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A review by izzalice
The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
The Last Murder at the End of the World is a dystopian/sci-fi murder mystery story. Apart from one island where the last of humanity resides, the entire Earth is enshrouded in a deadly black fog filled with carnivorous insects.
When one of the scientist elders on the island is found murdered and the fail-safe to its defences starts to break down, the villagers only have a matter of days to find the culprit and bring them to justice in order to stop the fog from taking the last of the world.
After reading The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton a few years ago, I knew I'd be picking up whatever he wrote next. This is another well-crafted, twisty plot that has so many layers to it.
This book does require a bit of patience. The social structure, character dynamics, and behaviours are purposefully very different to what we are used to and to a degree you need to accept the fact that it will be vague and confusing going into it. I promise you it's worth it and it will all make sense in due course.
The protagonist of this book is Emory- a villager whose constant questioning makes the other inhabitants view her as a threat to the community. She's asking all the right questions but nobody wants to hear it which made me as the reader all the more curious about the society Turton created.
I really enjoyed the omniscient narration style, told through the lens of a mysterious AI that all the villagers have in their heads. It made for unique storytelling and impresses an impending doom feeling on the reader.
I will say that in parts, the plotline did veer dangerously into convoluted territory but I did manage to keep up with it and I think the story as a whole is strong and opened up angles I never would have thought of. Sometimes I guessed aspects and sometimes I was taken in a whole new direction.
Overall, this is a great mystery that places a spotlight on humanity's flaws. It's definitely not one I'd recommend to people hoping to get out of a reading slump but if you're in the mood to have the rug pulled out from under your feet, The Last Murder at the End of the World is the book for you.
When one of the scientist elders on the island is found murdered and the fail-safe to its defences starts to break down, the villagers only have a matter of days to find the culprit and bring them to justice in order to stop the fog from taking the last of the world.
After reading The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton a few years ago, I knew I'd be picking up whatever he wrote next. This is another well-crafted, twisty plot that has so many layers to it.
This book does require a bit of patience. The social structure, character dynamics, and behaviours are purposefully very different to what we are used to and to a degree you need to accept the fact that it will be vague and confusing going into it. I promise you it's worth it and it will all make sense in due course.
The protagonist of this book is Emory- a villager whose constant questioning makes the other inhabitants view her as a threat to the community. She's asking all the right questions but nobody wants to hear it which made me as the reader all the more curious about the society Turton created.
I really enjoyed the omniscient narration style, told through the lens of a mysterious AI that all the villagers have in their heads. It made for unique storytelling and impresses an impending doom feeling on the reader.
I will say that in parts, the plotline did veer dangerously into convoluted territory but I did manage to keep up with it and I think the story as a whole is strong and opened up angles I never would have thought of. Sometimes I guessed aspects and sometimes I was taken in a whole new direction.
Overall, this is a great mystery that places a spotlight on humanity's flaws. It's definitely not one I'd recommend to people hoping to get out of a reading slump but if you're in the mood to have the rug pulled out from under your feet, The Last Murder at the End of the World is the book for you.