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The Last Policeman Audiobook
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(3.01) - 2,703 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
What’s the point in solving murders if we’re all going to die soon, anyway? Detective Hank Palace has faced this question ever since asteroid 2011GV1 hovered into view. There’s no chance left. No hope. Just six precious months until impact. The Last Policeman presents a fascinating portrait of a pre-apocalyptic United States. The economy spirals downward while crops rot in the fields. Churches and synagogues are packed. People all over the world are walking off the job — but not Hank Palace. He’s investigating a death by hanging in a city that sees a dozen suicides every week — except this one feels suspicious, and Palace is the only cop who cares. What’s the point in solving murders if we’re all going to die soon, anyway? The first in a trilogy, The Last Policeman offers a mystery set on the brink of an apocalypse. As Palace’s investigation plays out under the shadow of 2011GV1, we’re confronted by hard questions way beyond “whodunit.” What basis does civilization rest upon? What is life worth? What would any of us do, what would we really do, if our days were numbered?
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"finished The Last Policeman: A Novel by Ben H. Winters and gave it 5 stars. What a great concept--but better yet, the writing is more than acceptable, at times it approaches brilliance. The characters are drawn by events and actions, not just words. Not the usual typenof writing one would expect from the typical books of this genre i absolutely want the next book right now!"
— Becky (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Fascinating.”
— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, athlete and New York Times bestselling author -
“Sharp, funny, and deeply wise.”
— Slate -
“Full of compelling twists, likable characters, and a sad beauty, The Last Policeman is a gem.”
— San Francisco Book Review -
“Ben Winters vividly describes the decline of civilization in this pre-apocalyptic story, and spins a wonderful tale… It is a well-written mystery that will have readers eagerly awaiting the second installment.”
— New York Journal of Books -
“The Last Policeman succeeds both as a mystery, with a quirky detective and an intriguing whodunit, and as a piece of apocalyptic speculative fiction.”
— Sacramento News & Review -
“Last Policeman is extraordinary—as well as brilliant, surprising, and, considering the circumstances, oddly uplifting.”
— Mystery Scene -
“Winters makes noir mystery even darker.”
— Wired -
“For Winters, the beauty is in the details rather than the plot’s grim main thrust.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review) -
“Winters excels at dealing with people’s reactions and attitudes in this doomsday scenario.”
— RT Book Reviews -
“A solidly plotted whodunit with strong characters and excellent dialogue.”
— Booklist -
“This thought-provoking mystery should appeal to crime fiction aficionados who like an unusual setting and readers looking for a fresh take on apocalypse stories.”
— Library Journal
Awards
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Winner of the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Paperback Original
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A 2013 Macavity Award Nominee for Best Mystery Novel
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A July Indie Next List Pick
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An Amazon Editor’s Top Pick
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Slate Magazine Pick
The Last Policeman Listener Reviews
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" I ennjoyed the book. written from an interesting point in time "
— Jane, 2/18/2014 -
" Great concept, gripping plot, terrific prose. I can't wait for the sequel! "
— Ellen, 2/14/2014 -
" A mediocre murder mystery set in a pre-apocalyptic world that is far too interesting to be just a backdrop. "
— Thornthawat, 2/9/2014 -
" I liked the story and the main character very much. I will be buying the series to read. The book had just enough of everything - suspense, science, mystery, well-formed characters, just enough back story and a hint of what might come in books ahead. "
— Juanita, 1/30/2014 -
" Great read!Couldn't put it down! Have to try his other books. "
— Maggie, 1/29/2014 -
" What would you do if you knew the world was to end? Police Detective Hank Palace operates in a pre-apocalyptic U.S. attempting to solve a murder while the world prepares for the end. "
— Celticann, 1/26/2014 -
" Loved the concept of a world (ours) on the brink of destruction, and how society is slowly crumbling. It makes for a unique backdrop to the standard murder mystery - wish I'd thought of it. "
— Glenn, 1/13/2014 -
" Couldn't put this one down. A great mystery and a great pre-apocalypse story. It got me interested in how pre-apocalpyse economies would work. What kept it from making all five stars was the inherent depressingness of the subject and that it's the first in a trilogy. A trilogy? Really? "
— Bobby, 12/21/2013 -
" Interesting scenario but it didn't quite work for me. I enjoyed the book and I will look for any sequels but it wasn't one of the best I've read. "
— Denis, 11/29/2013 -
" It would of gotten four stars but the ending... OH THE ENDING! In the simplest of words it just sucked! Henry Palace was a great character, even in the face of certain doom he did his job and he did it well! Other then the ending the book was a pretty good read. "
— Rich, 11/16/2013 -
" I read that this is book one of a trilogy. I will probably continue reading if that is true to see where the story goes. "
— Robert, 5/5/2013 -
" great book. at the same time the story compelled me to turn pages, it also made me want to slow down to think more deeply about all the powerful issues it raises, everything from the drug war to the meaning of life. "
— James, 3/13/2013 -
" I really liked the tone of this book and the attitude of the main guy. Good Read. "
— Cp, 3/11/2013 -
" I absolutely loved this little book. Found it completely engrossing, believable and the mystery a mystery until the end. I don't know if he has any more up his sleeve until the "end" but if he does, I will read them. "
— Jackie, 2/12/2013 -
" Sort of weird book. The world is going to end and everyone is committing suicide. In the middle of that there are still murders to solve. What would we all do in this scenario? "
— Sandy, 10/28/2012 -
" I'm not built for mystery novels. All the "he was sitting for a second and then BAM it came to him!" stuff. I dunno, it's not my thing. I'm much more interested in the asteroid coming to destroy earth in this novel than I am in the murder investigation. "
— Zach, 7/23/2012
About Ben H. Winters
Ben H. Winters is the author of World of Trouble, the concluding book in the Last Policeman trilogy. The second book, Countdown City, was an NPR Best Book of 2013 and the winner of the Philip K. Dick Award for Distinguished Science Fiction. The Last Policeman was the recipient of the 2012 Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America.
About Peter Berkrot
Peter Berkrot, winner of Audie and Earphones Awards for narration, is a stage, screen, and television actor and acting coach. He has narrated over 450 works that span a range of genres, including fiction, nonfiction, thriller, and children’s titles. His audiobook credits include works of Alan Glynn, Eric Van Lustbader, Nora Roberts and Dean Koontz. In film and television, he appeared in Caddyshack, America’s Most Wanted, and Unsolved Mysteries. He performs in regional and New York theaters and directs the New Voices acting school.