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Murder at the End of the World #1
此の世の果ての殺人
2022年ミステリランキング席巻中
「王様のブランチ」「ひるおび」「日曜日の初耳学」で紹介されて続々重版!
第68回江戸川乱歩賞受賞作。
史上最年少、選考委員満場一致。
「大新人時代」の超本命!
本格ミステリーの骨法もよく心得ている――綾辻行人
特A、もしくはA+、もしくはAA――月村了衛
二人の女性のバディ感が最高に楽しい――柴田よしき
極限状況で生きてゆくひとが、愛しくなる――新井素子
非日常を日常に落とし込む、その手捌きは実に秀逸である――京極夏彦
―滅びゆく世界に残された、彼女の歪んだ正義と私の希望
正義の消えた街で、悪意の暴走が始まったー
小惑星「テロス」が日本に衝突することが発表され、世界は大混乱に陥った。そんなパニックをよそに、小春は淡々とひとり太宰府で自動車の教習を受け続けている。小さな夢を叶えるために。年末、ある教習車のトランクを開けると、滅多刺しにされた女性の死体を発見する。教官で元刑事のイサガワとともに、地球最後の謎解きを始める――。
「王様のブランチ」「ひるおび」「日曜日の初耳学」で紹介されて続々重版!
第68回江戸川乱歩賞受賞作。
史上最年少、選考委員満場一致。
「大新人時代」の超本命!
本格ミステリーの骨法もよく心得ている――綾辻行人
特A、もしくはA+、もしくはAA――月村了衛
二人の女性のバディ感が最高に楽しい――柴田よしき
極限状況で生きてゆくひとが、愛しくなる――新井素子
非日常を日常に落とし込む、その手捌きは実に秀逸である――京極夏彦
―滅びゆく世界に残された、彼女の歪んだ正義と私の希望
正義の消えた街で、悪意の暴走が始まったー
小惑星「テロス」が日本に衝突することが発表され、世界は大混乱に陥った。そんなパニックをよそに、小春は淡々とひとり太宰府で自動車の教習を受け続けている。小さな夢を叶えるために。年末、ある教習車のトランクを開けると、滅多刺しにされた女性の死体を発見する。教官で元刑事のイサガワとともに、地球最後の謎解きを始める――。
368 pages, Hardcover
First published August 24, 2022
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April 21, 2025
หากรู้ว่าอีกสองเดือนโลกจะล่มสลายจะทำอย่างไร
หลายคนคงเลือกที่จะใช้ชีวิตอยู่กับครอบครัวและคนรัก หรืออพยพหนีไปให้ไกลที่สุด บางคนสิ้นหวังถึงกับเลือกจบชีวิตตัวเองก่อนจะถึงวันสิ้นโลก
สำหรับฮารุจังกลับเลือกที่จะไปเรียนขับรถ
เพราะเธอมีเจตจำนงก่อนตายว่าจะต้องเดินทางจากดาไซฟุไปทำตามความฝันที่คุมาโมโตะให้ได้
วันหนึ่งขณะที่ฮารุกับอิซากาวะ อดีตตำรวจที่ผันตัวมาเป็นครูสอบขับรถ กำลังจะออกไปฝึกขับรถบนทางด่วน พวกเธอก็พบศพหญิงปริศนาที่ดูยังไงก็รู้ว่าถูกฆาตกรรมอยู่ท้ายรถ
ระหว่างที่สืบหาว่าผู้ตายคือใครพวกเธอก็ได้ข้อมูลเพิ่มว่ามีผู้พบศพถูกทำร้ายคล้ายหญิงนิรนามอีกสองศพ คาดว่าผู้ร้ายจะเป็นคนเดียวกัน ทำให้คดีนี้เข้าข่ายคดีฆาตกรรมต่อเนื่อง
เลือดตำรวจมันพลุ่งพล่าน อิซากาวะจึงกระเตงฮารุออกไปสืบสวนคดีนี้ไปถึงอิโตะชิมะ จนได้พบกับสองพี่น้องฆาตกรที่หลบหนีออกจากคุกขณะที่มีเหตุชุลมุน
ด้วยความถูกชะตาทั้งหมดจึงชวนกันออกไปตามล่าผู้ร้ายด้วยกัน 😅
ระหว่างที่ฮารุเข้าไปเอาเสบียงที่บ้านเธอก็พบว่าคนที่อยู่ในบ้านร่วมกับเธอไม่ใช่เซโงะ น้องชายของเธอ แต่กลับเป็นเด็กหญิงแปลกหน้าที่ชื่อนานาโกะ
ส่วนเซโงะกลับหายตัวไปอย่างไร้ร่องรอย
ถึงโลกจะแตก แต่พวกเขาก็ไม่ละลดความพยายามที่จะตามหาน้องชาย และจับตัวฆาตกรต่อเนื่องให้ได้
จนเรื่องราวสาวถึงคนร้ายตัวจริงที่ไม่น่าจะเป็นไปได้
โอ้ววววว สนุกมว๊ากกกก
ดำเนินเรื่องไว ปมเรื่องสนุกชวนลุ้นชวนติดตามจนใช้เวลาอ่านแป๊บเดียวก็จบแล้ว
เราชอบความมุทะลุดุดันของอิซากาวะ อดีตตำรวจที่มีดีทั้งสติปัญญาและกำลัง แต่ก็ไม่ได้เก่งเวอร์จนเกินไป
ตัวละครทุกตัวมีมิติ อาจจะไม่ลึกมาก แต่ก็ทำให้ยอมรับเหตุผลของการกระทำในหลายๆ ฉากได้
อ่านจบแล้วก็มั่นใจว่าคนที่ได้อ่านจะต้องชอบเหมือนเราแน่ๆ
Goodreads ให้ 4 เราให้ 5
หลายคนคงเลือกที่จะใช้ชีวิตอยู่กับครอบครัวและคนรัก หรืออพยพหนีไปให้ไกลที่สุด บางคนสิ้นหวังถึงกับเลือกจบชีวิตตัวเองก่อนจะถึงวันสิ้นโลก
สำหรับฮารุจังกลับเลือกที่จะไปเรียนขับรถ
เพราะเธอมีเจตจำนงก่อนตายว่าจะต้องเดินทางจากดาไซฟุไปทำตามความฝันที่คุมาโมโตะให้ได้
วันหนึ่งขณะที่ฮารุกับอิซากาวะ อดีตตำรวจที่ผันตัวมาเป็นครูสอบขับรถ กำลังจะออกไปฝึกขับรถบนทางด่วน พวกเธอก็พบศพหญิงปริศนาที่ดูยังไงก็รู้ว่าถูกฆาตกรรมอยู่ท้ายรถ
ระหว่างที่สืบหาว่าผู้ตายคือใครพวกเธอก็ได้ข้อมูลเพิ่มว่ามีผู้พบศพถูกทำร้ายคล้ายหญิงนิรนามอีกสองศพ คาดว่าผู้ร้ายจะเป็นคนเดียวกัน ทำให้คดีนี้เข้าข่ายคดีฆาตกรรมต่อเนื่อง
เลือดตำรวจมันพลุ่งพล่าน อิซากาวะจึงกระเตงฮารุออกไปสืบสวนคดีนี้ไปถึงอิโตะชิมะ จนได้พบกับสองพี่น้องฆาตกรที่หลบหนีออกจากคุกขณะที่มีเหตุชุลมุน
ด้วยความถูกชะตาทั้งหมดจึงชวนกันออกไปตามล่าผู้ร้ายด้วยกัน 😅
ระหว่างที่ฮารุเข้าไปเอาเสบียงที่บ้านเธอก็พบว่าคนที่อยู่ในบ้านร่วมกับเธอไม่ใช่เซโงะ น้องชายของเธอ แต่กลับเป็นเด็กหญิงแปลกหน้าที่ชื่อนานาโกะ
ส่วนเซโงะกลับหายตัวไปอย่างไร้ร่องรอย
ถึงโลกจะแตก แต่พวกเขาก็ไม่ละลดความพยายามที่จะตามหาน้องชาย และจับตัวฆาตกรต่อเนื่องให้ได้
จนเรื่องราวสาวถึงคนร้ายตัวจริงที่ไม่น่าจะเป็นไปได้
โอ้ววววว สนุกมว๊ากกกก
ดำเนินเรื่องไว ปมเรื่องสนุกชวนลุ้นชวนติดตามจนใช้เวลาอ่านแป๊บเดียวก็จบแล้ว
เราชอบความมุทะลุดุดันของอิซากาวะ อดีตตำรวจที่มีดีทั้งสติปัญญาและกำลัง แต่ก็ไม่ได้เก่งเวอร์จนเกินไป
ตัวละครทุกตัวมีมิติ อาจจะไม่ลึกมาก แต่ก็ทำให้ยอมรับเหตุผลของการกระทำในหลายๆ ฉากได้
อ่านจบแล้วก็มั่นใจว่าคนที่ได้อ่านจะต้องชอบเหมือนเราแน่ๆ
Goodreads ให้ 4 เราให้ 5
April 14, 2025
เคยอ่านนิยายแนวนี้มา 2 เรื่อง ว่าด้วยดาวเคราะห์น้อยกำลังจะชนโลกแล้วเกิดเหตุฆาตกรรมขึ้น (ผมสืบคดีฆาตกรรมในวันสิ้นโลก และซีรีย์ The last policeman) ตัวละครเอกในแต่ละเรื่องเลยต้องออกสืบสวนด้วยตัวเอง เรื่องมันจึงทำให้เกิดคำถามว่าโลกกำลังจะล่มสลายอยู่แล้ว แล้วทำไมคนพวกนี้ถึงยังทำอะไรแบบนี้กันอยู่ ร่วมกับความสิ้นหวังที่ค่อย ๆ เพิ่มขึ้น โดยมีพล็อตหลักว่าด้วยการสืบคดี สำหรับเรื่องนี้ขมวดปมคลายปมได้ดี อ่านสนุกและทำให้เรามีความรู้สึกร่วมได้ดีมาก ไม่ผิดหวัง
July 20, 2026
Wellllllll… thanks but no thanks. Imagine a low-budget road trip movie, drop it into an apocalyptic setting, throw in a whodunit and lots of cheesy writing and ta-dah you’ve got this book.
