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The Last Murder at the End of the World
Win a free print copy of this book!
14 days and 20:21:11
25 copies available
U.S. only
Solve the murder to save what's left of the world.
Outside the island there is nothing: the world was destroyed by a fog that swept the planet, killing anyone it touched.
On the island: it is idyllic. One hundred and twenty-two villagers and three scientists, living in peaceful harmony. The villagers are content to fish, farm and feast, to obey their nightly curfew, to do what they're told by the scientists.
Until, to the horror of the islanders, one of their beloved scientists is found brutally stabbed to death. And then they learn that the murder has triggered a lowering of the security system around the island, the only thing that was keeping the fog at bay. If the murder isn't solved within 107 hours, the fog will smother the island—and everyone on it.
But the security system has also wiped everyone's memories of exactly what happened the night before, which means that someone on the island is a murderer—and they don't even know it.
And the clock is ticking.
From the bestselling author of The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle and The Devil and the Dark Water comes an inventive, high-concept murder mystery: an ingenious puzzle, an extraordinary backdrop, and an audacious solution.
Outside the island there is nothing: the world was destroyed by a fog that swept the planet, killing anyone it touched.
On the island: it is idyllic. One hundred and twenty-two villagers and three scientists, living in peaceful harmony. The villagers are content to fish, farm and feast, to obey their nightly curfew, to do what they're told by the scientists.
Until, to the horror of the islanders, one of their beloved scientists is found brutally stabbed to death. And then they learn that the murder has triggered a lowering of the security system around the island, the only thing that was keeping the fog at bay. If the murder isn't solved within 107 hours, the fog will smother the island—and everyone on it.
But the security system has also wiped everyone's memories of exactly what happened the night before, which means that someone on the island is a murderer—and they don't even know it.
And the clock is ticking.
From the bestselling author of The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle and The Devil and the Dark Water comes an inventive, high-concept murder mystery: an ingenious puzzle, an extraordinary backdrop, and an audacious solution.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published March 28, 2024
About the author
Stuart Turton
8 books11.4k followersStuart lives in London with his amazing wife and two daughters. He drinks lots of tea.
What else?
When he left university he went travelling for three months and stayed away for five years. Every time his parents asked when he’d be back he told them next week, and meant it.
Stuart is not to be trusted. In the nicest possible way.
He’s got a degree in English and Philosophy, which makes him excellent at arguing and terrible at choosing degrees.
Having trained for no particular career, he has dabbled in most of them. He stocked shelves in a Darwin bookshop, taught English in Shanghai, worked for a technology magazine in London, wrote travel articles in Dubai, and now he’s a freelance journalist. None of this was planned, he just kept getting lost on his way to other places.
He likes a chat. He likes books. He likes people who write books and people who read books. He doesn’t know how to write a biography, so should probably stop before he tells you about his dreams or something. It was lovely to meet you, though.
Stuart's debut novel is called The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle in the UK and The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle in the US. They're the same book. Don't fret.
What else?
When he left university he went travelling for three months and stayed away for five years. Every time his parents asked when he’d be back he told them next week, and meant it.
Stuart is not to be trusted. In the nicest possible way.
He’s got a degree in English and Philosophy, which makes him excellent at arguing and terrible at choosing degrees.
Having trained for no particular career, he has dabbled in most of them. He stocked shelves in a Darwin bookshop, taught English in Shanghai, worked for a technology magazine in London, wrote travel articles in Dubai, and now he’s a freelance journalist. None of this was planned, he just kept getting lost on his way to other places.
He likes a chat. He likes books. He likes people who write books and people who read books. He doesn’t know how to write a biography, so should probably stop before he tells you about his dreams or something. It was lovely to meet you, though.
Stuart's debut novel is called The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle in the UK and The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle in the US. They're the same book. Don't fret.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,945 reviews
June 11, 2024
I feel like this is a book best read two or even three times, because just once left me rather confused.
Looking at the title of this book, perhaps you'd immediately guess that it's about two things: a murder, and the end of the world. And you would be right. And as is usually the case when a book is about two things, one ends up being more successful than the other.
The first half of this story focuses on the end of the world, and that was my favorite part of the book. I was absolutely riveted, turning the pages as fast I could, trying to figure out what was going on. There was this rather sinister feeling throughout, as if you know something wasn't quite right, but you can't put your finger on what exactly. And the more we learn, the stronger that feeling got. I totally ate it up.
Then about halfway through, we arrive at the murder as well as some revelations about the end of the world, and that was truly a satisfying "ah ha" moment for me. It was the highlight of the book, and so much of what had been hinted at thus far slotted into place.
But soon after, it started to go off the rails a bit. I went from being absolutely glued to my seat to quickly losing interest. I think it's because we switched into murder investigation mode, and that arc just wasn't as compelling. There were so many details and people, too many to really keep track of in my head. I kept forgetting who the characters were and how they related to each other. As small revelations appeared, only to twist upon itself later, then twist upon itself again, I just could not keep it all straight.
And not being able to remember really hindered my enjoyment. There were so many moments when a character would mention a fact or a relationship, and I would have to pause, desperately searching my memory for this morsel of information I should've known, only to come up empty. These pauses really took me out of the story and prevented me from being fully immersed in the mystery.
The other thing that constantly felt a little bit off was the story's simultaneous use of the 1st person and 3rd person narrator, which I've never seen done before (maybe with good reason). I kept being vaguely confused, uncertain if we're reading about a character's true feelings or our omniscient narrator's interpretation of them. And maybe there is no real difference between the two at the end of the day, but that dissonance gnawed on me.
I'll be honest, I think the writing and editing contributed to these issues. The story isn't that far off from being easier to understand, if only some of the more convoluted plot developments were pared back and the writing polished up for clarity. It's a shame the book went out the door as is, so close to being amazing and yet falling short of that lofty goal.
It seriously pains me that I can't seem to give Stuart Turton's books more than 3 stars. His premises are always amazing, and there is so much potential embedded in the pages. And yet, the execution is just a smidge too complicated and tortuous, leaving me feeling like I've gone through several rounds of plot-gymnastics rather than just being able to sit back and enjoy the stories for what they are.
Still, that being said, it's not going to stop me from reading more of Stuart Turton's books. So there you go.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
Looking at the title of this book, perhaps you'd immediately guess that it's about two things: a murder, and the end of the world. And you would be right. And as is usually the case when a book is about two things, one ends up being more successful than the other.
The first half of this story focuses on the end of the world, and that was my favorite part of the book. I was absolutely riveted, turning the pages as fast I could, trying to figure out what was going on. There was this rather sinister feeling throughout, as if you know something wasn't quite right, but you can't put your finger on what exactly. And the more we learn, the stronger that feeling got. I totally ate it up.
Then about halfway through, we arrive at the murder as well as some revelations about the end of the world, and that was truly a satisfying "ah ha" moment for me. It was the highlight of the book, and so much of what had been hinted at thus far slotted into place.
But soon after, it started to go off the rails a bit. I went from being absolutely glued to my seat to quickly losing interest. I think it's because we switched into murder investigation mode, and that arc just wasn't as compelling. There were so many details and people, too many to really keep track of in my head. I kept forgetting who the characters were and how they related to each other. As small revelations appeared, only to twist upon itself later, then twist upon itself again, I just could not keep it all straight.
And not being able to remember really hindered my enjoyment. There were so many moments when a character would mention a fact or a relationship, and I would have to pause, desperately searching my memory for this morsel of information I should've known, only to come up empty. These pauses really took me out of the story and prevented me from being fully immersed in the mystery.
The other thing that constantly felt a little bit off was the story's simultaneous use of the 1st person and 3rd person narrator, which I've never seen done before (maybe with good reason). I kept being vaguely confused, uncertain if we're reading about a character's true feelings or our omniscient narrator's interpretation of them. And maybe there is no real difference between the two at the end of the day, but that dissonance gnawed on me.
I'll be honest, I think the writing and editing contributed to these issues. The story isn't that far off from being easier to understand, if only some of the more convoluted plot developments were pared back and the writing polished up for clarity. It's a shame the book went out the door as is, so close to being amazing and yet falling short of that lofty goal.
It seriously pains me that I can't seem to give Stuart Turton's books more than 3 stars. His premises are always amazing, and there is so much potential embedded in the pages. And yet, the execution is just a smidge too complicated and tortuous, leaving me feeling like I've gone through several rounds of plot-gymnastics rather than just being able to sit back and enjoy the stories for what they are.
Still, that being said, it's not going to stop me from reading more of Stuart Turton's books. So there you go.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
May 16, 2024
Biggest disappointment of 2024 so far...
While it's an interesting premise in theory, the execution was all over the place and got boring very quickly. I only finished because I had enjoyed his other work.
Don't recommend.
Review starts at 6:35 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRCAi...
While it's an interesting premise in theory, the execution was all over the place and got boring very quickly. I only finished because I had enjoyed his other work.
Don't recommend.
Review starts at 6:35 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRCAi...
January 14, 2025
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.
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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.
medium blog
September 23, 2024
This was a chore, which is not a word one would expect with either genre, the apocalypse or murder mystery. But there you have it. I read in fits until 30%, when I had a hard conversation with myself about whether or not to quit. Luckily, my AI advisor wiped my memory of the first 25%, so I was able to persevere. Also, my genetic makeup makes me unable to cope with not knowing the ending--it's honestly the hardest thing about dying before the world ends, if you want to know the truth. If I could just peek at the ending, I'm sure I'd die happily, or at least, with satisfaction. But not if it ends like this. If it ends like this book, I'll just die irritably.
