• World of Trouble

  • The Last Policeman, Book 3
  • By: Ben H. Winters
  • Narrated by: Peter Berkrot
  • Length: 8 hrs and 10 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (575 ratings)

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World of Trouble  By  cover art

World of Trouble

By: Ben H. Winters
Narrated by: Peter Berkrot
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Publisher's summary

“A genre-defying blend of crime writing and science fiction.”—Alexandra Alter, The New York Times

The explosive final installment in the Edgar® Award winning Last Policeman series.

With the doomsday asteroid looming, Detective Hank Palace has found sanctuary in the woods of New England, secure in a well-stocked safe house with other onetime members of the Concord police force. But with time ticking away before the asteroid makes landfall, Hank’s safety is only relative, and his only relative—his sister Nico—isn’t safe. Soon, it’s clear that there’s more than one earth-shattering revelation on the horizon, and it’s up to Hank to solve the puzzle before time runs out...for everyone.

©2014 Ben H. Winters (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

What listeners say about World of Trouble

Average customer ratings
Overall
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Best one!

I've read (listened to) all three books. The writing and vision have gotten better with each book. All thought the idea of a mystery set during the end of days sounds silly, you really come to understand that for Detective Palace solving mysteries is what's keeping him from going "bucket list." I found this story especially heartbreaking and original. I'd highly recommend this book.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The Last Policeman series surprises yet again!

If you could sum up World of Trouble in three words, what would they be?

Clarifying, thoughtful, powerful.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The Last Policeman is ont of my favourite Audible characters, and he doesn't dissappoint here. Self aware, honest, principle driven. A memorable fictional character.

What about Peter Berkrot’s performance did you like?

He owns this series. All of it.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The last sections are amazing, clarifying the series.

Any additional comments?

So much to say, so little time and room. All I can say is, if you have tracked this series, this makes it even more worthwhile. Highly recommended.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

I love this trilogy...I really do

All good things must come to an end. If you are looking at reviews to decide whether to venture into this trilogy, do yourself a favour. Get it now.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Satisfying Ending, But Takes Goodwill to Get There

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

If you listened to/read The Last Policeman and Countdown City, and enjoyed them, you will be glad to read the last part of the trilogy. it is a satisfying resolution of the threads that Ben Winters spun in the first two instalments.

Would you recommend World of Trouble to your friends? Why or why not?

But as a stand-alone book, it is pale. The story draws down on the goodwill that the first two novels established. The charming quixotic-ism of those stories becomes a bit strained here. Henry Palace gets just a bit too weird, unless you have already come to love him.

Which scene was your favorite?

The last one, which I will not spoil by describing.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

As the great mystery begins to be resolved and Henry's quest draws to an end, it actually pulls you into his world, which is about to end. It is a sad book.

Any additional comments?

The narrator, Peter Berkrot, departs from the verbal style he used in Last Policeman and Countdown City, and ruffles Henry Palace's easy calm. This Palace is hectic and talky, the annoying monologger sitting behind you on the Greyhound bus. I think it was appropriate to the change in mood of the story, but it was a bit wearing. I am giving full marks for the performance because I think it was a good artistic choice for a book that is, let's be frank, a bit hard to take.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Apocalypse trilogy-fantastic

When you list out the best apocalyptic tales this trilogy will be no doubt included. I can think of five compelling must reads and ten for those devoted to the genre.
1. The Stand
2. The passage trilogy
3. World War Z - audiobook more so than book. One of the least listened to audiobook but is so amazing but never met anyone that has read it. Just seen the terrible movie.
4. The Road
5. I am legend
6. The dog stars
7. Age of miracles (YA)
8. The girl with all the gifts

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Not much to enjoy

The first 2 books of the series were entertaining, but book #3 was mostly just a series of unpleasant scenarios with no real payoff. There was far too much desperate whining, and I couldn't wait for it to end. Sorry. He's a good writer, but this is not a great book. I don't mean to be unkind, but I can't recommend this one.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Its the End of the World As We Know It

I'm so conflicted on the entire Last Policeman trilogy. I purchased each of the three books in the hopes that it would build to a climatic conclusion. On paper these books are right up my alley. The world is coming to an end, and Detective Hank Palace is trying to figure out what to do with the remaining months of his life. The first two novels (The Last Policeman & Countdown City) were both good entertaining short reads. Nice appetizers in between some of my more meaty reads this year.

Out of the three books World of Trouble is probably my least favorite. Its not a bad book but I just found Hank's motives and mindset to be completely unbelievable. The fact that Hank is continuing to be a detective until the very last moments of humans existence doesn't even make sense. He has this vendetta to find a sister that throughout the novels never seems to really want to spend the remaining time alive with him. I also never got the feeling that Hank was a real person. He always felt like an ideal of a detective at the end of the world.

There were some interesting moments but I was kind of left without any emotion. I'm just not sure the idea of a detective at the end of the world made for the best story. I think it could have but this wasn't it. Still its a entertaining short read and a journey that although not exciting was worth the journey nonetheless.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Decided to read it instead...

and that was a good idea. I was both eager and reluctant to listen to this book, given the premise of the series, which is that an asteroid -- a "planet killer" -- is reaching Earth, and this is not the kind of series that would end with some kind of last-minute space heroism. Instead this is a trilogy of how one ordinary man conducts his life as time runs out. A policeman for a short amount of time, a detective for even less before civil society breaks down, he finds purpose in continuing his work on his own, reminding himself of the rules he learned in the little bit of training he got, collecting evidence and fingerprints even with no one to analyze them, attempting to right wrongs. In this third book, he leaves a relatively safe refuge to find his troubled sister and solve the mystery surrounding her activities in the last few months. I liked the story, and the ending was very well done. The problem I had though was with the performance. Peter Berkrot breathlessly read each line with urgency, even when the line was something like "I looked under the sink to see if I could find any evidence." I thought that undermined the main character, who created structure and meaning in his last remaining months by solving mysteries through dogged persistence and an almost absurd adherence to procedure, rejecting the hysteria, panic, and anarchy he finds along the way. You can't narrate an entire book at a fever pitch. I bought the Kindle edition and finished the book that way.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome!!

I really loved this book. Peter Berkrot really brought this book to life and had me on the edge of my seat. Awesome and highly recommended.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

well done.

I enjoyed the series, there are some interesting existential themes And scenarios that make you wonder. highly recommended.

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