The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton
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.
Review:
I received an advance galley of this book courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I’d heard so much buzz about this book that I knew I needed to check it out as soon as I could get my hands on it. I loved the concept, and I totally get why people either love it or hate it. I fall somewhere in the middle.
In this book, readers are taken on a thrilling and thought-provoking journey to an isolated island where a murder threatens to unravel the fragile peace maintained in this small community for so long. Turton weaves elements of mystery, suspense, and intrigue in a dystopian world hovering on extinction to create a story that keeps readers on their toes until the very last page.
The world as we know it has ended, and only a small group of 122 people remain, all of them living on a small island somewhere near Greece. A dangerous fog that wiped out the rest of humanity surrounds the island but is kept at bay by a shield put in place by a group of three scientists who oversee the day-to-day activities. One evening, a murder occurs, triggering a countdown to the release of the killer fog that will destroy the last of humanity unless the murderer is found before the countdown ends. As the islanders race against time to solve the murder, they are faced with the realization that their memories have been wiped clean, leaving them without any clues as to who the killer might be. With the stakes higher than ever, tensions rise, and suspicions run rampant as the clock ticks down toward the inevitable.
Turton’s writing is bold and captivating, drawing readers in with vivid descriptions and a sense of urgency that keeps the story moving at a breakneck pace. The characters, each with their own intricate motives and secrets, are well-developed and complex. These layers of complexity add depth to the mystery at hand, making every character both relatable and intriguing. This is both good and bad because it took me a while to get a good handle on everyone. This is really more of a me thing than an issue with the book. I have this deep need to really understand who is who from the beginning – especially when there’s a large cast. Couple that with trying to settle into a world with its own set of rules AND a murder mystery – my poor little pea brain was a little in knots. I found myself reading entire pages (and sometimes chapters) over again because I constantly felt as though I was missing something. It all eventually fell into place, but it took a while for me to feel fully settled.
As the plot unfolds, Turton slowly unravels the layers of deceit and betrayal that have been lurking beneath the surface of the island’s idyllic facade. With each twist and turn, readers are kept guessing as to the true identity of the killer, leading to a shocking and satisfying conclusion. My only problem (and again, this is a me thing) is that it took me so long to feel settled in the world that it made the reading experience a little tedious. My recommendation to readers like me would be to just let go of your control issues and accept that you will eventually get your answers, and things will fall into place.
Despite my frustration with feeling untethered during the first half, I did end up enjoying the book. This is definitely a bold concept that will likely captivate mystery and suspense fans – especially if you like your books with a side of dystopian society and intrigue. If it takes you a while to settle into unfamiliar worlds like it does me, stick with it. It does pay off in the end.
