The Haunted Air

The Haunted Air (2002) F. Paul Wilson

The sixth Repairman Jack novel, Haunted Air takes place a year after the events of The Tomb. Jack is still in turmoil after the events of Hosts as he attempts to deal with Kate’s death.

Like the previous books, Jack is still learning more about The Otherness, and still unhappy that he has been told he has a preordained place in that battle. However, like the previous books, through Jack’s current cases we slowly learn more about The Otherness and what Jack is battling, but this book (like the others) has a satisfactory conclusion. We know something is coming, but we don’t know where or when, but we are learning at the same pace as Jack, and meanwhile he finishes the cases he started in the book, so there is still a satisfactory sense of conclusion to the book.

What I particularly liked about this book was the relationship between the brothers Lyle and Charlie. Regardless of what they have had to do to get by, they mange to survive, and even thrive in their own way. They are who they are, made by their circumstances.

I also enjoyed he evolution of Jack’s character, as he struggles with his future as well as his past. This story went in directions I did not expect, as Jack considers his future, as well as the battle against The Otherness.

One thing I did like is that for those of us who have missed Conspiracies, we do learn a bit about things that must have been discovered in that book. Thank goodness, because it won’t be re-released until this fall. (I hate waiting.) Although you could start the Repairman Jack series here, I believe it would be far more enjoyable to start at the beginning. No only will you understand more of what is going on, but you will also be able to enjoy learning about Jack and watching him change as his relationship with Vicki and Gia deepens.
Rating: 8/10

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