The Last Policeman
By Ben H. Winters
All is not as it appears, right from the start of this
novel. It looks like a suicide, and yet
rookie detective Hank Palace isn’t sure of that. Still, he wonders what the point is to
investigate further. It’s only a feeling
he has that it could be murder, and what will it matter when the world is
certain to end in six months. That’s
right, the major twist in this novel is asteroid 2011GV which is on a direct heading
to earth, and nothing will stop it. The science is undeniable. The end of the world has been announced. The only questions left are the date and the precise
location.
Life on earth has changed with this asteroid news. People, including other police officers, are
walking off their jobs to pursue their bucket lists and other end of world desperate
pursuits. Is there any reason now for
Detective Palace to investigate what by all accounts appears to be suicide? With the end of the world a certainty, suicide
has become sadly epidemic. Is it really
so hard to believe this one? No one else
seems to care, including the dead man’s family. Is perseverance in this world to do the right
thing, despite circumstances, part of human nature? How important is one man’s death?
It’s a fascinating character study to see questions of
motive in this new light, with the asteroid approaching. The end of the world changes everything from
a law enforcement perspective. The dead
man worked in the insurance industry, which is affected in its own way by the
world news. Is there motive there for
murder? Or motive for suicide? When the detective notifies the man’s family,
curious dynamics ensue.
Hank Palace is struggling with his own personal and family issues
throughout this novel as well, which brings another dimension to his job and to
the chaos around him. This novel
combines the best of detective investigation with philosophical debate and
science fiction.
Ben H. Winters
is the author of eight novels, including most recently World
of Trouble (Quirk), the concluding book in The Last Policeman trilogy.
The Last Policeman was the recipient of the 2012 Edgar Award,
and it was also named one of the Best Books of 2012 by Amazon.com and
Slate. As I read, I was working
side by side with Detective Palace to uncover clues, follow leads, and to seek
meaning in a human life.
Thereby hangs a
tale . . . .
