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jellybean_gene's review
4.0
So, I felt conflicted on whether to give this book 4 or 5 stars.
On one hand, I couldn't put it down. I bought a low-level book light so I could read it in bed and not wake my wife. And several times throughout the book I could feel the tension and fear for the main character that reminded me of a kid reading their favorite serialized 'how will X character get out of this one?' type of story.
On the other hand, this book was written in the late 70's or early 80's and it shows. Not all of it bad, but there's a lot of racism (albeit not quite mailicious, moreso fetishizations of another culture) and a lot of descriptions of female character's breasts and hips. And every female character is absolutely helpless. Like, totally helpless. Each woman in this story is only capable of either begging for help, seducing the main character, or feeling scared and helpless.
That all being said, I was able to get past those unfortunate anachronisms and still be pulled in by this book. It was really well paced and it was exactly as advertised. I just ordered the second and third in the Repairman Jack series and look forward to reading them soon.
On one hand, I couldn't put it down. I bought a low-level book light so I could read it in bed and not wake my wife. And several times throughout the book I could feel the tension and fear for the main character that reminded me of a kid reading their favorite serialized 'how will X character get out of this one?' type of story.
On the other hand, this book was written in the late 70's or early 80's and it shows. Not all of it bad, but there's a lot of racism (albeit not quite mailicious, moreso fetishizations of another culture) and a lot of descriptions of female character's breasts and hips. And every female character is absolutely helpless. Like, totally helpless. Each woman in this story is only capable of either begging for help, seducing the main character, or feeling scared and helpless.
That all being said, I was able to get past those unfortunate anachronisms and still be pulled in by this book. It was really well paced and it was exactly as advertised. I just ordered the second and third in the Repairman Jack series and look forward to reading them soon.
ryanjamesburt's review
3.0
I was told this was a PI with a supernatural twist. It was that but I think I was expecting more of a Harry Dresden then this. It was interesting enough I might look back into the Repairman Jack series but not at this time.
rclz's review
If it was my kind of book and if I was going to like it, I wouldn't have to be working this hard to get through it. I'm perfectly happy to say that it just might not be my thing and be done with it.
stiricide's review
4.0
The twists and turns are fairly predictable, and there a more than a handful of typos in this edition, but Repairman Jack never fails to entertain. Guess I'm going to go reread the whole series, now.
wildflowerz76's review against another edition
4.0
This was a good fantasy book. It reminded me a little of Jim Butcher's Dresden Files without the humor. However, I didn't particularly care for any of the characters. Even Gia annoyed me. I get being horrified with what Jack says he does, however, you've been with the guy for a year. Don't you owe it to him to at least let him explain the full story? I didn't care for Jack much either. He complains that Gia wouldn't listen to his full explanation, but he also didn't seem to even try to tell her the full story...a story that he doesn't tell anyone...except for the hot Indian woman he just met. Um, yeah. Anyway, I liked this one, but I don't like it enough to read any more of the series.
majkia's review
4.0
Very much reminded me of Relic by Preston/Child. Strange creatures in the night.
Repairman Jack, who doesn't fix appliances, takes them on to protect those he cares about.
Major thriller vibes.
Repairman Jack, who doesn't fix appliances, takes them on to protect those he cares about.
Major thriller vibes.
gls_merch's review
4.0
At the urging of a friend who knew my political leanings, he suggested I read the Repairman Jack series. Unfortunately, I didn't do a lot of research and started reading the series from the "first book" which is actually the second book, and read all the way through the thirteenth. It was clear in reading the series there was another story which I had not read, but I never picked it up until know. I really have liked the Repairman Jack series, but reading The Tomb (Adversary Cycle #2, Repairman Jack #1) at this point in time reminds of many of the little things that I loved about the early series. The recent novels have focused on delivering on the plot line around the overarching Secret History story, and have dropped the details around Jack's life philosophy, idiosyncracies, and inter-personal relationships. As the first book in the series, The Tomb really delivered and reminded me of what I have been missing in the later books.
knboereads's review
4.0
This was definitely an interesting book. The fight sequences were visceral and cinematic, the mystery intriguing and terrifying. Wilson definitely has a knack for making all of his characters likable, frustrating, endearing and even repugnant all at the same time.
I have mixed feelings about this book. The feelings don't veer into 'dislike' territory but there were some elements of the book I found kind of frustrating or irksome.
I couldn't really place the time of the story. I figured with no cell phones it was maybe eighties and what not, or early nineties. It't not that I don't like reading stories during this time, but it was unclear and so it was kind of hard to create a look of the story in my mind.
(SPOILERS, KIND OF)
Gia was frustrating and irksome. Not completely irredeemable but enough to make me grit my teeth. Sometimes her aversion to Jack's lifestyle seemed almost too dramatic and even unrealistic. Like, her daughter was in danger but she was still being resentful of Jack's ability and knowledge to rescue Vicki. I understand her fear and reaction to some of the things Jack was involved in but to a point her resentment and attitude just kind of rankled. It almost felt like, at times, instead of just being a part of her character, it was more F. Paul Wilson's idea of what a woman would react like (unless the woman is Kolabati, the mysterious, exotic foreign woman).
(MAJOR SPOILER ALERT)
The thing between Kolabati and Kusum was pretty gross and I really don't feel any of that was necessary, past a certain point. But that's more a personal opinion of mine than anything else.
