I haven't read the trilogy that this book prequels. Based on what I read here and the title of the trilogy, I'm wondering if Jack Smith is being set up to be a "Pretender" (TV series) like hero. Or perhaps it is more like the TV series "Dark Angel" with the genetic manipulations.

The book starts slowly for me and it took me a while to care about any of the characters. Jack seems to start out as a bit of an uncaring jerk. He doesn't want to talk to his sister. He doesn't want to go to his father's funeral. When he does go, he talks to only one of his siblings, and even that not for too long. At some point we also learn that Jack's parents gave each child $40,000 to use toward college. Jack was the only one who didn't use it for a formal education--he apparently went to Europe, spent it all, then got mad when his dad refused to give him more money. We learn the reason behind some of it throughout the rest of the book.

Shortly after their father's funeral, Jack is pushed off a subway platform--but the video shows no one there to push him, and his bike, which had had its wheels stolen, is found intact by a coworker. Then, shortly after that, Jack's sister Melissa apparently murders her husband and children and then jumps to her own death--and again, the videos show she was alone as she made her way to the roof. Melissa's friend Ashley refuses to believe her friend would do such a thing. She tracks down Jack and the adventure begins.

I do agree with another reviewer that some scenes were a bit beyond believability. The car crashing into the coffee shop is one. Yes, it is possible that Jack's reaction (to put on his seatbelt) is a result of the genetic manipulation to destroy fear, and yes, the author does say that the car's momentum is changed at the last minute--but it is highly unlikely he could hold onto Ashley during the crash.

I may at some point read the Man of Wax trilogy if I come across it. ( )