But I digress. Unlike the Murder atEotW, which obfuscates the story every step of the way. We begin on an island, the only remaining outpost of humanity (as far as anyone knows) after a deathly fog has spread throughout the Earth. This last patch of scientists on this island were able to erect a barrier, so this tiny remaining population is safe. Except--this is important--the fog leaked into their underground science-lab-lair, so they are locked out of that as well. The current population has an omnipresent AI embedded in their skulls, except for the original scientists, and an outlier. And this, in a nutshell, is what happens in this story. For every thing the reader learns, we are presented with why this could not be helpful in this scenario. It begins to feel like someone constructing an elaborate puzzle box, with the idea that at the end, there will be a dramatic reveal that will expose the inner-workings of the situation. In other words, it feels more like Mousetrap® than Clue®.
"'I'm incapable of want,' I say. 'I was created to follow Niema's instructions without deviation, and her instructions demand that I protect humanity against any threat.' 'Even if that threat's Niema? 'Even if that threat's Niema,' I confirm."
Then there's the writing which has so much foreshadowing, I started rooting for the reluctant killer.
"'None that I can see,' I reply in her thoughts. 'Somebody has to die for this plan to work.'
Shortly followed by: "'If any of these things disrupts your plan, the human race will be rendered extinct in ninety-one hours."
I started checking my per cent read, and believe the murder finally happened at 30% or so. Unfortunately, this did not end the book. No, a detective is appointed, then the reader is immediately treated to more obstructive behavior, including the threat to kill almost everyone on the island in at least two different ways (because one is not enough!). The all-knowing AI? Can't reveal anything because orders. But it will kill the humans if they don't figure it out. The humans involved? Had their memory wiped. But we've discovered something that can return memories! But it will kill them! It's like ever more elaborate Dungeons and Dragons scenarios... that are just dumb. I only became more suspicious that this was an elaborate book con as I read, particularly as it became apparent that Turton is playing games with his words as well, particularly 'humans.'
"I should try to comfort him, but there's no optimal way of handling extreme emotion in humans, which I've come to regard as the greatest of evolution's failures."
To be honest, I was most sorry for the animals at the end of the world (that vulture! the turtles!), and not the people. As I periodically checked my percent read, I started wishing for the people to die and put me out of my misery. This is a book without any reliable narrators, puzzling world-building, and unlikeable, inconsistent characters. I think I understand what Turton was attempting to do: general commentary on human foibles, illustrate complications of connection, discuss questions of nature and nurture. I certainly hope it wasn't a commentary on slavery, because, wow, hard fail.
I eventually finished and yes, I was right; is an elaborate set-up for a complex mystery and a magician's trick. But so badly done, from the perspective of the world-building sci-fi or the plot-focused detective readers. This would probably work best if you are a literary fiction reader who loved the approach to the apocalypse in Station Eleven or a sci-fi reader who tolerated the approach to science (ha!) in Dark Matter.
Spoilers, in case I get involved in specific discussions:
One and a half stars, only because I've read worse.
Clearly, all opinions are my own. My thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the advance reader copy.
But I digress. Unlike the Murder atEotW, which obfuscates the story every step of the way. We begin on an island, the only remaining outpost of humanity (as far as anyone knows) after a deathly fog has spread throughout the Earth. This last patch of scientists on this island were able to erect a barrier, so this tiny remaining population is safe. Except--this is important--the fog leaked into their underground science-lab-lair, so they are locked out of that as well. The current population has an omnipresent AI embedded in their skulls, except for the original scientists, and an outlier. And this, in a nutshell, is what happens in this story. For every thing the reader learns, we are presented with why this could not be helpful in this scenario. It begins to feel like someone constructing an elaborate puzzle box, with the idea that at the end, there will be a dramatic reveal that will expose the inner-workings of the situation. In other words, it feels more like Mousetrap® than Clue®.
"'I'm incapable of want,' I say. 'I was created to follow Niema's instructions without deviation, and her instructions demand that I protect humanity against any threat.' 'Even if that threat's Niema? 'Even if that threat's Niema,' I confirm."
Then there's the writing which has so much foreshadowing, I started rooting for the reluctant killer.
"'None that I can see,' I reply in her thoughts. 'Somebody has to die for this plan to work.'
Shortly followed by: "'If any of these things disrupts your plan, the human race will be rendered extinct in ninety-one hours."
I started checking my per cent read, and believe the murder finally happened at 30% or so. Unfortunately, this did not end the book. No, a detective is appointed, then the reader is immediately treated to more obstructive behavior, including the threat to kill almost everyone on the island in at least two different ways (because one is not enough!). The all-knowing AI? Can't reveal anything because orders. But it will kill the humans if they don't figure it out. The humans involved? Had their memory wiped. But we've discovered something that can return memories! But it will kill them! It's like ever more elaborate Dungeons and Dragons scenarios... that are just dumb. I only became more suspicious that this was an elaborate book con as I read, particularly as it became apparent that Turton is playing games with his words as well, particularly 'humans.'
"I should try to comfort him, but there's no optimal way of handling extreme emotion in humans, which I've come to regard as the greatest of evolution's failures."
To be honest, I was most sorry for the animals at the end of the world (that vulture! the turtles!), and not the people. As I periodically checked my percent read, I started wishing for the people to die and put me out of my misery. This is a book without any reliable narrators, puzzling world-building, and unlikeable, inconsistent characters. I think I understand what Turton was attempting to do: general commentary on human foibles, illustrate complications of connection, discuss questions of nature and nurture. I certainly hope it wasn't a commentary on slavery, because, wow, hard fail.
I eventually finished and yes, I was right; is an elaborate set-up for a complex mystery and a magician's trick. But so badly done, from the perspective of the world-building sci-fi or the plot-focused detective readers. This would probably work best if you are a literary fiction reader who loved the approach to the apocalypse in Station Eleven or a sci-fi reader who tolerated the approach to science (ha!) in Dark Matter.
Spoilers, in case I get involved in specific discussions:
One and a half stars, only because I've read worse.
Clearly, all opinions are my own. My thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the advance reader copy.
December 8, 2024
On an island at the end of the world, a small settlement of survivors lives. Outside the island there is nothing. Well, nothing but a murderous fog that contains insect-like creatures with a taste for human flesh.
I may be exaggerating this a little, but trust me, you don't even want to dip a toe in that fog.
122-villagers and 3-valued scientists live together on the island in harmony. It's a simple life, but they do need to abide by some stringent rules; all for their own good. We should trust the scientists, right?
Well, the villagers certainly do. One day though, the unthinkable happens. One of their beloved scientists is found murdered, thus setting into motion a chain of events that could lead to the destruction of their world.
They need to solve the murder within the next 107-hours, or risk bringing on the fog and all the terrible little creatures that come with it.
The Last Murder at the End of the World was one of my most anticipated releases of 2024. I've really enjoyed both of Turton's previously releases and was excited to see what sort of brain-teaser he was going to create for us next.
Sadly, this one just wasn't suited to my tastes, but I can still appreciate the solid plot progression and creativity it took to create this whole world.
IMO, this book would work best for Literary Fiction fans, who enjoy stories with Speculative, or Futuristic elements.
I did enjoy the very beginning; the introduction to the setting and characters. It was all very mysterious and murky. It was giving me serious LOST vibes.
Not the attractive people suddenly stranded on a beach thing, though. More the disturbing community bits that they discover on the island way later...
I feel like I knew very early on, around page 37, what one of the big reveals was going to be. I don't normally care about that, actually, I don't. I don't care about that, but unfortunately for me, the reveal I felt was coming is a trope I don't tend to enjoy.
True to trend, it didn't work for me here either. Obviously, I am not going to spoil for you what that is, but I'm aware that is strictly a personal taste issue, and is no way a reflection on Turton, or his work.
In fact, I doff my cap to Turton's writing, creativity and overall mental prowess. It's clear, if you've ever read one of his books, that his brain works better than around 95% of the rest of us.
For me though, this failed to capture my attention. I feel like some of it was kept too obscure, meaning, I couldn't picture any of this. I was being told a lot of things, but I couldn't actually imagine it, in my mind's eye, playing out.
I also did find the pace to be incredibly slow, and not in an enticing slow burn sort of way. More in a, I'm starting to fall asleep way. And once I started to feel that, I couldn't shake it. I really just wanted it to be over, which hurts me to say, but we're all about honesty in this house.
I was fortunate to receive an early copy of the audiobook, because that definitely helped me to get through this one. I did find the narration quite charming.
At the end of the day, this just wasn't a great fit for my tastes. The content wasn't something I enjoyed. Nevertheless, I still love and admire Stuart Turton as an author and I cannot wait to see what he comes up with next!
Thank you to the publisher, Sourcebooks Landmark and Tantor Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. Even though this wasn't my cup of tea, I am still very glad I had the chance to pick it up!
I may be exaggerating this a little, but trust me, you don't even want to dip a toe in that fog.
122-villagers and 3-valued scientists live together on the island in harmony. It's a simple life, but they do need to abide by some stringent rules; all for their own good. We should trust the scientists, right?
