Great Book: The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters

In 2012 I have read a lot of good books and a few very good books, but I have not read too many truly "Great" novels yet this year.  All of that changed during the last week of summer when I read The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters. 
The premise of this novel is inventive and downright brilliant: In six months an asteroid (cleverly nicknamed "Maia") is going to strike the earth and wipe out all life.  There is no hope of salvation, no last second Armaggedon-like scenario and yet the world keeps on turning.  What would happen to that world?  Winters begins his story with a death, one of many, and a detective who is determined to do his job right until the last horrifying moments,  Winters intercuts his great story with a bunch of thought provoking lines and gives glimpses of a world without hope.  The book is deeply complex and full of horrifying scenes in a rapidly disintigrating world held together by the thinnest of strings.  As a noir mystery novel it is amazing; as a preapocalypse noir mystery story it elevates even higher.  Run out and get this book and while you are at it pick up another book by Winters Bedbugs   which is a fantastic update on the Rosemary's Baby-ish story of a creepy and psychological thriller set in a New York apartment.  It is a very dark and truly terrifying story.  Read it and prepare to scratch a lot...