Not your regular mystery

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. Original plot, vivid characters, perfect performance

Have you listened to any of Peter Berkrot’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes. This one is as good as any other

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No

Any additional comments?

The Last Policeman is a great murder / mystery story, written with talent by Ben H. Winters and delivered in a perfect performance by Peter Berkrot.

The story follows young Police Detective Hank Palace as he tries to do his job while the Earth is on the brink of destruction. He is called on the scene of an apparent suicide, but his gut says he has to look at it as a potential murder… For the duration of the case, we see Detective Palace fighting not to lose his mind and his purpose, and trying to make sense of the morals system of a society that has nothing to lose as an event of catastrophic proportions is just 6 months away…

Although the story picks up a little slow, I enjoyed the book very much. The backdrop of impending doom is very well thought and written by Mr. winters and the fact that the plot was a strong one, as we meet a set of unique characters that have helped a lot, creating a very immersive experience for the reader.

Detective Hank Palace is The Last Policeman because he is the only one who still cares about what’s right in a pre-apocalyptic United States. He will tell you a story and it is not a regular mystery…

The audiobook version of The Last Policeman is read by Peter Berkrot. He hightens the level of immersion created by the author, delivering a stunning performance. Mr. Berkrot reminds me of a younger Richard Ferrone and I consider this a very good thing since Richard is an award-winning narrator. Peter brings all the characters to life with different voices, making it very easy for the listener to keep each one easily differentiated in his mind. When he is not acting, he reads in calm and steady voice… I consider Peter Berkrot to be the perfect choice for this book and I hope that, one day, he will scare us half to death with a book by Stephen King.

I will listen to the two remaining books in this trilogy, as I understand that all of them are great, and since I enjoyed both the author and the narrator so much, I’m sure that it will be time well spent…

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39 people found this helpful

Its The End of the World As We Know It

I had The Last Policeman by Ben H Winters on my wish list since it was released a couple of years back. It combines a genre I love (apocalyptic) and an interesting idea. If you knew the world was going to end what would you do? So I finally took the plunge and recently read The Last Policeman and enjoyed it.

The Last Policeman follows Hank Palace and his journey as a detective as the world approaches an impending doom. My biggest issue with the book was that it lacked character development. We learn very little about Hank, his family, friends, or even his co-workers. The book jumps straight into a murder investigation and uses the impending astroid to change the typical crime solving formula up a bit. Its an interesting twist but could have used a couple hundred more pages to understand how the world has changed because of the impending asteroid and more insight into the characters. Instead The Last Policeman is a very enjoyable quick read thats an interesting concept not fully realized.

I sure hope the second book elaborates more on how the world is handling the upcoming disaster because to me that's what makes this series unique and interesting.

21 people found this helpful

Clear-eyed, rousing, and poignant

Where does The Last Policeman rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the better audiobooks. On a scale of 1 to 10, definitely a 9+

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Last Policeman?

The initial discovery of the body.

What about Peter Berkrot’s performance did you like?

Easily differentiated between characters. Nice variation without being shrill.

Any additional comments?

Apparently this is the first book in a trilogy. I'll definitely be buying the 2nd & 3rd books! I want to hear what happens to these characters.

9 people found this helpful

Apocalypse Noir

I found The Last Policeman a very engaging listen. It's not your everyday story of the approaching apocalypse, but it is a gripping and realistic one told through a single and rather poignant voice.

Detective Hank Palace leads us through a seemingly pointless murder investigation. After all, who cares how someone died when the world is about to end? But in the process of discovering the truth behind the sad end of mathematically gifted insurance adjuster, we are faced with the question of who we are, and what our life is worth when there is no legacy to leave behind and no one to leave it behind to.

I wish I could have given this a 4.5, because it really is a wonderful novel. But there were some places where the story lagged a little. Nonetheless, don't let it put you off. Great tale.

29 people found this helpful

There was trepidation ...

Would you listen to The Last Policeman again? Why?

yes, it was an engaging listen.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Naomi, she broke my heart and we never even heard her whole story. And we didn't need to.

Which character ??? as performed by Peter Berkrot ??? was your favorite?