Despite being a fast read with simple, accessible language, this one took me way longer than it should have. It felt like 99% fluff and 1% plot twists, populated by flat characters that somehow managed to talk too much and say nothing at the dame time. It’s the kind of book that leans hard on the element of surprise to keep you hooked but I just didn’t care enough about the characters to be invested in the twists themselves.
It also ended up darker than I expected, dealing heavily with suicide and touching on violence at points. I would have probably enjoyed that it was darker, but all the padding and unnecessary dialogue ruined the tension and atmosphere the book could have had. It was all just very whatever.
Better review to come tomorrow****
*ARC received for free, this hasn’t imputed my rating.
Despite being a fast read with simple, accessible language, this one took me way longer than it should have. It felt like 99% fluff and 1% plot twists, populated by flat characters that somehow managed to talk too much and say nothing at the dame time. It’s the kind of book that leans hard on the element of surprise to keep you hooked but I just didn’t care enough about the characters to be invested in the twists themselves.
It also ended up darker than I expected, dealing heavily with suicide and touching on violence at points. I would have probably enjoyed that it was darker, but all the padding and unnecessary dialogue ruined the tension and atmosphere the book could have had. It was all just very whatever.
Better review to come tomorrow****
*ARC received for free, this hasn’t imputed my rating.
February 14, 2025
首先，请大家别因为这个丑得人神共愤的封面错过优秀的作品😂 本作是新生代推理作家荒木茜的出道作，并凭此获得江户川乱步奖，是目前该奖项史上最年轻得主（23岁）。这是一本中等偏上的推理，但它是一部非常优秀的小说。
前半部分是比较经典的推理小说，采用了“福尔摩斯+华生”的双主角模式和。伪解答的线索埋得不深，比较好猜，也为后续的反转做了铺垫。 后半段推理元素减弱，更像公路文，揭秘的高潮部分在动作戏上有逻辑漏洞。
本作采用女本位叙事，几乎所有重要角色都是女性，性格多样，有善有恶，也有灰色地带，塑造得很立体。没有男凝的作品令人耳目一新，读感极佳。
读完之后深刻地感到故事的核心其实是跟自己和解。在末世，人难免会产生“反正就要死了，一切还有什么意义”的疑问。故事的开始两位主角都有未解的心结，而结尾她们都找到了某种答案，坦然地拥抱了撞击地球的小行星，迎接末日的到来。老师的那句“长寿和幸福是两码事”才是本文的核心。生命的价值不在于长度，而在于如何面对和接纳自己。
最后感叹一下本作背后的故事。这部小说是荒木茜在通勤路上用手机创作然后传入电脑完成的，也是获奖之后才告诉家人自己在写作。期待她以后的作品。
前半部分是比较经典的推理小说，采用了“福尔摩斯+华生”的双主角模式和。伪解答的线索埋得不深，比较好猜，也为后续的反转做了铺垫。 后半段推理元素减弱，更像公路文，揭秘的高潮部分在动作戏上有逻辑漏洞。
本作采用女本位叙事，几乎所有重要角色都是女性，性格多样，有善有恶，也有灰色地带，塑造得很立体。没有男凝的作品令人耳目一新，读感极佳。
读完之后深刻地感到故事的核心其实是跟自己和解。在末世，人难免会产生“反正就要死了，一切还有什么意义”的疑问。故事的开始两位主角都有未解的心结，而结尾她们都找到了某种答案，坦然地拥抱了撞击地球的小行星，迎接末日的到来。老师的那句“长寿和幸福是两码事”才是本文的核心。生命的价值不在于长度，而在于如何面对和接纳自己。
最后感叹一下本作背后的故事。这部小说是荒木茜在通勤路上用手机创作然后传入电脑完成的，也是获奖之后才告诉家人自己在写作。期待她以后的作品。
May 16, 2025
คอนเซปต์น่าสนใจและบรรยากาศที่ตึงเครียดในโลกที่กำลังเผชิญจุดจบ ผู้เขียนสามารถดำเนินเรื่องได้กระชับพอเหมาะ ไม่น่าเบื่อหรือเอื่อยเฉื่อยจนเกินไป และมีจุดหักมุมที่ชวนให้ติดตามตลอดทั้งเล่ม
เนื้อหาค่อย ๆ เปิดเผยปริศนาและแรงจูงใจของตัวละครได้อย่างมีชั้นเชิง ทำให้รู้สึกเหมือนกำลังต่อจิ๊กซอว์ท่ามกลางฉากหลังที่บีบคั้นและไร้ทางหนี ทั้งความลึกลับและบรรยากาศวันสิ้นโลกถูกถ่ายทอดออกมาได้อย่างกลมกล่อม
แต่มีจุดที่อาจรบกวนการอ่านและทำให้หักคะแนนคือ การเว้นวรรคที่ผิดพลาดเกือบตลอดทั้งเล่ม ทำให้จังหวะการอ่านสะดุดในหลาย ๆ ตอน ไม่แน่ใจว่าเป็นปัญหาเฉพาะเวอร์ชัน EPUB หรือว่าเวอร์ชันหนังสือเล่มพิมพ์ กับ PDF จะมีปัญหาเดียวกันมั้ย
เนื้อหาค่อย ๆ เปิดเผยปริศนาและแรงจูงใจของตัวละครได้อย่างมีชั้นเชิง ทำให้รู้สึกเหมือนกำลังต่อจิ๊กซอว์ท่ามกลางฉากหลังที่บีบคั้นและไร้ทางหนี ทั้งความลึกลับและบรรยากาศวันสิ้นโลกถูกถ่ายทอดออกมาได้อย่างกลมกล่อม
แต่มีจุดที่อาจรบกวนการอ่านและทำให้หักคะแนนคือ การเว้นวรรคที่ผิดพลาดเกือบตลอดทั้งเล่ม ทำให้จังหวะการอ่านสะดุดในหลาย ๆ ตอน ไม่แน่ใจว่าเป็นปัญหาเฉพาะเวอร์ชัน EPUB หรือว่าเวอร์ชันหนังสือเล่มพิมพ์ กับ PDF จะมีปัญหาเดียวกันมั้ย
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My thanks to NetGalley and Steerforth & Pushkin for an advance copy of this novel set in the dying days of humanity where two women, one trying to learn something new, one trying to forget her past, come together to solve a murder and maybe find a bit of peace for themselves.
I never knew what a bucket list was, nor really understood the idea. That and the numerous books that have come out about things to do before one dies. Beers to drink, movies to watch, places to go, things to do. This to me is just life. Unless someone is keeping secrets, we all have a shelf life. We will all go sometime. In fact one can die going to a mall, a theater even a school, either through guns, people, shoddy workmanship, or even a rock falling from the sky. Life is ful of things we should be doing, we just don't want to think about the end. Until we have to. Say a giant rock that might destroy the earth. What would humanity do. Run and hide? Try something new? Maybe give into base instincts? Or even with the end close still try to do right, for family, strangers, and more importantly for ourselves. Murder at the End of the World is written by Akane Araki and translated from the Japanese by Jesse Kirkwood and tells of the last days of Earth, and two women who are determined to make a difference, to find a murderer, and try to make peace with the lives they have led.
