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Repairman Jack #10
Harbingers
A hang-onto-your-hat-and-heart thriller of triumph and tragedy that barrels along at F. Paul Wilson's trademark breakneck pace, HarbingersIt starts off so Jack, still feeling down after the tragic events of Infernal, is hanging in Julio's when a regular named Timmy asks him for help. His teenage niece has been missing since this morning; the police say it's too early to worry, but Timmy knows something bad has happened. Jack says he'll put the word out on the street. This innocent request triggers a chain of seemingly coincidental events that lead Jack into the darkest days of his life.As has become evident in the series, Jack has been singled out, unwillingly, as the champion of one of the two supernatural forces contending for control of all human life on Earth. Neither of these forces are good or evil, just dangerous and amoral. They value and notice individual humans about as much as we do mosquitos. Jack is desperate . . . and the last thing you want to do is make Jack desperate. That's when things begin to blow up and people begin to die.At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 30, 2006
54 people are currently reading
949 people want to read
About the author
F. Paul Wilson
423 books2,001 followersFrancis Paul Wilson is an author, born in Jersey City, New Jersey. He writes novels and short stories primarily in the science fiction and horror genres. His debut novel was Healer (1976). Wilson is also a part-time practicing family physician. He made his first sales in 1970 to Analog and continued to write science fiction throughout the seventies. In 1981 he ventured into the horror genre with the international bestseller, The Keep, and helped define the field throughout the rest of the decade. In the 1990s he became a true genre hopper, moving from science fiction to horror to medical thrillers and branching into interactive scripting for Disney Interactive and other multimedia companies. He, along with Matthew J. Costello, created and scripted FTL Newsfeed which ran daily on the Sci-Fi Channel from 1992-1996.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/fpaulw...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/fpaulw...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
June 6, 2016
5 Stars
Harbingers, Repairman Jack #10 is another fantastic installment of one of my favorite on going series. F. Paul Wilson has created a special series led by a main character in Jack that always walks the line between good and bad. The Repairman Jack series has developed into one of my favorite series out there and I can never seem to get enough. Wilson does an amazing job at making each book work as a standalone while at the same time never neglecting the overall story arc. We the reader now not only know that each book and story will have a deeper connection, we expect it.
Jack is one of my favorite heroes/anti-hero.
The blending of a blistering fast paced action thriller with a tiny, albeit meaningful supernatural twist, this series is my cup of tea.
Wow, 10 books in and I cannot get enough of Jack and his story. Harbingers is by far the darkest and scariest Repairman Jack novel and it forever sets the course that things will take. Things have no gone well for our hero. So many bad things have happened. Too many people killed, some were family. The weight of the world rides on our invisible hero.
Harbingers is a book that is tough to put down. The action leads to a point where you will have to force yourself to read all the words even though you desperately want to skip to the end to see how things work out. I loved the elevated tension, woot what a thrill ride.
I loved that Jack joked about attending "Heir-school"
This series as a whole is guilty pleasure of mine often making me give it even higher marks. I love the writing, the characters, the action, and the tiny bit of supernatural. I cannot wait until my wife finally listens to me and she also jumps in to the world of Repairman Jack.
One of my all time favorite series...
Harbingers, Repairman Jack #10 is another fantastic installment of one of my favorite on going series. F. Paul Wilson has created a special series led by a main character in Jack that always walks the line between good and bad. The Repairman Jack series has developed into one of my favorite series out there and I can never seem to get enough. Wilson does an amazing job at making each book work as a standalone while at the same time never neglecting the overall story arc. We the reader now not only know that each book and story will have a deeper connection, we expect it.
Jack is one of my favorite heroes/anti-hero.
The blending of a blistering fast paced action thriller with a tiny, albeit meaningful supernatural twist, this series is my cup of tea.
Wow, 10 books in and I cannot get enough of Jack and his story. Harbingers is by far the darkest and scariest Repairman Jack novel and it forever sets the course that things will take. Things have no gone well for our hero. So many bad things have happened. Too many people killed, some were family. The weight of the world rides on our invisible hero.
Harbingers is a book that is tough to put down. The action leads to a point where you will have to force yourself to read all the words even though you desperately want to skip to the end to see how things work out. I loved the elevated tension, woot what a thrill ride.
