The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters, published in 2012, is the first book in a science-fiction mystery trilogy about a cop still investigating crimes despite an apocalyptic asteroid impact looming six months in the future. Henry Palace, a detective with the Concord, New Hampshire police department, suspects an apparent suicide--a common reaction to the impending end of the world--is actually a murder. He pursues the case despite limited resources and general societal breakdown. The first sequel, Countdown City, was published in 2013, followed by World of Trouble in 2014. The Last Policeman won the 2012 Edgar Award for best paperback original, and Countdown City won the 2013 Philip K. Dick Award.
Earlier this week, Deadline announced that Fox ordered a pilot of The Last Police, an adaptation of Winters' novel written and directed by Kyle Killen. The TV version will follow two female cops in a small town, one who believes she can save humanity and her cynical partner. Killen is known as the creator of several short-running but critically acclaimed shows: Lone Star (2010), Awake (2012) and Mind Games (2014). The Last Policeman, Countdown City and World of Trouble are available from Quirk Books. --Tobias Mutter
