Cold City

Repairman Jack: Early Years Trilogy, Book 1

By: F. Paul Wilson

Narrated by: Alexander Cendese

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.

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.

interesting, I may try another but I'm not sure

The narration of this story was excellent, had it not been, I might not have stayed. I like good antiheroes, but this book has a very complex set of events happening in a VERY short time.

Ends without wrap up

I know it is in a series, but to have to get the next book to end any of the storylines, kinda weird.

Not bad

Pretty good listen. I enjoyed the story, it's just a little dated. It was a daily deal, so definitely worth $3!

It was ok.

Just not the book, for me. You just might like it, maybe. I not be reading more of this series.