In six months a huge asteroid and the earth will collide. Any human w
ho survives the impact can expect to die a miserable death within months. Detective Hank Palace is in the men’s room of a rundown McDonalds with a dead body. He thinks murder has been committed but, the other, more experienced police officers with him think the nondescript dead man in the stall hanged himself. They also think the answer hardly matters. After all, they will all be dead in a few months.
This is the premise of The Last Policeman from Quirk Books. The end of the world has been popular in science fiction but this novel is a very different approach to the oft used plot device. Written by Ben H. Winters, The Last Policeman asks the question, “When the end of the world is near does the death of one man even matter?”
I read little fiction but, this mystery kept my attention. I finished it the day after I started it. Ben H. Winters’ book is an easy read. His characters, ordinary people trapped in an impossible situation, were the best part of the book for me. What would you do if you knew you and every person you care about would be dead in a few months? Would you keep right on doing your job like Detective Hank Palace?
The Last Policeman, according to the back cover of the copy I read, is the first of a trilogy. The subplot that allows the story to be continued makes the book longer than it should be but, not to the point of being annoying. I recommend this book.
The Last Policeman is 288 pages and retails for $14.95 (paperback) and $8.52 (Kindle) from Quirk Books. The second book in the planned trilogy has not been announced but we will let you know once a release date is set.
Be sure to pick up your copy of The Last Policeman wherever you get your books from.
-Mike Biller
Mike Biller is a Marine, a teacher and a proud parent. He is currently retired from all but being a parent. Mike spends his time hiking, riding his motorcycle, perfecting his drawing skill and appreciating the beauty of nature.
Mike spends the winter months traveling the country solving crimes with his lovely wife, Pam and their cat Witt.
