Mystery | Adult
It’s the end of the world. Most of Earth’s living creatures were swallowed up decades before in a deadly fog, apparently the result of humanity’s hubris. Only 125 souls remain on the planet, living on a small island protected by a force developed by three scientist “elders” who are now well over 100 years old. The villagers work the island in harmony and peace, producing food, electricity, clothing and other basic necessities, while the scientists share their knowledge and wisdom. Oh, and there’s an omniscient narrator who can read everyone’s thoughts and answer their questions via some brain implant – most useful when you want to know where someone is. But all is threatened when a murder occurs on the island. If it’s not solved quickly, the island’s protective barrier will fail and the deadly fog will move in. I loved the premise of this highly anticipated novel by the author of The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. It’s a locked room mystery set in a utopian future with a dystopian angle! Turton has created a most appealing world, though there are a lot of characters to keep track of. The murder happens a little more than 25% in, and by then I’m quite attached to this little village and its residents. Unfortunately, I am not as keen on the actual murder mystery. It’s simply not well executed (pun not intended, honest!). It’s confusing, convoluted, and reliant on a change in behaviour that seems too radical to be feasibly a surprise. I finished it anyway, but I think I would have preferred a simpler storyline that didn’t involve a murder with a solving deadline. I did like the helpful hand-drawn map, and the cover is very attractive. My thanks to Harper Collins for the digital reading copy provided through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. For my local friends, Grand Forks & District Public Library has a copy in its adult fiction collection.
More discussion and reviews of this novel: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/136276877
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Shelf Life with Michelle 