A giant asteroid is approaching Earth, its destination the nation of Japan. People have fled the country looking for safe ground to survive what is to come, leaving an empty country with few remaining citizens. One of these is Haru. Haru's mother fled in the early days. Haru's father committed suicide like so many others, and Haru's brother has not left the house for years, after an school incident. Haru has plans though, and one of the them is to learn to drive. Haru's instructor is Isagawa, an older woman who Haru has come to like and trust. On a lesson day the two discover a body in the trunk of the instructor's car, a murder victim whose death was not easy. Haru learns the Isagawa was once an Inspector, fired for taking her job too seriously. Isagawa with Haru's help begins to investigate the muder, finding a chain of bodies that no one seems to care about. The more they learn the more Haru fears that these murders are tied to her in someway, that the secrets she is keeping might come out. And that the end of the world might not be coming fast enough.
A book with a lot of ideas, a bit of humor, but a lot of darkness. From forest roads full of bodies hanging from trees, corpses lying in living rooms, murders and more. Araki has a great sense of place, describing the end times in a way that is both real and unforgettable. There is a sense of remove here, but one that makes sense. Who gets their license at the end of the world. Why does a cop who loves justice hide at a driving school. Why would someone start killing when humanity is going to end anyway. Araki has a gift for characters, and a gift for letting these characters unfold. Our narrator might not be trustworthy, but neither are our investigators. The only ones telling the truth are a two brothers, one of which is a murderer. Araki has great pacing, keeping secrets, letting them slip slightly for careful readers.
The mystery is deep and complex, but the killer might be a bit apparant early, However this was such a well-written one does not care. A mystery, a found family story, and much more. All the trigger warnings too. I really enjoyed this and look forward to more by Akane Araki.
I never knew what a bucket list was, nor really understood the idea. That and the numerous books that have come out about things to do before one dies. Beers to drink, movies to watch, places to go, things to do. This to me is just life. Unless someone is keeping secrets, we all have a shelf life. We will all go sometime. In fact one can die going to a mall, a theater even a school, either through guns, people, shoddy workmanship, or even a rock falling from the sky. Life is ful of things we should be doing, we just don't want to think about the end. Until we have to. Say a giant rock that might destroy the earth. What would humanity do. Run and hide? Try something new? Maybe give into base instincts? Or even with the end close still try to do right, for family, strangers, and more importantly for ourselves. Murder at the End of the World is written by Akane Araki and translated from the Japanese by Jesse Kirkwood and tells of the last days of Earth, and two women who are determined to make a difference, to find a murderer, and try to make peace with the lives they have led.
A giant asteroid is approaching Earth, its destination the nation of Japan. People have fled the country looking for safe ground to survive what is to come, leaving an empty country with few remaining citizens. One of these is Haru. Haru's mother fled in the early days. Haru's father committed suicide like so many others, and Haru's brother has not left the house for years, after an school incident. Haru has plans though, and one of the them is to learn to drive. Haru's instructor is Isagawa, an older woman who Haru has come to like and trust. On a lesson day the two discover a body in the trunk of the instructor's car, a murder victim whose death was not easy. Haru learns the Isagawa was once an Inspector, fired for taking her job too seriously. Isagawa with Haru's help begins to investigate the muder, finding a chain of bodies that no one seems to care about. The more they learn the more Haru fears that these murders are tied to her in someway, that the secrets she is keeping might come out. And that the end of the world might not be coming fast enough.
A book with a lot of ideas, a bit of humor, but a lot of darkness. From forest roads full of bodies hanging from trees, corpses lying in living rooms, murders and more. Araki has a great sense of place, describing the end times in a way that is both real and unforgettable. There is a sense of remove here, but one that makes sense. Who gets their license at the end of the world. Why does a cop who loves justice hide at a driving school. Why would someone start killing when humanity is going to end anyway. Araki has a gift for characters, and a gift for letting these characters unfold. Our narrator might not be trustworthy, but neither are our investigators. The only ones telling the truth are a two brothers, one of which is a murderer. Araki has great pacing, keeping secrets, letting them slip slightly for careful readers.
The mystery is deep and complex, but the killer might be a bit apparant early, However this was such a well-written one does not care. A mystery, a found family story, and much more. All the trigger warnings too. I really enjoyed this and look forward to more by Akane Araki.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The beginning is bizarre. Haru takes another of her daily driving lessons with Isagawa, her instructor, the only instructor left working at the school. They are going to test Haru’s skill at hill breaking and head off to the countryside. Suddenly there is a body on the bonnet and Haru is startled, surely she hasn’t hit anyone. Isagawa confirms that the body fell from a tree and gets out to examine it in detail, almost forensically. Another suicide she confirms and then they notice a great many others. ‘Dying Wild’ is the way out for many of the despairing. Haru mentions that her father killed himself a couple of days ago in is on a tatami mat at home…
The next day Haru selects another of the school’s fifty cars to use that day, the easiest one to get out of the carpark. Noticing an odd smell, they open the boot to find a body. This hits Isagawa hardest; she is now a woman on a mission, as the reader comes to discover she was a former police inspector. Once reported to what remains of the police, they discover it is the third murder in two days and the police are not going to do anything about it. This spurs our two heroines to become serial killer hunters.
Tracking down a serial killer (or are there two) is the straightforward, whodunnit plot. What sets it apart is the beautifully contrived and imagined setting. The world is about to end, the social order is breaking down, but from the position of a society quite different to that of the West. What sounds dark and dour, as the occasional scene is, being more than balanced with the quirky and heartwarming. There are suicides but seen through the eyes of a culture that views the act in a different light to that of some religions. With no emergency services, it is left to Haru to manhandle the body of her father out of the house, sad, darkly funny and disrespectful, yet written perfectly, balancing pathos and empathy.
Haru’s younger brother Seigo lives in the rooms upstairs, much like a hikikomori, but he has his reason. He is a character who is never really in the story, but manages to cast a shadow over proceedings, playing an important role in the story arc.
The relationship between Haru and Isagawa, is the core of the story, as they embark on a female road trip and pick up stragglers on the way. Two very engaging women they are too, very different with a relationship that is like sisters as they each share insights into life. What they are doing may be crazy, however they intend to live the rest of their lives to the full, but rather than being hedonistic, doing the right thing and helping those who are left.
As with any road trip story the pleasure is in the journey and who you meet along the way. Here the author has full reign for developing odd situations packed with idiosyncratic people. Moving from funny one moment to touching the next, this is a sympathetic portrayal of those left behind and those who still care to do the right thing and help. Set against this is the killer, who is just trying to kill as many people as possible and get away with it.
Somehow finds joy in the impending apocalypse, combining a whodunnit with a life affirming road trip.
The next day Haru selects another of the school’s fifty cars to use that day, the easiest one to get out of the carpark. Noticing an odd smell, they open the boot to find a body. This hits Isagawa hardest; she is now a woman on a mission, as the reader comes to discover she was a former police inspector. Once reported to what remains of the police, they discover it is the third murder in two days and the police are not going to do anything about it. This spurs our two heroines to become serial killer hunters.
Tracking down a serial killer (or are there two) is the straightforward, whodunnit plot. What sets it apart is the beautifully contrived and imagined setting. The world is about to end, the social order is breaking down, but from the position of a society quite different to that of the West. What sounds dark and dour, as the occasional scene is, being more than balanced with the quirky and heartwarming. There are suicides but seen through the eyes of a culture that views the act in a different light to that of some religions. With no emergency services, it is left to Haru to manhandle the body of her father out of the house, sad, darkly funny and disrespectful, yet written perfectly, balancing pathos and empathy.
Haru’s younger brother Seigo lives in the rooms upstairs, much like a hikikomori, but he has his reason. He is a character who is never really in the story, but manages to cast a shadow over proceedings, playing an important role in the story arc.
The relationship between Haru and Isagawa, is the core of the story, as they embark on a female road trip and pick up stragglers on the way. Two very engaging women they are too, very different with a relationship that is like sisters as they each share insights into life. What they are doing may be crazy, however they intend to live the rest of their lives to the full, but rather than being hedonistic, doing the right thing and helping those who are left.
As with any road trip story the pleasure is in the journey and who you meet along the way. Here the author has full reign for developing odd situations packed with idiosyncratic people. Moving from funny one moment to touching the next, this is a sympathetic portrayal of those left behind and those who still care to do the right thing and help. Set against this is the killer, who is just trying to kill as many people as possible and get away with it.
