Countdown City

I really enjoyed The Last Policeman, but this second book I found disappointing. As I was reading it I could not stop myself thinking “I wish he had just written the first book and then decided to leave things alone”.

Sadly, I have already purchased the third book. I will read it, but I have no enthusiasm to.

Winters continues his meditation on the question, “What would you do – no, really, what would you do – if the Earth – no, forget all that claptrap, this is for real, what would you really do – if the Earth were definitely going to end soon. I do not normally read police procedurals and such-like, but these books are riveting.

For the reason why I'm re-reading this series, see my review on the first book in the trilogy - "The Last Policeman." This 2nd book, set as the astroid is weeks away from hitting earth, again has a plot that isn't what the trilogy is about for me. It's all about the question, "So, then how should we live?" Living has become tougher from when the first book concluded. The power is off, driving is rare and eventually running water also ceases. The mystery at the center wasn't super compelling for me, yet the journey through it was engaging and thought-provoking. I'd have liked to have spent more time with Henry and his sister Nico (still woefully underdeveloped) as they experienced the youth-led collective at the site of what once was UNH. It appears Nico will be the focus of the third book. I really like Henry and his voice of reason, kindness, commitment, decency and hopefulness. It's this last quality that I most want to gain from Henry. Not hope that a deus ex machina will stop the asteroid or the surely chaotic (and dangerous?) aftermath of the U.S. Election 2024. Rather the hope that good can be found in any moment by acting in goodness - regardless of what is hurtling at us.