Also, why is it such a trope that all single mother's are uptight but also desperate for a man to the point where they go out with boring dudes named Carl just to forget the interesting, slightly dangerous guy they used to have a thing with? Like seriously, single moms are more than just single moms and I'd really like to see some variety, whatever genre it is.
Despite all that, I am still interested in continuing the series, especially to see what changes, if any, are wrought in the characters.
I have mixed feelings about this book. The feelings don't veer into 'dislike' territory but there were some elements of the book I found kind of frustrating or irksome.
I couldn't really place the time of the story. I figured with no cell phones it was maybe eighties and what not, or early nineties. It't not that I don't like reading stories during this time, but it was unclear and so it was kind of hard to create a look of the story in my mind.
(SPOILERS, KIND OF)
Gia was frustrating and irksome. Not completely irredeemable but enough to make me grit my teeth. Sometimes her aversion to Jack's lifestyle seemed almost too dramatic and even unrealistic. Like, her daughter was in danger but she was still being resentful of Jack's ability and knowledge to rescue Vicki. I understand her fear and reaction to some of the things Jack was involved in but to a point her resentment and attitude just kind of rankled. It almost felt like, at times, instead of just being a part of her character, it was more F. Paul Wilson's idea of what a woman would react like (unless the woman is Kolabati, the mysterious, exotic foreign woman).
(MAJOR SPOILER ALERT)
The thing between Kolabati and Kusum was pretty gross and I really don't feel any of that was necessary, past a certain point. But that's more a personal opinion of mine than anything else.
Also, why is it such a trope that all single mother's are uptight but also desperate for a man to the point where they go out with boring dudes named Carl just to forget the interesting, slightly dangerous guy they used to have a thing with? Like seriously, single moms are more than just single moms and I'd really like to see some variety, whatever genre it is.
Despite all that, I am still interested in continuing the series, especially to see what changes, if any, are wrought in the characters.
readinggrrl's review against another edition
4.0
Joe Barrett is a fabulous narrator. He changes his voice allowing the characters to come alive which helps with the ease of figuring out who is talking.
Jack is not a nice guy. He is a fixer or situations, and isn't a stranger to violence and death.
Jack is hesitant to take the case of a shady man who wants to recover a stolen necklace of no value but figures its easy money. He takes the case finds the necklace but soon finds that this case and an other case he is working on to try to woo his girlfriend Gia back are connected and may connected to an ancient cures. Now Gia's daughter Vicky is threatened and Jack can't let anything happen to her.
There are chapters of this book that take place back in time in India to try to bring understanding as to why this family is even attached to these demons but the majority of the book centers around the present. Jack reminds me a bit of John Connolly's, Charlie Parker, except that I don't think Jack deals with the supernatural all that often but since this is only the first book in the series I really can't say that for sure. Either way Repairman Jack is a very interesting character, he lives off the grid, helps people with their problems and can be lethal. He loves Vicky and Vicky seems to understand Jack better than Gia, and trusts him to keep her safe.
While this is supposed to be a horror book it reads more like a detective novel which may be why I make the connection to the Charlie Parker series. I really liked this book and Repairman Jack. His attachment to Gia and her daughter keep him human and his character believable.
The writing keeps you wanting to know more, it flows nicely and gives you just enough to keep the story moving forward. There is apparently a lot of time between this book and the next in the Repairman Jack series but lucky for me I don't have to wait. There are quite a few more in this series and they are being added to my TBR list immediately.
The main issue I had with this book is that I couldn't listen to it fast enough. I almost wish that it had been a paperback so that I could have flipped forward or read at my own speed instead of someone elses.
Jack is not a nice guy. He is a fixer or situations, and isn't a stranger to violence and death.
Jack is hesitant to take the case of a shady man who wants to recover a stolen necklace of no value but figures its easy money. He takes the case finds the necklace but soon finds that this case and an other case he is working on to try to woo his girlfriend Gia back are connected and may connected to an ancient cures. Now Gia's daughter Vicky is threatened and Jack can't let anything happen to her.
There are chapters of this book that take place back in time in India to try to bring understanding as to why this family is even attached to these demons but the majority of the book centers around the present. Jack reminds me a bit of John Connolly's, Charlie Parker, except that I don't think Jack deals with the supernatural all that often but since this is only the first book in the series I really can't say that for sure. Either way Repairman Jack is a very interesting character, he lives off the grid, helps people with their problems and can be lethal. He loves Vicky and Vicky seems to understand Jack better than Gia, and trusts him to keep her safe.
While this is supposed to be a horror book it reads more like a detective novel which may be why I make the connection to the Charlie Parker series. I really liked this book and Repairman Jack. His attachment to Gia and her daughter keep him human and his character believable.
The writing keeps you wanting to know more, it flows nicely and gives you just enough to keep the story moving forward. There is apparently a lot of time between this book and the next in the Repairman Jack series but lucky for me I don't have to wait. There are quite a few more in this series and they are being added to my TBR list immediately.
The main issue I had with this book is that I couldn't listen to it fast enough. I almost wish that it had been a paperback so that I could have flipped forward or read at my own speed instead of someone elses.
bookworm311's review
4.0
Great read, kept me on the edge of my seat! Full of action and likable characters.