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What an incredible book! It’s very well written by an author who managed to create here a story that is as multi-layered as an very expensive wedding cake. Alas, no weddings on the island though.
We find ourselves in the middle of a group of happily living Villagers, who are led by three Elders. The Villagers love the elders, they almost worship them, were it not for the fact that there is no religion anymore since the world was swallowed by the black fog and the insects. The Villagers are a happy group, satisfied with a live of service to the Elders and the whole community. They never ask themselves why they are on the island; after all, they do know that they are living in old military barracks, and that beneath their feet is Blackheath, a giant research centre that is now sealed off after the fog threatened to swallow it an all scientists in it. Only three of them managed to escape and they took the role of Elders.

The Villagers work all day in the fields and every evening they all share an evening meal. There is lots of laughter and happiness; there is a little school for the younger children and Thea, one of the Elders, takes new apprentices every year to teach them science and help by maintaining the salvaged machinery.

Strange? No, this is only the start of all that is about to be revealed. One morning after a joyous evening full of music and laughter, Niema is found dead. And since Abi, the AI that speaks with all Villagers through their mind wiped their memory, who will be able to solve the crime? They don’t even know what a crime is � that’s all left behind. They never argue, they never fight. But now, as Emory is trying to solve the murder before the fog reaches the island, she and the other Villagers have to learn certain things about how humans lived before the disaster. Things they won’t like�
What is not to like? It’s Science Fiction, it’s Dystopian, it has an old fashioned crime in it and there are very interesting characters, lots of secrets and even more surprises. I just loved the way we readers have to really think about all that is happening and personally, I never did see the end coming. There is a lot to learn in this book about the human psyche and what makes us ticking and what not. I wish I could find more words to describe how good this book is.

Most of the secrets are revealed during the building up of the plot, which is very good because there are secrets behind secrets and with each layer of the story more secrets and surprises are revealed. This way we get to know the characters better with each page and the reader is drawn into the story even further.

Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing and Netgalley for this review copy.