The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton

 

The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton - 400 pgs

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.

This was hard for me to get into at first but after the first 1/4 it got to rolling pretty good.  I liked the dystopian society and the unique storyline. A great read if you like mystery and/or sci-fi.

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

 432 pages / 17 hrs, 4 mins

"Evelyn Hardcastle will be murdered at 11:00 p.m.

"There are eight days, and eight witnesses for you to inhabit.

"We will only let you escape once you tell us the name of the killer.

"Understood? Then let's begin . . .

"Evelyn Hardcastle will die. Every day until Aiden Bishop can identify her killer and break the cycle. But every time the day begins again, Aiden wakes up in the body of a different guest. And some of his hosts are more helpful than others..."  --from the publisher

This is a great plot, and it had to be tremendously difficult to write. My head was spinning with the clues and characters given in their own individual 24-hour period. Oh, except for a couple characters who appear when another character has fallen asleep and disappear when that character wakes up. I think this kind of story has to be written brilliantly to be thoroughly enjoyed, and I don't think Turton quite pulled it off. Although fascinated with the story line, I got frustrated and considered quitting a time or two. Still, it is worth reading. I give it four out of five stars.