The Last Policeman iPhone screenshot
The creative and talented Ben H. Winters is the author of a July 2012 novel titled The Last Policeman. The unabridged audiobook is narrated by Peter Berkrot for Brillance Audio. It is a little over 8 hours of listening time. The story is a contemporary science fiction homicide mystery set in Concord, New Hampshire.
The novel contains some sexuality, swearing, and violence. It is suitable for mid-teens to adult. Peter Berkrot's reading of the book is expressive as he voices all the story's characters. The writing is detailed, sometimes humorous, and realistic. The main character, who has only been a police officer for about two years, is noted for his sense of duty and devotion to his work.
This is expected to be the first in a trilogy.
The Storyline
The world's expert scientists have discovered and monitored a 6.5-kilometer wide asteroid (like the one that destroyed the dinosaurs) that is on a collision trajectory with the Earth. Inside of about six months, it has been calculated to a certainty that the collision will happen. However, it's not known just yet where on Earth the impact will occur.
It's because of this situation that the U.S. has passed the IPSS Act (Impact Preparation, Security, and Stabilization), which is now in effect. Also, marijuana has been decriminalized to offset the use of harder drugs. And it is now illegal to manufacture, purchase, or sell firearms in the United States of America as the world spins towards its imminent demise. The resulting understandably chilling, frenetic, yet deeply despaired, state of humanity is the backdrop for a current Concord Police Department homicide investigation.
Det. Henry Palace is called to a crime scene in the restroom at a local McDonald's nonfranchise. He begins to investigate a "hanger," a suicide by hanging. Supposedly, it's just another run of the mill suicide that is occurring because of the impending collision with asteroid Maia. Concord has come to be known as Hangertown, after all. Lots of people are either committing suicide, living out their fantasies, or completing their bucket lists, since they are definitely going to die one way or another right after the impact occurs.
But something is telling Hank that the victim, an employed insurance actuary, was instead the victim of murder, which was staged to look like a suicide. Everyone else believes otherwise and right now he has no evidence to prove it. So Palace has to hunker down, keep his head in the case, and follow the facts wherever they lead. He intends to do just that, come hell or high water. Or colliding asteroid.
Find The Book
The audiobook version of The Last Policeman can be found on Audible.com for purchase or credits. It can be rented on CD from SimplyAudioBooks.com. To find it at a local library, use WorldCat.org or OverDrive.com with your ZIP code.