Well, the villagers certainly do. One day though, the unthinkable happens. One of their beloved scientists is found murdered, thus setting into motion a chain of events that could lead to the destruction of their world.
They need to solve the murder within the next 107-hours, or risk bringing on the fog and all the terrible little creatures that come with it.
The Last Murder at the End of the World was one of my most anticipated releases of 2024. I've really enjoyed both of Turton's previously releases and was excited to see what sort of brain-teaser he was going to create for us next.
Sadly, this one just wasn't suited to my tastes, but I can still appreciate the solid plot progression and creativity it took to create this whole world.
IMO, this book would work best for Literary Fiction fans, who enjoy stories with Speculative, or Futuristic elements.
I did enjoy the very beginning; the introduction to the setting and characters. It was all very mysterious and murky. It was giving me serious LOST vibes.
Not the attractive people suddenly stranded on a beach thing, though. More the disturbing community bits that they discover on the island way later...
I feel like I knew very early on, around page 37, what one of the big reveals was going to be. I don't normally care about that, actually, I don't. I don't care about that, but unfortunately for me, the reveal I felt was coming is a trope I don't tend to enjoy.
True to trend, it didn't work for me here either. Obviously, I am not going to spoil for you what that is, but I'm aware that is strictly a personal taste issue, and is no way a reflection on Turton, or his work.
In fact, I doff my cap to Turton's writing, creativity and overall mental prowess. It's clear, if you've ever read one of his books, that his brain works better than around 95% of the rest of us.
For me though, this failed to capture my attention. I feel like some of it was kept too obscure, meaning, I couldn't picture any of this. I was being told a lot of things, but I couldn't actually imagine it, in my mind's eye, playing out.
I also did find the pace to be incredibly slow, and not in an enticing slow burn sort of way. More in a, I'm starting to fall asleep way. And once I started to feel that, I couldn't shake it. I really just wanted it to be over, which hurts me to say, but we're all about honesty in this house.
I was fortunate to receive an early copy of the audiobook, because that definitely helped me to get through this one. I did find the narration quite charming.
At the end of the day, this just wasn't a great fit for my tastes. The content wasn't something I enjoyed. Nevertheless, I still love and admire Stuart Turton as an author and I cannot wait to see what he comes up with next!
Thank you to the publisher, Sourcebooks Landmark and Tantor Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. Even though this wasn't my cup of tea, I am still very glad I had the chance to pick it up!
February 27, 2024
In Stuart Turton's "The Last Murder at the End of the World," readers are treated to a literary gem that seamlessly blends elements of mystery, dystopia, and suspense into an unforgettable narrative. From start to finish, Turton captivates with a premise that is as original as it is chilling, leaving readers eagerly turning pages until the very end.
The story unfolds in a future where a lethal fog has decimated most of humanity, leaving only a handful of survivors clinging to existence on a remote island. This island, shielded from the deadly mist by sophisticated barriers, becomes humanity's last sanctuary.
Despite the island's idyllic facade, tensions simmer beneath the surface. The inhabitants, a small community of villagers and three scientists, coexist in a fragile balance. However, their peace is shattered when one of the scientists is brutally murdered.
The stakes couldn't be higher. The island's survival depends on solving the murder within 92 hours, as failure to do so would result in the barriers collapsing, allowing the deadly fog to engulf the island and its inhabitants. Complicating matters further, the island's security system has wiped everyone's memories of the events leading up to the murder. This means that the killer could be among them, completely unaware of their own actions.
As the clock ticks down, tensions escalate, and suspicions run rampant. The villagers must confront their darkest secrets and hidden grudges as they race against time to uncover the truth. But how do you extract a confession from someone who doesn't even know they're a murderer?
As I delved deeper into the pages, I felt like I was right there alongside the characters, racing against time to unravel the truth before it was too late. The tension was palpable, the twists were jaw-dropping, and let me tell you, my heart was pounding with every shocking revelation!
And oh, the characters! Turton has crafted a cast that's so vivid and complex, it felt like I was getting to know old friends. But trust me, nothing is as it seems on this island, and as secrets were revealed and alliances were tested, I found myself on the edge of my seat, desperate to know what would happen next.
But it wasn't just the plot that had me hooked—it was Turton's writing style, so rich and immersive that I could practically feel the fog closing in around me. And those short, snappy chapters? Let's just say they made it impossible to put the book down!
So if you're looking for a book that'll take you on the adventure of a lifetime, look no further than "The Last Murder at the End of the World." Trust me, you won't be able to put it down, and when you reach the end, you'll be left breathless, exhilarated, and begging for more. Believe me, this is one novel you won't want to miss!
The story unfolds in a future where a lethal fog has decimated most of humanity, leaving only a handful of survivors clinging to existence on a remote island. This island, shielded from the deadly mist by sophisticated barriers, becomes humanity's last sanctuary.
Despite the island's idyllic facade, tensions simmer beneath the surface. The inhabitants, a small community of villagers and three scientists, coexist in a fragile balance. However, their peace is shattered when one of the scientists is brutally murdered.
The stakes couldn't be higher. The island's survival depends on solving the murder within 92 hours, as failure to do so would result in the barriers collapsing, allowing the deadly fog to engulf the island and its inhabitants. Complicating matters further, the island's security system has wiped everyone's memories of the events leading up to the murder. This means that the killer could be among them, completely unaware of their own actions.
As the clock ticks down, tensions escalate, and suspicions run rampant. The villagers must confront their darkest secrets and hidden grudges as they race against time to uncover the truth. But how do you extract a confession from someone who doesn't even know they're a murderer?
As I delved deeper into the pages, I felt like I was right there alongside the characters, racing against time to unravel the truth before it was too late. The tension was palpable, the twists were jaw-dropping, and let me tell you, my heart was pounding with every shocking revelation!
And oh, the characters! Turton has crafted a cast that's so vivid and complex, it felt like I was getting to know old friends. But trust me, nothing is as it seems on this island, and as secrets were revealed and alliances were tested, I found myself on the edge of my seat, desperate to know what would happen next.
But it wasn't just the plot that had me hooked—it was Turton's writing style, so rich and immersive that I could practically feel the fog closing in around me. And those short, snappy chapters? Let's just say they made it impossible to put the book down!
So if you're looking for a book that'll take you on the adventure of a lifetime, look no further than "The Last Murder at the End of the World." Trust me, you won't be able to put it down, and when you reach the end, you'll be left breathless, exhilarated, and begging for more. Believe me, this is one novel you won't want to miss!
December 14, 2023
QUICK TAKE: If you like Turton books, you'll like THE LAST MURDER AT THE END OF THE WORLD. To give much more away would spoil the fun, but this is a wild ride and did not go where I was expecting.
October 31, 2024
In a desperate attempt to keep up with my reading challenge I got into audiobooks, which I usually avoid. This narrator was tolerable, but her accents and role-reading were often annoying, which makes me believe I would enjoy this story more as a "conventional" book.
Anyway, I liked this blend of apocalyptic murder mystery with a hint of cult. Plot was dynamic and intriguing despite some predictabilities. Although characters are a bit cliche and secret's revelations aren't so surprising, the story is engaging and interesting to follow. But for me it's one time read - as soon as all mysteries are uncovered, there's nothing particularly special about the book to leave a deep impression.
Anyway, I liked this blend of apocalyptic murder mystery with a hint of cult. Plot was dynamic and intriguing despite some predictabilities. Although characters are a bit cliche and secret's revelations aren't so surprising, the story is engaging and interesting to follow. But for me it's one time read - as soon as all mysteries are uncovered, there's nothing particularly special about the book to leave a deep impression.
July 15, 2024
It’s some point in the future, we’re not sure how far. A catastrophe has struck the planet, a man-made catastrophe we’re led to believe. A fog has gradually covered the planet, inhabited by insects that destroyed every living thing in its wake. There was only one place spared, a small Greek island, and ninety years after the devastation, a hundred or more people lived here. The leaders – referred to as the ‘elders’ - are three scientists. There’s also an AI system in play called Abi.
It’s not clear why the fog didn’t reach this island, but it does hover in the distance, a constant threat. The people here are a mild, friendly group, and it seems that there is no violence, no disruption to their tranquil lives. But there are also secrets, and soon there will be a murder – a death that will threaten the future of these people. They will learn that they must identify and execute the perpetrator of this act, or the fog will descend upon them. And they will have very little time in which to do this.
Turton writes carefully constructed, unconventional and complex crime thrillers; The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is, I think, a masterpiece. But what of this one? Well, it’s certainly complex, and its premise does seem to offer plenty of mystery. It took me a while to get my head around the set-up on the island and, unsurprisingly, quite a bit of information is held back and carefully parcelled out as the story unfolds. The world he constructs here is an interesting one, too. Yet I found myself strangely unengaged by the whole scenario.
One issue for me is that I struggle with stories that include the opportunity for scientific and technological developments or inventions that don’t currently exist to suddenly crop up and surprise me. This obviously offers the author the opportunity to introduce all sorts of strange twists that I couldn’t possibly have envisaged. I just find this exasperating; I like to use my wits to try to solve any puzzle I’m faced with and therefore a mystery set in a time when this vehicle exists is always likely to frustrate me.
