Customer Reviews

The Tomb (Repairman Jack Novels)

5 star:		(54)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is the first in F. Paul Wilson's books concerning Repairman Jack, a character that has become one of the most interesting literary creations since James Bond.

Repairman Jack is a fixer of situations -- situations wherein someone has gotten a raw deal and wants to set things right. He has no social security number, no credit cards, pays no taxes, and makes every attempt to avoid the spotlight whenever possible.

The Wesphalen family is living under a curse; a death curse placed a century ago in retaliation for the murderous acts committed by a greedy ancestor.

Kusim Bhakti and his sister have come to New York City to carry out the curse and wipe out the rest of the Westphalen line. To assist with this task, Kusim has brought with him the Rakoshi, perversions of the human species brought about eons ago from the Otherness. You'll discover more about the Otherness in the books that follow.

As it turns out, Kusim hires Jack to track down the thief that mugged his mother and return the necklace that was stolen. Kusim tells Jack its return is a matter of lie and death. Jack succeeds and returns the heirloom to Kusim's bedridden mother. Jack is paid the rest of his price and assumes the job is done. Little does he know he'll meet with Kusim (plus some really mean Rakoshi) again on different terms.

Gia Westphalen has broken off her relationship with Jack, yet her daughter Vicky (the last of the Westphalen line) loves him like a father. Jack still loves Gia and can't bear the thought of never seeing Vicky again. As it turns out, Jack becomes intimately involved with the Westphalens again, protecting Vicky from Kusim and his Rakoshi.

This is an excellent read, and the series only gets better. You don't necessarily have to start here, the other books can be read separately, but this probably the best place to start to fully enjoy the rest of the books.

You'll find once you finish the book, you'll be asking yourself, Tomb? What's this have to do with a tomb? Wilson had inteneded to call the book "Rakoshi," but his editor requested that he change the name to "The Tomb," thinking it'd sell better. Whatever the case, it's a great beginning to a series that gets better with each book. Enjoy!

This is the first book I've read by F. Paul Wilson, but it won't be the last! What a talented writer! Repairman Jack is one of the best characters I've read about in quite awhile!

Repairman Jack is so believable and down-to-earth that the supernatural angle of the story took me by surprise. Yes, I had read the back cover, but the story was so enthralling that I was blindsided by the horror part. There I was, racing along, totally drawn into Jack's world when...oh my gosh...he's...she's...that's a ...wow! What a story!

Without giving away any of the surprises, suffice it to say that this was another one of those books that will keep you up all night to finish. Very well done, and I look forward to reading more Repairman Jack stories.

F. Paul Wilson is a horror writer and "The Tomb" has some supernatural elements to it. But the book reads more like detective fiction. Repairman Jack is one of the more appealing and memorable fictional characters I've come across and his "profession" reminded me of John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee. And like any good hero of detective fiction, Jack's psyche is haunted by dark and troubling events from his past that WIlson covers in detail. This is an exciting book that should be read for the quality of its storytelling alone.

Everybody seems to agree that F. Paul Wilson is a brilliant writer, and this unusual novel is the best example why. Originally written in 1984, "The Tomb" is not the least bit "dated" (except maybe for the charming absense of cellular phones which would've have been a great help for the characters involved). Once you get used to the really unusual mix of down-to-earth detective story and supernatural phenomena, this book is great entertainment. Repairman Jack is a likeable, very human character with a knack for revenge - a bit over the top generally, but very nitty gritty in other aspects. The storyline feels like a sometimes crude, but always exciting mix of the Big Screen's Indiana Jones and TV's Spenser character.

I have just bought all of the Repairman Jack novels in one order and will read the other three instalments in the coming weeks. "The Tomb" was a very promising start to a supposedly unforgettable series.

I first chanced upon the author's Legacies when I was browsing through CNN's website and thought that it sounded like an interesting book. Knowing that Legacies is the second book about Repairman Jack, I decided to give The Tomb a try first. Upon reading the book, I thank my lucky stars that I have come across the book. I was intruiged from the first page and was not able to put down the book. A thriller-mystery-horror with subtle hints of romance, the book tells of how Repairman Jack goes about, in his own way, solves the mystery of the missing necklace and embarks on a dangerous rescue misson. He brushes aside obstacles and faces dangers that come his way. Despite his cool exterior, his good intentions and commitment to girlfriend Gia and her daughter makes him a thouroughly believable character. Jack, you have become my hero!

F. Paul Wilson introduced his popular character Repairman Jack in this novel that became the second book in the six book Adversary Cycle. Driven by the need for revenge, Repairman Jack conducts illegal 'repairs' of ethically sticky situations either through brains or brawn. He finds himself in a particularly gruesome mess when the family of his estranged girlfriend (she does not approve of his rogue vigilantism) is marked for death by a revenge seeking Indian. Lots of action, monsters, and narrow escapes follow. Highly recommended.

The Tomb,
This was the first F. Paul Wilson novel I had read. I absolutely loved this book.
Repairman Jack is an amusing character who has many strange and mysterious clients in future novels. In this novel we're taken on a hunt for a strange necklace, which carries a curse.
Not only are we taken on an adventure, but we also explore the private life of Jack. We see a glimpse into his childhood and his first case. We also learn a bit about his would be love life and his girlfriend Gia.
I feel the most fun is had with the mysterious and sexy Kolabati and the hard-nosed Kosum. The mystery surrounding the rakosh egg drives the entire story forward at a rather nice pace.
This is a book I highly recommend to all horror and mystery readers. Repairman Jack is a character well worth reading. F. Paul Wilson is a true talent.

Not only does The Tomb feature a suspense-filled story, overflowing with deadly creatures that could easily have come from Lovecraft's imagination, but it features one of the best characters to emerge from a work of fiction.

Repairman Jack: the most ordinary hero you will ever meet.

This a great book that uses New York City as a backdrop for an old world evil reborn. F. Paul Wilson does a fantastic job of describing the world of Repairman Jack - from his cluttered apartment to the dark streets of New York and beyond - always bringing the reader along for the experience. There wasn't a chapter where I felt lost or bored.

This is a captivating tale, to say the least, and a wonderful beginning to an action-packed and fun series.

I've been reading F. Paul Wilson's books since high school and this was the one that started it all. I'm usually a romance junkie, but Wilson's books are just a perfect blend of all kinds of story-telling. If you're a romance reader like me, you'll enjoy this first book in the repairman jack series. Jack is the quintessential Dark Hero, and yes, he is sexy!

I read on average, 2 novels per week. The Tomb however, was an exception. I read and reread it almost every day the week I recieved a copy. Needless to say, I didn't get anything else done then, heh. I have read this book well over twenty times I was so impressed with it.

My husband deserves the credit, actually -- he got me started on F. Paul Wilson. I was convinced I would dislike it at best. Was I wrong!

This novel blew me away. I have to say, its one of my most favorite reads ever now. Wilson is known for his seemless blending of supernatural and real. His skill is wonderful. His characters aren't just characters, they become very realistic, very human, and very enchanting. You get pulled into his world, and don't get let go again.

If you've been wanting a good read, and are tired of what passes for "good" fiction these days, give the Tomb a try. You won't be disappointed.