Jack Wakes Up: A Novel

by: Seth Harwood

Published by: Three River Press

Reviewed by Shawn Remfrey

After the action starts, Jack Palms is arrested and goes through rehab, he finds himself isolated in his home with a daily routine guaranteed to keep him safe. What Jack finds is that he’s bored out of his mind. When an old friend calls him up and asks him to help out with a deal, Jack goes more out of curiosity than anything. He needs something to shake his life up, just a little bit.

Once he agrees to the deal, things begin to go horribly wrong. Jack finds himself in the middle of a situation he can’t readily free himself from, and the worst part is, he’s not even sure if he wants to. Finally Jack feels alive. But will he survive long enough to see the deal through and get on with his life with his newfound knowledge of himself?

One of the main reasons I wanted to review this book is that I’ve noticed in the last few years a new trend starting in the book writing industry. Men are starting to write books for men. I know that sounds completely sexist, and I suppose on some levels it is, but I’m really excited about this turn in the industry.

I was hoping to find the next Scott Sigler with Seth, and thankfully I did. Jack Wakes Up is a book written with men primarily as the target audience. Not to say women won’t enjoy it as well, I know I definitely did. It’s complete with everything a man could want: strippers, ex-KGB agents, drug deals, the mafia, severe car chases, shootings, bombings–the whole works.

On a literary level, the characters are fun and inventive. Seth keeps the writing neat and smooth without bogging it down with a lot of unnecessary description. The action and suspense keep you flipping page after page, waiting to find out how everything is going to play out.

Armchair Interviews says: Excellent offering in “men’s fiction.”

Author’s Web site: http://SethHarwood.com