Society in Concord, New England continues to breakdown, which is not surprising considering the end of the world is only 77 days away. What is surprising is that Ben Winters continues to write entertaining crime thrillers against that backdrop. The second in the trilogy was always going to be the most difficult in holding the reader's attention, but he succeeds well. It isn't as good as The Last Policeman, and I don't expect it to be as good as World of Trouble.Some good characters are created here, the storyline peters along, but it is what is happening around the mystery that is most interesting. There is some serious middle-book-syndrome and sequel-itis going on with 'Countdown City.''The Last Policeman' was gripping from the first page straight through to the end. I read it in one sitting, and gave it 5 stars. 'Countdown City' was... ok. It took a while to get going, and even once things started rolling, I just didn't really care about the case. Former detective Hank Palace agrees to help his former babysitter find her missing husband before the end of the world (which is coming, in just a couple of months).There is some interesting stuff here about expectations: the missing man was a former state trooper, and seems to be considered by all who knew him to be 'noble' and good. Even without having met him, Hank is illogically eager to assume the best of the man - not only was he a respected law officer, but he won the love of Hank's own childhood crush.Hank's investigation proceeds in an interesting-enough manner, with some unexpected twists and turns. I like how the decline of society is pictured, as the day on which an asteroid will impact Earth approaches - but the story just didn't have the urgency for me that the prior book did. I also felt like, after spending more time with him, Winters decided he liked his protagonist a lot more. Hank Palace, as portrayed here, seems both less crazy and generally more likable than he did in the first book. I really enjoyed the aspect of The Last Policeman that involved Hank's obsessive-compulsive behavior leading to him causing a swath of destruction and death behind him, regardless of his good intentions. There's only one similar incident in this book, and it'd be a real stretch to call it Palace's fault.Overall, it's not a bad book - but it didn't quite live up to my (very high) expectations. (I did, however, like the third book better - I've already read it.)
What do You think about Countdown City (2013)?
better than the first. How often can you say that about a sequel?
—ria
Pretty good sequel, though with some plot problems.
—Jamon