I loved that Jack joked about attending "Heir-school"
This series as a whole is guilty pleasure of mine often making me give it even higher marks. I love the writing, the characters, the action, and the tiny bit of supernatural. I cannot wait until my wife finally listens to me and she also jumps in to the world of Repairman Jack.
One of my all time favorite series...
April 6, 2013
"Hot dog" we're back on track with this one. I like the Repairman Jack series but have to point out that the individual novels can run hot and cold. The one I read just before this was possibly/probably the weakest of the series. I was almost bored with it and while it does fill in some gaps in the overall story was simply slow and had major holes in it's "interest level".
Not so here. From the weak book we launch into a major jump forward in the story (probably baring out some things you've suspected or possibly surprising you if your assumptions had gone the other way). The story breaks out of the starting gate at a dead run and doesn't slow down.
Are you reading the series? You'll (I believe) like this installment. Have you not started it yet? Well start it. Yes the books aren't all the best but the series is and this one reminds me why I was drawn in and why I like it so much.
Jack here is caught in a dilemma about which way his life will go...for a while. If you've read the series as you probably expect the decision is pretty quickly taken out of his hands... We get some more information here about . The background story is finally becoming the open main story line here and when it takes front and center it does so in a big way.
There is another series by the author that runs sort of side by side with this one and the "story facts" in it can add to this series of books. It's called by Mr.Wilson (and others) The Adversary Cycle. The main problem I have is that I don't find it nearly as interesting as these...to each I guess.
This is a great part to an excellent series. I can recommend this one wholeheartedly.
Not so here. From the weak book we launch into a major jump forward in the story (probably baring out some things you've suspected or possibly surprising you if your assumptions had gone the other way). The story breaks out of the starting gate at a dead run and doesn't slow down.
Are you reading the series? You'll (I believe) like this installment. Have you not started it yet? Well start it. Yes the books aren't all the best but the series is and this one reminds me why I was drawn in and why I like it so much.
Jack here is caught in a dilemma about which way his life will go...for a while. If you've read the series as you probably expect the decision is pretty quickly taken out of his hands... We get some more information here about . The background story is finally becoming the open main story line here and when it takes front and center it does so in a big way.
There is another series by the author that runs sort of side by side with this one and the "story facts" in it can add to this series of books. It's called by Mr.Wilson (and others) The Adversary Cycle. The main problem I have is that I don't find it nearly as interesting as these...to each I guess.
This is a great part to an excellent series. I can recommend this one wholeheartedly.
January 1, 2021
Every series has its ups and downs, and while Infernal was a bit of a down, Harbingers definitely picks it back up. While we have been given hints thusfar about the overall story arc, in Harbingers we finally get a lot more revealed and some classic Jack action to boot.
The story starts off in a typical manner-- Jack is on a fix it job, albeit a strange one. One of his 'buds' from the bar he hangs out at tells him is niece has been abducted and wants Jack to find her. Again, I think almost all the books have Jack chasing after a missing person, and all of them declare how much Jack hates this type of work. Nonetheless, for his friend, he takes the gig. What is strange is after tracking her down (long story) and getting reading to take her from some crazies, three strange men dressed up a 'men in black' barge in, kill the crazies, and take the niece! Jack gets a jump on them and it turns out they want to girl to be free also. Strange coincidence? There are no coincidences in Jack life any more as he has been told.
Jack soon finds out that these guys are a modern version of Janissaries who work for the 'Ally'; one half of the cosmic duo that are struggling over Earth. The leaders of the Janissaries are Oculus-- hereditary 'seers' if you will that receive 'alarms' in the form of visions of the actions Janissaries must due to thwart 'the otherness'. Seems like Jack has found some real allies and Gia asks him to at least try out their offer of joining up. So far, so good, until Gia and Vicky get run down by a truck driven by, you guessed it, Janissaries! Why are they out to kill Jack's loved ones? While Gia and Vicky are barely hanging on in comas, Jack vows to get some answers...
I will stop with the plotting here, but this was a big step up from the last installment; much more focused and it gave us some important pieces for the larger story arc to boot. 4.5 stars.
