Fiction Addict

Genre: Historical, Thriller, Suspense

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: April 2010

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Gina Lazarescu is preparing for a final showdown with the Akeldama Collectors. So much has happened in her life recently, especially the revelation that her son Jacob is alive. Cal Nichols, her father, has kept this secret until now to protect Jacob from the Collectors, who will stop at nothing to destroy the Nistarim and Those Who Resist. While Gina wants to go to Jacob now, Cal insists she wait for the right time when the Nistarim can band together to destroy the Collectors. In the meantime, Gina focuses on rebuilding her relationship with her husband, Jed, and preparing for the imminent battle. Unfortunately, for Gina and the Nistarim, the Collectors have deadly plans of their own and are confident they will be victorious.

I’m always anxious to see how an author will end a series, and it seems that very few are able to really nail it. Often it’s a combination of reader expectations and the writer’s unwillingness to fully let go of the story. Admittedly, I had high expectations going into Valley of Bones. Eric Wilson blew me away with the first two installments and I was hoping he would do so again. Thankfully, my expectations were met and quickly exceeded.

All of the elements that make Field of Blood and Haunt of Jackals so appealing are on display. From the attention to historical detail, to the strong characters and crisp dialogue, to the balanced action and tension throughout, everything really comes together to hook the reader. What I wanted the most is what everyone is no doubt anticipating: an all out throw down between darkness and light. And boy do we get it. All throughout the series I’ve felt the story building toward something big and Wilson holds nothing back in giving his fans a huge payoff.

Eric Wilson’s devoted readers will of course recognize characters from his earlier novels, and they play more of a role here than in the previous Jerusalem’s Undead books. I can see where fans unfamiliar with these characters and stories might feel left out at times, but as a fan I loved spending time with Josee and Sarge again, checking up on Clay Ryker, and even getting a nice little nod towards Aramis Black. To his credit, Wilson does a great job of winking at his fans without taking any important plot details away from new readers.

In the end, I was left with a bittersweet feeling. On the one hand, I was amazed at how well the plotlines were pulled together and I was floored by the powerful conclusion. On the other hand, I was sad to see the curtain close on so many characters that have become so special to me since I discovered Eric Wilson’s writing. I’ve always thought it was a shame that these novels seemed to fly under the radar of the masses, and I can’t help but wonder how great it would be to see the Five Senses and Aramis Black series fleshed out the way Wilson originally imagined them.

Even though the Jerusalem’s Undead Trilogy has come to a close, I do hope new readers will discover these remarkable novels for years to come. I stated this in my review of Field of Blood, but I feel that it bears repeating: Nowhere else will you find the redemptive power of Christ’s blood explored so brilliantly in fiction.

This has truly been an incredible journey and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Eric Wilson and his devoted fans.