Detective Culver

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I cried ... don't want to spoil it.

Any additional comments?

I will be honest, I was hesitant to read this book. I have read so many Pre-Apocalypse books over the years that I was sure this was just another cookie cutter of a novel. But I figured it would kill some time and maybe be a little entertaining.

I am so happy I was wrong.

This book is truly just a wonderfully engaging, and heart breaking, murder mystery with the impending apocalypse used as a backdrop that does not overwhelm the story or the characters. But it is a backdrop of rich flavor and intensity, the author gives you a true feeling and perspective of what the nation at large is going through without ever really leaving the stories little corner of the continent.

38 people found this helpful

Bearable....

What did you like best about The Last Policeman? What did you like least?

The premise was excellent, so my expectations were high. Unfortunately, it missed the mark and I'm not sure I'll listen to the next book.

If you???ve listened to books by Ben H. Winters before, how does this one compare?

First book by this author.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The performance was delivered in a sort of sarcastic manner and tone, which made the story seem juvenile, somehow. The narrator made the protagonist seem self loathing, rather than just troubled.

Was The Last Policeman worth the listening time?

I found myself bored and distracted through this audiobook. I really wanted to like this book, perhaps with a different narrator it could have had a different feel. The dialogue was also a bit stiff, the protagonist switching between four letter words and expressions like "holey moley!" was grating and felt really forced. Again, this could have been the narrator's inflection.

17 people found this helpful

Gripping, Realistic, Moving and Entertaining!

As a police sergeant in a suburb of a large city, I approached this book like I find myself with most murder mysteries, quite tentative but hoping for a complicated, clever storyline with good character development. This read easily met those criteria but really hit home with a well done pre-apocalyptic setting.

The Last Policeman is written from the perspective of a very realistic main character, Detective Hank Palace, a “down to earth” police officer who still cares to do an already thankless job in the worst of times.

The author did an excellent job of adjusting the readers mindset to new and different types of motives, drives, ways of being and thought processes which had an effect on, not only each character within the story, but all of society. The setting of “impending doom” was only a backdrop to the overall story and, refreshingly, never took off as the actual problem to solve. Interpersonal and work relationships were very entertaining and emotionally engaging as well.

The audio quality was good and the narration was done well.

33 people found this helpful

Meh - writing and narration only fair

I had hopes for this interesting premise -- why do your job if the world will end soon -- but the reality was sadly short of the mark. I'm not sure whether this would be better in print, so as to avoid the juvenile-sounding characterization with a bad New England accent, or whether the writing itself is weak and uninspiring, so the book would still be 2 stars even without the narration.

The title character is trying to do his job as a new Detective in the Concord Police Department and refuses to write off an apparent suicide, believing it was murder. He enlists the begrudged help of the medical examiner and other police detectives in a 'round about route of following false leads and stumbling upon the likely answer, finally getting his man only to discover the CPD was dissolved while he was running about the city, and now he's out of a job. That, as well as the "B-side" story of about his sister's belief in a safe-house being kept secret by the US government, is all really set up for the future books in the trilogy.....which is a manipulative tactic that I hate. I'd be willing to live with that manipulation if the product (book or movie) is really top quality, but this really isn't.

The narrator uses a weak and inconsistent New England accent, has poor differentiation between characters (including the gender of characters), and makes Henry Palace sound like an idiotic kid. Maybe the writer meant to make him sound like an idiotic kid, but the narration certainly only detracted from the story, rather than adding to the experience.

6 people found this helpful

A Unique Twist on Mystery

A well-written mystery with a noir feel and an end-of-the-world twist. I had heard a lot about this book and I think it lives up to the hype -- the apocalyptic scenario adds a depth that you don't normally get in this genre, and, I suspect, is going to provide an over-arching mystery to the series. I plan to read more!

6 people found this helpful

Interesting but...

The premise is fascinating and the main character interesting and solidly constructed, but the story began to drag. The narration is generally good but I am left wondering why a character so profoundly a product of his New England origins speaks with a southern accent. I think I will read rather than listen to the next two books planned for this trilogy.

12 people found this helpful