Somehow finds joy in the impending apocalypse, combining a whodunnit with a life affirming road trip.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Trigger warning: Suicide
I’m not sure Japanese crime fiction and I are ever going to be best friends but I enjoyed this more than I did Butter. The question of what you’d do if you knew the world was ending in two months time is an interesting premise. In fact, that element probably engaged me more than the actual mystery.
Others may have different priorities but Haru has decided she wants to pass her driving test. She’s already passed the theory test but just needs a few more lessons with her driving instructor Isagawa. Obviously, no-one’s really going to worry if she’s got a licence or not but she has a journey in mind that she’d like to be confident about making. All that gets derailed when she and Isagawa discover a body in the boot of the training car. It’s not a pretty sight either but Isagawa doesn’t seem fazed and Haru soon discovers why. Encouraged by Isagawa, they set out to try to discover the culprit because the police are either unable or unwilling to investigate. They’re in the process of packing up like everyone else.
I don’t think it’s giving too much away to say there is more than one murder. In fact there’s no scarcity of dead bodies because many people have decided to take their own lives rather than wait for the asteroid to do it. The fact there’s no-one around to deal with the bodies brings a distinctly ghoulish aspect to the book.
Initially, there seems to be no connection between the victims. Haru’s and Isagawa’s task is made more complicated by the fact water and power supplies have failed, and there’s no mobile phone coverage. In the course of their investigation, Haru and Isagawa encounter other individuals who have stayed behind in what is forecast to be the impact zone of the asteroid, scavenging supplies of food, water and fuel from empty shops and warehouses. A few of these join Haru and Isagawa in the hunt for the person behind the killing spree. One of the puzzles is what the motive could possibly be. When most people are going to die in a few months anyway, why kill them now? I did actually guess the identity of the killer about two thirds of the way through the book.
I can’t say I ever warmed to Isagawa, especially as we see a quite different side to her at some points.
The aspect of the story that interested me most was people’s differing responses to the approaching apocalypse. Some, if they can afford it, have fled to countries further away from the impact zone although even that is unlikely to protect them from the disastrous environmental effects that will follow the asteroid strike. Many have decided to spend their remaining time with loved ones. Others are putting their faith in underground shelters or rather fantastical escape schemes. Some, as we’ve already learned, have decided to take things into their own hands and commit suicide. But with no-one around to enforce the rule of law, perhaps it’s possible to get away with anything?
Murder at the End of the World is an entertaining, if rather macabre, murder mystery peppered with black humour.
I’m not sure Japanese crime fiction and I are ever going to be best friends but I enjoyed this more than I did Butter. The question of what you’d do if you knew the world was ending in two months time is an interesting premise. In fact, that element probably engaged me more than the actual mystery.
Others may have different priorities but Haru has decided she wants to pass her driving test. She’s already passed the theory test but just needs a few more lessons with her driving instructor Isagawa. Obviously, no-one’s really going to worry if she’s got a licence or not but she has a journey in mind that she’d like to be confident about making. All that gets derailed when she and Isagawa discover a body in the boot of the training car. It’s not a pretty sight either but Isagawa doesn’t seem fazed and Haru soon discovers why. Encouraged by Isagawa, they set out to try to discover the culprit because the police are either unable or unwilling to investigate. They’re in the process of packing up like everyone else.
I don’t think it’s giving too much away to say there is more than one murder. In fact there’s no scarcity of dead bodies because many people have decided to take their own lives rather than wait for the asteroid to do it. The fact there’s no-one around to deal with the bodies brings a distinctly ghoulish aspect to the book.
Initially, there seems to be no connection between the victims. Haru’s and Isagawa’s task is made more complicated by the fact water and power supplies have failed, and there’s no mobile phone coverage. In the course of their investigation, Haru and Isagawa encounter other individuals who have stayed behind in what is forecast to be the impact zone of the asteroid, scavenging supplies of food, water and fuel from empty shops and warehouses. A few of these join Haru and Isagawa in the hunt for the person behind the killing spree. One of the puzzles is what the motive could possibly be. When most people are going to die in a few months anyway, why kill them now? I did actually guess the identity of the killer about two thirds of the way through the book.
I can’t say I ever warmed to Isagawa, especially as we see a quite different side to her at some points.
The aspect of the story that interested me most was people’s differing responses to the approaching apocalypse. Some, if they can afford it, have fled to countries further away from the impact zone although even that is unlikely to protect them from the disastrous environmental effects that will follow the asteroid strike. Many have decided to spend their remaining time with loved ones. Others are putting their faith in underground shelters or rather fantastical escape schemes. Some, as we’ve already learned, have decided to take things into their own hands and commit suicide. But with no-one around to enforce the rule of law, perhaps it’s possible to get away with anything?
Murder at the End of the World is an entertaining, if rather macabre, murder mystery peppered with black humour.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, the author and everyone else who allowed me an ARC copy of this to read.
What would you do if you knew the world would end in 6 months time? Our FMC decides the time is now or never to pass her driving test (for reasons that we are unaware of until the end of the book). Driving lessons soon turn into murder investigations however, when a body is found in the boot of the learner vehicle.
I think its important to point out for people that are unaware, that this is a book translated from its original publication language. As such the book is full of Japanese names (of people, places etc) I did find some of the pronunciations difficult and I would have liked to have had some sort of reference in the book to help with the correct way of saying them, however this didnt detract from the book in anyway.
The books begins quite light hearted, despite the end of the world subject matter, however we are quickly brought back to earth with descriptions of suicide (trigger warning) which continues throughout the story.
The story is a bit of a slower burn, with the tension building as you get deeper into the mystery. I definitely found the last third of the book more gripping as the pieces all start coming together. The first part I felt is more focused on character building the found family group of strangers that all get pulled into the mystery of the murders.
Overall I enjoyed the story, I found the book easy to read and it did keep me interested. I would have preferred there to be more chapters (the whole book is only 5 chapters) as this would have helped me when it was time to stop reading. As it was I sometimes had to go back a few paragraphs to get back into the flow of what was happening.
Without spoilers, I enjoyed the ending, not only the big reveal but also the last few pages and the ending of the story as a whole.
I have rated the book 3 stars and I would recommend to other readers who enjoy both an end of the world story and/or a murder mystery.
What would you do if you knew the world would end in 6 months time? Our FMC decides the time is now or never to pass her driving test (for reasons that we are unaware of until the end of the book). Driving lessons soon turn into murder investigations however, when a body is found in the boot of the learner vehicle.
I think its important to point out for people that are unaware, that this is a book translated from its original publication language. As such the book is full of Japanese names (of people, places etc) I did find some of the pronunciations difficult and I would have liked to have had some sort of reference in the book to help with the correct way of saying them, however this didnt detract from the book in anyway.
The books begins quite light hearted, despite the end of the world subject matter, however we are quickly brought back to earth with descriptions of suicide (trigger warning) which continues throughout the story.
The story is a bit of a slower burn, with the tension building as you get deeper into the mystery. I definitely found the last third of the book more gripping as the pieces all start coming together. The first part I felt is more focused on character building the found family group of strangers that all get pulled into the mystery of the murders.
Overall I enjoyed the story, I found the book easy to read and it did keep me interested. I would have preferred there to be more chapters (the whole book is only 5 chapters) as this would have helped me when it was time to stop reading. As it was I sometimes had to go back a few paragraphs to get back into the flow of what was happening.
Without spoilers, I enjoyed the ending, not only the big reveal but also the last few pages and the ending of the story as a whole.
I have rated the book 3 stars and I would recommend to other readers who enjoy both an end of the world story and/or a murder mystery.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"The last bestseller in the world had been a suicide manual."
As an asteroid hurtles inexorably toward Earth, Haru remains in her small hometown, near enough to the projected impact point to assume death will be instantaneous. While those around her flee, panic, or fall to suicide, Haru attends driving lessons. When a mutilated corpse is placed in the driving school's car, Haru and her ex-cop driving instructor have only two months to see that justice is done.
If you're planning on reading MURDER AT THE END OF THE WORLD by Akane Araki, I suggest you block out a whole evening because you won't want to put it down. I devoured it. Although the general premise of one character standing for law and order in the face of utter chaos brought on by the end of the world is not new or unique in itself, this felt like a fresh take on the trope.
The translation was effortless. If I didn't know, I'd assume this book had originally been written in English by someone intimately familiar with Japanese culture. There's none of the stilted turns of phrase that sometimes hamper translated works. The crime itself, and the resulting social fallout, are tightly intertwined with Japanese cultural norms. If you enjoy reading books that offer insight to worldviews not often represented in Western thrillers, then you'll enjoy this.
Don't let the speculative/apocalyptic aspect fool you into thinking this has nothing to say that is relevant to today; MURDER AT THE END OF THE WORLD is a pacy crime novel that poses surprisingly poignant questions about the human experience. 4.5 stars!
As an asteroid hurtles inexorably toward Earth, Haru remains in her small hometown, near enough to the projected impact point to assume death will be instantaneous. While those around her flee, panic, or fall to suicide, Haru attends driving lessons. When a mutilated corpse is placed in the driving school's car, Haru and her ex-cop driving instructor have only two months to see that justice is done.
If you're planning on reading MURDER AT THE END OF THE WORLD by Akane Araki, I suggest you block out a whole evening because you won't want to put it down. I devoured it. Although the general premise of one character standing for law and order in the face of utter chaos brought on by the end of the world is not new or unique in itself, this felt like a fresh take on the trope.
The translation was effortless. If I didn't know, I'd assume this book had originally been written in English by someone intimately familiar with Japanese culture. There's none of the stilted turns of phrase that sometimes hamper translated works. The crime itself, and the resulting social fallout, are tightly intertwined with Japanese cultural norms. If you enjoy reading books that offer insight to worldviews not often represented in Western thrillers, then you'll enjoy this.
Don't let the speculative/apocalyptic aspect fool you into thinking this has nothing to say that is relevant to today; MURDER AT THE END OF THE WORLD is a pacy crime novel that poses surprisingly poignant questions about the human experience. 4.5 stars!
June 23, 2026
An asteroid is hurtling towards Earth, and society is beginning to unravel. Unlike many people who are making dramatic changes to their lives, Hamu remains in her small hometown. Her mother had walked out,, and her father took his own life just two days earlier. Meanwhile, her brother Seigo spends all his time shut away in his room, they haven’t spoken to each other in some time. Despite everything happening around her, Hamu is focused on one thing: passing her driving test.
However, when a mutilated corpse is discovered in the boot of a car belonging to her driving school, Hamu and Isagawa, a former police officer who now works as a driving instructor, have just months to uncover the identity of the killer before the asteroid reaches Earth.
The translation is excellent. I often forgot I was reading a translated novel, only occasionally reminded by the characters’ names and some of the locations. The story flows smoothly and keeps you engaged from beginning to end.
The novel explores the different ways people respond to impending disaster, and there are references to suicide throughout the story. I found it particularly interesting how the murder investigation and the resulting social fallout are viewed through the lens of Japanese cultural norms and expectations.
This is a fast-paced, easy-to-read novel that holds your attention throughout, making it an entertaining and thought-provoking read.
Thank you to @PushkinPress for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest, fair review, all thoughts and opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way.
However, when a mutilated corpse is discovered in the boot of a car belonging to her driving school, Hamu and Isagawa, a former police officer who now works as a driving instructor, have just months to uncover the identity of the killer before the asteroid reaches Earth.
The translation is excellent. I often forgot I was reading a translated novel, only occasionally reminded by the characters’ names and some of the locations. The story flows smoothly and keeps you engaged from beginning to end.
The novel explores the different ways people respond to impending disaster, and there are references to suicide throughout the story. I found it particularly interesting how the murder investigation and the resulting social fallout are viewed through the lens of Japanese cultural norms and expectations.
This is a fast-paced, easy-to-read novel that holds your attention throughout, making it an entertaining and thought-provoking read.
Thank you to @PushkinPress for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest, fair review, all thoughts and opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher , the translator Jesse Kirkwood, and Akane Araki for the ARC.
What would you do if the world was about to end in a few months? Panic? Run? Do stuff on your bucket list? Haru decided to do her driving lessons until the end even if she can't get her license anymore. Her driving instructor is an ex-cop, and they keep getting more friends along the way. They also get to investigate murders and look for missing people. Not in that order though.
Just like a driving lesson, the tension of the plot is slow, leaving you unguarded like the roads you keep on driving on everyday. We meet characters, some likeable, some not so much. The book shows how fickle human nature can be sometimes, how strong people can be, how human connections can be made, how the moral compass can be in such times.
The characters Haru meets on the journey to find the murderer are different from each other, but at the same time desperate to live. It's heartbreaking to see how their hopes and dreams have a timeline, how each of their lives have a deadline, no matter what. And how they all decide to live that life knowing what's about to come.
Thank you for translating this book, where at the end of the world, people of different ages and lives meet and form a friendship with one goal in mind: find a killer in a lawless world.
What would you do if the world was about to end in a few months? Panic? Run? Do stuff on your bucket list? Haru decided to do her driving lessons until the end even if she can't get her license anymore. Her driving instructor is an ex-cop, and they keep getting more friends along the way. They also get to investigate murders and look for missing people. Not in that order though.
Just like a driving lesson, the tension of the plot is slow, leaving you unguarded like the roads you keep on driving on everyday. We meet characters, some likeable, some not so much. The book shows how fickle human nature can be sometimes, how strong people can be, how human connections can be made, how the moral compass can be in such times.
The characters Haru meets on the journey to find the murderer are different from each other, but at the same time desperate to live. It's heartbreaking to see how their hopes and dreams have a timeline, how each of their lives have a deadline, no matter what. And how they all decide to live that life knowing what's about to come.
Thank you for translating this book, where at the end of the world, people of different ages and lives meet and form a friendship with one goal in mind: find a killer in a lawless world.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A great blend of dystopian science fiction with a classic murder mystery, but from the modern perspective of a young woman who barely got a chance to start her adult life before the end of the world was announced. The dark, dry humor and the melancholy acceptance of the end of the world is so relatable, and honestly it's a needed update to the dystopian genre. I wasn't able to connect to the characters as much as I prefer, but I did like them, and I was happy with the arc of the relationship between Haru and Isagawa. The murder mystery itself did keep me guessing, although it wasn't the main point of interest for me. It's really more about Haru finding people to connect with and finding a purpose to the time she has left. This is a book that constantly asks "what's the point?" and answers with "okay, but also, why not?"
Be aware that this book does start off a little quirky/funny, but it doesn't really stay in that tone once the murder mystery kicks off, and there's a lot of mention of suicide. But I do think the tone shift fits the book's intentions.
Thank you to Netgalley and Steerforth & Pushkin for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Murder at the End of the World
Be aware that this book does start off a little quirky/funny, but it doesn't really stay in that tone once the murder mystery kicks off, and there's a lot of mention of suicide. But I do think the tone shift fits the book's intentions.
Thank you to Netgalley and Steerforth & Pushkin for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Murder at the End of the World
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I read an advance copy of this book, which had no content warnings. I hope that when this book is published, it will be accompanied by a prominent content warning about suicide. There is a lot, I mean, a lot, of suicide in this book.
I didn’t enjoy this book. It was bleak and depressing. The dialogue was very stilted and didn’t sound at all like how people speak to one another. The non-dialogue bits were better, but still felt a little bit off at times. For the first half, I thought that the issue with the way everyone was speaking may have been that the book is a translation. So, I decided to read the book as if the dialogue were fine and to pay attention to the plot over the prose, to see if I could look past the issues possibly attributable to the translation and just follow the story. It didn’t help. For me, the promised humor and quirk wasn’t there. It felt like a book about heavy things written by someone who had no experience with heavy things, so it was all very flippant.
I appreciate the ARC and thank the publisher Pushkin Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
I didn’t enjoy this book. It was bleak and depressing. The dialogue was very stilted and didn’t sound at all like how people speak to one another. The non-dialogue bits were better, but still felt a little bit off at times. For the first half, I thought that the issue with the way everyone was speaking may have been that the book is a translation. So, I decided to read the book as if the dialogue were fine and to pay attention to the plot over the prose, to see if I could look past the issues possibly attributable to the translation and just follow the story. It didn’t help. For me, the promised humor and quirk wasn’t there. It felt like a book about heavy things written by someone who had no experience with heavy things, so it was all very flippant.
I appreciate the ARC and thank the publisher Pushkin Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
May 14, 2025
ก่อนอ่านแอบกลัวว่านิยายเรื่องนี้จะใส่ความเป็นแฟนตาซี ไซไฟ หรือ ความชวนหัว มาในเรื่อง
ซึ่งอาจมีผลกระทบต่อความจริงจังในธีมสิ้นหวังนี้
แต่กลายเป็นว่านิยายเล่มนี้เอาความโลกาวินาศมาเล่าด้วยอารมณ์ที่สมจริงและซีเรียสที่ค่อยๆก่อตัวจากต้นเรื่องไปถึงหน้าสุดท้าย
จุดเด่น
การเล่าเรื่องนั้นมีความจริงจัง
สร้างอารมณ์ร่วมที่ทำให้ผู้อ่านรู้สึกถึงความเปล่าเปลี่ยว
ไร้ความหวังของมนุษยชาติได้ดี
ธีมโลกจะแตกเป็นแบล็กกราวน์ของเรื่องที่คอยหลอกหลอนธีมหลักนั้นคือการสืบสวนหาฆาตกรตลอดเวลาอีกด้วย
อีกด้านการสืบสวนของสองตัวละครในช่วงวาระสุดท้ายของโลกก็อ่านสนุก แม้ดูเริ่มต้นไม่ซับซ้อน
แต่ก็คาดเดายากทั้งตัวฆาตกรและแรงจูงใจ
จุดด้อย
แทบไม่มีหากอยากจะให้มีคงเป็นต้นเรื่องที่ปูตัวละครหลักมากไปหน่อย
เช่นเดียวกับการอธิบายเรื่องวันโลกจะแตก
แต่ก็ถือเล็กน้อยมาก
สรุป
เป็นนิยายที่อ่านสนุก เพลิดเพลิน ช่วงแรกเนือยๆ
แต่ช่วงกลางไปท้ายสนุกน่าติดตามจนไม่อยากจะวาง
ตัวละครออกมาได้ดี
ใครชอบแนวสืบสวนแต่กลัวจะแฟนตาซี
จนอาจไม่รู้สึกเรียลไม่ต้องห่วงผู้เขียนไม่ได้ใส่สิ่งเหล่านั่นมาก
จัดเป็นนิยายไม่แฟนตาซี แต่กลับเป็นการสืบสวนที่แสนหดหู่และก็เร้าใจ
ซึ่งอาจมีผลกระทบต่อความจริงจังในธีมสิ้นหวังนี้
แต่กลายเป็นว่านิยายเล่มนี้เอาความโลกาวินาศมาเล่าด้วยอารมณ์ที่สมจริงและซีเรียสที่ค่อยๆก่อตัวจากต้นเรื่องไปถึงหน้าสุดท้าย
จุดเด่น
การเล่าเรื่องนั้นมีความจริงจัง
สร้างอารมณ์ร่วมที่ทำให้ผู้อ่านรู้สึกถึงความเปล่าเปลี่ยว
ไร้ความหวังของมนุษยชาติได้ดี
ธีมโลกจะแตกเป็นแบล็กกราวน์ของเรื่องที่คอยหลอกหลอนธีมหลักนั้นคือการสืบสวนหาฆาตกรตลอดเวลาอีกด้วย
อีกด้านการสืบสวนของสองตัวละครในช่วงวาระสุดท้ายของโลกก็อ่านสนุก แม้ดูเริ่มต้นไม่ซับซ้อน
แต่ก็คาดเดายากทั้งตัวฆาตกรและแรงจูงใจ
จุดด้อย
แทบไม่มีหากอยากจะให้มีคงเป็นต้นเรื่องที่ปูตัวละครหลักมากไปหน่อย
เช่นเดียวกับการอธิบายเรื่องวันโลกจะแตก
แต่ก็ถือเล็กน้อยมาก
สรุป
เป็นนิยายที่อ่านสนุก เพลิดเพลิน ช่วงแรกเนือยๆ
แต่ช่วงกลางไปท้ายสนุกน่าติดตามจนไม่อยากจะวาง
ตัวละครออกมาได้ดี
ใครชอบแนวสืบสวนแต่กลัวจะแฟนตาซี
จนอาจไม่รู้สึกเรียลไม่ต้องห่วงผู้เขียนไม่ได้ใส่สิ่งเหล่านั่นมาก
จัดเป็นนิยายไม่แฟนตาซี แต่กลับเป็นการสืบสวนที่แสนหดหู่และก็เร้าใจ
June 15, 2025
เมื่อเจอศพท้ายรถในวันที่โลกใกล้แตก ทั้งสองตัวเอกจึงต้องช่วยกันสืบคดี หนึ่งครูสอนขับรถ อีกหนึ่งพี่สาวที่อยากมีใบขับขี่ เกิดการฆาตกรรมอีกหลายรายที่เชื่อมโยงกัน ซึ่งเบาะแสชี้ว่าฆาตกรอาจเป็นน้องชายเธอ สืบดะเผชิญคนสติแตกผจญโลกแตก หักมุมเรื่อยอ่านติดพันดี
.
โลกกำลังจะถูกดาวเคราะห์2021NQ2พุ่งชนในอีก2เดือนข้างหน้า ประชากรบางส่วนก็เลิกทำกิจวัตร เลิกทำงาน บ้างอพยพ บ้างออกเดินทาง บางคนก็ปลิดชีพหนีการล่มสลาย แต่โคฮารุสาวน้อยผู้มีความตั้งใจว่าจะต้องไปเรียนขับรถให้ได้ ซึ่งก็ยังคงมีครูผู้หญิงที่ยังทำหน้าที่สอนขับรถนี้อยู่(มีคนเรียนก็คงสอน55)
ทั้งคู่สอนขับรถกันไป แต่พอเปิดฝาท้ายรถกลับพบศพที่ถูกแทงจนพรุน เหมือนถูกนำมายัดไว้ในท้ายรถ โดยคุณครูสอนขับรถสาวก็มุ่งมั่นมากที่จะไปสถานีตำรวจเพื่อแจ้งว่าเกิดคดีฆาตกรรม โคฮารุจังและคนอ่านเองก็สงสัยว่าเหตุใดต้องไปสืบหาความจริงอะไรกันอีก สถานีตำรวจยังมีคนทำงานสืบคดีอยู่งั้นหรือ
ยังมีตำรวจทำงานอยู่แถมยังพูดคุยกับครูสอนขับรถอย่างซี้ เพราะเธอเป็นอดีตตำรวจที่ผันตัวมาสอนขับรถ (มิน่าอยากสืบแท้) และมีเคสที่เจอเพิ่มอีกสองศพ ซึ่งฆาตกรอาจเป็นคนเดียวกัน เกิดเป็นคดีฆาตกรรมต่อเนื่อง สืบสาวราวเรื่องเบาะแสเริ่มชี้ไปที่โค้ดเนมของคนชื่อNARUซึ่งกลับเป็นน้องชายของโคฮารุ
น้องชายคือครอบครัวคนเดียวที่เธอเหลืออยู่ พอกลับไปบ้าน น้องชายหายตัวไป แต่ดันเจอเด็กผู้หญิงอีกคนที่บ้านแทน พวกเธอจึงออกตามหาไปยังที่ต่างเมือง มีทั้งคนรวมกลุ่มสร้างความวุ่นวายชุลมุนพัวพัน อีกทั้งยังเหตุระทึกรถซิ่งไล่ชนคนตาย แต่พวกเธอก็ต้องสืบต่อไปเพื่อจับตัวฆาตกรต่อเนื่องรายนี้ให้ได้
คอนเซปต์น่าสนใจในเซตติ้งและบรรยากาศอันตึงเครียดช่วงใกล้วันสิ้นโลก เขียนอธิบายเกี่ยวกับเหตุผลของอุกกาบาตได้ดี ผนวกกับการร่วมมือกันของตัวละครที่ดิ้นรน+ตามล่าหาความจริง เสียดสีสังคมปัญหากลั่นแกล้ง ตัวละครพัวพันมีความเชื่อมโยงให้ลุ้น อ่านแล้วติดพันจริง อยากรู้ว่าใครกันแน่ที่อยู่เบื้องหลังเหตุการณ์นี้
ภาพรวมเขียนได้น่าติดตามดี โลกแตก+ความสิ้นหวังของผู้คนคอนทราสกับการสืบหาความจริงอย่างไม่ลดละ แม้เหตุผลตรรกะจะประหลาดไปบ้างแต่ก็สมความสติแตกแบบญี่ปุ่น มีความเบียวน่าทำอนิเมะ (ที่ไม่ได้เหมาะกับเด็กนะ) ชอบซีนท้าย ๆ หลังปิดจบคลี่คลาย คงออกมาสวยคือซีนจบที่เหมาะกับเรื่องจริง ๆ
วรรคที่ชอบ
- การผดุงความยุติธรรมมากเกินไป จะพูดว่ายึดมั่นในความถูกต้องมากเกินไปก็ได้ ผมเป็นห่วงครับว่าสักวันการผดุงความยุติธรรมอาจทำลายพี่เขาเสียเอง
.
