Regardless of how you came by this book, it will not be what you think it is. Whatever you think it will be, you’d be wrong. And that’s what makes it magic.

Despite the title it’s not a murder mystery that takes center stage in this book. Stuart Turton paints such a vivid world, you’re almost halfway through the book before you realize that you don’t even really care about the murder. Every thing is happening at once and backwards, and it’s wonderful. It does have a murder. It has sci-fi. It has a dystopian future. And to be honest, all of those take a backseat to the real focal point of the novel. Which I won’t reveal as a spoiler. If you’re comfortable reaching outside of a typical genre, then I’d highly recommend this book. Especially the afterword. 

Phenomenal. Weird. Thought-provoking. And most of all, beautiful.