The Haunted Air -- F. Paul Wilson

Repairman Jack is new to me.  Usually, I wouldn't start a series in the middle like this, but I was desperate for something fun and brainless, preferably grim but maybe with a supernatural twist.

The book's description made it sound like a cross between Andrew Vachss and Stephen King.  In fact, both of them are quoted on the inside flap.  Vachss says that "Jack is righteous!" and King is said to be the President of the Repairman Jack Fan Club.  Also, the front cover has one of those awesome cut-outs, a la Barbara Michaels.

Obviously, I was expecting nothing but the best.

I loved it.  It was so much fun.  It had: 

A con man acting as a psychic receiving threats from other local "psychics".  The con man's brother, a Born Again, is his accomplice. 

Descriptions of the methods said psychics use to trick their marks -- including an explanation of ectoplasm.  (I'm beginning to see a trend in my interests.  I got sucked into the Kathy Mallory series partially due to the breakdown of magic tricks/cons in the first book.  And I read that nonfiction book about spiritualism, too.)

A secret cult of child-killers hoping for immortality.

References to an upcoming supernatural apocalypse.

A genuine haunted house.

Repairman Jack himself.  Legally, he doesn't exist.  Totally off the radar.  He 'fixes situations' for people for cash.  For most of the book, I thought, "Oh, this guy isn't all that tough."  That was up until he stuck a fork in some guy's eye.  Oh, he's tough.  And maybe a little bit scary.

Now I have to start the series from the beginning.  Life is hard.