The story starts off in a typical manner-- Jack is on a fix it job, albeit a strange one. One of his 'buds' from the bar he hangs out at tells him is niece has been abducted and wants Jack to find her. Again, I think almost all the books have Jack chasing after a missing person, and all of them declare how much Jack hates this type of work. Nonetheless, for his friend, he takes the gig. What is strange is after tracking her down (long story) and getting reading to take her from some crazies, three strange men dressed up a 'men in black' barge in, kill the crazies, and take the niece! Jack gets a jump on them and it turns out they want to girl to be free also. Strange coincidence? There are no coincidences in Jack life any more as he has been told.
Jack soon finds out that these guys are a modern version of Janissaries who work for the 'Ally'; one half of the cosmic duo that are struggling over Earth. The leaders of the Janissaries are Oculus-- hereditary 'seers' if you will that receive 'alarms' in the form of visions of the actions Janissaries must due to thwart 'the otherness'. Seems like Jack has found some real allies and Gia asks him to at least try out their offer of joining up. So far, so good, until Gia and Vicky get run down by a truck driven by, you guessed it, Janissaries! Why are they out to kill Jack's loved ones? While Gia and Vicky are barely hanging on in comas, Jack vows to get some answers...
I will stop with the plotting here, but this was a big step up from the last installment; much more focused and it gave us some important pieces for the larger story arc to boot. 4.5 stars.
July 31, 2025
You pissed off the wrong dude!
March 31, 2016
Well I've finally calmed down from the free-fall that is Harbingers. A roller-coaster ride that had me wrought with emotion throughout most of it. Increasingly this series has gotten more harrowing, more personal, and more emotional with the systematic picking off of Jack's family and the advancing horror of the Otherness. There are some serious twists and turns in this novel as Jack gets closer to revealing the reasons behind his role in the battle between evil and not so evil or is it evil and aggressively apathetic? Not sure. It's getting hard to figure out the difference between the Otherness and the Ally at this point.
There are some new players here and some old ones as well including another lady and her dog with some less-vague information for Jack than what he's gotten out of them in the past. Rasalom is back in all of his horror-filled glory, and there is also another group, The Yeniceri that we haven't seen before and who happen to be tools of the Ally. This is the first time that we realize that the Ally, whatever they are, are not good. Like nowhere near good, they are just less evil I suppose. But that's me applying a human definition to an entity that has no idea what being human is. The lady with the dog put it best when she said,
"Would you ask a tree for permission to remove one of its branches to make a spear?...That's the way the Ally views us: as natural resources, raw materials. No evil there, just pragmatism."
So there you have it.
For me I get it. It makes sense that a cosmic entity would have no idea what it means to have human compassion, what bothers me and what always rings true in the reality of our world, is that our problems arise when human beings lack human compassion and that entities such as the Otherness and the Ally would never have gotten a foot hold if it weren't for the inherent evil in some people, even people who think the bad things they do are for the greater good.
This is a great book. Like really great. This is the most raw and desperate we have seen Jack so far. The most deadly too. He's is not a man to be trifled with and those that do find themselves in a bloody precarious position. But despite this Jack has never lost his humbleness and ingrained goodness that makes him, at least for me, one of the most admirable characters ever written.
There are some new players here and some old ones as well including another lady and her dog with some less-vague information for Jack than what he's gotten out of them in the past. Rasalom is back in all of his horror-filled glory, and there is also another group, The Yeniceri that we haven't seen before and who happen to be tools of the Ally. This is the first time that we realize that the Ally, whatever they are, are not good. Like nowhere near good, they are just less evil I suppose. But that's me applying a human definition to an entity that has no idea what being human is. The lady with the dog put it best when she said,
"Would you ask a tree for permission to remove one of its branches to make a spear?...That's the way the Ally views us: as natural resources, raw materials. No evil there, just pragmatism."
So there you have it.
For me I get it. It makes sense that a cosmic entity would have no idea what it means to have human compassion, what bothers me and what always rings true in the reality of our world, is that our problems arise when human beings lack human compassion and that entities such as the Otherness and the Ally would never have gotten a foot hold if it weren't for the inherent evil in some people, even people who think the bad things they do are for the greater good.
