Ben H. Winters

A conclusion to the series that began with the Edgar Award-winning The Last Policeman finds Detective Hank Palace holing up with his former associates in a safe house waiting for the doomsday asteroid only to confront astounding revelations. Original.

World of Trouble

Shona Tiger

Really just glad to know the ending. Was holding my breath. Great series.

Dave | Storyphoria

The full review will be up on http://aicstories.com shortly, however here are a few highlights from that full review. 

The chaotic feeling of the apocalypse upon us, the frantic pace of the mystery, the revealing of Henry's true character... these are all fantastically done. Seeing the true darkness that overwhelms most of humanity as the asteroid impact approaches was balanced really well with the small handful of people that shined as beacons of hope, well not really hope, more of just a feeling of goodness and kindness in people. 

As a stand-alone book, World of Trouble was a super fun romp through a world evolving to a wasteland. 

However, as with the first two books in the series, I just didn't LOVE the actual endings. They felt clipped and abrupt... almost fizzling out with a whimper versus an explosion that left me thinking about the book well after I finished it. 

I think that is largely why these books feel, to me, like fun and enjoyable reads that aren't in my list of "best books I've ever read". 

World of Trouble however, was my favorite in this trilogy and was much more enjoyable than the first two books in the series. 

Enjoyable yes. Memorable. Sadly... no.

Janice Hopper

Wow. This was a really good finish to this series. And by "good", I mean "satisfying" rather than happy.

It's really a mystery series, but that's fine. Well done, grim, and satisfying. This one will haunt me for a long time.

Ben Nathan

A quality end to a series I found intriguing the whole way through. The ending was done in just about the only way that could possibly have been calm. I enjoyed the mystery, bit of action, and all the interactions.

Bryan Alexander

So this is the book that ends the Last Policeman series. I think it does a fine job as a concluding volume.

If you haven't read the series - stop reading this right now! Go look at the first book, simply titled The Last Policeman (my review).

If you have read this, know that World of Trouble repeats the previous two books' plot structure. Henry Palace investigates a mystery, while the world proceeds towards extinction. 

The mystery is well structured. As with the previous books, and with many good mysteries, the clues appear early on, and we get to enjoy the detective assembling them. The details of cultural decline are excellent: very human, very material. 

This volume differs from its predecessors in a few ways. The locale has shifted from New Hampshire to Ohio. The mystery concerns not a stranger but Palace's sister. And there's no room for a sequel.

I can't proceed without spoilers, so here you go. (view spoiler)[The conclusion moved me deeply. I wasn't expecting Nico to be killed, and for no real justice to be meted out. I didn't think there would actually be an anti-asteroid strategy, and thought the con artist scheme quite realistic. The Amish community surprised me as a plot development, and worked well as the finale's setting. Ah, so many sweet touches: the dog's return, the family's hospitality, and holding the girl as the end is about to occur. Overall, a good mix of brutality and kindness for the onset of doom.

I found myself expecting more about the asteroid, such as visuals (I don't think Palace ever spotted it) or some early details about the impact. Like any good child of the Cold War, I hanker for the vivid apocalypse.

One possible reference: the last page recalled for me a scene from Conan Doyle's underrated end of the world novel, The Poison Belt (Gutenberg copy). There, too, the focal group sits down before a big window, conscious of doom, ready to watch it approach. I don't know if Winters had this in mind. (hide spoiler)]

Overall, I deem World of Trouble essential for readers of the trilogy.

World of Trouble

Reviews