I enjoyed the story, but I didn’t love it. It is surprising, and it is inventive, and yet I never found myself fully engaged with the fate of these people. That said, the ending is frantic and exciting, and it did keep me urgently turning each page to see how things would finally play out. I’m pretty sure many others will love this one more than I did, but it’s a three star offering for me.
My thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing for providing an early copy of this book via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
It’s not clear why the fog didn’t reach this island, but it does hover in the distance, a constant threat. The people here are a mild, friendly group, and it seems that there is no violence, no disruption to their tranquil lives. But there are also secrets, and soon there will be a murder – a death that will threaten the future of these people. They will learn that they must identify and execute the perpetrator of this act, or the fog will descend upon them. And they will have very little time in which to do this.
Turton writes carefully constructed, unconventional and complex crime thrillers; The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is, I think, a masterpiece. But what of this one? Well, it’s certainly complex, and its premise does seem to offer plenty of mystery. It took me a while to get my head around the set-up on the island and, unsurprisingly, quite a bit of information is held back and carefully parcelled out as the story unfolds. The world he constructs here is an interesting one, too. Yet I found myself strangely unengaged by the whole scenario.
One issue for me is that I struggle with stories that include the opportunity for scientific and technological developments or inventions that don’t currently exist to suddenly crop up and surprise me. This obviously offers the author the opportunity to introduce all sorts of strange twists that I couldn’t possibly have envisaged. I just find this exasperating; I like to use my wits to try to solve any puzzle I’m faced with and therefore a mystery set in a time when this vehicle exists is always likely to frustrate me.
I enjoyed the story, but I didn’t love it. It is surprising, and it is inventive, and yet I never found myself fully engaged with the fate of these people. That said, the ending is frantic and exciting, and it did keep me urgently turning each page to see how things would finally play out. I’m pretty sure many others will love this one more than I did, but it’s a three star offering for me.
My thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing for providing an early copy of this book via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
October 24, 2023
A deadly fog has swept over the planet and killed most of its inhabitants, save for a few scientists and some simple villagers on a protected island. When one of the scientists is murdered, a dead man's switch is triggered and villager Emory must solve the murder in order to prevent the fog from destroying her home.
The Last Murder at the End of the World is a suspenseful blend of a murder mystery and post-apocalyptic science fiction wrapped up into a single book. From the description, I expected the story to be focused more on the murder mystery than the science fiction, but it turns out that there's a pretty equal amount of both. Novels heavy on science fiction – especially of the dystopian variety – aren't usually my jam, but somehow this book mostly worked for me?
Emory is a fantastic main character. While all of the other villagers are compliant and eager to serve their “elders,” Emory is defiant and full of questions regarding their existence on the island. When she's tasked with solving the mystery of Niema's death, she fearlessly confronts the scientists in charge and is unwilling to give up even when things seem hopeless. Her daughter Clara is equally brave and adventurous and is determined to help her mother accomplish her task. All of the major players in this book are complex individuals, and I particularly enjoyed watching Niema's story posthumously unfold over the course of the novel – is she a hero, a villain, or something in between?
The mystery itself is suspenseful and full of twists and turns. There are several people on the island who could have wanted Niema dead, all with different motives, but who actually did the deed? The answer to this question is complex and multi-layered, and I, for one, did not see it coming at all.
This book is fairly unusual in that it's narrated by an omniscient A.I. named Abi. It was a little confusing to me at first since the story primarily follows Emory, but occasionally Abi speaks in the first person and it'd take me a minute to realize that the “I” wasn't Emory speaking. Abi is an excellent storyteller, however, and I appreciated the all-encompassing point of view that her narration provides the reader.
I'm pretty sure there's a moral of sorts to this story, one that revolves around not waiting for a higher power to solve all of your problems for you and taking control of your own future. There's also probably something in there about leaders not being infallible and not following them blindly and all of that. But perhaps I'm just reading too much into it?
Final rating: 4.15 stars, rounded down. It was a wee bit too sci-fi-y for my tastes at times, but the superb writing and intriguing plot kept me turning pages nonetheless.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.
The Last Murder at the End of the World is a suspenseful blend of a murder mystery and post-apocalyptic science fiction wrapped up into a single book. From the description, I expected the story to be focused more on the murder mystery than the science fiction, but it turns out that there's a pretty equal amount of both. Novels heavy on science fiction – especially of the dystopian variety – aren't usually my jam, but somehow this book mostly worked for me?
Emory is a fantastic main character. While all of the other villagers are compliant and eager to serve their “elders,” Emory is defiant and full of questions regarding their existence on the island. When she's tasked with solving the mystery of Niema's death, she fearlessly confronts the scientists in charge and is unwilling to give up even when things seem hopeless. Her daughter Clara is equally brave and adventurous and is determined to help her mother accomplish her task. All of the major players in this book are complex individuals, and I particularly enjoyed watching Niema's story posthumously unfold over the course of the novel – is she a hero, a villain, or something in between?
The mystery itself is suspenseful and full of twists and turns. There are several people on the island who could have wanted Niema dead, all with different motives, but who actually did the deed? The answer to this question is complex and multi-layered, and I, for one, did not see it coming at all.
This book is fairly unusual in that it's narrated by an omniscient A.I. named Abi. It was a little confusing to me at first since the story primarily follows Emory, but occasionally Abi speaks in the first person and it'd take me a minute to realize that the “I” wasn't Emory speaking. Abi is an excellent storyteller, however, and I appreciated the all-encompassing point of view that her narration provides the reader.
I'm pretty sure there's a moral of sorts to this story, one that revolves around not waiting for a higher power to solve all of your problems for you and taking control of your own future. There's also probably something in there about leaders not being infallible and not following them blindly and all of that. But perhaps I'm just reading too much into it?
Final rating: 4.15 stars, rounded down. It was a wee bit too sci-fi-y for my tastes at times, but the superb writing and intriguing plot kept me turning pages nonetheless.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.
Shelved as 'soft-dnf'
May 26, 2024⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── pre-reading
in honour of being a mood reader and not being able to read whilst upset (whoever invented love i have some words for you) i've decided to start reading this, which seems like a the 100/fallout/the martian mixmash and I'm very very excited.
︶︶︶ ⊹ ︶︶︶⠀୨♡୧⠀︶︶︶ ⊹ ︶︶︶
may tbr:
ಇ.salt to the sea
ಇ. powerless
ಇ. house of earth and blood
ಇ. everyone in my family has killed someone
ಇ.bride
ಇ. listen for the lie
ಇ. she's not sorry
ಇ. love on the brain
ಇ. the familiar
ಇ.a court of wings and ruin
+a good girl's guide to murder
+the clinic
+a court of frost and starlight
+funny story
+ red rising
+ the last murder at the end of the world
in honour of being a mood reader and not being able to read whilst upset (whoever invented love i have some words for you) i've decided to start reading this, which seems like a the 100/fallout/the martian mixmash and I'm very very excited.
︶︶︶ ⊹ ︶︶︶⠀୨♡୧⠀︶︶︶ ⊹ ︶︶︶
may tbr:
ಇ.
ಇ. powerless
ಇ. house of earth and blood
ಇ. everyone in my family has killed someone
ಇ.
ಇ. listen for the lie
ಇ. she's not sorry
ಇ. love on the brain
ಇ. the familiar
ಇ.
+
+
+
+
+ red rising
+ the last murder at the end of the world
April 23, 2024
I've started to call Turton the M Night Shyamalan of fiction. His books are very high concept and start really strongly but lose themselves in the pursuit of a surprising twist that manifests as a messy third act that more or less ruins the book for me.
This is definitely better than The Devil and the Dark Water for the most part, but the final 20% is a hot mess that I read more out of a sense of obligation than any sort of enjoyment. And it's a shame, because up until that point I was really enjoying it. It's an interesting mystery, and there's some novel stuff going on here. I particularly liked the clever way of making an omnipotent third person narrator actually be a meaningful character in the narrative (though it stops being clever when you realise that Abi knows everything that happened the entire time and that the plot is driven largely by her refusal to ever tell anyone, for reasons that are sort of addressed but not in a satisfying way).
I have a laundry list of complaints and things that bugged me about the final section of the book that range from big structural things to minor annoyances like "you lost track of the geography of your own setting", but I won't list them here. I really wanted to enjoy this. I loved The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle despite not caring for the ending (in that case I simply didn't like it rather than thinking it was Bad) and wanted to see Turton return to that form after missing on Dark Water, but this is another miss for me. There are some great ideas here and a very gripping first half but ultimately it just doesn't work.
This is definitely better than The Devil and the Dark Water for the most part, but the final 20% is a hot mess that I read more out of a sense of obligation than any sort of enjoyment. And it's a shame, because up until that point I was really enjoying it. It's an interesting mystery, and there's some novel stuff going on here. I particularly liked the clever way of making an omnipotent third person narrator actually be a meaningful character in the narrative (though it stops being clever when you realise that Abi knows everything that happened the entire time and that the plot is driven largely by her refusal to ever tell anyone, for reasons that are sort of addressed but not in a satisfying way).
I have a laundry list of complaints and things that bugged me about the final section of the book that range from big structural things to minor annoyances like "you lost track of the geography of your own setting", but I won't list them here. I really wanted to enjoy this. I loved The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle despite not caring for the ending (in that case I simply didn't like it rather than thinking it was Bad) and wanted to see Turton return to that form after missing on Dark Water, but this is another miss for me. There are some great ideas here and a very gripping first half but ultimately it just doesn't work.
