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professorfate's review against another edition
5.0
I love Dr. Wilson's books. I am in the process of rereading the Adversary Cycle/Repairman Jack books (or rereading most of them, anyway--I haven't read the later Repairman Jack books yet). Since this book came out recently and since it is about Jack as a young man just coming to New York City, I read it out of chronological order, but that's okay, because it fills in some knowledge.
For the uninitiated, Repairman Jack is not an appliance repairman. He fixes problems. Someone harassing your sister? He fixes it. Repairman Jack is a man who lives off the grid, but if you need him, you can probably contact him. The first books (which come later) had more of a supernatural bent to them, but this book is straight action-adventure. In this book, he gets a job as a driver to smuggle cigarettes from North Carolina to New York, but through coincidence, becomes involved in a child sex slave ring, but works to fight his way out of that and save the children. There is also a mysterious group called "The Order" involved in this, but Jack doesn't know about it (I suspect that, since this is the first of a trilogy, he will be taking them on soon).
For the uninitiated, Repairman Jack is not an appliance repairman. He fixes problems. Someone harassing your sister? He fixes it. Repairman Jack is a man who lives off the grid, but if you need him, you can probably contact him. The first books (which come later) had more of a supernatural bent to them, but this book is straight action-adventure. In this book, he gets a job as a driver to smuggle cigarettes from North Carolina to New York, but through coincidence, becomes involved in a child sex slave ring, but works to fight his way out of that and save the children. There is also a mysterious group called "The Order" involved in this, but Jack doesn't know about it (I suspect that, since this is the first of a trilogy, he will be taking them on soon).
rick_k's review against another edition
2.0
I had heard good things about Repairman Jack, so I grabbed book one and dove in. Well apparently it's not that easy. This is book one of the Repairman Jack: The Early Years trilogy, not to be confused with the Young Repairman Jack trilogy, which along with the Repairman Jack (currently a quinquadecology) are all spin-offs of The Adversary Cycle.
Entering the series with Cold City [Repairman Jack: The Early Years 01] you will find a young man looking to lose himself in New York City, shedding his name and all contact with his past. At the start of the book he is working as a landscaper on a mixed-race (I'll get to it) crew when he gets bullied by one of the other men and seemingly has a psychotic break, nearly beating the man to death. Apparently this is not his first murderous episode having previously (and ritually) killed a kid who thoughtlessly killed Jack's mother. Our titular psychopath then looks up a family friend and gets involved in the lucrative field of trafficking stolen goods and worse.
From my vantage point he is aimlessly drifting from scene to scene. He stumbles into various characters but with the compartmentalization of illegal enterprises and cabals he never learns anyone's last names, history or true motivations. Most of the character development is based on the most base stereotypes of various racial/ethnic backgrounds. It is shorthanded and lazy writing. Realizing far too late that this is a prequel I imagine all of these are important figures and settings in the primary spin-off series. It is probably a highlight reel for anyone already familiar with the series, but on its own is frustratingly directionless, then ends with numerous unresolved story lines and cliffhangers. As a stand-alone story is falls short of recommending.
Side note about the Goodread blurb:
At no point in this book is there any hint of anything supernatural. It is shelved as Horror, Urban Fantasy, and Mystery and it is literally none of these things. It is barely a Thriller and definitely a Crime book, but only because Jack is committing the majority of the crimes. If you are curious about Repairman Jack my guess is to start with The Tomb [Adversary Cycle 02], and perhaps loop back to Cold City when you feel nostalgic.
Entering the series with Cold City [Repairman Jack: The Early Years 01] you will find a young man looking to lose himself in New York City, shedding his name and all contact with his past. At the start of the book he is working as a landscaper on a mixed-race (I'll get to it) crew when he gets bullied by one of the other men and seemingly has a psychotic break, nearly beating the man to death. Apparently this is not his first murderous episode having previously (and ritually) killed a kid who thoughtlessly killed Jack's mother. Our titular psychopath then looks up a family friend and gets involved in the lucrative field of trafficking stolen goods and worse.
