by Stuart Turton

A Mystery/Thriller, 2024 by Sourcebooks, 368 Pages 

What I Didn’t Like:

• While the start is intriguing, it is also a bit confusing. Because you’re being thrown into a world you can’t really imagine, it sends you off kilter quickly and easily.
• This had M Night Shyamalan vibes early and kept me looking for the twist or hidden secrets. Sometimes that’s no fun because you know to look for them. 
• Something about the overarching all-knowing sort of narrator rubbed me the wrong way. I didn’t like the way it dangled knowledge above the story but in this case it made the reader feel like they were being teased (and not in a fun way). Plus, the narrator switched between 1st and 3rd person POV in a confusing way. 

What I Did Like:

• Solid character introduced early. We love a character who throws off the utopia and makes everyone question their perfect system. 
• Good premise. The hook gets your attention and the idea is solid. There are elements here of a good apocalyptic book and elements of a good mystery. 
• The ending works. It’s a bit predictable in that you can see it coming if you’re looking for clues, but it works and is delivered in a decent way. 

Who Should Read This One:

• Fans who like both post-apocalyptic and mystery are the niche for this one. They aren’t blended well so you’d have to like both (the start is one vibe while the end is the other). 

My Rating: 3 Stars