June 3, 2024
Stuart Turton makes my brain hurt in all the right ways. I adored reading the 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle so much and I’ve been waiting to read The Last Murder at the End of the World for months. I was not disappointed!
See, Stuart starts by introducing you to the characters world – a guaranteed weird space/place. That space is perfect for the unique and unconventional characters that delight the pages. Once you’re familiar with this imaginary world, then you’ll be introduced to each character in the most delightful of ways. The way they are described is so tangible, you’ll see the same traits in the people you know interact with on a regular basis. . And then he starts killing and it’s up to you to find out who’s doing the killing!
Once you think you’ve solved the case, Turton shakes your world, and you have to think about all the clues again. This is why he makes my brain hurt in the best of ways. You’ll never see the ending coming- no matter how hard you try!
See, Stuart starts by introducing you to the characters world – a guaranteed weird space/place. That space is perfect for the unique and unconventional characters that delight the pages. Once you’re familiar with this imaginary world, then you’ll be introduced to each character in the most delightful of ways. The way they are described is so tangible, you’ll see the same traits in the people you know interact with on a regular basis. . And then he starts killing and it’s up to you to find out who’s doing the killing!
Once you think you’ve solved the case, Turton shakes your world, and you have to think about all the clues again. This is why he makes my brain hurt in the best of ways. You’ll never see the ending coming- no matter how hard you try!
May 21, 2024
Update 5/21/24: Reposting my review to celebrate that today is publication day!
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for sending me an ARC of The Last Murder at the End of the World in exchange for an honest review.
At least 100 years from now, Earth is completely covered by a fog that somehow kills everyone it touches. Completely covered, that is, except for a tiny Greek island where this novel takes place. On that island, there are three elders and exactly 122 villagers, who live lives of honest work and simple pleasures. But nothing on the island is really as it seems. And when someone is found murdered, it starts a countdown on the island’s security system (there are reasons), and the villagers only have 107 to solve the murder before the fog rolls in and kills them all. And as if that weren’t challenging enough, all of their memories of the night of the murder have disappeared….
The Last Murder at the End of the World is a solid story with lots of interesting world-building. I liked several of the characters, especially the narrator Abi and fish out-of-water Emory. As with The Seven 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, it is intricately plotted, and the book builds nicely to a series of final reveals that are surprising and largely unguessable. But as with Mr. Turton’s earlier novel, the elaborate world-building and intricate plotting are a bit of a double-edged sword. So many of the mysteries and plot points ultimately turn on aspects of various pieces of future technology. The impossibility of it all was not entirely satisfying.
The further I got into The Last Murder at the End of the World, the faster I read it, wanting to understand what was happening. The story does draw you in. Recommended for anyone who enjoys a strong mystery-science fiction hybrid. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
“The greatest achievements have always brought the greatest risk,” she says stubbornly, watching a line of figures walking stiffly in the darkness. “Start your countdown, Abi. In four days we’re either going to change the world or die trying.”
…
She can’t imagine how hard that was for her, to be full of doubt in a world of conviction.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for sending me an ARC of The Last Murder at the End of the World in exchange for an honest review.
At least 100 years from now, Earth is completely covered by a fog that somehow kills everyone it touches. Completely covered, that is, except for a tiny Greek island where this novel takes place. On that island, there are three elders and exactly 122 villagers, who live lives of honest work and simple pleasures. But nothing on the island is really as it seems. And when someone is found murdered, it starts a countdown on the island’s security system (there are reasons), and the villagers only have 107 to solve the murder before the fog rolls in and kills them all. And as if that weren’t challenging enough, all of their memories of the night of the murder have disappeared….
The Last Murder at the End of the World is a solid story with lots of interesting world-building. I liked several of the characters, especially the narrator Abi and fish out-of-water Emory. As with The Seven 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, it is intricately plotted, and the book builds nicely to a series of final reveals that are surprising and largely unguessable. But as with Mr. Turton’s earlier novel, the elaborate world-building and intricate plotting are a bit of a double-edged sword. So many of the mysteries and plot points ultimately turn on aspects of various pieces of future technology. The impossibility of it all was not entirely satisfying.
The further I got into The Last Murder at the End of the World, the faster I read it, wanting to understand what was happening. The story does draw you in. Recommended for anyone who enjoys a strong mystery-science fiction hybrid. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
July 23, 2024
“The greatest achievements have always brought the greatest risk.”
Stuart Turton is a genius. From The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle to The Devil and the Dark Water to The Last Murder at the End of the World, Turton’s books are thought-provoking, intelligent, compelling, and exceedingly clever mysteries. If that seems like a mouthful, then you haven’t read Stuart Turton. From the very first sentence he engages the reader on a mind-bending journey that forces the brain to go in so many directions readers will struggle to keep up with his brilliance.
Turton’s world-building in The Last Murder at the End of the World is fantastic. The reader is immediately transported to a futuristic dystopian island where 122 villagers are lead by three elders who survived a mysterious fog that destroyed their world. They all have a female voice in their head called Abi, that hears their thoughts and communicates with them. They are living in peace until a murder occurs and the technology that is keeping the fog from reaching them is breached. A villager named Emory is tasked with figuring out who is responsible for the murder in order to stop the fog from killing them.
Every time I read a Turton thriller I think I’m going to figure out the mystery, but have yet to successfully predict how any of his books end. The twists and turns keep coming and will make you question everything!
I highly recommend this author and all three of his thrillers!
5/5 stars
Thank you to Edelweiss and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC of The Last Murder at the End of the World in exchange for an honest review.
Stuart Turton is a genius. From The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle to The Devil and the Dark Water to The Last Murder at the End of the World, Turton’s books are thought-provoking, intelligent, compelling, and exceedingly clever mysteries. If that seems like a mouthful, then you haven’t read Stuart Turton. From the very first sentence he engages the reader on a mind-bending journey that forces the brain to go in so many directions readers will struggle to keep up with his brilliance.
Turton’s world-building in The Last Murder at the End of the World is fantastic. The reader is immediately transported to a futuristic dystopian island where 122 villagers are lead by three elders who survived a mysterious fog that destroyed their world. They all have a female voice in their head called Abi, that hears their thoughts and communicates with them. They are living in peace until a murder occurs and the technology that is keeping the fog from reaching them is breached. A villager named Emory is tasked with figuring out who is responsible for the murder in order to stop the fog from killing them.
Every time I read a Turton thriller I think I’m going to figure out the mystery, but have yet to successfully predict how any of his books end. The twists and turns keep coming and will make you question everything!
I highly recommend this author and all three of his thrillers!
5/5 stars
Thank you to Edelweiss and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC of The Last Murder at the End of the World in exchange for an honest review.
October 9, 2024
Simply spectacular. Ate up every word from this masterful wordsmith. Highly recommend.
June 10, 2024
Earlier I read The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton and found it to be unique so I picked this one up to see where his mind went this time.
Description:
Solve the murder to save what's left of the world.
Outside the island there is nothing: the world was destroyed by a fog that swept the planet, killing anyone it touched.
On the island: it is idyllic. One hundred and twenty-two villagers and three scientists, living in peaceful harmony. The villagers are content to fish, farm and feast, to obey their nightly curfew, to do what they're told by the scientists.
Until, to the horror of the islanders, one of their beloved scientists is found brutally stabbed to death. And then they learn that the murder has triggered a lowering of the security system around the island, the only thing that was keeping the fog at bay. If the murder isn't solved within 107 hours, the fog will smother the island—and everyone on it.
But the security system has also wiped everyone's memories of exactly what happened the night before, which means that someone on the island is a murderer—and they don't even know it.
And the clock is ticking.
My Thoughts:
This had a an inventive plot with good world building. This is a post-apocalyptic world where a small group of people have isolated to a "safe" island haven where a deadly fog has overtaken the rest of the world and somehow they have held it at bay. This is a mystery with some devastating secrets known only to a few - the elders. The villagers do the manual day-to-day work on the island and follow the rules of the elders without question - mostly. There are a couple of the villagers who don't quite fit the mold. This is a fascinating story that will appeal to those who like sci-fi and fantasy.
Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark through Netgalley for an advance copy.
Description:
Solve the murder to save what's left of the world.
Outside the island there is nothing: the world was destroyed by a fog that swept the planet, killing anyone it touched.
On the island: it is idyllic. One hundred and twenty-two villagers and three scientists, living in peaceful harmony. The villagers are content to fish, farm and feast, to obey their nightly curfew, to do what they're told by the scientists.
Until, to the horror of the islanders, one of their beloved scientists is found brutally stabbed to death. And then they learn that the murder has triggered a lowering of the security system around the island, the only thing that was keeping the fog at bay. If the murder isn't solved within 107 hours, the fog will smother the island—and everyone on it.
But the security system has also wiped everyone's memories of exactly what happened the night before, which means that someone on the island is a murderer—and they don't even know it.
And the clock is ticking.
