Fear City—A Repairman Jack Novel: The Early Years Trilogy, Book Three

Set in 1993, the riveting final novel chronicling Repairman Jack’s early years (after 2013’s Dark City) finds the score-settling “fixer” living in Manhattan, straddling the boundary between both sides of the law. A brutal murder catalyzes the collision of several subplots developed in Jack’s two previous outings, notably the Ancient Septimus Fraternal Order’s backing of Muslim extremists, whose passion for bringing jihad to America sets them on course to bomb the World Trade Center. Before the tale’s explosive finale, Jack loses several people dear to him, and is witness to interrogations that come close to being torture porn, discovering just how cruelly the darkness inside him can express itself. Wilson skillfully cross-cuts between characters and their viewpoints as the clock ticks down to the exciting climax. If, as the author’s note suggests, this may be the last Repairman Jack adventure, Wilson has certainly sent the series off with a bang. Agent: Al Zuckerman, Writers House. (Nov.)