The Last Murder at the End of the World

What is the significance of the role of Adil? Does Adil’s desire for vengeance make sense? Why does he never follow through with his plan to murder Niema?

Describe the role of secrets in the novel. Do Niema’s secrets protect anyone in the novel or are they only harmful? What makes Niema change her mind about keeping secrets from the villagers and from Thea?

What is the significance of violence in the novel? Why do the villagers decide to not execute Hephaestus? Do you agree with this decision? Do you think that Hephaestus’s violence makes sense? Why or why not?

Compare and contrast The Murder at the End of the World with the 1896 science fiction novel The Island of Doctor Moreau by H. G. Wells. What themes and plot elements do the novels have in common? Do any of Moreau’s ideas still resonate today?

Describe Hui’s significance in the novel. Why does Hephaestus find Hui so threatening? What level of evolution does Hui represent for the simulacrums, and why was she seen as dangerous?

What literary techniques does Turton use to build the tension throughout the novel? How does Abi and her first-person narrative aid in building suspense? Provide specific examples.

Describe the relationship between Emory and Clara. How does the mystery of Niema’s death help to heal their relationship? How do they learn to have different perspectives about their choices in life?

Discuss the role of food in the novel. How is it used to distinguish the villagers from the elders? What does food symbolize on the island?