Mythological assassin vs detective.


Mythological in the sense that he has a fancy name tying in to the history surrounding that particular assassin.

In this case, some perhaps not so nice people want a French leader removed, and haven't managed it themselves, so they bring in an outside expert.

On the other side is a detective trying to track him down.

An excellent example of tense spy thriller writing of the time, by one of its foremost proponents.



4.5 out of 5

I usually don't describe books as something "I couldn't put down" but this is an exception. "The Day of The Jackal" is a page-turning thriller from start to finish.
Frederick Forsyth puts his keen newsman's eye and pen to describing the intracacies and frustrations of police work. The author builds the French assassination plot/worldwide manhunt into a crescendo before making one final U-turn that leaves you knowing there was more to the story.
I could write a book about the ending itself but I'll resist doing that here so as not to spoil things for those who haven't read the book.
I'm tempted to look for answers in "The Odessa File" (Forsyth's other famous novel) since Odessa (a post-World War II Nazi SS diaspora society) is mentioned in "Jackal." Yet the Detective Lebel in me suspects that most of the answers are tucked inside the taut sentences of "The Day of the Jackal."

After many failed attempts to assassinate Charles de Gaulle by the local French militant organization, an outside professional (the Jackal) is hired. The way in which Forsyth puts together a story, it has us even rooting for the assassins.

Forsyth's observant mind is at full force: with detailed detective work and the assassin's planning stages. Wonderful visualization and knowledge of the French culture and architecture. My only gripe is the French dialect slows down the reading pace. This is a complete and well thought out novel.

Wish you well
Scott