This is a great book. Like really great. This is the most raw and desperate we have seen Jack so far. The most deadly too. He's is not a man to be trifled with and those that do find themselves in a bloody precarious position. But despite this Jack has never lost his humbleness and ingrained goodness that makes him, at least for me, one of the most admirable characters ever written.
December 31, 2018
Review to come.
January 22, 2012
What an awesome book wish I hadn't started the series on book 10 but surely will get the 9 before and the ones after! Read. This book in one sitting, impossible to put down just amazing writing and plot love repairman jack!
March 10, 2011
OFF. THE. HOOK!
November 20, 2015
I started my review of "Crisscross" with "These get darker and darker". I had no idea! This one really puts you through the ringer. More of The Ally is revealed than ever before too.
September 7, 2016
Some crazy revelations in this one! A lot of stuff is starting to come together.
July 11, 2007
a spear has no branches
January 26, 2018
After the double whammy of the last book, Jack is feeling appropriately glum. He's not even taking on new jobs at this point because of his high glum rating. But, of course, someone at the bar makes a special request, and Jack feels sorry for him, and hijinks ensue.
The opening gambit is really just a way for Wilson to introduce the main story here, of course, which involves explaining a lot of the lingering questions that have come up through the first nine books of the series. This is probably our heaviest "mythos"-heavy book since "Conspiracies" (book 3!). We've gotten hints and tastes here and there, but the veil is finally torn off on a lot of things here: the identity of the Twins, their place in things, what was up with that weird scene where Gia was nearly run over, and (I'm sure) countless other things that I missed.
Jack finally finds some people he can really talk to about a lot of the shit going down in his life in the form of the Yeniceri (sp?), kind of ... human super soldiers dedicated to protecting an Oracle. I found this a pretty fascinating new take on things, allowing Jack to interact with people whose knowledge was an imperfect Venn diagram only overlapping some with his own understanding of events and his place in them.
It's difficult to talk about this book without going into major spoiler territory, so I'll keep this vague. This book ALMOST changes the entire dynamic of most Repairman Jack novels in a way that really surprised me. What I found most intriguing is that, rather than being frustrated and angry at that possibility, I found it quite welcome. As much as I love Jack and his supporting cast and the sort of ... almost-"formula" that the books follow, I'm excited to see where things are going, and really want the story engine to change, if possible.
It was all a ruse, of course, but I assume SOME fairly large changes must be on the horizon.
The opening gambit is really just a way for Wilson to introduce the main story here, of course, which involves explaining a lot of the lingering questions that have come up through the first nine books of the series. This is probably our heaviest "mythos"-heavy book since "Conspiracies" (book 3!). We've gotten hints and tastes here and there, but the veil is finally torn off on a lot of things here: the identity of the Twins, their place in things, what was up with that weird scene where Gia was nearly run over, and (I'm sure) countless other things that I missed.
Jack finally finds some people he can really talk to about a lot of the shit going down in his life in the form of the Yeniceri (sp?), kind of ... human super soldiers dedicated to protecting an Oracle. I found this a pretty fascinating new take on things, allowing Jack to interact with people whose knowledge was an imperfect Venn diagram only overlapping some with his own understanding of events and his place in them.
It's difficult to talk about this book without going into major spoiler territory, so I'll keep this vague. This book ALMOST changes the entire dynamic of most Repairman Jack novels in a way that really surprised me. What I found most intriguing is that, rather than being frustrated and angry at that possibility, I found it quite welcome. As much as I love Jack and his supporting cast and the sort of ... almost-"formula" that the books follow, I'm excited to see where things are going, and really want the story engine to change, if possible.
It was all a ruse, of course, but I assume SOME fairly large changes must be on the horizon.
January 11, 2024
I've sort of stopped reading thrillers as often as I used to, but I do make an exception for some authors. F Paul Wilson is one of those authors. Especially his Repairman Jack series. This series, each book in it, moves fast. I've not read the books in any kind of order and it doesn't diminish the enjoyable ride one bit. I read this in two days, quiet shifts at work were helpful as much as the fast paced story.
It's a thriller with a tinge of supernatural to it, not UF, just a tinge.
I like the Jack isn't the loner these days. He has a family in his life, which makes him happy but also extremely cautious. He wants to keep them protected, especially since the rest of his family have died under mysterious circumstances.
