The Death of Jack Nylund

by David F. Porteous

America, 1922. Ten years have passed since The Lines went up, dividing the States and the world into isolated pockets. The oligarchs are gangsters, titans of industry, monsters – the secret masters of mankind. They have endured a decade of cold war stalemate – but with forces equally weighted, the life of one man might be enough to change the fate of all men.

US Federal Marshal Clay Falk must bring Jack Nylund to New York. For the Marshal and his deputies the financial rewards are enormous, but in a landscape of shifting loyalties Falk is soon made a counter-offer he can’t refuse. The war can be ended in a single night – the price is the honour of a legend and the life of a god.

Private Investigator Walter Black has no idea his latest missing person’s case is the balance on which the world rests. Jack Nylund’s sister is dying and Walter must track Jack’s scent across America, through ruined lives, secret addictions and unforgettable pasts. The enemy he must overcome is one he’s all too familiar with. The cost of his failure would be the death of Jack Nylund.

127 pages, Paperback

First published August 18, 2012

Reviews

[Gaele · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book to read, and a difficult one to review. The writing is tight and specific, with detail that gives an overall feeling of old detective movies, very grainy and shot only in black and white. The difficulty is the multiple coexistent story lines, each with individual main characters and trying to determine how each fits into the plot. The country is divided into ‘lines’ , unseen by humans but forming actual barriers for those who are a tiny bit more than human. They all have only one element in common: finding Jack Nylund, missing brother, ex-soldier, and now homosexual prostitute; and discovering what powers may be obtained from him to rule the lines. This book is really worth 3.5 stars out of 5 - the writing was that good, the ideas were that unique.

While there are abilities possessed by characters that are not quite ‘human’, they are revealed in such unique and well detailed ways that everything makes sense. Eventually. This is the first of the series, and is a must read to continue the story; in all honesty it could have used more set up, for the writing does grab you right in, and it ends in a particularly unsatisfactory place. This book was provided by author for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review - and all conclusions are my own responsibility.

[Simone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. Once you understand each character’s part that they play in the story, it begins to flow more freely. Jack Nylund is a wanted man by many. A Private Investigator is hired to find him by Jack’s dying sister, unfortunately he was misinformed of her death many years ago, hence the disappearance. Marshal Falk is also after him, wanted by one of the country’s wealthiest man. The search for him spans across many states, which brings forth many adventures. Who will win, who will lose? This book is fast paced and filled with action, a must read.

[Etienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank to goodreads for having me win this book on their giveaway!
I'm sorry to only give 3 stars to that book,vut the fact that it has a lot of character in a lot of different place and action, made it very hard to follow in the beginning. I really start to enjoy the book only after i have readed more than the half of it so... But thestory is good and when youre able to understand the story and followthe action, it became a interesting buook, but a litle to late sadly! Not a bad book, maybe it will be easier to embrace the story of the second one. I hope so...

[Nyimah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt like I started the book in the middle of the series. I saw the overall structure but didn't feel like I knows the details or foundation. Always felt like I was missing something. I'm still curious of the outcome but not sure I want to commit to reading the following books.