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.

Humanity does not easily abandon its pleasures, even the vile ones.

Stuart Turton can do no wrong.

After adoring Turton’s The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, I was excited to see how Turton would apply his mastery of creating compelling characters and exhilirating plot twists to a sci-fi dystopia. The result is an unforgettable mystery thriller that grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let you go.

Blending science and technology, murder mystery and a TON of suspense, The Last Murder at the End of the World is set in a post apocalyptic world where global warming has summoned a human-eating insect filled fog (stay with me!). Humans are obsolete – except for one island with 122 villagers and three scientists. When one of these scientists is killed, one of the villagers, Emory, must work out who the killer is and offer them up to the sentient voice in the villagers’ heads (I know, right!) before the deadly fog engulfs them all.

For those of you who have read or watched The Silo, The Last Murder at the End of World has very similar vibes. Yet, it is entirely unique in its execution. Turton’s worldbuilding and characterisation in this novel is unparalleled. His writing is so cinematic and vivid that every single inch of the island and all its nooks and crannies are easily imaginable – so much so that the island itself feels like its own character at times, which is aided by the omnipresent voice of Abi.

Characters are the core of this novel and I am so thankful Turton is an author who fully fleshes out his characters, including those in the supporting cast. The beating heart of this novel is the investigative Sherlock Holmes that is Emory, and her family. I laughed with them, cried with them and gasped in shock as they unravelled the mystery. I never did fully guess the murderer either as Turton had me second-guessing myself and flip flopping between suspects with every twist and turn – he is guilty, no she is, no he is, no she… what a wild ride!

Within The Last Murder at the End of World, Turton explores what feels like an endless amount of themes and concepts such as complex family relationships, grief, ambition, money, power, greed, poverty, the prevalence of technology and, most importantly, what it means to be human and the traits that define us. Each villager on Turton’s island has a specific role to make sure that the island itself runs smoothly. Despite this, tension brews between the villagers and the elders. Throughout the novel, Turton constantly examines the good and the bad of humanity. He explores what humans capable are of, including unspeakable violence and destruction, and whether we can ever truly live a life without choas.

To me, The Last Murder at the End of World is a perfect novel. It has all the right elements needed for a thought-provoking murder mystery adventure with all the craziness and mind-fuckery of science fiction. Captivating, haunting and absolutely fantastic. The Last Murder at the End of World will leave you guessing until the very end.

RATING

★★★★★