Scan barcode
oceanwriter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicide, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
geegee98's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Pandemic/Epidemic
ms_elchert's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Physical abuse, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
the_rainydayreader's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
To start off, I had already read Stuart Turton’s book The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle when I requested this title. I had found 7 1/2 Deaths to be a fine book, just not something I thought about much later or wanted to read again. The Last Murder at the End of the World had an intriguing premise but ultimately my feelings about it are also fairly ambivalent. I could see others liking it more than I did (I did like it, to be clear), but this was just kind of forgettable for me.
I was initially intrigued by the premise of an island populated by the last people on Earth, with an AI that wiped their memories of a murder. I like murder mysteries and post-apocalyptic settings, so it seemed like it would work for me. But in the end there were a few too many clues and goings-on for me to keep track of, and the final explanation was a little confusing. It would probably make more sense if I reread the book, but I don’t want to. I was never attached to any of the characters.
The book was easily readable and I was able to finish it quickly which definitely gives this book one of three stars in my review.
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Death, Violence, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death
shelfofunread's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Drug use, Medical content, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, and War
krysley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Death and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Physical abuse, Torture, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
gemloukay's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I absolutely loved this book, as I did Stuart Turton’s previous two. The murder mystery element wasn’t easy to solve, and the voice of Abi that connects them all in their heads whilst being able to hear their thoughts is a clever plot device that helps the story along. The fact that they’ve all had their memory wiped, so they’re solving the murder with you, adds an element of intrigue and suspense.
All in all, a clever twist on the murder mystery genre, with a bit of sci fi thrown into the mix. Thanks to NetGalley for a free arc in return for an honest review.
Minor: Death, Violence, Grief, Murder, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic
tmleblanc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Animal cruelty
912jae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Murder, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Slavery, Medical content, Grief, and Gaslighting
skylarkblue1's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Why are book synopsis' going the way of movie trailers where they seem to aim to reveal way too much about the thing it's trying to introduce/describe? I loved seven deaths of Evelyn hardcastle so I requested this book without reading the full description, just knowing it was a dystopian sci fi, and honestly that was a really good choice. I read the full description when I got near the end and was so shocked to just see how much got revealed in the description alone.
I honestly absolutely loved this book. Complex characters, fast paced story and intricate plot threads that slowly weave together. So many questions but answers are given at a good pace and I believe most if not all the questions did get an answer by the end - I can't think of anything major right now at least!
I loved the characters so much. They're all so complex and unique with so many goals and motives and ideas, it was just so delightful to read about these characters! I normally struggle quite a lot with remembering who was who, who was what name, etc but I actually never had that problem once throughout this whole book despite there being actually quite a lot of characters because of how unique to each other they were.
The plot was just so incredibly thick with mystery and questions, but it manages to handle all of that incredibly well. The world gets established in good time while still leaving a ton of mystery to drip through the rest of the book. The questions felt believable, so did the whole premise honestly - despite how apocalyptic sci-fi it is. The prologue sucked me in instantly and really set up the story perfectly.
I think the only negative about this is the same negative I had with 7 deaths - the ending. It's miles better than how 7 deaths handled it's ending imo but it's still very... I'm not even sure how to explain it. It feels a bit rushed, incredibly lore dumpy and it's just constant explanation monologues with a solution that feels a teeny bit underwhelming in my opinion. It is an answer that fits and makes sense, and the additional information that plays out during the ending is quite nice so it's better than 7 deaths in that regard. It's just.. not sure about it honestly. But also like 7 deaths, it really didn't change my overall opinion of the book that much because the rest of the book is just that good.
Suprisingly, there's also queer representation in this. A very nice sapphic relationship and in all honesty I think it was done very nicely. It's not something that's pointed out, it's just a normalised relationship and treated within the book as any other relationship. It is really nice when books have that. It's not a book that's heavy in romance though, if you dislike romance you'll be fine with it. There's people missing loved ones, relationships that get torn apart - so there's certainly conversations about relationships - but not really much romance at all.
I would strongly recommend this book if you enjoy mysteries. Absolutely perfect for a book club as well!
This probably means I should read Stuart's first book now as I've enjoyed everything else from him haha!!
Graphic: Death, Racism, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Terminal illness
Minor: Gore, Suicide, and Medical content
Loss of a Loved One,