โลกกำลังจะถูกดาวเคราะห์2021NQ2พุ่งชนในอีก2เดือนข้างหน้า ประชากรบางส่วนก็เลิกทำกิจวัตร เลิกทำงาน บ้างอพยพ บ้างออกเดินทาง บางคนก็ปลิดชีพหนีการล่มสลาย แต่โคฮารุสาวน้อยผู้มีความตั้งใจว่าจะต้องไปเรียนขับรถให้ได้ ซึ่งก็ยังคงมีครูผู้หญิงที่ยังทำหน้าที่สอนขับรถนี้อยู่(มีคนเรียนก็คงสอน55)
ทั้งคู่สอนขับรถกันไป แต่พอเปิดฝาท้ายรถกลับพบศพที่ถูกแทงจนพรุน เหมือนถูกนำมายัดไว้ในท้ายรถ โดยคุณครูสอนขับรถสาวก็มุ่งมั่นมากที่จะไปสถานีตำรวจเพื่อแจ้งว่าเกิดคดีฆาตกรรม โคฮารุจังและคนอ่านเองก็สงสัยว่าเหตุใดต้องไปสืบหาความจริงอะไรกันอีก สถานีตำรวจยังมีคนทำงานสืบคดีอยู่งั้นหรือ
ยังมีตำรวจทำงานอยู่แถมยังพูดคุยกับครูสอนขับรถอย่างซี้ เพราะเธอเป็นอดีตตำรวจที่ผันตัวมาสอนขับรถ (มิน่าอยากสืบแท้) และมีเคสที่เจอเพิ่มอีกสองศพ ซึ่งฆาตกรอาจเป็นคนเดียวกัน เกิดเป็นคดีฆาตกรรมต่อเนื่อง สืบสาวราวเรื่องเบาะแสเริ่มชี้ไปที่โค้ดเนมของคนชื่อNARUซึ่งกลับเป็นน้องชายของโคฮารุ
น้องชายคือครอบครัวคนเดียวที่เธอเหลืออยู่ พอกลับไปบ้าน น้องชายหายตัวไป แต่ดันเจอเด็กผู้หญิงอีกคนที่บ้านแทน พวกเธอจึงออกตามหาไปยังที่ต่างเมือง มีทั้งคนรวมกลุ่มสร้างความวุ่นวายชุลมุนพัวพัน อีกทั้งยังเหตุระทึกรถซิ่งไล่ชนคนตาย แต่พวกเธอก็ต้องสืบต่อไปเพื่อจับตัวฆาตกรต่อเนื่องรายนี้ให้ได้
คอนเซปต์น่าสนใจในเซตติ้งและบรรยากาศอันตึงเครียดช่วงใกล้วันสิ้นโลก เขียนอธิบายเกี่ยวกับเหตุผลของอุกกาบาตได้ดี ผนวกกับการร่วมมือกันของตัวละครที่ดิ้นรน+ตามล่าหาความจริง เสียดสีสังคมปัญหากลั่นแกล้ง ตัวละครพัวพันมีความเชื่อมโยงให้ลุ้น อ่านแล้วติดพันจริง อยากรู้ว่าใครกันแน่ที่อยู่เบื้องหลังเหตุการณ์นี้
ภาพรวมเขียนได้น่าติดตามดี โลกแตก+ความสิ้นหวังของผู้คนคอนทราสกับการสืบหาความจริงอย่างไม่ลดละ แม้เหตุผลตรรกะจะประหลาดไปบ้างแต่ก็สมความสติแตกแบบญี่ปุ่น มีความเบียวน่าทำอนิเมะ (ที่ไม่ได้เหมาะกับเด็กนะ) ชอบซีนท้าย ๆ หลังปิดจบคลี่คลาย คงออกมาสวยคือซีนจบที่เหมาะกับเรื่องจริง ๆ
วรรคที่ชอบ
- การผดุงความยุติธรรมมากเกินไป จะพูดว่ายึดมั่นในความถูกต้องมากเกินไปก็ได้ ผมเป็นห่วงครับว่าสักวันการผดุงความยุติธรรมอาจทำลายพี่เขาเสียเอง
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
As much of a mystery freak as I am, I think the mystery aspect is the least notable thing about this book. Not that there's not some impressive deductions in the end, but the question of who was going around killing people when the world is just about to end didn't really matter that much for me. I was much more enthralled by the depiction of said world, and how people react and change to what will be their inevitable doom, be it engaging in the mundanities of life such as the protagonist trying to get her driver's license, or desperately trying to survive for as long as they can in any way possible. The characters were definitely the highlight of the book for me, my favourite is the detective-character Isagawa, the narrator's driving instructor, who is awesome lmao, and I really liked the interactions between her and the narrator Haru. There's some more people who join the party of investigators later, but to say too much about that would be spoilers, I think. But in short, very highly recommended.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Murder at the end of the world was unlike anything I’ve ever read. There’s an intriguing murder mystery for sure but what I loved most was the authors imagining of what the world might be like if an asteroid was slowly but surely hurtling towards earth. Some people are choosing to go into the woods to commit suicide rather than wait for the end, all the police have left because … why would they keep working and making phone calls has become almost impossible.
In this desolate environment, Haru has decided to get her driving license. Her driving instructor is a former police officer and when they find a body, turns out they are the only ones left to investigate.
This was such a unique mix of a mystery that really made me think about life. The translation was perfect and the story itself is beautifully written.
I picked this one up thinking it was a comedy and while there a light moments I wouldn’t call it that. It was a cool, weird lit surprise.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Murder at the end of the world was unlike anything I’ve ever read. There’s an intriguing murder mystery for sure but what I loved most was the authors imagining of what the world might be like if an asteroid was slowly but surely hurtling towards earth. Some people are choosing to go into the woods to commit suicide rather than wait for the end, all the police have left because … why would they keep working and making phone calls has become almost impossible.
In this desolate environment, Haru has decided to get her driving license. Her driving instructor is a former police officer and when they find a body, turns out they are the only ones left to investigate.
This was such a unique mix of a mystery that really made me think about life. The translation was perfect and the story itself is beautifully written.
I picked this one up thinking it was a comedy and while there a light moments I wouldn’t call it that. It was a cool, weird lit surprise.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Murder at the end of the world is a wonderfully translated work of Japanese fiction.
It tells the story of Haru, a young woman who decides to refresh her driving skills before an asteroid will hit the earth. However what she doesn’t plan for is the discovery of a murdered body.
This was a very intriguing story. Not only questioning what you would do if you know the world is coming to an end, but also how would you behave if you find a terrible crime has been committed, in what is now essentially a lawless society. Akane Araki explores this wonderfully in the characters we see throughout the novel.
I loved the translation by Jesse Kirkwood, the prose flows wonderfully.
Haru at times is a flawed character, which I did find frustrating, however it adds to the realism of her.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good murder mystery and also anyone who likes post apocalyptic stories, it blends the two themes together well.
It tells the story of Haru, a young woman who decides to refresh her driving skills before an asteroid will hit the earth. However what she doesn’t plan for is the discovery of a murdered body.
This was a very intriguing story. Not only questioning what you would do if you know the world is coming to an end, but also how would you behave if you find a terrible crime has been committed, in what is now essentially a lawless society. Akane Araki explores this wonderfully in the characters we see throughout the novel.
I loved the translation by Jesse Kirkwood, the prose flows wonderfully.
Haru at times is a flawed character, which I did find frustrating, however it adds to the realism of her.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good murder mystery and also anyone who likes post apocalyptic stories, it blends the two themes together well.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Just finished this one and am currently having mixed feelings. I LOVED the premise: the end of the world being in sight, the near apocalyptic setting, and the whole murder mystery both main characters are trying to solve, along with the characters they meet along the way.
This was super easy to get through. However, I'm not sure this stood out much from other books i've recently read. I also don't know if it's because it's translated fiction (which I do enjoy), but something about the writing and pace felt quite slow at times and I ended up feeling as though something was missing here for me.
Having said that, it's still a good read, and I enjoyed following both main characters on their mission to find the killer, as well as slowly puzzling everything together. If you're someone who likes slowburn translated fiction detective stories with a unique setting (aka the end of the world), then this it it.
This was super easy to get through. However, I'm not sure this stood out much from other books i've recently read. I also don't know if it's because it's translated fiction (which I do enjoy), but something about the writing and pace felt quite slow at times and I ended up feeling as though something was missing here for me.
Having said that, it's still a good read, and I enjoyed following both main characters on their mission to find the killer, as well as slowly puzzling everything together. If you're someone who likes slowburn translated fiction detective stories with a unique setting (aka the end of the world), then this it it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The apocalypse by asteroid is imminent. Most people have fled Japan in the hope of surviving elsewhere on Earth. Haru is one of the few people who have stayed. At 23 years old she still doesn't have her full driving license, so she does what nobody in this situation would do, she goes to driving school. One morning she and her driving instructor find a murder victim in the boot of the car and, since the local police force consists of only one person who is closing down the precinct, the two take it on themselves to solve the case.
I read an ARC of this book, so I hope the final novel comes with a huge content warning, because, due to the setting, there is a lot of suicide.