From my vantage point he is aimlessly drifting from scene to scene. He stumbles into various characters but with the compartmentalization of illegal enterprises and cabals he never learns anyone's last names, history or true motivations. Most of the character development is based on the most base stereotypes of various racial/ethnic backgrounds. It is shorthanded and lazy writing. Realizing far too late that this is a prequel I imagine all of these are important figures and settings in the primary spin-off series. It is probably a highlight reel for anyone already familiar with the series, but on its own is frustratingly directionless, then ends with numerous unresolved story lines and cliffhangers. As a stand-alone story is falls short of recommending.
Side note about the Goodread blurb:
...one of the most popular characters in contemporary dark fantasy: a self-styled “fix-it” man who is no stranger to the macabre or the supernatural...
At no point in this book is there any hint of anything supernatural. It is shelved as Horror, Urban Fantasy, and Mystery and it is literally none of these things. It is barely a Thriller and definitely a Crime book, but only because Jack is committing the majority of the crimes. If you are curious about Repairman Jack my guess is to start with The Tomb [Adversary Cycle 02], and perhaps loop back to Cold City when you feel nostalgic.
pillywiggin's review against another edition
5.0
No spoilers, but Repairman Jack is one of my favorite characters of all time.
itabar's review against another edition
2.0
This had no ENDING!! No resolution of *ANY* of Jack's issues. I cannot believe this. I knew this was part 1 of a trilogy, but REALLY!! Wilson desperately needs to read Martha Wells who knows how to end books in trilogies!!
That said, I found it interesting until the end. Then I got mad. MAD!! Hence the one star.
That said, I found it interesting until the end. Then I got mad. MAD!! Hence the one star.
lisaeirene's review against another edition
4.0
Loved it. SAD the series is ending.
I liked this book a lot because it was the "prequel" to the Repairman Jack novels. It told the story of his inception, what drove him, introduced characters that have been involved in all the books. Great read.
I liked this book a lot because it was the "prequel" to the Repairman Jack novels. It told the story of his inception, what drove him, introduced characters that have been involved in all the books. Great read.
csdaley's review against another edition
4.0
Probably closer to a 4.5. I might have gone flat out 5 but was surprised that it wasn't a complete story. While Repairman Jack has always had a central theme running through all the books each individual book wrapped up its main story. The fact that this one didn't did leave me a little disappointed. Still I love the series and can't wait to read the next one.
david_agranoff's review against another edition
5.0
Full review coming. Great first entry of a Repairman Jack prequel trilogy. Excellently plotted crime novel that works better if you are already a Jack fan, but could stand alone.
coach_sean's review against another edition
4.0
I haven't read the "real" Repairman Jack books, but this audio book caught me from the beginning. The performer was great for the book. It listened very well on my bike and noisy working areas.
The story is pretty good, and not like many other things I have read/listened. Definitely enough to make me try and listen to the other two "early Repairman Jack" books.
The story is pretty good, and not like many other things I have read/listened. Definitely enough to make me try and listen to the other two "early Repairman Jack" books.
tolendante's review against another edition
4.0
Just getting back to read all of the Repairman Jack content that came out after I finished the main series. It was great to see the initial meetings with characters and to see Jack continue to find his destiny. I can't be sure Wilson's passion is still powering these things, but he is living up to his own legacy however he is motivating himself.
acknud's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I enjoyed the character, the series, the premise. What I did not enjoy was the cliff-hanger type ending. Nothing was resolved. This tasted more like a money grab on the part of the publisher. I will finish the series but it pisses me off.
Repairman Jack is an interesting character and this series develops his story from when he arrived in NY and how he developed into who he is. There is no supernatural angle here, just straight up adventure.
Repairman Jack is an interesting character and this series develops his story from when he arrived in NY and how he developed into who he is. There is no supernatural angle here, just straight up adventure.