Cold City

Repairman Jack: Early Years Trilogy, Book 1

By: F. Paul Wilson

Narrated by: Alexander Cendese

Length: 11 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

If you've never read a Repairman Jack novel, this is the place to begin.

It's 1990. A twenty-one-year-old named Jack has dropped out of college, leaving his old life behind to build a new one in New York City. Manhattan's rough edges are jagged enough to shred any unwary newcomer, but perhaps not one who is determined to stay off the grid, at any cost, in the busiest metropolis on earth. And to do so, he'll have to take jobs of a less than legal nature.

An interstate smuggling operation seems to fit the bill perfectly. But Jack's initial foray into the trafficking of illicit goods carries greater risk than he bargained for, putting him afoul of a preteen slavery ring, a group of jihadists, and a pair of vigilante brothers. As if those problems weren't enough, Jack is hunted by some machete-wielding maniacs, and his bartender Julio is harassed by the mob. How these things are linked, and what they have to do with the murder of Rabbi Meir Kahane in Manhattan's East Side Marriott, is a mystery Jack cannot let go of.

Cold City is the first of three new novels revealing the early years of one of the most popular characters in contemporary fiction: a self-styled "fix-it" man who is no stranger to the macabre or the bizarre, hired by victimized people who have nowhere else to turn. This is where he begins the metamorphosis from a naïve New Jersey refugee into the urban mercenary known as Repairman Jack.

©2012 F. Paul Wilson (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

A book for guys

Any additional comments?

I listened to the book almost straight thru.

Most important is once I listened for about 1 hour I was sucked into the book and the action. I look for books that hold my attention.

If you liked this book and want to read other books that have a bit of action here are a few books that I recommend you also listen to:

01) "The Lion's Game"

02) "The Cleaner"

03) "A Clean Kill in Tokyo"

04) "The Butcher's Boy"

05) "The Hunter (Victor the Assassin #1)"

06) "Beat the Reaper" THRILLER, non-stop action.

07) "The Gray Man"

08) "Dead I may well be"

09) "Sharpe's Tiger"

10) "Killing Floor"

11) "The English Assassin"

12) "American Assassin "

Kept me engaged

A very decent first(?) novel with good pacing and character development. I was surprised that the book ended before the plot lines did, however. I may have to get the next installment to have resolution, but I do feel a little cheated.

Fun, but not fabulous

I enjoyed the characters, and the story was pretty fun though the ending was not good - very abrupt. It made it seem like a chapter rather than a stand-alone book.

The narrator was great, even navigating the poorly- written and juvenile sex scenes with aplomb

Chain Reaction

After committing a murder to avenge his mother's death, Jack removed himself from his family and leaves home. They have no idea where he is and what his life has become. This is the first book in a series will be interesting to see how it all works out.

A Tease!

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Wish I had known before starting that the book would end with ALL of the plot lines still open and unresolved. I thought there had been a flaw in Audible's recording (actually, one chapter was repeated twice, so there was a flaw) until I went back and re-read the reviews, finally spotting one that gave a hint of the problem. The 30-50% of a novel that I did get to listen to was enjoyable throughout, if a strain on credulity at times.

Would you be willing to try another book from F. Paul Wilson? Why or why not?

Possibly, but only a full one.

Which scene was your favorite?

Anything with Abe, the sporting goods store owner, in it.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Not if it ended as this audiobook did.

Any additional comments?

Audible owes its listeners a warning if an audiobook is a come-on and will leave them hanging, looking for another installment in what is apparently a series of interconnected books.

excellent, but frustrating

The story and narration are fabulous, engaging and very entertaining. But it just stops about (it seems) three quarters of the way through with about six story lines totally hanging.

No problem, you might think, I'll just buy the next edition that finishes the book. Well, there is none. In all other books (it seems, I only bought the first in the series that should have been the sequel), the character is older, the narrator different, the quirky sexy girlfriend gone, and all story lines dropped.

Was the time spent listening to this book worthwhile? Sure, but if you want a complete story (which I think I deserve for spending the money and time), this isn't it. I also think the approach is lazy and frustrating, at least for me. Authors should finish what they start (and get their readers engaged in) and I shouldn't have to use a full credit on a story that isn' t complete. Just my $0.02.

Delightful

What did you love best about Cold City?

The gruff yet loveable characters.

If you’ve listened to books by F. Paul Wilson before, how does this one compare?

First one.

What about Alexander Cendese’s performance did you like?

Every character has his own voice and vocal personality. One of the best narrators I've heard. He made the book.

Any additional comments?

Entertaining if not juvenile at times. Too many sub stories at one time. I really wanted a wrap up of at leastt one plot line. Not a fan of soap opera clif hangers which this book leans a little too close to. Will try another but if I don't find any satisfactory conclusion it will be the last. But really fun to read.

Decently fast paced

Solid audiobook, good reader. The book is pretty good. I feel like it lacked finality. Still worth a listen. Not the best repairman jack novel, but still not bad.

Good Start for Series

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes. I read other reviews and found this a decent novel. I do like the characters and the writer does develop them through the other books

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
There are parts that do make you smile. The rapport between the characters is great

Any additional comments?
It would have been nice to have the same reader for all the books but they were OK

UPDATE! After reading the first five or six they became ridiculous. I stopped reading them. The storyline became to much to handle. It seems the writer went in a 180 degree direction. If you read them you'll know when to quit

Get to know the young Jack.

Good listen and if you like Repairman jack you should get used to these.