrumb clues, making the eventual revelations satisfying for attentive readers.

While certain aspects could have benefitted from more detailed exploration, this story was a great one to start the year. Unlike anything I've read.

This is such a unique idea! I think if you're a fan of M Night Shyamalan, then you'll love this. A dystopian murder mystery, with so many twists and turns I didn't see coming. Loved it

This was a very original piece of writing by Stuart Turton and one of the great examples of AI protagonist (I'm sure there will be more to come!). Lots of fantastic mystery elements - the fog and the cannibalistic insects, the murder plots, and so much mystery behind the preservation of the last outpost of humanity. The murder in many ways becomes secondary to all the questions we want to ask our narrator and protagonist. I found the ending somewhat rushed and convoluted but the overall story was excellent and well crafted.

The Last Murder at the End of the World mark’s genre-hopping author Stuart Turton’s first foray into sci-fi apocalypse fiction. The last of humanity has been reduced to life on an island, surrounded by a impenitrable security barrier of lethal fog. Only a few can remember life before. And then one of them is murdered…

This book took me a little while to engage with. The setting is quite high premise and takes a while to establish itself – albeit something the author succeeds in doing without relentless info-dumps. Once the action got going, however, I couldn’t put the book down. This is a mystery that kept me turning the pages, leading to a very satisfying denouement. An enjoyable read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Raven Books, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton
⭐⭐⭐ 3.75 stars
Paperback publication: 2nd January 2025
Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing and Netgalley for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Outside the island there is nothing: the world destroyed by a fog that swept the planet, killing anyone it touched. On the island: 122 villagers and 3 scientists, live in peaceful harmony.
Until, one of the scientists is found brutally stabbed to death. If the murder isn't solved within 92 hours, the fog will smother the island – and everyone on it.

This ticked a lot of boxes for me; it's a post-apocalyptic whodunnit with a countdown and I thought the premise was really good. There was also some interesting societal commentary on power, privilege and entitlement (although that always remained quite surface level.)
I think I had an issue with the writing and/or the editing - it all felt a little bit messy, convoluted and all over the place. Even the POV of the omniscient narrator was sometimes confusing, and I'm not sure that some of the characters’ motivations and actions really aligned and made sense.
This being said, this kept me engaged and reading, and I had a good enough time that I'd like to read this author's other books; I'm pretty sure I have the 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle somewhere on my TBR trolleys and I'd like to get to it in the near future.

This was an interesting read. The setting place, the ambience, everything was set to be a great mystery. But, unfortunately, I once again understood that sci-fi was not my cup of tea.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the e-arc for review.

The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton had been on my radar for some time, especially after hearing so many glowing reviews. As someone who found The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle to be an unbearable experience, I approached Turton's latest novel with a healthy dose of skepticism. Despite my reservations, I was pleasantly surprised, though I must admit, the book didn't fully win me over.

Set against the atmospheric backdrop of a remote and mysterious location, The Last Murder at the End of the World delivers Turton’s signature intricate plotting and thought-provoking twists. The premise is intriguing: a murder at an isolated location, where each character has their own secrets to hide. The unfolding mystery pulls the reader into a labyrinth of puzzles, rich with layers and unexpected revelations, much like The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, but with a slightly different tone and atmosphere.

What I appreciated most about The Last Murder at the End of the World was Turton's ability to create a strong sense of place. The setting felt tangible, almost like another character in the story, and the eerie mood added depth to the unfolding mystery. The characters, though initially difficult to connect with, grew on me as the plot deepened. Turton weaves a tale of suspense and tension, keeping readers guessing until the final pages.

That being said, I still found myself struggling at times. The narrative can be a bit too convoluted for my taste, and I occasionally felt the pacing lagged. While I admire Turton's commitment to crafting complex stories, I did feel that at times it bordered on being overly complicated—something I didn't love in his previous work either. It's not a matter of bad writing, but rather personal preference: I lean toward more straightforward mysteries that are rich in character and atmosphere without the need for mind-bending puzzles.

Despite my reservations, I can see why Turton has a devoted following. His ability to weave together multiple narrative threads and surprise readers with unexpected twists is impressive. The Last Murder at the End of the World is certainly a book that will appeal to fans of intricate, high-concept mysteries, and I am eager to explore more of his work in the future.

Ultimately, I’m rating this one 3 out of 5. While I liked it overall, there were enough bumps along the way to keep it from reaching greatness for me personally. If you enjoy puzzling, complex mysteries, you’ll likely find this novel a satisfying read. For me, though, it’s a book I appreciated but didn't entirely fall in love with.

This has such a unique concept with the most bonkers yet brilliant set up that you'll read in a long time. Edge of your seating reading from start to finish.

Such an interesting premise! I love dystopia and especially in a murder mystery setting. Emory was such an immersive MC and her refusal to accept what she was told when it made no sense really made me admire her, especially as she was ostracised for it. I'm looking forward to ST's next book!