I especially liked the bleak setting of this dystopian murder mystery.
The translation is good, but some of the prose and a lot of the dialogue felt clunky to me. This might not be due to the translation though, but a 'feature' of the original work.
I read an ARC of this book, so I hope the final novel comes with a huge content warning, because, due to the setting, there is a lot of suicide.
I especially liked the bleak setting of this dystopian murder mystery.
The translation is good, but some of the prose and a lot of the dialogue felt clunky to me. This might not be due to the translation though, but a 'feature' of the original work.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was good. Different from other Japanese Lit. book I've read so far, I found the pace a bit quicker (not a problem, just an observation).
The plot was interesting as it had many twists and turns. Haru's character was very interesting, and it was fun to read how she developed throughout the book.
The book has some hard themes, so be mindful before picking it up.
It kind of reads like the characters are on an adventure but you know it's ending anyway (end of the world and all that).
Pick it up if you like:
- horror/suspense (not so much horror but some gore/blood)
- interesting cast of diverse characters
- dark & funny humor (it's the end of the world after all)
Thank you to Pushkin Press | Pushkin Vertigo via Netgalley for the eARC. This review is my own and I'm leaving it voluntarily.
The plot was interesting as it had many twists and turns. Haru's character was very interesting, and it was fun to read how she developed throughout the book.
The book has some hard themes, so be mindful before picking it up.
It kind of reads like the characters are on an adventure but you know it's ending anyway (end of the world and all that).
Pick it up if you like:
- horror/suspense (not so much horror but some gore/blood)
- interesting cast of diverse characters
- dark & funny humor (it's the end of the world after all)
Thank you to Pushkin Press | Pushkin Vertigo via Netgalley for the eARC. This review is my own and I'm leaving it voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
There have been several books published recently focusing on what happens in the last few months before an asteroid hits the Earth. While previously published in Japanese, Murder at the End of the World is now available in English, and is another addition to the books of life before an asteroid.
I think the mystery was well-constructed in this book, but I did feel like I was being told a lot of what was happening and what characters were feeling throughout the book, which made the pace feel a lot slower. The writing also felt a little formal in some places, but mostly the writing flowed smoothly throughout the book and helped progress the plot.
Rating: 3.25/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
I think the mystery was well-constructed in this book, but I did feel like I was being told a lot of what was happening and what characters were feeling throughout the book, which made the pace feel a lot slower. The writing also felt a little formal in some places, but mostly the writing flowed smoothly throughout the book and helped progress the plot.
Rating: 3.25/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This recently translated Japanese end of the world murder mystery was an enjoyable read. The story follows two main characters in the preceding time before the world will end: one a driving instructor and the other trying once again to pass her driver's license test. There's a beautiful mix of every day events and trying to hold on to humanity mixed with much larger events and concepts about people as as a whole. I cannot specify too much as it would give away a lot but overall I really enjoyed the cast of characters and the journey that they go on. The murder mystery is interesting and decent but I think the surrounding events were even more important and enjoyable.
3.75, rounded up.
Thank you to Steerforth & Pushkin, Akane Araki, and Netgalley for this eARC. The above contains my own honest thoughts and opinions.
3.75, rounded up.
Thank you to Steerforth & Pushkin, Akane Araki, and Netgalley for this eARC. The above contains my own honest thoughts and opinions.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
One of the better translated books I've read. The story is what you might expect out of a murder/mystery thriller. The main catch with this one being that the world is only 3 months away from being struck by a, more than likely, extinction-level asteroid. You'll find the first few chapters appropriately off-putting as the scene is set, and you feel like everyone's behaviors to what's going on around them is a little off. I believe that is intentional and every character motivation I tracked was explained or resolved by the end. There's something funny about vehemently investigating a murder while the world is ending that makes you think that every character you meet in this story is a little bit crazy, which isn't necessarily wrong. I thought this might lean a little more Science Fiction than it did, but that doesn't take away from it being a good book overall.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The world is ending yet Haru continues to attend driving lessons with her instructor Isagawa to maintain some sense of normalcy. When Haru and Isagawa discover the body of a dead woman in the trunk of one of the driving school’s cars, they feel compelled to investigate.
As an ex-detective, Isagawa is definitely driven by a strong sense of justice. But what drives Haru? Is she making a moral choice to tag along? Is she simply influenced by Isagawa? Is it because Haru has nothing left? Is this Haru’s last chance at an adventure?
Despite the bleak subject matter, I loved seeing the friendship develop between the two women navigating unprecedented times. Additionally, it was interesting to learn how the various characters coped with the impending apocalypse.
Intriguing, thought provoking, and poignant - 4⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Steerforth & Pushkin for the ARC!
As an ex-detective, Isagawa is definitely driven by a strong sense of justice. But what drives Haru? Is she making a moral choice to tag along? Is she simply influenced by Isagawa? Is it because Haru has nothing left? Is this Haru’s last chance at an adventure?
Despite the bleak subject matter, I loved seeing the friendship develop between the two women navigating unprecedented times. Additionally, it was interesting to learn how the various characters coped with the impending apocalypse.
Intriguing, thought provoking, and poignant - 4⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Steerforth & Pushkin for the ARC!
June 27, 2026
Murder At The End of The World is a captivating murder mystery debut from Arane Araki. I really liked the dark humour throughout from Isagawa and the friendship built between her and Haru was an interesting one. There was always that mystery surrounding Isagawa - Haru was rather trusting as she joined in with the adventure across an increasingly abandoned Japan.
This story raises many questions regarding what you’d do if you knew the end of the world was coming - but spending the time left on a road trip tracking down a murderer seemed like the obvious if not slightly strange solution
This story raises many questions regarding what you’d do if you knew the end of the world was coming - but spending the time left on a road trip tracking down a murderer seemed like the obvious if not slightly strange solution
April 7, 2025
世界が隕石によって終わろうとしている中で起きる殺人事件の話。
サバイバルもの+ディストピア+ミステリは結構楽しく読めるし、行った事はないが最近何かと縁のある福岡や大宰府が舞台なのも興味深い。
そして、人間がいなくなったあとの世界の描写が、まさにコロナ禍で人々が外に出られなかったころの町の描写のようで、懐かしく感じてしまった。(ちょうど書かれたのもコロナ禍かな。)
が、物語としてはストレートで、物語の終わり方も絶望/諦めの色が濃い。
勿論、ここで突然「宇宙に行ける船に拾ってもらう！」とか変にポジティブな終わり方じゃない方が、物語の〆としてはいいんだが、それにしても暗い気分になる。
また、ミステリと終末もの両方の要素があるので、それぞれの捻りが緩いなと感じた。
でも、「もし自分だったらどうするか」と考えながら読むのは面白かったし、あっという間に読み終えてしまうだけの面白さはあったのは、☆３つ。
サバイバルもの+ディストピア+ミステリは結構楽しく読めるし、行った事はないが最近何かと縁のある福岡や大宰府が舞台なのも興味深い。
そして、人間がいなくなったあとの世界の描写が、まさにコロナ禍で人々が外に出られなかったころの町の描写のようで、懐かしく感じてしまった。(ちょうど書かれたのもコロナ禍かな。)
が、物語としてはストレートで、物語の終わり方も絶望/諦めの色が濃い。
勿論、ここで突然「宇宙に行ける船に拾ってもらう！」とか変にポジティブな終わり方じゃない方が、物語の〆としてはいいんだが、それにしても暗い気分になる。
また、ミステリと終末もの両方の要素があるので、それぞれの捻りが緩いなと感じた。
でも、「もし自分だったらどうするか」と考えながら読むのは面白かったし、あっという間に読み終えてしまうだけの面白さはあったのは、☆３つ。
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and Akane Araki for the ARC.
It took me a few chapters to properly get interested in this, but after that I really enjoyed it.
I loved the setting, and I loved the idea of solving a murder whilst waiting for the end of the world. After those first few chapters, I flew through it. The pacing was good, the mystery was interesting and it was full of lively characters.
I'd definitely read more by this author in future!
It took me a few chapters to properly get interested in this, but after that I really enjoyed it.
I loved the setting, and I loved the idea of solving a murder whilst waiting for the end of the world. After those first few chapters, I flew through it. The pacing was good, the mystery was interesting and it was full of lively characters.
I'd definitely read more by this author in future!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Excellent dystopian murder mystery. Just when I thought I had it solved, nope. Starting out with the world ending was a wild trip. I really enjoyed this short read. Both Haru and Isagawa are wonderfully written characters and I could easily see this story brought to the screen with all the thrilling twists and turns! Thank-you, Steerforth & Pushkin, for this complimentary copy. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
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