Reviews

The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth

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bludgeoned_by_hail's review against another edition

adventurous informative mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

(Read in Hungarian)

Meticulous, intense dissection of a presidential assasination attempt (which is uh... kinda timely...) that manages to remain very tense and exciting despite the outcome being known since page 1.
The story is less about the cat and mouse game between assassin and detective, which only really kicks into gear halfway through anyway, and more about watching the intricate chain reaction of planning, events, and characters play out, like pieces on a 4D chessboard with guns. The protocols and state machinery on display feels uniquely credible and vivid, maybe due to Forsyth's background in the area.

I was also pretty impressed by the handling of the enormous cast of characters. Granted, they were mostly tools for the progress of the story and didn't have any grand arcs or development (or even second appearances after fulfilling their role), but as such, the little looks into their personal histories and mindsets really made the world of the book come alive. The Jackal in particular was a masterclass in show-not-tell to me: he has basically no spelled out characterization, no inner world, no motivations besides money, no backstory, barely even a consistent physical appearance, and yet just off the strength of the professionalism and ruthlessness of his actions he remains a compelling lead/villain all throughout.

I would recommend reading in big chunks, even though the pace slows down drastically from time to time. During long breaks it's easy to forget details and characters that pay off nicely otherwise.

Content Warnings

dmcke013's review against another edition

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2.0

I think I first read this book in the mid 90s when I was in my mid teens, pre-GCSEs.

Flash forward about 20 years, and I think I picked it up again when it was on offer on Kindle. As I didn't really remember all that much about it - save that it detailed a plot to kill Charles de Gaulle, and that there's a film starring Bruce Willis based on it - I thought I would give it a re-read.

While there's no doubting the technical proficiency in it, and the (almost) insane amount of detail, if I'm honest I actually found this to be rather plodding; rather pedestrian. I get it: most police work is such, but (IMO) that doesn't really make an engaging read.

brig_berthold's review against another edition

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4.0

How often does the author reveal the end and still keep you engaged?

Seriously, early in the narrative, the reader is told how the story will end. Then, despite knowing better, we grind our teeth right to the finish.

Complex, but accessible. Detailed, while economical. Righteous fun, though ultimately dark and morose. It's no wonder this is heralded as one of the best apt-fiction novels available. Intelligence collection, counterintelligence, investigation, espionage, assassination plots... what more do you want?

spakai's review against another edition

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5.0

Amazing !

hungerford's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

fairchildone's review against another edition

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4.0

Claude Lebel is the man.

The books acts had a pacing that matched the Jackal's moves: slow but methodical preparation, a tense chambering of a bullet and taking aim, and an explosive shot. I was very impressed with how real it felt. Incredible action and intrigue even when you already knew the outcome.