My Thoughts:
This had a an inventive plot with good world building. This is a post-apocalyptic world where a small group of people have isolated to a "safe" island haven where a deadly fog has overtaken the rest of the world and somehow they have held it at bay. This is a mystery with some devastating secrets known only to a few - the elders. The villagers do the manual day-to-day work on the island and follow the rules of the elders without question - mostly. There are a couple of the villagers who don't quite fit the mold. This is a fascinating story that will appeal to those who like sci-fi and fantasy.
Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark through Netgalley for an advance copy.
June 11, 2024
Okay I really enjoyed this! I didn't love his first book, but this was a wonderfully twisty dystopian sci-fi take on a procedural murder mystery.
The choice of narrator was brilliant because they are a character who at once sees everything that happens, and strategically withholds information for its own reasons. There were multiple points in the book where my assumptions about what was happening and what world we were in got turned on their head and cast everything in a new light. This would be a fun book to re-read knowing what you know at the end to see if you can put more of the pieces together.
One of the things I didn't like about Turton's first book was that there is a sci-fi twist at the very end that comes out of nowhere. This book seeds that information very early and then slowly drops bits of information that continue to flesh out the world and characters. I thought it was masterfully done and it held my attention throughout the book. The audio narration is also perfect, though at the beginning I didn't like it. Once I understood who the narrator of the story was though, I loved it. I won't spoil what happens because I think it's best to go in knowing very little, but I do recommend it! I received an audio copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
The choice of narrator was brilliant because they are a character who at once sees everything that happens, and strategically withholds information for its own reasons. There were multiple points in the book where my assumptions about what was happening and what world we were in got turned on their head and cast everything in a new light. This would be a fun book to re-read knowing what you know at the end to see if you can put more of the pieces together.
One of the things I didn't like about Turton's first book was that there is a sci-fi twist at the very end that comes out of nowhere. This book seeds that information very early and then slowly drops bits of information that continue to flesh out the world and characters. I thought it was masterfully done and it held my attention throughout the book. The audio narration is also perfect, though at the beginning I didn't like it. Once I understood who the narrator of the story was though, I loved it. I won't spoil what happens because I think it's best to go in knowing very little, but I do recommend it! I received an audio copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
September 18, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
The Last Murder at the End of the World.
I loved the premise but the narrative fell short for a number of reasons:
1. There are too many characters, some with unusual names and you quickly forget who is who and what their direct relation they are to one another.
2. The mystery is unnecessarily long-winded, the investigation into the murder of a central character leading to multiple theories and suspects until the final anti-climatic reveal.
It was like discovering the spy doesn't remember what happened because they submitted to a test that wipes your memories. Duh!
3. There's a 'shocking' twist midway through, and it's up to the reader if they choose to suspend disbelief or not.
I liked it, it was a twist I expect in a post-apocalyptic novel, though I wasn't surprised about it.
The not so subtle theme of this dystopian world hasn't changed now or in the future; the haves versus the have-nots.
4. The writing is good, but wordy, verbose, sooo wordy, like using five words to describe something-kind-of wordy.
The narrative is heavily bogged down in exposition and major and supporting characters, and back story that readers will quickly lose the plot thread.
it's also a bad sign when the book feels longer than it is as you're reading.
5. I didn't like or sympathize with anyone.
The only reason I finished reading this was to find out whodunit, and that was disappointing.
I loved the premise but the narrative fell short for a number of reasons:
1. There are too many characters, some with unusual names and you quickly forget who is who and what their direct relation they are to one another.
2. The mystery is unnecessarily long-winded, the investigation into the murder of a central character leading to multiple theories and suspects until the final anti-climatic reveal.
It was like discovering the spy doesn't remember what happened because they submitted to a test that wipes your memories. Duh!
3. There's a 'shocking' twist midway through, and it's up to the reader if they choose to suspend disbelief or not.
I liked it, it was a twist I expect in a post-apocalyptic novel, though I wasn't surprised about it.
The not so subtle theme of this dystopian world hasn't changed now or in the future; the haves versus the have-nots.
4. The writing is good, but wordy, verbose, sooo wordy, like using five words to describe something-kind-of wordy.
The narrative is heavily bogged down in exposition and major and supporting characters, and back story that readers will quickly lose the plot thread.
it's also a bad sign when the book feels longer than it is as you're reading.
5. I didn't like or sympathize with anyone.
The only reason I finished reading this was to find out whodunit, and that was disappointing.
June 3, 2024
4.5 stars, rounded down for pacing. I rarely ever read and do not enjoy dystopian novels these days, as I prefer escapism in my reading, however, this mash-up novel did entertain me and was a very immersive read, although I felt it was a bit slow in places (I put it aside for a quick read, so). It was a very, very different look at a murder mystery and a lot of it is really quite cleverly done, although at times it also feels like some older movies I’ve long forgotten. I enjoyed it overall, and will see watch what future releases for this author bring.
March 20, 2024
What an incredible book! It’s very well written by an author who managed to create here a story that is as multi-layered as an very expensive wedding cake. Alas, no weddings on the island though.
We find ourselves in the middle of a group of happily living Villagers, who are led by three Elders. The Villagers love the elders, they almost worship them, were it not for the fact that there is no religion anymore since the world was swallowed by the black fog and the insects. The Villagers are a happy group, satisfied with a live of service to the Elders and the whole community. They never ask themselves why they are on the island; after all, they do know that they are living in old military barracks, and that beneath their feet is Blackheath, a giant research centre that is now sealed off after the fog threatened to swallow it an all scientists in it. Only three of them managed to escape and they took the role of Elders.
The Villagers work all day in the fields and every evening they all share an evening meal. There is lots of laughter and happiness; there is a little school for the younger children and Thea, one of the Elders, takes new apprentices every year to teach them science and help by maintaining the salvaged machinery.
Strange? No, this is only the start of all that is about to be revealed. One morning after a joyous evening full of music and laughter, Niema is found dead. And since Abi, the AI that speaks with all Villagers through their mind wiped their memory, who will be able to solve the crime? They don’t even know what a crime is – that’s all left behind. They never argue, they never fight. But now, as Emory is trying to solve the murder before the fog reaches the island, she and the other Villagers have to learn certain things about how humans lived before the disaster. Things they won’t like…
What is not to like? It’s Science Fiction, it’s Dystopian, it has an old fashioned crime in it and there are very interesting characters, lots of secrets and even more surprises. I just loved the way we readers have to really think about all that is happening and personally, I never did see the end coming. There is a lot to learn in this book about the human psyche and what makes us ticking and what not. I wish I could find more words to describe how good this book is.
Most of the secrets are revealed during the building up of the plot, which is very good because there are secrets behind secrets and with each layer of the story more secrets and surprises are revealed. This way we get to know the characters better with each page and the reader is drawn into the story even further.
Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing and Netgalley for this review copy.
We find ourselves in the middle of a group of happily living Villagers, who are led by three Elders. The Villagers love the elders, they almost worship them, were it not for the fact that there is no religion anymore since the world was swallowed by the black fog and the insects. The Villagers are a happy group, satisfied with a live of service to the Elders and the whole community. They never ask themselves why they are on the island; after all, they do know that they are living in old military barracks, and that beneath their feet is Blackheath, a giant research centre that is now sealed off after the fog threatened to swallow it an all scientists in it. Only three of them managed to escape and they took the role of Elders.
The Villagers work all day in the fields and every evening they all share an evening meal. There is lots of laughter and happiness; there is a little school for the younger children and Thea, one of the Elders, takes new apprentices every year to teach them science and help by maintaining the salvaged machinery.
Strange? No, this is only the start of all that is about to be revealed. One morning after a joyous evening full of music and laughter, Niema is found dead. And since Abi, the AI that speaks with all Villagers through their mind wiped their memory, who will be able to solve the crime? They don’t even know what a crime is – that’s all left behind. They never argue, they never fight. But now, as Emory is trying to solve the murder before the fog reaches the island, she and the other Villagers have to learn certain things about how humans lived before the disaster. Things they won’t like…
What is not to like? It’s Science Fiction, it’s Dystopian, it has an old fashioned crime in it and there are very interesting characters, lots of secrets and even more surprises. I just loved the way we readers have to really think about all that is happening and personally, I never did see the end coming. There is a lot to learn in this book about the human psyche and what makes us ticking and what not. I wish I could find more words to describe how good this book is.
Most of the secrets are revealed during the building up of the plot, which is very good because there are secrets behind secrets and with each layer of the story more secrets and surprises are revealed. This way we get to know the characters better with each page and the reader is drawn into the story even further.
Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing and Netgalley for this review copy.
September 24, 2024
I could not put ‘The Last Murder at the End of the World’ by Stuart Turton down! I only stopped to sleep, shower and eat. It is a terrific mystery! ‘The Last Murder at the End of the World’ is a story that in describing too much of it will cause prospective readers to have a less than exciting experience in reading the book. I had no clue myself when I started the novel what it was about since I didn’t read any reviews. It was a book club selection, and I had only read the title and author in the email I received so that I could put a hold on it at my local library. I had a very happy time being totally amazed at every twisty and turny reveal! There were, I think, some dangling threads, and I felt the book could have used more explanatory filler here and there, but I didn’t really stop to examine the plot intellectually until writing this review. The pounding of my heart because of thrills and chills drove me on!
And, here you are, gentler reader, into a book review. Ok, then. I highly recommend ‘The Last Murder at the End of the World’! It is more murder mystery and thriller than science fiction imho, but all of the genre elements are necessary to make it work. I suggest reading a hard/digital copy rather than only an audiobook. There is a list of characters which explain the relationships between them, which are important insofar as how they emotionally interact. Which is odd, actually, because of one of the reveals left me with a lot of questions about this. Emotions are thicker than blood in this case?
I have copied the book blurb:
”From the bestselling author of The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle and The Devil and the Dark Water comes an inventive, high-concept murder mystery: an ingenious puzzle, an extraordinary backdrop, and an audacious solution.
Solve the murder to save what's left of the world.
Outside the island there is nothing: the world was destroyed by a fog that swept the planet, killing anyone it touched.
On the island: it is idyllic. One hundred and twenty-two villagers and three scientists, living in peaceful harmony. The villagers are content to fish, farm and feast, to obey their nightly curfew, to do what they're told by the scientists.
Until, to the horror of the islanders, one of their beloved scientists is found brutally stabbed to death. And then they learn that the murder has triggered a lowering of the security system around the island, the only thing that was keeping the fog at bay. If the murder isn't solved within 107 hours, the fog will smother the island—and everyone on it.
But the security system has also wiped everyone's memories of exactly what happened the night before, which means that someone on the island is a murderer—and they don't even know it.
And the clock is ticking.”
There are some red herrings which I think were unnecessary or simply nonsensical, logically speaking, but it was Abi who was throwing fog mist at everyone’s eyes, so to speak. Perhaps she had absorbed the plots of a lot of mystery novels and she had become a fan. Who is Abi? Not telling. Is she good or bad, wise or philosophically corrupted? I’m still mulling that one over…
The book is a fun and exciting thrill ride!
And, here you are, gentler reader, into a book review. Ok, then. I highly recommend ‘The Last Murder at the End of the World’! It is more murder mystery and thriller than science fiction imho, but all of the genre elements are necessary to make it work. I suggest reading a hard/digital copy rather than only an audiobook. There is a list of characters which explain the relationships between them, which are important insofar as how they emotionally interact. Which is odd, actually, because of one of the reveals left me with a lot of questions about this. Emotions are thicker than blood in this case?
I have copied the book blurb:
”From the bestselling author of The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle and The Devil and the Dark Water comes an inventive, high-concept murder mystery: an ingenious puzzle, an extraordinary backdrop, and an audacious solution.
Solve the murder to save what's left of the world.
Outside the island there is nothing: the world was destroyed by a fog that swept the planet, killing anyone it touched.
On the island: it is idyllic. One hundred and twenty-two villagers and three scientists, living in peaceful harmony. The villagers are content to fish, farm and feast, to obey their nightly curfew, to do what they're told by the scientists.
Until, to the horror of the islanders, one of their beloved scientists is found brutally stabbed to death. And then they learn that the murder has triggered a lowering of the security system around the island, the only thing that was keeping the fog at bay. If the murder isn't solved within 107 hours, the fog will smother the island—and everyone on it.
But the security system has also wiped everyone's memories of exactly what happened the night before, which means that someone on the island is a murderer—and they don't even know it.
And the clock is ticking.”
There are some red herrings which I think were unnecessary or simply nonsensical, logically speaking, but it was Abi who was throwing fog mist at everyone’s eyes, so to speak. Perhaps she had absorbed the plots of a lot of mystery novels and she had become a fan. Who is Abi? Not telling. Is she good or bad, wise or philosophically corrupted? I’m still mulling that one over…
The book is a fun and exciting thrill ride!
July 16, 2024
the setup…
Ninety years ago, a fog rolled in around the world, killing everything in its path. One scientist reached out, inviting people to join her on an island in the Greek isles where she offered protection and life. Now three scientists, led by Niema Mandripilias, are heading a community of a 122 villagers living peacefully, the last humanity on earth. That is until one of those scientists is murdered, tilting everything off of its axis and disrupting life for all.
the heart of the story…
You get the sense from the onset that there’s something unusual here, beyond the dystopian circumstances. For one, there’s a guiding voice inside everyone’s mind, referred to as Abi, providing answers and direction. When one of the “elders” (what they call the scientists) is murdered, a woman named Emory is assigned the responsibility of investigating and fleshing out the killer. She’s well known for her curiosity and restlessness, a perfect choice to solve the crime. I really liked Emory and her way of sifting through clues and determining truths. This was a fascinating world and existence and it’s mostly through her narrative that secrets of the island are slowly revealed.
the narration…
The story is told mostly from the narratives of two women and the voice of Abi, who is also female. I’m not sure why a male narrator was selected, especially since Abi’s is in first person. It was a fail for me as it was not only confusing but disruptive, with little in voice distinctions.
the bottom line…
This is a fascinating story and world created here. Unfortunately, the audio narration just kept throwing me out of the flow and storytelling as I struggled to determine who was talking and being confused by the gender choice. I struggled to finish but the essence of its complexity didn’t escape me. In a search to create the ideal society, the elders couldn’t escape the human condition. There are some extraordinary twists, too, and strong relevant themes. I just wish I’d read the book instead of listening to the story. 3.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Tantor Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Ninety years ago, a fog rolled in around the world, killing everything in its path. One scientist reached out, inviting people to join her on an island in the Greek isles where she offered protection and life. Now three scientists, led by Niema Mandripilias, are heading a community of a 122 villagers living peacefully, the last humanity on earth. That is until one of those scientists is murdered, tilting everything off of its axis and disrupting life for all.
the heart of the story…
You get the sense from the onset that there’s something unusual here, beyond the dystopian circumstances. For one, there’s a guiding voice inside everyone’s mind, referred to as Abi, providing answers and direction. When one of the “elders” (what they call the scientists) is murdered, a woman named Emory is assigned the responsibility of investigating and fleshing out the killer. She’s well known for her curiosity and restlessness, a perfect choice to solve the crime. I really liked Emory and her way of sifting through clues and determining truths. This was a fascinating world and existence and it’s mostly through her narrative that secrets of the island are slowly revealed.
the narration…
The story is told mostly from the narratives of two women and the voice of Abi, who is also female. I’m not sure why a male narrator was selected, especially since Abi’s is in first person. It was a fail for me as it was not only confusing but disruptive, with little in voice distinctions.
the bottom line…
This is a fascinating story and world created here. Unfortunately, the audio narration just kept throwing me out of the flow and storytelling as I struggled to determine who was talking and being confused by the gender choice. I struggled to finish but the essence of its complexity didn’t escape me. In a search to create the ideal society, the elders couldn’t escape the human condition. There are some extraordinary twists, too, and strong relevant themes. I just wish I’d read the book instead of listening to the story. 3.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Tantor Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
January 25, 2024
I have a chequered past with Stuart Turton's books. I didn't like Evelyn and I thought Devil was about a hundred pages overdone but this, despite the thousands of red herrings and endless twists was definitely my favourite so far.
We are on an island surrounded by a deadly fog that has killed the rest of the humans on earth. The people left are the villagers who do the manual jobs and the elders who run the place. There's also the AI overseer, Abi, who "runs" the villagers lives. I won't go into minute detail but one of the islanders is murdered and the killer has to be found and confess otherwise the island itself will be consumed by the deadly fog being held back by technology.
It sounds pretty straightforward but there are some heft surprises along the way. I did get a bit irritated at several points because you start to think that maybe we'll have a Bobby Ewing moment and it will all have been a dream or we're living on a Seahaven Island type place with Truman.
Stuart Turton does write a good story which has echoes of The Time Machine and Greek myth at times but he keeps leading you down so many false paths and dead ends it's quite hard to keep up at times.
However, on the whole I enjoyed it. I read it in three sessions and wasn't bored once. It jogs away at a good pace, there aren't too many main characters and the plot is just clever enough. If I wasn't a total lame brain I'm sure I'd have guessed the truth more accurately.
I'm sure existing Turton fans will love this but even if you've read his books before and, like me, not been totally convinced I'd still recommend it. Definitely the best so far for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the advance review copy.
We are on an island surrounded by a deadly fog that has killed the rest of the humans on earth. The people left are the villagers who do the manual jobs and the elders who run the place. There's also the AI overseer, Abi, who "runs" the villagers lives. I won't go into minute detail but one of the islanders is murdered and the killer has to be found and confess otherwise the island itself will be consumed by the deadly fog being held back by technology.
It sounds pretty straightforward but there are some heft surprises along the way. I did get a bit irritated at several points because you start to think that maybe we'll have a Bobby Ewing moment and it will all have been a dream or we're living on a Seahaven Island type place with Truman.
Stuart Turton does write a good story which has echoes of The Time Machine and Greek myth at times but he keeps leading you down so many false paths and dead ends it's quite hard to keep up at times.
However, on the whole I enjoyed it. I read it in three sessions and wasn't bored once. It jogs away at a good pace, there aren't too many main characters and the plot is just clever enough. If I wasn't a total lame brain I'm sure I'd have guessed the truth more accurately.
I'm sure existing Turton fans will love this but even if you've read his books before and, like me, not been totally convinced I'd still recommend it. Definitely the best so far for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the advance review copy.