He stumbles on a cult like group after taking a job for a friend. And things go south quickly from there.
There are several POV through the book. That can be distracting in some books, but not here. All of the voices are necessary to tell the story.
I can definitely recommend this book, series and author.
It's a thriller with a tinge of supernatural to it, not UF, just a tinge.
I like the Jack isn't the loner these days. He has a family in his life, which makes him happy but also extremely cautious. He wants to keep them protected, especially since the rest of his family have died under mysterious circumstances.
He stumbles on a cult like group after taking a job for a friend. And things go south quickly from there.
There are several POV through the book. That can be distracting in some books, but not here. All of the voices are necessary to tell the story.
I can definitely recommend this book, series and author.
January 13, 2024
Major info in this part of the cycle!
This book went along at a good clip! I never stay up until 3 am because "I can't put this book down." Yet, here I am!
I gave it 5 stars because the story had surprises and was told with some balance of rhythm that connected for me. The slow character and relationship development was laced with vivid action sequences all tied together by a series of developments escalating tension in an ever increasing spiral.
This book makes the best sense to read if you have followed the characters in the preceeding books of the cycle.
I stopped reading Repairman Jack's adventures after reading the earlier books in random order. I picked up Bloodlines recently and have been captured by the larger story arc binding these books into a memorable "cycle" that is entertaining on many levels.
I just don't do reviews, but this series is worth your time. I'd hate to have missed it!
This book went along at a good clip! I never stay up until 3 am because "I can't put this book down." Yet, here I am!
I gave it 5 stars because the story had surprises and was told with some balance of rhythm that connected for me. The slow character and relationship development was laced with vivid action sequences all tied together by a series of developments escalating tension in an ever increasing spiral.
This book makes the best sense to read if you have followed the characters in the preceeding books of the cycle.
I stopped reading Repairman Jack's adventures after reading the earlier books in random order. I picked up Bloodlines recently and have been captured by the larger story arc binding these books into a memorable "cycle" that is entertaining on many levels.
I just don't do reviews, but this series is worth your time. I'd hate to have missed it!
May 21, 2018
Repairman Jack at his best, and at his worst. Screw with the few he cares for and see how Jack comes for you. Jack is meticulous, inventive, and can anticipate your moves better that you can. You cannot prepare yourself for the measures he will take against you. Be warned.
I'm scared for Jack's future, the future that the Ally is sculpting by ripping all of his loved ones away. I didn't like the parts of the story where I thought that he had ignored his personal code to seek out vengeance. But, the ending of this installment shocked me, and showed me the lengths a man would go when he had nowhere safe to turn.
I'm going to be on my toes until I start the next installment. Its a good thing that I discovered this author and series with about 19 tales already published. Whew!
I'm scared for Jack's future, the future that the Ally is sculpting by ripping all of his loved ones away. I didn't like the parts of the story where I thought that he had ignored his personal code to seek out vengeance. But, the ending of this installment shocked me, and showed me the lengths a man would go when he had nowhere safe to turn.
I'm going to be on my toes until I start the next installment. Its a good thing that I discovered this author and series with about 19 tales already published. Whew!
May 13, 2019
Bluck...I love Wilson’s writing, but I forgot I don’t like the “Repairman Jack” series. Too hokey...too...pointless. I got halfway through “Harbingers” and the plot jumped the shark; a Voldemont-like bad guy who’s dialogue is SO corney, his girlfriend whose carrying Jack’s baby and her daughter get run over...of COURSE they do? How was this guy gunna get a “normal” life, or keep a girlfriend? It’s like the sons and the dad on Bonanza; every time they fell in love or married, some poor Wild West chick was marked for death!! 😴🙄 I can see why MALE readers would like this series, but SMH—-🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️ I do not.
August 12, 2021
One of the Best
Repairman Jack is one of my favorite characters, each book in the series are a joy to read. Harbingers really raised the bar, several questions were answered (there’s still more unanswered), and past incidents started to come together. A lot of things are making sense now. Harbingers was an emotional roller coaster with plenty of action and smooth writing. I really enjoyed it.
The only negative is that the book costs have skyrocketed, I will eventually read the rest of the series but book purchases will have to be special occasions.
