"The Last Policeman" is a novel by Ben H. Winters set in a near-future world facing an impending asteroid collision with Earth. The story follows Detective Hank Palace, who continues to investigate crimes despite society's growing despair and apathy as the end approaches. As the countdown to disaster looms, Palace grapples with the meaning of duty and justice in a world that seems to have lost all hope. His determination to solve a suspicious death leads him to uncover deeper truths about humanity's response to crisis, exploring themes of morality and purpose in the face of inevitable doom.