Shelved as 'tbr-mystery-thriller'
April 22, 2023I have no idea if this is real or not because I cannot find any other information about this but I would very much like for it to be real so that I can have another Stuart Turton book please 🥺🥺
August 12, 2024
The speculative elements of this left me wanting; they felt more retrofitted & shoved in place to accommodate the plot vs. working in harmony with the mystery. Once I let that part of the book go, though, I thought the mystery was fun and moved at a nice clip.
May 7, 2024
This is a sci-fi mystery novel. The sci-fi dystopian elements are great, but the mystery elements fall flat. I think a big reason for that is the perspective. Our narrator is an omniscient AI security system. This, practically, means that our narrator knows everything but annoyingly will not reveal anything the whole book.
In practice, we are often in an effective limited-3rd person point of view of other characters. I did enjoy following our detective, Emory. However, her perspective was also poorly utilized. She's always finding clues, but those clues are never connected to anything else. It feels more like a book that it made out of a list of suspicious blood stains instead of a real investigation. There's a lot of clues and moving parts to the story, and I wasn't able to feel grounded in the tale or follow where the clues were leading.
I was going to give this book 3 stars, but as I think about it more, it has dropped to 2 stars. Mostly this is because of the large amount of plot holes, and people's motives not matching their actions. Once I finished the book and got through all of the reveals, I was only disappointed. I had my theories of who the murderer was, and I was wrong. Honestly, my theories feel like they fit better to the clues and characters, and the actual answer is full of plot holes and ridiculous contortions of logic.
Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own.
In practice, we are often in an effective limited-3rd person point of view of other characters. I did enjoy following our detective, Emory. However, her perspective was also poorly utilized. She's always finding clues, but those clues are never connected to anything else. It feels more like a book that it made out of a list of suspicious blood stains instead of a real investigation. There's a lot of clues and moving parts to the story, and I wasn't able to feel grounded in the tale or follow where the clues were leading.
I was going to give this book 3 stars, but as I think about it more, it has dropped to 2 stars. Mostly this is because of the large amount of plot holes, and people's motives not matching their actions. Once I finished the book and got through all of the reveals, I was only disappointed. I had my theories of who the murderer was, and I was wrong. Honestly, my theories feel like they fit better to the clues and characters, and the actual answer is full of plot holes and ridiculous contortions of logic.
Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own.
June 6, 2024
There are many theories as to how our world will die, and this one couples the population's death with the murder of a person who was a scientist, in a team of three living with others on the only piece of land with survivors.
The three scientists are in control and the inhabitants of the island follow their instructions and rules to the letter. Interestingly, the residents are awakened nightly, unbeknownst to them, to work on projects around the island. This island is protected by a kind of barrier, a shield that offers the islanders an environment where peace and harmony reign.
However, with the death/murder of one of the scientists, the barrier is faltering and it seems like death comes to the island through the fog that has killed countless others.
Intriguingly, the faltering has also causes all to lose their memories making the supposed murder unaware that he or she is the culprit.
It a very interesting dilemma and one in which there are many surprises as well as scientific instruments to attest to the fact that this was a future event.
What will be their future? Will they survive by finding the murderer? Will they become the beings they so want to be leading happy, peaceful, joyous lives?
Thank you to Stuart Turton, Raven Books, and NetGalley for a copy of this story due out in May.
The three scientists are in control and the inhabitants of the island follow their instructions and rules to the letter. Interestingly, the residents are awakened nightly, unbeknownst to them, to work on projects around the island. This island is protected by a kind of barrier, a shield that offers the islanders an environment where peace and harmony reign.
However, with the death/murder of one of the scientists, the barrier is faltering and it seems like death comes to the island through the fog that has killed countless others.
Intriguingly, the faltering has also causes all to lose their memories making the supposed murder unaware that he or she is the culprit.
It a very interesting dilemma and one in which there are many surprises as well as scientific instruments to attest to the fact that this was a future event.
What will be their future? Will they survive by finding the murderer? Will they become the beings they so want to be leading happy, peaceful, joyous lives?
Thank you to Stuart Turton, Raven Books, and NetGalley for a copy of this story due out in May.
April 12, 2024
4.5. Recenzja wkrótce
May 30, 2024
I actually quite liked this. It was nothing of what I was expecting, but still definitely within my wheelhouse.
This has a very Sherlock Holmes vibe in a sci-fi dystopia, with layers of secrets to uncover that affect every corner and facet of their very isolated lives.
The Writing:
Though it initially seems like third person present tense, it's actually written in first person from the POV of an omnipresent AI who exists both externally and within all the minds of the island's inhabitants.
The Plot:
I thought the mystery was well carried out and satisfying. There were enough clues laid out along the way for an observant reader to pick up on and piece together, but also it was well-explained if you just wanted to be along for the ride.
The Characters:
The characters were also more complex and interesting than in traditional Holmesian mysteries. We're plopped in among complex family dynamics, see old age deaths and new births, messy families with estrangement and relationships torn apart over the loss of a loved one. It's a tight knit community and I think it does a good job of building the vibe such that you really understand their day-to-day lives by the end.
Sci-Fi:
Well it'd be spoilers to dive in too deeply to this, but there's been a catastrophic event and while a lot of technology exists where they are, it's a fairly isolated setting. And there are more sci-fi elements than initially meet the eye, but I don't think it goes too deep such that it would be off-putting to someone who normally reads Contemporary.
Overall:
I think in some ways it is the most polished of all of Turton's mysteries, but also it is my least favourite and the one that will stick with me the least.
I compared it to Holmes in the beginning, but I should clarify that I'm not someone who actually enjoys the way the Sherlock stories are told. I find them to be a little too stuffy, a little too plain, a little too follow-someone-as-they-explain-all-their-logical-deductions-from-afar. It's like the difference between movies from the ~1940s where it's stilted and staged like a theatrical play where the audience is a distant observer of only one angle vs. modern movies that film multiple angles and cut between shots and some of those shots are close-ups that put you in the moment and the vibes. So yes, I think this is an improvement on Holmes, but still very in that traditional style, if that's something that appeals to you.
Audiobook Notes:
The narrator has a British accent and does a competent job. Occasionally his voice for one of the female characters (I wanna say Thea?) was unpleasantly whiny, but otherwise quite good.
I'm unsure if Hui is supposed to be named like in Chinese (which would be pronounced 'hway'), but the narrator consistently pronounced it as 'HOO-ee' and I can't tell if this was an oversight (but it feels like one).
One other note is that occasionally the narration deviated slightly from the written book (I had a WS sprayed edge copy that I read from in tandem). Mostly it was that the audio would use proper nouns while the physical book would use "she" or other small variations like that. But toward the end there was a rather different interpretation as the audio sounded like: "I won't. Thank you, Abi" while the physical was written as: "I won't thank you, Abi." And that made me chuckle a little (I think the audio interpretation is probably what was meant).
Thank you to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for an audio ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This has a very Sherlock Holmes vibe in a sci-fi dystopia, with layers of secrets to uncover that affect every corner and facet of their very isolated lives.
The Writing:
Though it initially seems like third person present tense, it's actually written in first person from the POV of an omnipresent AI who exists both externally and within all the minds of the island's inhabitants.
The Plot:
I thought the mystery was well carried out and satisfying. There were enough clues laid out along the way for an observant reader to pick up on and piece together, but also it was well-explained if you just wanted to be along for the ride.
The Characters:
The characters were also more complex and interesting than in traditional Holmesian mysteries. We're plopped in among complex family dynamics, see old age deaths and new births, messy families with estrangement and relationships torn apart over the loss of a loved one. It's a tight knit community and I think it does a good job of building the vibe such that you really understand their day-to-day lives by the end.
Sci-Fi:
Well it'd be spoilers to dive in too deeply to this, but there's been a catastrophic event and while a lot of technology exists where they are, it's a fairly isolated setting. And there are more sci-fi elements than initially meet the eye, but I don't think it goes too deep such that it would be off-putting to someone who normally reads Contemporary.
Overall:
I think in some ways it is the most polished of all of Turton's mysteries, but also it is my least favourite and the one that will stick with me the least.
I compared it to Holmes in the beginning, but I should clarify that I'm not someone who actually enjoys the way the Sherlock stories are told. I find them to be a little too stuffy, a little too plain, a little too follow-someone-as-they-explain-all-their-logical-deductions-from-afar. It's like the difference between movies from the ~1940s where it's stilted and staged like a theatrical play where the audience is a distant observer of only one angle vs. modern movies that film multiple angles and cut between shots and some of those shots are close-ups that put you in the moment and the vibes. So yes, I think this is an improvement on Holmes, but still very in that traditional style, if that's something that appeals to you.
Audiobook Notes:
The narrator has a British accent and does a competent job. Occasionally his voice for one of the female characters (I wanna say Thea?) was unpleasantly whiny, but otherwise quite good.
I'm unsure if Hui is supposed to be named like in Chinese (which would be pronounced 'hway'), but the narrator consistently pronounced it as 'HOO-ee' and I can't tell if this was an oversight (but it feels like one).
One other note is that occasionally the narration deviated slightly from the written book (I had a WS sprayed edge copy that I read from in tandem). Mostly it was that the audio would use proper nouns while the physical book would use "she" or other small variations like that. But toward the end there was a rather different interpretation as the audio sounded like: "I won't. Thank you, Abi" while the physical was written as: "I won't thank you, Abi." And that made me chuckle a little (I think the audio interpretation is probably what was meant).
Thank you to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for an audio ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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