Infernal

Infernal (2005) F. Paul Wilson

The next book (9th?) in the Repairman Jack series, Infernal again contains little but misery for Jack. A visit from Jack’s father turned terribly wrong turns into the visit from hell from Jack’s brother Tom.

It’s actually impossible to say anything more than that, without giving away the main parts of the story.

So how does this book fit in with the rest of the series? Well, in that Bad things continue to happen to Jack, it fits right in.

SPOILER
(rot 13)
V jnf vavgvnyyl tbvat gb fnl gung vg frrzf yvxr rirelbar jub xabjf Wnpx qvrf, jvgu gur rkprcgvba bs Nor, Tvn, naq Ivpxv, ohg gura V erzrzorerq gung Wnpx unq n qernz jurer nyy guerr qvrq va Ubfgf, fb V thrff gung pbhagf, naq ng fbzr cbvag rirelbar Wnpx xabjf unf orra xvyyrq bss.

Vs V xarj Wnpx, V guvax V’q or zbivat ernyyl ernyyl sne njnl nobhg abj. Znlor npebff gur pbhagel. Creuncf rira npebff gur jbeyq.
END SPOILER

Is this book as strong as earlier books in the series. I don’t think so. Unfortunately, the series is reaching critical mass, and is taking on a life of it’s own. I think that it would be nearly impossible to begin the series at this point, there are too many things happening that are dependent upon knowledge of past events–even having read Crisscross recently, I’d still forgotten an important detail that came up here.

I also wasn’t thrilled with the resolution of the story arc in this book. It felt rather… strained. Looking like someone does not mean that

Also, Gia’s pregnancy must be the longest in the history of the world. Poor woman. Luckily for her she’s still barely showing. (Excuse me? Bogus!)

If I’m sounding bitter, I’m not really, it’s just that things were not very resolved in this book, and the overarching story arc is starting to take over every book, and I’m wondering if this series is ever actually going to end. So I’m holding off reading the next book, until Bloodlines comes out in paperback. And even then I’m going to read cautiously.
Rating: 6/10

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