The Last Policeman [Paperback]

A promising kickoff to a planned trilogy. For Winters, the beauty is in the details rather than the plot's grim main thrust --Kirkus Reviews; STARRED review--Absolutely outstanding...this gets the higest recommendation I can give. Buy it. --Classic Mystery, June, 2012---Normally, only Stephen King and Dean Koontz can suck me into a book and not release their stranglehold until I, exhausted from lack of sleep, have turned the last page. Now [Ben Winters] has joined their ranks... The Last Policeman is extraordinary as well as brilliant, surprising, and, considering the circumstances, oddly uplifting --Mystery Scene magazine, July, 2012----set in a world not too different from our own, with one major difference. A 6.5 km asteroid is on a collision course with Earth, and within six months the vast majority of life on the planet will be wiped out, with the few human souls that survive the coming apocalypse living in permanent winter where the light of the sun will not penetrate the layers of debris thrown into the atmosphere by the impact. The infrastructure that so many of us rely on is, slowly but surely, breaking down. People are quitting their jobs to spend time with their families, or to fill their last days with their 'bucket list' fantasies. Fuel and food are scarce. The electricity supply and mobile reception are sporadic, and getting worse as more people abandon their jobs and repairs to these core services are ignored. Suicide is so frequent that the police no longer bother investigating them. Against this background, we are introduced to Detective Hank Palace. Hank has only been in the job for a few months, the resulting promotion because of an older colleague quitting to become a 'bucket lister'. When Hank is called to a probable suicide in the toilet of a McDonalds, it seems like an open and shut case. But something about the case does not sit well with Hank. He thinks that a murder has been committed and spends the book struggling against a tide of apathy to try and prove that his instincts were right. The Last Policeman is a fascinating novel. I honestly can't ever remember reading a book that dealt with the way that society falls apart in the face of impending apocalypse before, and it makes for a very compelling read. The characters are all well drawn, and the sense of defeat for almost every person in this world, as they wait for their inevitable demise is a palatable force that drives the narrative along. While the main plot of the book is fairly standard police procedural fare, the descriptions of society in terminal decline are absolutely riveting. This novel is apparently the first of a trilogy, and in truth, I really cannot wait for the next instalment. --Starburst Magazine, August, 2012-----This book may win the prize for the most intriguing premise of the year. If you knew that the world was going to end would you keep on doing the job that you do now? ........ Winters plays with the readers expectations and I ll admit there were a couple of moments that managed to catch me completely off guard. The thing to remember is that normal rules no longer apply, and character motivations are entirely different from what you would expect in a standard murder mystery. The good news is that there are another two novels set to follow on from The Last Policeman. One set three months before the asteroid is due to hit and one set in Earth s final month. I have to admit that I am already insanely curious about what is going to happen. .....Winters has left just enough loose ends in the plot to keep this reader interested. He has crafted a story that manages to avoid being entirely downbeat or pessimistic and instead offers just the smallest glimmer of hope. I have to admit that I kind of liked that. I ll be checking these out as soon as I can get my hands on them...... --The Eloquent Page, Sept, 2012

spinetingelingly brilliant.... --Readitdaddy, Feb, 2013--- The Last Policeman takes its high-concept premise and runs with it until it s breathless. It s part detective story, part mystery thriller, part science fiction tragedy, with more than a hint of romance, a sprinkle of dark comedy and a dash of investigative noir. The ticking clock of the rapidly approaching asteroid 2011GV1 and its effect on the world serve as a backdrop rather than the focus as with all good science fiction, The Last Policeman uses its basic premise to scratch at much more difficult questions beneath the surface. This is a genuinely engaging mystery novel that boldly asks us to consider what life is worth, and what truly defines us as individuals. The first in a planned trilogy, The Last Policeman not only presents a brilliant premise it executes it to perfection, remaining able to surprise and delight until the very last page. Undoubtedly one of 2012 s greatest works of literary fiction, riding shotgun in Henry Palace s department-issued Chevrolet Impala is a ride well worth taking --alternative magazine online, 2012 -- plotting is sure-footed and surprising...Ben H Winters reveals himself as a novelist with an eye for the well-drawn detail, Slate, 2012 -- sets a despondent detective on a suspicious case - while an asteroid hurtles towards earth, Wired, 2012-- I love this book. I stayed up untill seven in the morning reading because I could not stop. Full of compelling twists, likable characters, and a sad beauty...is a gem--San Francisco Chronicle, 2012-- explores human emotions and relationships through situations that would be impossible (or, worse yet, metaphorical) in literary fiction. This is a book that asks big questions about civilisation, community, desperation, and hope. But it doesn't provide big, pat answers--io9, 2012-- A solidy plotted whodunnit with strong characters and excellent dialogue...the impending apocalypse isn't merely window dressing, either: it's a key piece of the puzzle Hank is trying to solve. This memorable tale is the first of a planned trilogy -- --Booklist, 2012

This thought-provoking mystery should appeal to crime fiction afficianados who like an unusual setting and readers looking for a fresh take on apocalypse stories -- Library Journal, 2012-- ...spins a wonderful tale while creating unique characters that fit in perfectly with the ever-changing societal pressures...will have readers eagerly awaiting the second installment--New --New York Review of Books, 2012--

BEN H. WINTERS is a New York Times bestselling author and an Edgar Award nominee. His novels include SENSE AND SENSIBILITY AND SEA MONSTERS (Quirk 2009; 10+ weeks on the NYT list), the Edgar-Award nominated YA novel THE SECRET LIFE OF MS. FINKLEMAN (HarperCollins 2009) and most recently BEDBUGS (Quirk, 2011), which was hailed by VANITY FAIR as a diabolical tale of paranoia. Ben lives in Cambridge with his wife and three children.