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About the book
Solve the murder to save what's left of the world. Outside the island there is nothing: the world destroyed by a fog that swept the planet, killing anyone it touched. On the island: it is idyllic.
122 villagers and 3 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 they learn 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 92 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...
Why we love it
Part post-apocalyptic science fiction, part locked room murder mystery (or in this case, locked island), The Last Murder At The End Of The World is a truly genre-defying novel.
Set on a small Greek island, 122 peaceful villagers and 3 scientists work together in relative harmony within the last surviving community on earth. Each islander is connected to Abi, an AI entity which guides them through their day-to-day chores and is a comforting inner voice which knows their every thought and feeling.
But when a scientist is found dead, it triggers the collapse of the protective barrier around the Island and Abi, forbidden from revealing the truth of what happened, must task Emory with finding the murderer and preventing the destruction of all humanity. Emory soon discovers though, that behind the mystery of this one death is just part of a much larger puzzle surrounding the history of the island and its various inhabitants.
Stuart Turton's exceptional world-building and character development makes this book truly hard to put down. I love novels that blend different genres together and this fusion of a dystopian ‘end of the world as we know it’ setting with a gripping whodunnit works brilliantly.
Throughout the book, there are subtle references to Emory’s enjoyment of Sherlock Holmes novels and with plenty of plot twists and red herrings, there are definite Holmesian vibes to the book - a growing sense that nothing is quite as it seems
But then there's loads of really juicy sci-fi elements too - an omniscient AI entity, an earth obliterated by a mysterious black fog and ambitious scientists with dubious intent.
Combine these sci-fi and murder-mystery elements with a rich cast of brilliantly written characters, full of heart and depth, plus a thought-provoking exploration of the nature of humanity, and you have truly inventive and imaginative story-telling that left me gasping in surprise with every turn of the page.
Whether you’re a sci-fi fan, love a good mystery, or just enjoy an immersive and gripping read, you'll love this one.