Repairman Jack is one of my favorite characters, each book in the series are a joy to read. Harbingers really raised the bar, several questions were answered (there’s still more unanswered), and past incidents started to come together. A lot of things are making sense now. Harbingers was an emotional roller coaster with plenty of action and smooth writing. I really enjoyed it.
The only negative is that the book costs have skyrocketed, I will eventually read the rest of the series but book purchases will have to be special occasions.
September 10, 2017
This book deserves 4 and three quarter stars really. With a compact plot ie less meandering and less plugging plot holes as an afterthought, this book gets the series back on track. It's almost a reboot of sorts. Or at the very least mr Wilson applied the defibrillator to his overall story just in the nick of time. Questions answered, reasons given and the perennially 'how can you be so thick' jack finally gets a clue. Maybe we're just back where we started? But at least we know why!
March 18, 2019
4.4/ I jumped into this series late (began at #10). Repairman Jack has a lot of Jack Reacher in him. This Jack maintains a Rolodex of underworld helpers that help him over obstacles. There is an otherworldly battle between good and evil here in which Jack is a key player. The line seems quite vague at best. A lot is revealed on that front. Jack is a pawn on an intergalactic chess board, but the end product is a lot of cult classic one liners and Reacher-esque hell raising.
January 23, 2023
I read the 1st Repairman Jack book in 1985. Than moved on. Rediscovered RM Jack last year 2021 and working my way thru the series, So far have enjoyed them all. now Harbingers, almost wish I had skipped it, book was well written, a page turner, but a pivotal part in the Ally/Otherness theme and blurs the line between the good guys and bad guys. The previous books I just read thru, this one I raced thru and it took alot not to skip to the end. Great book enjoy at your own risk.
June 24, 2019
Another fantastic Repairman Jack novel. I have said since I started this series that Wilson writes like-able, deep characters that you actually care about. This book is no different. I love spending time with Jack, Gia, and Vicky. But most of all, I like visiting Abe! Can’t wait to read the next one!
January 20, 2020
(each) a Repairman Jack Novel: some imagination via this author with the 2nd one better than the first, though both a bit eerie and not worth reading the other novels in the series. I would bet this auth. has a following just not for me…not bad enough to stop reading, just not good enough to say ‘get this one’ (I had already gotten the 2nd one from Berea Library before finishing the 1st)
January 26, 2023
Repairman Jack is back!
I've enjoyed all of the books in the series but like many others have said, it feels like this is the book where 'the otherness' and the weird things going on behind the scenes (the ally for example) comes to the frontline.
I enjoyed this episode in the series (especially the Nantucket being a semi-local)!
I've enjoyed all of the books in the series but like many others have said, it feels like this is the book where 'the otherness' and the weird things going on behind the scenes (the ally for example) comes to the frontline.
I enjoyed this episode in the series (especially the Nantucket being a semi-local)!
August 9, 2025
I’m rather ambivalent about the Repairman Jack series. On the one hand, I enjoy the lone paladin fighting evil but dislike the hocus-pocus of otherworldly entities influencing the action. Even with my misgivings, I enjoyed the book. The storyline was well laid out and easily followed. The writing was crisp and clear. Overall, an enjoyable read.
January 19, 2018
I'm not sure how much more Jack can take at this point. I'm curious to know where the story goes from here. If you are a new reader to the series, I wouldn't start with this book, go back to the beginning.
June 30, 2023
10th book in the series and and after the last one was thinking this would be the last. Not happening as this one cost me sleep despite being horrific, appalling, and depressing. Gotta know more so next in series after a few days of recovery.
July 24, 2023
The series is really starting to ramp up! There is a heavy grayness here, not entirely Black and White, which makes for some compelling reading. Be warned, this chapter is an emotional one, knuckle biting, infuriating, heartbreaking and hopeless at times, all in one.
February 27, 2024
My boyfriend got me into reading Repairman Jack and I am so glad he did. This is the first book in the series that made me sob for Jack & Gia. The emotions from the book were raw and you could feel them.
May 21, 2017
Still enjoying this series.
July 29, 2017
I'm starting to find the casual Islamophobia of the characters in this series a bit much to take. If F. Paul Wilson doesn't control it better, his books will soon look like Andrew Klavan's.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews