There is little food and water and no power or fuel. Society and government have now broken down altogether. The journey takes them across a desolate America, one divided into damaged towns that Hank grades by colour depending on their hostility to strangers, from red (the most violent) to green (inhabited by people in denial). And so Hank, a much loved man, leaves his friends behind and sets out on his bicycle with his dog Houdini and the really rather unpleasant albeit resourceful Cortez to follow the clues to Nico. Hank knows first-hand that they have considerable resources as well as numbers but his hunt is not inspired by any sense of hope, he simply wants to see his sister again, the only member of his family he has left, and to know she is as safe as one can be. His younger sister Nico is on the run, caught up with a group that believes the predictions of Earth’s destruction are a conspiracy and they are set to do something about it.

With only days to live, Hank is driven to solve his last mystery and it’s a personal one, too. Maia, an asteroid on a collision course with Earth is now just two weeks away. It’s in his blood, it fuels his days, and not even the end of days can stop him. Henry (Hank) Palace will always be a detective.

Also do beware that the review below may contain information about the other two books that you might prefer not to know if you haven’t read them yet. Winters’ The Last Policeman trilogy – this is not a book to read without having devoured The Last Policeman and Countdown City first.

World of Trouble by Ben H. Winters